Thomas Books

AN EXCELLENT BOOK!!!
W. THOMAS SMITH JR. EXPLAINS THE CIA IN EASY TO UNDERSTAND TERMS.
I GIVE IT FIVE STARS BECAUSE AFTER SPENDING SOME TIME WITH THIS ENCYCLOPEDIA I NOW HAVE A VERY GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF OUR CIA AND HOW IT FITS IN THE OVERALL DEFENSE AND SECURITY OF OUR COUNTRY.
THOUGH IT SEEMS BRIEF IN CERTAIN SECTIONS, IT IS WELL WRITTEN AND MUCH NEW LIGHT IS SHED ON THE SUBJECT OF THE CIA. I STRONGLY RECOMMEND THIS FOR ANYONE WHO WANTS TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE AGENCY AND OTHER INTELLIGENCE GROUPS!!!

Smith's book is the ultimate resource for those fascinated with history and our countries most conroversial governmental agency - the Central Intelligence Agency .....fascinating and long forgotten tales of intrique - finally there is a source, beautifully organized, with the answers to any questions you may have about the CIA....thanks W. Thomas Smith, Jr. your book is well done.

The ultimate resource for history buffs who want a quick and ready reference book that details the history of the CIA and allows for a quick look up for forgotten names and facts.....a random trip through this fascinating book brings up incredible historic information you may have forgotten.

Great resource book to have on hand. W.Thomas Smith, Jr. brings his experience and talent as a jounalist to this much needed reference book.

This is a very good reference book and helpful to those of us who want to understand our CIA and how it works.
I also found it interesting that Julia Child was in the CIA.
This book deserves five stars.

This is one of the best books on the CIA I've read even though its an encyclopdia form with entries. Particularly fascinating are the unknown operations which W. Thos. Smith Jr. has brought to the forefront of history. What makes this book so good is it's objectivity. CIA has its skeletons. But it also has it courageous heroes and patriots most of which we have never heard of.
Smith also does justice to the brave men and women of the OSS of second World War fame.
I highly recommend this to anyone who hopes to have a better understanding of the CIA and its roots. Smith is a journalist from the south, writing articles for USA Today and Wash. Post, proving once again that some of the best American writers continue to come from below Mason-Dixon.

This book sticks to the music, and what music it was, or should I say, what music *made* - sometimes from situational film material. But this work sticks mainly to A-list, non-soundtrack recordings.
Whether he stuck closely to the demo, or reference disc, or completely reworked the tune, he made it at least interesting and listenable, and those that didn't make that cut (like "Hey Jude") are given a fair chance.
Since '68, I still can't believe what he did with "You'll Never Walk Alone"; discovering years later it was he on piano working out a "head" arrangement on the spot, made it seem even greater. This book will remind you why you liked a particular track in the first place or why you should have. At age 17, I didn't appreciate the depth of this performance, which in this book is described with masterful strokes. Another revelation for me was in reading about "Crying In The Chapel". I've always enjoyed Elvis' record of it, but thought he could have put more *voice* on it. Roy and Aspell evaluated the number as a whole and brought out nuances which have caused me to realize that it, too, is A-list.
I would have been happy to find reviews of movie fluff entries like "Sand Castles" or "Shake That Tambourine", but let's hope we get an "alternate take edition" of this fine manuscript.

THIS NOVEL SHOULD GO DOWN IN HISTORY AS ONE OF THE GREATEST BOOKS TO EVER BE WRITTEN ABOUT THE KING OF ROCK -N- ROLL . IT'S REALLY GOOD . IT TELL'S THE STORY BEHIND 112 OF THE KINGS GREATEST AND NOT SO GREATEST SONGS .IT FOCUSES ON WHAT REALLY IS GREAT ABOUT ELVIS' LIFE HIS MUSIC !

"The Essential Elvis" is a thoughtful exploration of the King's music from 1954 until his death in 1977. It's an important and much-needed work that concentrates solely on Presley's artistry. Authors Samuel Roy and Tom Aspell break free from the ill-informed mythology of most Elvis publications by re-examining Presley's work in provocative, exciting ways. You may not agree with all of the writers' criticisms, but it encourages you to track down the 112 Elvis recordings listed in their book.

