When we bring memories into focus to share them, laugh about them, and reflect on them, we often learn about ourselves and others. In Time and Other Fragile Gifts, were reminded that, no matter how old we are, if were lucky, we can still experience growing pains.

Forward As a parish priest for almost forty years and as a pastor for 30 years I have had to deal with the sadness of human life in various ways. In the face of grief, words fail and trite platitudes sometimes evoke anger in one whom we are trying to console. I have often felt helpless in the face of human loss and wanted to do more than extend the care and concern of a priest for a suffering member of his flock. Death, divorce, the loss of a pet can be especially difficult for children. The inability of children to properly express grief in the face of loss often leads to misbehavior and emotional issues.

Here's a different angle on humor--it can be a spiritual practice, an expression of a theology of joy, hope, and grace. Humor is so valuable, for it offers self-care, healing, and renewal, precious gifts in times of pressure and tension. Olson begins by telling of three unforgettable friends who lived their lives with joy and zest--a practice that opened doors and aided their own sense of well-being. Playfully, he continues by exploring the known benefits of humor. Next considered is the amazing variety of humor in the Bible, a basic theology of a laughing God, and the caring ethic of humor that emerges from this theology. Finally, there is a discussion of how this practice of humor enriches worship, caregiving, and administration. Laughter in a Time of Turmoil draws to a close considering spiritual disciplines/practices and why humor belongs among these practices. Suggestions are then offered on how to grow in this spiritual practice. Discussion questions are provided for each chapter to help groups enjoy their conversations about the book. This book will help you think and laugh, or laugh and think (take your pick) and then be on your way rejoicing.

While imported Chinese porcelain had become a valuable commodity in Europe in the seventeenth century, local attempts to produce porcelain long remained unsuccessful. At last the secret of hard-paste porcelain was uncovered, and in 1710 the first European porcelain was manufactured in Saxony. Meissen porcelain, still manufactured today, soon ranked in value with silver and gold. This thorough and lavishly illustrated volume explores the early years of Meissen porcelain and how the princes of Saxony came to use highly prized porcelain pieces as diplomatic gifts for presentation to foreign courts. An eminent team of international contributors examines the trade of Meissen with other nations, from England to Russia. They also investigate the cultural ambience of the Dresden Court, varying tastes of the markets, the wide range of porcelain objects, and their designers and makers. Individual chapters are devoted to gifts to Denmark, other German courts, the Holy Roman Empire, Italy, France, and other nations. For every Meissen collector or enthusiast, this book will be not only a treasured handbook but also a source of visual delight.

Island of Misfit Joys contains stories of inspiration, making mistakes, finding happiness as well as bringing to light anecdotes of deliberate and unexpected kindness. Many times these random encounters have elements of untapped joy, everyday life, vulnerability, and our reactions. Ravi Zacharias stated, "None of us escapes life without some ecstasy and heartache." When you see a baby jumping for joy, splashing water during a bath, or smiling from a hug you just gave them, we rarely question their excitement and enjoy the moment of their ebullient happiness. Not everything fits together perfectly. Sometimes a misfit experience turns into an unexpected joy! As adults, I find that we often feel guilty, (or are made to feel guilty) if we express our own joy. God has given each of us so many gifts, so that we can choose to build each other up, to keep these gifts latent, or to bring people to their knees with unkind words. I hope your day is a happy one. Brené Brown reminds us, "Vulnerability is the birthplace of innovation, creativity and change." This book is also about what I observe, react to, and reflect on-often in complete awe. I also hope this helps you to see that there is much good in the world. We just have to look around us, and we have the power to make positive, impactful changes in our immediate surroundings and in bigger circles, too. What actions do you take when no one is looking? Alison McGhee said, "Every moment of every day you can bring people down or you can lift them up-you, one small person-by the energy you project. We choose what we want our lives to mean, and what we want to leave behind. We have the power to write our own stories. Remember that." It is in this spirit that these stories of inspiration are shared. I feel a bit overwhelmed by people who express that I am "positive." Someone asked me "What are you on?" I just realize that I have so much time left, people are generally good, some will not like you no matter what you do, and life is just one big sitcom, so laugh a little or laugh a lot. Also, I have faced my own mortality a few times, and I am continuing to see that many times you and I are, metaphorically speaking, given a bundle of Christmas lights to untangle. You unravel the lights, plug them into some good power source, and voila, you have some magic before your eyes. Or, you have a new source of power that you just plugged into, and the lights suddenly short out. Now, you have to find a new way to see the lights again. I also have witnessed enough horrible and miraculous life experiences that made me strongly consider focusing more on the miraculous, yet everyday experiences and how we can work toward achieving happiness, even if what you thought might happen did not fit. Often what we did not see fitting in our own lives often brings us unintended joy!

This landmark volume, the first of two, assesses the prospects and promise of Lutheran theology at the opening of a new millennium. From four continents, the thirty noted and respected contributors not only gauge how such classic themes as grace, the cross, and justification wear today but also look to key issues of ecumenism, social justice, global religious life, and the impact of contemporary science on Christian belief.

Not all Christmas ornaments sparkle on tree branches. Some are fragile. Easily broken. And joy often disappears like melting snowflakes. We are just like those ornaments and snowflakes. But there is a healing light that can be found at Christmas.

Mr. Okoro has written a work of deep faith. Gods Best Gift in ugly Wrapping is a powerful and yet subtle treatise by a practical Christian. The author brings together practical experiences to bear upon biblical narratives in ways that bring the Christian messages home to the reader. This is a handbook on Christian faith, charity, piety and fortitude, exploring and explicating the mysteries of Gods presence in the life of a Christian, as well as, His disposition towards the exigencies of human existentialism. In the authors view, the faithful must endure the vicissitudes of life in order to attain heaven or the beatific vision, which is the ultimate good or the Summum Bonnum as St. Thomas Aquinas puts it. This is indeed a good read. Professor Chieke Ihejirika, Lincoln University PA, USA.

Starting from both our originary experience of being given to ourselves and Jesus Christ's archetypal self-donation, 'Gift and the Unity of Being' elucidates the sense in which gift is the form of being's unity, while unity itself constitutes the permanence of the gift of being. In dialogue with ancient and modern philosophers and theologians, Lopez offers a synthetic, rather than systematic, account of the unity proper to being, the human person, God, and the relations among them. The book shows how contemplation of the triune God of love through Jesus Christ in the Holy Spirit allows us to discover the eternal communion that being is and to which finite being is called. It also illustrates the sense in which God's gratuitousness unexpectedly offers thehuman person the possibility to recognize and embrace his origin and destiny, and thus he is given to see and taste in God's light the ever-fruitful, dramatic, and mysterious positivity of being.