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It was year of the Ice Bucket Challenge when MaryFran Peterlin-Kolp was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. A top college athlete and having earned a Ph. D in Exercise Physiology she was never afraid to rise up to a challenge and she decided that she would do "whatever it takes" to try to find a cure. MaryFran always had a strong Catholic Faith to rely on, great family support and would soon see how a small Northern Michigan town would rally around her. She would explore not just conventional western medicine but alternative treatments and therapies, diets, and of course rely on her faith to guide her. Using her positive attitude she takes us on her ALS journey with the belief that God chose her so that others could be spared with the hope that maybe she could help find a cure. You will laugh, cry and be amazed at how one woman could have such a lasting impact on a community and how that community helped to care for her. MaryFan will show you that all you need is faith, family, and some "Frantabulous Friends" to live a happy life.

This is a book intended to assist couples in identifying what the Bible has to say about marriage. It is not intended to represent the opinions of the author, but simply to provide a structured and concise view of what the Bible has to say about marriage. Since God created marriage, He is clearly the one to know how best to live out married life to accomplish the purpose for which God created this institution. Most couples who have been exposed to this teaching have felt that their eyes were opened to Biblical truths that were previously unknown to them, or not discerned as applying to marriage. The purpose of the book is to strengthen current marriages (even mature ones) as well as better prepare young people entering into a committed relationship to help them start off on a strong and solid foundation of truth and understanding of the roles of a man and a woman in this wonderful institution ordered and blessed by God.

Thank You, God! is a Christian book for children and families. The book is intended for parents to read to their children or children can read on their own about what God has done. The words rhyme and repeat to make reading fun. Rhyming and repetition of books are great ways for children to recognize sounds of language as well as remember the words of the books. The visuals are colorful and relatable to children, in addition to being easily identifiable. The photographs match the words beautifully and make the words come to life. My goal is to encourage families to read the bible, which is why most pages reference a scripture that correlates to the words. Thank You God! opens the door to show children what God has done, but the bible goes deeper and shows us why we are thankful for all he has given us. This book can be a bridge to reading the bible as a family. My prayer is that this book can help families who may not be as familiar with God’s word, but want God’s word to be an integral part of their day. As you read Thank You, God! refer to your bible and learn so much more of what God has done.

In The Deflowered Garden, Natasha reflects back to the time she experienced the pain of sexual abuse as a child. She remembered the purity, beauty, and innocence in her garden. But in the very place where she felt safe and at peace, is the very place where evil crept in. She''s on a long road of brokenness. Will her garden be restored? Or will she be lost in the wilderness forever?

Written with a movie in mind, Aurona is stunningly visual, rich with detailed illustrations and a quickly developing, suspenseful storyline. A technological feast for ages 12 and up, it feeds the universal human quest for the New and Different. Our present space telescopes beg these questions: Is there another planet out there in far better shape than the Earth? Can the atmosphere be in pristine condition with a carefully managed, yet untouched wilderness? Aurona, far more technologically advanced the Earth, offers the possibility that this might actually be possible. A paradise? Utopia? The story unfolds…

While exploring the jungle in the caldera of an extinct volcano, a boy and his grandfather discover the entrance to an alien outpost. A tripwire triggers a huge block of stone to roll back into a wall, revealing a spiral staircase that leads down into an underground vault. As they enter, they’re shocked to find an enormous dome lined with heavily embossed sheets of gold. More importantly, a star map is imbedded into a stunning, blue glass floor, its infrared tracery pointing the way to another world. Unfortunately, the chamber’s fusion reactor has reawakened after thousands of years and the room is about to self-destruct. In a burst of speed, they gather all the gold they can carry, shove it into their knapsacks and dive out of the entrance just as the great vault implodes.

Years pass. Out of college, the teenager gets some unexpected news: his extravagantly wealthy grandfather has died, and the TV and Internet coverage reveals there’ll be an elaborate funeral for him in the Capitol Rotunda. Through a daringly clever ruse, the boy receives a secret package: three holographic discs and the keys to a starship. After an urgent message instructs him to assemble a crew, Aurona’s action-packed, stumbling voyage ensues.

