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The Interview with Thomas Merton

Posted by FaithLab on Mar 12, 2012 in Homepage items, Resources | 1 comment

This creative short story from author Bert Montgomery offers a look at what a current-day interview with Thomas Merton might be like. Merton was a Trappist monk and mytic who died in 1968. His writings are widely considered to be classics.

Check out this brief video to learn more about the interview:

Buy the ebook of the Interview – 3400 words (just $1.99)

The ebook is available for all eReaders, including Kindle, Nook, iPod/iPad/iPhone, Sony Reader, etc. When your purchase is complete, a link to the download page will be immediately emailed to you. Easy Instructions for adding the ebook to your device are here.

What Others Are Saying

“Bert Montgomery has opened a fresh, wise, conversational way for Thomas Merton to speak anew to our time.  Somebody should put this on stage and invite the audience to join in.”
~ Loyd Allen
Professor of Church History and Spiritual Formation
McAfee School of Theology (Mercer University)

“Death be not proud, but it can — occasionally — turn a buck. Bert’s post-mort interview with T-Mert is one for the ages. Now let the poor guy rest in peace.”
~ Robert Darden
Formerly Senior Editor of World’s Oldest, Largest
and Probably Only Religious Humor and Satire Magazine,
The late, great Wittenburg Door

“What a wonderful way to get before others some of Thomas Merton’s keen insights into the malaise of our society and ways to rethink the Christian life today.  Merton himself would chuckle about it, but he would take delight in the fact that a young Baptist minister would understand so well and cherish his concern for contemplation in a world of action.”
~ Dr. E. Glenn Hinson
Senior Professor of Spirituality and Church History
Baptist Seminary of Kentucky (Georgetown College)

“Bert Montgomery’s interview style is reminiscent of David Lose’s “Making Sense” book series, taking complex theological issues, often unfamiliar to a lay audience, and placing them in a conversational context where they have some real-life relevance. It will be interesting to see how else Montgomery might apply this style. Perhaps a conversation with Martin Luther? John the Baptist? Maybe Paul? The possibilities are nearly limitless.”
~ Christian Piatt
www.christianpiatt.com
Author, Musician, Antagonist, God Nerd

“I can’t think of a better way to spend an afternoon than with Tom & Bert at a bookstore in Starvkille, MS. They share a keen sense of humor and dry socks. Well, I’m not sure about that last one. I don’t think Bert wears socks. But he’s definitely got that Joy of the Lord thing down pat.”
~ Karen Spears Zacharias
www.karenzach.com
author of Will Jesus Buy Me a Double-Wide?
and Where’s Your Jesus Now?

Finding Our Way through the Wilderness

Posted by FaithLab on Feb 6, 2012 in Resources | 0 comments

A Journey for Lent or Other Days of Spiritual Reflection and Prayer.

This life will eventually carry us through a wilderness, a period of life epitomized by hard- ships, suffering, wandering, and grief. The wilderness can also be a time to withdraw from the world, to give up something of significance in order to think, pray, read, and gain spiritual insight on life.

Finding Our Way Through the Wilderness is designed to help those who are in a wilderness by no choice of their own and those who choose to enter the wilderness to prepare spiritually for the arrival of Easter or the next part of their journey. Readers will emerge from the wilderness stronger, healthier, wiser, and better equipped to continue on their way.

“This is a book that will stretch you spiritually.”
—R. Alan Culpepper

“…masterful storytelling offers a calming assurance that we can navigate through the wilderness.”
—Dink NeSmith

“While reading Finding Our Way Through the Wilderness, I felt calm coming into my chaotic life.”
—Jean Sasson

Buy the eBook ($6.99, 260 pages):

The ebook is available for all ereaders, including Kindle, Nook, iPod/iPad/iPhone, Sony Reader, etc. When your purchase is complete, a link to the download page will be immediately emailed to you. Easy Instructions for adding the ebook to your device are here.

Want the print version of the book? Get it from Amazon.

Dr. Michael Helms is the senior pastor of the First Baptist Church of Jefferson, Georgia, and the author of numerous books, including Finding Our Way: An Introspective Journey Through the Labyrinth of Life, Hoping Liberia: Stories of Civil War from Africa’s First Republic, and Finding our Way with the Magi—A Daily Guide Through the Season of Advent.

Rev. Erica Cooper is Associate Pastor/Minister to Families at the First Baptist Church of Jefferson, Georgia. She is a 2009 graduate of McAfee School of Theology in Atlanta.

