1 comments about Glory Descending: Michael Ramsey And His Writings.

1. A reader in the writings of Michael Ramsey, Archbishop of Canterbury from 1961 - 1974, is long overdue. Although this particular volume does not quite make up for the deficit, it does a fine job in providing readers a generation of Ramsey's death an introduction to one of the most holy men to have ever sat within the see of Canterbury. It is accompanied by several essays on Ramsey's theology as well as two homilies, the first by the current Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, and the second by Douglas Dales, the leading scholar of Ramsey's thought and author of a fantastic study of Ramsey's theology entitled Glory!. Bound quite sturdily in a hardcover book and beautifully printed, it is obvious that those who edited Glory Descending - Douglas Dales, John Habgood (former Archbishop of York), Geoffrey Rowell (Anglican Primate of Europe), and Rowan Williams (current Archbishop of Canterbury) - edited it not just with an eye to the mind, but to the heart as well. It is no exaggeration to write that this volume is lovingly edited.
   
   This book is not, however, a theological reader so much as a theological devotional. This may sound strange, for theology and devotion are often seen as being antithetical to each other - and in certain forms of Christianity they are - but in the life of Michael Ramsey, the heart and the head were always joined together, with neither division nor confusion. Thus, the writings collected and edited within this volume are, like many devotionals, given in rather short form; some selections are a few pages long, but most only a few paragraphs (and some not even that). It is a format that one might think would not work, but it actually works surprisingly well. In perusing the pages of Glory Descending one is therefore given to depth: of the heart and the mind. The book is actually arranged according to the Church year, so that various readings are set within the historic seven season framework, but whether or not one wishes to read it seasonally, it reads quite smoothly.
   
   Ramsey is perhaps best known for his book The Gospel and the Catholic Church, which was first printed in 1936. To this day it remains the greatest work on ecclesiology ever written by any Anglican theologian - and, for that matter, one of the finest works of ecclesiology ever written by any Catholic Christian period. Ramsey was, through and through, an Anglican: deeply rooted in the Bible, Church and Sacraments. His writings - on the Church, the sacraments, Christ, God, prayer, the transfiguration (all of which are sampled extensively in this book) - breathe the breath of the ages; it is obvious that Ramsey did not do theology as if he were shooting from the hip but yielded himself to a deep, deep study of the Tradition. The voice he speaks with is not simply his own, but joined to the chorus of the saints of all ages, East and West (and Ramsey was deeply indebted to Eastern Orthodoxy, being the first Archbishop of Canterbury to ever be invited to visit the Russian Orthodox church - during the reign of Stalin, no less! - as well as being quite active in the Fellowship of St. Alban and St. Sergius; Geoffrey Rowell has a wonderful essay within this volume on Ramsey's indebtedness to the Easter church, especially with regard to the transfiguration of Christ). This ability to join his voice - to yield his voice - to the great doctors, East and West, only shows his own humility and, at the same time, also let his own voice resound that much more clearly - but, such is the paradox of all saints!
   
   Glory truly descended upon St. Michael Ramsey of Canterbury; he is among the last of the great Anglican theologians and he is too often neglected today, for his writings reveal a deep spirituality, animated by Scripture and rooted in prayer, a compassionate and humble spirit that was equally at home with Biblical scholars and the great saints of ages past. This hardcover book is not just a book to be read, but a book to be meditated upon again and again. In every age there are a handful of genuinely holy people that really point the way to God; Michael Ramsey was one of them. This is a fine introduction and survey of one of Anglicanism's - and Christianity's - finest and no Anglican, especially, should be without a familiarity with his writings - which were, in many ways, doxologies at the same time. May his memory be eternal.

2 comments about The Gift of Sam: A Story Of Unspeakable Grace.

1. This is a fantastic book - a powerful resource written specifically with birth parents in mind. A great perspective for adoptive parents and professionals in this field. Through her own story, the author gracefully addresses the difficult struggle of her unplanned pregnancy and shares her journey through the decision to place her child in an adoptive home.



2. As a recent adoptive parent through domestic adoption, it was very helpful to grasp (or at least attempt to) what our birthmom may or may not have gone through. What I like most about this book is the author's willingness to bring God into EVERY inch of her journey, and she wasn't afraid to express her struggles - the good, the bad, and the ugly. I wish more of us were as real as she was in this book. I couldn't put this book down. Oh, and have the tissue box close by.

1 comments about Leper Priest of Moloka'i: The Father Damien Story.

1. Although this book was hard to read at times, I feel like I am a better person for having read it. Father Damien is truely a remarkable individual and his Christlike devotion to the lepers of Hawaii is what made this book so compelling for me. I loved reading about this wonderful,humble man. He loved these people with all his heart and soul. He absolutely changed everything for them, and he not only built churches for them with his bare hands, but he also was their doctor their priest and their friend. When no one would go to the lepers and give them the just the bare necissities of life, Father Damien was a willing and humble servant. I loved this book and know you will come away from reading it, amazed as I was at what this great man accomplished in his short life.

5 comments about Pieces of Glass: A Moment of Tragedy, a Lifetime of Faith.

1. This book made me look at my own life and realize how many times I have been frustrated and wanted to see some sort of quick action from God and how disappointed I am when it isn't fast enough. When you read about the number of hurdles and tragedies Sarah Kay has overcome, I think it is amazing how strong she is through all of that. Many of us want to waiver from our faith when the going gets tough. This book is an excellent example of a young woman keeping her faith in front of her and realizing she can't go through life alone.
   
   She writes of her memories and additional obstacles that many of us put ourselves through as part of coping with other challenges. Many of us would want to blame someone and live a life in a box and I think this is a natural reaction, but it is wonderful when Sarah just steps up and realizes she must not take this approach any more. By asking God where she is and looking for that guidance in every day activities, she seems to maintain a strong faith and solid lifestyle. I realize now I need to reflect each day on the joy and the sorrow and not just turn to the Lord when I am in a time of need.
   
   Sarah Kay realizes that God works in mysterious ways. We will all go through frustrations, sickness and sorrow, but we must realize there are reasons for all of this and sometimes it might never be clear why we had to go through those terrible times, but that which doesn't destroy us only makes us stronger.



2. For someone who enjoys the flow of a book as much as the content, I loved this book for its structure and use of language. The beauty of the passages drew me in as much the story and its message. Sarah Kay suffered an incredible loss and, for many, that would make us bitter. But as the book unfolds, we listen to her heart asking those very difficult questions that so many of us have thought but couldn't verbalize, and she does so with incredible candor and transparency. In doing so, she allows us to glimpse both her pain and ours and begin to understand the loving God who meets us in the hardest places and brings us rest and healing.
   
   I would highly recommend this book for anyone who has lost a dream, a love, their faith, or hope. Thank you, Sarah, for bringing me to a place where I could face my own losses and see the hand of God at work putting the pieces back together again.



3. This book was wonderful. The author was very real and open as she described her journey through one of the hardest stages of life one will ever face. The book is raw and intense but well worth the read.



4. I liked the book because it was a very VIVID picture of the sense of devasting loss of control which accompanies tragic and unexpected losses. When such a thing happened to me, I remember feeling just as Sarah Kay felt--as if I were made of such delicate glass that the slightest touch would completely shatter my already weak hold on reality. I don't see this so much as a "how to" book of what to do when tragedy strikes, but rather more of a comforting book. In the same way that I think defining a problem robs it of some of its power, I am convinced that having someone else help you put your feelings into words--especially when they are eerily close to your own feelings--can be of great comfort. Let the psychologists write the "how to" books and let the novelists portray humanness in such a vivid way that you thank God that He really exists and accepts you with all your anger, brokenness and shame. Such a novel could well bring a lost and grieving soul closer to Jesus. I found the book profoundly moving and I especially thought the way she portrayed her feelings about what it felt like to be the fiance and not the wife of the victim was overwhelmingly heartwrenching. It's a book you'll want to stay up and read the first day. I gave a copy of this to my sister, who had been through certain similar circumstances, and it helped her a great deal--unlike the more how to book I had sent her. I think that reading this book with an open heart will help any reader become a more tender and compassionate person.



5. Though her story is unique, her writing and perspective are all the more so. Sarah Kay is one of those writers you would read for the sentences alone. I love the way some of them roll off of your tongue, poetically... you WANT to read them aloud just to hear how they fall upon your ears.
   
