Prayers Of Agnes Sparrow

2010 Carol Awards Finalist

No longer able or willing to leave her home, the unusual Agnes Sparrow has committed herself to a life of prayer - prayer that has resulted in numerous miracles, both large and garden variety, including a prize-winning pumpkin.

The rural residents of Bright's Pond, a quirky Pennsylvania town, are so enamored with Agnes they plan to erect a sign in her honor on the interstate. Agnes wants no part of it and sends her sister to fight city hall. Their petitions are shot down and the sign plans press forward.

But when a stranger comes to call asking for his miracle, Bright's Pond is turned on its head and Agnes' feet of clay are exposed, forcing the town to its knees.

Money has great power in our lives and, when used wisely, helps us meet our goals, provide for our needs, and fulfill our life purpose. But in recent years, many of us ignored this when managing and spending our money. We found ourselves spending tomorrow's money today. The result of all of this was not greater happiness but greater stress and anxiety.

Enough is an invitation to rediscover the Bible's wisdom on prudent financial practices. Find the keys to experiencing contentment, overcoming fear, and discovering joy through simplicity and generosity.

This five session video study with leader guide will feature Rev. Adam Hamilton presenting:

Introduction:Faith in the Midst of Financial Crisis

When Dreams Become Nightmares

Wisdom and Finance

Cultivating Contentment

Defined By Generosity

Bonus video: To Be A Blessing

Watch video clips from Enough DVD

Faith in the Midst of Financial Crisis

Created for Generosity

The Spiritual Causes of Financial Crisis

Adam Hamilton is pastor of the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas, one of the country’s most dynamic and distinctive congregations. He is the author of several books, including Seeing Gray in a World of Black and White, Confronting the Controversies: Biblical Perspectives on Tough Issues , Christianity and World Religions and Making Love Last a Lifetimeamong other titles, also published by Abingdon Press.

Publishers Weekly

Quirk abounds in this tale of two sisters, Agnes and Griselda Sparrow. The titular Agnes forswears leaving home when she tips the scale at 600 pounds, and stays put and prays. When what seem to be miracles-healings from serious illnesses-occur, the residents of the small Pennsylvania town of Bright's Pond naturally attribute them to Agnes. Agnes's putative power attracts a stranger in need of an unstated miracle, and the plot thickens from there. To pull off such a quirky novel, the characters need to be vividly etched, the writing consistently clever and the plotting persuasive on its own terms. Magnin partly succeeds: she meets the clever quotient, but on the whole the book is uneven. Some of the explanations that account for characters' decisions aren't persuasive; some dark plot twists threaten to overwhelm the quirkiness; and the pacing of the first half of the book is slow. Still, Magnin will please those who like their faith fiction with a twist, even if not everything served at the town's Full Moon Cafe can be swallowed. (Sept.)