Reaching the planet, they find it completely surrounded by an electrically charged, golden shield. It takes some clever, innovative trickery with tiny surveillance robotoids to get them through, and a whole, different ecosystem surrounds them: they see that gold is everywhere, even permeating the atmosphere. Gargantuan trees can draw gold out of the ground, there are huge night-stalking insects with bioluminescent searchlights, saber toothed beasts can throw mind-stuns to paralyze their prey, and there are odd, fragile, gas-bag creatures floating around.

Unfortunately, things have grown complicated: an alien stowaway has been hidden aboard in a sleep pod. It hadn’t been plugged into the ship’s mainframe and the timing for its opening sequence is way off. After two suspenseful months of waiting, the crazed alien awakens in a rage, summoning more of his plasmorphic kind. They steal the starship and hold many of the crew as hostages, forcing them to dig all the gold the ship can carry. The alien boasts to return one day with a vast army to attack and plunder Aurona.

The boy, now maturing into a resourceful young leader, has other plans...

Hoping for some windshield therapy and peace of mind behind the wheel of his new rig, Mack gets neither after God nudges him to pick up a hitchhiker near the Jordan State Prison outside Mack’s childhood home of Pampa, Texas.

When his world is ripped apart, he seeks to run away from it all, going as far as to cut off communication with all but a handful of people. But he is pursued by God, who will not let him go. Unbeknownst to Mack, God is equipping His servant with tools to handle events his past education and experience could never have prepared him for.

The story unfolds as the hitchhiker enters Mack’s Peterbilt. The man reminds Mack of his father, a hard living, hard drinking oilfield roughneck who died in prison. God begins to do a work in Mack’s heart while Mack seeks to minister to his new passenger. But Mack soon rues the day he let the hitchhiker into his truck.

His old life in ruins now, Mack learns he has angered a new enemy who threatens to destroy his life on the road as well. Mack suspects he is being followed and is in the sights of a killer who plots a revenge no one could have seen coming.

God works His mysterious way in Mack’s life steamroller-style all the way to an ending that will leave the reader thinking about it long after reading The End at the bottom of the last page.

Rough Way to the High Way is the first of a series of novels about Mack’s adventures on the road as lives are transformed through his new ministry. The first life to be transformed as Rough Way to the High Way develops appears to be that of the hitchhiker. But God is working in Mack’s life all along, preparing him for a new ministry that will transform lives across the country.

This book was written to give animals a chance to live forever in the hearts of children everywhere with their fun tales and stories. It was created to help fund pet rescue and homeless children around the world. The majority of the proceeds will help those in need. They are stories about my friend Chloe and all the friends she makes on our adventures in our R.V.

Scientific Challenges to Evolutionary Theory: How These Challenges Affect Religion addresses all aspects of the giant battle between two major belief systems…those that believe in a ‘naturalistic worldview’ and evolution, and those that believe in a miracle-performing God and the Creation of all things.

On a trip to Mount St. Helens, some look at the catastrophic eruption of May 18, 1981 as a significant corroboration of the Creation event. Others, deniers of the possibilities of miracles, hold to the view that God’s creation cannot be taken seriously by the scientific community.

At the Mount St. Helens book store, I asked about books for sale that gave a Christian view of the catastrophic eruption. The reply was, “I’m sorry, sir, but we only carry books by scientists.”

It was time for the author, Jay Schabacker, to do a little scientific sleuthing. Join Jay Schabacker as you learn of the hundreds, even thousands, of Ph.D. scientists who repudiate the theory of evolution, but hold rather to the truth of the theory of Creation.

Significant general information, likely new to most readers gives corroborative evidence from many sources, including:

• From all over the ancient world, hundreds of accounts of a global flood

• Well documented accounts of the Ark of Noah, indeed, located at the top of Mount Ararat

• Ancient ‘Near East’ finds, inscribed on rock, told of the actual details covered in the Holy Bible

Numerous scientific papers refute the naturalistic dogma forced on us the government, public schools, universities and media. You’ll find arguments that assert:

• The earth’s geological features appear to have been fashioned by rapid catastrophic processes that affected the earth on a global scale.