There have been 4,567 books written about Elvis, mostly by people who have never known him, but whose third cousin's sixth-removed niece might have once dated Elvis' former schoolteacher's third wife. Then there's "The Essential Elvis." What makes this book so different is that Samuel Roy and Tom Aspell trace Elvis' life and legacy through personal history as well as 112 of his most significant songs. The book doesn't proclaim to be an expose or definitive history (it's neither); what it is is a clear portrait of the Man Who Would Be King, told through behind-the-scenes knowledge that uncovers and pieces
together the story of a man, his times, talent and cultural influences. And the 20 photographs -- many of which have never been published --- add a nice touch.

This excellent book is about what was most important to Elvis and his fans: his songs and music. One of the most significant things the authors said about Elvis is the following words: «The first and best thing that can be done for Elvis Presley is to lessen the emphasis that has been placed on his later years and focus on the talent and genius that define the King.....one of the reasons for his demise was because he cared and felt too much...it got to the point that being Elvis Presley was one of the hardest jobs in the world». I agree completely with the authors and, as a fan, my only wish is that this book will make the people, who don't respect Elvis, see the light...

This book was short but packed a heavy punch. It was a very help SHPR studying tool.

My professor recommended this book, for our Strategic Management class, and although is not a huge book it has just the right info you need.

Obviously this was written with the consumer in mind. Such a tiny book, but still packs the punch for stategy in management planning on all levels. Industry examples well written

Short book, but to the point. Easy to read. Good data summaries, good ideas applicable to the modern work world and management. Nice focus on assessment and creation of solutions for both non-profit and for-profit entities.

Business executives, like many professionals, are wary of all the garbage that poses as valid information. They need to cut through the noise to get the real meat, and they don't have a lot of time to wade through extraneous space-filling material that does not contribute to what they need to know.

The authors get right into content. They concisely but comprehensively, step-by-step, explain the strategic management process and techniques. No wasted time here. While based on rigorous research, the writing is succinct and thus making it a useful book for the busy executive who needs a comprehensive, useful and practical textbook to guide him/her in strategic decision making. It's a good business approach.

After being diagnosed with non-Hodgkins in 1998, my husband was told there was very little hope of his cancer going into remission let alone a cure. After six months the lumps came back after the 1st round, then another 6 months of the strongest he could get. A co-worker loaned him this book--he has been drinking the tea now and has had no lumps return, blood tests and xrays reveal nothing returning-- it is worth a shot!

this is a great book, i could not put it down.if you or someone you know is having medical problems, this book will reveal to you an alternative for modern medicine. you have nothing to lose and maybe everthing to gain by trying this herabl tea. my dad (age 74 ) and father in law (age 75) are both drinking this tea for prostate cancer and heart problems, both were amazed at the immediate difference in how they felt, both have more energy and feel 100 % better while drinking this tea. this tea will clean the toxins from your body and as my father in law says, you will feel 20 years younger. if you love someone who is in bad health, buy it for them. it is not just for cancer, but has been proven to help many ailments. darlene bishop, po box 35, henry , tn 38231

my brother in law got malignant melanoma and after several surgerys and chemo treatments it kept coming back,so the Dr stopped all treatment and we went home with very little hope then i was shown the Essiac Report,when i started reading it i could not put it down and somehow i knew it was our answer so he started on the herbal tea right away and i am happy to say he has been free from any malignant melanomas for 4 years now and i am very thankfull for the book...it was a sign from God for us and i highly encourage anyone to read it, you will not be sorry...

This is an excellent book. I would recommend it to everyone -- not only those who have or know someone who has cancer. It presents a lot of food for thought. The facts and testimonials are true. It informs the reader about Flor Essence Tea and its benefits -- something I truly believe in from personal experience.

I encourage anyone that has come in contact with Cancer in any form, to please, please, please, consider this. It has proven itself over and over again, but you will not see it on any commercial.........

Shipping came within a week, even with the supersaver shipping. would use them again.

This work is the Gold Standard to which all other Exercise Physiology books are measured. I was introduced to the Second Edition of the book in an entry-level class in Graduate school. To this day I find it a necessary reference from my library.

Personally, the most useful information to me is on Energetics as it pertains to athletics, training adaptations, exercise testing and prescription. I use this information to help me decide how to train athletes from different sports. But, there is so much more than that in this book. Metabolism, Ventilation, Heart and Circulation (including CVD) is all covered thoroughly.

