The Radiance Of Christ

The memory of Msgr. Roeltgen has not been dimmed by time. Those who knew him and were trained to virtue by his precepts and example love to speak of him, to repeat his words, and tell incidents of his holy life. Monsignor's life and character had a beauty few achieve. The gentleness of his manner, the strength of his character, the validity of his priestly commitment, and the unswerving love of God, the Church, the priesthood and, of course, his brother priests and his parishioners were so apparent to all who knew him that we knew we experienced a rare blessing and were especially gifted by the Lord in him. This book will be of immense spiritual value to all who know and want to know God, and will strengthen their faith, hope, and charity in these days when there is an apparent conspiracy at work to erase the consciousness of God from the minds of men. "We are but high up old windows through which the grace of God still shines." This sentence aptly describes our much loved and deeply missed friend. Monsignor Roeltgen was, indeed, a man who let the light of God shine through.

The image of God as light abounds in Scripture and the Christian tradition. In The Radiance of God, Douglas M. Koskela explores the theme of divine radiance across the span of Christian doctrine. The book develops a constructive account of the Christian gospel that traces the journey from darkness into the marvelous light of God. Drawing on an ecumenical range of voices in the tradition, Koskela frames the discussion in terms of three central concepts: allure, movement, and joy. The image of divine radiance suggests the sheer beauty of God that captivates the attention of God’s creatures in wonder, love, and praise. The brilliance of this light initiates a process of movement toward it as the Holy Spirit transforms us in the image of Christ, the light of the world. The culmination of this journey is inexpressible and unending joy as we are immersed in the divine light. By following this threefold pattern through the classic loci of Christian doctrine, this volume offers a sustained and coherent treatment of the economy of salvation from creation to consummation.

The image of God as light abounds in Scripture and the Christian tradition. In The Radiance of God, Douglas M. Koskela explores the theme of divine radiance across the span of Christian doctrine. The book develops a constructive account of the Christian gospel that traces the journey from darkness into the marvelous light of God. Drawing on an ecumenical range of voices in the tradition, Koskela frames the discussion in terms of three central concepts: allure, movement, and joy. The image of divine radiance suggests the sheer beauty of God that captivates the attention of God's creatures in wonder, love, and praise. The brilliance of this light initiates a process of movement toward it as the Holy Spirit transforms us in the image of Christ, the light of the world. The culmination of this journey is inexpressible and unending joy as we are immersed in the divine light. By following this threefold pattern through the classic loci of Christian doctrine, this volume offers a sustained and coherent treatment of the economy of salvation from creation to consummation.

"…His radiance is like the sunlight; He has rays flashing from His hand…" (Habakkuk 3:4 NASB) Too many Christians assume that all will be fine when they "die and go to Heaven." But author and pastor Randy Dean, a modern-day firebrand for the Lord, aggressively refuses to settle for that way of thinking and living. From putting his arm around a hopeless person and giving hope to raising the dead, he is building an army to sweep across the land and shine its spiritual radiance on a dark and sleeping world. The transcendent nature of the Kingdom of God has a dynamic that naturally radiates God's presence and dominating power. Nature itself is agonizing in its wait for you to be radiant with this supreme energy in your very footsteps. -Randy Dean The authentically good news of the Kingdom of God is a transcendent supremacy - a living energy that by its sheer magnetism draws people into its healing force. God sent Jesus as His Radiance. You, too, can be radiant with a Spirit of an invulnerable, irresistible, and pervasive force. Back Dare to live an outrageously attractive lifestyle in every venue of our culture - you are the radiance of His glory!

This highly Christocentric work concerns the fullness of deity and tremendous majesty of our Lord Jesus Christ. Readers will be awe-inspired by the joyful wonders of His infinite glory and everlasting reign, His incarnation of the One who inhabits eternity, and His fulfillment of Old Testament types of kingship and priesthood. We stand in awe of the universal miracle of redemption in His cross and historical resurrection, the exaltation of the Name above all names, and His return in power and great glory. As the One through whom the universe was created, the Archetype from heaven has generated a pervasively transformative impact upon the human image of God. He is the foundation for understanding our identity as men and women equally composing the royal priesthood in His likeness, together with our purpose, dignity, faith and reason, living for His glory, longing for eternal life, and our dreams of dwelling in and beholding His heavenly glory forevermore. While persevering in faith and withstanding competing ideologies, believers and truth-seekers of all backgrounds will be encouraged to refocus their eyes upon the Way, the Truth, and the Life, the Resurrection and the Life, the Lord of Glory and "The Joy of Our Desiring." Pastor Gary Michael Drucker, LPN, MA, ThM, MHS, is the Chair of the Theology Works Division and corporate executive of SciMed Writing LLC. He is a graduate of Bucks County Technical School, Northeastern Christian Junior College, David Lipscomb University, Princeton Theological Seminary, Westminster Theological Seminary, and Nova Southeastern University. He has been a long-term church minister, guest preacher for various churches and academia, Professor of Biblical Studies at Northeastern Christian Junior College, healthcare and funeral chaplain, and a professional nurse. He has been happily married for over 35 years, enjoys astronomy and walking or bicycling with his wife.

That Mysterious Power which Pushes All Things to Perfection