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Strength for the Journey: Biblical Wisdom for Daily Living
Peter J. Gomes is widely acclaimed as one of America's greatest preachers. In Strength for the Journey, Gomes offers a new collection of his most important sermons, which draw on the wisdom of the Bible to guide us through the year and enrich our daily lives. Sermons have always played a central role in American culture, serving as beacons of hope in trying times and illuminating the path ahead when the prevailing wisdom grows dim. Gomes is one of the few remaining great practitioners of this lost art. Strength for the Journey features twenty-two of his stirring addresses dealing with themes of daily life such as commitment, death, happiness, innocence, patriotism, and struggle; and eighteen enduring sermons focusing on the seasons of the liturgical year. Never one to shy away from controversy, Gomes preaches sermons such as "In Praise of Harlots,""Plenty Good Room,"and "Patriotism Is Not Enough."Publishers Weekly called Gomes's historic "Outer Turmoil, Inner Strength"sermon, delivered just days after the tragic events of September 11, "one of the most eloquent, sensitive Christian responses to the attack." Gomes's latest collection is sure to satisfy his loyal fans as well as to attract new ones. With his characteristic eloquence and compassion, Gomes offers us the spiritual resources we need to bring joy and inspiration to everyday life.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2003
4 people are currently reading
45 people want to read
About the author
Peter J. Gomes
46 books28 followersBorn May 22, 1942, in Boston, Massachusetts from Cape Verdean parents, Gomes graduated from Bates College in 1965 and Harvard Divinity School in 1968. He also spent time at the University of Cambridge and is now an Honorary Fellow of Emmanuel College, where The Gomes Lectureship is established in his name. Gomes was ordained as an American Baptist minister by the First Baptist Church of Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1968. Gomes remains a member of First Baptist and occasionally preaches there. Since 1970, he has served in the Memorial Church of Harvard University; and since 1974 as Plummer Professor of Christian Morals and Pusey Minister in the Memorial Church. Also at Harvard, he serves as faculty adviser of The Harvard Ichthus. Gomes is a leading expert on early American religion. He has been a visiting professor at Duke University as well as UNC-Chapel Hill. In 2008 he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by Westfield State College.
Widely regarded as one of America’s most distinguished preachers, Professor Gomes has fulfilled preaching and lecturing engagements throughout the United States and Great Britain. He was named Clergy of the Year in 1998 by Religion and American Life. His New York Times and national best-selling books, The Good Book: Reading the Bible with Mind and Heart and Sermons, the Book of Wisdom for Daily Living, were published by William Morrow & Company. He has published in total ten volumes of sermons, as well as numerous articles and papers.
His most recent work, The Scandalous Gospel of Jesus, includes extensive commentary and observation on the interrelations of Church and State throughout history and particularly in recent US history. On September 15, 2008 he appeared on The Colbert Report to promote his book. During this interview, he also states that he was baptized Catholic and claims gospels are "a dime a dozen."
Gomes surprised many when he revealed in 1991 that he is gay, and has since become an advocate for wider acceptance of homosexuality in American society. However, he has stated that he has remained celibate.
A lifelong Republican, Gomes offered prayers at the inaugurals of Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush. However, in August 2006 he moved his registration to Democrat, supporting the gubernatorial candidacy of Deval Patrick, who would later become the first African-American elected governor of Massachusetts. (Gomes, 2006) In 2008 Henry Louis Gates featured Gomes and his family on the PBS documentary African American Lives 2. A DNA test showed that Gomes is related to the Fulani, Tikar, and Hausa peoples of West Africa. Gomes is also descended from Portuguese Jews through his paternal grandfather who was born in the Cape Verde Islands
Widely regarded as one of America’s most distinguished preachers, Professor Gomes has fulfilled preaching and lecturing engagements throughout the United States and Great Britain. He was named Clergy of the Year in 1998 by Religion and American Life. His New York Times and national best-selling books, The Good Book: Reading the Bible with Mind and Heart and Sermons, the Book of Wisdom for Daily Living, were published by William Morrow & Company. He has published in total ten volumes of sermons, as well as numerous articles and papers.
His most recent work, The Scandalous Gospel of Jesus, includes extensive commentary and observation on the interrelations of Church and State throughout history and particularly in recent US history. On September 15, 2008 he appeared on The Colbert Report to promote his book. During this interview, he also states that he was baptized Catholic and claims gospels are "a dime a dozen."
Gomes surprised many when he revealed in 1991 that he is gay, and has since become an advocate for wider acceptance of homosexuality in American society. However, he has stated that he has remained celibate.
A lifelong Republican, Gomes offered prayers at the inaugurals of Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush. However, in August 2006 he moved his registration to Democrat, supporting the gubernatorial candidacy of Deval Patrick, who would later become the first African-American elected governor of Massachusetts. (Gomes, 2006) In 2008 Henry Louis Gates featured Gomes and his family on the PBS documentary African American Lives 2. A DNA test showed that Gomes is related to the Fulani, Tikar, and Hausa peoples of West Africa. Gomes is also descended from Portuguese Jews through his paternal grandfather who was born in the Cape Verde Islands
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
January 23, 2016
Great collection of sermons. One of my favorite quotes:
"We are made in the image of God, and everything that we believe or do or that is done to us has to be understood in the light of that affirmation. We are made in the image of God, which meas that there is that of God in everyone one us, that everyone of us bears the mark's mark, the maker's image; and it also means that there is that of everyone of us in God. Now think of the radical implications of that."
"We are made in the image of God, and everything that we believe or do or that is done to us has to be understood in the light of that affirmation. We are made in the image of God, which meas that there is that of God in everyone one us, that everyone of us bears the mark's mark, the maker's image; and it also means that there is that of everyone of us in God. Now think of the radical implications of that."
February 18, 2016
A master of preaching and teaching
June 21, 2013
Pretty good for a book of sermons. Sermons (which are meant to be spoken) often don't hold up well to a change in form. These do about as well as one can hope!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews