The future looked bright for many young men before the United States entered World War II on December 7th, 1941. Richard (Dick) Loveless from Washington, DC, was no exception. He had joined an apprenticeship program to follow in his dads’ footsteps to become an electrician. The prospects were good for Dick as he seemed to have what it took to succeed. Handsome and athletic, he had charmed his way into the heart of Mary Lu Farrell, a beautiful and equally talented girl from Northwest Washington, DC. Though neither really discussed it, marriage was undoubtedly on the horizon. Unfortunately, a war got in the way. He was forced to decide between being drafted into the Army or enlisting so he could choose what branch of the service he would serve. Dick enlisted. Regrettably, enlisting didn’t matter; he wound up in the coastal artillery. As luck would have it, an opportunity to join the Air Corps presented itself, and Dick took it. Thus, the adventure began for Dick. From boot camp and flight school to flying bombing missions over Germany for the 388th Bombardment Group, things never got easier. But it was only in his sixth mission over Stuttgart, Germany, that his strength, courage, and faith were put to the ultimate test. No training could prepare him for what lay ahead. Eighty years later, Dicks oldest son finally made good on a promise he made him. He vowed never to let his father’s remarkable story go untold, so “Avoiding Muddy Foxholes” is his story.
Loveless in the Nam tells of the early life of Colonel Frank Loveless, a veteran of several wars and a highly decorated Army officer who, despite his acclaim, is revealed to be both self-centered and somewhat of a coward. Through it all, his mind is focused on just one thing: going home in one piece.
Loveless in the Nam tells of the early life of Colonel Frank Loveless, a veteran of several wars and a highly decorated Army officer who, despite his acclaim, is revealed to be both self-centered and somewhat of a coward. Through it all, his mind is focused on just one thing: going home in one piece.
These tales follow the exploits of Ben Drake, a detective with a passion for small cigars and big fights, a love of Old Grand Dad and a weakness for women in trouble. North of Las Vegas in the fictional town of Testacy City, Drake sniffs out killers, thieves, kidnappers, double crossers, crooked cops and number runners, all culminating in the bizarre murder of Gentleman Joe Biggs, a well loved bowling hero. As he continues to crack clues in the case, Drake is drawn deeper into a city wide criminal conspiracy.
This enchanting book entertains, inspires, and irritates readers to action. Although applicable to people with roles and titles such as manager, supervisor, or executive, Growing the Distance is written for a wider audience. It aims to develop the leader within all of us. Subjects covered are: the passionate "I, " the pace of personal growth, change, learning as a way of life, motivating others, dreaming, failure as a key to success, and the heart and soul of meaning. Clemmer has produced a rare book of profound simplicity.
Beauty and harsh ugliness sometimes make a connection. Through the trials of life, you might step over a rock just to step in a hole. You might say, Where is the beauty in that? The beauty in that is God will and does lift you up, dust you off, and set you on His way. The process is the same if you stumble on that rock and just fall. You might find yourself in a barren and lonely land...thirsting and hungering... Speak God's Word, and experience the beauty and fullness of the Holy One... Drink from His never-ending well, and eat from the manna He provides... Stop and smell God's garden that lies within these poems. Lift up your hands and shout, "He will smile.
Jim McGuiggan’s passionate devotional readings draw the reader beyond the commands, the laws, and the history to reveal God’s tender love. Since childhood, you’ve sung the words, “Jesus loves me, this I know.” The tune is as familiar as your own mirrored reflection. But sometimes we have difficulty believing that the creator and sustainer of the universe could be bothered with people like you and me—much less really love us. But when God put on flesh and entered our world, he washed dirty feet, he soothed suffering souls, and he forgave fallen sinners. His message is loud and clear—he loves us! Jim McGuiggan’s passionate, devotional readings draw you beyond the commands, the laws, and the history to paint insightful portraits of God that reveal his tender heart of love.
