Spirituality Books

I meet Nzingha at McDonald's a year ago and out the clear I ask her to sat and eat with my grandson and I and she did, we talked for hour's. So I read her books Mastering Abundance and Saving Souls it help me on journey that I was on learning, and living for me. I highly, recommend everyone to read these books, you will not put it down till you get to the end. I love them. they are a 5 star ++++, i cant wate til the Third book come out.

Have you ever felt like your present life was nothing like you'd dreamed it would be? Well, in MASTERING ABUNDANCE, psychic Nzingha Moses suggests that much of our disappointment about life can be attributed to our own fear and limited thinking. She also talks at great length about how karma plays a role in our life. In addition to providing case examples, the author incorporates her own experiences and journey to a deeper level of spirituality.

This is a book that will inspire self-reflection. For clarification, this isn't a book about Christianity; it focuses more on spirituality. Moses does a good job demonstrating the connection between our behavior today and the past hurts we have experienced. The book also inspires readers not to settle for second best, but rather to think big and set high expectations. The discussion about the problems many encounter in relationships was also quite interesting. Her suggestion to love yourself foremost and then look for a significant other is a pearl of wisdom that isn't new, but definitely bears repeating.

The real-life examples used in the book were an excellent addition and provided context for some of the points outlined in the book. However, some of the points were supported by rather circular reasoning and the book got a little preachy at times. Where the book falters for me most is in the "how-to" aspect, where it seemed as if the author oversimplified things. If you have been crippled by fear for most of your life because of some early childhood experience, it seems a little elementary to just say "change your thinking" and expect for change to occur. If you are ready for a change then MASTERING ABUNDANCE may provide just the inspiration. (RAW Rating: 3.5)

Reviewed by Stacey Seay
of The RAWSISTAZ™ Reviewers

Genre: Self Help/Inspirational
Title: Mastering Abundance
Author: Nzingha Moses
"The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. Pastor and author, Chuck Swindoll
The epitome of the above quote, Mastering Abundance, A Spiritual Approach to Getting anything you Want by Having God Serve You, is a tiny book with a big message.
Page by page you will begin to see that everything you have ever wanted is within your grasp; all the imagined obstacles have been placed there by your own psyche. You can break out of the "poverty consciousness" that is keeping you back and begin to manifest all that your heart desires.
Positive and Negative energies are discussed in detail. The author explains to the reader how they receive what they send out into the world- Negative begets negative and positive attracts positive. It is all up to you!
The remarkable thing is that we as human beings have a choice to make everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace. The past cannot be changed nor can we change the people that surround us, however we can change how we react to each situation as it presents itself. By looking at the world with a positive attitude, we will begin to see positive reflections back on ourselves. People react differently to someone who is positive and upbeat. Situations can be dealt with more easily if we view them in a positive manner. Take the lessons from the circumstances and make the best of them.
Author, Nzingha Moses is an ordained minister, Pastor and Founder of The Spiritual House of Unconditional Love. She is also a motivational speaker who inspires everyone she touches.
Attitude is more important than appearance, skill or giftedness. It will make or break a relationship ... a home...a lifetime. Pick up a copy today and start your path to a new, more productive and enriched life.
Books may be purchased directly from the publisher and available on: www.amazon.com

Title: Mastering Abundance
Author: Nzingha Moses
Publisher: Angelic Ones
ISBN: 0-9759350-0-3
Price: $12.95 Pages: 175

Written by motivational speaker Nzingha Moses, the ordained minister, pastor and founder of The Spiritual House of Unconditional Love, Mastering Abundance: A Spiritual Approach To Getting Anything You Want By Having God Serve You is a profoundly spiritual self-help guide to focusing all of one's talent and entering a receptive state to permit the workings of both oneself and the Universe to fulfill one's desires. Mastering Abundance is not about fulfilling greed, or a magic formula to instantly grant wishes; it is a thoughtful examination of the psychological and spiritual limitations people impose on themselves every day - from defeatism to envy and worse - and how to remove them. If one prefers being unhappy to the risk of searching for happiness, then one will be unhappy, and not even God himself can change that. But if one follows the steps outlined to free oneself from resentment, adopt a positive attitude, work to enable one's dream and be ready to claim the opportunity when it appears, then and only then can one's dream become reality. A truly inspirational guide.