• Life on earth was suddenly created, not over billions of years.

• The use of radiometric dating method is often grossly in error.

• The fossil record shows that all present living kinds of animals and plants have remained fixed since creation.

• Mutations and natural selection are insufficient to have brought about any emergence of living kinds from a simple primordial organism.

• The universe has “obvious manifestations of an ordered, structural plan and design.” The universe and the solar system were suddenly created.

If evolution is wrong why are our children being only taught it in our public schools? Numerous polls favored biology teachers teaching Darwin’s Theory of evolution, but also the scientific evidence against it.

The final section of the book gets further into the “Action Plan” where church pastors and members, scientist groups, etc., could make an important difference if:

• We all read about the subject and started the conversation;

• We gave our views to the school boards and legislators who are the decision makers;

• We initiate needed petitions in support needed legislation; and

• We urge church pastors to create their own church schools and concerned families to start home schooling for their children.

Robert Morris II recorded eight hours of interviews with his father, Robert Morris, MD (1904-1990), from which he drafted an autobiography and presented it to his dad on his 85th birthday. Until Dr. Morris’ death 15 months later, they collaborated to correct and add to the original memories. Dr. Morris’ career was unique in several ways: He dropped out of medical school twice, returning to farming, then vowed that he’d become a doctor or die. The third time in medical school, he led his class most quarters. Marrying and nurse and settling in the village of Medina (pop. 400) in 1935, his practice and reputation—especially as a diagnostician—grew until his death. He made home visits extending to five counties, the last doctor to do so in this area, delivering some 2000 babies in the home, while also serving in four hospitals. He was a devout Christian and lay leader in his church. Two of his daughters married doctors, two others became career teachers who also married teachers, and his son had a varied career, ending as a writer. Dr. Morris tells both painful and humorous stories about his life.

The Lame Take the Prey / For King and Country is a voice of reconciliation and hope- a welcome relief to a torn nation under God. Though a direct contradiction to circumstance, it''s a timeless principle of Scripture- that in brokenness there''s strength. From this framework comes God''s view on "greatness" - that it''s not just assumed as a birthright, or belongs only to the ages, but finds a home in us, as God calls us to be a cut above the rest. Brokenness attracts the mercies of God who raises up broken people to do big things and to become benefactors of blessings others only dream about. You can''t dream big enough for God!

For the Kingdom of God and the healing of our great nation, God has a plan for each life yielded to Him. When it looks too late for what you planned, it''s not too late for what God has planned. You see the pieces. God sees the picture. You endure the preparation. God encounters you with His purpose. Like a "fast ball in," when the call of God comes over the plate, you''ll know it in your spirit. And what''s waited for tomorrow, you''ll do today.

"You can never cross the ocean until you have the courage to lose sight of the land."- Christopher Columbus

There will never be a perfect moment to do a great thing!

Since committing my life to Christ, I have, occasionally, become a secretary for the Holy Spirit. This collection comes out of that relationship and the various conversations we have shared at the highs, lows, and in-betweens of that walk.

We have all heard the common sayings like “happiness comes from within” and “happiness is a choice". The questions then are, if happiness is within, how do you tap into it? And if happiness is a choice, how do you choose to be happy in the midst of the world’s chaos?

After many unproductive years of struggles and acquiring “stuffs" to be happy, Nike Okeke went on a soul-searching journey to find answers to the questions above. A powerful and never-failing way she found to tap into the happiness within is by clearing the junks in one''s life. Everyone has these junks. Some people realize they have the junk while some people don’t. What are these junks? How do you know if you have them? How do you clear out the junks? And how do you guard yourself against acquiring more junks thereby deliberately choosing to be happy? NoSpaceForJunk is written to help empower every reader and encourage them to take charge of their lives.

God and Lucifer are at it again! More than three millennia after their first contest, the creator of the Universe and his highest errant minion are struggling once again over the fate of a single soul. For this battle the center of their attention is not God’s most favored servant. Rather it is an everyday person. What could this rematch mean for human kind when a nobody is in Lucifer’s crosshairs? More importantly, what does it mean for you?

