Navel gazing for the initiated
928654
I'll say it right off the bat:  I'm disappointed.  I was hoping for more (or anything!) about the actual making of the films discussed rather than lengthy psychological discourse about the often obvious symbolism contained in these cinematic treasures.

For example: there's nothing about shooting in the Hebrides but more than you could ever wish for on the psychology of Sister Ruth's red lipstick.  That may not be a bad thing for some, but for $45 couldn't Moor have at least included a few more photos?  (There are just a handful: The Archers, a promo shot of Robert Helpmann from Tales of Hoffman and stills from Contraband, Canterbury Tale, Colonel Blimp, A Matter of Life and Death and Black Narcissus.)  The fact that the book's index lists an astonishing SINGLE mention of Moira Shearer should be another clue to fans hoping for more meat and potatoes rather than simply food for thought.

Moor has unquestionably written some interesting dissections, but the dissections are only of the finished films, with barely a whisper about the actual creation of them.

Powell and Pressburger are undoubtedly masters who created some of the finest films ever made.  But for the steep price I was hoping for more.
28153
This book is very good! This book has some very good ideas to celebrate the incoming life-to-be. It is pagan-based, and rather on the "hippy" side of things.  The biggest boon is the pages instructing on how to make the belly-cast.
1130521
The level of research from the common place hoardings, advertisements, reading of secondary literature, interviews and social science academic literature for a decade make this book a four star one even if it remains at a discursive common sense pedestrian level of the extrovert gaze. The Indian middle class' new primordial rootedness is examined through its spirituality symbolised by hierarchical ACC and middle class' perfunctory observation of rituals on important occasions of consumptionist bloating and its cosmos of inward enclave gaze in real estate housing exclusivity, architectural nostalgia of historical regalia and Dubaisation. Personally, it is a serious book for its recognition of Indian research available on international circuits and Indian writings on India's social and physical landscape to derive the position of hybridity of the Neo liberal middle class at once Glocal, global and local with all their hierarchies. It's first part is serious also for the research on historical parallels with urban histories of European centres in colonial and post communist times. It adds a flavour to its arguments through reference to some past and mid 1990s Hindi films. Gurgaon, Noida high rise, malls and life styles therein come in as part of what the author calls inverted gaze to be both cosmopolitan and Indian. It's review of the Indian middle class could go further down the historical lane beyond Pawan Verma to buttress the argument that she is building up about the imaginary, inverted Gaze and consumptionist. It is a pity that the functionality of the middle class is absent, even if this is supposedly an anatomical exercise-minus flesh and blood of functionality.
20908
Good first glimpse.  Ron exposes you to various daily tasks that you could run into.  Very helpful for novice.  Good job.
2752092
This book really provides the type of insight that I was seeking prior to my first short term mission. I believe I will travel with improved understanding and focus on what should be the goal of the trip. I believe I will spend more time listening to and observing the people that I meet because of reading this book.
4757219
I enjoyed this book. The opportunity to draw closer to God through the prayers that were written opened up to an awesome experience. Sometimes we stumble, or unsure how to pray . This book is a good starting point . Leads you into thoughts and ideas of the greatness of God . I would recommend it to anyone .
350229
A powerful tool in helping to reorient ones focus and direction.
1854133
This is a simple approach to helping one be engaged in the present moment without trying to change or control anything.  There are questions and suggestions to being open and curious without judgement, clinging, or avoiding.
4719779
This book tests your attention to detail.  At first glance, many of the pictures seem to be something they're not, which requires a second, more patient look.  Noticing things like fingerprints and head hair as opposed to the other options our imagination tends to grab hold of first.  This book is tasteful, inspiring and something much deeper than just a "second glance".  I'd recommend it to everybody who enjoys a visual challenge.
3024309
Gibbs and Bolger set out to present a series of qualities one may find in an emerging ministry. The reader looking for a critical evaluation of these qualities will be disappointed. While Gibbs and Bolger are clearly sympathetic to the emerging church and its task to embody the Gospel contextually, they are far more concerned with letting the 50 emerging leaders in their study speak for themselves.

