More Books From My Shelf // KEEP READING!!

I really want to list & post here every book I have sitting on my shelves, and in stacks & piles surrounding me.  Mostly to let people know what I'm made of how I think, where I'm coming from, etc.  You absorb ideas, views, attitudes & mannerisms from the people you surround yourself with.  I completely believe the same is true with what you read (and watch, but I don't watch TV....maybe just too many "conspiracy theory" or "truther" YouTube videos).
Keep, keep reading!!  Paper books.  Real books. Hell, write a book!!  Yes, I have a Kindle & between my laptop & that device I have about a thousand digital books.  It's nice but there will never be an adequate 'replacement' for the printed book.  I'm not saying anything new.  Just keep reading.

"On the Road to Perfection"
  by G. Maloney



"The Hoax of the Twentieth Century"
 by Dr. Arthur Butz



"Ordinary Work, Extraordinary Grace"
 by Scott Hahn



"Satipatthana: The Direct Path To Realization"
 by Analayo



"Henry Ford & The Jews"
 by Neil Baldwin

"In the Heart of the Desert"
 by John Chryssavgis

"Hitler's Pope"
 by John Cornwell

"The Joy of Missing Out"
 by C. Crook

"The Arena"
 by Ignatius Brianchaninov

"The Unknown Pilgrim"
 by Rene Gothoni

"The Mystic Christ"
 "by Ethan Walker III

"Cave, Refectory, Road"
 by Ian Adams

"St. Mary of Egypt"
 trans. by Hugh Feiss

"Augustine on Prayer"
 by Thomas Hand

"Awareness: The Perils & Opportunities of Reality"
 by Anthony DeMello

"Biblical Demonology"
 by M.F. Unger

"Christian Mystics"
 by M. Fox

"Nothing in This Book is True, But It's Exactly How Things Are"
 by Bob Frissell

"Hinds' Feet on High Places"
 by Hannah Hurnard

"The Cross & the Kremlin"
 by T. Bremer

"The Tao of Inner Peace"
 by Diane Dreher

"Herzl's Vision"
 by Shlomo Avineri

"Travels in Siberia"
 by Ian Frazier

"Standing in God's Holy Fire"
 by J. Anthony McGuckin

"The Gospel Truth"
 by Alexander Holub, Ph.D.

"Bringing Jesus to the Desert"
 by Bradley Nassif

"The Purposeful Universe"
 by Carl Calleman, Ph.D.

"Understanding Iran"
 by William Polk

"Islamic Political Thought"
 ed. by Gerhard Bowering

"An Exorcist Tells His Story"
 by G. Amorth

"Man's Search for Meaning"
 by Viktor Frankl

"The Hermitess Photini"
 by Archimandrite Joachim Spetsieris

"Mysteries of the Virgin Mary"
 by Fr. Peter J. Cameron, O.P.

"The Desert Fathers"
 by Helen Waddell

"The Gurus, the Young Man, and Elder Paisios"
 by Dionysios Farasiotis

"The Desert Movement"
 by Alexander Ryrie

"Contemporary Ascetics of Mount Athos"
 by Archimandrite Cherubim

"The Yoga of Jesus"
 by Paramahansa Yogananda

"Keeping Mary Close"
 by Mike Aquilina & Dr. Fred Gruber

"What the Mystics Know"
 by Richard Rohr

"Reckless Rites"
 by Elliot Horowitz

"More Than Anyone Can Do: Zen Talks"
 by Ton Lathouwers

"The Urantia Book"
 by Urantia Foundation

"The Body & the Blood"
 by Charles M Sennott

"The Devil & The Jews"
 by J. Trachtenberg

"Growing Up Palestinian"
 by L. Bucaille

"The Second World War"
 by J.F.C. Fuller

"Facing East"
 by Frederica Matthewes-Green

"Chemtrails, HAARP, and the Full Spectrum Dominance of Earth"
 by Elana Freeland

"Dharma Road"
 by Brian Haycock

"We Are NOT Alone"
 by D. Schulze-Makuch & D. Darling

"Crazy John"
 by Dionysios A. Makris

"The Big Book of Reincarnation"
 by Roy Stemman

"The Art of Prayer"
 compiled by Igumen Chariton of Valamo

"Introduction to Serbian Orthodox Church History"
 by Bishop Nikolos Resource Center