JOB 2.0 is an updated retelling of JOB, the oldest book in the Bible. It takes place in modern times, using every-day language and ordinary life situations. Lucifer challenges God to another test of one of God’s faithful. Lucifer chooses Jake (Jacob Osborne Brown, Junior, or JOB II), who loses everything in the course of the challenge. To rid himself of his old life and the values it reflected, Jake has a yard sale, during which his neighbors and friends stop by to provide their insights into why his life fell apart. Through seven conversations, and interjections from God and Lucifer, the characters share insights into the nature of God, the definition of evil, an explanation of sin, the role of choice in one’s life, the recognition of individual responsibility, the sovereignty of God, the importance of faith, the power of prayer, the comfort of faith, and the search for spiritual truth.

In the last conversation, Jake has the opportunity to ask God all the questions he wants answered. God provides the understanding Jake seeks, explaining the relationship between God and humans, our purpose, the nature of love, the importance of repentance, and finally, (re)unification with Himself.

JOB 2.0 explains our relationship with God in a truly humorous manner yet is not preachy. Instead, it encourages self-examination and rigorous thought while being utterly entertaining. It is perfect for young adults as well as mature readers; it is appropriate for unchurched as well as churched populations; it is perfect for those seeking meaning in their lives as well as those who have defined their spiritual life. It is perfect for gift-giving anytime, but especially for coming-of-age and other life-stage moments, as well as during traditional gift-giving holidays.

One reader described it as, “Funny, yet deep and serious. The relationship between God, Job and Lucifer are pure imagination and done so well.” Another reader said, “I love how it manages to offer fresh illumination with Lucifer challenging God and Logic in every conceivable way until we are left to get to the heart of IT ALL. This is great, and a pleasure to read!”

Ben is the adventurous brother, while twelve-year-old Ray feels compelled to look after Ben, setting up a conflict between the brothers. In spite of this, their brotherly love prevails, as they explore Jam-Up Cave, go boating, fishing, swimming in the Jack''s Fork River, and have plenty of other adventures.

A mystery unfolds that the boys decide to solve instead of telling Papa about what they found. They find the answer unexpectedly while exploring Jam-Up Cave.

Ben doesn''t hesitate when there is a crisis and ends up being “Twice A Hero.” Ben realizes in the end that his heroic actions have made him a stronger person, and equal to Ray.

This historical fiction chapter book is about 14,500 words, easy to read, and will transport the readers back in time, to imagine they are Ben Walker, and this is their Ozarks home near the Jack''s Fork River.

This is an inspirational testimony of how God demonstrates His grace in human tragedy. Suzie Borrows battled for her husband’s life, praying for a miracle. Hers is a story of love, loss and new life; a story of holding on to God’s promises in faith; a story of talking to the Lord about everything and seeing Him answer prayer in unexpected and unimagined ways. This is the story of a woman laying her faith on the Word of God and believing Him for the literal truth of His Word; speaking His Word back to Him and humbly reminding Him of those promises. His answers to her heartfelt cries were provided through undeniable revelations which exceeded her dreams. Through His many mercies to Suzie, God’s purpose gradually became her purpose.

As human beings we may all enjoy blessings, such as family, health and prosperity, but we will also likely suffer loss, hardship and grief. Suzie’s discovery of the ultimate power of God and His Word, along with her growing understanding of how much He truly loves us, transformed her life. Come along with her and experience the miraculous hand of God in the midst of her circumstances. He is no respecter of persons and wants you to know His love in a tangible way as well. Your faith will be ignited, just as Suzie’s was as she walked hand in hand with the Lord.

Chasing Jesus is a 60-day journey that takes you through personal stories of faith to encourage you in your walk with Christ. Author, blogger, and speaker, Cassie Downs encourages you to boldly chase Jesus in a world begging you to chase everything else.

Chasing Jesus will encourage you to:

leave fear and insecurity behind

dare to believe God''s heart for you

surrender your life for a life you never imagined

The Devil in the Back Pew is a simple manual bringing to light the need for, and methods of, personal spiritual warfare and deliverance. The motivation for this book is rooted in the experience and observation of the author: far too few understand the extent of the enemy’s works or know how to deal with them if they do. The devil is pursuing everyone . . . and he does not give up!

