Bøker av Eva Peck

The poems in this book were first written, sometimes quickly, by Alex to capture insights about life that he had gained. Some of the thoughts came straight from his heart, in the peaceful early morning hours, spent reflecting on life over a cup of green tea. Others were inspired by reading and contemplation.After sharing his first drafts with Eva, she masterfully edited them. Furthermore, she meaningfully added to the initial thoughts and reflections, greatly enhancing the original versions. She also drafted a few of the poems herself.In compiling this collection, the intentions have been that as much as possible, the poems would be: Reality-based - true to lived experience. Inclusive - speaking to readers on any spiritual path, or none. Timeless - relevant today, next year, and in decades to come. Universal - able to touch people's lives across a broad spectrum.However, while the poems are intended to speak to people of any spiritual orientation, readers may find a gentle undercurrent of Christian and/or Buddhist thought as a result of the background and studies by their authors.Alex and Eva are pleased to have permission from Jindrich (Henry) Degen, Eva's father, to use some of his mainly abstract paintings as introductory pages to the sections and to the individual poems in this book.The poems are arranged under the following themes: Truths of Life Wisdom for Life Acceptance End-of-Life Reflections In Memoriam Friendship Family On a Lighter NoteWith the authors now well into their sixties, as well as having over the years been drawn to interact with and serve older members of their communities, the poems overall reflect a serious side of life. Specifically, four trains of thought have emerged: life has many wonderful qualities and is a precious opportunity to benefit oneself and many others; this life is impermanent and can end unexpectedly; life is inescapably governed by cause and effect; and life is not without difficulties, frustrations, and heartaches. To balance the soberness of the poems, Eva wisely suggested including a section entitled "On a Lighter Note"!May readers find the feelings and thoughts about life captured in the poems helpful and insightful for their own life journey. Words, of course, are limited and so may they point to the deeper, heartfelt, and sometimes inexpressible, meanings.

The book proposes answers to questions many wonder about such as, what is the purpose of life and the human potential, and what happens after this life.Most Christians believe that man is by nature sinful - following the rebellion/fall of Adam and Eve. According to traditional teachings, this condition can be remedied by accepting Jesus Christ as a personal savior and his sacrifice on the cross as payment for our sins. This is said to reconcile us to God and cleanse us from all sin. The Bible, in the New Testament, indeed contains the teaching that man is saved by the death and blood of Jesus. While churches also usually teach that those who in this life have not accepted Jesus as their savior will eternally suffer in an ever-burning hell, the Scriptures are not quite as explicit - though they do speak about judgment.Besides numerous passages speaking about being saved by Jesus' death, there is also another thread or "gospel" running through the New Testament. It emphasises more of what Jesus taught and exhorted his followers to do, than what he did for them through his sacrificial death. Many passages speak about the Holy Spirit as the agent of transformation and creating the "new heart" predicted by Old Testament prophets. Jesus spoke about "New Birth" as a means of salvation and condition for entering the Kingdom of God. Other passages speak about Love of God shed abroad to our hearts by the Holy Spirit. We are to follow the leading of the Spirit in order to be saved. God is more than happy to give us the Holy Spirit, but our effort and cooperation are also needed in working out our own salvation.This book focuses on what is the New Birth, how we can be born again, what it means in this life, and what we can look forward to in the next life and in the Kingdom of God that Jesus so often spoke about when he came to the earth.It is a well-established fact (though not accepted by all Christians) that the Bible is not a book wherein every word is inspired by God. It is not a book of science or history as such. It also combines multiple threads of thought from various ancient sources. It has gone through a complex process of document selection, compilation, editing and reediting, as well as translating - all this long after the time of Jesus and the original apostles. There is no doubt that the Bible is an inspired book which has changed countless lives over the span of its existence, and that it contains the essential message of salvation. However, it is not free from errors, interpolations, extrapolations, and biases of its contributors, editors, and translators who were all influenced by the time and culture they lived in.Several years ago, I was led to another revelation - not as well known, but, I believe, worth considering. It is important to realize that all inspired knowledge is mediated knowledge - it comes from a higher source beyond us through a human spiritual teacher (who in that process functions as a medium) to be passed onto others. In this book, I am mostly drawing on information from two sources: the four volumes of True Gospel Revealed Anew by Jesus (TGRABJ) published by the Foundation Church of the New Birth, and the Bible.The author hopes and prays that readers will, with an open mind, consider the presented views and decide whether what they read resonates with them. May they be inspired and encouraged, as well as motivated to act on what they learn, so that they can start on the journey of fulfilling their unlimited human potential.

The Greatest Love discusses various aspects of love that humans express towards each other, and the yet greater and far superior Love of God or Divine Love. It shows that humans were created basically good and have inherent in their hearts and souls a measure of love which if mutually practised and lived by would make our world a much happier place.However, people can not only choose to live by precepts such as the Ten Commandments in the Judeo-Christian tradition or the Eightfold Path taught by the Buddha, which can be summed up by the Golden Rule of treating others as we ourselves wish to be treated, and the great commandment of loving one’s neighbour as oneself. Humans also have the opportunity to pray for and receive God’s Divine Love, which if cultivated in their souls and applied in their day-to-day actions enables them to love unconditionally as Jesus loved – including loving their enemies. It also transforms individuals at the soul level from humans created in God’s image to new, divine creatures whose souls consist of divine substance.Divine Love is indeed the greatest love – God’s own Love, with which He so loved the world that He sent Jesus to make known to humanity the way to His Kingdom and immortality. And this way is through the very same Divine Love that God has made available to all His human children for the asking so that they can become at one with Him.Readers are encouraged to consider the information presented here with open minds and hearts, and decide for themselves whether or not it resonates with them.