   She doesn't pretend to have all the answers, but invites you to come on her journey in an intimate way and wrestle with her, with God. She grieves beautifully. Which I'm sure is just part of why God had her write His story in her life.

5 comments about Firstlight: The Early Inspirational Writings of Sue Monk Kidd.

1. Stories and essays filling FIRSTLIGHT with inspiration come from the author's early writings for Guideposts and other publications and are centered around spiritual insights and 'firsts', following her early years as a spiritual thinker. Anyone with an interest in the life and thought of Sue Monk Kidd in particular will find FIRSTLIGHT filled with both autobiographical insights and spiritual inspiration, making it a pick both for religious collections and for the general-interest public lending library.



2. In a word, this book is inspirational. The tone is evident even in the book's packaging: its beach-sunrise jacket photo and its airy page design. If you need an emotional lift --- or know someone who does --- FIRSTLIGHT will provide it.
   
   Over her writing career of nearly 30 years, Sue Monk Kidd has endeared herself to two audiences. First, to readers of Guideposts magazine and devotionals, for which she wrote very concrete, first-person, anecdotal narratives. A sample: "Late one winter night it snows in South Carolina. When the sun comes up, a dazzling white quilt lays across our small backyard.
   
   " 'Oh-h-h, Mommy.' In the bedroom both children cling to the windowsill speechless. It is their first snow..."
   
   In memoirs published from 1988 to 1997, her spiritual journey reflected a more contemplative outlook and eventually a feminist theology that endeared a different readership. Then her fiction (THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES and THE MERMAID CHAIR) turned her and her unorthodox characters into conversational centerpieces all around town, coast to coast.
   
   Now here's the trick. Can this new collection of "early writings" bridge her two audiences? I say yes, assuming a reader is not scouring for theological tenets but for feel-good inspiration that encourages faith in a slightly vague Divine.
   
   Many of the untitled selections within the book's 13 chapters are from Guideposts publications, anecdotes about childhood, motherhood, marriage and Sue's early nursing career. But it seems that most of the chapter topics (with titles such as "Awareness," "Solitude," "Simplicity of Spirit" and "Gracious Space") are grounded in essays that are more reflective than anecdotal. A sample from the first chapter, titled "The Crucible of Story": "The inner story creates identity, transforming our vision of who we are. Creating story is an act of self-knowing...Knowing who I am hinges on remembering who I have been in the past and embracing the hope of who I may be in the future."
   
   It's a different kind of writing --- less personal, less concrete. But the complementary styles work well together, the anecdotes illustrating the reflective points.
   
   In the introduction, Sue explains how she warmed up to the idea of compiling these writings that are foundational to her spiritual and literary journey. At first she was hesitant: "I wanted to be read and known for who I am now." But eventually: "Opening myself to the creation of this book, so aptly titled FIRSTLIGHT, became an unexpected act of reclamation...a bridge...a gift of reunion."
   
   My favorite piece in the book is a short "Availability" anecdote, recounting a visit to a homeless shelter and Sue's conversation with James, a resident who eagerly shows her his "book" --- a scrapbook featuring worthless incidentals (a restaurant napkin, a calendar, a few autographs) that "represented James's list of blessings. Blessings he read and reread."
   
   Just as you, or I, might read and reread Sue Monk Kidd's FIRSTLIGHT.
   
   --- Reviewed by Evelyn Bence



3. One of my favorite books of all time is Sue Monk Kidd's "Secret Life of Bees." This collection of her early inspirational writings for Guideposts and other publications is a delight. She was well known in those circles for years before her blockbuster book. As she says, she always had a desire to pay attention to her soul, a 'repository of the inner Divine, the truest part of us' from which so much of her writing sprang. This is very thought provoking reading, the type that you will want to savor and mull over for awhile.



4. Firstlight by Sue Monk Kidd is a book I return to over and over. It contains a number of essays she wrote when in her thirties for the spiritual magazine, Guideposts. In her late twenties, early thirties the author seriously began to examine the reality of her inner life, the meaning and purpose of her life, and become serious about being a writer. Not surprisingly, when Guideposts asked that she assemble her essays into a book, Mrs. Kidd had her doubts that her writing from that period in her life would still have merit and represent her as she is today.
   
