Biographies
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Quiet Mind To Suffer With
$19.99Add to cartSuffering has been made holy by Christ’s proximity to it.
This is the story of Christ’s nearness to my own suffering–my mental breakdown, my journey to the psych ward, my long, slow, painful recovery–and how Christ will use even our agony and despair to turn us into servants and guests of the mercy offered in his gospel.
We cannot answer suffering. And yet suffering demands an answer. If Jesus is the answer to suffering, what kind of answer is Jesus? Everything that could be taken from a person was taken from him. The worst things a person could be made to see and feel were seen and felt by Christ. All of this came to a point in the nails driven into his hands and became a word that cannot be unspoken–his body broken and his blood poured out for us. Suffering has been made holy by Christ’s proximity to it.
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To Love And Be Loved
$17.99Add to cartMother Teresa was one of the most admired women of the 20th century, and her memory continues to inspire charitable work around the world. She believed the greatest need of a human being is to love and be loved. In 1948, she founded the Missionaries of Charity to work directly with the very poorest of Calcutta. From the efforts of one woman entering the slums of Entally, the Missionaries of Charity grew into an organization operating soup kitchens, health clinics, hospices, and shelters in 139 countries, at no cost to any government or to those who served. In 2016, she became Saint Teresa of Calcutta.
Author Jim Towey had been a high-flying Congressional staffer and lawyer in the 1980s until a brief meeting with Mother Teresa illuminated the emptiness of his life. He began volunteering at one of her soup kitchens and using his legal skills and political connections to help the Missionaries of Charity. When Mother Teresa suggested he take up shifts at her AIDS hospice, Towey realized he was all in. Soon, he gave up his job and possessions and became a full-time volunteer for Mother Teresa. He traveled with her frequently, arranged her meetings with politicians, and handled many of her legal affairs.
To Love and Be Loved is an “inspiring and joyful” (Kirkus Reviews) firsthand account of Mother Teresa’s last years, and the first book ever to detail her dealings with worldly matters. We see her gracefully navigate the opportunities and challenges to leadership, the perils of celebrity, and the humiliations and triumphs of aging. We also catch her indulging in chocolate ice cream, making jokes about mini-skirts, and telling the President of the United States he’s wrong. Above all, we see her extraordinary devotion to God and to the very poorest of His children. Mother Teresa taught Towey to be more prayerful, less selfish, more humble, less worldly, move in love with God, and less in love with himself. Her lessons are here for all to share.
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How Far To The Promised Land
$27.00Add to cartFrom the New York Times contributing opinion writer and award-winning author of Reading While Black, Esau McCaulley shares a riveting intergenerational account of his family’s search for home and hope.
For much of his life, Esau McCaulley was taught to see himself as an exception: someone who, through hard work, faith, and determination, overcame childhood poverty, anti-Black racism, and an absent father to earn a job as a university professor and a life in the middle class.
But that narrative was called into question one night, when McCaulley answered the phone and learned that his father-whose absence defined his upbringing-died in a car crash. McCaulley was being asked to deliver his father’s eulogy, to make sense of his complicated legacy in a country that only accepts Black men on the condition that they are exceptional, hardworking, perfect.
The resulting effort sent McCaulley back through his family history, seeking to understand the community that shaped him. In these pages, we meet his great-grandmother Sophia, a tenant farmer born with the gift of prophecy who scraped together a life in Jim Crow Alabama; his mother, Laurie, who raised four kids alone in an era when single Black mothers were demonized as “welfare queens”; and a cast of family, friends, and neighbors who won small victories in a world built to swallow Black lives. With profound honesty and compassion, he raises questions that implicate us all: What does each person’s struggle to build a life teach us about what we owe each other? About what it means to be human?
How Far to the Promised Land is a thrilling and tender epic about being Black in America. It’s a book that questions our too-simple narratives about poverty and upward mobility; a book in which the people normally written out of the American Dream are given voice.
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Called To The Fire
$19.99Add to cartThe last place on earth young Charles Johnson wanted to go was Mississippi during the heat of the civil rights movement.
As the key African American witness to take the stand in the trial famously dubbed the “Mississippi Burning” case by the FBI, Dr. Charles Johnson, a young preacher fresh out of Bible College, became a voice for justice and equality in the segregated south.
Unwittingly thrust into the heart of a national tragedy – the murder of three civil rights activists – Dr. Johnson overcame fear and adversity to become a leader in the civil rights movement. He played a vital role for the Federal Justice Department, offering clarity to the event that led to the Voting Rights Act of 1965. And, in a shocking turn of events, Johnson offered a path of reconciliation for one of the convicted killers.
A story of love, conviction, adversity, and redemption, Called to the Fire is a riveting account of a life in pursuit of the call of God and the fight for justice and equality.
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Girl With The Special Shoes
$14.99Add to cartHilda’s family didn’t know she had muscular dystrophy. They just knew their preschooler was losing her ability to walk. But they were determined to find a cure.
Being disabled in Cameroon meant not only obstacles to transport, but visits to diviners and evangelists, threats of sexual assault, discrimination, and a crisis of faith. Despite the hardship Hilda has faced, her family’s unwavering support and God’s unwavering grace have helped her persevere to become a national broadcaster. Her inspiring triumph over adversity will give you hope, no matter how dark your trials. Walk a mile in Hilda’s shoes and learn how:
*She lost her mobility and found her purpose.
*A gutsy girl broke the glass ceiling of disability.
*People saw her broken body, but God saw a worthy vessel.
*She and her family searched for healing, but God had other plans.
*She didn’t need to stand to be outstanding.
*God was on the move when she was stuck.
*Her hope overcame hardship.The Girl with Special Shoes is the witty and heartfelt story of a family’s sacrificial love and a God who refashions pain into purpose.
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Journals Of Jim Elliot
$39.99Add to cartUncover the spiritual riches of the personal journals of missionary and martyr Jim Elliot
Jim Elliot arrived in Ecuador as a missionary at age twenty-five. Three years later, he would become a martyr at the hands of the Auca, the indigenous people to whom he was witnessing. He left behind a young wife, a baby daughter, and an incredible legacy of faith.
Jim’s volumes of personal journals, written over many years, reveal the inner struggles and victories that he experienced before his untimely death in 1956. In The Journals of Jim Elliot, you’ll come to know this intelligent and articulate man who yearned to know God’s plan for his life, detailed his fascinating missions work, and revealed his love for Elisabeth–first as a single man, then as a happily married one.
Edited by his wife, Elisabeth, Jim’s personal yet universal musings about faith, love, and work will show you how to apply the Bible to the situations you face every day. They will inspire you to lead a life of obedience, regardless of the cost, and delight you with an amazing story of courage and determination.
