Arthur Paul Boers Livres

A sensitive and penetrating reflection on coming of age in a Dutch immigrant family scarred by violence   Arthur Boers’s earliest memory was of shattered glass. His father threw a potted plant at his mother, and she ducked as the plant crashed through a window of the family home. His mother cleaned up the shards that day; later in life, he would find himself called upon to pick up the pieces as well.   In  Shattered , Boers reflects on coming of age in a family scarred by violence. The son of Dutch immigrants, Boers illuminates the generational trauma of the Nazi occupation of Holland, refracted in vignettes of his boyhood in postwar Canada. His hard-working, Calvinist family is endearing but ultimately unable to address the insidious cycle of abuse that passed father to son. Breaking with this silence and complicity, Boers reflects candidly and empathetically on his tumultuous relationship with his father. Intertwined with this narrative is his emerging vocation to ministry, more mystical and expressive than the Reformed tradition in which he was raised.  Forthright and authentic, Boers extends a hand in solidarity to readers who have been wounded by those who were meant to protect them the most. With  Shattered , he charts a path toward healing through faith.

No church is immune to the problems that can arise when parishioners behave in difficult ways. Responding to such situations with self-awareness and in a manner true to one’s faith tradition makes the difference between peace and disaster. In this must-read book, Boers shows how a better understanding of difficult behavior can help congregational leaders avoid the trap of labeling such parishioners and exercise self-care when the going gets rough.

Exploring the diverse places where divine encounters can occur, this book challenges traditional notions of spirituality and community. It contrasts the sacred with the secular, asking whether true connections with God and Jesus happen in conventional religious settings or in everyday life among the marginalized. The narrative invites readers to reflect on faith's presence in both elevated and humble circumstances, emphasizing that spiritual experiences can be found in unexpected locations.

Examining the escalating crime rates in the U.S. since 1960, the book delves into the responsibilities toward both victims and offenders within a flawed criminal justice system. It contrasts secular approaches with biblical teachings, advocating for restorative justice as a viable alternative. Through personal stories and reflections, it highlights God's messages of hope and guidance, encouraging a deeper understanding of justice from a Christian perspective.

Dreams are our mind's way of showing us things, sometimes they take us to places where our imagination can run wild. Most of us have dreams and we all hope our dreams come true, this is what we hope you will understand from reading this book. Let your imagination take you to the places the characters are going to and join them on their adventures.