What's the Big Deal About Jesus?

How many times through the media and in conversations do you hear people working hard to diminish the influence of Jesus, criticizing the largest Christian community, the Catholic Church, and outright making fun of believers?

Think with me here. An ordinary carpenter's son came to earth and said, The Father and I are one. What? Come on! Yet, every year for hundreds of years more and more people all over the world become new believers. What's this all about? I wanted to know enough to spend ten years researching the origins of Jesus' messages and write my latest book From Jesus to Heaven with Love: A Parable Pilgrimage http://www.BarbaraGarro.com http://www.CambridgeBooks.us http://www.Amazon.com

Jesus has come into their lives, is in relationship with them, and one by one has become real for each one of them. That the only plausible explanation for the fact that the harder the non-believers try to make light of Jesus, His light shines brighter and His influence becomes heavier.

How? His miracles keep happening. His healings keep curing people. Prayers to His believers get answered day in and day out. Example? This Friday in January in Saratoga Springs, New York, I was walking home from the Senior Center and the cold wind kicked up, blowing stinging snow squalls into my face and I felt like I was walking in Alaska, and not too happy about feeling this cold for the rest of the half mile walk. Then, my attitute of gratitude came over me, knowing one by one the number of my friends who could not make this half-mile walk for a variety of reasons. And, I said, I love You, Jesus. Immmediately the wind became warmer, the snow stopped blowing in my face, and quickly the wind stopped blowing and the rest of my walk home was warm enough and pleasant.

A miracle? You tell me. Jesus feeling compassion for me? Didn't he stop the wind and waves on the sea of Galilee when His disciples were frightened they would die?

Barbara Garro is Authoring

The excitement continues and the excitement has kept me from blogging.

Here's the excitement: From Jesus to Heaven with Love: A Parable Pilgrimage came out November 2010, published by http://www.CambridgeBooks.us, but got its Imprimatur and Nihil Obstat in August 2010 after the book came out as an E-book by http://www.ebooksonthe.net. Then, the E-book was nominated by EPIC for a Book Award in the non-fiction category in March 2011 at its Awards Ceremony in Virginia.

Then, publisher Dystenium said it would publish my poetry and my fine art in a first ever book of poetry and art, scheduled out January 2011. And, Dystenium said it would publish a second poetry/art book later in the year and it already has all the poetry and art to consider.

Then, Cambridge Books said it would publish another book in the Jesus series, this one on Prayer & Meditation, which I am currently researching and writing.

It's been a busy year. Do consider purchasing From Jesus to Heaven with Love: A Parable Pilgrimage in either the E-book format or the soft cover format. The book has positive reviews from College Religion Professors from Vermont and New York, Joseph Girzone, author of the Joshua books and his latest Jesus book, as well as other clergy. Families and Bible study groups and religious education professionals are also finding the book,that takes readers on a journey through 33 of Jesus' parables, useful.

Have a healthy, happy and hilarious New Year 2011!

God Alive & Relevant in Hearts of the Greats!

God Alive & Relevant in Hearts of the Greats!

For centuries, the tentacled evil octapus seems focused on suffocating the life out of belief in God and all things Godly, declaring without evidence that God and especially the Catholic Church has become irrelevant. Many decades ago, poet W.B. Yeats inquired: "And what rough beast, its hour come round at last, slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?"

The truth is that the really good people, who encompass most of us on this planet, just happily go on believing.

I'll give you a stellar example of an experience I had just today (Friday, August 13, 2010) at The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame Hall of Fame Day in Saratoga Springs, New York, where the greatest trainers, jockeys and Thoroughbreds are honored each year.

2010 Hall of Fame Jockey Inductee Randy Romero said he was happy to get this honor on this side of the dirt and that the most important Person in his life is God.

Hall of Fame Jockey Pat Day said that every honor he has ever gotten has been through the grace of God.

2010 Hall of Fame Awards Keynote Speaker Gary Stevens said "God bless!" at the end of his keynote speech.

In my long lifetime, I have heard many greats over many centuries give the lion's share of credit to God. Never in my life did I ever hear any great give any credit to the Devil.

Why do you think that is? I would love to hear.

Christians Talking About Jesus with Barbara Garro

Christians tell me all the time that they crave conversation about their faith and they love the way I allow them to share their thoughts in my workshops.

Now, with my new book From Jesus to Heaven with Love: A Parable Pilgrimage, participants get to add a new workshop to the conversation with 33 of Jesus' parable stories in a 7-Step heuristic, self-discovery process. My first public workshop From Jesus to Heaven with Love: A Powerful Pilgrimage will be offered at Saratoga Springs Continuing Education at Saratoga Springs High School in September 2010. To register, reach Shirley at 518-583-4782. The cost is $7 for one evening two-hour class.