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Maria Fearing : The Girl Who Dreamed Of Distant Lands
$14.99Add to cartRead the true story of Maria Fearing, a missionary who shared Christ’s love with children in Africa and protected them from slavery.
Once freed from slavery on an Alabama plantation, Maria Fearing went to Africa to show children Jesus’ compassion and protect them from being sold into slavery. She even helped translate the Bible so that the children could read it in their own language. Her patience and grit in overcoming incredible obstacles to heed God’s call make her a great role model for young children.
This beautifully illustrated children’s biography of Maria Fearing (1838-1937) features stylish and quirky illustrations and extra facts at the back, including a biographical timeline with historical photos. It is part of a series designed to show kids that God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things.
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Amy Carmichael : The Brown-Eyed Girl Who Learned To Pray
$14.99Add to cartRead the true story of Amy Carmichael, a missionary who shared Christ’s love with hundreds of women and children in Asia.
At a time when being a single female missionary was extremely costly, Amy Carmichael spent her life sharing Christ’s love with hundreds of women and children in Asia. Along the way, she adapted to fit into cultures very different from her own, learned to depend on God in prayer, and became a mother to many children who had been sold, kidnapped, outcast or abandoned.
This beautifully illustrated children’s biography of Amy Carmichael (1867-1951) features stylish and quirky illustrations and extra facts at the back, including a biographical timeline with historical photos. It is part of a series designed to show kids that God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things.
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Frederick Douglass : No Turning Back (DVD)
$12.99Add to cartKyle Taylor stars in this gripping drama, winner of four film awards. Frederick Douglass: No Turning Back takes you to 1872, Ohio. Former slave, Mr. Douglass, one of our great American heroes, is to speak. He’s introduced by the Pastor sharing Frederick’s vast triumphs, including helping pass Amendments to the US Constitution. Douglass, at the podium, shares a breathtaking journey from slavery to freedom, life as statesman, author and newspaper editor. He reveals his life in the North, in London, and as Christian leader, with wit and wisdom. He could have lived in Europe, but felt God’s call to return to America to win freedom for all people in our nation. There is no turning back.
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God In My Corner
$18.99Add to cartEveryone needs a second chance, even if your name is George Foreman.
“My second chance arrived unexpectedly in a Puerto Rican dressing room after a heavyweight boxing match. What happened to me in that room is so incredibly bizarre, it’s unlikely you’ve ever before read anything like it. Simply stated, I died and went to the other side. The experience impacted me so profoundly that three decades later I can’t go a single day without thinking about it.”
A childhood in grinding poverty. Two heavyweight boxing championships – twenty years apart. A life-changing encounter with God. A new life devoted to ministry. An inspiring comeback and then astounding success as an entrepreneur and trusted product pitchman.
For the first time, George Foreman tells the whole story of his remarkable life. With the frankness, warmth, and humor you expect from Foreman, he shares the faith journey that has shaped his life, offering many life lessons along the way.
*What are the secrets to George Foreman’s inspiring success?
*Why is he always smiling?
*Why did he name all five of his sons George?There is no one quiet like George Foreman. God in My Corner explains why. More importantly, it will open your eyes to the reality that God is there in your corner, just as He’s been there for George all these years.
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I Take My Coffee Black
$17.99Add to cartTyler Merritt’s video “Before You Call the Cops” has been viewed more than 60 million times. The viral video’s main point-the more you know someone, the more empathy, understanding, and compassion you have for that person-is the springboard for this book. By sharing his highs and exposing his lows, Tyler welcomes us into his world, allowing us to get to know him and helping bridge the divides that seem to grow wider every day.
In I Take My Coffee Black, Tyler tells hilarious stories from his own life as a black man in America. He talks about his multi-cultural childhood in Las Vegas that didn’t necessarily prepare him for life in the South, his passion for rap music and musical theater, how Jesus barged in uninvited and changed his life forever (it all started with a Triple F.A.T. Goose jacket) and the shocking events that occurred after his video went viral that no one has heard. Throughout his stories, he also seamlessly weaves in lessons about privilege, the legacy of lynching and sharecropping, and why you don’t cross black mamas, teaching readers about the history of encoded racism that still undergirds our society today.
By turns witty, insightful, touching, and laugh-out-loud funny, I Take My Coffee Black not only paints a portrait of one man’s experience of being Black in America, but also expresses the valuable connections we miss when we do not take the time to learn about others’ lives and experiences. This book enlightens, illuminates, and entertains-ultimately building the kind of empathy that might just be the antidote against the racial injustice in our society.
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Fish Out Of Water
$22.99Add to cartWhat Happens When One of America’s Most Beloved Biographers Writes His Own Biography?
For five-time New York Times bestselling author Eric Metaxas, the answer is Fish Out of Water: A Search for the Meaning of Life–a soaring, lyrical, and often mischievous account of his early years, in which the astute Queens-born son of Greek and German immigrants struggles to make sense of a world in which he never quite seems to fit.
While millions know Metaxas as a celebrated author, the witty host of Socrates in the City, and a nationally syndicated radio personality, here he reveals a personal story few have known. The scion of two families with very different traditions, he enjoyed their affection and support through his riotous but successful years at Yale, yet later felt abandoned as he drifted toward an abyss of meaninglessness from which he barely escaped.
Along the way, Metaxas introduces us to an unforgettable troupe of Runyonesque characters who join this quintessentially first-generation American boy on his odyssey, underscoring how simultaneously funny, serious, happy, sad, and meaningful life can be.
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All My Knotted Up Life
$27.99Add to cartAn incredibly thoughtful, disarmingly funny, and intensely vulnerable glimpse into the life and ministry of a woman familiar to many but known by few.
“It’s a peculiar thing, this having lived long enough to take a good look back. We go from knowing each other better than we know ourselves to barely sure if we know each other at all, to precisely sure that we don’t. All my knotted-up life I’ve longed for the sanity and simplicity of knowing who’s good and who’s bad. I’ve wanted to know this about myself as much as anyone. This was not theological. It was strictly relational. God could do what he wanted with eternity. I was just trying to make it here in the meantime. As benevolent as he has been in a myriad of ways, God has remained aloof on this uncomplicated request.” Beth Moore
All My Knotted-Up Life is a beautifully crafted portrait of resilience and survival, a poignant reminder of God’s enduring faithfulness, and proof positive that if we ever truly took the time to hear people’s full stories . . . we’d all walk around slack-jawed.
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Rich Mullins : An Arrow Pointing To Heaven – Twenty Fifth Anniversary Editi (Ann
$19.99Add to cartExperience Rich Mullins’s Legacy of Joy and Real Compassion
Beloved contemporary Christian musician Rich Mullins lived his life with abandon for God, leaving the spotlight to teach music among a Navajo community. An accident cut his life short in 1997, but his songs and ragamuffin spirit continue to teach many.