Explained are the Biblical foundations of the dark spirit realm, and how this can be discerned and dealt with. The various types of enemy harassment are explored in depth, and methods to overcome barriers to victory (the prerequisites for success) are discussed in detail. Importantly, these techniques are applicable to all types of dark spiritual incursions, from simple temptation to significant demonization.

The many issues and topics relevant to effectively confronting the enemy are fully explored. And Biblically-sound solutions are offered. Learn how to exercise your God-given authority and drive the prince of darkness away!

We will all find ourselves searching for traction in life''s slippery circumstances and situations at some point in our life. For some, that point is very obvious and current, for others, the time will arrive when things appear overwhelming. In Spun Out, Troy D. Larsen encourages us with practical answers and insight when those life experiences invade our lives and leave us questioning how to move forward. When one may appear stunned, at a standstill or loss he encourages that there is a means to hope and endurance. What may appear to be a shipwreck in our life, he explains there could and should be a necessary place of rest and restoration in the process of what he describes as dry-dock. He gives five crucial steps to restored hope and healthy endurance.

In Spun Out you will discover:

-How hope can and should be restored when feeling hopeless.

-How endurance can and should be healthy and seen as necessary.

-How to move forward when life seems at a standstill or loss.

-What makes an individual life important and valuable when felt devalued.

-How to find rest in overextended and overwhelmed circumstances.

-How to evaluate what should be consuming our lives.

-How to set a healthy life pace.

-What is the key to living a balanced lifestyle?

-How encouragement functions as a life-giving source.

Spun Out is written to encourage, strengthen, build up, and move you forward. Whether you are in a current life challenge or know someone who is in need of encouragement, this writing is sure to bring practical steps and insight.

Surviving the Storm Through the Wind of the Spirit is the story of one woman’s journey through grief. The loss of her 21 year old son threw her into a storm from which she could see no hope of survival. Through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, her journey shows her the truth in God’s word that we can experience joy again through the promise of eternity. Roma Johnson Holley lost her 21 year old son, Zachary, to a horrific vehicle accident. The journey that ensues is one that is more like a roller-coaster ride than an actual journey. A roller-coaster will take you up and down, with twists and turns and then eventually return to where it began. And so has been this journey. Unspeakable joy at the birth of grandchildren and then the remembrance that this child will never know their Uncle Zachary. Unspeakable grief at the loss of a beloved cousin and aunt and then the remembrance that they are now in the presence of God. This journey is one that no one wants to take but that almost everyone will have to endure at some point in their life. The destination of each person will depend upon how we deal with the trials and difficulties along the way. Join Roma as she travels a rough and tumble road until she realizes the power of the Holy Spirit. The comfort, guidance and strength that comes from this one realization changes her entire perspective.

I feel numb.

Kay Gackle has heard these words for years as a therapist. Then one day, Kay found she was saying these exact same words.

The phrase feeling numb is a bit ironic. Is it a feeling if we "feel" nothing? Being numb can be considered a feeling the same as white is considered a color. The color white appears because it absorbs no color. White is literally the absence of color. In the same way, numb is the absence of feeling. The color white can be seen when it is against a background of other colors. Likewise, we recognize being numb against the knowledge of where other feelings would typically exist. We know that we would naturally feel in a certain way, but we just don''t feel anything.

In this book, we identify what being numb looks like in everyday life, how we get numb, and the problems and symptoms surrounding it. Not stopping there, we will journey together into a deeper understanding of feelings and begin to let ourselves feel again. Through other’s stories, engaging questions, and practical tools, we can find healing and move beyond being numb.

This book is usable to teaching the adult service, teen church and children service as well. A book that is written in simple English standard in order for all to be able to read.

There is a vast expanse of wilderness that lies within the borders of the United States—a land where there are no roads, no malls and no power lines stretching across the horizon. Instead, nature is on display in all of its glory. With forests, meadows, river basins, lakes, and mountains—the variety is as diverse as the expanse of the land itself. This is Alaska, the Great Land. Within these wild stretches of Alaska lie small, scattered, remote villages which are home to various ethnic groups of Alaskan natives.

