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Mystery Without Rhyme or Reason

Hardcover |English |1498220924 | 9781498220927

Mystery Without Rhyme or Reason

Hardcover |English |1498220924 | 9781498220927
Overview

This collection of poetic reflections is a rich resource for a faithful imagination. Michael Coffey's poems explore the deep questions and joyful affirmations of Christian faith. Never settling for easy answers or straight-forward interpretations, Coffey's writing invites the reader into new spiritual territory where the strange and unexpected, the beautiful and painful, become an encounter with the holy. Anyone preparing to preach or teach on biblical texts will find here words that inspire, challenge, and create new inroads for faith. Anyone seeking meditative or devotional readings of Scripture will find a companion for thoughtful reflection and prayer. Covering most of the Sundays and primary festivals of the church's liturgical year, these writings will enrich all who plan, prepare, and participate in worship that spans the vast themes of Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, Pentecost, and the ordinary Sundays. ""Mike Coffey's poetic reflections have long sparked my imagination. They have the artistic flair one can see also in his office and worship space at First English [Lutheran Church]. Having forwarded many of these over the years, I am grateful to see them in now in print. May they tug and nudge at the edges of your consciousness, allowing you to hear, see, and feel the biblical story in new ways."" --Michael Rinehart, Bishop, Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America ""Coffey writes in the language of the soul about the Great Mystery of Life and Incarnation. His book of poetry is a doorway to the Sacred and you will be very blessed and transformed by tasting Mike Coffey's poems, just as I was. Be open to a new way of seeing Scripture and Theology, not from the control tower of reason, but from the dark oceanic fluids of your soul."" --Antonio Ramirez, author of The Man: Reflections on Male Spirituality and Identity ""There's an undeniable, concrete reality to these poems. Big ideas are tethered to physical images and contemporary speech: nanoseconds, Scotch tape, the Brooklyn Bridge, Willy Wonka, even! But don't be fooled by their accessibility. These poems are labyrinthine and they spiral in to a complex, enigmatic center: the awful, awe-filling, all-filling heart of God. These poems enflesh that mystery and remind us that once and for a while God was human and that if we fully understood him, then he wouldn't be God."" --Jill Alexander Essbaum, author of New York Times bestselling book Hausfrau Michael Coffey is an ordained minister in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, currently serving as pastor of First English Lutheran Church in Austin, TX. He has previously served parishes in Burnet, TX and San Antonio, TX. He is a contributing writer for Sundays and Seasons and Sundays and Seasons: Preaching; and Classical Considerations: Useful Wisdom from Greece and Rome (2006).
ISBN: 1498220924
ISBN13: 9781498220927
Author: Michael Coffey
Publisher: Wipf and Stock
Format: Hardcover
PublicationDate: 2015-07-17
Language: English
PageCount: 210
Dimensions: 5.98 x 0.5 x 9.02 inches
Weight: 15.84 ounces

This collection of poetic reflections is a rich resource for a faithful imagination. Michael Coffey's poems explore the deep questions and joyful affirmations of Christian faith. Never settling for easy answers or straight-forward interpretations, Coffey's writing invites the reader into new spiritual territory where the strange and unexpected, the beautiful and painful, become an encounter with the holy. Anyone preparing to preach or teach on biblical texts will find here words that inspire, challenge, and create new inroads for faith. Anyone seeking meditative or devotional readings of Scripture will find a companion for thoughtful reflection and prayer. Covering most of the Sundays and primary festivals of the church's liturgical year, these writings will enrich all who plan, prepare, and participate in worship that spans the vast themes of Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, Pentecost, and the ordinary Sundays. ""Mike Coffey's poetic reflections have long sparked my imagination. They have the artistic flair one can see also in his office and worship space at First English [Lutheran Church]. Having forwarded many of these over the years, I am grateful to see them in now in print. May they tug and nudge at the edges of your consciousness, allowing you to hear, see, and feel the biblical story in new ways."" --Michael Rinehart, Bishop, Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America ""Coffey writes in the language of the soul about the Great Mystery of Life and Incarnation. His book of poetry is a doorway to the Sacred and you will be very blessed and transformed by tasting Mike Coffey's poems, just as I was. Be open to a new way of seeing Scripture and Theology, not from the control tower of reason, but from the dark oceanic fluids of your soul."" --Antonio Ramirez, author of The Man: Reflections on Male Spirituality and Identity ""There's an undeniable, concrete reality to these poems. Big ideas are tethered to physical images and contemporary speech: nanoseconds, Scotch tape, the Brooklyn Bridge, Willy Wonka, even! But don't be fooled by their accessibility. These poems are labyrinthine and they spiral in to a complex, enigmatic center: the awful, awe-filling, all-filling heart of God. These poems enflesh that mystery and remind us that once and for a while God was human and that if we fully understood him, then he wouldn't be God."" --Jill Alexander Essbaum, author of New York Times bestselling book Hausfrau Michael Coffey is an ordained minister in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, currently serving as pastor of First English Lutheran Church in Austin, TX. He has previously served parishes in Burnet, TX and San Antonio, TX. He is a contributing writer for Sundays and Seasons and Sundays and Seasons: Preaching; and Classical Considerations: Useful Wisdom from Greece and Rome (2006).

