The River of Goodness


Book Description

The River of Goodness is a lyrical, global exploration of the ways we can create a more just and sustainable world for all, from the author of The River Always Wins and I Am a Teacher Every day, posits Marquis, every single human has to make a choice: accept the world the way it is or work to make it better. Each of us can pursue the work of goodness in many ways. The River of Goodness, the second volume in Marquis’s River Trilogy, provides real-world examples of people who have taken on the work of goodness, whether through thankless tasks or in dangerous and challenging circumstances. This follow-up to Marquis’s beloved first volume, The River Always Wins, argues that making the world better is rooted in the hard daily work of creating change that lasts.




Peace Like a River


Book Description

Davy kills two men and leaves home. His father packs up the family in a search for Davy.




The River


Book Description

A NATIONAL BESTSELLER "A fiery tour de force... I could not put this book down. It truly was terrifying and unutterably beautiful." -Alison Borden, The Denver Post From the best-selling author of The Dog Stars, the story of two college students on a wilderness canoe trip--a gripping tale of a friendship tested by fire, white water, and violence Wynn and Jack have been best friends since freshman orientation, bonded by their shared love of mountains, books, and fishing. Wynn is a gentle giant, a Vermont kid never happier than when his feet are in the water. Jack is more rugged, raised on a ranch in Colorado where sleeping under the stars and cooking on a fire came as naturally to him as breathing. When they decide to canoe the Maskwa River in northern Canada, they anticipate long days of leisurely paddling and picking blueberries, and nights of stargazing and reading paperback Westerns. But a wildfire making its way across the forest adds unexpected urgency to the journey. When they hear a man and woman arguing on the fog-shrouded riverbank and decide to warn them about the fire, their search for the pair turns up nothing and no one. But: The next day a man appears on the river, paddling alone. Is this the man they heard? And, if he is, where is the woman? From this charged beginning, master storyteller Peter Heller unspools a headlong, heart-pounding story of desperate wilderness survival.




The Soldier Who Killed a King


Book Description

A stunning story of Holy Week through the eyes of a Roman centurion Watch the triumphal entry of the donkey-riding king through the eyes of Marcus Longinus, the centurion charged with keeping the streets from erupting into open rebellion. Look behind the scenes at the political plotting of King Herod, known as the scheming Fox for his ruthless shrewdness. Get a front-row seat to the confrontation between the Jewish high priest Caiaphas and the Roman governor Pontius Pilate. Understand as never before the horror of the decision to save a brutal terrorist in order to condemn the peaceful Jew to death. If you've heard the story of Passion Week so often it's become stale, now is the time to rediscover the terrible events leading from Jesus's humble ride into the city to his crucifixion. The Soldier Who Killed a King will stun you afresh with how completely Christ's resurrection changed history, one life at a time.




The River Always Wins


Book Description

A meditation on movement of both society and nature, based on the author’s experiences as an activist. In short, aphoristic chapters, Marquis explores the power of force and collectivity through the metaphor of water. As an activist, David Marquis founded the Oak Cliff Nature Preserve in Dallas, and has consulted with the Texas Conservation Alliance since 2011. He brings an unerring belief in the connective and healing power of nature to The Water Always Wins.




