Poems That Speak To The Spirit

Reviewed by E.L.S.E.

07.25.2012

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You can pick up a copy at the online bookstore:  

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This e-book was provided by Dorrance Book Review Team.

The book is published by Dorrance Publishing.

                The hardest writing is to write poems about God! This is because you must respect the dogmas and also keep a balance, between poetical feeling and the equilibrium demanded by the right faith. How to speak about God but not to imagine anything about Him? How to pray to God, even in verses, but not limit Him, who is the unlimited? Will you find all these in the book entitled “Poems That Speak to the Spirit”, written by Minister Cristina Walker and published by Dorrance Publishing author house?

First of all, reading the titles of the poems, we can see that the themes spring out from faith, from Gospel, being a declaration of love addressed to God. God Who is present in all aspect of the author life.

The poems are not long, but striking, built having a hypothesis, a development and also a conclusion under the shape of an advice.

Having rhyme the verses of the poems have a certain musicality, making them easy to read. Maybe aren`t so modern… These days postmodernism and post-textualism get rid of rhyme and of sentiment, and make the feeling appear only in the back of the words, in context; the post-textualists do not declare anything, do not advice at everything, but they only suggest a certain state that we can compare with the circulation of the lymph into the organism. But must we write in trend?

The answer is in our face: no, we mustn`t. True poetry has not rules. Theory can`t replace the feeling of the poet. Author Cristina Walker demonstrates this.

Reading this book provided by the Dorrance Book Review Team, the reader have a nice journey on the path of the faith and of the soul.

It is interesting how the author placed the words in the poem entitled “Walking on Water”, under the shape of an amphora:

“Who walked the waters on

a stormy day

Not just Jesus, but Peter I say

Peter walked and just stepped out

The waves came and twirled about

Oh, Peter why did you doubt

Jesus said, “Just look at me

For I can surely calm

the sea”

It was too late

doubt set in

Then Jesus said, “Come to Him.”

A special perfume gives to the poems the use of “thee” instead of “you”, thing that the author treats like a stylistic constant of her writing.

We hope that the following remark will not be considered a misogynic one, but in all the poems manifests a special feminine sensibility, an inclination to love and to be loved, a mix of vulnerability but also a great strength.

In the poem entitled “On the Throne” the author makes an interesting portrait of God, either clear and with force but also in simple words: 

“The one who is mighty in strength

Whose outstretched arm has a great length

The one whose mercies last forever

The one who created the weather

The shield… the rock …and salvation”

                Interesting is also the way in which the poet place quotes from the Bible at the ends of some poems. The message of the poem and it is strengthened by the message from the quote.

                 In the entire book there is only two sad poem entitled: “Parting” and “So Long”. All the rest have happy messages.

                My special choice is the poem entitled “Come Back”, which has a musicality apart, not being big in length but full of poetical substance:

“So long the stay

Not far away

Each lonely night

Is such a fight

How good the kiss

It’s you I miss.”

                            In conclusion, we warmly recommend this book, which offers such a nice reading experience. 

  

   

You can pick up a copy at the online bookstore:

 http://dorrance.stores.yahoo.net/pothsptosp.html at the www.dorrancebookstore.com   

MEDITATIONS AND REFLECTIONS

by Rev. L. D. Ervin

Reviewed by E.L.S.E.

07.30.2012

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You can pick up a copy at the online bookstore:  

 http://dorrance.stores.yahoo.net/meandre.html at the www.dorrancebookstore.com

This e-book was provided by Dorrance Book Review Team.

The book is published by Dorrance Publishing.

I was searching in the vast library of Dorrance Publishing online store when a title a little sad but also intriguing caught my attention: “Meditations and reflections”. Reading this title a sort of tranquility was produced in my soul together with a need to see what was in there. It was like discovering and old and hidden English garden you feel the need to open the door, to enter and explore the mysteries.

Into the book the author unveils the meanings of the biblical names. Also the Saint Maxim the Confessor, in Philokalia, vol. 3, shows us the translation of such names like Jerusalem which means the place from where the peace is seen.