The time will come when critique of the emerging church will be warranted and needed, but Gibbs and Bolger have provided the necessary first step in defining the emerging church and giving its proponents and critics some handles. Many critics of the emerging church would benefit by reading this book before leveling any charges at emerging groups. More than anything, the reader has a chance to encounter the leading thinkers behind the emerging church, the theology and philosophy behind their practice, and their ultimate goals in contextual ministry.

At the heart of the emerging church presented by Gibbs and Bolger is the missionary character that many such congregations embody. Instead of simply changing the format of meetings to include new trends and technology, the emerging church is deeply concerned with embodying the Gospel and taking the church to the streets. "Rather than extracting people from the world, the church should empower members to engage more effectively in the ministry and mission that God has already entrusted to them in the world. Members should serve the world through their vocations rather than through church-administered programs" (142).

Though funding limited the project to research in the UK and USA, one is struck by the diversity of the emerging ministries. Some focus on club culture, others on urban monasticism, while others form loose networks in the suburbs. While identifying the major trends of the emerging church, Gibbs and Bolger are able to celebrate the diversity of this network.

The identifying characteristics of the emerging churches in this study are as follows (and can be found in the table of contents):

Identifying with Jesus

Transforming Secular Space

Living as Community

Welcoming the Stranger

Serving with Generosity

Participating as Producers

Creating as Created Beings

Leading as a Body

Merging Ancient and Contemporary Spiritualities

An additional 100 pages of the book is allocated to the personal stories of each emerging leader interviewed for the book, as well as an explanation on research methodology. If anyone desires to grasp the heart of the emerging church, the stories of these individuals will go far in creating a vivid picture of what God is doing throughout the UK and the USA. Emerging Churches is clearly the premier resource for understanding the emerging church and its diverse community of congregations.
1692112
As the table of contents show (above), Allen's work is detailed and attuned to the life-giving tradition of Eastern Orthodoxy. As an Orthodox under the direction of a Father, I can attest to the reality of such an approach in tangible terms. Whatever tradition you come from, this book will give you insight into our collective tradition and hopefully encourage you to seek out someone with whom you can struggle and grow. "The man who chooses himself has chosen a fool."

Other books of interest in this regard are:&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/A-Different-Christianity/dp/1872292399/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">A Different Christianity</a>&nbsp;by Robin Amis,&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Beginning-to-Pray/dp/0809115093/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Beginning to Pray</a>&nbsp;by Anthony Bloom,&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/The-Orthodox-Way/dp/0913836583/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">The Orthodox Way</a>&nbsp;by Kallistos Ware,&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Encountering-the-Depths-Prayer-Solitude-and-Contemplation/dp/0819216399/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Encountering the Depths: Prayer, Solitude, and Contemplation</a>&nbsp;and Colliander's classic,&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Way-of-the-Ascetics-The-Ancient-Tradition-of-Discipline-and-Inner-Growth/dp/0881410497/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Way of the Ascetics: The Ancient Tradition of Discipline and Inner Growth</a>. Also,&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/The-Mountain-of-Silence-A-Search-for-Orthodox-Spirituality/dp/0385500920/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">The Mountain of Silence: A Search for Orthodox Spirituality</a>&nbsp;is an excellent glimpse into the rich heritage of the Orthodox tradition. Many of my other reviews focus on these topics, so you may want to check them out. Pray. As Bishop Ware has said, the devil says 'tomorrow,' The Holy Spirit says, 'Today!'
3623300
Imagine your wife comes to you and is wearing an outfit that doesn't quite flatter her. "Honey, how do I look in this?" she asks. Wow, now you are stuck at a point of no return, whatever you say is going to influence your life for at least the next month.

  This is the same situation we find ourselves in when ministering to people. At certain points we are going to be confronted with situations where we will need to know what to do and what to say for the betterment of all.

