Under any description of the start of my life, the odds were against me. With the untimely death of my mother at age 31 in September and the suicide of my father on the following Christmas Day, I was orphaned at the age of two along with six siblings. Through the efforts of a Methodist pastor, we were placed in the Methodist Orphans Home in Waco, Texas on January 21, 1937. This is the story of my life and how I was able to overcome those gigantic odds. Who would believe that the two-year-old orphan boy would later serve for the last twenty-five years of his career as the President/CEO of the agency that rescued him and his six siblings? The journey from orphan boy to President took many twists and turns. Stages on this journey included growing up in an unusual setting of 400 children, pursuit of a solid education, life as a church pastor, administrator of three child care agencies, establishing a successful family, and a return as President to where it all started. This journey unfolds through many unusual stories and experiences ranging from humorous events to dealing with some very important and traumatic situations. History and special traditions play an important role at Methodist Home. I was a student at the time of the 50th anniversary, an employee at the 75th anniversary and President/CEO at the 100th anniversary. A cherished memory of the 100th anniversary was the honor of hosting Mrs. Barbara Bush as our guest speaker. I recall sitting in our den at home with my wife and our children reflecting on the occasion and saying, "Only in America can an East Texas farm girl and an orphan boy entertain the president's wife." The most unique experience of my entire life was my role in avery significant historical event that I have written about as "The Branch Davidian Incident." This event captured the news world-wide February 28 through the end of April in 1993. My involvement of taking the lead in caring for the 21 children released from the Davidian compound gave me the opportunity of being on the inside of many activities unknown to even the most interested in this event. This part of my story will reveal the inner workings of caring for the children, relationships with law enforcement at all levels, and working with the local, national, and international news media. Another traumatic experience I had dealt with what became known as "Waco's Triple Murders." Two of the three young people murdered were former Methodist Home students.

The book chronicles the life story of a woman pioneer in the electrical trade. It begins with the early childhood experiences that formed her approach to life. The empowerment of feminism was a natural result of her changed life that lead her into teaching, nursing, farming and the formation of her own electrical contracting company. Another aspect in the book is her journey from realism to faith. The dynamic tension between both of these themes and the resolution of them is the substory in this very interesting memoir.

"The Blank Cheque" offers inspiration, exploration and insightful thoughts drawn from author Yinka Ayobolu's real-life experiences, along with a few divine encounters with Jesus. Ayobolu includes a variety of scriptural references that address many challenging questions of life for which humanity has been trying to find answers to since the beginning of time. Who am I? Where did I come from? Did God really create us, or are we a product of a carefully organized explosion called the big bang-or the product of evolution? How do we find the convergence between God and the knowledge of science? Discover how you can acquire a better understanding of yourself and the world you live in and how you can make success of your life while you are still conscious of your existence.In these strange times, we need to decide how to come out of these challenges. In His infinite wisdom, God has given us a blank cheque and a golden pen that we can use to access His infinite treasury; we have the ability to fill it in as we wish because we are running out of intelligence and resources. We don't know what to do next on earth.Where do we start?

This book explores the fascinating world of religious hair observances within six religious traditions that account for 77% of the world's adherents: Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhism. Symbolic use of hair has been, and remains, prevalent in all six and carries significant amounts of religious and social meaning. Hair is a unique body substance. It can be shaped and colored, removed from us without pain but still retain an individual's essence, signal our age, sex, and sexual maturity, and much, much more. The book's approach is to situate each practice within its tradition. That requires a study of its foundational leaders and their teachings, sacred texts (where they mention hair), its rites and rituals, ideas of religious power and subsequent historical development. Contemporary practitioners are interviewed for their motivations. Even more insight can be gleaned by searching beyond an overt religious purpose. Social scientists from anthropology, sociology, psychology, and related fields bring their research to deliver added perceptions. The author reveals how hair practices are created from ancient psychological and cultural impulses, become modified by time, culture and religious intent, and are adopted by adherents for reasons ranging from personal religious expression to group identity. This book is written for the interested observer of our increasingly diverse society and for the student of comparative religion and sociology. It will change forever how you see hair.

Learning to tune in and listen to your intuition-your soul's voice-can help guide you through life when logic fails. With the goal of teaching you how to discover your own intuitive abilities, spiritual coach Maria Garay Reynolds shares personal soul-diving experiences that illustrate how she transformed herself at a young age, healed from within, and eventually became her true self. Reynolds, who takes cues from sounds and memories to connect with the spiritual activity around her each day, offers a look into the details of her unique journey through life. She transformed from an insecure girl disliked by her peers into a confident woman who learned to rely on her intuition to live a well-balanced existence filled with love, growth, and substance. While encouraging others to develop their intuitive powers, Reynolds recalls her experiences and reveals her need to reconnect with her mother and to unveil the truths of her past so that she could move forward and live in harmony with one foot on Mother Earth and the other on the spiritual world. Soul Diving from My Giant's Eyebrow shares a spiritual coach's journey in order to teach others how to listen to intuitive feelings, seal hidden fears, and become all-knowing in life and beyond.

I thank God for the opportunitgy to do this work and know that He will use it in a mighty way to bring people to Him. So many I know were raised in the church and no longer believe. They are such good people, but no longer believe that God exists. So many stories of God's power must have an effect, crowds of witnesses ...

