Energion Publications Announces the Release of Healing Marks by Dr. Bruce Epperly

Nov. 19, 2012 - PRLog -- Energion Publications is pleased to announce the release of Healing Marks: Healing and Spirituality in Mark's Gospel by Dr. Bruce Epperly on November 1, 2012. Dr. Epperly calls Healing Marks a “very personal book” as it comes from over thirty years of experiencing the healing stories of Jesus. From his early years as a young college professor, he sought to make sense of the growing interest in complementary and alternative medicine. For seventeen years, he was a chaplain and professor at Georgetown University School of Medicine, and was among the first to teach courses on spirituality and medicine at a major medical school. While embracing Jesus’ healing ministry as a pastor, professor, reiki teacher, and spiritual guide, he has also wrestled with the meaning of Jesus’ healing ministry and God’s role in healing and sickness in a personal way as a pastor, friend, child, spouse, and parent, in hospital rooms, hospices, gravesides, and healing services.

Each chapter includes a spiritual practice related to the healing story being considered that is easily shaped for the reader's personal and spiritual needs. Rev. Epperly also includes questions and spiritual practices for group study and spiritual formation at the end of the book. Chapter titles include Transforming Faith, Forgiveness and Healing, Healing Takes Time, Healing Broken Spirits, A Healing Lifestyle, Healing in a Pluralistic Age, and God, Why am I Sick?.

Reviews of Healing Marks: Healing and Spirituality in Mark's Gospel

“Healing Marks is truly inspirational, timely, insightful, and wise.  Epperly shares his breadth and depth of knowledge in deft and accessible ways. He invites us to broaden our understanding and experience of spirituality by bringing together faith, health, body, mind, in ways that are relevant for everyday living as well as tackling the big questions of life. Through the lens of the Gospel of Mark, Epperly pushes beyond false divisions between mystical faith and rational thought and guides us into a greater knowledge, experience, and practice of hope, healing, and wholeness.”

– Edwin David Aponte, Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dean of the Faculty and Professor Christianity and Culture, Christian Theological Seminary

“'It has been said that theology begins where the pain is . . .' Hand in hand with the healing stories in the Gospel of Mark, Bruce Epperly begins where the pain is, and ushers us into the heart of the big questions surrounding illness and pain. Is the disease our fault? Is it God’s will? Are we powerless in our pain? What role does faith play? Most theologians who try to deal with these difficult questions leave only more questions. We need an adequate theology that can embrace our pain without feelings of guilt on the one hand, or feelings of powerlessness on the other. No theologian I know deals with the difficult questions of faith and illness with more clarity and insight than Bruce Epperly.”

– Patricia Adams Farmer, author of The Metaphor Maker and Embracing a Beautiful God  

The book is approximately 160 pages in length, including front and back matter, and will be available from Energion Direct (http://energiondirect.com) or from most online retailers. Review or evaluation copies are available from the publisher.

About the Author:

Rev. Bruce Epperly, Ph.D., is a teacher, spiritual guide, writer, lecturer, retreat leader, and reiki teacher. He is currently serving as Visiting Professor of Process Studies at Claremont School of Theology. The author of over twenty books, including Philippians: A Participatory Study Guide and Holy Adventure: 41 Days of Audacious Living, he is an ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and United Church of Christ.

A graduate of Claremont Graduate University, Claremont, California, in 1980, Bruce has served as a faculty member at Central Michigan University, Georgetown University, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Wesley Theological Seminary, and Lancaster Theological Seminary. He also served as Senior Protestant Chaplain at Georgetown University. He regularly lectures, leads workshops and retreats, and gives reiki trainings throughout the United States and Canada.

Dr. Epperly lives in Chevy Chase, MD and is the parent of Matt Epperly and the grandparent of two young children.