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  • Used - Acceptable: All pages and the cover are intact, but shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Pages may include limited notes, highlighting, or minor water damage but the text is readable. Item may but the dust cover may be missing. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting, but the text cannot be obscured or unreadable.

Note: Some electronic material access codes are valid only for one user. For this reason, used books, including books listed in the Used – Like New condition, may not come with functional electronic material access codes.

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  • Stevens Books offers FREE SHIPPING everywhere in the United States for ALL non-book orders, and $3.99 for each book.
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The usual time for processing an order is 24 hours (1 business day), but may vary depending on the availability of products ordered. This period excludes delivery times, which depend on your geographic location.

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Shipping method varies depending on what is being shipped.  

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All orders are shipped with a tracking number. Once your order has left our warehouse, a confirmation e-mail with a tracking number will be sent to you. You will be able to track your package at all times. 

Damaged Parcel
If your package has been delivered in a PO Box, please note that we are not responsible for any damage that may result (consequences of extreme temperatures, theft, etc.). 

If you have any questions regarding shipping or want to know about the status of an order, please contact us or email to support@stevensbooks.com.

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Several types of goods are exempt from being returned. Perishable goods such as food, flowers, newspapers or magazines cannot be returned. We also do not accept products that are intimate or sanitary goods, hazardous materials, or flammable liquids or gases.

Additional non-returnable items:

  • Gift cards
  • Downloadable software products
  • Some health and personal care items

To complete your return, we require a tracking number, which shows the items which you already returned to us.
There are certain situations where only partial refunds are granted (if applicable)

  • Book with obvious signs of use
  • CD, DVD, VHS tape, software, video game, cassette tape, or vinyl record that has been opened
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You should expect to receive your refund within four weeks of giving your package to the return shipper, however, in many cases you will receive a refund more quickly. This time period includes the transit time for us to receive your return from the shipper (5 to 10 business days), the time it takes us to process your return once we receive it (3 to 5 business days), and the time it takes your bank to process our refund request (5 to 10 business days).

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If you are shipping an item over $75, you should consider using a trackable shipping service or purchasing shipping insurance. We don’t guarantee that we will receive your returned item.

