flu·en·cy / noun :the ability to speak a language easily and effectively Even if they want to, many Christians find it hard to talk to others about Jesus. Is it possible this difficulty is because we're trying to speak a language we haven't actually spent time practicing? To become fluent in a new language, you must immerse yourself in it until you actually start to think about life through it. Becoming fluent in the gospel happens the same way—after believing it, we have to intentionally rehearse it (to ourselves and to others) and immerse ourselves in its truths. Only then will we start to see how everything in our lives, from the mundane to the magnificent, is transformed by the hope of the gospel.
This book is a collection of stories that describes the relationships that can exist when we put Jesus Christ first in our lives; and how agape love as described in First Corinthians Chapter Thirteen can shape our values and guide us in making difficult decisions as we interact with others. For all of us, this is a growing process and we must ask God daily for the wisdom, strength and courage to press on for the abundant life that only He can give I truly believe that the teachings and commandments in the Holy Bible can transform our lives if we apply them in our daily living. After reviewing the first drafts of this book, I signed on wholeheartedly to be a part of this exciting adventure. To assist my brother as his editor has been a blessing and a labor of love. This book gives outstanding examples of how faith as the root can lead to love as the fruit. The story titled Alpha and Omega in Chapter Thirteen sums it up. Jesus Christ is indeed The Beginning and The End, The First and The Last in the lives of those who love Him.
Understanding Roots uncovers one of the greatest mysteries underground—the secret lives and magical workings of the roots that move and grow invisibly beneath our feet. Roots, it seems, do more than just keep a plant from falling over: they gather water and nutrients, exude wondrous elixirs to create good soil, make friends with microbes and fungi, communicate with other roots, and adapt themselves to all manner of soils, winds, and climates, nourishing and sustaining our gardens, lawns, and woodlands. Understanding Roots contains over 115 enchanting and revealing root drawings that most people have never seen, from prairies, grasslands, and deserts, as well as drawings based on excavations of vegetable, fruit, nut, and ornamental tree roots. Every root system presented in this book was drawn by people literally working in the trenches, sketching the roots where they grew. The text provides a verydetailed review of all aspects of transplanting; describes how roots work their magic to improve soil nutrients; investigates the hidden life of soil microbes and their mysterious relationship to roots; explores the question of whether deep roots really gather more unique nutrients than shallow roots; shares the latest research about the mysteries of mycorrhizal (good fungal) association; shows you exactly where to put your fertilizer, compost, water, and mulch to help plants flourish; tells you why gray water increases crop yields more than fresh water; and, most importantly, reveals the science behind all the above (with citations for each scientific paper). This book contains at least eighty percent more new information, more results of the latest in-depth and up-to-date explorations, and even more helpful guidelines on roots than the author’s previous book (Roots Demystified: Change Your Garden Habits to Help Roots Thrive). This is not a revised edition—it’s a whole new stand-alone book.
"A comprehensive and entertaining historical and botanical review, providing an enjoyable and cognitive read.”—Nature The foods we eat have a deep and often surprising past. From almonds and apples to tea and rice, many foods that we consume today have histories that can be traced out of prehistoric Central Asia along the tracks of the Silk Road to kitchens in Europe, America, China, and elsewhere in East Asia. The exchange of goods, ideas, cultural practices, and genes along these ancient routes extends back five thousand years, and organized trade along the Silk Road dates to at least Han Dynasty China in the second century BC. Balancing a broad array of archaeological, botanical, and historical evidence, Fruit from the Sands presents the fascinating story of the origins and spread of agriculture across Inner Asia and into Europe and East Asia. Through the preserved remains of plants found in archaeological sites, Robert N. Spengler III identifies the regions where our most familiar crops were domesticated and follows their routes as people carried them around the world. With vivid examples, Fruit from the Sands explores how the foods we eat have shaped the course of human history and transformed cuisines all over the globe.
Journey from the comfort of your home to the most misunderstood place in the world: Israel. Unlike most travelogues, however, your guide is a gay Jew who uses his Arabic to shed light on life in the less-seen parts of this magnificent country. Join him as he shares his gay identity with a questioning teenager, hitchhikes on golf carts in a rural Druze village, and celebrates Shabbat -- all in Arabic. You'll find Matt visiting Jewish, Muslim, Christian, and Druze communities, using his compassion and sense of humor to delve into the intricacies of one of the most diverse places on the planet.
Written by the long-time manager of the renowned Alan Chadwick Garden at the University of California, Santa Cruz, this substantial, authoritative, and beautiful full-color guide covers everything you need to know about organically growing healthy, bountiful fruit trees. WINNER OF THE AMERICAN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY BOOK AWARD For more than forty years, Orin Martin has taught thousands of apprentices, students, and home gardeners the art and craft of growing fruit trees organically. In Fruit Trees for Every Garden, Orin shares--with hard-won wisdom and plenty of humor--his recommended fruit varieties and techniques for productive trees, including apple, pear, peach, plum, apricot, nectarine, sweet cherry, orange, lemon, fig, and more. If you crave crisp apples, juicy peaches, or varieties of fruit that can never be found in the store, they are all within reach in your own backyard. Whether you have one tree or a hundred, Orin gives you all the tools you need, from tree selection and planting practices to seasonal feeding guidelines and in-depth pruning tutorials. Along the way, you'll gain a deeper understanding of the core principles of organic gardening and soil stewardship: compost, cultivation, cover crops, and increasing biodiversity for a healthier garden. This book is more than just a gardening manual; it's designed to help you understand the why behind the how, allowing you to apply these techniques to your own slice of paradise and make the best choices for your individual trees. Filled with informative illustrations, full-color photography, and evocative intaglio etchings by artist Stephanie Martin, Fruit Trees for Every Garden is a striking and practical guide that will enable you to enjoy the great pleasure and beauty of raising homegrown, organic fruit for years to come.
Have you wondered how you’re connected to nature? Do you know this connection could improve your life? In Fix the Root and Get the Fruit, author Josh Streets shows you how nature and the purpose of life are connected and teaches you how they are interrelated while changing your life in the process. Streets offers a self-help guide for deep, personal, transformation because, as humans, we all have certain problems, pains, and desires. Through exercises, assessments, and real-life stories, this guide assists those seeking direction, renewed energy, or a road map to navigate the wonderful gift called life. Based on a lifetime of research and experience gathered across many decades and individuals, Fix the Root and Get the Fruit helps you go deep within yourself, get to the root of your problems, create a plan to grow upward and heal yourself.
Grafting, uniting part of one plant with another to create a single plant, has been used as a method of propagation for thousands of years. But new techniques have been introduced in the last twenty years, and the grafting of edible plants, like tomatoes, has recently become widely used. The Manual of Plant Grafting is an up-to-date, authoritative, and practical guide to the latest grafting techniques. It features information on the reason to graft, along with clear instructions on the formation of the graft union, the production of rootstocks, bench grafting techniques, field grafting, vegetable grafting, and cactus grafting. An A-to-Z appendix of plants features detailed information on what type of graft should be used, when it should be done, what type of root stock needs to be used, and what environment it needs to be kept in. The Manual of Plant Grafting is a must-have guide for nursery and horticulture professionals, horticulture students, and orchard owners.