In honor of the twenty-fifth anniversary of Rich’s homegoing, this edition of Rich Mullins: An Arrow Pointing to Heaven delivers an intimate look at the experiences that sparked praise hits and the values behind his Christ-like candor. James Bryan Smith captures just what Rich wished for when he said, I hope I would leave a legacy of joy–a legacy of real compassion.
See the layers of his story through reflections from friends and family, an afterword by Rich’s brother David Mullins, and Smith’s own bond with him. And in remembrance, be inspired to enjoy God’s world as Rich did.
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Helen Roseveare : The Doctor Who Kept Going No Matter What
$14.99Add to cartOn the day of her eighth birthday, Helen sat in Sunday school cutting and sticking pictures of far-away countries and, in her heart, made a decision:
“When I grow up, I will travel the world and tell other boys and girls about Jesus.”
Follow her life story from medical student to missionary doctor in the heart of Africa and all the ups and many downs she experienced there, including being held as a prisoner for many months. Discover how her faith kept her going as she remembered to “Be still, and know that I am God”. (Psalm 46 v 10)
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Wake Up With Purpose
$28.99Add to cartKnown to millions as simply Sister Jean, the Loyola Chicago matriarch and college basketball icon invites you into her remarkable memoir filled with history, wonder, and common-sense wisdom for this century and beyond. As Sister Jean wisely says, I’ve seen so many changes in the last 102 years, but the important things remain the same.
Part life story, part philosophy text, and part spiritual guide, Sister Jean’s wit, wisdom, and common sense has broad appeal and application that transcends religious creed, belief, and even feelings on Loyola’s basketball team.
Along with her collaborator Seth Davis, an award-winning writer, broadcaster and New York Times best-selling author, Sister Jean lets you experience:
*Sister Jean’s words and her spirit.
*her sharp sense of humor.
*life lessons gleaned from one hundred years of living.
*universal themes that connect us all.
*priceless wisdom.The driving force inside Wake Up with Purpose! is the narrative of Sister Jean’s fascinating life–from teaching at a Catholic school during the Second World War to serving on a Chicago college campus in the sixties and beyond to cheering from the sidelines of a men’s basketball tournament in March 2018.
As you learn about Sister Jean’s century-long life, you’ll feel just like the Loyola students do when they knock on her office door, plop down in a chair, and ask if she would have time to chat, an activity that she still does daily.
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Timothy Keller : His Spiritual And Intellectual Formation
$26.99Add to cartTimothy Keller takes readers behind the scenes to meet the people and understand the events that formed Keller’s spiritual life and ministry priorities.
Millions have read books and listened to sermons by Timothy Keller. But which people and what events shaped his own thinking and spiritual growth? With unfettered access to Keller’s personal notes and sermons–as well as exclusive interviews with family members and longtime friends–Collin Hansen gives you unprecedented understanding of one of the 21st century’s most influential church leaders.
Spend any time around Timothy Keller and you’ll learn what he’s reading, what he’s learning, what he’s seeing. The story of Timothy Keller is the story of his spiritual and intellectual influences, from the woman who taught him how to read the Bible to the professor who taught him to preach Jesus from every text to the philosopher who taught him to see beneath society’s surface.
For the first time, Hansen introduces readers to Keller’s early years: the home where he learned to tell stories from the trees, the church where he learned to care for souls, and the city that lifted him to the international fame he never wanted.
You’ll discover how to:
*Understand the principles and practices that allowed Keller to synthesize so many different influences in a coherent ministry.
*Take the best of Keller’s preaching and teaching to meet emerging challenges in the 21st century.
*Develop your own historical, theological, and cultural perspectives to shape your leadership.
This is the untold story of the people, the books, the lectures, and ultimately the God who formed and shaped the life of Timothy Keller.
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Return From Tomorrow
$19.99Add to cartThe True Story of an Uncharted Journey Through the Afterlife
As a world war raged around him, a young soldier named George Ritchie barely comprehended his own death as he left the physical world–only to return minutes later. Yet in the space between death and coming back to life, he experienced eternity.
In this riveting true story, Dr. George Ritchie shares some of the most stunning and detailed descriptions of life after death. You’ll encounter other non-physical beings, travel through different dimensions of time and space, and discover a series of worlds–some hellish in their separation from life, some glorious in their heavenly brilliance. But most amazingly, you’ll witness his transformational meeting with the Light of the world, the Son of God.
Hailed as one of the most amazing visions of the afterlife ever recorded, Ritchie’s experience forever changed the course of his life and his understanding of the realm beyond our own–and it can do the same for you.
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Cost : My Life On A Terrorist Hit List
$18.99Add to cartBorn into a prominent Shia Muslim family in Pakistan, Ali had it all-prestige, security, wealth, social status. The Cost is the extraordinary story of his dramatic encounter with Jesus that would change everything.That life-altering choice to follow Jesus would turn Ali from a typical teenager into a target of a terrorist organization based in his hometown-a target they would soon act on.The Cost is the riveting and remarkable journey of a young man who left everything behind to follow the one thing he knew to be true. Through excommunication from his home and family, near-death experience, a miraculous healing, and a cross-continental chase for his life, Ali’s faith sustained him while also compelling him to bring the gospel to Muslims-no matter the cost. This modern epic is a must-read for anyone who wants to be informed about the state of Christian-Muslim relations today, and inspired by just how much a single light in the darkness can make a difference.
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Return From Tomorrow
$14.99Add to cartThe True Story of an Uncharted Journey Through the Afterlife
As a world war raged around him, a young soldier named George Ritchie barely comprehended his own death as he left the physical world–only to return minutes later. Yet in the space between death and coming back to life, he experienced eternity.
In this riveting true story, Dr. George Ritchie shares some of the most stunning and detailed descriptions of life after death. You’ll encounter other non-physical beings, travel through different dimensions of time and space, and discover a series of worlds–some hellish in their separation from life, some glorious in their heavenly brilliance. But most amazingly, you’ll witness his transformational meeting with the Light of the world, the Son of God.
Hailed as one of the most amazing visions of the afterlife ever recorded, Ritchie’s experience forever changed the course of his life and his understanding of the realm beyond our own–and it can do the same for you.
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Lincolns Battle With God
$19.99Add to cartJoin New York Times bestselling author Stephen Mansfield as he dives into the incredible story of Abraham Lincoln’s spiritual life and draws from it a deeper meaning that’s sure to inspire us all.
Abraham Lincoln is, undoubtedly, among the most beloved of all US presidents. He helped to abolish slavery, gave the world some of its most memorable speeches, and redefined the meaning of America. He did all of this with endless wisdom, compassion, and wit. Yet, throughout his life, Lincoln fought with God.
