An instant national bestseller and "a beautiful story of what love can do to conquer the impossible" (Jann Arden). On the day my daughter was kidnapped by outlaws in Somalia, my life split into two parts: Before and After. This is the story of both parts, and of how I fought to bring my daughter home. On August 23, 2008, Amanda Lindhout, Lorinda Stewart’s daughter, is kidnapped outside of Mogadishu in Somalia. The kidnappers’ demand is simple: pay $2.5 million or Amanda will be killed. For the next 460 days, Lorinda does everything in her power—and beyond—to get her daughter back alive. This brave, small-town mother with no experience in hostage negotiations is called upon by the RCMP to be the lead communicator with Adam, the Somali who identifies himself as the English-speaking negotiator for Amanda's kidnappers. In a secret “war room” in Sylvan Lake, Alberta, Lorinda joins forces with federal officers and begins to answer calls from Adam, establishing a fragile rapport of trust with the man who holds her daughter’s fate in his hands. She learns how to demand POLs—proofs of life—from Amanda’s hostage takers and even how to react to “bad calls”—when she is forced to listen to her daughter’s desperate cries for help, fearing she is being abused and tortured. What’s supposed to be a short negotiation stretches on, and weeks become months. Lorinda finds herself increasingly on her own as negotiations break down. But she never gives up hope, even as the conversations become more traumatic. Faced with the terrible possibility of her daughter’s death, she decides to take control, bringing in private hostage negotiators and fundraising ransom money from donors. But will it be enough? This is the true story of one woman’s heroic perseverance in the face of despair, and of the hope and healing to be found beyond trauma. It is also, in the end, a tribute to the extraordinary power of a mother’s love.

How would you live your life if you knew time was limited? What if you could control the outcome? What happens when you must yield to a bigger purpose for which you will never fully understand its overall meaning? Nate and Jean lived a typical married life raising children, working, and being a part of their local church and community. With a deep faith in God, they were truly blessed with good health and a wonderful life. However, their journey took a different path when they faced a challenge that would test their marital strength . Would they be able to withstand this great trial and rise victorious? This true love story reveals the intimacy of struggle and hope during a time of physical chaos. This is Nate and Jean's walk through the valley of the shadow of death because every day passes is one day closer to the ultimate truth in life.

What are we one day closer to? Everything that will happen in the future. Christians, and particularly students of Biblical prophecy, understand that everybody is one day closer to the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. With the downward direction of our country and current disturbing world events and trends, the probability of moving closer to the second coming is increasing. That is not to say the date is known. Only the Father knows the date. One Day Closer cites biblical quotes, history, and political events, showing how and why the downward direction occurred and world events are unfolding as they are. It also includes end-event prophecy details.

It's been said that Centering Prayer is like two friends sitting together in silence, just being in each other's presence—completely natural and comfortable. Yet, Centering Prayer is sometimes viewed as too mysterious, too escapist, too hard. At first, it even appeared that way to the author, but events in his life and his further studies about prayer changed his views. Through Muyskens' insightful guidance, you'll explore a method of prayer that goes deeper than verbal conversations with God. This book teaches: silent communion with God a method of being open to the gift of God's presence a way of receiving a deep ad intimate relationship with God Each day's reading has a focal scripture verse and the author's reflection, ending with simple suggestions for contemplative prayer. You'll begin with as few as 5 minutes of Centering Prayer. By following the guidance in this book for 40 days, you will be led to a closer relationship with God. As you progress through the daily scripture and meditative readings in Forty Days to a Closer Walk with God, you'll find greater understanding and fresh awareness of Jesus' promise, "I am with you always."

How do you find God in the midst of pain, suffering, and despair? Who should you turn to for assistance when you're at your lowest point? No matter what kind of life you've led, or what kinds of sins you've committed, where is the one place you can find eternal salvation? The answers to these questions and many more are found inside the covers of One Day Closer to God. View the fascinating, little-known world of penitentiary life behind the eyes of a veteran inmate who has endured over 25 years behind the wall. Hear the grim details and personal anecdotes of the daily violence, profanity, lewd behavior, disrespect, hostility, and hatred found in our nation's lock-ups. Finally, find out how only Jesus Christ can give you true fulfillment, satisfaction, and joy in this life and the next.

With his four acclaimed novels, Bradley Denton has demonstrated himself to be one of the most original and talented fantasists at work today. This new volume reprints seven imaginative visions of death and life, including a look at Lenny Bruce in the afterlife, a tale of what-might-have-been from the life of Mark Twain, and a visit to the "conflagration artist", and and adds a long chapter in the saga of Jimmy Blackburn, "Blackburn Bakes Cookies".

“What my soul sees cannot be conceived by any thought nor expressed in words. I see nothing, and I see it all. The more infinite Good is seen in the darkness, the more certain it is and the more it exceeds all things else.” -Saint Angela of Foligno, Book of visions and instructions I have an incredible story to tell, and as my finger crosses the soft surface of my third scroll, I realize why this story must be told. It occurs during extraordinary times between two worlds that have grown complacent about God. Perhaps that’s why Azrael and I were positioned to meet, as God has a sense of humor and an exquisite sense of irony. A rebellion brewing on heaven and earth, made worse by doubt about whether we even need each other.As both realms wrestle with the ‘yes, no, and maybe’s,’ the four horsemen saddle up. Stay with me here because redemption is always worth it, especially when it comes to the salvation of two profoundly broken beings, one who has been transformed into the bringer of death and the collector of souls. A being who has hidden from his disfigurement and refuses to look any “further in fear of what he might see. And then there’s me, a middle-aged breast cancer survivor who, until I met him, could barely find the will to live outside of work, much less find the courage to look at myself in the mirror. Despite all that baggage, Azrael and I find each other twice. Within our bond, we find the courage to believe in one another and look beyond outward appearances to the souls beneath. Our unlikely friendship and later love will give hope and proof to both heaven & earth that we need each other to flourish, even if those opposed to our message seek to devastate everything we hold dear. Our journey will nearly destroy us but will lead us to a place where our battle for the partnership between angels and mankind will outweigh our struggles, allowing us to find a cause much more significant than our own lives. Along the way, we find like minds and souls that will join us on our quest.” Excerpt From One Day Closer to Death Jen Rinaldi https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewBook?id=0 This material may be protected by copyright.