Facing East Photos From The Heart

I am a hunter. I haunt the walled lanes of far away villages, hang out in markets and bazaars, walk clockwise in a kora of prayer-spinning old ladies, earning my points from the gods and the spirits that frequent this monastery or that. I eat with the truckies, the farmers, the monks. My bearing relaxed, camera always at hand, pointing, its long lens inhibiting, always questioning: who are you, who are you? Then I stop, a face holds me, I try not to stare yet I want so much more: What have you done? What have you seen? Your past, what of the future? I can only imagine. I take a picture, then another and another. No counterfeit smiles for me. I want the real thing. Get under the skin, enter the personal, the space that divides, that calls for reflex. The shutter snaps to snare that involuntary retort that says this is me, this is me - the moment when all those facial muscles spring into play; so hard to replicate that which cannot easily be copied has value. I like faces. For the old, the lines and the wrinkles like growth rings in a tree. For the young their countenance fresh like tabula rasa, their story yet to be written. Old ladies and the young, they work well for me. The former not reticent to confront, the latter once through the hurdles of shyness - having seen their image on the camera screen - become charming actors in a world of the could-be. What makes a good face? I dont know - I believe if I did the dialogue would stop coming. www.rogermorganfacingeast.com

This extensively revised third edition, now compatible with Mishkan T'filah, offers many voices and unique, contemporary perspectives on our siddur, the order of the service, and the meaning of individual prayers. It reflects on the ways in which our prayer practices continue to evolve. This is an essential educational resource and is indispensable for bar/bat mitzvah and confirmation preparation, as well as for Introduction to Judaism courses and general adult education. "This timely and creative update of a timeless commentary will inspire a new generation of teachers and learners to explore their own expression of Jewish prayer. The rabbinic source materials, contemporary readings, poetry, and probing questions all come together in a seamless whole that serves to open the heart to ever deeper meaning and possibility in our sacred liturgy." - Rabbi Dr. Lisa Grant, Director of the Rabbinical Program, Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, New York "As a young Jewish educator fresh out of graduate school, I turned to the original edition of this book to teach my b'nei mitzvah students. I have come back to it over the decades for the thoughtful commentary and context it has given me as a teacher and teacher of teachers. As the foreword notes, Rabbi Harvey Fields, a consummate gardener, understood the need to prune a vine to encourage new growth. This new edition showcases that new growth yet continues to provide both the ease and depth that have always made it a "go to" on my bookshelf. The updated explanations, references, and questions reflect Mishkan T'filah's fresh approach to prayer. In short, B'chol L'vavcha is a stunning tribute to Rabbi Fields as well as to those who have come after him to encourage our Movement's evolving relationship to worship. Every page I turned inspired a new idea for a lesson, activity, or wondering I could share with my b'nei mitzvah tutors, religious school students, families, and adult learners. And personally, it sparked a renewal of my own belief in the power of prayer to come from my heart and to fill all of my heart." - Dr. Katherine Schwartz, President, Association of Reform Jewish Educators

Experience Freedom from Sexual Sin through the Power of the Savior Many women and men trapped in sexual sin believe willpower is the key to overcoming temptation, but your shaky self-discipline doesn't have to be the source of your strength. Sharing from his personal struggles, J. Garrett Kell explains that life-long transformation rests in the supernatural power of the Savior and the support of a local church. He offers profound insights into Jesus's teachings on purity and provides you with long-term strategies for your own pathway to freedom. Written for both men and women struggling with temptation, this book is a vital resource for the church, encouraging a healthy, empathetic community to help brothers and sisters in Christ resist sin. The goal isn't purity for purity's sake, but delighting in God and trusting him for ultimate victory.

The Culture of Animals in Antiquity provides students and researchers with well-chosen and clearly presented ancient sources in translation, some well-known, others undoubtedly unfamiliar, but all central to a key area of study in ancient history: the part played by animals in the cultures of the ancient Mediterranean. It brings new ideas to bear on the wealth of evidence – literary, historical and archaeological – which we possess for the experiences and roles of animals in the ancient world. Offering a broad picture of ancient cultures in the Mediterranean as part of a wider ecosystem, the volume is on an ambitious scale. It covers a broad span of time, from the sacred animals of dynastic Egypt to the imagery of the lamb in early Christianity, and of region, from the fallow deer introduced and bred in Roman Britain to the Asiatic lioness and her cubs brought as a gift by the Elamites to the Great King of Persia. This sourcebook is essential for anyone wishing to understand the role of animals in the ancient world and support learning for one of the fastest growing disciplines in Classics.

The first book to put the sacred and sensuous bronze statues from India’s Chola dynasty in social context From the ninth through the thirteenth century, the Chola dynasty of southern India produced thousands of statues of Hindu deities, whose physical perfection was meant to reflect spiritual beauty and divine transcendence. During festivals, these bronze sculptures—including Shiva, referred to in a saintly vision as “the thief who stole my heart”—were adorned with jewels and flowers and paraded through towns as active participants in Chola worship. In this richly illustrated book, leading art historian Vidya Dehejia introduces the bronzes within the full context of Chola history, culture, and religion. In doing so, she brings the bronzes and Chola society to life before our very eyes. Dehejia presents the bronzes as material objects that interacted in meaningful ways with the people and practices of their era. Describing the role of the statues in everyday activities, she reveals not only the importance of the bronzes for the empire, but also little-known facets of Chola life. She considers the source of the copper and jewels used for the deities, proposing that the need for such resources may have influenced the Chola empire’s political engagement with Sri Lanka. She also investigates the role of women patrons in bronze commissions and discusses the vast public records, many appearing here in translation for the first time, inscribed on temple walls. From the Cholas’ religious customs to their agriculture, politics, and even food, The Thief Who Stole My Heart offers an expansive and complete immersion in a community still accessible to us through its exquisite sacred art. Published in association with the Center for Advanced Study in the Visual Arts, National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC

Folded plate (1 leaf, 39 x 61 cm, folded to 19 x 16 cm) in pocket.

The Treasure of the Word: Commentary on Biblical Readings for Sundays, Feast Days, and Solemnities, Cycle A presents concise and incisive reflections on the treasures one may excavate from the rich veins embedded in the lectionarys readings from the Word of God. Rev. Fr Isidore Okwudili Igwegbe, drawing upon his own prayerful reflection, his encounters with the readings in the company of parishioners, and his extensive ministerial experience, offers these writings to encourage individuals prayerful encounters with the Scriptures. Following the tradition and practices of the Catholic Church, The Treasure of the Word groups the commentaries into three sections: Sundays, feast days, and solemnities. In addition, the work reflects upon the lectionarys readings for the occasions of weddings and funerals. The Treasure of the Word intends to foster a life-changing encounter with the God to whose work the Scriptures give witness. As the Most Rev. Dr Gregory O. Ochiagha notes in his foreword, These reflections are really a challenge to authentic living in Christ. Whether your vocation is to the priesthood, religious life, or as a member of the laity, The Treasure of the Word will offer you prayerful, inspired, and wise guidance for digging into the Scriptures and discovering its wealth of support for living faithfully.

This collection offers a challenge to any simple understanding of the role of images by looking at aspects of the reception of image worship that have only begun to be studied, including the many hesitations that Asian religious traditions expressed about image worship. Written by eminent scholars of anthropology, art history, and religion with interests in different regions (India, China, Japan, and Southeast Asia), this volume takes a fresh look at the many ways in which images were defined and received in Asian religions. Buddha Dharma Kyokai Foundation Book on Buddhism and Comparative Religion