In his early years in Illinois, he rejected even the existence of God and became the village atheist. In time, this changed but still he wrestled with the truth of the Bible, preachers, doctrines, the will of God, the providence of God, and then, finally, God’s purposes in the Civil War. Still, on the day he was shot, Lincoln said he longed to go to Jerusalem to walk in the Savior’s steps.
In this thrilling journey through a largely unknown part of American history, Mansfield traces Lincoln’s exploring:
*Lincoln’s lifelong spiritual journey
*The ways that Lincoln’s faith shaped his presidency and beyond
*How Lincoln’s struggle with faith can inspire modern believersLet Lincoln’s Battle with God show you Lincoln’s life and legacy in a brand new light.
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Man Stuff : Devotional Thoughts On Faith, Family, And Fatherhood
$12.99Add to cartBe a stronger, more effective dad, family man, and man of God.
In this compilation, singer Josh Turner shares fun and meaningful thoughts and personal stories-from his childhood through his adulthood-weaving in spiritual insight for men who want to be better dads, husbands, and men of God. He covers a variety of topics such as living and working with integrity, facing your fears, surrounding yourself with good company, trusting God’s plans, and standing up for the least of these-topics every man can relate to and draw from for his own spiritual and personal journeys.
Described as a devoted family man, strong Christian, generous philanthropist, and passionate sports fan, Josh balances a busy life. And despite his recording schedule, award shows, and national tour dates, he still prioritizes instilling good values into his four sons, being a devoted husband, and sharing his testimony for God. Not only is this a great gift for any country music fan or Josh Turner follower, it will speak to the heart of any man with conservative family values.
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Stories We Tell
$31.99Add to cartIn her first solo memoir, New York Times bestselling author Joanna Gaines invites us on an authentic and deeply vulnerable journey into her story–and helps shine a light on the beauty of our own–guiding us to release the weights that hold us back so we may live and share our story in truth.
We’ve all dropped anchor in places that suited us for a time: a city, a perspective, a lie we mistook as truth. This book is an invitation to a kind of life where you know how to hold what you believe–about yourself and the quiet worlds behind the people you pass–with gracious and open hands. To see your story as greater than any past or future thing, but for all the beauty and joy and hope it holds today. It’s an invitation to take stock of the chapters you’ve lived–the good and the bad, the beautiful and the ugly–glean what’s gold, and carry only that forward. Let it slow your feet and steady your life-in-motion so you can see where you stand today from a new point of view. No longer through weary or uncertain eyes, but a lens brimming with hope.
The only way to break free was to rewrite my story. Because something would happen every time my pen stopped: it was like my soul was coming back to my body. Like the deepest parts of me that got knocked around and drowned out by all the crap I let the world convince me about who I was came back to the surface. And what was left was only what was real and true. I was, finally, standing in the fullness of my story. I felt hopeful. I felt full. Our story may crack us open, but it also pieces us back together.
We all have a story to tell. This happens to be mine–every chapter a window into who I am, the journey I’m on, and the season I’m in right now. Because this is my story, maybe you won’t always relate, or maybe it will feel like you’re looking in a mirror. Whatever we have in common and whatever differences lie between us, I only hope my story can help shine a light on the beauty of yours. That my own soul work will stir something of your own. And that by the time you get to the end of my story, you’re also holding the beautiful beginnings of your own.
A story only you can tell. And I hope that you will.
– Joanna Gaines -
To Love And Be Loved
$27.00Add to cartFrom a trusted advisor and devoted friend of Mother Teresa comes an extraordinary firsthand account of the miraculous woman behind the saint.
Mother Teresa was one of the most admired women of the 20th century, and her memory continues to inspire charitable work around the world. She believed the greatest need of a human being is to love and be loved. In 1948, she founded the Missionaries of Charity to work directly with the very poorest of Calcutta. From the efforts of one woman entering the slums of Entally, the Missionaries of Charity grew into an organization operating soup kitchens, health clinics, hospices, and shelters in 139 countries, at no cost to any government or to those served. In 2016, she became Saint Teresa of Calcutta.
Author Jim Towey had been a high-flying Congressional staffer and lawyer in the 1980s until a brief meeting with Mother Teresa illuminated the emptiness of his life. He began volunteering at one of her soup kitchens and using his legal skills and political connections to help the Missionaries of Charity. When Mother Teresa suggested he take shifts at her AIDS hospice, Towey realized he was all in. Soon, he gave up his job and possessions and became a full-time volunteer for Mother Teresa. He traveled with her frequently, arranged her meetings with politicians, and handled many of her legal affairs.
To Love and Be Loved is a firsthand account of Mother Teresa’s last years, and the first book ever to detail her dealings with worldly matters. We see her gracefully navigate the opportunities and challenges of leadership, the perils of celebrity, and the humiliations and triumphs of aging. We also catch her indulging in chocolate ice cream, making jokes about mini-skirts, and telling the President of the United States he’s wrong. Above all, we see her extraordinary devotion to God and to the very poorest of His children. Mother Teresa taught Towey to be more prayerful, less selfish, more humble, less worldly, more in love with God, and less in love with himself. Her lessons are here for all to share.
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Stories Of My Life
$22.00Add to cartThe beloved author of Bridge to Terabithia and other classics of children’s literature reveals the fascinating personal stories that have shaped her creative life.
For nearly fifty years, Katherine Paterson’s stories have captured readers young and old. From Bridge to Terabithia’s Leslie Burke to the unforgettable Gilly Hopkins to countless others, her characters are woven into the memories of several generations. Paterson’s writing has always explored the rich emotional landscape of childhood, for she has never forgotten how she felt as a child herself.
The writer she became grew from her own fascinating life, told here in a collection of stories that reach from earlier generations of her family to the present day. Born in China to Presbyterian missionary parents from the American South, her young adulthood led her to Japan and then back to the East Coast, where she began to raise her family and put stories on paper. Each of these experiences influenced the books that were to come. Through Paterson’s memories, we learn the origins of her characters and storylines and share in her unexpected literary acclaim. We see the intimate moments of family, creativity, and faith that come together for a life well lived.
With snapshots from her family albums and introductory remarks from fellow writers Kate DiCamillo and Nancy Price Graff, this is more than a behind-the-scenes look at favorite children’s books. It’s the story of a life infused with humor, joy, and gratitude; inspiring new stories embraced by readers everywhere.
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Mother Teresa : The Story Of Mother Teresa
$9.99Add to cartThey’re bold. They’re fearless. They’re adventurous. They have a faith that can move mountains. They’re women of courage.
