MSI Press Blog

  What Is a Spiritual Memoir? A spiritual memoir is not a sermon. It’s not a self-help manual or a theological treatise. It’s a story—your story—told through the lens of spiritual awakening, searching, questioning, or transformation. At its heart, a spiritual memoir traces the arc of a person’s inner life. It explores how beliefs are formed, challenged, and reshaped over time. It may include moments of doubt, crisis, revelation, or quiet clarity. It often begins with a question—spoken or unspoken—and unfolds as the writer seeks meaning in the midst of ordinary or extraordinary circumstances. 🌀 What Makes It “Spiritual”? Spiritual memoirs aren’t confined to religious experiences. They might center on nature, art, illness, caregiving, grief, or recovery. What makes them spiritual is the presence of longing—for connection, for truth, for something beyond the self. They often wrestle with mystery, paradox, and the unseen forces that shape our lives. Some spiritual memoirs are ove...

  In a world often divided by difference, interfaith dialogue offers a radical alternative: connection through curiosity, unity through respect. It’s not about erasing distinctions—it’s about honoring them, and discovering the shared humanity that pulses beneath every tradition. 🌍 Why Interfaith Matters It fosters empathy.  When we listen to another’s sacred story, we begin to see the world through their eyes. It dismantles stereotypes.  Dialogue replaces assumption with understanding, and fear with friendship. It builds resilient communities.  Diverse faith groups collaborating on service, education, and advocacy create networks of trust that transcend crisis. 🔥 From Tolerance to Transformation True interfaith engagement goes beyond polite coexistence. It asks us to be changed by encounter—to let another’s truth illuminate our own. This transformation is not a loss of identity, but a deepening of it. “Interfaith dialogue is not about conversion—it’s about conversa...

  ... Two weeks later, an old friend and I took Grant’s [my son's] remaining ashes to Eureka Springs, Arkansas, my favorite place for Autumn retreats. Scott stayed home to care for our animals and give me a chance to fulfill my final mission with a much needed break during my most loved season of the year.      There was a light, misty rain at times, but the weekend was still lovely. I tried to take momentary breaks from my thoughts of Grant as we enjoyed the hills, foliage and turn of the century charm that’s unique and family oriented.      On our final day, we went to Inspiration Point, a gorgeous outlook that gives a sweeping view of the valley below. In years past, I’ve looked upon multi-colored trees scattered among streams, farm houses and red roofed barns, all of it appearing miniature from the fenced area above. It was always breathtaking in the sunlight, but that morning, it was cloudy with patches of fog as we drove up the wind...

Gewanda is the founder and CEO of Hope and Healing Corporation, serving the needs of the marginalized of society locally and abroad to orphanages in Haiti and Africa. In 2003, she started an organization to help young girls and teens suffering with self-esteem and identity issues. Gewanda is a featured concert soloist, and her natural talent in music and  praise and worship has offered her the opportunity to minister and travel singing throughout the US, Canada and Bahamas. Levitical Praise was birthed out of these true authentic worship experiences. Johnson holds a Master of Divinity degree from Asbury Theological Seminary. Gewanda has worked with multiple multicultural and diversity assemblage of both professionals and laity groups in various settings. Most notable, in 2003, she was asked to speak to the highly Militant Religious Divides between the Protestants and Catholics in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Gewanda hosted a weekly radio show called “Message of Hope,” which ...

Tradition tells us that for the first time in recorded history, an enslaved people were able to walk away from slavery. As a Jew I am “commanded” to remember this day, and I do. I also feel strongly that it is something we all might wish to celebrate: NOT as a single event in history, but as an indictment of slavery as we join together to embrace a Universal Passover as our goal for humanity. It is not that “we” escaped the bondage of Pharaoh, once and forever, but that Pharaoh has come to enslave all of us throughout history, with many different names and forms, and we must seek to overthrow ALL Pharaohs, at all times – whatever form Pharaoh may have taken. For me, this has long been the essence of Passover. Yes, I remember that “We were slaves in the land of Egypt.” But I remember it not because the “poor Jews” were enslaved, but rather as an in-my-face reminder that slavery is wrong. It is always wrong. It is wrong if Jews are enslaved. It is wrong if Africans are enslaved...