The Holy Bible


Book Description







The Holy Bible


Book Description




The River's Gift


Book Description

The River's Gift Tilly learns that being nice makes life the most fun as she takes care of a thirsty birds. Summary: In "The River's Gift," a beautiful story, readers meet Tilly, a lively and curious young girl who sees a thirsty bird in her backyard and goes on an unexpected trip of empathy and self-discovery. The story does a great job of teaching lessons about the value of being kind, persistent, and appreciating the beauty around us through Tilly's adventures. Tilly's journey through the book is driven by her finding the thirsty bird at the beginning. Even though her path isn't easy, she is motivated to get water because she knows what the bird needs. Her journey takes her through the garden, over organic barriers, and to listen to the river and an old tree for wisdom. It is also emotional and spiritual, showing her how important it is to connect with others and understand their feelings. Tilly reads each part of "The River's Gift" because she wants to know how big of an effect small acts of kindness can have. From the moment she sees that the bird's water bowl is empty until it sings its thanks, Tilly changes and learns. She faces many problems along the way, but she keeps going because she is determined and has learned to value nature's wisdom. The wise old tree and the river teach Tilly and her readers about the flow of kindness and how it can keep lives going and make them better. When Tilly gives the bird water to quench its thirst at the end of the story, it represents the satisfaction of a deeper emotional need as well as the desire to give and receive kindness. Just as the bird's sweet thank-you song fills the air, Tilly realizes that the real gifts are the happiness and understanding she gets from being kind, not the water itself. The story "The River's Gift" is beautifully written and has a strong message about how important it is to be kind, even though the plot is simple. Giving things away instead of keeping them can make you happy, and small acts of kindness can make a big difference in the world. Young readers can learn from Tilly's story that helping others can bring a lot of happiness. This makes "The River's Gift" a timeless story of kindness and generosity. Chapter 1: How Tilly was found Tilly was a little girl whose heart was as big as her mind. She lived in a sunny part of a backyard full of flowers of every color you can think of and the sounds of nature filled the air. There was a scene that stopped Tilly in her tracks as she walked around this small haven. Her eyes were wide with wonder at everything she saw. Hidden under a green plant was a small bird. Tilly had never seen this kind of bird before. It was happy flying from tree to tree. It didn't have bright, shiny feathers; instead, they were frayed and dirty. It also didn't make much noise—not even a happy song. Its voice was so soft that if you weren't paying close attention, you might have missed it. Because Tilly was interested and cared about it, she got down next to the bird and stared at it softly. Its small chest heaved hard, and she saw that its beak got longer, like it was looking for something. Tilly knew right away that the bird needed water more than anything else. She was so determined that it made her heart grow. She was aware of what she had to do. That wasn't the only reason she wanted to help; she thought it was her duty to make sure this young bird that had gotten into her garden got the care it needed. When Tilly found out this, it was the start of an unbelievable trip. She made up her mind right away to go look for some water for the thirsty bird. Tilly's garden, which was a place of fun and discovery, was the starting point for a wonderful trip. No longer was it enough to just play and make up stories; the goal was to make a difference in the world, no matter how small. Tilly learned that small things could mean a lot to someone else. In this case, it was a little bird that was thirsty and needed help. Tilly worked on the project with as much drive as the sky is blue. She made herself into a hero in one of her stories, on a quest for something much more important than fame or money: the chance to be nice and make the world a little better. She had never been so happy and felt like she had a purpose in life as when she thought about helping the bird. It looks like she found out a secret: the best way to be happy is to give rather than receive. Tilly learned something new from what she found in her backyard that she thought she already knew. She learned that we could find things to do and chances to do good right in our own neighborhoods. All you need is a lot of heart and a little insight. This bird, with its dead feathers and weak voice, was about to take Tilly on an adventure she could never have imagined. This trip will not only change the bird's life, but it will also teach Tilly how important it is to care about other people and how fun it is to help them. Thoughts of excitement and fear filled Tilly's heart as she got ready to go find water. She had no idea where the search would lead her or what problems she would have to deal with. She was determined to get the bird's water back. This quest began when the thirsty bird was found. It was the start of an amazing and interesting adventure. One where a little girl's heart showed the way and kindness won out. This was the beginning of Tilly's journey, which showed her and everyone who heard her story how small acts of kindness can make a big difference in the world. Chapter 2: The Empty Space In the middle of her new mission to save the thirsty bird, Tilly noticed something simple but important that would change the course of her journey: the bird's water bowl was empty. Still, Tilly saw this as more than just an empty plate. She saw it as a small but important plea for help. When she realized this, she felt like she had more responsibilities. To be kind, she learned, one must first pay attention and look beyond what people say to find the needs that are hidden in the world's quiet places. Tilly saw more than just the broken and dry bottom of the bowl when she looked inside. She saw an image of what it meant to be human. The dust that had built up there suggested that it had been missed rather than being deliberately ignored. For Tilly, it was a wake-up call that people who need help don't always know how to ask for it. They suffer in silence, hoping that someone will notice, care, and do something. Tilly's first lesson in kindness was taught in this empty bowl, a small, unimportant part of the backyard. The lesson stressed how important it is to think about other people, especially those whose words aren't loud enough to be heard. This lesson wasn't just about putting water in a bowl; it was about meeting a need and understanding that all living things have basic needs that must be met before we can be kind to them. Tilly felt like she had a reason for living. She saw that there were lots of chances to make the world a better place, a world she thought she knew. The empty bowl represented more than just thirst; it also showed how much we need to care and act in a world that ignores even the smallest calls for help far too often. The dry, sandy area came to stand for Tilly's goal. Truthfully being kind is more than just words and thoughts, it made her remember that. She learned that being kind isn't just an emotion, but also a choice and a set of acts that come from having a strong sense of empathy and compassion. She would use what she learned not only when she tried to help the bird, but also whenever she talked to other people. Tilly learned that she needed to listen with her whole being, watch with her eyes, and really want to help the people around her in order to meet their needs. It was a turning point for Tilly when she stood in front of the empty water bowl. Now she was able to step outside of her own life and see herself through the eyes of someone else. She felt connected to the bird, like they both knew what was important even though they were different. The empty bowl made her feel connected, which pushed her forward. It made her want to do more than just fill the bowl. It made her want to connect with others in a more caring and understanding way.




Not Yet Married


Book Description

Life Is Never Mainly About Love and Marriage. So Learn to Live and Date for More. Many of you grew up assuming that marriage would meet all of your needs and unlock God's purposes for you. But God has far more planned for you than your future marriage. Not Yet Married is not about waiting quietly in the corner of the world for God to bring you "the one," but about inspiring you to live and date for more now. If you follow Jesus, the search for a spouse is no longer a pursuit of the perfect person, but a pursuit of more of God. He will likely write a love story for you different than the one you would write for yourself, but that's because he loves you and knows how to write a better story. This book was written to help you find real hope, happiness, and purpose in your not-yet-married life.