Search results for ""Author John Mann""

As the Church Year passes, we anticipate the next festival and season, in much the same way as gardeners look for the first signs of spring or the first frosts of winter, as they plan their planting activities. So, in the Church, Advent passes into Christmas and Epiphany with a speed that seems driven by activity as much as reflection; but the approach of Ash Wednesday can catch us unawares, especially in a year with an early Easter. St Brigid’s Day and Candlemas, set at the beginning of February, warn us that we need to think about how to make the most of the weeks to pray our way, once more, through the days of the Passion and Resurrection of Christ. By taking the Cross, and even more specifically, the words Jesus spoke while nailed to that Cross, over the course of some weeks, rather than a few hours on Good Friday, we have time to consider more deeply the inner themes and conclusions. This meditation will help us to prepare for Holy Week, with a mind and heart familiar with the readings and ready to be filled with our own prayerful reflections. If this small book can prompt a mindset of deliberately slowing the pace of the contemplation of Christ’s words, and especially those from the Cross, then it has fulfilled its purpose.

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Journeying to the Light is intended to be read daily through the period from Advent Sunday to the Epiphany. It is largely based upon one of the Eucharistic readings each day. There are variations, and it can be adapted to be used whatever the length of Advent, and for individual or group use. The author weaves contemporary trends with biblical themes and with events of his own life. It has at its heart the Incarnation; anticipated by the prophets; joyfully experienced through the words of Luke, and proclaimed to the nations through the visit of the Magi, as recorded by Matthew. The author is an Anglican priest, but as this book is based upon the the Revised Common Lectionary, it is ecumenical in its reach, as many of the readings coincide with those appointed for both the daily Mass in Roman Catholic Churches and in Anglican Churches. Equally, the daily reflections, may be of use to all individuals who are seeking to establish a regular period of contemplation and space through Advent and Christmas, which is traditionally full of distraction and busyness. Bishop Brendan Leahy is joined by Archbishop John McDowell of the Church of Ireland in commending the book for our use, and two Church of England bishops add their voices to suggest that a deepening of our reflection, throughout these days of joyous hope, helps us to seek further the source of the light that was coming to humanity, that is Jesus, son of Mary, redeemer of the world. A Church-goer, a seeker after truth or, quite possibly in these tumultuous days, a Christian soul whose path has become darkened or distracted in recent years will find some thing in these pages to encourage them beyond written texts of any kind to set their eyes towards the light and their heart to the divine.

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Timothy Leary's advice to "tune in, turn on and drop out" was a 1960s exhortation to experiment with LSD, but humans had been consuming ergot alkaloids related to lysergic acid diethylamide for at least a thousand years. Opium has been around even longer with its medicinal uses being known to the Ancient Sumerians as long ago as 3400 BC. This is the first book to cover all of the major psychoactive drugs (both natural and synthetic) in one volume, and the only one to cover all aspects of these drugs from their anthropological and sociological influences through to their chemistry and pharmacology. It covers a range of substances including LSD, opium, heroin, cocaine, cannabis, peyote, belladonna, mandrake, and absinthe. The book is highly readable and concentrates on the characters (e.g. authors, painters, pop stars, hippies, politicians and drug barons), both famous and infamous, who have ensured that psychoactive drugs hold an enduring fascination and interest for everyone. The basic chemistry and pharmacological activity covered together with a brief account of useful drugs that have emerged from a study of the psychoactive ones.

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