This series of easy-read biographies celebrates the lives of women who lived committed to changing the world for better. What set them apart? Their willingness to live courageously for Christ, even in impossible situations.
What made Mother Teresa a giant of the faith? The spiritual hope she found in Jesus Christ empowered her efforts to comfort the sick, the weak, and the unwanted, not only in India but around the globe. Mother Teresa-small in stature but large of heart-provides a shining example of a life of courageous purpose. This novelized biography, featuring topical excerpts from Mother Teresa’s public speeches, promises a reading adventure you won’t soon forget. You’ll will be inspired by her stories, celebrate her legacy, and learn that God can use His women to do mighty things. . .if they have courage.
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Now I Am Known
$18.99Add to cartAt age ten, Peter Mutabazi ran away from home in rural Uganda to escape his abusive father. For five years Peter survived on the streets of Kampala, a city of 1.5 million, until one man saw potential in him. This one person not only supported Peter through school but altered Peter’s outlook on life in every possible way. Since then, Peter has served as a relief coordinator during the Rwandan genocide, worked for the International Committee of Red Cross during the Sudan conflict, emigrated to the United States, fostered countless children, and become a single foster and adoptive parent. He speaks seven languages and has traveled to more than 100 countries as an international advocate for vulnerable children.
Now I Am Known is Peter’s inspiring true story. In it he reveals the transformational power of taking risks, learning to forgive, overcoming self-doubt, breaking negative patterns, and believing in a better future. He becomes a friend in this must-read, encouraging you to propel forward into a purpose-driven life marked by hope and meaning.
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In The Company Of Heroes
$17.99Add to cartAn award-winning military journalist tells the amazing stories of twenty-five soldiers who’ve won the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest military award.
In the Company of Heroes will feature in-depth narrative profiles of the twenty-five post-9/11 Medal of Honor awardees who served in Afghanistan and Iraq. This book will focus on the stories of these extraordinary people, expressed in their own voices through one-on-one interviews, and in the case of posthumous awards, through interviews with their brothers in arms and their families. The public affairs offices of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the individual armed services, as well as the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, have expressed their support for this project.
Stories include Marine Corps Corporal William “Kyle” Carpenter, who purposely lunged toward a Taliban hand grenade in order to shield his buddy from the blast; Navy SEAL team leader Britt Slabinski, who, after being ambushed and retreating in the Hindu Kush, returned against monumental odds in order to try to save one of his team who was inadvertently lost in the fight; and Ranger Staff Sergeant Leroy Petry, who lunged for a live grenade, threw it back at the enemy, and saved his two Ranger brothers.
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Blood Brothers : The Dramatic Story Of A Palestinian Christian Working For
$18.99Add to cartAs a child, Elias Chacour lived in a small Palestinian village in Galilee. When tens of thousands of Palestinians were killed and nearly one million forced into refugee camps in 1948, Elias began a long struggle with how to respond. In Blood Brothers, he blends his riveting life story with historical research to reveal a little-known side of the Arab-Israeli conflict, exploring whether bitter enemies can ever be reconciled. This book offers hope and insight to help each of us learn to live at peace in a world of tension and terror.
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What Is A Girl Worth
$17.99Add to cartWritten by Rachael Denhollander, recipient of Sports Illustrated’s Inspiration of the Year Award and one of Time’s 100 Most Influential People (2018).
“Who is going to tell these little girls that what was done to them matters? That they are seen and valued, that they are not alone and they are not unprotected?”
Rachael Denhollander’s voice was heard around the world when she spoke out to end the most shocking USA gymnastics scandal in history. The first victim to publicly accuse Larry Nassar, the former USA Gymnastics team doctor who sexually abused hundreds of young athletes, Rachael now reveals her full story for the first time. How did Nassar get away with it for so long? How did Rachael and the other survivors finally stop him and bring him to justice? And how can we protect the vulnerable in our own families, churches, and communities?
What Is a Girl Worth? is the inspiring true story of Rachael’s journey from an idealistic young gymnast to a strong and determined woman who found the courage to raise her voice against evil, even when she thought the world might not listen. In this crucial cultural moment of #MeToo and #ChurchToo, this deeply personal and compelling narrative shines a spotlight on the physical and emotional impact of abuse, why so many survivors are reluctant to speak out, and what it means to be believed.
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Fanny Crosby : The Girl Who Couldn’t See But Helped The World To Sing
$14.99Add to cartBaby Frances–or Fanny, as everyone called her–was only six weeks old when she became blind. “What a pity you can’t see,” people often said. “The first thing my eyes will ever see will be the face of Jesus in heaven,” she’d reply. And this filled her with joy.
Not only was Fanny a happy girl, always looking for reasons to be thankful, she was also blessed with extraordinary musical ability.
Follow her inspirational story to discover how she wrote some of the world’s most famous hymns, such as To God Be the Glory and Blessed Assurance.
This beautifully illustrated children’s biography of Fanny Crosby (1820-1915) is part of the Do Great Things For God series which shows how God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things. It will enthuse young children about the great things they can do for God.
Can be read to young children aged 4-5, and read by children aged 6 plus.
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Every Little Win
$18.99Add to cartWhat does a forty-two-year-old, small-town pastor do when he wins one of the most popular singing competitions in the world? Todd Tilghman and his wife, Brooke, share how decades of unrelenting challenges have taught them a joyful mindset of embracing not only winning The Voice but also every little win along the way.
When Todd Tilghman, pastor and father of eight from Meridian, Mississippi, auditioned for The Voice, he counted it as a win simply to sing in front of an audience other than family and church members. Despite no music or vocal training, he not only made it through the blind audition–with all four celebrity judges vying to coach him–he also won the show’s entire eighteenth season. Fans were drawn to Todd’s tremendous joy on stage, giving them much-needed inspiration during the hard challenges of a global pandemic.
In their first book, Todd and Brooke share how their focus on joy and celebrating every little win has helped them to overcome numerous challenges over their twenty-plus-year marriage. From adopting two children from South Korea to fighting for their newborn son’s life to pastoring a small congregation through periods of adversity, Todd and Brooke share the lessons they’ve learned and the strategies that have moved them from fear to faith to ever-present joy.
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She Led The Way
$14.99Add to cartBorn into slavery, Rebecca Crumpler became the first Black female physician in America. Stuntwoman Bessie Coleman was the first Black person in the world to obtain a pilot’s license. The work of Harlem Renaissance sculptor Selma Burke can be found on the American dime. The calculations of NASA mathematician Katherine Goble Johnson were critical to the success of US manned spaceflight.
These Black women and many more overcame tremendous obstacles and prejudices to make their mark on American history. In She Led the Way, you’ll read their inspiring stories and the stories of ten more innovative, courageous, artistic, and driven women who broke through barriers of gender and color in order to reach their goals and fulfill their potential in a world that was too often indifferent and even hostile. Includes illustrations.
