God-inspired messages from Joseph S. Spence Sr.

Book Review by Stoianka Boianova and Minko Tanev

Book Title: Sincerely Speaking Spiritually

Author: Joseph S Spence Sr

Publisher: WestBow Press

Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1973683911

Language: English

Publication Year: 21 February 2020

Paperback: 134 pages

Sold by: Amazon.com Services LLC

Price: kindle $4.79, hardcover $28.95, paperback from $11.95

The verse collection Sincerely Speaking Spiritually  by Joseph S. Spence Sr. appeared in one of the most dramatic periods for humanity and the world - the pandemic COVID-19. Millions of people get infected, thousands die. The book comes as a message Above: to give us hope, to fill us with faith, and to give us love. The God's ways are unknown. For lovers of poetry, for believers, desperate and inspired, sick and healthy, for those who will find the grace of heaven tomorrow, Joseph S. Spence Sr. opens the heavenly door. And he pronounces the most sincere prayers to God on his own behalf and on our behalf.

His poetry is with biblical sound, a fantastic flight of thought, inspired and dictated by God! The words are filled with all-pervading energy. They  lift and exalt. They bring us back the lost harmony and wholeness, fill us with love in our reading. And we resonate with divine purity, radiating positivism. This is how we feel involved and included in the great creative mission of uplifting the human race, encouraging and illuminating our thoughts. Initially, we become complicit in the creative explosions of the Word. We are flowing into the mighty stream of astral energies that flood the world.

The image of the cover is unprecedented - the heavenly doors are open, light is coming in with Jesus, eager to embrace the earth with all beings. And because "In the beginning was the Word," from there come forth words arranged in prayer verses that illuminate us internally.

The book contains a rich variety of literary genres and artistic techniques: ode, ballad, sonnet, free verse, sestet, tanka, quintet, haiku, senru,  tercet, and more. But they all carry the energy and charge of prayer, glorifying God and his creations. The author fixes various poetic  forms, shares the occasion for writing some works, and the collection of poems acquires a cognitive and cosmogonic effect. He inspires us: „Poetic prayers, in reality, are God’s words spoken in a different form and style for great understanding and is a unique precious language of grace and reverence.”

He turns to us with an unexpected insight:

"My People,

if We Must Die  My people, if we must die, let it not result from being unable to serve the cause for the betterment of humankind ...

My people,

if we must die, let it not result from anger and reprisal against each other instead of sitting down in peace and love ...

My people,

if we must die, let it not result from the thirst or want of righteousness and lack of God’s salvation...

My people,

if we must die, let it not result from the lack of beautiful songs stimulating our souls, with God’s love radiating from the magnificent choral voices of our children and grandchildren immersing themselves in our great cultural heritage of wisdom, knowledge, spirituality, and understanding...”

These exclamations sound prophetic in today's pandemic world. Great words from a true ambassador for literature around the world who has accepted the Word for his mission. The verse collection is the apotheosis of the Love to God.

"Your time has come" gives us hope that God has a plan for each of us and that our lives "should be more than just an ordinary existence". In "We Are Still Standing" he calls: "Through it all, never, Never should God’s people fall. Fall never; through it all, God’s people are still standing!" "Christ Lives Today" lifts our spirits with faith: "Christ, our Savior,Lives today. His mighty power Is shown each and every day. His unending love is here to stay. He lives today in many ways.”  The author urges us not to forget how "the love of God brought us from clay to this day. By His love, He is the potter, molding us in many ways. "

We rediscover Christmas love for family, for the mother, the father, prayers for people with various illnesses, prayer for soldiers, for Father's Day, for all children, prayer for suicidal thoughts, for Thanksgiving Day, prayer for cease school violence.

“If Only: Parent’s Challenge” painfully reminds us: “If only children and parents would get along, Things would be great in the land. If only children would show respect, Then things would probably be perfect.”

Let's rationalize Joseph S. Spence Sr.'s messages in "Heads Up": "Keep your head up high always. Always look up to heaven in time and space. His love looks down upon you, On all seven days, radiates all around, Touching His great creation.”