"Reading the Bible as God's Own Story"
 by W.S. Kurz, SJ

"Zionism: The Real Enemy of the Jews"
 by Alan Hart

"Why Can the Dead Do Such Great Things?"
 by Robert Bartlett

"Mysteries of the Jesus Prayer"
 by Norris Chumley

"My Life In Christ"
 by St John of Kronstadt

"The Dhammapada"
 by K. Sri Dhammananda

"The Far Future Universe"
 ed by George F.R. Ellis

"The Station"
 by Robert Byron

"The American Orthodox Church"
 by George C. Michalopulos & Herb Ham

"Where We Got the Bible"
 by H.G. Graham

"Children of the Holocaust"
 by Arnost Lustig

"Amped: Notes From a Go-Nowhere Punk Band"
 by Jon Resh

"The Philokalia and the Inner Life"
 by C.H. Cook

"The Faith of the Saints"
 by Bishop Nikolai Velimirovic

"The Ancient Path: Old Lessons from the Church Fathers for a New Life Today"
 by John Michael Talbot

"The Other Gospels: Accounts of Jesus from Outside the New Testament"
 by Bart D. Ehrman & Zlatko Plese

"Pilgrims to Jerusalem in the Middle Ages"
 by Nicole Chareyron

"Rethinking Depression: How to Shed Mental Health Labels &
Create Personal Meaning"
 by Eric Maisel

"The Mindfulness Code: Keys for Overcoming Stress, Anxiety,
Fears, and Unhappiness"
 by Donald Altman

"The Magus of Strovolos: The Extraordinary World of a
Spiritual Healer"
 by Kyriacos C. Markides

"Weimar Germany: Promise and Tragedy"
 by Eric D. Weitz

"The Apocryphal Acts of Paul, Peter, John, Andrew and Thomas"
 by Bernhard Pick

"A Guide to St. Symeon the New Theologian"
 by Hannah Hunt

"Basil of Caesarea: A Guide to His Life & Doctrine"
 by Andrew Radde-Gallwitz

"The Young Elder: A Biography of Blessed Archimandrite
Ambrose of Milkovo"
 by Archbishop Antony Medvedev

"Saint Athansius the Great, Patriarch of Alexandria"
 ed. by Father Samuel Nedelsky

"Brainstorm: Harnessing the Power of Productive Obsessions"
 by Eric Maisel & Ann Maisel

"Abandonment to Divine Providence"
 by Jean-Pierre de Caussade

"You and Your Problems"
 by Ven. Dr. K Sri Dhammananda

"Dreamgates: Exploring the Worlds of Soul, Imagination, and
Life Beyond Death"
 by Robert Moss

"Awaken to the Buddha Within"
 by Ven. Shi Wuling

"Philosophy for Life and Other Dangerous Situations: Ancient
Philosophy for Modern Problems"
 by Jules Evans

"New Frontiers in Guadalupan Studies"
 ed. by V. Elizondo & T. Matovina

"A Night in the Desert of the Holy Mountain: Discussion with a
Hermit on the Jesus Prayer"
 by Met. of Nafpaktos Hierotheos

"Dreaming the Soul Back Home: Shamanic Dreaming for Healing
and Becoming Whole"
 by Robert Moss

"Active Dreaming: Journeying Beyond Self-Limitation to a Life
of Wild Freedom"
 by Robert Moss

"Wild Mind: A Field Guide to the Human Psyche"
 by Bill Plotkin

"The Ancient Path: Old Lessons from the Church Fathers for a
New Life Today"
 by John Michael Talbot

"Jesus the Magician: A Renowned Historian Reveals How Jesus
Was Viewed by the People of His Time"
 by Morton Smith

"The Secret History of the Gnostics: Their Scriptures, Beliefs
and Traditions"
 by Andrew Phillip Smith

"The Lost Teachings of the Cathars: Their Beliefs & Practices"
 by Andrew Phillip Smith

"The Noonday Devil: Acedia, the Unnamed Evil of Our Times"
 by Jean-Charles Nault, O.S.B.

"Jesus Wept: When Faith & Depression Meet"
 by Barbara C. Crafton

"The Purposeful Universe: How Quantum Theory and Mayan
Cosmology Explain the Origin and Evolution of Life"
 by Carl Johan Calleman, Ph.D.

