25 years of life in Africa, mostly in Kenya with its great ethnic variety, is the source of this autobiographical book of stories: 'Paradise a Heartbeat Away.. A spiritual safari in Africa'. In a flowing style, with humor, warmth Carried by the warmth and the living faith of the African, she experiences and describes life as the search for the Divine, the Love that binds all with all and that is the key to the infinite wisdom of our heart.
"What happens after we take that last breath? Is there something out there after we die? Your life is a journey that will end-- sometime and somewhere. Is that all there is? This life and nothing more? What are we even here for? In this book you will find the answers to all these questions"--Page 4 of cover.
Prepare spiritually, relationally, and financially to make the transition from this world to the next as painless as possible for you and your loved ones. Each and every day we go through life expecting to get up in the morning and make it back to bed at night. Unfortunately, this is not guaranteed. Yes, we all will die at some point. The probability of death is 100% and people need to be ready for that inevitability. The how and when is not a choice for most people and the consequences of the actions they take before that happens are already determined, yet the subject of death (particularly one’s own mortality) is avoided by almost everyone. A Heartbeat Away reveals the importance of being ready and provides the facts of actions’ consequences through true, personal stories, professional experiences and additional resources, even from centuries ago. Addressing three specific areas, Spiritual, Relationships, and Finances, Arsen Marsoobian (or “Papa SOOB”) offers suggestions and a blueprint for readers to ask themselves important, life-changing questions. A Heartbeat Away moves readers to stop and reflect on their lives and the people they love in order to prevent regrets when the day comes that they don’t make it back to their comfy bed and leave this world behind.
Two commercial jets fly into the Twin Towers at the World Trade Center. Within minutes thousands of lives are lost. An airliner explodes in midair, killing hundreds. Earthquakes in the Indian Ocean, in Pakistan and in Haiti decimate countries and leave tens of thousands instantly dead. These disasters, through the modern marvel of global communication, command our attention and remind us of the fragility of human life. The magnitude of the events and the large numbers of deaths in these disasters bring us to momentary reflection on the realities of life. Yet most of us, if not personally affected, soon return to our normal business with little thought of those who perished. Tomorrow death will take over 150,000 from this earth. The next day we can expect about the same number. This is an average of almost two people every second. Most will simply leave quietly and unnoticed by but a few. We usually give it little thought, yet the Grim Reaper is indeed always lurking stealthily in the shadows. Eternity may be only One Heartbeat Away. The author examines the disposition of the body and the soul at the conclusion of our time on earth. Many look forward to a blessed eternal existence. Many will be met with a less favorable fate. As certain as this transition is, it is often omitted in our life-planning. The stakes of this omission are high. The author calls us to seriously consider the claims made here and their implications for us.
As roads and sewers now have reached their limits and escalating property values have ousted kamaainas, the growth of the visitor industry has forced the people of Maui to make difficult choices about the future development of their island."--BOOK JACKET.
A disturbing mystery threatens Becky's new life. Fourteen-year-old Becky is getting used to life after her heart transplant. She loves how strong she is feeling, but she's terrified of falling ill again. All too soon, she starts to have unsettling experiences. Vivid pictures of unfamiliar people and places suddenly flash through her mind. What can they mean? Mysteriously drawn to a park on the far side of town, Becky begins to unravel a mystery deeply buried in her new heart.
