Shining Moments

The Bible is filled with stories of shining moments -- Moses' face shone as he came down from the mountain with the ten commandments; Jesus' face changed and his clothes became dazzling white in a transfiguration witnessed by the disciples; Paul was blinded by a light and heard the voice of Christ on the road to Damascus -- and many modern Christians have had equally life-changing experiences of the Lord's power and presence.<br><br>In this third volume of the acclaimed <i><b>Visions</b></i> series 60 contributors share their authentic intensely personal accounts of holy experiences. Rosmarie Trapp of the <i>Sound of Music</i> family tells of a moment of assurance when the Lord visited me in a bright golden light whose golden glow brought peace to my soul. Ralph Milton author of the historical novel <i>Julian's Cell</i> describes a visitation by his late sister: We were singing together as we often did as children ... I don't recall ever having a memory or dream as clear and powerful as that one and it left me with a sense of joy and peace. Karen Steinke recounts the warmth she felt at the moment of her baptism: I looked up to see the form of Jesus with an overpowering light surrounding him ...<br><br>Whether they relate transforming moments like visions healings or visitations by angels joyous moments like being in the presence of a loved one who has died or just the simple sense of God's presence while singing in church or sitting in a sunny meadow on a warm spring day the vignettes in <i><b>Shining Moments</b></i> are a testament to the indescribable comfort and peace of an encounter with the divine. And because each story also illustrates a scripture passage <i><b>Shining Moments</b></i> is a valuable preaching resource and an excellent catalyst for small group discussion. But even more this book provides inspiring and heart-warming reading for personal devotion and spiritual growth.<br><br>Praise for other volumes in the <i><b>Visions</b></i> series:<br><br><i>This wonderful collection of stories reminds us of a fact our world desperately needs to know -- that God is alive and well and ready to be at work in our daily lives.</i><br>J. Ellsworth Kalas<br>Author of <i>New Testament Stories from the Back Side</i><br><br>A noted storyteller <b>John E. Sumwalt</b> is the pastor of Wauwatosa Avenue United Methodist Church in Milwaukee Wisconsin. The author of CSS'<i>Lectionary Stories</i> series Sumwalt leads seminars and retreats on sharing and understanding visions. He and his wife Jo Perry-Sumwalt also are the editors of the online service <i>StoryShare</i>.