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Overview

This collection of poetic reflections is a rich resource for a faithful imagination. Michael Coffey's poems explore the deep questions and joyful affirmations of Christian faith. Never settling for easy answers or straight-forward interpretations, Coffey's writing invites the reader into new spiritual territory where the strange and unexpected, the beautiful and painful, become an encounter with the holy. Anyone preparing to preach or teach on biblical texts will find here words that inspire, challenge, and create new inroads for faith. Anyone seeking meditative or devotional readings of Scripture will find a companion for thoughtful reflection and prayer. Covering most of the Sundays and primary festivals of the church's liturgical year, these writings will enrich all who plan, prepare, and participate in worship that spans the vast themes of Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, Pentecost, and the ordinary Sundays. ""Mike Coffey's poetic reflections have long sparked my imagination. They have the artistic flair one can see also in his office and worship space at First English [Lutheran Church]. Having forwarded many of these over the years, I am grateful to see them in now in print. May they tug and nudge at the edges of your consciousness, allowing you to hear, see, and feel the biblical story in new ways."" --Michael Rinehart, Bishop, Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America ""Coffey writes in the language of the soul about the Great Mystery of Life and Incarnation. His book of poetry is a doorway to the Sacred and you will be very blessed and transformed by tasting Mike Coffey's poems, just as I was. Be open to a new way of seeing Scripture and Theology, not from the control tower of reason, but from the dark oceanic fluids of your soul."" --Antonio Ramirez, author of The Man: Reflections on Male Spirituality and Identity ""There's an undeniable, concrete reality to these poems. Big ideas are tethered to physical images and contemporary speech: nanoseconds, Scotch tape, the Brooklyn Bridge, Willy Wonka, even! But don't be fooled by their accessibility. These poems are labyrinthine and they spiral in to a complex, enigmatic center: the awful, awe-filling, all-filling heart of God. These poems enflesh that mystery and remind us that once and for a while God was human and that if we fully understood him, then he wouldn't be God."" --Jill Alexander Essbaum, author of New York Times bestselling book Hausfrau Michael Coffey is an ordained minister in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, currently serving as pastor of First English Lutheran Church in Austin, TX. He has previously served parishes in Burnet, TX and San Antonio, TX. He is a contributing writer for Sundays and Seasons and Sundays and Seasons: Preaching; and Classical Considerations: Useful Wisdom from Greece and Rome (2006).
ISBN: 1498220924
ISBN13: 9781498220927
Author: Michael Coffey
Publisher: Wipf and Stock
Format: Hardcover
PublicationDate: 2015-07-17
Language: English
PageCount: 210
Dimensions: 5.98 x 0.5 x 9.02 inches
Weight: 15.84 ounces

This collection of poetic reflections is a rich resource for a faithful imagination. Michael Coffey's poems explore the deep questions and joyful affirmations of Christian faith. Never settling for easy answers or straight-forward interpretations, Coffey's writing invites the reader into new spiritual territory where the strange and unexpected, the beautiful and painful, become an encounter with the holy. Anyone preparing to preach or teach on biblical texts will find here words that inspire, challenge, and create new inroads for faith. Anyone seeking meditative or devotional readings of Scripture will find a companion for thoughtful reflection and prayer. Covering most of the Sundays and primary festivals of the church's liturgical year, these writings will enrich all who plan, prepare, and participate in worship that spans the vast themes of Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, Pentecost, and the ordinary Sundays. ""Mike Coffey's poetic reflections have long sparked my imagination. They have the artistic flair one can see also in his office and worship space at First English [Lutheran Church]. Having forwarded many of these over the years, I am grateful to see them in now in print. May they tug and nudge at the edges of your consciousness, allowing you to hear, see, and feel the biblical story in new ways."" --Michael Rinehart, Bishop, Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America ""Coffey writes in the language of the soul about the Great Mystery of Life and Incarnation. His book of poetry is a doorway to the Sacred and you will be very blessed and transformed by tasting Mike Coffey's poems, just as I was. Be open to a new way of seeing Scripture and Theology, not from the control tower of reason, but from the dark oceanic fluids of your soul."" --Antonio Ramirez, author of The Man: Reflections on Male Spirituality and Identity ""There's an undeniable, concrete reality to these poems. Big ideas are tethered to physical images and contemporary speech: nanoseconds, Scotch tape, the Brooklyn Bridge, Willy Wonka, even! But don't be fooled by their accessibility. These poems are labyrinthine and they spiral in to a complex, enigmatic center: the awful, awe-filling, all-filling heart of God. These poems enflesh that mystery and remind us that once and for a while God was human and that if we fully understood him, then he wouldn't be God."" --Jill Alexander Essbaum, author of New York Times bestselling book Hausfrau Michael Coffey is an ordained minister in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, currently serving as pastor of First English Lutheran Church in Austin, TX. He has previously served parishes in Burnet, TX and San Antonio, TX. He is a contributing writer for Sundays and Seasons and Sundays and Seasons: Preaching; and Classical Considerations: Useful Wisdom from Greece and Rome (2006).