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Sonic Warrior : Chronicles Of A Top Gun Pioneer
$19.99Add to cartThis aircraft was so incredibly fast, ushering in the era of the Sonic Warrior.
Captain Kevin Smith’s The Sonic Warrior: Chronicles of a Top Gun Pioneer offers a riveting look at the legacy of the Navy Fighter Weapons School founded by Captain Dan Pederson. Famously known as Top Gun, this elite fighter-pilot community was mission critical to delivering close-in-air combat training. Kevin Smith, a Sonic Warrior of distinction, helped lead the way in solving one of aviation’s greatest challenges.
More than just a memoir or historical account of supersonic aviation, The Sonic Warrior provides a unique look into the thrills and challenges of flying supersonic-capable aircraft, and of executing combat maneuvers at sonic speed.
The Sonic Warrior provides insight for solving complex problems and optimizing human performance in any high-stress, intense, time-compressed scenario, and is an inspiring study in leadership and critical thinking.
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Sonic Warrior : Chronicles Of A Top Gun Pioneer
$32.99Add to cartThis aircraft was so incredibly fast, ushering in the era of the Sonic Warrior.
Captain Kevin Smith’s The Sonic Warrior: Chronicles of a Top Gun Pioneer offers a riveting look at the legacy of the Navy Fighter Weapons School founded by Captain Dan Pederson. Famously known as Top Gun, this elite fighter-pilot community was mission critical to delivering close-in-air combat training. Kevin Smith, a Sonic Warrior of distinction, helped lead the way in solving one of aviation’s greatest challenges.
More than just a memoir or historical account of supersonic aviation, The Sonic Warrior provides a unique look into the thrills and challenges of flying supersonic-capable aircraft, and of executing combat maneuvers at sonic speed.
The Sonic Warrior provides insight for solving complex problems and optimizing human performance in any high-stress, intense, time-compressed scenario, and is an inspiring study in leadership and critical thinking.
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Queen Elizabeth 2
$14.99Add to cartPrincess Elizabeth never expected to be Queen. But when she was ten, her uncle, King Edward VIII, abdicated and everything changed… Her father took over as King, but after 15 years on the throne, he died. So when she was just 25 years old, Elizabeth was crowned Queen and has become the longest-serving monarch in British history.
This inspiring children’s biography of Queen Elizabeth II chronicles key moments in her life. It also highlights her Christian faith, in particular what she has said in her Christmas Day speeches.
Young children will learn more about the incredible life and faith of Britain’s longest-serving monarch and they will be inspired about the great things they can do for God.
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Peacebunny Island
$17.99Add to cartThe incredible true story of a boy who is changing the world through kindness . . . one bunny at a time.
Meet Caleb Smith: a young man who, at age 9, decided to follow his dream to train endangered and rescued rabbits to become therapy animals. Today, 15-year-old Caleb is an entrepreneur who owns and operates a private 22-acre Mississippi River sanctuary called Peacebunny Island. The deal is simple: he saves the rabbits, and they help save us.
Driven by an unbreakable desire to minister kindness and compassion, Caleb’s adventures include:*Founding a program of therapy rabbits who visit with first responders, senior citizens, families with special needs, and much more
*Embarking on a quest along the Mississippi River to develop the site that would become Peacebunny Island
*Overcoming challenges, obstacles, and disappointed dreams along the wayInspiring hope and possibility in the next generation of young people
Stories of the kids who experience the calm, healing magic of Peacebunny IslandFor readers who love real-life adventures like We Bought a Zoo; classic stories like Watership Down; or heartwarming tales like Marley & Me, Peacebunny Island is an unforgettable journey of determination and faith destined to touch hearts around the world.
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Blank Canvas : The Amazing Story Of A Woman Who Awoke From A Coma To A Life
$24.99Add to cartWhen Marcy Gregg awoke from a coma, 13 years had vanished from her memory.
She was 30 years old; she thought she was still 17. She didn’t recognize the man who introduced himself as her husband. She stared at pictures of the three children they said were hers, trying desperately to remember them, but her mind was blank.Terrified and confused, Marcy did the only thing she could think of: she faked it. She told the doctors she was starting to remember and bluffed her way through visits from friends and family. Against all odds, it worked: she was released to a home, family, and life she should have known intimately–but seemed to be a stranger’s. How was she going to pull off the biggest acting challenge imaginable–and would her memories ever return?
Ghost Boy meets What Alice Forgot in this amazing true story of a woman who lost herself and tried to fight her way back on her own–but who found unexpected beauty in hope, faith, and second chances.
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Charles Fox Parham
$16.99Add to cartCharles Fox Parham is an absorbing and perhaps controversial biography of the founder of modern Pentecostalism. Parham was a deeply flawed individual who nevertheless was used by God to initiate and establish one of the greatest spiritual movements of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, helping to restore the power of Pentecost to the church and being a catalyst for numerous healings and conversions. Author Dr. Larry Martin is a lifelong Pentecostal with decades of ministry as a pastor, educator, and evangelist. He researched the life of this complicated and contradictory figure for over twenty-five years before writing this book-with a certain degree of hesitancy. By disclosing the whole truth about Parham’s life-which has never fully been done before-would it give excessive ammunition to the critics of the Pentecostal and charismatic movements? Martin uncompromisingly exposes Parham’s weaknesses, faulty thinking, and transgressions while disassociating his behavior from the movement as a whole, writing with an inside understanding of Pentecostalism and a thoughtful analysis of Parham’s life that goes beyond the acknowledgment of human frailty to reveal the work of a sovereign God. If we don’t confront the faults of our spiritual fathers, Martin says, we will fail to address the truth in the way the Bible lays bare the faults of some of our greatest biblical heroes of the faith. We must recognize and learn from the weaknesses of others, as well as their achievements. The author of several books on the Asuza Street Revival, the history of early Pentecostals, and the Pentecostal Church of God, Martin presents a much-needed exploration of the life of one of the most influential religious figures of the twentieth century, whose impact is still widely felt today. Includes photos of Parham’s life and ministry.
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Caves Coprolites And Catastrophes
$48.99Add to cartIn 1824, William Buckland stood in front of the Royal Geological Society and told them about the bones he had been studying – the bones of an enormous, lizard-like creature, that he called Megalosaurus.
This was the first full account of a dinosaur.
During his life, Buckland would also demonstrate changes in the earth’s climate, champion health reform, wage war on slum landlords, and become infamous for eating everything he could, even a mummified human heart. Yet his name has been largely, and unjustly, forgotten.