I received this book on X-mas as a gift from a friend. As I read this book I found myself in tears. On each page I saw my life past in front of me. The chapters that really hit home for me were: Stop fearing happiness, Being gracious and recipe for manifesting what you want.<br /> This book has changed my life for the better I would never let this book leave my side. I love it and I can't wait until the author writes another book from her biggest fan.

I chose this book for two reasons: Joyce Rupp is my favorite author of spiritual materials, and I was in the process of walking my daughter home during her final year of life.

The stories and prayers helped me feel that I was not alone in this journey. That others had experienced it before and lived through it to tell the tale gave me strength to do the same. I know that my daughter had a better quality of life through this process of dying from cancer and being in home hospice care because I was better prepared to companion her.

I highly recommend this book to clergy, family members, and other caregivers. It is full of 'hope' as well as practical suggestions gleaned from others' experiences of companioning the dying.

A wonderfully comforting and uplifting book for caregivers and
those they care for.

Author relates how she comforted terminally ill people with compassion and love. Prayers for each situation are excellent.

Someone gave me your book as I was "walking" a dear friend through a terminal illness. Your words gave me comfort, especially when I didn't know what to say or do. Your book was my companion along the journey. Thank you for a wonderful resource--beautifully written!

The prayers and Meditations were so helpful that I purchased extra for those I knew were experiencing this journey. The price enabled me to afford this gift.

I bought this book two days before I found the perfect dog at the local animal shelter. I started reading and I cried over the front of the book that tells the story of the man meeting at the gates of Heaven and asking for his faithful companion to enter with him. My dog jumped on the sofa next to me and licked my tears. I haven't been the same since. I can't recommend this book enough.

This was a good choice, a pleasant book of mysticism and spirituality coupled with a variety of stories about dogs the author has shared her life with.

Houston has the usual Western/New Age view of enlightenment-not as a result of years of rigorous meditation, but as a series of realizations during everyday life. I'm not sure I really agree that what the New Age terms "enlightenment" is the same as the Eastern concept, but I do agree with her that dogs can indeed be excellent teachers through example. And in fact her stories are the highlight of this book. I read with joy each tale and anecdote surrounding an array of Airedales, a couple of mastiffs, an Akita and a German shepherd dog, among others. There were occasional moments of sadness in the stories, but for the most part this was an uplifting book.

After each story, the author elaborates on the mystical significance and lessons learned with each dog. Maybe it's just me, but I didn't find these sections to be quite so interesting as the stories. She tends to ramble some, and I found myself losing interest a number of times. However, it's also entirely possible that I simply don't mesh well with her ideas or her writing style; she's a lot more concise when she's telling a story.

Still, I do recommend this book as a heartwarming bit of light writing that may very well bring you to your own sense of peace. Whether you own a dog or simply the company of your friends' furry companions, this book is a nice way of looking at the more positive aspects of dog ownership (as opposed to filling in holes in the yard, hiding claw marks on the door, and rescuing small creatures from overexuberant attempts to play).

This book could be life-changing for those people who believe that animals have powers beyond the simple realm of their daily reality. I was most impressed with her writing, her worldly experiences and her genuineness. I actually went on her website and listened to a conference she had that had been taped. WOW. This is one dynamic human being with a heart as big as Texas. I love dogs--always have--and she captures something about them that even I hadn't given them credit for. It's definitely not an easy read, however and you must pause, put the book down and reflect on her ideas.

