A father's poignant journey unfolds as he navigates the challenges of his son's terminal illness. Through humor, honesty, and dignity, the young man imparts profound lessons about life and death, transforming his family's understanding of love and loss. The narrative blends heartbreak with hope, showcasing the strength of familial bonds in the face of adversity.
"A collection of biblically and theologically rooted sermons about living the Christian life with conviction"-- Provided by publisher
A guided tour of spiritual autobiography that grants readers new insights and appreciation of the genreThe genre of spiritual autobiography has flourished ever since Augustine essentially invented it in the fourth century. In Our Hearts Are Restless, Richard Lischer--himself the author of two spiritual memoirs--takes readers on a guided tour of the genre, examining the life writings of twenty-onefigures from the obvious (Thomas Merton) to the surprising (James Baldwin); and from the ancient (the aforementioned Augustine) to the contemporary (Anne Lamott).Lischer is a perceptive reader and interpreter of these writings, and a thoughtful and engaging guide to the genre. Readers will come away with new insights into these figures' lives--spiritual and otherwise--but also a new appreciation of the art and craft of spiritual writing.
In a world weary of language after the tumult of the twentieth century, Richard Lischer explores the relevance of preaching amidst a culture overwhelmed by mass communication. He confronts the limitations and failures of words, ultimately guiding readers toward a deeper understanding of their true purpose and potential. This reflection invites a reconsideration of how language can still resonate meaningfully in contemporary society.
The narrative unfolds through the perspective of a young minister, exploring the intricate friendships, rivalries, and gossip that define small-town life in a Midwestern community. With a style reminiscent of Garrison Keillor, the story delves into the personal lives of the townspeople, revealing their secrets and the dynamics that shape their relationships.
Lischer emphasizes the vital role of preaching as a significant endeavor, highlighting its reciprocal relationship with theology. He presents preaching as a kerygmatic and practical activity that not only draws from theological insights but also shapes and articulates them, providing a deeper understanding of both disciplines. This exploration affirms the transformative power of preaching in conveying theological concepts and its essential place within the church's mission.
Parables make up one-third of Jesus' speech in the New Testament. In this volume, Richard Lischer provides an expert guide to these parables and proposes an important distinction between reading and interpreting the parables.Emphasizing the importance of reading the parables versus interpreting them, Lischer asserts that reading offers a kind of breathing space to explore historical, literary, theological, and socio-political dimensions of the parables and their various meanings, whereas interpreting implies an expert and critical position that must be defended. In this volume, Lischer lays out four theories for reading parables: 1) parables obscure truth; 2) parables teach many truths; 3) parables teach one truth; and 4) parables undermine the truth. Ultimately, he concludes that biblical parables undermine dominant myths called "the truth" to shine light on the Truth that is Jesus, God's presence with us.