Read Jim Powell's blogs and other content on the Penguin Community. The Breaking of Eggs is the story of the curmudgeonly Feliks Zhokovski, Polish by birth, Communist at heart, who at age 61 finds that just about everything he has based his life on is crumbling. Separated from him family as a child when the Nazis invaded Poland, Feliks is currently living in Paris and his life's work is a travel guide to the old Eastern bloc. But unfortunately for Feliks, it's 1991: the Berlin Wall has fallen, Communism has collapsed, East Germany isn't the economic miracle he wants it to be, and he's forced to confront the fact that his travel-writing days are numbered. His guide was a flourishing business, but the old pro-Communist descriptions won’t do, for Western visitors will now be able to see for themselves. So he makes the (extremely difficult) decision to sell his guide to a big, capitalist American publisher. This sets in motion a chain of events that will reunite him with a brother living in Ohio that he hasn't seen in fifty years, reveal the truth about the mother he thought abandoned him and offer him a second chance with a long-lost love. Equal parts hilarious and moving, The Breaking of Eggs is the story of a man who closed himself off from everyone and everything years ago and now awakens to discover the world has changed dramatically and he must change with it. The Breaking of Eggs also has the added bonus of being a crash course in 20th century European history, subtly told as a backdrop to Feliks' riveting personal story. Imagine Everything is Illuminated meets The Elegance of the Hedgehog, then forget all the publishing clichés and discover this incredible new voice.
No band has ever been able to demonstrate the enduring power of rock and roll quite like the Rolling Stones, who continue to enthrall, provoke, and invigorate their legions of fans more than fifty years since they began. In Counting Down the Rolling Stones: Their 100 Finest Songs, rock writer Jim Beviglia dares to rank the band’s finest 100 songs in descending order. Beviglia provides an insightful explanation about why each song deserves its place. Looking at the story behind the song and supplying a fresh take on the musical and lyrical content, he illuminates these unforgettable songs for new and diehard fans alike. Taken together, the individual entries in Counting Down the Rolling Stones tell a fascinating story of the unique personalities and incredible talents that made the Stones a band for the ages. Counting Down the Rolling Stones is the perfect playlist builder, whether it is for the longtime fan or the newbie just getting acquainted with the work of Mick, Keith, and the boys.
Transform educational systems by zeroing in on what matters. As schools grapple with an array of social, economic, and political challenges, education leaders must hone their focus on important tasks and learn how to navigate bureaucratic constraints, policies, and parental concerns while fostering change. This essential guide proposes that school leaders become "brave and focused," not by abandoning structures or making changes recklessly, but by understanding their influence and maximizing positive change with evidence-based decisions. Divided into three stages, Focused addresses building a leadership paradigm for outstanding schools, discusses the most influential elements for collective success, and offers solutions to the pitfalls that frequently hinder success. Other features include: Illustrative vignettes, practical examples, and stories Research-based action steps to become a more focused leader Focus points at the close of each chapter to support implementing a new leadership approach Focused provides a practical guide for school leaders to successfully navigate today′s complex educational systems and develop the change-makers, artisans, innovators, inventors, and civic leaders of tomorrow.
The Church today is in the middle of a powerful storm, the intensity of which is likely to increase in the future. Many Christians are bewildered and concerned by what they see—a culture that’s become increasingly hostile to biblical Christianity and a church whose vital signs are quickly waning. In Strong through the Storm, pastor and bestselling author Jim Cymbala speaks to every Christian who is concerned about the challenges the church is facing in America today. Using powerful stories of people who have been transformed by Christ, Cymbala offers hope, helping Christians to understand that a life surrendered to Christ will not be easily defeated, even in the midst of growing hostility toward Christians. No matter how much spiritual darkness encompasses the world, the light of the gospel cannot be suppressed. Some churches are coming at the storm with harsh legalism, but Cymbala explains that the message needs to be grace. We need to understand the spiritual battle we are in and use the right weapons against it, says Cymbala. We are not struggling against the leaders of this world or the people in the battle, we are struggling against our spiritual enemy, and we need to fight with the Word of God, prayer, and the Holy Spirit. We don’t need more church growth programs to turn the church around. What’s needed is a transformation so that the gospel is preached, the Holy Spirit is allowed to lead, and lives are changed.
