Bøker av Floyd Vernon Chandler

"Each poem is a snapshot of an experience or a working out of an idea or a spiritual reflection. They deal with remorse, regret, grief, sadness, tragedy, mingled with life's dilemmas, unfinished business and paradoxes, hope, questions, deep faith, love of animals and nature. Sometimes the poems' conclusions take you by complete surprise. There is sensitivity to suffering both human and animal. This is a profoundly moving and thought-provoking companion for anyone who is on the journey - and perhaps especially for those of us in the 'second half' of life."Jane Graham, WCCM Meditator, Buckingham, England "Look into the eyes of a young boy, a dying man, a soldier, a squirrel, an ant, even a flounder, and you will find yourself immersed in the beautiful mysteries of hope and despair, of faith and uncertainty, of life and death. This vivid collection invites us to plumb the depths of the divine in the surprisingly simple, mundane and often overlooked moments of life. Truly a healing balm and a feast for the soul."The Reverend Dr. Craig J. Sefa, author of I Arise Today: A 40 Day Journey Through St. Patrick's Breastplate Prayer "I was mesmerized! The writer shares with us the thoughts of a lifetime in each of these timely writings. One cannot help but feel the pain of change, and loss, as one reads and discovers the depth of the writer's journey through life."The Reverend Daniel D. Rhodes, retired clergy, Dadeville, Alabama "Vernon Chandler writes with great tenderness and compassion. One is drawn into these experiences of life lived, life shared, and life loved."The Reverend Loretta Benninghove, parish minister, Prospect, Virginia "I found the poetry in this book truly inspiring as they really touched my heart. A few of them had me in tears. I wish I could learn lessons from life in the way that the author has."Aileen B. Urquhart, author of I Belong and other Catholic children's books "Vernon Chandler has captured the stare of life through the waters of the Flounder. Open and compassionate, these poems awaken and feed the visions and memories of living creations! I highly recommend this book for those who are willing to feel the threads that make up the tapestries of being."The Reverend David E. McLean, U.S. Army Chaplain, Retired . "In The Stare of the Flounder, Vernon Chandler uses poetry as a vehicle for exploring the life-shaping events of his life related to family, friends, non-human life forms, and death, as he explores the perennial questions of life." Linda Foshee, retired educator, Hattiesburg, Mississippi

What really happens to human consciousness at death?How might love and immortality be related?What is purgatory and do most religions teach the concept of purgatory?What is spirituality?Is the essence of the mystery we call ""God"" the same for the Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jew, and Muslim?Is it more important what my religion teaches me to believe, or is it more important that my religion enables me to become more loving and compassionate?How might one practice a reverence for life by our food choices?How do we balance work and spirituality?How do we balance spirituality and social-justice work?In this collection of sermons and reflections, Floyd Vernon Chandler suggests that there are many valid spiritual paths to Enlightenment and Holiness. Understanding the mystery we call ""God"" is akin to the story of five blind men touching different parts of a huge elephant. Each man's description and understanding of the elephant will vary based upon the location of his touch. The importance of any religion is determined by how much our respective spiritual paths lead us to grow in love and compassion for one another and for all other forms of life on this planet. The sermon and reflections found in Beyond the Grave: Love and Immortality express a Universalist theology that all souls will eventually be reunited with the mystery we call ""God."" Inherent in this collection of writings is the belief that there is truth in all religions and that there are many valid spiritual paths. No religious dogma or ideology has a monopoly on truth.

Synopsis:What really happens to human consciousness at death?How might love and immortality be related?What is purgatory and do most religions teach the concept of purgatory?What is spirituality?Is the essence of the mystery we call "God" the same for the Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jew, and Muslim?Is it more important what my religion teaches me to believe, or is it more important that my religion enables me to become more loving and compassionate?How might one practice a reverence for life by our food choices?How do we balance work and spirituality?How do we balance spirituality and social-justice work?In this collection of sermons and reflections, Floyd Vernon Chandler suggests that there are many valid spiritual paths to Enlightenment and Holiness. Understanding the mystery we call "God" is akin to the story of five blind men touching different parts of a huge elephant. Each man''s description and understanding of the elephant will vary based upon the location of his touch. The importance of any religion is determined by how much our respective spiritual paths lead us to grow in love and compassion for one another and for all other forms of life on this planet. The sermon and reflections found in Beyond the Grave: Love and Immortality express a Universalist theology that all souls will eventually be reunited with the mystery we call "God." Inherent in this collection of writings is the belief that there is truth in all religions and that there are many valid spiritual paths. No religious dogma or ideology has a monopoly on truth.Author Bio:Floyd Vernon Chandler is an ordained Unitarian Universalist minister and has provided ministry in a variety of settings over the past thirty-three years, including parish ministy, correctional chaplaincy, and military chaplaincy.