Imagine a workshop setting where participants can ask questions, speak to their concerns and share faith and prayer stories in a comfortable setting, such as their church, their school or their home.

How do I make this happen? I have been a liturgical minister for over 40 years listening, speaking, teaching and helping participants grow their faith in a comfortable atmosphere.

Want to explore hosting a Workshop and/or Book Signing Party at your church, school or home, please call 518-587-9999.

Why Read From Jesus to Heaven with Love: A Parable Pilgrimage?

Marketing a new book for me circles all the possibilites of personalities on the planet and most of the interest levels. One person asked with raised eyebrows: Why should I buy your book? Caught a bit off-guard, I asked, "Are you one of the one-in-three Americans who want to grow spiritually?" She said, "Well, yes, I do." I replied, "From Jesus to Heaven with Love: A Parable Pilgrimage can help you do that." She said, "Fair enough...I'll buy a copy."

Since I have spent the last ten years of my life focused on researching and writing and re-writing this book, I felt I should have given her a more concrete answer, so here are some reasons why this book project helped me understand more about my Christian faith, get to know God in Three Persons better and I believe it will help others, as well:

1. The timeless Wisdom of Jesus reaches readers whereever they are, so From Jesus to Heaven with Love: A Parable Pilgrimage is an evergreen book that readers can pick up year after year, decade after decade and get different messages from Jesus out of the 33 of his parable stories that are in the book.

2. The book enables readers to answer Jesus's question to disciples: "Who do you say I am?"

3. The book's Love, Healing and Salvation discussion help readers keep the Devil from spoiling their soul's journey here.

The book has a foundation in many books on the New Testament, including President Thomas Jefferson's, Russian Playright Lev N. Tolstoy's, the angels' 2,000 page version from the book URANTIA.

To Market, To Market to Sell My New Book

Ah, the life of the disciple. How interesting life has been since May1st when my book From Jesus to Heaven with Love: A Parable Pilgrimage came out by ebooksonthe.net

People have said they are impressed with the book, enjoyed reading the information supplied by the publisher by clicking on the cover of my book on the site, liked the description at http://www.BarbaraGarro.com under the Books tab, liked the flier, and they have also said they didn't need a flier. Mixed reviews? Just like life. Some are interested and some are not.

After spending ten full years researching and writing a book that speaks to 33 of Jesus's parable stories in a way that readers can learn Jesus's messages on how to take action to make their lives better, more loving and closer to God.

And, I have started something that I am really enjoying. Everyone who sends me a postage paid, self-addressed envelope to give them money, I am sending a From Jesus to Heaven with Love: A Parable Pilgrimage flier and letting them know that after my new book sells 1,000 copies, I will be making a contribution and using my own stamp!

New Book Coming Out in May 2010

My book From Jesus to Heaven with Love: A Parable Pilgrimage will be published in May 2010 by ebooksonthe.net and I have attached a cover sample, which contains my painting, Jesus, Lord, a watercolor.

The publisher is ebooksonthe.net and can be ordered directly with a $6.95 price. The soft cover will be out in late fall 2010 and will be published by Cambridge Books.

This book's research actually spans 60 years and covers 33 of Jesus' parables in an easy-to-read format that allows for personal spiritual growth. The target audience is Christian, but it is friendly anyone curious about Jesus or Christianity. Another exciting aspect is that families can read one chapter at a time together and discuss it.

Some information about the benefits of reading Barbara Garro's new book From Jesus to Heaven with Love: A Parable Pilgrimage:

1. Jesus' parables provide a prescription for suffering souls.
2. Follow Garro's exercises to fine tune your faith.
3. Garro shows you the way to make 33 soul walks to God.
4. Use From Jesus to Heaven with Love: A Parable Pilgrimage to hunker down and get serious about your salvation in the special Salvation section in each of the parables.
5. Jesus' parables help us today; discover the parable where Jesus teaches you how to be honest with dishonest wealth.
6. In Jesus' Special Messages within each of the 33 parables teach you new concepts; discover the message where Jesus warns you against trying to take from God His rightful choices.
7. Be able to answer Jesus' questions to all His disciples: "Who do you say I am?"
8. Bring the wisdom of Jesus from the New Testament alive, even for those who have never read the Bible, don't consider themselves Christian or belong to any organized religion.
9. Use From Jesus to Heaven with Love: A Parable Pilgrimage as your devotional book, family faith discussion book by reading a parable a day, week or month.

Some Endorsements

This hand-written endorsement comes from Father Joseph F. Girzone, best-selling author of the "Joshua" and other religious books: "Barbara Garro has done a remarkable, thought-provoking analysis of Jesus' parables in her new book. It is quite different from other books on the parables and makes refreshing reading."

