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| December, 2007 | ||
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THE power of prayer is a popular tenet of most religions. Since 1927, The World Ministry of Prayer (WMOP) has provided prayer to all who request it; they have responded to the call for prayer by mail, in person, over the phone and now by CD. Released last year, Inspirational Prayer and Meditation has seventeen prayers that average about three minutes each; they are accompanied by the tranquil musical renderings of Anton Mizerak. The prayers cover a range of topics; track number three is titled “Self-Love” and number sixteen is “The Lord’s Prayer,” which is spoken first in Aramaic and then in English. What makes this CD unique is that the prayers were not scripted before they were said; they were recorded as the practitioners spontaneously prayed from their inner guidance. While a diverse group of practitioners contributed to the disc, their names are not listed because WMOP practitioners serve anonymously. I think this quote from the inside cover best states the intention of this inspirational collaboration: “We invite you to listen with an open heart. We invite you to listen with loved ones; for there is nothing more powerful than when two or more are gathered together in prayer.” This CD is an excellent and appropriate gift for people of any faith or spiritual practice. |
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Softcover, $12.50 IN his new book, Inner Peace in a Busy World, Cliff Johnson offers young adults an easy program for beginning the practice of meditation. He was inspired to write the book because of his success with organizing a meditation club at a Boys and Girls Club near his home. Written for a pre-teen/teen audience, this book is short, but thorough. Johnson has been practicing meditation for more than forty years. Add to that his experience training the kids at the club and it’s no surprise that he is able to write about meditation in a way that will appeal to a younger reader. In addition to the instructions on how to meditate, Johnson shares his personal insights on other practices, such as cleanliness, promptness and honesty; he also offers advice on how certain behaviors and values are a part of promoting a healthy mind/body connection. At the end of the book there is a section that answers common questions about meditation. Although Cliff Johnson is a former novice monk of the Ramakrishna Order of India, this book is written for a non-sectarian audience and is a great gift for introducing any young person on your gift list to meditation. |
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GOSPEL and inspirational music is reaching new heights of popularity, because a new generation of artists is creating music that appeals to a more diverse audience of listeners—Ester Nicholson is without a doubt one of those artists. An easy comparison of Nicholson’s style would be to that of Yolanda Adams. Child Above the Sun is Nicholson’s debut CD; produced by pianist, composer and producer Ben Dowling, it is an excellent introduction. Her years as a background singer for mega-artists such as Brenda Russell, Bette Midler, Al Green and Rod Stewart have not stymied her potential to be out front. There are ten tracks on the disc. Several of them are covers of well-known favor ites, like “Everything Must Change.” Nicholson performs it so purposefully and beautifully that you will hit replay to enjoy it a little longer. Some of the songs are written by Nicholson—there are songs of praise and of personal reflections on life, which is the focus of the title track, “Child Above the Sun.” This CD is an easy, jazzy, inspirational listen, worth having and giving to everyone on your list this year. |
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IF you’re familiar with the Idiot’s Guide format, you know why these reference books have become so popular for introducing readers to a variety of topics. This guide for short meditations is written for anyone interested in an easy, practical way to incorporate meditation into his spiritual practice. The author, Susan Gregg, uses the “idiot’s” format well to help everyone, from the novice to the well-seasoned meditator, understand the benefits of meditation. Her techniques are straightforward, and the accompanying short essays are a nice balance of the practical and the inspirational. Included are “Wise Words” boxes which contain quotes from a diverse group of luminaries, innovators and creative geniuses; from Carl Sagan, astronomer and writer, “For me, it is far better to grasp the Universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring.” This book is a smart gift for anyone on your list who wants to add meditation to his daily ritual. |
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| —Yolanda Porter | ||
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