Jean Houston is one of the most remarkable figures in Humanistic Psychology and consciousness studies of the 20th and 21st century. This book is simply luminous and a great treasure. Anybody who seeks the spiritual path and/or adores four legged friends will love this book. The pictures of Jean and her dogs are also truly wonderful. Hats off to Jean and her brilliant and loyal canine friends.

Mystical Dogs: Animals As Guides To Our Inner Life by Jean Houston is about the transcendental value of animal companionship in general, and the love of dogs in particular. Indeed, our animal companions can be the starting point to a mystical gateway and an awakened consciousness. An absorbing saga of metaphysical enlightenment and abiding memories for beloved animal companions, Mystical Dogs is enthusiastically recommended reading for New Age animal lovers.

This is an all-round excellent edition of the Greek New Testament.

The text font is large and highly readable; similar to what you would find in a Biblical Greek textbook. Overall, the external quality of the book is very high, especially taking into consideration the retail price.

Variant Byzantine readings are included in the margin where they have a significant amount of textual support (although no detail is provided in regards to specific manuscript support of each variant). ALL variations between this text and the NA27/UBS4 base text are also included in the footnotes, even when these are only very minor such as word order (I did a quick comparison of one chapter between this text and the NA27 and all variants were definitely noted).

Accents, Breathings, capitalization and punctuation have been added to the text to improve readability (although these were not included in the original manuscripts they are certainly helpful for those of us who are not experts in Koine Greek). Paragraph divisions and chapter/verse numbers have also been added. Subject headings are not included in the text.

This edition also contains a good introduction and appendix outlining some general introductory information about the various text types and presenting the editors reasons for their choice of texts. Even if you are a NA27 proponent these articles still contain valuable information, and alert the reader to the methodology utilized by the editors when choosing between competing manuscripts.

Conclusion: If you are after a well-priced and highly readable edition of the Greek New Testament, this is a highly viable option.

I have long believed the Majority Text (MT) to be superior to the Critical Text (CT, i.e., the NA/ UBS text) and even to the Textus Receptus (TR). My first introduction to the MT was via the textual footnotes in the NKJV. These reference Hodges and Farstad's Majority Text.

Later I became aware of Robison & Pierpont's MT, and having studied their differing methodologies, I came to believe that R&P's was even more accurate. However, it should be noted that the differences between these two texts are minimal. This is even truer for the Second Edition of R&P's text as some of the changes between editions brought R&P's text into alignment with the H&F text. I discuss in detail my reasons for preferring the R&P's MT to the CT and TR and even to H&F's MT in my book Differences Between Bible Versions.

So when I felt God was leading me to produce my own translation of the NT back in 1999, I naturally used R&P's text. The First Edition of the text was available on my BibleWorks program, which I used extensively in my translation work. But I was also able to contact Maurice Robinson, and he graciously emailed me a digital copy of his text, with changes that had been made to it at that point in preparation for his Second Edition. So the First Edition of my Analytical-Literal Translation of the New Testament: Third Editionwas as up-to-date as possible.

In 2005 I began work on the Second Edition of my ALT, and Dr. Robinson once again helped me out by sending me a list of changes between his First and Second Editions, so ALT2 could be based on the new edition. He also sent me a list of all of the Byzantine alternative readings that would appear as footnotes in his new edition. These indicate places where the Byzantine Greek manuscripts are closely divided. But I wasn't able to include those in ALT2.

In 2007, I published a Third Edition of the ALT, along with an accompanying Companion Volume to the Analytical-Literal Translation: Third Edition. In this volume, I was able to include translations of the Byzantine alternative readings. In many cases, the difference between the main text and the alternate reading is so minor that it does not show up in translation. But my "Companion Volume" lists all of the alternate readings where the difference is translatable. But even then, most of the time, the difference between the main text and the alternate reading is very minor. So the reader can have full confidence in the integrity of R&P's Greek text.

