Empty Hands, Open Arms


Book Description

“Absorbing . . . Béchard’s masterful, adventure-driven reporting delivers an inspiring account of an all-too-rare ecological success story.” —Booklist Bonobos have captured the public imagination, due not least to their famously active sex lives. Less well known is the fact that these great apes don’t kill their own kind, and that they share nearly 99% of our DNA. Their approach to building peaceful coalitions and sharing resources has much to teach us, particularly at a time when our violent ways have pushed them to the brink of extinction. Animated by a desire to understand bonobos and learn how to save them, Deni Ellis Béchard traveled into the Congo. Empty Hands, Open Arms is the account of this journey. Along the way, we see how partnerships between Congolese and Westerners, with few resources but a common purpose and respect for indigenous knowledge, have resulted in the protection of vast swaths of the rainforest. And we discover how small solutions—found through openness, humility, and the principle that poverty does not equal ignorance—are often most effective in tackling our biggest challenges. Combining elements of travelogue, journalism, and natural history, this incomparably rich book takes the reader not only deep into the Congo, but also into our past and future, revealing new ways to save the environment and ourselves. “Riveting [and] surprisingly uplifting.” —David Suzuki, author of The Sacred Balance “The embodiment of the type of reporting that we dream of reading, but all too rarely encounter—intelligent, engaged, and above all, astonishingly perceptive.” —Dinaw Mengestu, author of The Beautiful Things That Heaven Bears Also published as Of Bonobos and Men.







Die Now to Live Forever


Book Description

The story highlights the battle between a man’s aspirations and his happiness. It depicts a typical middle-class Indian family mindset. Throughout his life, Vinay has been taught to dream big and work hard. After years of tireless effort, he becomes a doctor but things turn sour as he starts to perceive unusual psychiatric symptoms. He falls victim to major psychiatric disorders, OCD and Depression. With each passing day life increasingly becomes a burden on him. He looses his loved ones. He takes few futile attempts to balance work and life, but nothing works out. It is when he turns absolutely distraught that he decides to end his life. But one dream has changed it all. He discovers a new realm of life. He is a different man now. The story describes how one can find much-longed happiness, how one can break the cycle of desires and sorrows and how one can become Buddha in their own lives. The author gives a lucid description of novel concepts like “Self witnessing”, “Self-conditioning”, “Self-love” and “Buddhahood”. He describes ways to attain the supreme form of happiness. This book is unique in the sense that it touches the much-neglected topic of mental health. India is a country with the highest burden of people suffering from major psychiatric disorders. Additionally, it ranks number one in suicide rates all over the world. This book has been written by a medical professional- Dr. Sanjay Singh. It is second in line to books written by him after “Oh dear happiness! The lost story of contentment”. He has written a blog named “The story behind the Dark Disease - Depression" which has been read more than two lacs times. He hopes that this book will pave the way to a new way of life to those who are extremely depressed and suffering from various psychiatric illnesses.




The Bridge


Book Description

The Bridge is filled with emotion and allows the reader to ride along and experience it all. It is an amazing journey from the darkest recesses of the wasteland to the brilliance of the garden—humanity’s original paradise abode. It is also an internal journey of the soul that leads to the freedom that is promised to those who persevere. Its lessons are forever life changing to the one ready to receive. It will challenge the reader to the very core and call them to the abundant life promised by the One who loves us all!




Gospel for the Cities


Book Description

Traditionally, the city has been the locus for the development of civilization. The scholars, the poets, the persons of commerce and politics came to the city for inspiration and acceptance. The city has been both an intriguing place and a place of intrigue. For weal or woe, the city fashions our culture while altering cultures. The person who wishes to analyze with competence the sociological and theological dimensions of the city would do well to study thoroughly 'Gospel for the Cities'. It is a study for us who live and work in the urban centers of North America as well as for the missionary today who must bring deep insight - biblical, historical, and sociological - to the awesome task of working in the cities of the twenty-first century across the world. We have waited long for this book. Msgr. John J. Egan, University of Notre Dame Many books have been written...about cities and urbanization. But in an era of severe compartmentalization in knowledge, they have come from specialists in one discipline. Thus, we have the sociology of the city, the city in history, or the challenge of the city to the church. Now [this unique volume] provides a genuine and compelling interface between competent social analysis and historical description with first-rate mission theology and a solid biblical perspective. This difficult task has been accomplished with depth and comprehensiveness by Benjamin Tonna in a book of particular relevance to the Third World, but useful to all of us committed to concern for the cities in God's world. George W. Webber, President, New York Theological Seminary




The Worshiping Life


Book Description

In this unique and engaging book of meditations, pastor Lisa Nichols Hickman delves into the life of worship, seeking to reveal its rhythms and order. There are twenty chapters, each a meditation on an element of worship, reflecting on how that particular element plays out not only in a service of worship but, more importantly, in everyday life.