Father John Weyand provides this endorsement: "Barbara is an eclectic writer who treats each subject with captivating skill. The parable stories are timeless wisdom tales inspired by God. Readers will learn and be entertained by Barbara’s powerful imagery."

"Early on in From Jesus to Heaven with Love, Barbara Garro tells us, "You are not like anyone else," as she prepares us to revisit thirty-three parables told by Jesus during his ministry. This is good news for readers who seek to find themselves in Jesus' parables, for each reader can identify personally with at least one character in each of the stories he tells. In "The Prodigal Son," am I most like the wasteful but repentant younger brother? Like the forgiving father? Or am I painfully stiff and self-righteous like the older brother, who refuses to celebrate with his father the return of the prodigal? Am I more like the Pharisee or the tax collector--or is there a bit of each of them in me? The author encourages us to take another look--or perhaps a first look--at our own faith journeys.

Barbara Garro has written a devotional guide accessible to any reader, thoughtful and well-organized, inviting study and prayerful reflection. I would encourage readers to take it a bit at a time, a parable a day, for instance. The book will be a useful text for Bible study, particularly among Roman Catholics but within reach of every thoughtful Christian, not to mention those who are eager to become thoughtful Christians."

From Joel W. Tibbetts, PhD., Emeritus Professor of Religion, Rockford College, Adjunct Lecturer in Religion, Skidmore College

Some Commentary:

Barbara Garro allowed me to look at 33 of Jesus' Parables in a whole new way. She helps me see how Jesus was a master storyteller with each character in each parable playing an important role, no matter how small. For example, The Prodigal Son could also be called The Forgiving Father or the Two Proud Sons.

From Jesus to Heaven with Love: A Parable Pilgrimage helped me to understand how to get Jesus' message for me in parables that always puzzled me. For example, The Parable of the Unjust Steward.

I loved thinking through all the themed sections of Love, Healing, and Salvation that focused my understanding, asking me questions that allowed me to get messages for me in my life right now.

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***** 5-Star Rating
Midwest Book Review from Oregon, Wisconsin
"Original, practical, 'reader friendly'.
In Grow Yourself A Life You'll Love, Barbara Garro outlines a new approach to life satisfaction ... Grow Yourself A Life You'll Love shows that when we understand why we are the way we are, we will be kinder to ourselves. When we understand others better, we will like them more and become less critical ..."

How can you become more accepting and less critical of yourself and those around you? How do you unlock the subconscious door to reveal your life experiences that form your perceptions of others? What can you do to build more satisfying relationships with the love of your life, your parents, children, siblings, other relatives, friends, co-workers, and neighbors?

In Grow Yourself A Life You'll Love, you'll discover that the reasons you do the things you do come from seeds planted in your non-conscious or subconscious mind from the time you were very small. These seeds -- or beliefs, presumptions, assumptions, and events -- drive your behavior and remain hidden from your conscious awareness.

Grow Yourself a Life You'll Love contains exercises that are designed to take you back through your life to root out outdated and invalid, belief-driven programming that causes problems for you now.

• Discover information in your subconscious mind that can explain your behavior, fears, worries, and automatic or default responses.
• Understand what makes you and those in your life do the things they do.
• Get in touch with your spirit and recognize that humans are spiritual as well as physical and mental beings.
• Gain new, exciting and useful information about the dynamics of personality, thinking styles, communications, and attitudes that make you and other act in a particular way.

Buy the book today.

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Seasons - Haiku & More

Barbara Garro wrote her first poem at 14 and a harsh Sister Angelita critique stopped her poetry until age 40 when the grief from her mother's sudden death poured out in a poem. The poem was published in the "Maple Shade Progress," and Garro has gone on to receive 16 poetry awards, publication in 21 poetry anthologies and her biography was included in the 2004 "International Who's Who in Poetry." In 2005, Electric Envisions published Garro's Seasons - Haiku & More, which includes Garro's pen and ink illustrations. Garro hosts a 3-hour monthly Saturday morning critique group for advanced poets, teaches poetry for adults, and works with poets to polish their poems and create poetry chapbooks, which Garro illustrates.

What people are saying about Seasons...

"Powerful and strong, Garro's poetry can shake you to your core. 'Haiku and More' serves up simplicity in form along with Chinese brush drawings to complement the thoughts." Merlin Balducci

"Barbara Garro certainly has a gift for the haiku poetic form where she frames her pictures in words." Sheila Poe Roberts

"Garro's poetry is wonderfully expressive." C.S.

"Barbara Garro is the quintessential artist. She lives her art and the result makes her a beautiful and vibrant creative talent." M.J. King, editor of "Lies, Boasts and Feelings."

"Wonderful verse." M.E.M.