So I have been working extensively with this Greek text for some time, even before it was published. But it good to see that Dr. Robinson was finally able to get his text published in a very readable and usable format.

Setting aside for the moment the issue of the underlying text, this is a GREAT Greek NT to own. The other reviewers are absolutley correct; The font on this text is by far the best available, large and clear and dark, printed on nice white paper. It is almost as large as the large print Nestle Aland and larger than the UBS 4. Both of those books for some reason have yellow paper, the white paper is much nicer. The binding on this book is MUCH better than the NA or UBS stuff which is known to fall apart with any use at all. The cover on this book is a nice red/gold/black. Because there is more Greek text per page than anything else available, this book is thinner and more light weight than others which does make a difference. All this at an excellent price!

Now as far as the idea that the Byzantine text is closer to the original than the primarily Alexandrian text underlying NA27 and UBS 4, I would say that even if you don't beleive this to be true you should still buy this text because at the bottom of the page you have every reading from NA27 which differs from this text. Thus if you are an enthusiast for NA27 you can see all the places where it disagrees from what is more or less a modified version of the Textus Receptus. When you do this I think you will be struck with a few things. Number one, both texts agree most of the time, say 95%. Where they disagree a lot of the differences are very minor, DE for KAI, a different word order, maybe an article missing or added. More importantly, you will note that MANY of the readings in this text appear shorter and more difficult according to the traditonal criteria and therefore on the surface would appear more likely to be original. Robinson points out in an appendix that NA27 excludes these readings because they come from a "late" texts, but you can't have it both ways. If more difficult readings are likely to be original, how come Robinson's text has so many more difficult readings. What all this does I think is lower your confidence in textual criticism. You are left with the impression that this text for the most part is likley to be as close to the original as NA 27. Maybe it does make sense to read instead of a text which is a hodgepodge of speculations from modern scholars to read a text which at least represents readings that are found in a textual family that is earlier enough. Particularly when again you have all the readings of NA 27 in footnotes.

But even if you think this text is late and secondary, it still is nice to have as a resource. You can use it more closely with a KJV or a New KJV translation if that is your preference, and it is kind of nice to have a text which for example includes the doxology in the Lord's prayer right in the text. But above all, for pure joy of reading the external features of this text as so superior to UBS or NA that I would at least get it to supplement one of those, again considering the price is so cheap.

Excellent in it's simplicity. Robinson and Pierpont give you exactly what you want and nothing you don't. This book is just what it's title claims it to be, "The New Testament in the Original Greek". There are no Strong's numbers or any other kind of "helps" in the text; it's all Greek baby! So understand that you'll need to at least learn the Greek alphabet and a few basic words going in, but it is what it is. I give this book the highest rating.

This is an absolute joy to read!! Anyone interested in the Greek New Testament should definetly add this to their library. If your new to learning the Greek language, or are in the dark on the majorty text issue, this is a great resource. This book is also very easy to read. Also, the New Testament in this book is completely in Greek, no Engish in an interlinear format, or on oppsing pages!! The introduction, preface, ect. are in English though. I give this product an A+!!!

I keep this book in my car, next to the drivers seat. I read a few segments while waiting at red lights. The light is always green befor I know it, and the wisdom I have acquired from reading this book over the last 4 years, makes me feel like the little old wise man,on the top of some mountain. I originally found this book, in my fathers library of books, and have been hooked on Demello ever since. I tend to drive my friends crazy quoting fables from this book, but they tend to say what could be said to somebody.

The beginning of this book says that "The Master in these tales is not a single person. He is a Hindu Guru, a Zen Roshi, Taoist Sage, a Jewish Rabbi, a Christian monk, a Sufi Mystic. He is Lao-tzu and Socrates. Buddha and Jesus, Zarathustra and Mohammed." The conversations with the Master make me think about being present in the current moment, awake and aware and encourages me to change my vision of the world. Each conversation is a very few words on one page, but totally thought provoking. Read slowly and think a lot.

