Offerings

Eventhough I do not understand the Vietnam war, and I was not alive at the time, this book really touched me. The guilt, pain, and loss that the offerings people had left made me cry. There was a picture with a little girl and her dad, and a veteren was telling about the day he met the man in the photo. I think that story will stick with me forever. I saw the pain of innocense lost through the artifacts, and the truth of the poeple in that war was revealed. I reconmmend this book to anyone from that era to the youth of mine.

I sobbed through Offerings at the Wall. Sobbed for the loss of innocence and young lives lost. For anyone raised in the 1960s this should be a must read to understand and come to grips with the imapct the Vietnam War had on our generation. God speed to our veterans and to the brave young men and women of today's military still fighting for our freedom. Please take the time to thank a veteran for his/her service to our country.

I bought this book awile ago. Some of the things left behind have letters or notes attached to them. Very chilling. Awesome book for anyone. I love it.

I am the proud editor (Brutal Dreamer) aka Peggy Jo Shumate, of the CEMETERY POETS Anthology. The book has made quite a splash and has received many wonderful raves and reviews -below are a few.

Baryon Magazine #90 says:
"...Talented writers David Bowlin, Peggy Jo Shumate, Megan Powell, Scott Urban, Paul Kane, Matt Hewitt, G.W. Thomas, C. Lynn Young and others take you on a tour that ranges from the soul to the grave with all points in between. You might want to pick it up and place it on the poetry shelve between Lovecraft and Poe."

***

Hackers Source, reviewer, Michael Purfield
Copyright Issue:
Issue 13
81520-01171
"Cemetery Poets" is the end-all collection of horror poetry. Yes, it is just over 200 pages, but it is packed with poems and vignettes that detail torture, pain, internal and external struggle, deformity, evil, God, Satan, family, and then some..."

***
I hope you pick up this book in time to read this Halloween by tealight of the JackO'Lantern.

Thank you to all the poets that danced with me in this collection and to all you brave fans that have read (and will read) and join in our dance in the cemetery!

--Brutal Dreamer (Peggy Jo Shumate)

Some super stuff from a variety of poets. Darn good material here, hard to pick out a fave. Nightmares on parade? PLENTY!

Cemetery Poets is not for the faint-hearted; the poetry is raw and visceral...and effective for that reason. There are many good dark poems in it -- too many to count or list by title. This book is ENORMOUS, filled with a book's worth of poetry and vignettes from every contributor. And though some of the rhyming poems weren't my style, most of them are free verse and many of them are outright surprising in their originality. Some of the poets are recognizable names from the horror industry; others are newcomers with a mad passion for creepiness. Recommended reading for any horror fan. There's plenty in here you might read aloud at your next Halloween party...and plenty that should best be enjoyed alone in the dark, in the dead of night. Twisted stuff!

If you love wine or know someone who does, you gotta have this book. It's great for wine tastings, relaxing beside a fire with friends or perusing while soaking in the hot tub.

I buy this book for all of my wine-loving friends. It's great to sit down with a glass of your favorite wine and browse through. There are lots of poems, sayings and toasts--all about wine! There's even an overview of the history of wine in different cultures throughout the ages. I highly recommend it.

This is a neat book that brings known quotes, adages, etc. about wine...together with the obscure. Fun book to own...even better to give to a wine-loving friend. I will also admitt that I went to college with the author...and she has tasted wines from Boone's Farm...to great Mondavi's...she knows her wine!

Gloria Fraser Giffords does an excellent job in researching an often ignored corner of art history, Mexican folk art. She provides insight into how these images were made, but also helps the reader understand the devotional context in which these images were used by people in the nineteenth century (and are still used by people today). A must for a student in this area, especially as there is not yet abundant information in this field. The images are compelling and beautifully reproduced and the book is easy and interesting to read. I thoroughly enjoyed it!

This book isn't large, but it's full of the incredible beauty of Mexican folk art with 82 color illustrations. It's well written, very detailed, and in three sections.

Part 1, "The Mexican Folk Retablos": The origins of these small religious oil paintings, usually on tin, are described, as well as terminology, materials, the artists (mostly unknown), and much more. The chapter is completed with 28 images of the Holy Family, and each plate is described on the facing page. The wonderful piece depicted on the cover, "La Inmaculada", is one of them.

Part 2, "Saints as Subjects": This starts with the problem of identification, as finding out which saint is pictured is quite a feat. It goes into the function of these retablos, and their changing popularity as time progressed. It concludes with 36 images of saints, that are inspiring and beautifully executed. I find # 31, "San Antonio de Padua", extraordinary.

