Words and Images That Seep Into the Soul

Our lives move along with ups and downs, and we cope with them the best we can. But underneath there is a hunger for something more. There are times of stress such as when a loved one dies, a job is lost, a child is on a dangerous path, a difficult situation goes on and on. There are many other stressors that we all encounter. This book offers quotations from ancient and modern authors and poems and reflections that give a thought or image that seeps through the cracks that the stresses have made, and a deeper level is reached. There a new insight occurs, a new reality is discovered, or faith and hope are renewed. William Lancaster said: "Reading these poems . . . I feel planted, secure, that all is right with the world. I put my head down on the desk like a school kid and felt that the hand of God was on my shoulder. This God said, 'Bill, I am your God. You are my child, all of you.'" If you want a deeper and stronger faith in the God who loves you, this book can impact your life. "Phil Noble is a mix of wisdom, good humor, deep obedience, and a powerful witness for us. These vignettes bear witness to a life fully lived and a faith fully trusted. His honest self-disclosure will invite reflection, delight, and well-being [so] we may travel the good road he has traveled." --Walter Brueggemann, Columbia Theological Seminary "Phil Noble sees the world through a pastor's and activist's eyes, and is able to translate what he sees into words that richly capture the insights. This is a collection of poems and quotations that must be read slowly. It is surely nutrition for the soul!" --Stephen A. Hayner, President, Columbia Theological Seminary "Decorated veteran of the battle for civil rights and survivor of personal tragedy, Phil Noble has produced another inspiring book. A collection of the author's poems, interspersed with quotes from the wisdom of sages, reveals the inner person--a person of profound faith and vivid insight. The reader will find help in the quest for meaning and hope in the face of adversity." --William Baird, Brite Divinity School, Texas Christian University J. Phillips Noble is a Presbyterian minister who served as pastor of four churches, the last being the historic First (Scots) Presbyterian Church in Charleston, South Carolina. He served the Presbyterian denomination as Co-President of its Board of Pensions. He is the author of Beyond the Burning Bus: The Civil Rights Revolution in a Southern Town (2003) and Getting Beyond Tragedy (2005). He is now retired and lives in Decatur, Georgia.