This is a wonderful book, full of thoughtful pieces. It's not something you would want to read quickly, because mulling the thoughts over is quite interesting. DeMello starts you thinking. Things that are ultimately so obvious are the very ones we've overlooked as we travel through life.

For those among us in the hunt for a deliverance of some sort, the late Fr. Anthony de Mello delivers the goods right here. My first exposure to Anthony de Mello was via his book titled Awareness. I don't want to spend time reviewing another book here, but it likewise is a must have. One Minute Wisdom is a book filled to the brim with sharp, charming, and sometimes outright hilarious axioms from all-around the world. De Mello dips into the treasure fields of the Gospels, Eastern and Western mysticism, et cetera. He unabashedly borrows from any spiritually sound tradition, be that a Christian or even Buddhist source. As he once put it rather succinctly in another work of his titled Taking Flight, "Truth only calls for an open mind." And an open mind he most indubitably did have! These parables/allegories cut straight to the heart of spirituality. No commentary by de Mello, no personal interpretations of his own here (though his insights in other works are always very insightful). No, he leaves commentary up to us readers in this one. He literally covers just about anything you can visualize people setting out for a voyage into the spiritual plateau could need. Buy the book. Your going to absolutely love it.

The "one minute" wisdom that Fr De Mello shared in this book is actually timeless. There is no end or beginning, it "is". A most inspirational book to be felt not read. It serves as a great self spiritual cleasing book. I am very blessed to have found this book and also the One Minute Nonsense as well...

Robert Perry is one of the most respected teachers of 'A Course In Miracles'. His previous publications address many aspects of the Course's teachings. In 'Path of Light' he has produced what is arguably his most important work.

The Course has a simple teaching, based on explaining the true meaning and application of forgiveness in our daily lives. This transformative practice will enable us all to reawaken and experience our true Self and relationship with God. This process is not one that is always easy to follow or even accept. To progress requires determination and patience and frequently the support of others.

'Path of Light' is one of the latest support books available. Robert's conversational, but clear and concise, style is ideal for both the beginner and the more serious student. He explains how the Course was received and exactly what it is. He then goes on to explain the the Course's teaching and the role of the Text, Workbbook and Manual for Teachers. A glossary defines the more commonly used terms in the context of the Course. Uniquely, Robert uses diagrams to illustrate the concepts, I found this particularly useful.

As a Course student of over 20 years I have read many related books that have tried to explain the ACIM's overall concepts; this one is the best.

Mike Tolley

Robert Perry has a way of making the complex clear with sequential reasoning and sound logic. His book, The Path of Light, does just that by displaying the principles, background and study of A Course in Miracles (ACIM) in language that is easy to understand and read. The viewpoint is pure ACIM standing on its own with no personal prejudices getting in the way. The amazing thing is that it does all of this without sounding like a textbook. It has a page turning quality more like a novel. This is really an enjoyable book to read for either long-term ACIM students or those just beginning. I highly recommend it.

I've never written a book review, but I was very inspired after reading this book.
I have been on a break from studying A Course in Miracles (ACIM) and had no intention of starting the lessons again, because my time is so limited working full time. But the book really helped me find that time. What happened was the Holy Spirit moved into my heart and sent me on the right path. I have been a student of ACIM since 1990. This is the BEST book I have ever read on ACIM. I have started to do the lessons again. I do a lesson each day, and then after doing the lesson I read Path of Light. ACIM has a way of coming into an experience so timely when reading it, that it seems like it was written in that moment, for you in that moment. Path of Light has a way of fitting right into the lesson that I'm on for that day. I know that this book was Divinely guided, and I am so grateful that Mr. Perry wrote it. I just bought another Path of Light book for my stepdaughter. She lives in Ft. Collins Colorado and doesn't have a teacher there to help her. This book will be such a help to her. I wish that I had this book when I first started studying ACIM, it would have speeded up my learning. I'm so thankful to Robert Perry for being such a Light to all the ACIM students.

