Out of Eden 7 Ways God Restores Blocked Communication

In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve enjoyed a familiar and intimate relationship with God, characterized by communication that was simple, direct, open, and loving. But trouble entered paradise when the tempter's words sowed suspicion and doubt in our first parents? minds. Succumbing to fear, Adam and Eve cut off communication with God and turned away from his invitation to loving communion. The tempter of Eden still speaks today, persuading us to doubt ourselves, to ?find ourselves,? to place unnecessary value in our possessions and appearance, to brood over past and present hurts, to seek revenge. These traps and others like them impede communication and obstruct the relationships that God desires us to have, built on freedom and love. Yet there is a way ?out.' God's salvation in Jesus guides us through Eden's brokenness and fear, rebuilding our trust and offering hope for healed relationships. In seven inviting chapters, Jesuit Paul Soukup helps us reflect on how God restores our blocked communication, and how we can lead lives of deeper connection and meaning.'In his beautiful new book, Paul Soukup helps us to move past fear, anger, and doubt, and into open and honest communication with God and one another. This small gem of a book uses favorite passages from Scripture to show how open hearts and open ears bring us closer to the divine, which is always in our midst.'? James Martin, SJ, author of My Life with the SaintsAUTHOR PROFILE Paul Soukup, S.J., teaches in the Communication Department at Santa Clara University, where he joined the faculty in 1985. He earned his Ph.D. in communication theory, including interpersonal communication, at the University of Texas in Austin, and he also holds a Master of Divinity degree and a Master of Sacred Theology degree from the Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley. He is particularly interested in the intersection of communication and theology, and he has published multiple books and articles on the subject.KEY FEATURESChapters on why communication is so difficult; personal, interpersonal, community and organizational communication; transcending fear of communication; responding to hostility; and listening to God's voice. Scripture passages in which Jesus shows us how to communicate effectively.For each chapter, a section on ?Deepening Our Communication? with questions and points for further study.Prayers for deepening communication with God and requesting his help.Soukup, Paul A. is the author of 'Out of Eden 7 Ways God Restores Blocked Communication', published 0016 under ISBN 9780819864840 and ISBN 0819864846.