Restoring The Spirit

The untold story of early-twentieth-century women's role in developing an essential area of health care.

Matthew's theology of the spirit has received little scholarly attention, which is regrettable since the evangelist is careful to note that the eschatological redemption described in his gospel is the direct result of the activity of God's Spirit. Matthew's narrative of God's restoring work, which begins with Jesus and continues through his followers, is both informed by and extends the larger biblical narrative of God's creative, redemptive and restoring work, at the centre of which stands his Spirit, his active presence. Charette's study elaborates on the broad sweep of Matthew's interest in the Spirit and examines the operation of the Spirit in relation to the three theological categories of Christology, soteriology and ecclesiology.

Restoring Spirit has taken eleven years to bring to publication. The bulk of it was written in 2004. Putting all these memories and feelings in writing was very therapeutic for me in the aftermath of the accident. But the accident was becoming the major event in my life that everything was chronologically placed around. I needed to put it to rest and move on to my future. I did return to it for a short period in 2007, when the Epilogue was written as the end of the story. Knowing that God would take it for His use someday in his own time, it is now ready to be shared.

First Nations peoples believe the eagle flies with a female wing and a male wing, showing the importance of balance between the feminine and the masculine in all aspects of individual and community experiences. Centuries of colonization, however, have devalued the traditional roles of First Nations women, causing a great gender imbalance that limits the abilities of men, women, and their communities in achieving self-actualization.Restoring the Balance brings to light the work First Nations women have performed, and continue to perform, in cultural continuity and community development. It illustrates the challenges and successes they have had in the areas of law, politics, education, community healing, language, and art, while suggesting significant options for sustained improvement of individual, family, and community well-being. Written by fifteen Aboriginal scholars, activists, and community leaders, Restoring the Balance combines life histories and biographical accounts with historical and critical analyses grounded in traditional thought and approaches. It is a powerful and important book.

Inspiration and guidance for creating journals or scrapbooks for self-healing and inner strength while managing life’s difficult moments. In follow up to Faith Books & Spiritual Journaling, author Sharon Soneff shows that there is a richer, deeper reward to creative journals beyond the beauty they supply. In this new volume, Art Journals & Creative Healing, she demonstrates with real excerpts from artistic journals that the process of journaling can be a tool in navigating through some of life’s more challenging seasons, as well as a tool to support personal growth and achievement. Complex human experiences are treated with dignity and sensitivity, and will inspire readers dealing with their own issues. Hope, growth, and healing are at the center of each work. Additionally, the ideas, artistic approaches, and resources provided by the author and numerous contributing artists will help the reader with creative ideas for working through various situations through their reflective and artistic journal keeping. Through a marriage of beautiful imagery, uplifting quotations, and other rich sources, Art Journals & Creative Healing offers its audience a full-bodied artistic experience, along with journaling worksheets and journal prompts to help readers get started with their own journals. Specific topics addressed include using mediums as metaphors, journaling for cathartic expression, gaining wisdom through introspection, finding strength in the midst of suffering, and finding beauty in pain. Art Journals & Creative Healing is a supportive and encouraging text offered as a creative companion for overcoming the challenges of life.

In the book of Acts divine involvement is everywhere. From the beginning God is responsible for promised action, including the geographic expansion--"in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (1:7)--referenced in Jesus' response to the disciples, clearly related to Luke's purpose in writing the book. Geographic expansion, however, is only the second part of Jesus' reply. Is it possible that the first half of Jesus' reply--"It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority"--has even greater bearing on the actions that follow and on Luke's purpose? Is the Father setting times and seasons related to the kingdom's establishment? Does this phrase explain the conspicuous divine involvement throughout the plot? In Restoring the Kingdom, Michael Salmeier answers these questions in the affirmative by exploring Luke's characterization of God in three strands: God as the King who establishes and restores Israel's king, who establishes his people, and who directs events. This unfolds Luke's purpose in assuring the reader concerning the events that have taken place, helping to more fully illuminate Luke's theology concerning God and his kingdom.

Spiritual HoneyRestoring the Spirit follows the lives of Ray and Mary Ann Minjarez from childhood sweethearts through forty years of marriage. Their love story takes them through the devastation of sin that comes close to destroying their marriage and their lives. You will walk with Mary Ann and Ray separately as they each tell their story, touching every human emotion. You will see how Jesus showed up and saved them just in time.