This is simply a wonderful book, a real breath of fresh air amid some of the dry commentary out there. If you're interested in the Course, or already a student, and you want some guidance and insight, this is a fine place to turn. Just for the record, I am in no way connected to The Circle of Atonement, but I must say that the Circle Publishing books that I've studied are well written, and contain great wisdom. This includes Robert Perry's Glossary for ACIM, The two Workbook Commentaries by Perry and Allen Watson, and this book, Path of Light.

This book helped piece the course together to make it understandable and so relevent. It totally changed my studying habits of the course and broadened my understanding of it. I cannot recommend this book enough for those interested in the course. It was invaluable to me.

The Power of Creative Prayer has helped me in a number of different facets of my life. This book has aided me personally and professionally, and many dreams that I never deemed possible became reality.
The Power of Creative Prayer is way past due in its' ideology,
and is a relevant and fun way to seek answers through prayer.
From a writer's perspective, it has given me a newfound freedom in the creative process, and there are very few days that go by that I don't implement much of the author's exercises into my daily life.

This author writes from a unique level of spirit that few others can match.I have been on a path to manifesting my dreams for 10 years, but, have not been able to get to the issues that have kept me from real abundance.I immediately had real results upon discovering this book while looking for the blocks to my abundance & manifesting power. I was stuck while following many steps in the "laws of attraction, etc" that did not fully work & were producing the opposite results for me. Upon reading a few passages from this book, I began connecting dots to my failures in a way I could deeply understand. Mary Anne is a rare teacher that truly knows & shares the secret to many of our deepest blocks & dissapointents. I know the "Secret" is getting more publicity, but, they leave out all the "secrets" that Mary Anne teaches & shares to manifesting & living our greater possibilities & dreams! I highly recommend this book & tool. There is no other who offers these solutions & phenomenol guidance. I am still utilizing & benefiting by her method & wisdom!

The Power of Creative Prayer is an interesting story of a person finding happiness and success in spite of heartbreaking life experiences; but it is much more. Mary Ann Thomas has found a way for anyone to improve their life. Creative prayer gets answers, and the process you learn is actually fun. If everyone adopted this method of bringing dreams and desires into reality, our world would be an ideal place.

Mary Anne Thomas is a very insightful author. Her information, as usual, is well researched and explained. The dictionary words provided in the back of her book have made it convenient and easy to use the recommened dictionary game. This book is a must read and her personal coaching and correspondence has certainly helped in receiving answered prayers. Her new web-school is a good source of immediate information as well.
I look forward to any new books in the future written by Mary Anne. - D. Coley

As I expected, another enjoyable book written by Mary Anne Thomas! I'm always looking for a new ways to enlighten my life and to see things from a different perspective and this book helped me do that. The simple act of sitting down with your dictionary can transform your outlook and open your mind as you pray. Despite your level of religous beliefs or practice, I highly recommend this book to anyone who believes in the power of prayer and is looking for a creative way to approach it!

This book was referred to in another book that I was reading. I was enjoying that book so I checked Amazon for Brother Lawrence's book and ordered a copy. It has proven to be one of the BEST investments I have ever made. This tiny book is just amazing in the Truth that it delivers. Brother Lawrence seems to have been an exceptional human being blessed with tremendous Grace from God. It was so because he sought after it. I have recently traveled through losing a job and beginning a new one quite different from what I was used to. After 25 years of being a manager I am now punching a time clock and emptying my own trash. When I begin experiencing pride issues I can pick this book up and immediately be put in my place. Praise God! This book may be small in size but is LARGE in content. Personally, I highly recommend.

This book contains a description of how one Godly man communicates with God and receives communication from his God and is obedient to that communication.

I dont have this exact copy, but just wanted to encourage everyone to get this book.

You can read this thin little thing and put into practice what it says, and let the Lord teach you. Or, you can buy and read a dozen 300 page books.