Books - New and Used

The following guidelines apply to books:

  • New: A brand-new copy with cover and original protective wrapping intact. Books with markings of any kind on the cover or pages, books marked as "Bargain" or "Remainder," or with any other labels attached, may not be listed as New condition.
  • Used - Good: All pages and cover are intact (including the dust cover, if applicable). Spine may show signs of wear. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting. May include "From the library of" labels. Shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Item may be missing bundled media.
  • Used - Acceptable: All pages and the cover are intact, but shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Pages may include limited notes, highlighting, or minor water damage but the text is readable. Item may but the dust cover may be missing. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting, but the text cannot be obscured or unreadable.

Note: Some electronic material access codes are valid only for one user. For this reason, used books, including books listed in the Used – Like New condition, may not come with functional electronic material access codes.

Shipping Fees

  • Stevens Books offers FREE SHIPPING everywhere in the United States for ALL non-book orders, and $3.99 for each book.
  • Packages are shipped from Monday to Friday.
  • No additional fees and charges.

Delivery Times

The usual time for processing an order is 24 hours (1 business day), but may vary depending on the availability of products ordered. This period excludes delivery times, which depend on your geographic location.

Estimated delivery times:

  • Standard Shipping: 5-8 business days
  • Expedited Shipping: 3-5 business days

Shipping method varies depending on what is being shipped.  

Tracking
All orders are shipped with a tracking number. Once your order has left our warehouse, a confirmation e-mail with a tracking number will be sent to you. You will be able to track your package at all times. 

Damaged Parcel
If your package has been delivered in a PO Box, please note that we are not responsible for any damage that may result (consequences of extreme temperatures, theft, etc.). 

If you have any questions regarding shipping or want to know about the status of an order, please contact us or email to support@stevensbooks.com.

You may return most items within 30 days of delivery for a full refund.

To be eligible for a return, your item must be unused and in the same condition that you received it. It must also be in the original packaging.

Several types of goods are exempt from being returned. Perishable goods such as food, flowers, newspapers or magazines cannot be returned. We also do not accept products that are intimate or sanitary goods, hazardous materials, or flammable liquids or gases.

Additional non-returnable items:

  • Gift cards
  • Downloadable software products
  • Some health and personal care items

To complete your return, we require a tracking number, which shows the items which you already returned to us.
There are certain situations where only partial refunds are granted (if applicable)

  • Book with obvious signs of use
  • CD, DVD, VHS tape, software, video game, cassette tape, or vinyl record that has been opened
  • Any item not in its original condition, is damaged or missing parts for reasons not due to our error
  • Any item that is returned more than 30 days after delivery

Items returned to us as a result of our error will receive a full refund,some returns may be subject to a restocking fee of 7% of the total item price, please contact a customer care team member to see if your return is subject. Returns that arrived on time and were as described are subject to a restocking fee.

Items returned to us that were not the result of our error, including items returned to us due to an invalid or incomplete address, will be refunded the original item price less our standard restocking fees.

If the item is returned to us for any of the following reasons, a 15% restocking fee will be applied to your refund total and you will be asked to pay for return shipping:

  • Item(s) no longer needed or wanted.
  • Item(s) returned to us due to an invalid or incomplete address.
  • Item(s) returned to us that were not a result of our error.

You should expect to receive your refund within four weeks of giving your package to the return shipper, however, in many cases you will receive a refund more quickly. This time period includes the transit time for us to receive your return from the shipper (5 to 10 business days), the time it takes us to process your return once we receive it (3 to 5 business days), and the time it takes your bank to process our refund request (5 to 10 business days).

If you need to return an item, please Contact Us with your order number and details about the product you would like to return. We will respond quickly with instructions for how to return items from your order.


Shipping Cost


We'll pay the return shipping costs if the return is a result of our error (you received an incorrect or defective item, etc.). In other cases, you will be responsible for paying for your own shipping costs for returning your item. Shipping costs are non-refundable. If you receive a refund, the cost of return shipping will be deducted from your refund.

Depending on where you live, the time it may take for your exchanged product to reach you, may vary.

If you are shipping an item over $75, you should consider using a trackable shipping service or purchasing shipping insurance. We don’t guarantee that we will receive your returned item.

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