The author quotes a Hebrew writer who said: “looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith” (pg.2). In this respect we consider that the great tragedy of Israel is that among them has born the Son of God, they being the chosen people, and they can believe in Him, even they are trying. Like Jesus said: “Nobody is a prophet in his country”, or like the Israelis said, quoted in the Bible: “Isn`t Him the son of Jacob?”, or “It may come out something good from Nazareth?!”. Also, it must be said here that the anti-Semitism is so wrong. How we can say that we love Jesus Christ, being in hate with the people among it Jesus was born?! Or, like Jesus said: “How somebody can love anybody, but hate his mother?” – and this is a very wrong position of some Christians who don`t respect the Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus…

The author describes how the path toward God it is accompanied by doubt, uncertainty, concerns and challenges.

The writing is sometime inspirational, full of conviction energy: “Look at the witnesses, the heroes of your life—your spouse, mother, father, sister, brother, grandparents—and countless others inducted in “God’s hall of fame.” Even more, they are standing in the “great arena” cheering and applauding your every step. They are saying run, child, run!”  

“He completed extensive training under our Lord. He constantly talked and walked with the Master.” (pg.4) – very interesting formula… In the same time an occasion to discuss about the knowledge of God. The most profound knowledge of God can be named “apostolic knowledge”, because the apostles knew Jesus Christ face to face, talking Him, hearing directly from Him, being taught by Him.

I`m not agree with how the author consider the fear. In orthodox Christian writings the fear it is divided in two kinds: the god fear, the fear of God – “the fear of God is god, it makes the children sage”, and there is also a bad fear, the fear produced by our attachment to material things, our lack of faith in God`s help. Jesus Himself told us to not be worried, like the birds of the land, which do not seed and do not thresh, but God give them the food that they need. Also the lilies do not weave but they are dressed more beautiful then King Solomon of his peak of splendor. Also Jesus warns us saying: “There they feared, where was nothing not fear”.

It is important to highlight that the good fear is the second stage in Gnostic evolution, the first being the faith in God. Also, the believer who reaches the ultimate stages of Gnosticism transforms also the good fear, the fear of God. In this respect must be said that there are two kind of good fear: the first, in which we fear God like a servant fears his master to not be punished, and the second kind, in which the believer become through Jesus Christ a son of God, and fears to not upset his Father like a son loving his father wants to make his father will. In the end, the author says that the fear can be over passed only with the help of God, which is true: “You can do nothing without me.”

It may be mentioned here the saying of a great Christian author: “The material things are an illusion, but the bonds who attach us to them are very real!”

In the book there is a story with a father, his son and a friend of his son, capsizing with a boat in the middle of a storm. The father thrown the only line to be grabbed by the friend of his son, not by his son, reasoning that his son is already a Christian and the son`s friend isn`t. It is a very touching story which makes us humble.

In the Philokalia, one of the holly fathers explains the parable of the un-fruitful fig, treated also in this book, that the full of leafs three illustrated the Pharisees. They have all the exterior characteristics of fruitful threes, but they do not make fruits.

About judging each-other there is a very nice story about a monk who was a little indulged to food and wine and approaching his death he was not so worried. His brothers ask him why he felt no fear and he answered: “It is true that I wasn`t so attentive fulfilling God`s commandments, but this a know: I never judged somebody. So, I believe that God do not lied to me, when he said: “Do not judge, to not be judged!”

 Father Nicolae Dela Rohia (a Jewish man converted in communist a prison to orthodox Christian religion) is telling us about the levels of forgiveness: to forgive somebody who has done a bad think to you; to forgive yourself to being done something wrong; to forgive somebody for you have done something bed to him.

Related to forgiveness, there is a special pray that a hermit who built a monastery in remote Romanian Mountains, used to escape by the secret police members who were searching for him to get him in prison: “Torn back God, to the kindness of the pray, all my enemies!”.

