The Phoenix Affirmations
The Phoenix Affirmations

Author: Eric Elnes

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons

Published: 2010-12-07

Total Pages: 178

ISBN-13: 1118041054

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The Phoenix Affirmations, named for the town in which the principles were created and the mythological bird adopted by ancient Christians as a symbol of resurrection, offers disillusioned and spiritually homeless Christians and others a sense of hope and a more tolerant, joyful, and compassionate message than those we often hear from the media and some Christian leaders. These twelve central affirmative principles of Christian faith are built on the three great loves that the Bible reveals: love of God, love of neighbor, and love of self. They reflect commitments to environmental stewardship, social justice, and artistic expression as well as openness to other faiths. Transcending theological and culture wars, inclusive and generous in spirit and practice, these principles ask believers and seekers alike to affirm their Christian faith in a fresh way.

Asphalt Jesus
Asphalt Jesus

Author: Eric Elnes

Publisher: Jossey-Bass

Published: 2007-08-03

Total Pages: 264

ISBN-13:

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On Easter 2006, Eric Elnes and several companions set out to walk from Phoenix, Arizona, to the nation's capital. They dreamed of fostering deeper conversations about what it means to be progressive Christians in an age of fundamentalism. On their journey they discovered thousands of people in every state—red and blue—and every kind of church who welcomed them and shared their hunger for relationship and conversation about what it means to be Christian. Asphalt Jesus tells the story of the journey and further articulates a joyous and loving faith that moves beyond simple categories of "Christian Right" and "Christian Left." Asphalt Jesus builds on Eric Elnes's previous book, The Phoenix Affirmations. Arising from the three great loves that the Bible reveals (love of God, love of neighbor, and love of self), these twelve affirmations reflect commitments to environmental stewardship, social justice, and artistic expression as well as openness to other faiths. Transcending theological and culture wars, inclusive and generous in spirit and practice, these principles allow believers and seekers alike to affirm their Christian faith in a fresh way. Travel with Elnes and his companions on this remarkable journey as they encounter fundamentalist talk radio hosts, receive radical hospitality at Jesus First Baptist Church in Eager, Arizona, marvel at how a decidedly un-Christian welcome in Clovis, New Mexico, turns into something much more joyous, and watch their stereotypes about Christianity at the grassroots crumble along the way. Discover the joys and challenges of this amazing 2500-mile walk and the gifts of their conversations with thousands of people of all kinds about what it means to be Christian.

Odyssey of The Phoenix
Odyssey of The Phoenix

Author: Emma Galvan

Publisher: Independently Published

Published: 2024-05-18

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13:

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"Odyssey of the Phoenix" is an inspiring book that explores themes of resilience and personal growth through the metaphor of a phoenix rising from the ashes. It offers readers positive quotes and messages about overcoming life's challenges and embracing transformation. The narrative weaves together stories and insights that encourage perseverance and adaptability in the face of adversity. Each page provides practical wisdom and motivational anecdotes to help readers navigate their own obstacles. Ultimately, the book serves as a how-to guide for turning setbacks into opportunities for rebirth and renewal.

Opening the Parables
Opening the Parables

Author: M. D. Hayden

Publisher: Wipf and Stock Publishers

Published: 2024-07-11

Total Pages: 243

ISBN-13:

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For centuries, Jesus’ parables have been—and still are—extensively interpreted by those who impose Christian dogma and tradition on a parable told decades before Christianity per se even existed. There was no Christian tradition when Jesus was teaching his followers, and he was teaching regular people, not theologians. No wonder then that after two millennia, Jesus’ parables, coated with a confusing overlay of Christian dogma, still puzzle readers of the New Testament. Opening the Parables is based on the premise that Jesus taught a singular spiritual truth which—once the clutter of others’ words and interpretations is cleared away—appears consistently in all his teachings, even in his parables. In the best-possible way, Jesus was a one-subject teacher (one subject, using various teaching techniques, both deductive and inductive), a one-sermon preacher (one message, told in various ways). Everything he taught or preached was about love in the infinite, here-and-now Kingdom of God. All his parables, proverbs, aphorisms, and direct statements teach one lesson: in the highest realm we can imagine, compassionate love is all that matters.

Gifts of the Dark Wood
Gifts of the Dark Wood

Author: Rev. Eric Elnes

Publisher: Abingdon Press

Published: 2015-09-01

Total Pages: 150

ISBN-13: 1426794142

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Have you left the faith you used to have but don’t know what to move toward? When you can’t see the road ahead, do you feel lost and alone? Do you wish you had a group of companions willing to wander with you? Welcome to the Dark Wood. As you journey through the unknown, you may feel tempted, lost, and uncertain. Though commonly feared and avoided, these feelings of uncertainty can be your greatest assets on this journey because it is in uncertainty that we probe, question, and discover. According to the ancients, you don’t need to be a saint or spiritual master to experience profound awakening and live with God’s presence and guidance. You need only to wander. In clear and lucid prose that combines the heart of a mystic, the soul of a poet, and the mind of a biblical scholar, Dr. Eric Elnes demystifies the seven gifts bestowed in the Dark Wood: the gifts of uncertainty, emptiness, being thunderstruck, getting lost, temptation, disappearing, and the gift of misfits. This is a book for anyone who feels awkward in their search for God, anyone who seeks to find holiness amid their holy mess, and anyone who prefers practicality to piety when it comes to finding their place in this world.