The small Texas town of Riverby is on the road to recovery from scandals and corruption that led to the murder of their beloved sheriff when the wife of an eccentric professor commits suicide. During a somber graveside service, her deviant son pushes the elderly funeral director into his mother's open grave. When the town's stately funeral home is destroyed by fire and a small girl's party dress is discovered in an abandoned shack, Riverby's survival seems threatened. Then a stranger steps off a train and hobbles across a field to free a man from a trap just in time to save his hand and possibly his life. The Circle of Hurt takes in this obscure and enigmatic stranger with the intention of helping him, but it is The Circle and the town that receives help. The chain of dark events is not broken, but light begins to triumph over darkness. Jim Ainsworth plumbs the depth of Southern and Texas fiction in his quintessential style. Skillfully treading the line between fiction and truth, he writes about characters he has known, places he has been, and paths he has traveled. --Dr. Fred Tarpley, professor emeritus of Literature and Languages. Jim Ainsworth is a master at creating characters and weaving a tapestry from the threads of life which are designed from unexpected events with colors of brilliance as well as darkness. He makes readers realize that man has a God-given need to be understood, loved, and forgiven. --Loretta Kibler, former teacher and school superintendent. Jim Ainsworth crafts characters and settings with down home comfort, sympathetic characters and scenes that keep us turning pages and coming back for more. --Writers Digest Jim Ainsworth's writing gives me a renewed sense of the tether that binds me to God. He shook up my world. --Amazon review by Sofie
This comprehensive text provides a constructionist/conflict approach to the various kinds of social problems that relate to deviance, institutions, and globalization. Social Problems consists of 16 chapters divided into 5 parts. Each chapter opens with a vignette that provides the nature and extent of a social problem, the conflicting views of the problem, various sociological theories of the problem, global aspects of the problem, social policies for dealing with the problem, and sociological insights on the problem that students can use to enhance their lives. Each chapter concludes with key terms, critical thinking questions, and internet resources. Key Features: *Provides an accessible, engaging writing style designed to help students master core concepts so you can spend less classroom time explaining basic concepts! *Includes interdisciplinary examples throughout making it ideal for courses taught out of Criminal Justice or Sociology departments. *Written to reflect the 2010 Census Update, this text is the most up-to-date and relevant resource on the subject. Instructor Resources include: *Instructor Manual - Includes tips for instructors for creating the course syllabus and both in-class and online student activities. Additionally, the manual includes answers to the questions in the student study guide and lecture outlines. *Complete TestBank - includes multiple-choice and true or false questions, all with answers and page references. Also includes short-answer questions and essays. *Microsoft? PowerPoint? lecture slides Student Resources will include a Companion Website featuring: *practice quizzes *chapter outlines & summaries *interactive flashcards *links to relevant research databases *newsfeed updates
How do perceptions of the past--not just of particular events, but of the trajectory of history as a whole--shape our experience of the world? Sensing the Past tackles this question with an unlikely source of historical insight--the work of six major Hollywood stars: Clint Eastwood, Daniel Day-Lewis, Denzel Washington, Tom Hanks, Meryl Streep, and Jodie Foster. By focusing on the career choices made by these iconic actors, Cullen uncovers a discrete set of historical narratives, revealing the surprising ways historical forces shape our understanding of the world.
Recent turbulence in the financial markets has highlighted the need for diversified portfolios with lower correlations between the different investments. Life settlements meet this need, offering investors the prospect of high, stable returns, uncorrelated with the broader financial markets. This book provides readers of all levels of experience with essential information on the process surrounding the acquisition and management of a portfolio of life settlements; the assessment, modelling and mitigation of the associated longevity, interest rate and credit risks; and practical approaches to financing and risk management structures. It begins with the history of life insurance and looks at how the need for new financing sources has led to the growth of the life settlements market in the United States. The authors provide a detailed exploration of the mathematical formulae surrounding the generation of mortality curves, drawing a parallel between the tools deployed in the credit derivatives market and those available to model longevity risk. Structured products and securitisation techniques are introduced and explained, starting with simple vanilla products and models before illustrating some of the investment structures associated with life settlements. Capital market mechanisms available to assist the investor in limiting the risks associated with life settlement portfolios are outlined, as are opportunities to use life settlement portfolios to mitigate the risks of traditional capital markets. The last section of the book covers derivative products, either available now or under consideration, that will reduce or potentially eliminate longevity risks within life settlement portfolios. It then reviews hedging and risk management strategies and considers how to measure the effectiveness of risk mitigation.
