People come and go in our lives. Over the years I have come to define those who touch our souls as heroes, mentors or friends, but in reality, I believe they are spiritual guides sent to us by a higher power. Once we recognize their inherent divinity and open to their influence, our spirits resonate at a higher level. Some call these special souls angels. This book gives the reader a profound insight into these beings and their miraculous influence on our lives. Heartwarming stories of courage, small acts of kindness and most of all, love, will bring a better understanding of the power they derive from our Source. Come share the miracle of synchronicity. Trust in the flow of Gods love as shown by these messengers of hope. You may discover that you too are making a difference in someones life as a Hero, Mentor or Friend.
Life-changing wisdom from 130 of the world's highest achievers in short, action-packed pieces, featuring inspiring quotes, life lessons, career guidance, personal anecdotes, and other advice
Acclaimed author Rick Bass decided to thank all of his writing heroes in person, one meal at a time, in this "rich smorgasbord of a memoir . . . a soul-nourishing, road-burning act of tribute" (New York Times Book Review). From his bid to become Eudora Welty's lawn boy to the time George Plimpton offered to punch him in the nose, lineage has always been important to Rick Bass. Now at a turning point -- in his midfifties, with his long marriage dissolved and his grown daughters out of the house -- Bass strikes out on a journey of thanksgiving. His aim: to make a memorable meal for each of his mentors, to express his gratitude for the way they have shaped not only his writing but his life. The result, an odyssey to some of America's most iconic writers, is also a record of self-transformation as Bass seeks to recapture the fire that drove him as a young man. Along the way we join in escapades involving smuggled contraband, an exploding grill, a trail of blood through Heathrow airport, an episode of dog-watching with Amy Hempel in Central Park, and a near run-in with plague-ridden prairie dogs on the way to see Lorrie Moore, as well as heartwarming and bittersweet final meals with the late Peter Matthiessen, John Berger, and Denis Johnson. Poignant, funny, and wistful, The Traveling Feast is a guide to living well and an unforgettable adventure that nourishes and renews the spirit.
Heroes permeate our culture. But what makes a hero? And what makes heroes 'heroic'? This exciting and innovative study explores how charisma and human needs create images of individuals as heroes and villains.
Investors are anxiously considering what sector will provide the next leap forward. Lou Dobbs, the best- known personality in American broadcast financial journalism, founder of CNNfn, CNNfn.com, and CNN's Lou Dobbs Moneyline, believes that question can be answered in five letters: SPACE. In Space: The Next Business Frontier, Dobbs and co-author HP Newquist explore where the money has gone, is going, and will go in space development by the private sector. Here they examine which new technologies have the edge, which corporations are players in the space game and which are destined to be, what start-up companies have to do to become players, and how to judge for yourself which ones will have the best chances for success. Space: The Next Business Frontier is a crucial examination of an industry with unlimited opportunity.
In The Everyday Dharma, Willa Miller, an authorized lama in the Tibetan Buddhist Tradition, reworks ancient Buddhist techniques and adapts them for western readers seeking personal transformation. Becoming a Buddha, Lama Miller explains, means observing the mind and actions and then doing the physical, psychological, and spiritual work to move closer to one’s wisdom nature. Dharma is spiritual practice; it’s what one does every day to make one’s mind and world a better place to live. Each chapter includes a passage to read, an exercise of the day that relates to each week’s topic, a quote from a sage, and tips on how to make daily practice a little easier. The book shows that it’s not necessary to subscribe to a particular — or any — belief system to benefit from this program. "It’s only necessary," says Lama Miller, "to believe one deserves to live a more fulfilling and meaningful life."