The author said: “We have the words of our Lord contained within the pages of the New Testament” (pg. 24). We want to emphasize this, by adding a commentary of a holly father who warns us: “Every time we read the words of Jesus, He is there watching on us”. And even Jesus said: “Anywhere will be two or three gathered in my name, I will be there”.

In the battle against the evil, the holly fathers show us there are some degrees of sin ascension. First is the bait, the only action that is in the evil`s power. This is the phase in which we must reject with all our will the bad thoughts. If we are weak, the next phase appear, the phase in which we accompany the bad thought. After that, in the next phase we consent to the sin, and, in the last phase we will sin. The sooner we reject the bait, the safer we will be in the fight with the evil.

The author speaks in a minute way about rejection and teaches us how to relate us to this. Orthodox theology teaches the believers to be humble, to renounce at our need to like our self. When you get rid of false fame, you will be no more disturbed by the rejection. Even more, hollies fathers teach us about how to enjoy the unfairness don’t against us. To thanks to God for the sufferance that He gave to us, considering it like a medicine for our soul (but not searching for sufferance…).

But all we can say about this subject was said by Jesus Christ Himself, proclaiming the condition of happiness: “Happy you will be when they will rebuke you, will oppress you and they will say all bad word against you, lying for Me”.                  

Mister L. D. Ervin is teaching us about searching excuses. God do not Wants from us excuses. He wants from us to recognize sincerely our guilt, to repent from the bottom of our heart and to try to sin no more.

The style of the writing is clear, convincing, accessible to the large public, but it is also well documented and very well illustrated.

         

You can pick up a copy at the online bookstore:

  http://dorrance.stores.yahoo.net/meandre.html at the www.dorrancebookstore.com    

Dragilor,

A aparut "Al doilea Potop", care este ce-a de-a douasprezecea carte scrisa prin mine.

Tuturor celor interesati le-o voi trimite gratis, sub forma de PDF, daca-mi comunica e-mail-ul la care sa o trimit.

Pace si viata, fratilor!

Revelation Love Is the Edification Concerning Spiritual Love in This Changing World

By Dr. Robert D. Smith, D.D.

Reviewed by E.L.S.E.

07.12.2012

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You can pick up a copy at the online bookstore:   

http://dorrance.stores.yahoo.net/reloisedcosp1.html at the www.dorrancebookstore.com

This e-book was provided by Dorrance Book Review Team.

The book is published by Dorrance Publishing.

What are looking for people most badly if not for love? Spiritual love! The book written by Dr. Robert D. Smith, D.D., published by Dorrance Publishing, reveals the meanings and the ways of love. In this changing world must be some certitude for everybody. But, regarding love, how to find it? How to recognize it? Who can help you and guide you about this? To these questions Dr. Smith`s these is trying to respond.

  To begin the review I am quoting PhD. Prof. Priest Dumitru Staniloae, who states the following: “About the truth of science I believed it exists, but about the truth of the faith I know it exists.” Another thing about which mister Staniloae insisted very much it is the communion, an aspect extended by him in analyzing the dreadful mystery of the Holly Trinity, being in an inseparable communion but remaining unmixed in three persons. But, like also he said: “some questions it is better not to ask”… One of the binding principles, maybe the most important, between the three persons of Holly Trinity is LOVE.

Mister Smith in his book tries to argue in favor of spiritual love, analyzing how love spring from God, describing the characteristics of love, giving us some advices how to obtain spiritual love, stating that “God is love”, how love indwell in God mercy, how we must be temperate, about how love is truth.

Here must be highlighted a nuance about spiritual love. In the upper stages of it`s development the one who loves is loving the general human nature in each person, beyond the individual. Clean spiritual love succeeds to see Jesus Christ in each person. Maybe is not meaningless to quote here that an ancient father made: “God`s Is all in everything, but Is nothing in something”.

Other important nuance that also Mister Smith insists, are moderation, temperance and balance needed to receive the truth: the truth, which means love. Jesus Christ said: “Where isn`t love, nothing is.”