In this brilliantly entertaining, colourful biography – the first to be written for over a century – Allan Chapman brings William Buckland back into the light and explores his fascinating life in full. From his pioneering of geology and agricultural science to becoming Dean of Westminster, Caves, Coprolites and Catastrophes reveals a giant of intellect whose achievements helped revolutionise the British scientific community.
Carefully balancing Buckland’s more eccentric escapades with his scientific prowess and the clash between science and religion in the 19th Century, Caves, Coprolites and Catastrophes is vivid, informative and thoroughly compelling.
A captivating story packed full of compelling insights into the world of Victorian science and its relationship with the Christian faith, Caves, Coprolites and Catastrophes is an unmissable biography of an exceptional scientist whose legacy extends down to this day.
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Hiding Place : An Engaging Visual Journey
$16.99Add to cartThe Hiding Place is Corrie ten Boom’s personal story of faith, forgiveness, and love for the persecuted Jewish community during the World War II Nazi invasion and occupation of Holland. Part of an underground resistance movement, Corrie and her family risked their lives to hide Jewish friends within a secret wall space of the Beje, their beloved clock shop and home in Haarlem, Netherlands. Her heroic actions eventually led to her arrest and imprisonment at Ravensbruck, the German Reich’s largest concentration camp for women.
For the first time, the ten Boom family’s heart-wrenching story of sacrifice and survival is presented as a special edition complete with rare family photos, accents of Dutch Delft-style design, artwork by Dutch artists, and personal ephemera. Hand-lettered inspirational quotes and Scripture combined with artwork reminiscent of World War II Europe make The Hiding Place come alive like never before.
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Invisible Thread : The True Story Of An 11-Year-Old Panhandler, A Busy Sale
$18.99Add to cartStopping was never part of the plan…
She was a successful ad sales rep in Manhattan. He was a homeless, eleven-year-old panhandler on the street. He asked for spare change; she kept walking. But then something stopped her in her tracks, and she went back. And she continued to go back, again and again. They met up nearly every week for years and built an unexpected, life-changing friendship that has today spanned almost three decades.
Whatever made me notice him on that street corner so many years ago is clearly something that cannot be extinguished, no matter how relentless the forces aligned against it. Some may call it spirit. Some may call it heart. It drew me to him, as if we were bound by some invisible, unbreakable thread. And whatever it is, it binds us still.?
Now with new material that brings the life-changing story up to date for its tenth anniversary, An Invisible Thread is “a book capable of restoring our faith in each other and in the very idea that maybe everything is going to be okay after all” (Catherine Ryan Hyde, author of Pay It Forward).
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Running On Broken Legs
$22.99Add to cartTake undersized five-year-old farm girl Elinor, give her the polio that not only cripples her but also nearly kills her, then give her an impossible dream. In her childhood and again as a college student she rebels against the plan. Finally, she embraces the dream, and it leads Elinor to one of the most primitive, rugged places on earth and to a life that brawny international explorers would envy.
For nearly eighteen years Elinor deals with murdering tribal people, a devastating earthquake and the relief efforts that follow, joys, triumphs, depression, peace, life-threatening illnesses, recovery, and friendship with the Kimyal tribal people, whom she comes to deeply respect and love. The Kimyal people give her the name Bad Legs, which to them reflects how her weak body shows them God’s love. Finally, the late effects of Elinor’s original polio force her to leave the place and people that her heart has embraced. She must find a way to say goodbye.
In typical Kimyal fashion, Elinor tells a story to picture a profound truth: our weaknesses can be the conduit of strength beyond our own.
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Fierce Mercy : Daring To Live Out God’s Compassion In Bold And Practical Wa
$29.99Add to cartAbby Johnson thought she knew what mercy was when she ushered desperate women toward abortion as the director of a Planned Parenthood facility. She was wrong. It wasn’t until she understood the blood on her hands that she personally experienced the power of God’s fierce yet tender mercy to transform her life. But she never imagined what could happen once she allowed that very mercy to infiltrate her life and spill out into a hurting world.
In Fierce Mercy, Abby calls you to experience a transformation of your own. Against the backdrop of her first decade involved in the pro-life movement, Abby helps you discover God’s unrestrained mercy at work in your own life and take steps toward becoming a channel of that life-changing mercy in the world around you. She shows you how to model God’s mercy, freely offer mercy to those who seem undeserving, respond with mercy when others err or offend, and bear witness to God’s unrestrained compassion so that others may know him.
This is Abby’s challenge to you: dare to do what is hard, what is right, and what is good. And do all of it in love.
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Shackled : One Woman s Dramatic Triumph Over Persecution, Gender Abuse, And
$16.99Add to cartSentenced to Death for Her Beliefs Mariam Ibraheem was finally rising above her difficult childhood and building a new life for herself. Born to a Muslim father and an Ethiopian Orthodox Christian mother, she grew up in poverty in a refugee camp in Sudan. Her father left the family when she was only six, and her mother raised her in the Christian faith. Left without family after the deaths of her beloved mother and sister, she was beginning to move past her grief-earning a medical degree, marrying the man she loved, and having a baby boy. But one day in late 2013, her world was shattered when an unknown relative on her father’s side reported her to the police. The authorities said she was considered a Muslim because of her father’s background. She had broken the law by marrying a Christian man, and she must renounce her Christian beliefs and abandon her marriage. Under intense pressure, Mariam repeatedly refused to deny her faith. After a lengthy trial in a Sharia court, she was charged with apostasy and adultery, and she was imprisoned with her nine-month-old son, Martin, on Christmas Eve. There, awaiting sentence, she learned she was pregnant with her second child. A few months later, Mariam was sentenced to 100 lashes and death by hanging by a Sharia court.Shackled is the stunning story of a courageous young woman who was willing to face death rather than deny her faith, who took a stand on behalf of all people who suffer from religious persecution and all women who are maltreated because of their gender and beliefs. Follow Mariam’s story from refugee camp to life under Islam to imprisonment and sentencing to giving birth while shackled in prison to her remarkable escape from death following an international outcry and advocacy involving diplomats, journalists, religious freedom activists, human rights groups, and even Pope Francis.
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Who Do I Think I Am
$27.00Add to cartThis hilarious and thoughtful memoir from comedy legend Anjelah Johnson explores questions of identity, belonging, and her two dreams as a kid: to be an actress and to be a chola.
You may know Anjelah Johnson for her viral sketch “Nail Salon” (over 100 million views globally) or her beloved ghetto-fabulous MadTV character Bon Qui Qui, but it’s her clean humor and hilarious storytelling that make her one of the most successful stand-up comedians and actresses today.
