Hans Urs von Balthasar (A.D. 1905-1988) Swiss priest and Jesuit theologian, friend of Henri de LubacHenri de Lubac (A.D. 1896–1991) French Jesuit theologian, patristic scholar, and leading critic of neo-Thomism. His views led to the church silencin... more, Karl BarthKarl Barth (A.D. 1886-1968) Swiss Reformed pastor and professor, founding figure of Neo Orthodoxy and probably the most influential Protestant theolog... more, and Adrienne von SpeyrAdrienne von Speyr (A.D. 1902–1967) Swiss physician and Roman Catholic theologian whose visionary experiences were a major inspiration for the ... more, who was a critic of neo-scholastic theology but rather than simply seeking to modernize Catholicism, argued, like BarthKarl Barth (A.D. 1886-1968) Swiss Reformed pastor and professor, founding figure of Neo Orthodoxy and probably the most influential Protestant theolog... more, that Christian thought and life must challenge modern sensibilities and ideologies. He is known for his emphasis on beauty as the theme of theology. Balthasar proposed a controversial new theology of Holy SaturdayRefers to the day between Jesus’ death on Good Friday and his resurrection on Easter Sunday. According to Christian tradition, during this interval ... more, which is connected with a hope for universal salvation.
CLEARSTONE PUBLISHING:
“Light at the end of the arched tunnel. Blood on the stone wall. Rust on the cell’s bars. The glance of a gladiator sitting in his cell. The soldier’s sandals stepping in front of her. Amora grasped every detail as her world moved in slow motion, drawing her closer to her fate. The stench of death permeated the suffocating darkness, making a mockery of the heightened vitality within her. Her chains rattled, gears ground, animals roared, and people cheered. She gave them no heed. Amora, in an elegant white gown, moved with natural grace in front of a cell of prisoners. Her sixteen-year-old chained slave, Maria, followed behind wearing a simple tunic; a second soldier brought up the rear…”
With that introduction, author Grant Hallstrom draws you into the world of ancient Rome with its intrigue and contrasts, where he explores the timeless struggles between revenge and forgiveness, hope and despair, and loss and redemption.
This award-winning bestseller follows Amora on her path of self-discovery from her opulent teenage wedding with Leo through her life full of personal disappointment, tragedy, and betrayal, ultimately leading to peace in the face of death. We watch Leo withdraw into his dark private world of despair as he struggles to maintain his standing in society while trying to escape from the ever-present pain of loss. We delight in the romance between two slaves and champion the young man’s quest to avenge his lover’s untimely death. The sweeping panorama of this immersive story includes the suspense of battles and the action of gladiators fighting to survive in the arena as well.
The author weaves a well-crafted and deeply researched historical fiction based on a true story that will captivate the reader’s attention from the start. The book is filled with non-stop action and suspense, so you are never sure what’s about to happen on the next page. This superbly written and richly descriptive novel with brilliantly drawn characters and settings will have you turning pages from beginning to end. Skillfully constructed, cinematic in presentation and deeply inspiring, this thought-provoking book makes a solid impact.
Even though the book shows how new Christian ideas influenced some characters, it does not try to convert the reader. It simply tells the story including the role that religion played in their lives. Amora is ultimately a story about love, family, friendships, faith, trials and forgiveness. It is well worth the read!
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A Collection of Inspiring Essays.
God is love, and because we all have a spark of His divinity in us, we have a strong core need to love and to be loved. However, because we are born into an imperfect world, all of us have been disappointed by others we depended on for love. This betrayal creates an emotional black hole at the center of our personal universe that sucks us down into a life of loneliness, frustration and pain.
How do we escape the gravity of our emotional black holes? Can we really become free to love and enjoy life? As Mr. Hallstrom shares the life lessons he has learned from a variety of intriguing and often difficult experiences, you may discover a path of healing that leads to freedom and happiness.