Blues was once described as the devil's music. It eventually became some of the most beloved American music that was embraced by a global audience. Originating in African American communities in the South in the late 1800s, it was inspired by gospel and spiritual music sung by field hands and sharecroppers who worked on plantations. During the Great Migration from the early 1900s to the mid-1970s, many African Americans moved north for a better quality of life. Chicago was one of America's leading industrialized cites, and manufacturing jobs were plentiful and provided better wages than sharecropping. Many blues musicians who worked as field hands and sharecroppers moved to Chicago not only for those jobs, but also to pursue their love of music. Greats such as Big Bill Broonzy, Tampa Red, Muddy Waters, Jimmy and Estelle Yancey, Robert Nighthawk, Elmore James, Willie Dixon, Earl Hooker, Koko Taylor, Sly Johnson, Buddy Guy, Howlin' Wolf, Eddie Burns, Zora Young, Junior Wells, and a host of others came with their own styles and gave birth to Chicago blues.

Nope. Mission trips aren t all fun and games. In fact, they can be pretty trying. Heat. Bugs. No bathrooms. Bad water. No pizza for hundreds of miles. But if you want it to, a mission trip could change your life. And that s the case whether you re seriously praying about becoming a missionary---or you just want a taste of what it means to serve God outside your comfort zone. One changed life---yours So are you headed to inner-city America? Appalachia? A border shantytown? Overseas? Wherever your destination, this journal pretty much says it all: MISSION TRIP PREP: A STUDENT JOURNAL FOR CAPTURING THE EXPERIENCE. It contains all you need to understand what you re learning on your trip, to digest and incorporate your experiences so they become part of you---and maybe even have some serious fun while you re doing all that spiritual stuff Inside these pages, you ll receive DEVOTIONAL Bible readings and studies reflective questions that GET YOU THINKING about the trip ahead or behind you and, of course, journaling opportunities for expressing yourself before, during, and after the trip. Just watch and see what happens as you get into this journal. Who knows? Lives could change. MAYBE EVEN YOURS "

Sooner or later, conflict will come. But how you handle it makes all the difference. You might be dealing with a bully at school, parents who just won't see things your way, a coach who has it in for you, or some other conflict; it's a part of life you can't escape. The good news is that God cares about your struggles and gives you powerful truths in his Word. Practice his way of handling issues and you can start turning frustrating conflicts into opportunities to grow closer to others and to him. You'll learn: - When to defend your rights - When to forgive - How to strike bargains - When you should (and shouldn't!) let it go - How to admit wrongs In a world full of conflict, God wants to involve you in making peace. This book shows you how to approach conflict in any situation in a way that will change your relationships--and your life. "Conflict is a part of life. What makes this book so important is that Ken and Kevin understand that resolving conflict is not simply a skill that can be taught. It's how we live out the reality of the gospel in our own lives."--Bob Lepine, cohost, FamilyLife Today "The Peacemaker Student Edition has life-changing and freedom-giving potential for young and old alike."--Randy Alcorn, author, Heaven, The Grace and Truth Paradox, and Safely Home "A must read for all students. Not only does this book teach God's way of handling conflict, it is useful in building confidence and leadership by example."--Joel C. Hunter, senior pastor, Northland--A Church Distributed, Orlando, Florida

For Teens God made you unique and valuable, and he invites you into an incredible future. But it can be hard to think through what that means and what it should look like. How can you figure it all out in the middle of your responsibilities, expectations, and pressures? Find Your Fit is an incredible resource to help you discover who you are. It assesses your interests, abilities, spiritual gifts, values, and personality so you can understand what makes you tick and how you can become all God designed you to be. But it's not just a powerful tool--it's also fun to understand yourself better than you ever have before. The Find Your Fit Discovery Workbook is also available, and it includes self-assessments, questions for digging deeper, and group exercises. Set yourself free to dream big dreams about what your life can be. God loves you so much and wants you to join him to change the world!

Over 330 clear color photos display the wide array of equipment once used to log high timber that are now eminently collectible, including axes, saws, filing tools, springboards, oil bottles, undercutters, wedges, marlin spikes, drag saws, and venerable chainsaws. Historical photos display towering giants of old growth forests where loggers toiled decades ago. An informative text provides useful information on cleaning and preserving the antique logging tools, descriptions of them, values, and a bibliography. This book will be treasured by all who share a fascination for logging as it was done by the lumberjack, bucker, and high climber.

