Life in Christ - Paperback

by Mary Jane Miller (Author), Judyth Hill (Editor), Mary Meade (Cover Design by)

Life in Christ Knowledge of God made visible in Jesus the Man is a 110-page book that incorporates 30 full-color plates of my paintings, a collection of contemporary iconography inspired by classic Byzantine style iconography, painted using traditional egg tempera technique. It is an old-world painting process of mixing egg yolk and ancient earth pigments. The practice of iconography is a visual language about God that comes alive in color and texture through practice, patience, and prayer. My dedication to this ancient tradition over the past three decades has inspired me to write, to explain, and to communicate my love of God. The narrative icons and written words are juxtaposed to highlight history, its religious context, and my own inspired reflections. The book contains three sections. Part 1, the Life of Jesus: his beginnings 2, Signs and Wonders: his miraculous events witnessed by his disciples, Part 3, Christ who is spiritually present and emotionally tangible. Church doctrines change slowly. Mostly, those with no title or schooling leave them unchallenged. But because of newly discovered texts, human creativity, and liberal artists like myself, the contemporary phrasing of old theology is contributing to re-examining who we are in God. There is a movement underway for changes in Christian ideology about women, art, psychology, and its interpretation inside the church and out. The book I have created, Life in Christ, Knowledge of God made visible in Jesus the Man is, I hope, an essential piece of this conversation. The text and imagery is a voice for yet unspoken insights and deeper discernment about what it means to live a spiritual existence. It is my great hope that the fascinating tradition inherent in icons and the unique techniques involved in egg tempera and earth pigments will speak to you and draw you into their ancient noesis.