Kirjahaku

A collection of meditative short stories, inspired by the Bible and the cycle of the Christian year. There are stories on themes such as Creation and the Fall, the search for God in the wilderness, Christmas, Easter, Pentecost and Ascension.

Inspired by Old and New Testament passages, this beautifully written volume of verse and prose aims to open our eyes to God’s great simplicity. For this infinitely loving deity, who has always known our goodness, what we might be and the good we might become, can only by nature tread softly in our lives, longing to embrace us and awaken us to beauty beyond our dreaming.

The 'Christmas Story' as we know it, is derived from a mixture of carols and carol services, nativity plays, children's Bibles and paintings. The Bible itself offers two stories, each quite different from the other, not just in detail, but in tone. Neither of them is reproduced in the familiar Christmas story, and indeed, that story sometimes runs counter to the biblical text. This book, which incorporates some of the authors own stories and poems on the Christmas theme, begins by examining the two biblical accounts in turn: Matthew's, which is a dark tale, or at least as tale of light shining in darkness, Luke's, which is full of light and joy. The author explores the concept of the virgin birth, while acknowledging that the narratives retain a certain ambiguity, and looks at the strangely neglected question: given the world and the God that we know, what story must we tell now? His response is that the church itself desperately needs the vision of the God in a manger, and must allow this vision (together with that of God on a cross) to determine its theology and practice.

The resurrection accounts are not only about God's triumph over evil and death. They are also stories of encounter with God - the recovery of that ancient intimacy briefly enjoyed in the Garden of Eden. This absorbing volume, which includes some of the author's own poetry and reflective pieces, suggests that in entering into the resurrection stories from the Gospels, we step outside time and place into a strange and wonderful world where death no longer holds sway. Here we meet a wounded God, scarred with the marks of crucifixion - a risen Christ, in whom God once more becomes familiar. And through the wonderful intimacy we are able to enjoy with this truly close yet ever mysterious God, we gain the energy and courage to strive to establish his topsy-turvy kingdom on this, his own dear earth.

. . . His eyes can hardly see for pain, and yet, and yet if you stand yourself beneath his cross oh, do not kneel, or bend your head, but raise your eyes and see! if you stand on very tip-toe, then you will find, to your great sorrow, but his small comfort, that you can reach to soothe the very face of God' So ends the haunting title piece of this richly imaginative collection of stories. In it we encounter the infant Christ, both vulnerable and divine; the laughing, loving Christ, who delights in us and cares for us; the sorrowful Christ, who suffers on our behalf and draws comfort from our love. Weaving through the book is the theme of Eden - once lost but now restored to us by Christ's saving work on the cross. And our eyes are opened to the possibility of rediscovering Eden for ourselves, as we explore who we truly are in God.

Lo and Behold! is for everyone who has ever wondered what makes the Bible one of the world's greatest and most enduring works of literary genius. From the first awe-inspiring story of creation to the extraordinary antics of the book of Jonah, this volume offers an intriguing journey through some of the Bible's most significant and memorable narratives. Trevor Dennis entertains as well as enlightens, and enables the reader to experience the richness of texture and depth of meaning that lie beneath the surface of our English translations.

Takes a fresh look at some of the best-known narratives in the Bible, inviting us to see how the stories look from the point of view of women characters such as Eve, Sarah, Hagar, Hannah and Bathsheba.

In relishing and taking full advantage of the room the biblical text leaves for the imagination, Trevor Dennis has produced a beautifully crafted collection of poetry and prose that releases the power of the gospel story afresh. Not only does he pay careful heed to the women of the Gospels, he also seeks to enter into the minds of those 'on the other side' in material written from the perspective of Pilate, 'the Jews' and someone who is fighting against the uncomfortable truths of Good Friday.

The Church is very good at inviting or challenging people to love their neighbours. It is not so strong on encouraging us to love ourselves. This book illuminates the healing truth that encountering the love of God sets us free to live as we were intended to live – loving ourselves and those around us. Through Bible passages, stories and exercises, the authors encourage us to throw off the sense of apprehension that bothers so many, and to enjoy living to the full in God’s exhilarating company.

Within a few decades of the death of Jesus of Nazareth, there emerged within the infant church five literary and theological geniuses: Paul and the writers of the Gospels. No works of literature have been subjected to such close, persistent scrutiny by so many over the centuries. Yet the Gospels continue not only to fascinate, challenge and inspire, but to reveal new treasures and throw up fresh problems. Much depends on the questions we ask of them and the level of curiosity and honesty we bring to this task. For while the Gospels represent four magnificent attempts to come to terms with Jesus and the God he revealed, we cannot be surprised when they fail. We should, however, be astonished that they take us so far into Truth - then point even further on. In this glorious book, Trevor Dennis urges us to follow some of those pointers, to investigate where they lead in the search for the bright gospel beyond the Gospels. We will find ourselves in territory that is sometimes disturbing and sometimes heartening... But never less than truly exhilarating.

The great stories of the Old and New Testaments are best understood in the contexts in which they were shaped: contexts which help sift storytelling and history, poetry and prose, chronicle and commentary. Trevor Dennis is an academic theologian with a gift for storytelling. In this highly acclaimed Bible retelling, he goes back to the roots of the biblical writings, bringing fresh insights into the familiar stories in his novelistic retelling. His aim to bring the stories of the Bible alive is achieved in a book which brims with verve, humour and originality, in a style that will appeal to readers of all ages. The book is aimed at children aged 8-10 who are already familiar with Biblical stories but are ready to discover more. As well as retelling the stories Trevor Dennis encourages children to understand the origins of the ancient text in the Bible.