The author reflects on the betrayal of Jesus and proposes a spiritual explanation for why Judas Iscariot from Judea was chosen to carry the label "traitor." This story describes apostle Judas Thaddeus' struggle with his name after Judas Iscariot's betrayal of Jesus; it is narrated through an aspiring apostle, Barsabbas, who mistakenly believes he was overlooked for the job. Although much has been written about the 12 apostles, little is actually known about their personal lives. We do know that many were unlearned fishermen and they, no doubt, had ambitions, fears, and carnal desires similar to those of men throughout the ages. The message of this book is developed through the lives of three such men: Judas Iscariot, Judas Thaddeus, and Barsabbas. The author suggests that there is a little of Iscariot, Thaddeus, and Barsabbas in all of us. It is the conflict between their personalities which fuels the best and worst qualities of mankind; true power is not found through force but in those ideals exemplified by Barsabbas-forgiveness and love.
Winner of the Pulitzer Prize: The definitive biography of Martin Luther King Jr. In this monumental account of the life of Martin Luther King Jr., professor and historian David Garrow traces King’s evolution from young pastor who spearheaded the 1955–56 bus boycott of Montgomery, Alabama, to inspirational leader of America’s civil rights movement. Based on extensive research and more than seven hundred interviews, with subjects including Andrew Young, Jesse Jackson, and Coretta Scott King, Garrow paints a multidimensional portrait of a charismatic figure driven by his strong moral obligation to lead—and of the toll this calling took on his life. Bearing the Cross provides a penetrating account of King’s spiritual development and his crucial role at the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, whose protest campaigns in Birmingham and Selma, Alabama, led to enactment of the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Voting Rights Act of 1965. This comprehensive yet intimate study reveals the deep sense of mission King felt to serve as an unrelenting crusader against prejudice, inequality, and violence, and his willingness to sacrifice his own life on behalf of his beliefs. Written more than twenty-five years ago, Bearing the Cross remains an unparalleled examination of the life of Martin Luther King Jr. and the legacy of the civil rights movement.
For the first time, rock music icon Gregg Allman, one of the founding members of The Allman Brothers Band, tells the full story of his life and career in My Cross to Bear. No subject is taboo, as one of the true giants of rock ’n’ roll opens up about his Georgia youth, his long struggle with substance abuse, his string of bad marriages (including his brief union with superstar Cher), the tragic death of brother Duane Allman, and life on the road in one of rock’s most legendary bands.
Lainie Commins, a freelance designer of children's toys, hires attorney Matthew Hope for a lawsuit against her old employers, Brett and Etta Toland. At stake are the lucrative rights to Gladly, a teddy bear with crossed eyes and corrective lenses. It's a straightforward case--until Brett Toland is shot in the throat aboard his luxury yacht and Lainie becomes the chief suspect.
A natural history and celebration of the famous bears and salmon of Brooks River. On the Alaska Peninsula, where exceptional landscapes are commonplace, a small river attracts attention far beyond its scale. Each year, from summer to early fall, brown bears and salmon gather at Brooks River to create one of North America’s greatest wildlife spectacles. As the salmon leap from the cascade, dozens of bears are there to catch them (with as many as forty-three bears sighted in a single day), and thousands of people come to watch in person or on the National Park Service’s popular Brooks Falls Bearcam. The Bears of Brooks Falls tells the story of this region and the bears that made it famous in three parts. The first forms an ecological history of the region, from its dormancy 30,000 years ago to the volcanic events that transformed it into the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes. The central and longest section is a deep dive into the lives of the wildlife along the Brooks River, especially the bears and salmon. Readers will learn about the bears’ winter hibernation, mating season, hunting rituals, migration patterns, and their relationship with Alaska’s changing environment. Finally, the book explores the human impact, both positive and negative, on this special region and its wild population.
