Secrets in the Dark
A Life in Sermons
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
Frederick Buechner has long been a kindred spirit to those for whom doubt is a constant companion on the journey of faith. A passionate writer and preacher, Buechner can alter lives with a simple phrase. Secrets in the Dark is the definitive collection of his sermons, and reveals his gift for storytelling and his compassionate heart.
This anthology has been organized in chronological order to better chronicle the development of Buechner’s ideology throughout his lifetime. Drawn from such great works as The Magnificent Defeat, A Room Called Remember, and The Longing for Home, this collection also includes a new introduction and several new, previously unpublished sermons. Secrets in the Dark will inspire laughter and bring great solace; turn the pages and rediscover what it means to be thoughtful about faith.
Frederick Buechner, author of more than thirty works of fiction and non-fiction, is an ordained Presbyterian minister. He has been a finalist for both the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award, and was honored by the American Academy of Arts and Letters. His most recent work is Beyond Words: Daily Readings in the ABC’s of Faith.
“For the uninitiated, this volume is the perfect entree to Buechner’s writing. He eloquently explores the beauty of language, the joy and pain of being human, the darkness found in human experience and the Bible, and the hope of the Gospel ... Buechner helps us open our eyes, ears and hearts to see the world and God in it. He teaches us to delight in the mysteriousness of truth.” – Dallas Morning News
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Novelist and Christian writer Buechner (Brendan; The Alphabet of Grace) delivered a number of memorable sermons in more than four decades of service as a Presbyterian minister. This collection contains 37 of them, all featuring the intricate stories, fascinating connections and personal touches that are Buechner's signature. By presenting them chronologically, the evolution of his favorite themes of listening to your dreams, finding your calling and the importance of home are evident. Most touching are the sermons directed at youthful audiences (Buechner was a chaplain at two private boys' schools), such as "The Calling of Voices," in which he pleads with young people to pay attention to the deep gladness in their lives, following it to their life's vocation. For instruction on how to read the Bible, readers should turn to "Love," which recommends that the rule of love, found in the "great commandment" (Matthew 22:36 38), be used as a guide for biblical interpretation and perspective. In "Faith and Fiction," Buechner considers what it means to be a saint not one who necessarily lives an exemplary life, but who is a "life-giver." Many of these sermons have been published elsewhere, but bound together, they become an elegant and life-giving memoir.