"Our Lady, Undoer of Knots: A Living Novena"
 by Marge Fenelon

"Ten Series of Meditations on the Mysteries of the Rosary"
 by Rev. John Ferraro

Prophesies of our Generation & WW3 Signs // Saint Kosmas

"Jesus' Revelation to St. Faustina on Spiritual Warfare"

Jesus to St. Faustina on Spiritual Warfare: 25 Secrets [external link]

Elder Cleopa (of the Eastern Orthodox Holy Christian Church) "Fear of God"

This man (saint) is so full of wisdom.
 

Some More Reading Material Worth Mentioning--

This week the mailman brought me the new issue of "Sophia: Journal of the Melkite Catholic Church."  I plan on writing more about this real soon, because this issue is full of excellent articles (many of them reprinted from other more obscure & hard to find sources.)  Some great features about the work our new Pope & others in the Roman Catholic & Eastern Catholic Churches are doing to attempt to heal the schism between us & our Orthodox Christian brothers & sisters.

I also received the new issue (a double issue at that!) of "Orthodox Word" published by the St. Herman of Alaska monastery in CA., as well as two other Eastern Orthodox journals from two other monasteries here in America.

"The Arena" by St. Ignatius Brianchaninov--

Got this in the mail a few days ago!  A book I've been wanting to read & own for a couple of years now, "The Arena" by St. Ignatius Brianchaninov.  Reprinted by Holy Trinity Orthodox Monastery.

[Amazon link to review book]

" Carmelites: People in search of God: From the Desert to the Garden of "

I love the Carmelite brothers & sisters! They are a fantastic monastic order within the Catholic Church. I want to learn more about them as a whole. I have a few snail mail pen pals whom I write to that belong to the order of Carmelites. They sent me a large box of books two years ago. Such wonderfully generous people. If I could do my life all over again, I would join a monastery and give my life to God, instead of squandering it away on drugs, booze, and loose women. BUT, thank God for second & third chances. I am sober today by God's grace & mercy. I love you Lord!!!

♥♥♥Life of St. Thekla♥♥♥

The Life of St. Thekla, (also spelled Thecla) a disciple and companion of the Apostle Paul in 1st century. She is given the title "Equal-to-the-Apostles" because she accompanied St. Paul in founding churches because her witness converted so many others to Christ, and she was the first woman martyr for the Christian Faith.