I am concluding this review quoting Mister Smith, using his conclusion to the book: “Love is caring. Love is looking beyond any rainbow and seeing no color, but only love. Love is patient, kind, passionate, fair, given, never jealous, forgiving, trusting, understanding, truth, knowledge, wisdom, and holds no grudges. Love is communication, self-control, and overlooks faults. Love is like cement, for it bears all and shelters all.”

So, You Reader, if you are searching for spiritual love, you`ll find it in book entitled: “Revelation Love Is the Edification Concerning Spiritual Love in This Changing World” something to remain in your hearth to help you advancing towards God.

       

You can pick up a copy at the online bookstore:

 http://dorrance.stores.yahoo.net/reloisedcosp1.html at the www.dorrancebookstore.com    

God’s Mystery Revealed

by Rami Issa Sawaged

-      Provided by Dorrance Book Review Team, through http://www.dorrancebookstore.com/ -

the link is:
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Review by E.L.S.E.

“21`th century will be a religious one, or will not be at all” said a wise man. In all his history the human being searched for answers about the meaning of the life and about the destiny. One general answer to all the fears and hardships of life would be the religion. In the world it`s a general and more acute than ever thirst for religion, and perhaps due to this, more fundamentalist doctrines than ever.

That`s why I am considering Dorrance Publishing House`s initiative, to have such a good developed department for religious books, to be a well saw opportunity. Especially for those who are searching for realms of faith.

First of all let`s talk about the danger to speak about God. Because Jesus said: “A blind man, leading another blind man, will fall both into a pit.” And also he said: “Woe to you, Pharisees, you hid the keys of the Kingdom, neither you entering, nor other letting enter”.

It is so easy to get wrong speaking about God. Also, speaking about God without fulfilling his commandments was told about Him to be a wrong thing: “You, sinner, why do you take my words in your mouth?”.

There are many stairs to climb to be able to speak about God. Because I never passed even the first one, but I want with my feeble strengths to defend the right way of faith, I am using the words of ancient fathers which are written in Filocalia, the collection of writings, in twelve volumes, translated in Romanian language by PhD. Professor Dumitru Staniloaie, the greatest theologian of Romanian Orthodox Church. There was said that the stages of evolution towards God are the followings: the faith on God which born the fear of God, which born the respect and the work of the commandments, which`s daughters are the wisdom, restraining, patience and hope; which are giving birth to lack of passions, which give birth to love, which ends the first part of the path, the working one; it follows the natural Gnosis, the theology, the higher Gnosis, and finally the stage of clean pray which it`s also the sight of God.

In the book of Rami Issa Sawaged you`ll find also described visions and dreams, and the dreadful experiences that followed. About having visions or dreams, about their perils, the father Cleopa, a brilliant Romanian monarch, a force of nature in speaking and quoting by heart the holly scriptures, advices us to reject all visions or dreams. They are mostly of them deceiving us. If God want to transmit something to us, He will do that even we are opposing to it. Like the Bible says, the evil can transform himself into a angel of light only to deceiving us.

The sufferance described in the book may illustrate very well the danger which lurches to grab the fable ones and grab them “like a lion searching for someone to swallow”. The believer must not search for God alone, not being advised by a holly father. To be guided by an experienced father it is a mandatory condition for evolution. “All god things, with blessing it are to be done.”

It is a general concern that using words, expressing symbols, may be a foreign language for the common reader. The Romanian theologian Petre Tutea was saying: “Between the believer and the faithless it is an impassable abyss.”

We must not forget the importance of the holly mysteries for Christian Church. 

About the style of the writing, I have to say that the direct way in which the author addresses to readers is undeniable. The comparisons that he uses like a preferred figure of speech are in the same time simple to understand but also suggestive.

In conclusion, reading books which speak about religion it is a good way to work your way to find God, but isn`t enough. We all need a good confessor and a great will to fight our path towards God. Then He will help us in an unexpected and mysterious way.

The holly fathers describe the stages of knowledge like this: the rational knowledge, the imaginative knowledge, the intuitive knowledge and finally the conscious unaquittance.

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