A courageous minister is out to save the souls of a frontier mining town in this nineteenth century Christian Western novel. The mountain town of Black Rock is a place where hard-living miners find respite from their labors in the fleeting pleasure of the saloon. When Pastor Jim Craig arrives, he brings with him a radically different vision of salvation—one found in the everlasting love of the Lord. Jim believes the Gospel can change lives, and he’s determined to prove it. But those who profit off of whiskey and sin are equally determined to fight his message of reform. Written by a Canadian minister and first published in 1898, Jim Craig’s Battle for Black Rock is a timeless tale of Western adventure and the power of faith.
In the early nineteenth century, Britons and Americans renewed their struggle over the legacy of the American Revolution, leading to a second confrontation that redefined North America. Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Alan Taylor’s vivid narrative tells the riveting story of the soldiers, immigrants, settlers, and Indians who fought to determine the fate of a continent. Would revolutionary republicanism sweep the British from Canada? Or would the British contain, divide, and ruin the shaky republic? In a world of double identities, slippery allegiances, and porous boundaries, the leaders of the republic and of the empire struggled to control their own diverse peoples. The border divided Americans—former Loyalists and Patriots—who fought on both sides in the new war, as did native peoples defending their homelands. And dissident Americans flirted with secession while aiding the British as smugglers and spies. During the war, both sides struggled to sustain armies in a northern land of immense forests, vast lakes, and stark seasonal swings in the weather. After fighting each other to a standstill, the Americans and the British concluded that they could safely share the continent along a border that favored the United States at the expense of Canadians and Indians. Moving beyond national histories to examine the lives of common men and women, The Civil War of 1812 reveals an often brutal (sometimes comic) war and illuminates the tangled origins of the United States and Canada. Moving beyond national histories to examine the lives of common men and women, The Civil War of 1812 reveals an often brutal (sometimes comic) war and illuminates the tangled origins of the United States and Canada.
In his 1967 megahit "San Francisco," Scott McKenzie sang of "people in motion" coming from all across the country to San Francisco, the white-hot center of rock music and anti-war protests. At the same time, another large group of young Americans was also in motion, less eagerly, heading for the jungles of Vietnam. Now, in The Republic of Rock, Michael Kramer draws on new archival sources and interviews to explore sixties music and politics through the lens of these two generation-changing places--San Francisco and Vietnam. From the Acid Tests of Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters to hippie disc jockeys on strike, the military's use of rock music to "boost morale" in Vietnam, and the forgotten tale of a South Vietnamese rock band, The Republic of Rock shows how the musical connections between the City of the Summer of Love and war-torn Southeast Asia were crucial to the making of the sixties counterculture. The book also illustrates how and why the legacy of rock music in the sixties continues to matter to the meaning of citizenship in a global society today. Going beyond clichéd narratives about sixties music, Kramer argues that rock became a way for participants in the counterculture to think about what it meant to be an American citizen, a world citizen, a citizen-consumer, or a citizen-soldier. The music became a resource for grappling with the nature of democracy in larger systems of American power both domestically and globally. For anyone interested in the 1960s, popular music, and American culture and counterculture, The Republic of Rock offers new insight into the many ways rock music has shaped our ideas of individual freedom and collective belonging.
A Christian journalist researching a fast-growing global ministry uncovers a web of deception and scandal in this novel of faith, greed, and corruption. Evangelist Jacob Michaels has gained global renown with his successful ministry, Evangelize the World. But when Christian magazine reporter Jackson Maxwell starts researching Michaels and his organization, his questions quickly hit a nerve. Michaels’s ambitious assistant is less than forthcoming about their new development project—or the donations it’s generating. As Evangelize the World is on its way to becoming a global media empire, Jackson pursues the dark secrets beneath its glittering surface. Committed to the truth, and his conviction that God’s representatives must be held accountable, he’s determined to expose a devious scheme no matter the consequences.
A stranger rides into the Ozarks with a secret past and a message of forgiveness in this classic Christian novel—a new edition edited by Michael Phillips. The Shepherd of the Hills tells the classic tale of a stranger who takes the Old Trail deep into the Ozark mountains, many miles from civilization. Learned yet melancholy, he spends his days tending local sheep. And though he lives apart from the townsfolk of Mutton Hollow, he is a friend to one and all. As the story of his tragic past comes to light, so do the lessons of grace and forgiveness bestowed upon us all by the true shepherd. First published in 1907, The Shepherd of the Hills became an instant bestseller and was later adapted into a classic film starring John Wayne and Harry Carey. This edition has been edited by the noted devotional author Michael Phillips.
The acclaimed Christian author shares a devotional and thought-provoking exploration of God’s Fatherhood. We all experience a desire to run into the arms of the Father and feel safe and secure, to be able to know him and know that he understands us completely. If this kind of closeness to God has somehow eluded you, perhaps it has something to do with how you think about him. In this book, Michael Phillips takes you on a spiritual journey that will lead you into the arms of God the Father. A God to Call Father explores an often-overlooked aspect of our spirituality. It suggests that we are plagued by a misunderstanding of the character of God the Father—who he truly is and what he is really like. Following in the tradition of George MacDonald and Hannah Hurnard, Phillips weaves a beautiful allegory throughout the book, paralleling the path toward the intimate presence of God in your life.
Harold Bell Wright’s timeless tale of a young minister and his wayward flock—in a new edition edited by an acclaimed Christian author. First published in 1909, The Calling of Dan Matthews tells the story of a young minister’s coming of age and the challenges he faces as he doggedly seeks to answer God’s call. Growing up in the Ozark Mountains, Dan Matthews is deeply devoted to his faith. But when he accepts a post in the Midwestern town of Corinth, he discovers a parish mired in resentment, politics, and hidden agendas. While some troubles stem from well-intentioned but misguided individuals, others are caused by selfish and evil motives. Is it any wonder that the town’s beautiful young nurse has no desire to join such a church? Now more than ever, Dan must trust in God’s wisdom and grace as he seeks to lead in the spirit of true loving kindness. A Higher Call is a compelling drama that challenges readers to think critically about the modern church.
Learn to arrange your life so that you can focus on what you truly want to accomplish with this practical guide to everyday productivity. Too many of us find it nearly impossible to keep up with our own busy schedules. As a result, we are constantly putting off projects that we promise ourselves we’ll get to . . . one day. In this practical guide, Michael Phillips shows readers how to stop postponing and start reaching goals today. For busy homemakers, harried students, overworked pastors, and pressured businesspeople, this guide provides essential advice. Part One gives you the three keys of discipline, efficiency, and decisiveness, the bases for coping with daily duties. Part Two tells you how to supervise other people—whether they are your children, the members of your church group, or your employees. Part Three reveals indispensable principles for successful problem-solving. The book also features questions and sample worksheets to help readers apply new concepts and strategies in their daily lives.