Are we living in a spellbound world? When we think of spells, the picture conjured up in our minds often has more to do with fables we learned as children. An ugly old woman in a pointed hat reciting incantations at a boiling cauldron. The reality, however, is much more dangerous. Once given access to our lives, Satan can manipulate, dominate, and intimidate even the strongest Christian. Hell’s Spells draws from Paul’s writings to the Galatian church to bring you a fresh awareness of Satan’s spells and strategies, demonstrating how you can break free from the influence of such evils as: · Controlling spirits · Generational curses · Witchcraft in the home Cutting through the sensationalism and spookiness of spiritual warfare, Raley enables you to identify, understand, and break every bewitching spell the devil wants to launch against your life, your family, and your purpose.
A disillusioned soldier looks for love. An exiled Emperor fears assassination. Agatha Christie takes a holiday. And George Bernard Shaw learns to tango. In the aftermath of World War I, Michael Pinfold a disillusioned ex-soldier tries to rescue his failing family wine business on the island of Madeira. In a villa in the hills the exiled Austrian Emperor lives in fear of assassination by Hungarian killers, while in Reid's Hotel, a well-known lady crime novelist is stranded on her way to South Africa and George Bernard Shaw whiles away his days corresponding with his friends, writing a one act play and learning to tango with the hotel manager's spouse. A stranger, Robinson, is found murdered and Michael finds himself manipulated into investigating the crime by his sinister best friend, Johnny Cardozo, the local police chief, with whose wife he is pursuing an arid love affair; manipulated, too, by Father Flaherty, a priest with dubious political interests, and by his own eccentric parent, who claims to have been part of a comedy duo that once entertained the Kaiser with Jewish jokes. Will Michael find love? Will the Emperor escape his would-be killers? Will any of the characters learn the true meaning of the tango?
The pop culture juggernaut and the best-selling role-playing game team up once again in an all new companion story! Once upon a game, Rick, Morty and the Smith family went on magical D&D adventures...now, magical D&D adventures are coming to Earth, and no one will survive the Painscape! The world’s greatest role-playing game returns to plague the world’s most dysfunctional animated family! Fan favorite dice dependent Jim Zub (Samurai Jack, Savage Sword of Conan) re-teams up with Eisner-nominated cartoonist +5 Troy Little (Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, The Powerpuff Girls) to destroy Adult Swim’s pop culture juggernaut and the best-selling role-playing game that once used the term “THAC0.”
The Self-Transforming School combines an insightful meta-analysis of factors contributing to the success of schools, and an examination of powerful mega-trends that are shaping developments in education, to offer the first mega-analysis in education policy and practice. The book spans fifty years, beginning with Caldwell and Spinks’ ground-breaking work The Self-Managing School which advocated innovative approaches that are now accepted as preferred practice, before offering a prognosis and plan for the future. The book argues that all schools in all settings can secure success for all students in an era where society and the economy are changing constantly and dramatically. Although schools find some support in local and global networks, externally designed re-structuring, re-staffing, or command-and-control direction isn’t sufficient to achieve transformation. Instead of replicating particular approaches to achieve modest improvement, leadership of the highest quality needs to be deeply embedded in schools and their systems. Caldwell and Spinks propose three important points that need to be taken into consideration: -schools are often at different stages of self-transformation -self-transformation requires a high level of professionalism, and must include teacher education and on-going professional development -funding is critically important, and efforts to build a capacity for self-transformation are constrained by what is available. The book gives particular attention to developments in Australia, Brazil, Canada, England, Finland, Hong Kong, India, New Zealand, Shanghai, Singapore and the United States. It will be of key interest to school leaders, policy makers, and academics and postgraduate students engaged in research on equity, student performance in highly disadvantaged settings and education policy.
