Synopsis: The accomplished poet and preacher, J. Barrie Shepherd, retells a series of dramatic Old Testament "encounters" from a contemporary point of view, using poetic imagery and diction. Among the stories he reexamines are Jacob at Jabbok, Moses on the Mountain, Jacob at Bethel, Elijah and the Voice, Gideon at Harod, Adam and Eve at the Garden, Abraham in Moriah, Sarah at the tent flap, Joshua at Jericho, Isaiah at the Altar, and Ezekiel and the Wheel. By retelling these familiar stories in new and unexpected ways, Shepherd challenges us to reexamine many of the basic issues of biblical theology and their relevance to the contemporary world. Endorsements: "The voice of Barrie Shepherd is an uncommon, even rare, possession of the church in our time. In him and in his ministry are combined the qualities essential to authentically distinguished preaching." --from the foreword by Davie Napier Author Biography: The Reverend Dr. J. Barrie Shepherd, a native of Great Britain, retired as Minister Emeritus from The First Presbyterian Church in New York City. Prior to that he was senior minister of Swarthmore Presbyterian Church for sixteen years and served in college and university chaplaincy and teaching. He has preached and lectured at Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Cornell, Dartmouth, Duke, and other universities and colleges and many of the major seminaries, as well as in distinguished pulpits across the USA and in the UK, Europe, and Africa. The author is an avid saltwater fisherman and sailor. He enjoys swimming, walking, gardening, and playing the euphonium in community bands. He and his wife Mhairi have four daughters and three granddaughters.

Description: ""If I could only have been there . . ."" Did you ever wish you could have been among those who actually encountered Jesus in person; mingled, perhaps, with those throngs beside the lake; feasted among the five thousand in a Galilean meadow; crowded along the village street as the carpenter from Nazareth passed by? This month of daily meditations seeks to accomplish just that; to place readers in the ways that Jesus walked; to assist those who pray or meditate their way across this thirty-day selection to experience the many moments of Jesus's ministry as narrated in the gospels, through the eyes and minds, the hearts and emotions of folk-ordinary folk for the most part- whose lives were touched and transformed as Jesus walked their way. For Lent, or Advent, or for any season of spiritual renewal, Faces by the Wayside can set you once again in the presence of the Master. Endorsements: ""Insightful and eloquent writer J. Barrie Shepherd has engaged us for years with poignant meditations and poetry. Faces by the Wayside, written from the perspective of ancient pilgrims, speaks to all of us who are seeking a relationship with Jesus Christ, and joins Shepherd's other works, Faces at the Manger and Faces at the Cross, to form a trilogy of imaginative meditations."" --John Buchanan Editor/Publisher, The Christian Century ""Faces by the Wayside by Barrie Shepherd is a winsomely crafted insightful look into the souls of people who actually encountered Jesus. Shepherd seamlessly weaves the opportunity for the reader to experience a like encounter. We are enabled to ""see and hear and hope for the Life Abundant that Jesus offers."" We must, of course, confess . . . how we reacted when we saw these Faces . . . a very challenging experience "" --Ann Weems Author, From Advent's Alleluia to Easter's Morning Light ""Barrie Shepherd is our most poetic of preachers. It is a joy to walk alongside Barrie and Jesus for these roadside encounters. A fresh, beautiful presentation of the gospels awaits us here."" --William H. Willimon Bishop of the North Alabama Conference of the United Methodist Church Author, Sighing for Eden and What's Right with the Church ""J. Barrie Shepherd's depth of insight have encouraged people and his wisdom has helped them to grow in their own faith. The four hundred people that I teach find his books spiritually helpful as well as enjoyable."" --Jane Howington Reid Memorial Presbyterian Church (USA) About the Contributor(s): J. Barrie Shepherd has written extensively in the area of religious studies, is the author of fourteen books and over six hundred published poems. Shepherd has preached and lectured at Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Cornell, Dartmouth, Duke, and other universities and colleges and many of the major seminaries, as well as in distinguished pulpits across the USA and Canada, the UK, Europe and Africa.

From the author of Faces at the Manger comes another delightful collection of prose and poetry. In J. Barrie Shepherd's book, Faces at the Cross, the visages are of persons in Jerusalem during Holy Week and at the scene of the Crucifixion. As you meet Mary, Peter, Pontius Pilate, Simon of Cyrene, and others, their dramatic sketches will engage you as they tell of their encounters with Jesus. In addition to monologues, Faces at the Cross is brimming with readings appropriate for congregational or family worship. It provides monologues and poetic verse for Lent and Easter.

Preaching is an art, J. Barrie Shepherd argues, and the sermon is an art form, an exercise in creativity and imagination. But all too often preaching suffers from a lack of imagination and a loss of the joy and wonder that attracted the crowds to Jesus' words two thousand years ago. In this book, based on his 2003 Beecher Lectures at Yale Divinity School, Shepherd hopes to encourage the preacher toward a more creative vision for the sermon. His approach is spontaneous, eclectic, intuitive, and daring. Shepherd's purpose is to encourage the preacher to think of life as filled with God's presence, to search for the presence, and to use images and words to unveil that presence. The end result is a sermon that is full of astonishment and delight.

J. Barrie Shepherd presents thirty days of thoughtful and thought-provoking meditation for morning and evening reading. Reflecting on the parables found in the book of Luke, Shepherd describes a way of seeing and looking beyond what the eye can see to what the soul perceives.

The good Samaritan, the prodigal son, the lost sheep--more than one third of all that Jesus taught is found in the form of parables. Now from J. Barrie Shepherd comes a fresh, positive approach to the best known and loved of Jesus' teachings.

This unique collection of meditations offers morning and evening reflections for thirty-one days--each centered on one of the parables of Jesus. Every prayer is an insightful and inspirational response that applies the truth of the parable to daily life. An excellent idea for personal reading, this diary includes a full page of space opposite each prayer that can be used for writing notes, feelings, thoughts, and reactions. Ideal as devotional aids, these perceptive meditations are also a perfect resource for groups studying the parables.

Pastor and author J. Barrie Shepherd carries forward a rich tradition of Christian prayer and devotion in this outstanding book. The book contains sixty-two theme-based prayers: thirty for morning, thirty for evening, and one each for Sunday morning and Sunday evening. Opposite each prayer is a blank page for journaling, recording Bible verses, or writing other prayers.

In this Christmas classic, Barrie Shepherd describes the thoughts, feelings, questions, and dreams of those who gathered around that manger of long ago, as well as the faces that have been there in the centuries since. Through poems, stories, and prayers, Shepherd leads the reader to be one of the many who have knelt in worship beside the manger of the Savior, Jesus Christ.

Based on the Common Lectionary, J. Barrie Shepherd presents a Lenten prayer diary with forty-seven days of morning and evening prayers. The prayers are derived from suggested lessons of the scripture. Themes include suffering, repentance, and joyful welcome of Christ's resurrection.

Well-known for his devotional writing, J. Barrie Shepherd reflects on best-loved Psalms, including Psalms 23, 100, and 118: "The Lord is my shepherd," "Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the lands!" and "O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good." In the format of morning and evening prayers for one month, Shepherd writes on themes of worship--prayer, contemplation, and song--and on emotions of the worshiper such as awe and and joy. Space is provided so that readers can write down their own reflections.

This is a book of inspiring prayers and meditations for the Advent and Christmas season. Daily prayers for morning and evening devotion are followed by a space in which the reader in encouraged to write his or her own prayers, meditations, reflections, and insights.