Editorial Reviews "What an amazing book! What great suspense and tenderness all rolled up into a compelling read." –Amanda Dickson, KSL 1160 "Similar to the mainstream book The Lovely Bones . . . but a Heartbeat Away left me feeling very content and uplifted. . . I also liked the idea that Kristin was . . . working behind the scenes, so to speak, to help her family cope, to help find the perpetrator, and to help the spirits of the previous victims advance in the Spirit Kingdom as well. All in all, this was an excellent book, and I'm glad I read it." –Melanie Goldmund of Kiel, Germany Book Description "You think it's never going to happen to you. I know because that's how I was—untouchable. Bad things only happen to someone else. Or if something bad actually did happen, it was always something the doctor could fix with fiberglass or a pill. That's the way it was with my family—at least until the year I turned thirteen." When their young daughter, Kristin, is kidnapped, Gary and Angie Marshall struggle to make sense of the unthinkable. Who could do such a thing? And why Kristin? As more time passes in their desperate search for their daughter, their hopes slowly dwindle. They are left with "if onlys" and a glaring uncertainty that damages their marriage and their relationships with their other children, especially their oldest daughter, Meghan. Meanwhile, Kristin is having new experiences of her own. Her first job in her new "life" is to heal the hearts of her family. But doing so turns out to be more of a challenge than she ever expected. How can she get them to let her go so they can find happiness? Or can there ever be a healing after such a devastating trial? Looming above them all is the question—who is responsible for Kristin's disappearance? Is it their beloved uncle? Their neighbor Dale Loveridge, who once dated Angie Marshall? Or could it be Jay, the young man with a colorful past? Or perhaps someone else entirely? Time is running out. As she blames herself for Kristin's disappearance, Meghan turns down a road that can only lead to more unhappiness. Kristin must find a way to help her sister find healing—and perhaps love. A novel of love and the Afterlife from an LDS Christian perspective. More Reviews "This is one AMAZING book! . . . I still marvel over it! Whenever I'm in church and we're talking about heaven, I think about this book! The story is so wonderful that you will get lost in this book and will NEVER want to put it down!" –Brandi of ID "The most beautiful story that had me in tears at the end!" –Alyson Jensen of Tucson, AZ "I finished A Heartbeat Away in record time because I could not put it down. I LOVED IT!" –Angie of Springville, Utah "What a great book to read for all, a real wake up call for safety. I have never read a book by this author, but I loved this book. I couldn't stop reading it, so I ended up reading it in two days. It was wonderful! It was great to be able to see this story unfold from a spiritual perspective and realm . . . I am recommending this book to all my relatives and friends." –Hilda Granado of Carlsbad, California
Josiah Benton was born and raised in Flagstaff, Arizona, home to the beautiful San Francisco Mountain Range and the vanilla scents of the Ponderosa pine forest. Our world would consider his life most unfortunate with the challenges he faced at birth. Not to be fazed by the palsy affecting the left side of his body, Josiah makes the most of life in his forty-seven years on earth. A childhood friend by the name of Caleb Barnes keeps him busy with their favorite games, sleepovers, and a fishing caper, which lands them in hot water with family members who so easily forgave them. Trapped one night in a deer stand, freezing to death if not for the body warmth of his best buddy, Caleb, Josiah sees into his past and the future with the help of an angel. Five key events are shared that set the course for his life. He sees them all in the same vision. One event from the past, he understands. Four events are yet to be revealed. In our lifetimes, there are four to five events each of us experiences to make an impact on the kingdom of the Lord, our families, and our own lives. The impact can be positive, or the impact can be negative. Take a journey with Josiah and see where these future events lead him. See if the world becomes a better place after Josiah takes his last breath. You will meet the love of Josiah’s life, Rebecca Adsila. The origin of their relationship is unique to say the least, and oh, do they have so much in common. Three great adventures await them spanning two and half decades. Their final act of kindness and conviction for the masses is one for the ages. The story is narrated by Josiah Benton himself as he rests while taking in his last breaths in bed. The same bed his beautiful wife, Becca, died in just six months prior. Now, it is Josiah’s turn. No bother to him. He is more than ready to go home and be with his Becca. He is fortunate to be surrounded by his two children and four grandchildren, or is he hallucinating and confused? Clues along the way reveal the truth about Josiah, but the challenge will be piecing them together and solving the puzzle, only to be revealed right at the very end.
What if you had the power to transform lives, to touch the human heart with tenderness and love? Would you dare to use such cathartic power? The joyful news is that every human being possesses this great power to make the world a better place. Poetry is about power. I first started writing poetry when I was working at Kings Park Psychiatric Center. I also learned a deep truth: in every human being, there is a sacred rose—a rose deserving to be watered with kindness, compassion, and dignity.