Kobe: Many years ago, the Crossroad Soldiers was founded by my father, Jasper, and his closest compadre from the military, Knuckles. Together they built an unshakable brotherhood, one that’s stood the test of time. That is until Lorenzo crossed paths with them, then we were in a war that took several of our beloved brothers and one of the old ladies from us. The MC and family were forever changed. War, one word, it’s almost all I’ve known and can remember since I was a young boy. It’s one that is forever ingrained into my memory. I live and breathe the MC. A pact between the kids was made, it was meant to keep us safe from outsiders trying to make their way in. I was ready to spend a loveless relationship, bound by honor and respect, an eternity of understanding and compassion, with her. With Amberly, but somehow, she snuck under my defenses and my world spun on its axis. The MC was no longer the only thing that mattered in my world, that became her. I always knew she’d be the one, but I never told anyone that secretly, I’d worshipped the ground she walked on since I was ten years old. But nothing could prepare me for the turbulence that was her. I thought I knew her better than anyone, I’ve never been so wrong in my life. Amberly: Women are to be servants and old ladies to the men. What a crock of shit. I’ve grown up in this lifestyle just as much as any one of the boys did. I lost loved ones like they did. My father is a member, he’s one of the founders. He helped build this club from the ground up and I’m his only child. I should be allowed to take his seat just as the boys take their fathers! I’m ready to take a stand, start a movement in the club if I must. Change isn’t always a bad thing, but something that’s necessary. Us girls can keep up with the men, we are just as badass as they are. But old-fashioned values of ‘protect the girls’, are still ever present in their minds. I understand things happened in the club to cement this mentality, but I will have Kobe’s ear, and I will force him to listen to reason. I was in no way prepared for my man to be as alpha as he is. He took me off guard, made me need things that I didn’t realize I’d wanted. It’s a ride I wasn’t expecting, but one I’m willing to get on board with. We were supposed to be convenient; we weren’t supposed to get our emotions involved. But he evoked everyone that laid dormant inside of me. Ones that I’d coveted, and hidden, from the outside world. Will the war that started at their fathers’ hands be the one that destroys them? Things are changing, the MC is growing…but does it keep them together and make them stronger or does it divide them in the end? Kobe and Amberly are the ones who set the precedent…but will the others fall in line and back them up, or will it start a riot within? This is Book One in the Crossroad Soldiers MC and it’s a wild one. Hold on tight and buckle up. Things will be rocky and full of chaos. This book contains content that should not be read by those under 18 years of age or younger.
I accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Savior on January I3, 1986. Since that life-changing day, I have heard, read about and observed many spiritual struggles in Christians' lives, including Christian leaders, such as pastors, evangelists. missionaries, deacons, teachers, elders, administrators, and bishops. I feel strongly in my spirit that many are grieving the Holy Spirit in more ways than one, and I am no exception. The list of how we are grieving the Spirit is exhaustive; however, I will mention some key areas where we have been failing consistently: 1. Not loving God as we ought 2. Not fearing God as we ought 3. Turning God into a God of Convenience 4. Not reading the Word (Bible) daily 5. Failing to pray for self and others 6. Breaking promises 7. Not tithing regularly 8. Being a false witness 9. Choosing to be selfish and self-centered 10. Not being thankful and not showing appreciation I I. Taking God and others for granted 12. Presenting ourselves as holy and righteous 13. Judging others constantly 14. Entertaining and encouraging gossip 15. Not practicing humility The Holy Spirit inspired me to write this book first to myself as an eye-opening experience. Yet, I realize I am not the only one dealing with the issues mentioned above. Thousands of people (possibly more) may be experiencing the same things I have been facing. Therefore, let us learn to be patient, kind, tolerant, and understanding of one another, and instead of judging one another in an ungodly manner, let us learn to appreciate, respect, and accept each other, despite our disagreements and differences. With that in mind, consider the following Scripture Verse from the New Testament: "And do nor grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption" (Ephesians 4:30). Thank You and God Bless.
A corrupt old Democrat. A surging Republican populist. The Democrat, hounded by corruption allegations; the Republican, dogged by business failures and ties to white supremacists. The Republican turned out thousands of screaming supporters for speeches blaming illegal immigrants and crime on the Democrats, and the Democrat plummeted in the polls. Sound familiar? The '91 Louisiana Governor's race was supposed to be forgettable. But when former KKK Grand Wizard David Duke shocked the nation by ousting incumbent Republican Governor Buddy Roemer in the primary, the world took notice. Democrat Edwin Edwards, a former three-term governor and two-time corruption defendant, was left alone to face Duke in the general election—and he was going to lose. Then a little-known state committeewoman stepped in with evidence of Duke's nefarious past. Could her evidence be enough to sway the minds of fired-up voters, or would Louisiana welcome a far-right radical into the highest office in the state? Journalist Brian Fairbanks explores how the final showdown between Duke and Edwards in November 1991 led to a major shift in our national politics, as well as the rise of the radical right and white supremacist groups, and how history repeated itself in the 2016 presidential election. The story of these political "wizards," almost forgotten by history, remains eerily prescient and disturbingly relevant, and a compulsive page-turner.