Ken Sande, author of the bestselling classic The Peacemaker, has long been a trusted resource on the topic of conflict resolution. In Resolving Everyday Conflict, Sande distills his message to the essentials, quickly equipping readers with the tools they need to bring peace to their relationships. Everyone encounters conflict--whether it be with a coworker, family member, friend, or complete stranger. And yet we all desire harmony in our relationships. Resolving Everyday Conflict is a practical, biblical, concise guide to peacemaking in everyday life that can turn tumultuous relationships into peaceful ones.

Designed for middle schoolers, Deeper Bible studies provide you with a unique and effective tool for your students. Use in large or small groups to help communicate God s truth in a way that connects with young teens and shows them what faith can look like in their everyday lives. * Choose will help students learn about temptation, the Holy Spirit s power to help, and what God desires from them. * Pray helps students understand and participate in meaningful prayer with the creator of the universe. They ll find that not only does God listen; he cares. * Stick shows students what God says about friendships and helps them find and be great friends. * Trust will help you teach your students who Jesus is and what it looks like to trust him on a deeper level. With questions that meet the developmental and spiritual needs of early adolescents, you ll find that your students engage in the Deeper studies and really grasp the lessons."

'Sadly, studies show that there are few differences in the attitudes and actions between people who claim to be Christians and those who don t choose that label. But everything we read in the Bible says we should be transformed; we should be different than the rest of the world. What would it look like if you lived the life God desires for you? How would your life be different if you abandoned your typical routine and refused to settle for anything less than the best God has in store for you? In Thrive, you ll find 20 life-impacting studies that will draw you into the Bible and help you understand who you are and who God wants to help you become. You ll discover what the Bible says about how God made you, what kind of life he has planned for you, and how you can survive the tough times of your life. Even if you struggle to keep your faith alive at times, God wants to help you thrive. The reality is, God loves us just the way we are---but he also loves us too much to leave us that way.'"

'It s easy to follow someone you can see. When your mom leads you through the aisles of a store, you can clearly see her. Maybe you can even anticipate her next turn. But when you decide to follow Jesus, it s a different story. Or is it? For the people in the Bible who followed Jesus, it was a physical act. He was right there in front of them. But today, as you try to follow Jesus, how do you stay in step with him? Especially if you don t know who he is or where he s leading you? In Follow, you ll find 20 eye-opening studies that will draw you into the Bible and reveal to you the real Jesus. You ll discover how a guy who lived 2,000 years ago can impact your life today and for all eternity. Designed to address many of the questions that high school students have about Jesus, Follow will help you understand what it means to truly follow Jesus---and why it s worth it.'"

'When you stop to think about your future, you might be excited. Or confused. Or just totally scared. But when you know where you re going (or at least who s leading you towards your future), you can take that giant leap with confidence. With all the influences in your life pushing you one way or another, it s good to know that you can count on God to guide you once you catch on to his plans. Nobody expects you to have it all figured out by the time you finish this book. But you ll be on your way to understanding who you are and how you can make the most out of your life. In Soar, you ll find 20 hands-on studies that provide vital insights into how God made you and how he plans to lead you, step-by-step, through life. You ll be better able to prioritize the important things in your life, you ll know what it means to be a willing follower of God and choose to go his way because you want to, and you ll discover how to live without fear of the future because you re never alone on the journey. Even when you have no idea where your life is headed, you can take comfort in the fact that God does.'"

Designed for middle schoolers, Deeper Bible studies provide you with a unique and effective tool for your students. Use in large or small groups to help communicate God s truth in a way that connects with young teens and shows them what faith can look like in their everyday lives. * Choose will help students learn about temptation, the Holy Spirit s power to help, and what God desires from them. * Pray helps students understand and participate in meaningful prayer with the creator of the universe. They ll find that not only does God listen; he cares. * Stick shows students what God says about friendships and helps them find and be great friends. * Trust will help you teach your students who Jesus is and what it looks like to trust him on a deeper level. With questions that meet the developmental and spiritual needs of early adolescents, you ll find that your students engage in the Deeper studies and really grasp the lessons."

Designed for middle schoolers, Deeper Bible studies provide you with a unique and effective tool for your students. Use in large or small groups to help communicate God s truth in a way that connects with young teens and shows them what faith can look like in their everyday lives. * Choose will help students learn about temptation, the Holy Spirit s power to help, and what God desires from them. * Pray helps students understand and participate in meaningful prayer with the creator of the universe. They ll find that not only does God listen; he cares. * Stick shows students what God says about friendships and helps them find and be great friends. * Trust will help you teach your students who Jesus is and what it looks like to trust him on a deeper level. With questions that meet the developmental and spiritual needs of early adolescents, you ll find that your students engage in the Deeper studies and really grasp the lessons."