Inspired by the Hank Williams and Leadbelly recordings he heard as a teenager growing up outside of Boston, Jim Rooney began a musical journey that intersected with some of the biggest names in American music including Bob Dylan, James Taylor, Bill Monroe, Muddy Waters, and Alison Krauss. In It for the Long Run: A Musical Odyssey is Rooney's kaleidoscopic first-hand account of more than five decades of success as a performer, concert promoter, songwriter, music publisher, engineer, and record producer. As witness to and participant in over a half century of music history, Rooney provides a sophisticated window into American vernacular music. Following his stint as a "Hayloft Jamboree" hillbilly singer in the mid-1950s, Rooney managed Cambridge's Club 47, a catalyst of the ‘60’s folk music boom. He soon moved to the Newport Folk Festival as talent coordinator and director where he had a front row seat to Dylan "going electric." In the 1970s Rooney's odyssey continued in Nashville where he began engineering and producing records. His work helped alternative country music gain a foothold in Music City and culminated in Grammy nominations for singer-songwriters John Prine, Iris Dement, and Nanci Griffith. Later in his career he was a key link connecting Nashville to Ireland's folk music scene. Writing songs or writing his memoir, Jim Rooney is the consummate storyteller. In It for the Long Run: A Musical Odyssey is his singular chronicle from the heart of Americana.
Classic favorites, current pop films, hidden gems--they’re all part of this new edition of the popular guide to watching and enjoying movies. Newly expanded and updated to include independent films, documentaries, and special effects, Get the Picture? clearly explains techniques used to tell stories throughout cinematic history, then discusses how modern filmmakers are adapting those traditions today. In his witty and engaging text, author Jim Piper explains key concepts of film and uses fascinating side-by-side comparisons to explore relationships between movies as disparate as The Great Train Robbery and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, High Noon and Blood Diamond, Raise the Red Lantern and The Pursuit of Happyness--and all movies discussed are easily available on DVD for further study. Entertaining, readable, and full of insight, Get the Picture? will inspire readers to watch movies with a new sense of discovery and excitement.
Enter the Mortgage Dragon: True Facts from a Mortgage Industry Insider with a Personal Tell-All is a compelling personal story about a man who overcame extreme adversity to succeed in the lucrative mortgage industry. This comes with great tips along the way and the pitfalls to avoid when it comes to the department of business oversight. You do not have to have an Ivy League education to succeed in this line of work or any other field in which "by referral only" is the dream goal. Enter the Mortgage Dragon is unlike any book on the subject, as it gives the reader a very personal journey while at the same time covers every important aspect in the industry. A few of the key takeaways include the following: The importance of understanding the various loan programs to assess what works best for you as a consumer or your client How down payments, credit, and income affect a mortgage Why customer service is crucial in achieving lending industry success Understanding credit and mistakes a consumer should not make during the loan process How to avoid the department of business oversight You are guilty until proven innocent How to effectively use the internet when it comes to the lending industry Best practices a mortgage loan advisor should keep-marketing and beyond Learn from author Jim Siebert, a previous top achiever in this field, through the journey of his childhood and personal relationships, his passion for U2, and the years that have had a profound effect on his career. Be prepared to be inspired while learning the important tools to succeed!
An insightful and encouraging study of six Bible passages focusing on the Ridiculous love of God. The greatest real life example of that love was Jesus Christ, and this study challenges the reader to live like Christ, in a love-starved world.
Covering the liturgical year outside Advent, Christmas, Lent and Easter, this collection of reflections, readings, poems and prayers focuses on the life and ministry of Jesus – the rich subject matter of the lectionary readings during Ordinary Time. This is a subtantial, original and varied resource for the longest liturgical season.
Would you like to have a real and lasting impact on the world around you? God knows what it will take for you to experience the satisfaction that comes from living a life of purpose—His purpose. In A Man After God's Own Heart, you'll discover God's perfect design for how you can make a difference in all the key areas of your life: your marriage—what it means to love, lead, and protect your wife your children—the keys to training them up and shaping their hearts your work—modeling integrity and diligence in the workplace your church—discovering how and where God can use you your life example—letting others see God in your words and actions Commit now to becoming a man after God's own heart—you'll find it the most rewarding pursuit ever!