Life of
SAINT THEKLA

According to ancient Syrian and Greek manuscripts, Saint Thekla was born into a prosperous pagan family in the Lycaonian city of Iconium (present-day Konya in south-central Turkey) in A.D. 16. When she was 18 years old and betrothed to a young man named Thamyris, Saint Paul the Apostle and Saint Barnabas arrived in Iconium from Antioch (Acts 14). Thekla’s mother Theokleia prohibited her from joining the crowds which gathered to hear Paul preach. But Thekla found that if she sat near her bedroom window she could hear his every word. Thekla sat there for three days and three nights listening to Paul preach the word of God. She was parti­cularly touched by his call to chastity. As it became apparent that Thekla was becoming interested in the new Faith, Theokleia and Thamyris went to the governor of the city and complained about Paul and his preaching. To pacify them and the other outraged citizens of Iconium, the governor had Paul imprisoned to await trial.
When Thekla learned of Paul’s arrest she secretly went to the prison, and using her golden bracelets to bribe the guard, gained admittance to his cell. When she saw the Apostle she knelt before him and kissed the chains which bound his hands and feet. She remained there a long time listening to his message of the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Being concerned at Thekla’s prolonged absence, Theokleia and Thamy­ris asked her servant if she knew where she was. The servant said that Thekla had gone to visit an imprisoned stranger. Theokleia and Thamyris knew at once that she was with Paul. They decided to go again to the governor, this time demanding immediate judgement for the Apostle. After the governor chastened Paul for the disturbances he had caused in the city, he had him stoned and expelled from Iconium. The governor then admon­ished Thekla for her foolishness and commanded her to return home with her mother and fiancé. When Thekla announced that she had vowed to remain a virgin for the sake of Christ, her mother became enraged and asked the governor to threaten Thekla with severe punishment. The gov­ernor complied with this wish and ruled that Thekla was to be burned at the stake unless she renounced her faith in Christ.
When Thekla refused to renounce her Heavenly Bridegroom, she was taken to the arena for punishment. As she was tied to the stake she saw a vision of Jesus Christ which gave her strength to face the flames. The fire was lit, but as the flames came near Thekla a thunderstorm suddenly arose and a great torrent of rain and hail came down from heaven and extinguished the flames. Embarrassed because his plan had failed, the angry governor released Thekla but commanded that she must leave Iconium at once.
Upon her release, Thekla went to the outskirts of the city where she rejoined Paul. She told him of her trial and miraculous escape from punish­ment and asked for baptism. Paul refused to baptize Thekla, saying that this would be accomplished in God’s own way and time. Paul and Thekla then departed from the region of Iconium and traveled to Antioch in Syria. As they were entering the city a young nobleman named Alexander saw Thekla. Being entranced by her beauty he rushed forward and tried to seduce her, but Thekla fought him off, thus disgracing him in front of his crowd of friends. Alexander went to the governor of Antioch and complained that this wandering girl had disgraced him, a nobleman, in public. He demanded that she be punished with death. The governor complied and ruled that Thekla would face the wild beasts in the arena. Thekla’s only reply was that she be allowed to preserve her virginity unto death. Her wish was granted and she was given into the care of the noblewoman Tryphaena, a relative of Caesar, until the time of punishment.
When Thekla was taken to the arena, a lioness was set free to attack her. But to the astonishment of the crowd, the lioness approached the Saint and sat tamely at her feet. A bear was then released, but as it came close to Thekla the lioness rose up to defend her and killed the bear. A large lion was then released. The lioness again came to Thekla’s defense killing the lion, but losing her own life also. Then all the cages were opened and a large number of wild animals charged at the defenseless Thekla. After crossing herself and praying for courage, the Saint noticed a large tank of water which was nearby, containing the aquatic animals. She climbed into the water, asking that she might be baptized by Christ as she did so. Seeing that the beasts were unable to harm Thekla, Alexander asked that the Saint be given over to him for punishment. He tied her to two large bulls in the hopes that they would pull her asunder. But when the bulls charged off in opposite directions, the ropes which held Thekla to them were miracu­lously loosened and she was spared. Seeing that no harm could be done to Thekla, the authorities released her. She went to the home of Tryphaena where she remained for eight days preaching the Good News of Jesus Christ and converting Tryphaena and her entire household. When she departed from Antioch, Tryphaena gave her a treasure in gold and precious jewels.
After she left Antioch, Thekla journeyed to Myra where she rejoined Paul. She informed him of all that had occurred, including her baptism and asked that she might be permitted to spend the remainder of her life as an ascetic. Paul gave her his blessing and she departed, leaving with Paul all the gold and jewels that Tryphaena had given her so that he might distribute them among the poor and needy.
Thekla then traveled again to Syria where she went up into the moun­tains for a life of prayer and solitude. Many years later a young pagan found her praying in an isolated canyon and resolved to harass her and spoil her virginity. As he approached her and blocked her only exit to safety, she prayed that her Bridegroom would protect her as He had so many times in the past. At that moment the canyon wall was miraculously split allowing her to escape through a narrow crack in the rock.
Saint Thekla continued her life of asceticism and then peacefully fell asleep in Christ at the age of 90. Shortly after her death a community of virgins went to live in her mountain cell, building a small chapel to en­shrine her body. This Convent of Saint Thekla still exists today near the village of Ma‘loula, Syria.
Because of her many sufferings for the Faith the Church counts her as a “Protomartyr”. And because she converted so many people to Christ­ianity she is also know as an “Equal-to-the-Apostles”.
Holy Saint Thekla, pray unto God for us!

O Glorious Thekla, companion of Paul the divine, thou wast inflamed with the love of thy Creator. By the teaching of the divine Preacher thou didst despise the passing earthly pleasures and offered thyself to God as an acceptable and pleasing sacrifice, disregarding all suffering. Intercede with Christ, thy Bridegroom, to grant us his great mercy.

Commemorated on September 24
Troparion (Tone 4) –

You were enlightened by the words of Paul, O Bride of God, Thekla,
And your faith was confirmed by Peter, O Chosen One of God.
You became the first sufferer and martyr among women,
By entering into the flames as into a place of gladness.
For when you accepted the Cross of Christ,
The demonic powers were frightened away.
O all-praised One, intercede before Christ God that our souls may be saved.

Kontakion (Tone 8) -

O glorious Thekla, virginity was your splendor,
The crown of martyrdom your adornment and the faith you trust!
You turned a burning fire into refreshing dew,
And with your prayers appeased pagan fury, O First Woman Martyr!