You work hard planning mission trips. Now make mission trips work for you and your group. Headed to inner-city America? Appalachia? A border shantytown? Overseas? Wherever your destination, the MISSION TRIP PREP KIT contains all you need to prepare your students for an unforgettable cross-cultural experience---and tools to debrief them after they ve returned to their worlds. Use this kit--- To get on-site impact as well as long-term spiritual change in your kids. Whether you re a mission-trip novice or a savvy traveler outside your comfort zones. Whether your group s trip is geared toward reaching others with the gospel or to disciple your young missionaries. In several sessions spread over a month or two---or in an intensive, two-day training session or retreat. IN THIS LEADER S GUIDE: You ll receive not only the rationale, the how, and the logistics of planning and pulling off a missions trip, but---and this is the genius of the leader s guide---4 PRE-TRIP TEACHING SESSIONS that will help your students--- .Assess their EXPECTATIONS, their fears, their motivations. .Adjust their PERCEPTIONS of the culture they ll be working in. .Improve their emotional and spiritual STAMINA for living for a week or a month in a very different world from their own. .Practice the skills and ATTITUDES (teamwork, servanthood, Christ-centeredness) they ll need for a missions trip. And to make sure your trip s goals are accomplished and the benefits stick around for the long haul, you ll also receive 2 POST-TRIP SESSIONS that will help you DEBRIEF your students, ease them back into their own worlds, CELEBRATE with them, and make missions and ministry part of their EVERYDAY LIVES WITH JESUS. What s more, in these pre- and post-trip teaching sessions are a variety of ACTIVITIES processing points creative PRAYER IDEAS take-home applications BIBLE STUDIES relevant to mission tripping TALK OUTLINES that both instruct and inspire and lots of sessions options you can tailor to your own HIGH SCHOOLERS OR MIDDLE SCHOOLERS."

'One of the most challenging parts of following Jesus is being able to explain the what s and why s of your faith. Whether a friend s questions stump you or you re having doubts of your own, it helps to know what you believe and why. There s no need to be afraid to ask the tough questions. When it comes to your faith, there s no such thing as a dumb question and no topic should be off-limits. God wants you to understand your faith so you can help others understand it, too. In Think, you ll find 20 straightforward studies that explore what the Bible says about controversial and difficult topics. You ll discover why the Bible is worth believing, you ll find out how you can be sure Jesus was more than a nice guy and good teacher, and you ll see that the Bible really does have relevant things to say about life today. God wants to give you solid reasons to believe, along with the know-how to explain your faith without sounding intolerant or arrogant. So dig in and be sure about what you believe.'"

Bestselling Author and Pastor Shows Christians How to Pray the Scriptures
Pray the Scriptures is a 40-day prayer experience for readers hoping to energize their prayer life and draw closer to God through his very word. Using familiar passages of Scripture, the author guides the reader in the process of selecting and praying back to God the words of the text as they apply to the reader's life and circumstances. "Prayer starter" phrases jump-start the participant's practice of writing and speaking Scripture prayers.
Each day's entry includes an introductory devotional, a Scripture text, and concluding thoughts and questions for reflection, discussion, and further prayer.

Postcards were the Instagrams of the early twentieth century. On one day in September 1906, 200,000 postcards were mailed from Coney Island. In 1913 some 968,000,000 postcards were sent in the U.S., more than seven per person. The majority of postcards made at the turn of the twentieth century were mass-produced lithograph or letterpress half-tones, but the Eastern Illustrating & Publishing Company produced "real photo postcards" in the form of silver gelatin prints made by exposing the negative onto photo paper card stock and developing it in a traditional wet darkroom. Eastern was the largest U.S. manufacturer of what it called "genuine" photo postcards. The images in this book were selected from 22,000 glass plate negatives created by the Eastern company between 1909 and World War II. As an archive of early twentieth-century Maine architectural photography, the Eastern collection (now housed at the Penobscot Marine Museum) has no equal, and it gives us many unexpected glimpses of Maine life. Maine residents, expatriates, and visitors will enjoy hours of pleasure in this journey through Maine's countryside, villages, and towns, guided by three historians who can bring a vista to life with a few well-chosen comments.