A practical and visionary approach to the principles of prayer that will revolutionize our lives---and enable us to receive all God has for us Many people are missing the great things God wants to do in their lives because they don't know how to receive answers to their prayers. This revolutionary book is not a step-by-step guide on how to pray but an inspiring vision that moves people to greater hope as they see the tremendous potential of prayer. Breakthrough Prayer is peppered with amazing stories of answered prayer from the Brooklyn Tabernacle, including the story of the final survivor of the World Trade Center collapse and the prayers she prayed before becoming the last person pulled from the wreckage alive. Unique features include: * Breakthrough to Holiness: What is the connection between how we live and how we pray? * Breakthrough to Power: What are the prayers that really have power with God? * Breakthrough to Listening: How can we learn to recognize God's answers to our prayers? Jesus said and did only the things he received from the Father. When we do the same, the real potential of our lives will unfold, and prayer will enable us to become people with instructed tongues who are able to sustain others in fearful times---times much like those we face today. 'Voices inside my head were constantly screaming at me. I became like an animal in the street, muttering or yelling out a stream of profanity as people passed by. One day, lying in a hospital bed, close to death, I cried out, Jesus, help me! O God, you're my only hope! That was the breakthrough prayer that saved my life.' --Danny 'Talk about breakthrough prayer! I was buried under 110 stories of steel and concrete on 9/11. But God heard my prayer for a miracle.' --Genelle 'My husband and I had a dream of helping desperate young women. But no banker in his right mind would finance such a venture. So we prayed and God broke through every single obstacle we faced. That was just the beginning of the wonderful roller coaster ride we call 'faith'.' --Grace
Is There a Purpose to Suffering And Loss? We only have to live to see or experience how agonizing life can be. We are surrounded by child abuse and neglect, starving families, premature deaths of those we love, natural disasters and global disease. How could a God worthy of respect and worship allow such a world to exist? There are no simple answers. But there is hope. For, claims author Jim McGuiggan, suffering may in fact be the last thing we expect–an expression of God’s wrath, which in turn is nothing other than his relentless, loving pursuit of us. If this is true, then suffering is a vital part of God’s work to redeem his creation. Give this claim a hearing, and you just might see the suffering world in a new way–a world shot through with glory and hope and assurance.
This gripping historical fiction follows the life of a Scottish teenager, Marion as she attempts to escape from the terrible suffering she experiences at a convent on the island of Ischia. Unlike many historical romance novels, this story confronts the reality of religious barbarity, revolutionary violence and the frustration endured by women seeking to determine their own destiny.
The bestselling authors of "Finding God in the Lord of the Rings" team up again in a study of Philip Pullmans popular "His Dark Materials" fantasy series. Released to coincide with the feature film, this book equips parents, teachers, and readers to better understand Pullmans troubling work.
The most popular of all Russian composers, Peter Tchaikovsky is probably best known for his ballets. Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, and Nutcracker are still performed worldwide. But a good part of Tchaikovsky s career was spent writing operas. Eugene Onegin and The Queen of Spades are two of his better-known works. A precocious child, Peter could read French and German by the age of six. At seven, he wrote verses in French. In school, he studied to be a lawyer. It was not until he was twenty-one years old that he turned his focus to music. But this man who made such beautiful melodies was unhappy most of his life. He was terrified when he stood in front of an orchestra. He had an unrealistic fear that his head would fall off and he actually held his left hand under his chin to keep his head attached! However, he left a great legacy of beautiful music. From the diaries and letters he wrote, we know about the life of Peter Tchaikovsky. In this book, young adults are introduced to one of the greatest composers of all time.
Explains how the way people tell stories about themselves influences how they are viewed by others in their business and personal lives and explains how to become an engaging story teller.
Bestselling author Jim George helps readers gain a wider and richer understanding of the Bible. Included are more than 150 carefully selected topics that provide fascinating insights about important historical events, interesting customs and cultural practices, and significant people and places. What makes this book especially helpful is that the vast majority of the topics include personal applications for today. As a result, Bible facts come alive, and readers come to see how Scripture is truly relevant to every part of everyday living. Know Your Bible from A to Z makes personal exploration of the Bible more rewarding and life-transforming. Both new and longtime Christians will find this a must-have resource to keep alongside their Bibles. Formerly titled The Bare Bones Bible® Facts.
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