   But these are beautiful essays, each one. They are not outdated, nor do they reveal an immaturity that might well have existed when she wrote them. What raises her writing above the numerous spiritual books published today is her focus on stories. She expresses her spiritual wisdom in the form of stories, and her stories are both insightful and touching as well as expressed with a directness and clarity of style that makes them irresistible.
   
   Kidd is not a preacher; she is a born storyteller and a born writer. She believes that telling stories and spirituality are inextricably bound together, that delving into the mysterious interior realm of her soul is the very source of her creativity. She explains that all this began for her when reading Thomas Merton's autobiographical book, The Seven Storey Mountain, that this book had "a life-altering effect on me when I read it at the age of twenty-nine," and that it was this book that led her to become a writer.
   
   She believes that "creativity is essentially a spiritual experience, a conversation between my soul and me." She tells us of her "raw longing for the Divine," her "irrepressible hunger for that deepest thing in myself." She dedicates herself to the articulation of her spiritual quest. A difficult feat and one in which she triumphs. Her subject, broadly speaking, is the soul, the spirit of existence that is called by many names in different cultures but is in essence nameless. It is her belief in the inextricable interaction between the spiritual and the creative that speaks to me, that opens me to her writing and to the person she is. Her philosophy serves as roadmap for me into my own creativity, which is often as elusive as the wind.
   
   The question to which the title of her book refers is the vulnerability in all of us that can lead to the illumination of who we are, perhaps even how we wish to change. She suggests that we try to find the moment, and perhaps more than one moment, when our hearts first opened, when an experience became the "Firstlight" that touched us in a way to perhaps change us forever, to start us on our own path of communion with something greater than ourselves, a path of revelation that connected us to our creativity, to our powerful potential that can guide us to hitherto unknown experiences and emotions. How this happened for Sue Monk Kidd needs to be read rather than revealed here. But I cannot resist emphasizing, perhaps at the risk of repeating myself, her belief in stories. Her words tell this best: "I believe in stories," she writes. "The world has enough dogma. It's stories we need more of, stories that reverence the still, small voice that sings our life. As Anthony de Mello observed, 'The shortest distance between a human being and Truth is a story.' Jesus, himself, told stories about the most common things in the world: a lost sheep, a seed that falls on rocky ground, a woman who sweeps her house in search of a coin, a man whose son runs away from home. 'All personal theology,' de Mello instructs us, 'should begin with the words: Let me tell you a story.'"
   
   Sue Monk Kidd's stories are just as simple as those mentioned above. She describes watching her two young children playing in the snow, laughing as they fall backward like "a toppled snowman." How they yell to her over and over to watch them, how she would exclaim her delight with assurances and shout out "grand superlatives" at what they were doing. How touched she is by her realization that their need for approval and admiration is cut deeply into their little souls. And how vitally important it is that she tell them that they are indeed wonderful.
   
   Another story tells about the father of a six-year-old lying in a hospital bed in a deep coma. He comes to her day after day, bringing her flowers, sitting by her bed, stroking her hair, keeping up a quiet conversation about her dog, her brother, the weather, anything he thinks might interest her. Never tiring, hour after hour. Never losing hope.
   
   Firstlight is a book about stories; specifically, stories taken from the author's own life. Stories of her experiences that have led to the many changes she has made in her life. She shares with us the stories that have touched her, affected her in a deep way. In reading them, I too am touched; I too am changed. I eagerly recommend this book to anyone who wishes to be on a similar journey.
   
   by Duffie Bart
   for Story Circle Book Reviews
   reviewing books by, for, and about women



5. I just purchased this title for a friend who is retiring. The book is full of uplifting and thought-provoking essays and personal experiences that will beg to be read over and over. I was surprised to learn that Sue Monk Kidd (Secret Life of Bees and Mermaid's Chair)wrote for Guidepost Magazine, and this is a compilation of many of those selections.

1 comments about To Heal the Soul: The Spiritual Journal of a Chasidic Rebbe.

1. this book, if read and followed, can help anyone grow in spirit. Especially if one is searching their Jewish roots, this book can be very helpful. It is sensitive and personal, clearly written and profoundly moving. Not just the content but the historical context of the book is inspirational as well

1 comments about Dr. Oma: The Healing Wisdom of Countess Juliana Von Stolberg (Chosen Daughters).