InJUSTICE is Pedro Perez's memoir chronicling his journey from poverty to the highest position in the New York State Police. In highly personal prose, Perez poignantly expresses how he adroitly and coolly challenged his fellow troopers' racial microaggressions and ultimately gained their respect. The book sheds light on institutional racism within the force and Perez's commitment to reform. He overcame racism and microaggressions to rise through the ranks. As a state trooper, Perez sought to reconcile the seeming contradiction between his progressive values, anti-racism, and identity (Perez identifies as an Afro-Caribbean Taino) and serving in an organization that stubbornly resisted opening its ranks to Black and Latino men and women. It concludes with Perez's argument for police reform and addressing the legacy of racism affecting police relations with racialized communities. Dr. Pedro Caban - Former Vice Provost for Diversity and Educational Equity at the State University of New York and Professor & Director of Undergraduate and Graduate Studies - Department of Latin American, Caribbean & U.S. Latino Studies ******************************************************************************************* This book speaks to the individual fortitude that it takes for any person to be successful in a police culture. Add in what Pedro Perez had to navigate, around, the individual and systemic racism, that is omnipresent for non-white people in the NYSP and the United States. Factors that can make everyday task almost a miracle to accomplish for non-white people. Bravo my brother! Anthony Ellis - New York State Police Chief Inspector - Colonel (Retired) ******************************************************************************************* Pedro Perez's book, InJUSTICE, expertly combines the story of his personal journey as a New York State Trooper of Afro-Caribbean descent with his account of his tireless efforts to make the NYSP a more just, equitable institution: one that protects the rights of all New Yorkers. Perez writes with courageous honesty about how the very same law enforcement agency that lifted him and his family from poverty also challenged him to reform its institutionalized racism from within, all while doing his best to protect and serve. This is a "must read" for anyone seeking to better understand the complexities of working in law enforcement as a member of a marginalized minority. It is an urgent call of conscience to all New Yorkers and Americans to make our vital law enforcement institutions instruments of genuine justice. Dan Ornstein - rabbi and author of Cain v Abel: A Jewish Courtroom Drama. ******************************************************************************************* InJUSTICE is the unique story of how Perez escapes from a life of poverty by joining the New York State Police. As one of a handful of Puerto Rican and African American state troopers in the 1980s, the author vividly reveals the challenges that officers of color face. With intelligence, courage, humor, and a commitment to administering justice, Perez examines the tensions that arise from carrying out law enforcement in a society shaped by inequalities of class, gender, ethnicity, and race, while also sharing a moving personal story. Barbara Smith - Author, The Truth That Never Hurts: Writings on Race, Gender, and Freedom ******************************************************************************************* WOW! Pedro Perez' memoir is an inspiring account of one man's grappling with (internally as well as externally) issues underlying injustice. Throughout his journey from childhood in Lower East Side Manhattan to the highest ranks of the New York State Troopers, Pedro Perez encounters all types of injustice including racism, gender bias, and poverty. His unique story of attempting systemic change from within while experiencing the harmful effects of these injustices is nothing short of heroic. The brutal honesty in this book is both refreshing and intimidating. It is not simply a call for change, but a true account of one man answering that call. Will you join him? Kevin P. Tully - Mecklenburg County Public Defenders Office
Leaders in Christian communities are all asking the same question: How can we bring the generations back together? InterGenerate addresses important questions of why we should bring the generations back together, but even more significantly, how we can bring generations back together. In this edited collection, ministers, church leaders, and Christian educators will find valuable, new generational theory perspectives, fresh biblical and theological insights, and practical outcomes backed by current research. InterGenerate offers important guidance on topics including •intergenerational spiritual disciplines, •transitioning from multigenerational to intergenerational, •new research that focuses directly on intergenerational ministry and offers practical outcomes to implement, and •benefits of intergenerational ministry for the most marginalized generations. An exciting and distinctive aspect of InterGenerate is the vast diversity of voice —men and women ranging in age from millennials to baby boomers, representing multiple countries and over a dozen denominations—all seeking ways to become more intentionally intergenerational in their outlook and practice.
"How many times have you said, 'I'd like to help a child, but I don't know what to do? I don't have the time, I don't have anything to offer, I can't afford it.' I promise you, by the time you finish reading this book, all of these questions will be answered." —from the Foreword by Tom Joyner, of The Tom Joyner Morning Show What could be more powerful and satisfying than changing the life of a child? With more than 10,000 members in eighty-two chapters in the United States, the Virgin Islands, and Africa, the 100 Black Men of America is one of the most highly recognized non-profit organizations in the African American community. Now, for the first time, the "100" shares the successful blueprint of its Miracles of Mentoring program, from which more than 100,000 kids of all colors have benefited. In this engaging and heartfelt work, the 100 Black Men of America shows you exactly what you can do to invest in America's future by mentoring a child. In a style that is friendly and instructive, National President Thomas W. Dortch, Jr., outlines the how-to's of mentoring. Whether you're on the front line working one-to-one with a mentee, or are a part of a collaborativegroup mentoring effort, The Miracles of Mentoring will teach you: the ten tickets of mentoring; how to figure out if mentoring is for you; the five stages of the mentoring relationship; how to create a mentoring partnership in your community or workplace. Also included are inspirational stories from the members of the "100" and their nationwide outreach—the thousands of African American men who give of themselves, "real men giving real time"—and from the young people whose lives have been enriched. A comprehensive resource section of mentoring organizations and programs closes the book. As Thomas W. Dortch, Jr., President of the "100," says in the Introduction: "When you give of your time, experience and wisdom to a young person, you're sowing the seeds of pride, confidence and accomplishment."
