Through the perspectives of various individuals who met Jesus, this volume offers a fresh exploration of his character and teachings. Virginia Owens retells thirty Gospel stories, bringing to life figures like Mary Magdalene and Zacchaeus, and illustrating how their interactions with Jesus reveal his nature. The narrative emphasizes that Jesus' actions, especially in relation to others, provide deep insights into his identity, making the biblical personalities resonate with contemporary readers.
"... Owens offers this thought-provoking memoir of her family's nearly seven-year-long ordeal with her mother's illness. Portraying additional struggles with her own and her father's age-related medical issues, she yet drives home the relentlessness of Alzheimer's demands on its sufferer's circle of support. ... Rather than belaboring the losses it entailed, Owens makes her experience instructive and conducive to reflection by readers facing similar challenges." --From Booklist's Donna Chavez
Prayer is essential to the Christian life, bonding us to God. Yet we find it difficult in our frenetic world to keep our minds focused for long. All kinds of external noise and inner voices clamor for our attention. How can we slow down and quiet down so as to truly wait on the Lord? Nan Lewis Doerr and Virginia Stem Owens offer a solution that calls on the physical senses to break through to the spiritual -- praying with beads.The use of prayer beads, which has a long history in practical spirituality, is now becoming more widespread among Protestants. Doerr and Owens here show readers how to use what have become known as Anglican or Christian prayer beads. Readers can then use the basic prayer structure provided by the beads to pray their way through each day -- morning, noon, and night -- and through the church year. These prayers -- a thoughtfully chosen combination of quotations from Scripture and gleanings from the Book of Common Prayer -- can be enhanced and enriched by the mindful and meditative practice of using beads.Doerr and Owens encourage readers to use beads as "something to hang onto, a lifeline to the Presence that lies, often hidden or forgotten, at the center of our lives." Praying with beads, as outlined and embodied in this little book, has the potential to transform one's prayer life.
Virginia Stem Owens' writing captivates with its contemplative and ecstatic style, exploring deep themes of yearning and the profound impact of words. Her work invites readers to reflect on the emotional resonance of language, blending tenderness with a quest for purity in expression. Each piece resonates with a sense of mystery, drawing readers into a rich literary experience that emphasizes the power of storytelling and the beauty of human connection through words.
Virginia Owens challenges the long-standing belief that matter is purely mechanical and devoid of spirit, a perspective that has influenced both scientific and Christian thought since Newton. She argues that this view diminishes the rich natural imagery found in Scripture, which invites creation to actively participate in glorifying its creator. The book explores the implications of this mechanical worldview on spirituality and the connection between faith and the natural world.
Virginia Owens explores the challenge of transmitting faith to the next generation amidst a society that often undervalues family. She reflects on her own desires for her children, emphasizing the importance of faith as a core value. Through vivid examples, Owens illustrates how to navigate the complexities of family life while genuinely imparting faith, presenting it as a fulfilling and essential part of life rather than a mere cultural tradition.
Der bewegende Erfahrungsbericht einer Tochter, die ihre Mutter über Jahre durch den Prozess zunehmender Demenz begleitet, wird jedem Mut machen, der einen hilfsbedürftigen Angehörigen betreut. Die Autorin schildert offen, welche Anfragen diese Situation an ihren Glauben stellt und wie sie damit umgeht.