1. For years I have heard of Ethel's love and admiration for a 16th-century countess named Juliana von Stolberg. In Dr. Oma: the Healing Wisdom of Juliana von Stolberg, she brings this incredible woman to life.
   
   Juliana is known as the Queen Mother of the Netherlands, cherished for her wisdom and healing ability. When her granddaughter Maria comes to live with her, during Holland's fight for freedom from the Spain, Juliana passes on her herbal healing secrets. More importantly, Juliana teaches young Maria about faith, through her love for the then illegal "Protestant Bible," her strength in tragedy, and her care for her family--including the child of Maria's step-mother Mad Anna. Maria must learn to apply her Oma's teaching to "Trust God with everything," as her father and uncles march off to fight and the world seems to fall apart around her.
   
   Ethel does a wonderful job of drawing the reader into the 16th-century, through two woman who, though they lived long ago, are endearing and real. The book includes historical notes, and some background on how and why she chose to write Juliana's story.
   
   Here is what Ethel said, when I asked what she hopes readers will take away from Dr. Oma. "If there's one thing I want them to take away, it would be this: when we trust God with everything and follow the pathway He lays out for us, we, too, can change our world in some way that no one else could ever do. Don't despise the role God has given you. Thank Him for it, trust Him to show you how to fill it, then go do it with gusto and gratitude to Him!"
   
   This is a story that both girls and adults will enjoy!

5 comments about This House Is On Fire: The Life of Shri Dhyanyogi.

1. I can only think of two books that generated a feeling of power when I held them in my hands and This House Is On Fire is one of them. Fortunately for me I did not stop at osmosis but read this amazing book from cover to cover, and I'm reading it again.
   
   Shri Dhyanyogi's life is more than inspiring, his journey more than adventure. This House Is On Fire energizes the spirit and, for me, increases my desire for Self-realization. The world is a fortunate place to have had Shri Dhyanyogi in it, and this excellent and eminently readable book is a gift to those of us who did not have the opportunity to know Dhyanyogi-ji when he was in the body.
   
   If I were to give one gift to everyone I know, it would be a copy of This House Is On Fire!



2. Beautiful stories about a beautiful saint whose love continues to flow freely to humanity on the subtle level. "This House Is On Fire" brings tears to my eyes ... the sweetness of Shri Dhyanyogi Madhusudandas shines from every page.



3. These were the words Dhyanyogi often said. As an American MD trained and boarded in Internal Medicine, I see time and time again, diseases of the body which are borne from mental anguish and spiritual strain.
   
   Dhyanyogi's life is a true blessing to this world and a treasure trove of miracles which continue to happen, every day, if you speak to any of his followers.
   
   At the age of 9 years, I had the incredible fortune of Dhyanyogi living in my parent's house for about a week. We would arise early and he would teach us yoga and laugh and smile. The energy is INCREDIBLE!
   
   Countless times, as I read this book, I felt that same INCREDIBLE energy as palpable now as 25 years ago.
   
   I invite you to feel this and watch the spiritual healing, mental peace and physical improvement in your lives!!!



4. My salutations to all Great Spirtual Teachers who are the very essence of Pure Unconditioned Consciousness! Who out of compasion for humanity take on a human form to lead us from darkness to light, ignorance to bliss and from death to imortality!
   
   The book is truly magical. It is Un-Put-Downable.
   
   Shri Dhyan Yogi was and is one of India's best kept secrets.
   
   This book will magically transport you into the Presence of one of one of India's Greatest Siddha Purusha's! A true Kundalini Siddha( Siddha = Perfect Being )
   
   The book brought back a thousand vivid pictures and sent me back in time to the day when I went over to 383 Baheshwar Vihar, Swami Vivekananada Road, Mumbai, some forty years ago; where as a teenager, I first had the exceptional good fortune of sitting at the feet of Dhyan Yogi, Sri Madusudandasji Maharaj and imploring the Siddha to awaken my Kundalini.
   
   This review is offered in appreciation and homage to my first Indian Guru.
   
   I therefore thank you Anandi Ma, Deelipji and all those who took great pains to bring this much needed biography of Shri Dhyan Yogi, Madhusudhandasji Maharaj and share it with the world!
   