With her razor-sharp wit, Anjelah recounts funny stories from her journey–from growing up caught between two worlds (do chips and salsa go with potato salad?) to unexpectedly embracing faith (“I love Jesus, but I will punch a ‘ho”) to her many adventures in dating (she may or may not have accepted dates simply for the food). Through it all, Anjelah transforms from a suburban-adjacent kid with Aquanet-drenched hair into a devoted Christian who abstains from drinking and premarital sex, into a mall-famous Oakland Raiders cheerleader, and then an actually famous comedian traveling the world and meeting people from all-walks of life, including Oprah. No biggie. (Huge biggie.) As she travels the world, Anjelah has eye-opening experiences, and she morphs from square, rigid Anjelah into “Funjelah,” and learns that she can still ride with Jesus without squashing the other parts of her personality.
Anjelah’s stories explore subjects such as navigating your racial identity, finding your place in the world, chasing your crazy dreams, embracing the messiness of an evolving faith, and searching for belonging and meaning. Through her journey, Anjelah gets closer to discovering her true identity and encourages readers to have the audacity to dream big.
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Sanctuary : The True Story Of An Irish Village, A Man Who Lost His Way, And
$16.99Add to cartFor decades, his family rescued lost and forgotten donkeys in the Irish countryside.He had no idea that one day, the donkeys would rescue him.
Patrick Barrett grew up on the back of a donkey. In the small village of Liscarroll, the young boy helped his family run a sanctuary for abandoned and abused donkeys. Struggling in school, Patrick only felt truly accepted in the presence of these funny, fuzzy, touching animals. It was like magic, how he and the donkeys understood each other. He became a true “donkey whisperer”-reading their body language, communicating with them in ways they could understand, and teaching himself how to “speak” in their distinctive calls.
But when Patrick was of age, he shipped out with the Irish Army and encountered unimaginable wartime horrors in Lebanon and Kosovo. In the aftermath, he returned home a broken man, sinking into the depths of PTSD and addictions. He believed nothing could save him. But he hadn’t counted on the donkeys.
Sanctuary is the remarkable true story of how faith turned one lost man’s life around with the help of the rescue animals who loved him. It’s an antidote to despair and a call to hope, revealing the beauty and wonder of Ireland as you’ve never seen it before
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Madison Park : A Place Of Hope
$19.99Add to cartWelcome to Madison Park, a small community in Alabama founded by freed slaves in 1880. And meet Eric Motley, a native son who came of age in this remarkable place where constant lessons in self-determination, hope, and unceasing belief in the American dream taught him everything he needed for his journey to the Oval Office as a special assistant to President George W. Bush.
Eric grew up among people whose belief was to give and never turn away from your neighbor’s need. There was Aunt Shine, the goodly matriarch who cared so much about young Motley’s schooling that she would stand up in a crowded church and announce Eric’s progress or his shortcomings. There was Old Man Salery, who secretly siphoned gasoline from his beat-up car into the Motleys’ tank at night. There were Motley’s grandparents, who bought books for Eric they couldn’t afford, spending the last of their seed money. And there was Reverend Brinkley, a man of enormous faith and simple living. It was said that whenever the Reverend came your way, light abounded. Life in Madison Park wasn’t always easy or fair, and Motley reveals personal and heartbreaking stories of racial injustice and segregation. But Eric shows how the community taught him everything he needed to know about love and faith.
This charming, engaging, and deeply inspiring memoir will help you remember that we can create a world of shared values based on love and hope. It is a story that reveals the amazing power of faith in God and each other. If you’re in search of hope during troubled times, look no further than Madison Park.
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Leftovers : Baylor, Betrayal, And Beyond
$18.99Add to cartEver since he was a young boy, Matt Sayman wanted to play basketball. He played for hours on end, studied other players, and attended numerous basketball camps. His family believed in his dream, too, even agreeing to move to Texas when one of Matt’s favorite coaches left Pennsylvania for the Lone Star State.
Matt eventually received a full athletic scholarship from Baylor University. He was only six-feet-four but what he lacked in height, he made up for in skill and positive attitude. He was destined to go pro after graduation.
Then the summer before his senior year, the bottom falls out of Matt’s world. A player goes missing…and is found dead. A teammate is the murder suspect. A coach is accused of paying players under the table. Some receive drug-free urine samples to pass off as their own. And through it all, Matt is supposed to be the glue who holds the Baylor basketball team together.
In The Leftovers: Baylor, Betrayal, and Beyond, Matt shares his personal story of dealing with the fallout after tragedy and trouble nearly sank Baylor’s program. Matt was senior co-captain, but with a short-manned team of leftover players, there was no way to have a winning season. There was no way some talent scout would take a chance on him.
Matt’s hope and faith were shaken because of the scandals that summer. He had just turned twenty-one in January and began to party and drink heavily. His post-Baylor years included a DWI, a difficult divorce, and broken relationships. Matt struggled to find peace. On his thirtieth birthday, just a few days after a deep conversation with his pastor, Matt said goodbye to alcohol and surrendered his life to God. This book tells the story of Matt’s personal redemption.
The Leftovers is also a story of the redemption of Baylor University’s men’s basketball program; Matt’s team with a young new head coach forged the Baylor team that won the 2021 NCAA men’s basketball championship.
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Opal Lee And What It Means To Be Free
$18.99Add to cartThe true story of Black activist Opal Lee and her vision of Juneteenth as a holiday for everyone celebrates Black joy and inspires children to see their dreams blossom. Growing up in Texas, Opal knew the history of Juneteenth, but she soon discovered that many Americans had never heard of the holiday that represents the nation’s creed of “freedom for all.”
Every year, Opal looked forward to the Juneteenth picnic–a drumming, dancing, delicious party. She knew from Granddaddy Zak’s stories that Juneteenth celebrated the day the freedom news of President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation finally sailed into Texas in 1865–over two years after the president had declared it! But Opal didn’t always see freedom in her Texas town. Then one Juneteenth day when Opal was twelve years old, an angry crowd burned down her brand-new home. This wasn’t freedom at all. She had to do something! Opal Lee spent the rest of her life speaking up for equality and unity. She became a teacher, a charity worker, and a community leader. At the age of 89, she walked from Fort Worth, Texas to Washington, D.C., in an effort to gain national recognition for Juneteenth.
Through the story of Opal Lee’s determination and persistence, children ages 4 to 8 will learn:
*all people are created equal
*the power of bravery and using your voice for change
*the history of Juneteenth, or Freedom Day, and what it means today
*no one is free unless everyone is free
*fighting for a dream is worth every difficultyFeaturing the illustrations of New York Times bestselling illustrator Keturah A. Bobo (I am Enough), Opal Lee and What It Means to Be Free celebrates the life and legacy of a modern-day Black leader while sharing a message of hope, unity, joy, and strength.