"Unafraid" A Book By Author Joy Ibsen

About this original series

Videos about northern Michigan author Joy Ibsen's latest book Unafraid - that is co-authored by her late father Harald Ibsen.The book Unafraid was released in May 2009 by Wipf and Stock publishers.Synopsis of Unafraid:In Unafraid, selections from nearly thirty years of timeless, straightforward sermons are grouped according to the church year (Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, Pentecost) beginning with Christmas 1939.Reconstructed from Harald Ibsen's sermon notes by his daughter Joy, each sermon is followed by a listeners story (some autobiographical, some fictional) showing the relationship of the message to that person's life.To experience The Living Word between pew and pulpit creates a heightened awareness of the critical dynamic between pastor and parishioner, teacher and student, author and reader.The Ibsen sermons and the stories serve as a spiritual dialogue addressing questions such as:What is the truth about our lives?What is the main task of parenting?How does one respond to evil?Why do we continue to engage in warfare?Did God want Jesus (and now us) to suffer?How do we know when the Holy Spirit is present?What is the downfall of official religion?Listeners stories begin when the author, a replacement child, is in her mothers womb, and extend to church members confronting huge personal issues: career choice, marriage difficulties, child-rearing problems, addiction, financial crises, war, terminal illness, grief, pride, jealousy, regret, loss of faith, etc.Thoughtful, honest interpretation of Scripture as it relates to everyday life is essential if we are to live in a community, Unafraid, enjoying a simple life, a merry heart.What could be richer?At a time when church membership is dwindling and ethnic identity alternately wanes and flourishes, Unafraid increases awareness of the significance of the Church in the lives of its members.Author Biography:Harald Ibsen, (1898-1972) was a Danish-American pastor as well as a gymnast, woodworker, sportsman, and scholar. He served small town congregations in Minnesota, Iowa, South Dakota and Nebraska.His candid sermons reflect the community-centered theology (Human First, then Christian) of N.F.S. Grundtvig, a nineteenth-century philosopher-theologian, with unexpected relevance to issues of the twenty-first century.Author Joy Marie Ibsen Joy Ibsen is a writer, lay minister, and musician.She lives in Trout Creek, a tiny hamlet in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.Ibsen is the editor of the monthly journal Church and Life, and the author of Songs of Denmark; Songs to Live By.More about Author Joy Ibsen:Joy Ibsen was born in Tyler, MN and lived her growing up years in small town Midwestern communities.Today she is a writer, editor, musician, piano teacher and lay minister who lives in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.A graduate of Grand View and Shimer Colleges, Joy did her graduate work in Religion and Art at the University of Chicago, where she had two courses with theologian Paul Tillich.In July 2005 her first book, Songs of Denmark, Sange for Danskere: Songs to Live By was published through A-R Editions, Inc. It contains 48 songs with photographs by prizewinning National Geographic photographer, Sisse Brimberg and is accompanied by a 70 minute CD by the Grand View College Kantorei.Website:http://www.danamerica.comThe songbook reflects the philosophy of N.F.S. Grundtvig, also a major influence in her new book Unafraid which was published in May, 2009 by Wipf and Stock of Oregon, and is co-authored by her father, Harald Ibsen.In April 2006, Joy became the editor of the periodical, Church and Life, a publication of the Danish Interest Conference under the auspices of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).Website:http://www.churchandlife.orgIn this capacity she writes editorials on social, political or religious issues.Published several articles in Church and Life, the most recent being The Wives of NFS Grundtvig (Vol LVIII, September, 2008).Published articles in The Bridge include The Legacy of the Danish Resistance in World War II (The Bridge, Vol. 27, No. 1-2, 2004) and Songs of Denmark: Songs to Live By - Cultural Values Expressed in Traditional Danish Music. (The Bridge Vol. 29, No. 2, 2006).Joy has presented numerous multi-media lectures.In April 2006 she was awarded the Danish Heritage Preservation Award by Grand View University.Contact Info:Joy IbsenP O Box 43Trout Creek, MI49967joyibsen@jamadots.com906-852-3479 (Phone or Fax)