Sincerely Speaking Spiritually is one of the most uplifting books designed to bring us back to God and the grace of God. As the poet says: "It’s spoken and unspoken words unto the senses yearning for a higher order of creation. It is to be expected in a world of instability instituting God’s stability through intersession. It’s the precious unveiling of a newly found revelation of higher existence for the mind, body, and soul.”

-----------------------------------------

Joseph S. Spence, Sr.

Bio of Joseph S. Spence, Sr.

His Excellency, Dr. Amb. Prof. Joseph S. Spence, Sr., authored nine poetry books, and invented: Epulaeryu, Seventh Heaven, God’s Dynamic Steps, and Linking Pin Sonnet poetry forms, while studying English literary science, creative writing, poetry, and African Diaspora, at University of Wisconsin. His writings appeared internationally in forums such as: peer reviewed journals, anthologies, magazines, newspapers, ezines, and the U. S. Army. He taught at Bryant and Stratton University, and Marquette University, Wisconsin. He retired from the U.S. Army as a decorated field grade officer. He was appointed, Goodwill Ambassador for Arkansas, USA, by Governor William Jefferson Clinton, (former United States President), for his dedicated and selfless contribution in helping students at University of Arkansas, Little Rock, prepare for graduate school, and citizens to achieve their perceived goals. He has received numerous awards from worldwide poetry organizations, including: Poetry Bard (UK), Independent Poetry Laureate (USA), Global Icon of Humanity and Spiritual Services (India), Ambassador of Humanity (Morocco), and Poetry Star, World Nation Writers Union (Kazakhstan). He has been inducted into various international scholastic honor societies such as: Golden Key International Honour Society, Phi Theta Kappa Scholastic Honor Society, National Technical Honor Society, Phi Theta Phi International Scholastic Honor Society, and others based on his studiousness. He has conducted a variety of poetry seminars, workshops, and recitals worldwide. His poems are published in: Arabic, Spanish, Chinese, African Yoruba, Japanese, Polish, French, Scottish Gaelic, Hindi, Assam, Bengali, Jamaican Patois/Potwa and Rastafarian. He embraces his paternal Scottish heritage, has membership in the Scottish poetry bard, Robert Burns Club, served as poet-in-residence, St. Andrew’s Scottish Society, and resides in Wisconsin, USA.

Reviewer's bio: The creative tandem Stoianka Boianova and Minko Tanev is from Bulgaria.

Stoianka Boianova

Master’s degree in Physics. Author of twelve books: poetry, novel, collection of short stories, published in Bulgaria. Co-author of a bilingual haiku book, published in India. Participated in anthologies and editions in Japan, Philippines, India, Vietnam, Russia, Romania, Bulgaria, Northern Macedonia, Serbia, Croatia, Poland, Germany, France, England, USA, Africa. Editor. In the European Top 100 most creative haiku authors. Numerous awards around the world, including Gold Stars from Global Literary Society, Gold Quill - POEMarium, Platinum Valentine - Literature Lovers' Association, Cupid Award - Poetry Planet. In  list of the Best Poets – Writers of World, 2019, World Nations Writers’ Union.

Minko Tanev

Lecturer of Bulgarian language for foreign students - Medical University, Plovdiv.  Author of  6 books of poetry, published in Bulgaria. Co-author of a bilingual haiku book, published in India. Participated in anthologies and editions in Japan, Philippines, India, Vietnam, Russia, Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Croatia, Germany, France, England, USA, Africa. Editor of over 70 books. Numerous awards around the world, including Gold Stars from Global Literary Society, Red Quills - POEMarium, Platinum Star- Literature Lovers' Association, Cupid Award - Poetry Planet. In list of the Best Poets – Writers of World, 2019, World Nations Writers’ Union.

Annotation

The review by Stoianka Boianova and Minko Tanev analyzes the new collection of  poems  Sincerely Speaking Spiritually by Joseph S. Spence Sr.  against the backdrop of one of the most dramatic periods for humanity and the world - the pandemic COVID-19. The all-pervading energy of words lift and exalt us, fill us with love of life, sound prayerful and  prophetic.  The readers have a chance to meet one of  the most uplifting books designed to bring us back to God and the grace of God.

Setu, May 2020