   Tasmai Shri Gurave Namaha,
   Russell Monsurate
   [...]
   North Vancouver BC Canada



5. My picture is in this book (Page 337), and I am very happy it is there. You see, I met this saint in the early seventies, both in India and America. He is very compassionate, and is concerned about the welfare of all. And there are few saints of his stature around. The book is well written, and tells the story of one of the few masters of Shaktipat and meditation. Even those I am very familiar with this saint, and his wonderful successors, I couldn't put it down - as it contained much information I didn't know. I know the successors well, and highly endorse this book. It is in the cavalier of Divine Play by Thomas Palotas, Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda, and Play of Consciousness by Swami Munktananda.
   Randy Kemp
   www.randykempcopywriting.com

5 comments about Priest: Portraits of Ten Good Men Serving the Church Today.

1. They are there in every just about every community across the land. Most do not bring attention to themselves. They are 25, 40 or 70 years old. Typically they work 12-18 hour days and are always on call. And due to a combination of factors they have been asked to take on more responsibilities than ever before. They are educators, preachers, chaplains and pastors. They are Catholic priests and in his latest book Michael S. Rose introduces us to 10 of these good men.
   With all of the infuriating and heart-breaking stories of sexual abuse by priests dominating the headlines these days, Michael Rose saw a need to step back, take a deep breath, and talk about the good that the overwhelming majority of our Catholic priests are doing on a daily basis. The other side of the story needs to be told! He portrays ten of these men and gives us insight on the daily lives of each of them. They hail from varied backgrounds and each brings a unique set of talents, abilities and insights to their ministries. Many serve in inner city parishes, schools, hospitals and prisons--wherever they are needed. Others serve in remote places overseas. Admittedly, a vocation to the priesthood in these troubled times is going to be challenging to say the least. One of the subjects of this book, Fr. Timothy Vaverek said it best when he observed that the priesthood is not for "the faint of heart". And Fr. John McCloskey, who spent many years as a chaplain at liberal Ivy League universities believes that priests are "the Navy Seals, the Army Rangers, the Green Berets of the Catholic Church." To a man, the 10 priests featured in this book believe that the key to solving many of the Church's problems is a return to orthodoxy by both the clergy and the laity.
   If you are a young man discerning a vocation to the priesthood this is essential reading. Read about the lives these men lead and see if you might have what it takes to be a priest. You will see that what each of these men have in common is a commitment to prayer, hard work, generosity and sacrifice. Do you have the right stuff?



2. Fr. Timothy Vaverek, one of the priests mentioned in this book is the pastor at my church. He really is as great as they say he is, but he is a very humble guy. Not many people at our parish know how amazing he really is. A lot of the things mentioned about him are not common knowledge around St. Joseph's, like I said he is very humble. I learned a lot about him by reading this book.



3. Rose writes an inspiring book, so much better than his "Goodbye, Good Men" about ten good priests today. The stories range from an army chaplain, a Russian missionary, and more. These priests are all good men, who are faithful and caring. These stories make one want to be a priest. A must read for all Catholics.



4. This well-researched and thoughtful book is a real booster for people who were discouraged during scandals and the Long Lent of 2002.
   
   Michael Rose presents the stories of ten men living their vocations -- replete with that great holiness of the everyday, and the trials that shadow such devotion. I'm familiar with one of the profiled priests, and while he is a wonderful priest, he's also a reminder that everyday sanctity is possible to everyone who is true to his or her calling, whether that vocation is a religious one or not.
   
   Recommended book for Catholics -- or anyone else -- who needs a reminder that there are priests who live their vocations with humility and faithfulness.



5. "Be not afraid"
   
   "Witnesses to Hope."
   
   "Do not abandon yourselves to despair. We are the Easter people and hallelujah is our song."
   
   "The future starts today, not tomorrow."
   
   "The vow of celibacy is a matter of keeping one's word to Christ and the Church. a duty and a proof of the priest's inner maturity; it is the expression of his personal dignity."

1 comments about Stories of the Saints.

1. If you're looking for saints stories to tell children, this book gives the bare minimum. For re-telling you will need to use a lot of creative authorship in order to make the stories "live" for your children. There aren't a lot of books available for saints story re-telling, but by far and away the best is "The Giant at the Ford" by Ursula Synge. It is (of course) out of print, but used copies are available.