In the spring of 1990, Don Ernst and his wife moved to one of these isolated villages to begin a church planting ministry. During the next 27 years, life and ministry were within the realm of this setting. There were lessons learned from the elders and from the land. During this time of ministry there were also lessons learned from the Lord. The author shares these times of life lessons and spiritual growth in the tradition of the culture: stories. These stories of life and ministry share the tragedies and the triumphs sprinkled with grief and laughter. The author uses stories to instruct, encourage, and challenge you as he unfolds them in the real life setting of the Alaskan bush.

This book is written to tackle what in recent times has become a significant issue when equity in multiracial settings is being discussed, especially as globalization continues to encourage diversity and inclusion around the world. It begins, like most books on the subject, by giving the reader a view of the different expressions of racism; and as the reader progresses, the book provides suggestions on what victims of racism can do collectively on their part to proactively reverse circumstances that invite racism. The book’s intent is not to exacerbate racial tensions; instead it is a call to positive action that can roll back the symptoms which perpetuate racism with an action plan that aims to reduce its manifestations in society. It is a gathering of the authors thoughts on what minorities in the West and people of African descent, as the main victims of racism can do to subtly address the traits that encourage racists’ behavior. In writing this book the author hopes to galvanize readers into undoing the social structures that ensure people of color remain economically and socially disadvantaged and thus easy prey for racists. It is of course based on his personal experiences and thoughts on the subject; hence, there might be points with which some readers may differ in opinion. To better appreciate what these experiences are, the book begins with a little background on the author, before delving into the subject matter in the subsequent chapters. The author has made the book as condensed as possible by not overelaborating the points raised. It is a light read, with language simple and easy for the lay as well as the scholarly to understand. This way every kind of reader can appreciate it, even those who do not like voluminous books can get through it in a day or two. So, please go ahead and enjoy this brave foray into the sensitive subject of racism.

Jan is a woman of faith who has a desperate longing for another child. She is married to a terrific guy who is a good husband and a great dad to their two young boys, but he is content with their family just as it is and has no desire for another child. As Jan struggles with this dilemma, she surrenders her desire to God and sees him work in mighty ways. When the desire of her heart is finally met with a precious daughter, Jan and her husband name her Joy as a tribute to God’s glory. They loved her wholeheartedly, but they were unprepared for the difficult path that lay before them. Their daughter was born with multiple medical issues. She had jaundice, ear and sinus infections that didn’t respond to antibiotics, and significant breathing difficulties all within the first month of life. As the story unfolds and more medical complications are discovered, this family struggles to meet one challenge after another. Jan’s faith is challenged again and again as she desperately tries to meet her daughter’s needs for the best medical care and fulfill her obligations as a wife and mother to her other two children. In the midst of turmoil, Jan learns how to rely on God for the strength and wisdom she needs to make difficult decisions and juggle responsibilities. Her honest account of her personal struggles to hang on to God’s promises as the world around her shifts and crumbles allows the reader to see how God can use our circumstances to stretch us, mold us, and create something beautiful out of the chaos.

In Joyce Meyer’s bestselling book, Battlefield of the Mind, she attests that indeed “there is a war which rages in our minds.” Hindsight takes readers on a journey through Rhonda Madge’s tumultuous life to reveal how she fell prey to anxious thoughts that molded her mind through a belief in the whispered lies.

A horrific event at the age of seventeen left Rhonda continually searching for something or someone to fill the dark chasm of her heart. Tears seemed to puddle around her wherever she went. However, she learned to carefully hide herself in a masquerade put on for the outside world, allowing her to project that all was well with her soul even as the slow decay continued from within. Those who find themselves pretending will be drawn to the answers her story presents.

But it was God who worked to lift the veil from Rhonda’s eyes, allowing her to see that, though she thought He was far from her, He remained at arm’s length. Thus a seeker’s interest will be peeked as they read about Rhonda’s exploration of who and what God truly is--a loving, personal God. Those who struggle with life’s hardships will be encouraged and inspired to practice Rhonda’s perseverance.

In a world where sorrow is often heaped upon sorrow, this very real story bares truth that will leave readers filled with hope.