Singing the Hours (music)

Posted by FaithLab on Dec 6, 2011 in Homepage items, Resources | 0 comments

Throughout the centuries, people of faith – both clergy and laity – have incorporated prayer into the rhythm of their daily living. This practice is tied to biblical references concerning hours of prayer (Psalm 119:164, Acts 1:14, Acts 3:1, Acts 10:9, Acts 16:25) as well as the prayer traditions of the church. This CD contains songs written for each of the traditional hours of prayer. You may listen to them during the prescribed hours or any time you choose. We hope they create a space for prayer and a language for prayer that is meaningful for you.

Album Songs

1.    Arise, My Darling – Lauds (Morning Prayer)
2.    Fall on Me – Terce (Mid-Morning Prayer)
3.    Your Love – Sext (Midday Prayer)
4.    Take My Life – None (Mid-Afternoon Prayer)
5.    Thank You, Lord – Vespers (Evening Prayer)
6.    This Good Night – Compline (Night Prayer)
7.    Rest in Peace – Vigils (Midnight Prayer)
8.    Conversations – Personal Meditation

Hear Sample (track 1)

Buy the digital download version of the album (mp3 files) — $5.99

 Buy the CD version of the album — $9.99 plus shipping & handling

Jim Dant | Joy Yee

Jim Dant and Joy Yee pastor in Georgia and California respectively. Both also enjoy writing, leading retreats and providing spiritual direction for people seeking to know God.

“The daily faith-living of the people of God is our passion. On our journey as ministers among the people we have realized that prayer is something that happens by the gift and grace of God. May you discover grace… as we have.”   — Jim and Joy

Credits

Executive Producers – David Cassady & Jim Dant
Producer & Engineer – Pat Terry
Lyrics – Jim Dant
Music – Joy Yee
Vocals, Keyboard – Joy Yee
Background Keyboard, Bells – Pat Terry

Finding Our Way With the Magi: A Daily Guide Through the Season of Advent

Posted by David Cassady on Oct 21, 2011 in Resources | 0 comments

For those who want something deeper than the commercialized trappings of the Advent season, Finding Our Way With the Magi gives readers a daily opportunity to be spiritually challenged, encouraged, inspired, and confronted with Jesus’ admonitions to live out our faith in an increasingly secular world.

Seamless shifts are made from common, sometimes humorous life stories that relate to biblical truths all of us need to apply to our daily lives. Creative “Advent Actions” appear at the end of each day’s reading to give concrete, practical suggestions for putting that day’s focus into practice during Advent. Guided prayers help readers begin a conversation with God based on the reading for the day. Few Advent books have the potential to change the lives of readers and the lives of those around them. This is one of those rare books.

Read a sample (PDF)

Buy the eBook ($9.99, 240 pages):

The ebook is available for all ereaders, including Kindle, Nook, iPod/iPad/iPhone, Sony Reader, etc. When your purchase is complete, a link to the download page will be immediately emailed to you. Easy Instructions for adding the ebook to your device are here.

Want the print version of the book? Get it from Amazon.

Looking for links mentioned in the book? Click here.

About the Author

Dr. Michael Helms is the senior pastor of the First Baptist Church of Jefferson, Georgia, and the author of numerous books, including Finding Our Way: An Introspective Journey Through the Labyrinth of Life, Hoping Liberia: Stories of Civil War from Africa’s First Republic and Finding Our Way Through the Wilderness—A Journey For Lent and Other Days of Spiritual Reflection and Prayer.

Praise for Finding Our Way With the Magi

Michael Helms clears away the layers of wrappings, ribbons, and assorted commercial glitz so that once again we can gaze upon the Christ Child. These delightful, often touching reflections usher us gracefully through the Advent season.

Dr. Jim Barnette                                                           
Professor, Samford University

With the narrative grace of a gifted pastor, Michael Helms offers meaningful devotional engagement along with thoughtful direction for actually living through the Advent season with purpose and intention.

Rev. Dr. Amy Butler
Senior Pastor
Calvary Baptist Church
Washington, DC

Michael Helms’ Finding Our Way with the Magi: A Daily Guide Through the Season of Advent is a Christ-centered GPS that will navigate your family through the Advent season with a gentleness and grace that fosters the peace and hope so often absent in the daily bustle of life.

Dr. Bruce Gourley
Executive Director
Baptist History & Heritage Society