Part 3, "The Mexican Ex-Voto Painting": An ex-voto is a story painting, done as a commemoration to answered prayer. This chapter deals with the characteristics of these lovely pieces, their development and decline. It gives 17 examples of this unique art form, along with a description, as well as a legible printing of the writing on the painting, in Spanish and English. The back of the book has bibliography, notes, indexes, etc.

If you appreciate Mexican art, this will be a wonderful addition to your library, and if you like Russian icons, as I do, it makes a fascinating comparison, especially plate # 4, "Nuestro Señor de los Trabajos", and plate # 62, "Santiago", pictured with sword in hand and on horseback.

The author, Gloria Fraser Giffords, has done a marvelous work with this volume, bringing us an area of Mexican culture that doesn't get as much attention as it deserves.

I can't believe this is the 1st review...This inspirational, beautifully put together book was awesome. The research into the art work alone, is masterful. Then Ms. Giffords tells you a story about the pictures content and the symbolism in each artists work. This book alone, has inspired me to delve further into the lost art of retablos' and the lives of the saints. I recommend this book to art students, theologians, and anyone interested in igniting their sprituality!!!

This book mirrored my emotions and helped me through some hard times

Frankston shares with profound simplicity the revelatory experiences that come unexpectedly in the midst of life

I want to thank you for the overwhelming sense of peace that THE OFFERING has brought me

This book is deceptively simple in its approach to the complexity of devotion. Kay Leigh Hagan's poem at first appears to be instructional: "how to make a vow", but it is actually a meditation; a way of slowing down and opening up. The decision to put just a few words of the poem on every page forces the reader to slow down; to consider each word on the vast emptiness of those small white pages; to consider the milagro photographs, each in its own small universe, and then reconsider the words one more time. By the time I finished the book and read the words "when all is sacred, every act is devotion", I felt the satisfaction of being in complete sync with the artists who put this book together. I have been an admirer of the work of Kay Leigh Hagan and Richard Downing since both were members of the Atlanta artistic community. It is wonderful to encounter their work all these many years later and still be as moved by it as I was in the days when slowing down long enough to understand what it meant to make a vow would have been out of the question. In the midst of the madness of the days current events, this book is a way of focusing our energy for peace, for courage, for renewal.

I go for the eloquence of Kay Leigh Hagan's phrases unfolding. And Richard Downing's photos of milagros enliven Hagan's words. This is one mindful and sweet book...a great gift if you find yourself in a devotional moment of giving!

Vow is so lovely! I go back and forth between whether I want to keep it on my coffee table or on my altar. It's like the pictures are beautiful so it's an art object, but the prayer touched my soul so much that I want it on my altar. But I also just like having it bedside because it's so short and sweet and easy to get through on nights when I just don't have the energy for Pema Chodron. It's just a beautiful little prayerbook. I highly recommend it!

One of the essential components of Buddhist practice, that actually 'makes it work' is given in this book. This practice of 'Reliance upon the Spiritual Guide' is an aspect of Buddhist practice that is often overlooked by Westerners seeking to improve their spiritual lives with the teachings of Buddha. Most Buddhist practices are available for people to study and learn about. But the emphasis on the power of one's faith and receiving blessings is usually lacking. The teachings in this book explain what brings alive that true inner transformation that essentially we are all looking for...

This book elucidates the 84,000 teachings of the Buddha clearly and precisely with a commentary on Lama Chopa, the guru yoga of Je Tsongkhapa. Kelsang Gyatso unveils the deeper meanings of the rich imagery of this practise. Great Treasury of Merit is a must-have for those who wish to deepen their understanding of the stages of the path to enlightenment, in particular, relying on a Spiritual Guide.

Ibo Landing is a story collection filled with all the things that are important in life; love, family, ancestry, and the Blue Ridge Mountains. These are the stories of my cousin who had the insight and initiative to write down all the events that happened in our family. For you see, these are stories of everyday people whose love transcends all, and to this day are the ties that bind. You will find the Lewis story intertwined throughout this book from birth to death and the celebration of life, love and family. Kudos to the author who also happens to be my kissing cousin!

A literary debut, Ibo's Landing is a book rich with stories told in the way all readers want to hear them -- fresh, honest, familiar, invoking; it is told with humor, sorrow, truth, insight, determination and love.

Lyrical and prolific, the collections of stories are a seemless journey through one families beginning on American soil.

Ibo's Landing is a truly remarkable first novel and a masterpeirce of it's kind. It is another jewel that tells the story of our people and I highly recommend it to all.

Margaret Johnson-Hodge, author of A NEW DAY

This book has been such a blessing - from a man who lived - and died - a lifestyle of worship.

David Morris was and is my best friend - I knew him personally and learned to love him and his example of Christ he lived every day. David overcame great adversity in his life (explained in the book), knew the depths of personal failure, yet through the grace of God came out on the other side with a powerful testimony - and more powerfully - a lifestyle which consistenly reflected the nature of Jesus - not only to me, but to all he ministered to.