I have read book after book, for fun, or for seminary, and over and over again, I write in the margins "BL", because so much of what people are saying that has merit is really related to what BL (Brother Lawrence) writes.

This book did more for really bringing me into a relationship with Christ than anything else. I buy like 100 of them at a time to hand out to people who are searching for God's true heart.

Grace, peace and joy!

Since the web site that offers Brother Lawrence's The Practice of the Presence of God as a free print out (for personal use) was launched in 1999, many hard paper editions have re-surfaced. So, now, in addition to the free, online edition, there are many good, inexpensive book choices. This is one nice option.

It is worthwhile to visit the Practice God's Presence web site for the series titled: Reflections on Practicing God's Presence - 12 little books that may also be printed free for personal use.

I bought at least 10 copies of this for all the guys in my Bible study, thinking this was just a newer version of the one which I had read. However, unfortunately, this translation is much tougher to read than the one which has a white cover, with a picture of a tree and a mountain. (Note this is still a step up from the version you can find for free online, which one of my guys said sounded like it was translated by a college student). Here's the one to get: The Practice of the Presence of God

I wish Nora Gallagher lived next door to me. I'd like to hear more about her courageous faith. I wanted more about practicing resurrection. She left me hungry. What a great title! Gallagher writes so wonderfully about matters unspeakable, ineffable, silent and deep. She puts words to hidden yearnings. The glimpse into the clerical side of the Ep[iscopal Church was fascinating too, and her critique enlightening. It's so gratifying to read a book about God that is real, touching, and grounded.

In Practicing Resurrection, Nora Gallagher writes movingly and spiritually about the various crises facing her and the world around her. Her book has a lot to say about living in community and finding spiritual direction; unfortunately, the structure of her tale does not contain a similar direction. It is riveting in the middle, but suffers from a muddled, boring beginning and a rambling, uncertain ending. It contains a lot of good thoughts hidden in the midst of irrelevant chatter. Perhaps the problem is more than structure, for Gallagher seems to travel from uncertainty to uncertainty and, though this is a journey, in the end, doesn't change all that much. Maybe she just wanted to write another book.

In this sequel to her bestseller Things Seen and Unseen (1998), Nora Gallagher continues to explore what a life of Christian faith marked by authenticity and integrity might look like in our contemporary world. She compares her journey of faith to the swimming lessons she took as a child: "The life of faith [is] amorphous, ephemeral, a glimpse, a moment. Trusting it [is] like my early swimming lessons learning to float." In particular, her brother Kit's diagnosis of bladder cancer, a prognosis for a "zero percent" chance of recovery, the horrors of surgery and chemotherapy, and eventual death all forced her to ask life-altering questions about God's call upon her own life.

The themes of vocation and call loom large in Practicing Resurrection. Through her many involvements at Trinity Episcopal Church in Santa Barbara, Gallagher began to wonder what might God have for her. To what could she devote her passion and considerable skills? Where did her joy and gladness intersect with the world's needs, as Buechner once put it? Sensing a possible call to the priesthood, her church formed a "discernment committee" of four saints. They met once a month for three hours across the year, plying Gallagher with questions, telling their own stories about vocation, reading the Scriptures, praying, and, perhaps most important of all, "honoring listening." What voices should she listen to? Which ones should she tune out? What about her husband's deep ambivalence? Was the priesthood any more sacred than her identity as a writer that she had nurtured for over thirty years? After negotiating the labyrinth of the Episcopal bureaucracy and its application process, Gallagher was "exiled" to a very different parish with a very different priest for a year as a ministry-study student. At first she felt like she and the priest were on a "bad blind date," but across the year she gained a deep appreciation for her mentor's faithfulness.

