I thoroughly enjoyed “Embracing The Body” by Tara M Owens.
Let me share some key points that I uncovered that will help me as I journey on the path to wholeness (salvation). I hope they will help you too!
this post may contain affiliate links
Wholeness
“I’m of the opinion that there isn’t anyone alive who is at home in his or her body 100 percent of the time.” How do I feel about my body? If I do not like my body, I cannot feel whole.
I need to feel good about both my inner self and my outer body before I truly can feel whole. I think many people do not feel whole. They feel empty. I also imagine that as we age and or experience illnesses it certainly is not easy to continue to feel whole.
Salvation
“Salvation is the work of Christ to bring the whole of ourselves (and also our world) back into alignment with the way God intended.” God wants me to feel whole! God wants everyone to feel whole. This is salvation!
Abundant Life
“Paul tells us to offer God our bodies as living sacrifices not because our bodies are worthless, or because we are to die to them, but because in Christ we are meant to have life abundant running in and through us.” We are to bring not only our minds and hearts to God but our bodies. When we do this our whole self will experience abundant life.
“Our bodies are incredible conductors of messages, both emotional and physical.” We must listen to our bodies. They have much to teach us. Our bodies tell us when we are tired, anxious, hungry, thirsty, happy, sad, angry, bored, excited. “It’s time to listen to the wisdom of our bodies.”
“The savor of God can be tasted in a good meal, smelled in the scent of wet, forested soil on a fall day, felt in the embrace of a friend.” We need to utilize all of our senses to experience and savor God. We must engage the world with our bodies. “But here’s the rub: the less we engage with the physical world around us, the less we are present to reality.” When we are not present to reality, we are not present to God.
I will re read Tara’s book! It will continue to help me as I journey on the path to wholeness (salvation).
Go Further
Tara M Owens, Embracing the Body: Finding God in Our Flesh and Bone
Phileena Heuertz, Pilgrimage of a Soul: Contemplative Spirituality for the Active Life
Christine Valters Paintner, The Wisdom of the Body: A Contemplative Journey to Wholeness for Women
Shauna Niequist, Present Over Perfect: Leaving Behind Frantic for a Simpler, More Soulful Way of Living
Try Audible and Get Two Free Audiobooks – This is a great way to listen to books with your cell phone while you drive, walk or relax at home. I frequently listen in my car during my commute to and from work. I’m a proud affiliate.
Themes in the Gospel of John by N. T. Wright: The course approaches the Gospel of John in a way that looks at seven key themes. These themes bind the Fourth Gospel together in a manner that allows us to see this ‘new way of living’ as possible for followers of King Jesus. In so doing, we then apply these themes to the current era in order to ask ourselves questions about how we are putting them into practice. In a way, this is the story of how to live out being the presence of God on earth through the indwelling of God’s spirit.
Prepare to be immersed in the 1st Century A.D. context of the life, work, teachings, and actions of Jesus. Check out Simply Jesus by N. T. Wright. It is based on his book Simply Jesus. Enjoy an article I wrote about one of the lectures on the Beatitudes.
This course is a short course based on Prof. N.T. Wright’s latest book, Simply Good News. Tom Wright will guide you through the chapters of his book through videos that suggest what some of the main points are. You will instantly get into the heart of the idea of ‘good news’ as it was understood by the 1st Century writers of the New Testament. You will be brought into their world in order to make more sense of what ‘good news’ means in our world.
Christian Prayer Methods: Prayer is a core Christian practice, but for many, this means “saying prayers” or asking God for various favors. In this course, we will review a variety of methods of prayer that have been used for centuries in Christianity. Whether you’re a beginner who is just learning how to pray, or a more mature Christian who has been at it awhile, this course will offer specific guidance, encouragement and support for practicing several time-tested methods of prayer.