  In Dr. Whitesel's Spiritual Waypoints the reader is introduced to 16 distinct way points that will allow them to recognize where any individual is on his spiritual journey. But, Whitesel goes further than just identifying these waypoints he gives practical suggestions on how to recognize and assist travelers on their navigation of these waypoints.

  For examples travelers at waypoint 15 will acknowledge that God exists, but may not have a favorable idea of him. We can assist these travelers by listening to their views on God. Travelers at way point 14 are in need of physical or spiritual support, and we can minister to their needs by providing help and assistance to meet their basic needs.

  It goes on to show us exactly how we can help convert Spiritual Travelers to Christianity. Not so much as condemning them of their sins, in Whitesel's opinion that is the Holy Spirit's job, rather we should be their companion show them examples and uplifting stories of those who have converted, and pray for these travelers.

  Finally, Whitesel explains how after conversion a Christian develops from an ordinary learning Christian, into a Spiritual Leader who sews seeds to benefit others.

  In sales you must know the right things to say at the right times and you must do things to peak interest, over come objections close, and maintain customer relationships.

  Christianity is the same. You must build a relationship, create an interest in Christ, over come objections or uneasiness about our faith, and through prayer convert the seeker. Afterwards you must maintain a relationship and care with the person so that they can grow and become more like Christ.

  The caution should be taken that if at any point along the way the wrong thing is done or said, it could leave a scaring impression on the traveler thus repelling them away from Christ rather than drawing them in. As pastors we owe it to ourselves to be familiar with these waypoints, with the journey in with the proper way to aid seekers so that we not only can help the seekers, but teach our congregation, the right way to handle others as they travel down the road to redemption.

  I thoroughly endorse this book and found myself taking more notes on Whitesel's material than I have taken in years. This book will give pastors and Spiritual Leaders a tool and power to help anyone on their journey. It will forever change the way you go about fulfilling the great commission.
2115406
Campbell draws comparisons between the interweaving dark and light lateral nerves along the spine of the yogic cakras to the caduceus, the crucifixion of Christ, Sumero-Akkadian serpent-god,Ningishzida and twined serpent images in Aztec and Navaho culture as well as others.  The common theme is of duality twining around a central spine, support or path.  One of those twines or sides is inner and the other outer.  We are what they twine around.
The depth of his insight is like  viewing a familiar landscape from place both higher and yet closer.  Some sentences are very long and need to be deciphered more than read.  That is most likely the result of trying to elucidate the ineffable.
3453566
Primitive people lived or died by the success or failure of their crops and by the growth or dwindling of their flocks. New life meant everything to their survival. It is no wonder that, when their instinct for religion demanded a focus, that those people focused on their own lives. The outer sign of the birth canal embodies the source of life most directly. So, when early man sought to worship the creative force, early woman provided the most direct link to creation, in her own person. Yoni worship arose that way: veneration of a woman's outer genitals as a symbol of divine presence.

Camphausen examines that worship across tens of millenia, up to the current day. His passionate tone might startle a hard-core Freudian. No trace of penis (lingam) envy contaminates this text, quite the opposite. Instead, Camphausen documents praise of femininity and fecundity from Venus of Willendorf (who he renames) to recent works by Georgia O'Keefe and by his wife, Christina. In between, he documents a wide range of devotions, devotional art, and secular representation.

In many cases, though, I come away wondering just what "secular" means, if the religious spirit is something that arises from within. The yoni clearly inspires Camphausen's sense of the divine. Secularist that I am, I have to admit: his intensity of spirit moves me past respect and affection towards devotion, too.

-- wiredweird
4773058
People whatca doing...??? STANDING ON THE VERGE OF GETTING IT ON...nuff said...so check it out.....
2259376
I honestly doubt I will ever be in a situation such as described in this book.  For me that is not the real value of it. Rather it presents a number of navigational concepts that are important to understand if you care to do more than rely on electronic navigation.

If you are interested in celestial navigation or polynesian navigation or any other "ancient and obsolete" techniques you should read this book.  If you want an overview that will help you get a seat of the pants feel for where you are this is it.
4308565
beautifully accurate with an expression that changes depending on how you look at it