A collection of stories about healing of individuals from life threatening illnesses. Each one is medically documented so that there is no doubt about the source of the healing. Stories are written in a lively fashion. Even though the author, Rose Ann Palmer, died from brain cancer, it was her belief and the belief of her husband and her son that she received her healing in ways none of us can ever understand.

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Trust that Our Love is fully alive in the pages of this book. The stories here are documented as being miraculous. We invite you to get a glimpse of Our Love at work in impossible ways in the lives of people across time. We are the healer. The healers are Our Instruments. How can this be? We are a God of Impossibilities. If you don't believe in Us, then that is all the more reason why you need to read this book Are you afraid to face truth? Let go of doubt. Give Our Stories of miraculous healings a try. Who knows? You might even get a healing as well.

We hope you enjoy Our Love stories. Dear friends, you begin a journey in Our Love that is unmatched anywhere. Tell your friends about what We do in the lives of those in need. As they read Our Love Stories, they too will be touched by Our Presence in them. All We ask of you, dear readers, is to suspend your human logic and accept the truth of Our Impossibilities.

Ten years ago, I was diagnosed as having chronic depression. I was living and walking in darkness and it had consumed my entire being. I was in a relationship that was going no where, being used and emotionally damaged. I had one foot in the world, one foot in the church and no relationship with God. I was at the end of my rope and could not take life any longer. One night, I decided I was going to take my life. I was hurting and the pain was too much to bear. I sat on the floor, crying, thinking about how to end it all. I clearly heard Satan giving me ways to do it, until I opened my mouth and called on the name of the Lord, who interrupted Satan's plan to kill me that night. I asked the Lord to take the hurt and pain away. And He did it, immediately I remember getting up without the weight that had consumed me and I decided from that day forward that I would serve the Lord. My Damascus culminates this life changing experience and journey of letting go of the world and hanging on to God. "At one time you surrendered yourselves entirely as slaves to impurity and wickedness for wicked purposes. In the same way you must now surrender yourselves entirely as slaves of righteousness for holy purposes." - Romans 6:19 To receive the Lord Jesus Christ as your Personal Savior, simply pray: Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am sinful and I need Your forgiveness. I believe that You died to pay the penalty for my sin. I want to turn from my sin nature and follow You instead. I invite You to come into my heart and life. In Jesus' name, Amen.

A ninety-six-year-old man, on admission to a nursing home, was interviewed by a social worker. She asked, "Did you have a happy childhood?" With a twinkle in his eye, he replied: "So far, so good " One of the undeniable facts of life is that we are all aging. Many people dread growing old. It was Bette Davis who said, "Old age ain't no place for sissies " And yet Dr. Cook believes that what really matters as we age is not the condition of the body, but that of the spirit. We can find meaning and purpose no matter what our age. Growing Old Isn't for Sissies focuses on the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual challenges we encounter as we age, primarily after age sixty-five, and what our Christian faith has to say to those challenges and changes. Our faith in God can help us in our journey through life, no matter what our age. This book will help those who are growing older to understand some of the changes and problems associated with growing older, whether you are twenty, forty, sixty or eighty. It will help you understand the spiritual resources that are important in coping with growing older.

How do you GET WISDOM?
Michele Alanis, author of the first self-study guide of the BELIEVER'S LIFESTYLE Series, Self-Study of Proverbs, presents a very simplistic, but profound approach on gaining spiritual wisdom. You will learn in the Self-Study of Proverbs, these principles for guiding your life:
What the book of Proverbs teaches about wisdom
What is Wisdom
What is the importance of getting wisdom
How to get wisdom
Benefits of wisdom
How to apply the wisdom you gain
"In this work, Michele Alanis will help you discover truths that will illuminate you and provide wisdom for these modern day times."
-Dr. Fred L. Hodge, Pastor of Living Praise Christian Church
"As you fellowship with God in this book, you'll build a foundation of sound wisdom and revelation that is essential to living a successful life "
-Michel Alanis, Author

"Evelyn Peterson was a most remarkable and courageous woman. Born with a hereditary muscular disease she was forced to spend almost all her life in a wheelchair. This disability, however, in no way affected her intelligence or her determined motivation to achieve the best with the gifts that God had given her. This book is a "must-read" for someone suffering with any physical problems, or indeed anyone striving to achieve his or her fullest potential in the face of adversity."

From Introduction by O. Quentin Hyder, M.D., M.Div.

Author Connie Summers embarks on a true personal journey taken from her journals. The death of her husband throws her into turmoil. Each day, uncontrollable emotions and despair send her spiraling downward deeper into despondency. She fears she may give in to insanity. Unwilling to deal with problems or people, she works all day and falls with exhaustion into bed each night.

Ultimately she sits at rock bottom, nowhere to go except up. She looks up, realizing she has separated herself from God. Deep down, she desires God's spiritual renewal. It is then she begins leaving the difficult, lonely, sorrowful grieving journey and steps on a firm, solid path.

Her spiritual journey has begun. This journey reunites her with the promises and power of God, as he heals her broken heart and soul; safe in his everlasting arms once more.

The author offers the grieving person specific ways in which each can overcome the pain and sufferings of grief: to look to the Divine Healer, Almighty God. Also offered are ways to help a grieving person.

"What an outstanding book of hope and comfort. It will definitely be recommended to other counselors and hurting hearts." -Katherine Pell, certifi ed NANC counselor