The assassination of Patrice Lumumba


Book Description

Congo, a former Belgian colony, at the beginning of the independence of the territory, a brave and dedicated leader, Patrice Emery Lumumba, won the election and was appointed Prime Minister. As the first Prime Minister of a democratic Congo, the newly elected representative of the country filled with devotion had in mind to providing Congolese with a better future. He therefore fought on behalf of Congolese. His methods were disliked by the former colonizers for whom he became a danger to their interests in Congo after his speech on independence day, on June 30, 1960. Since then, various plots were arranged against him to be killed. Those conspiracies never succeeded against him since they were unfortunately aborted for the most. The country fell into a state of incredible disrepair due to recurrent oppositions since September 14 of that year. Soon, Mobutu's forces backed by the CIA arrested Lumumba, on December 1, 1960 and he was guarded by the UN troops. Later, Lumumba was sent to Elizabethville, in the Katanga, the territory of his rival Moïse Tshombe. At his arrival, he was beaten by both Katanga's and Belgians' forces to death. On January 17, 1960, Patrice Emery Lumumba, the first Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo was assassinated in cold blood by various perpetrators. After 61 years in Belgium the remaining teeth were sent back the the DRC for burial on June 30, 2022.




Tomo


Book Description

This aptly named fiction anthology—tomo means “friend” in Japanese—is a true labor of friendship to benefit teens in Japan whose lives were upended by the violent earthquake and tsunami of March 11, 2011. Authors from Japan and around the world have contributed works of fiction set in or related to Japan. Young adult English-language readers will be able to connect with their Japanese counterparts through stories of contemporary Japanese teens, ninja and yokai teens, folklore teens, mixed-heritage teens, and non-Japanese teens who call Japan home. Tales of friendship, mystery, love, ghosts, magic, science fiction, and history will propel readers to Japan past and present and to Japanese universes abroad. Edited and with a foreword by Holly Thompson, Tomo contributing authors include Naoko Awa, Deni Bechard, Jennifer Fumiko Cahill, Liza Dalby, Megumi Fujino, Andrew Fukuda, Alan Gratz, Katrina Toshiko Grigg-Saito, Suzanne Kamata, Sachiko Kashiwaba, Kelly Luce, Shogo Oketani and Leza Lowitz, Ryusuke Saito, Graham Salisbury, Fumio Takano, and Wendy Tokunaga, among others. Through understanding comes compassion and the desire to help; portions of the proceeds of Tomo will be donated to ongoing relief efforts for teens in Japan. Holly Thompson is a longtime writing teacher and resident of Japan and author of the young adult verse novel Orchards, which was nominated for a 2012 YALSA/ALA Best Fiction for Young Adults award. She serves as the regional advisor for the Tokyo chapter of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.




Seeking a Dwelling Beloved


Book Description

Seeking a Dwelling Beloved is about seeking the truth or is about entering in understanding or entering in true knowledge. Seeking a Dwelling Beloved is about rebirth in life or entering in truth again with all gladness and with all joy and with all abundance in the loving grace of the Father Creator.




The Hollow Throne


Book Description

The unmissable conclusion to Tim Leach's critically acclaimed historical adventure series set in the Roman Empire. AD 180. Vindolanda, Britannia. Sarmatian warrior Kai and his adopted tribe, the Votadini, struggle for survival in unfamiliar lands north of the Wall, living just beyond the reach of Rome. When an old enemy takes control of the Votadini's hated foes, a confederation of tribes known as the Painted People, and rouses them to action, Kai heads south, hoping to ally with the Romans against this resurgent threat. But the Romans have heard tales of butchery and mayhem beyond the Wall. Lucius, Legate of the North, believes Kai and his allies are responsible, and sends forth an expedition to capture his old comrade. Can Kai survive the onslaught – or will such determined enemies spell the end for the warrior and his tribe? Perfect for fans of Bernard Cornwell and Adrian Goldsworthy. Reviews for Tim Leach 'Roman military adventure at its best.' Simon Turney 'The characters feel rounded and real.' The Times 'Magnificent.' Historia 'A poetic, absorbing narrative.' Sunday Times