While Gallagher was trying to discern how she might hear God's call, Trinity Episcopal grappled with how as a church they might extend a call. Their interim pastor had informed the vestry that he was gay. Should that impact whether they called him as their regular priest? How did they guard issues of confidentiality once the vestry knew but the congregation did not? How to tell the congregation? What about feelings of distrust and betrayal? Should the church wrap the different but related matter of gay marriages in with the possible call of the pastor? How might the denominational officials respond, if at all?

You'll have to read this fine memoir to learn about Gallagher's call to church and the church's call to their pastor. In the end she likens herself to a friend who was listening to an unctuous priest ask, "what do you really want for Christmas this year?" Her friend responded, "What I wanted to do was to stand up and call out, 'I would like to really believe in the resurrection.'" Her remark reminded me of the words of the eminent church historian Jaroslav Pelikan, who near the end of his life said, "If Jesus rose from the dead, nothing else matters. If Jesus did not raise from the dead, nothing else matters." In practicing resurrection we thus inaugurate a tiny bit of God's eschatological future into our lives today.

Gallagher's fans, and their numbers are considerable, will want to note the release of her first novel, Changing Light, in early 2007.

I bought this book totally on the recommendations of all the previous Amazon reviewers. Nora G. is a very gifted and insightful author. I love the way that she is master weaver with her insights and honesty.

I am at the other end of her theological spectrum and disagree with all most all of her conclusions and positions. I find it amazing that in her spiritual "Christian" journey she rarely refers to scripture. So many of her insights bring clarity to the scripture and other points they disagree.

I will not keep this book and have no people I know interested in reading the copy I just read and will send it to anyone free" no postage fees.

tim@twright.co.uk

Nora Gallagher tells a wonderful story about the everyday as well as the "big" events of life. Through a year of searching for answers and asking the needed questions, she goes beyond the usual metaphors to look at how to deal with the death of her brother, how to reconnect to her husband and most significantly, how to make an decision about which road to take next in her life. Readers - don't be put off by the religious words and subtext of this powerful book! It is not a book about going to church, but rather about the value of people, prayer, introspection, respect and bravery in all our lives. Relish its beautiful language and poetic flow. It is well worth your time to live in the world created by Ms. Gallagher!

I highly recommend this book to all who are searching for a peaceful and praying life and forthe holy spirit's gudance.

This book is okay, but not great. She spends so much time quoting Jack Hayford he should get a cowriting credit.

I was looking for more meat. This one is pretty light weight.

"Worship is a choice we make. Whether we worship God or not, is always an act of our own will. Our will determines whether we make it our first reaction to things that happen to us - or don't happen to us - or a last resort. If we do not make it our first reaction, then we cannot possibly make it a way of life. And if we do not make praise a way of life, we will never experience all God has for us."


This book was a Christmas gift which I thoroughly enjoyed as I have never read any of the author's works. Stormie Omartian writting is incredible and she is bent on showing us how practical praising God and worshiping Him can affect all our lives. Because God dwells and inhabits the praises of His people we are sure that He is near, and as we send our praises up He sends His blessings down to us. There is no Praise that God the Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit are unaware of. He empowers us and draws us closer to Him. When we are closer to Him we yearn to be just like Him and we get the very sense of the Kingdom. Stormie Omartian walks us through the many reasons why we should praise God, and she allows us to know when praise is crucial.
Another thing I loved about this book was after each chapter there was a nice long prayer of Praise, then a study to make sure we understood what we had just read, and bible verses to dwell on. This book was well laid out and well written, and can be used as a devotional if you care to. Very well done. I look forward to reading more of Stormie Omartian's work. May God continue to bless her and use her towards the honour and glory of His Kingdom. For surely we can be made better and brighter christians by following her teaching.
Reviewed by Heather Marshall Negahdar (SUGAR-CANE 29/01/07)

This book has a different approach to prayers. It mainly concentrates in praising GOD under all circumstances. It is a very good book.

This book is a "must have" for every Christian. This book teaches you how to worship and praise God no matter what is happening around you.