David's life has powerfully - and in a lasting way has touch my life - even after his death - in a way which continues to amaze me.

This book captures the essence of what David walked out in a daily basis.

This book will help you pursue a deeper and more meaningful walk with God! I continue to miss him deeply and look forward to the day we will be reunited!

Let me start off by saying that this book is not an emotional spritzer - you know the kind - a book written to hype your emotions to a new level, only to drop you later when you realize JUST HOW HARD LIFE REALLY IS! Although Morris's personal story will move you, there is SO MUCH MORE to his book! It was not written to further your own personal guilt trip due to failures in private devotions and worship, but to break the viscious cycle and help each of us move into a new level of intimacy and relationship with our Heavenly Father! It's about time!

Beyond private worship - it's also about corporate worship and the many different forms that takes. He covers topics on prophetic dance, warfare praise and worship and a host of other contemporary worship concepts. Underneath all he writes, Morris lays a very solid biblical foundation for the concepts he presents. He is authoratitive and speaks out of his years of experience as a worship leader. This is a must read for church worship leaders and music directors.

This book has an edge to it - it's called the cutting edge...

Randy Gingrich

Beyond Tithes and Offerings is a wonderful book! Many of the books and articles I have thus far read concerning this perspective of the tithe are often negative, critical and neglect to encourage the practice of true Christian giving principles according to the Word of God, which can only be effectively enacted out of a changed heart, filled with God's love and divine purpose. Beyond Tithes and Offerings is for certain a brilliant exception!

This book not only outlines clearly and simply the proper biblical context of tithing (in contrast to the traditional view taught in most churches today - including my own, yikes! hehe), but it presents a practical challenge to invite the Lord to come and inspire our motivation to give out of our abundance to supply the lack of others; not out of necessity or by compulsion, but out of love.

If you are one who perhaps has chosen a non-tithing position thinking that this means you are now exempt from a responsibility to give (even of your finances), this book will, on the contrary, prove you otherwise and challenge you directly in your faith and your relationship with Jesus.

Beyond Tithes and Offerings does not neglect the importance of understanding Christ's heart as it concerns our giving.

Since reading this book, in addition to my own personal Bible studies and prayer, I have experienced a revitalized sensitivity to the Holy Spirit and a fresh liberty in the area of giving that I had been missing before. I learned so much more than what tradition has taught me over the years (or perhaps I should say mis-taught). I highly would recommend this book to pastors as well as any Christian who would invite a challenge to their faith and the opportunity to grow in their understanding of God's Word as it applies to the subject of true Christian giving.

The motivation of this book is not to divide churches or turn members against their tithe-preaching pastors or from giving financially to care for the needs of the local church, on the contrary it encourages spiritual growth and attention to the reality and power of God's Word that needs to be wholly applied to our lives in every area. This book is not against giving, in fact it encourages it and pastors needn't feel threatened by the title. It is certainly not the common perspective of most church leaders and Christians in general today (and for many may be a little hard to swallow because it so severely offends the tradition many have religiously observed for years), but it is the biblical perspective and one that I believe has the potential to revolutionize the way churches operate today.

I especially encourage pastors to read this book, because, rest assured, probably a good number of your flock already are! It's going to make preaching the traditional tithe (with Scripture) a whole lot harder, as people begin to just read for themselves the simple truth revealed right in the pages of God's Word.

I want to commend the writers for a wonderful and uplifting book. On the surface this book is about money, but in reality it is more about the freedom and grace that we have as christians. Next to the Bible this is one book that has truly shown me the love and grace of God, this book has had a profound effect in my walk with the Lord. From now on I will be lead by the spirit in my giving and not lead by well meaning but mislead men or women.

My hope and prayer is that we who have read the book and realize the truth in it will have the courage and conviction to stand up for those who are less fortunate than we are, to not fear men but to fear God. Let us also put this book in the hands of men and women that are responsible for handling the money in our churches. As for me I am going to get a few copies and send them out to my church leaders, if they read this book and are not touched by it than I will know that their heart is not for the poor but for the money. Now I know the true freedom I have in Jesus Christ.

Once again I thank the writers for letting God use them in such a powerful way. And most of all I thank Jesus my savior for my salvation and for my FREEDOM.

I was unclear since what I read in the bible was different from what I was hearing on Sunday. This excellent book explains that the requirement to tithe was only in the OT and never commanded in the NT. Tithes were based on crops, not money. Tithes were eaten and shared with the giver. In years 3 and 6 the tithes were given to the poor- which is a lot different than supporting church overhead expenses. This book is very detailed but nontechnical so you don't have to be a scholar to understand.