I especially like Brooks' approach to physiology. Brooks, likes to examine physiology by studying the rate-limiting processes. And to a coach, like me, finding weakness and improving that weakness is crucial to winning. Another topic I enjoy is Brooks' take on the misnomer of Anaerobic Threshold and Lactic Acid.

It's an extremely well-organized, well-written text. It's easy to read and a challenge at the same time. Brooks makes you think and delivers difficult information in a way that is easier to understand than other textbooks.

Eric Swannie, MA, ATC, CSCS

I would have to agree with most experts in this field, that Brooks did a smashing job when writing this text. His chapters on bioenergetics are superlatively done. Outstanding graphs, analogies ,coupled with an eazy to understand vennacular. The chapter on bioenergetics is extremly lucid when explaining the esoteric aspects of coupled energy metabolism and muscle performance. Brad Nindl from (Penn State University) and Dr. Paul Arciero (Skidmore College) still utlize his text, and often refere to his chapters on energy metabolism and exercise. Many of our lively discussions and research ideas were spurred by Brooks text. Not only does this text service as an outstanding learning tool, when learning the basic concepts of exercie physiology, but acts as a catalyst for innovative ideas for new research. The references are all up to date, providing eazy access to "cutting-edge" researchers. His chapters on cardiovascular physiology are well organized and follow the same lucid format of the previous chapters, however, i wish he included information on the newer developments in cardiovascular physiology and exercise, such as the work being currently conducted on signial transduction and on the dysregualtion of the sacroplasmic reticulum during CHF etc.. Overall i would recommand this textbook to any serious student, scholar, physician or allied health professional who is wishing to futher their understanding of this fastinating subject. I am currently using his text as a major ref. for preparing for part I of the USMLE!! Yours In Great Learning

There's no other quite like it - Brooks' is the best there is...

I received both my B.S., and M.S. in Exercise Biochemistry from Univ. of Mass, and Univ. of Colorado, Boulder, respectively. My former advisor studied under Brooks at Berkely (He received his Doctorate there). In any event the approach our department undertook towards exercise biochemistry/physiology was at the cell and molecular level. Brooks text was central to the program. What is great about the book, is that it explains complicated biochemical processes in easy to understand language and places it in the context of applied physiology. The book stacks up to classic texts like Molecular Biology of the Cell (Albert, Bray, Lewis), and many of the classic biochemistry texts. In my opinion it is far superior to texts by McArdle & Katch, or Textbook of Work Physiology (author escapes me, for now).

A new bride, a screwdriver and the coffin in the sitting room -- if for no other reason, this book is a MUST for that scene.

I take issue with the reviewer who described Bathsheba as "not an evil person," but rather "a force of nature." In fact, she's the protagonist of the story. Like any tragic hero, she's flawed, and by her own unique brand of hubris. With her spunkiness, grit, beauty and abject stupidity about men, she's more of a thinking person's Scarlett O'Hara, if you ask me.

FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD, the first of Thomas Hardy's 'Wessex' novels, tells the story of a small troupe of farmers and their workers in a sheep-farming community in the fictitious county of 'Wessex'.

Gabriel Oak has been a shepherd since his teenage years, as his father was before him, but he's moved up and purchased, on credit, his own farm. The work is hard, but he is confident that he will succeed, and takes pride in being his own man. Then one day, a new woman arrives in town. Bathsheeba Everdene is beautiful, headstrong, intelligent, but incurably vain; Farmer Oak falls in love with her immediately. A few months later, he proposes, and is utterly rejected. Bathsheeba moves on to care for her dying uncle, and take over his farm. Gabriel continues farming - until tragedy strikes.

He and Bathsheeba will cross paths again, this time not as lovers, but as mistress and servant. Bathsheeba's beauty, vanity and impetuousness leave a trail of carnage in her wake, and Gabriel can only watch on as lives are destroyed, farms are ruined, and his own heart is crushed repeatedly.

Hardy is famous for his fatalism, and this is displayed no more than in the character of Bathsheba Everdene. She is not an evil person, as the above summary would suggest - but her stunning beauty and fierce intelligence combine with her vanity and impulsivity to create something like a force of nature, and though she means only good she seems to be able to do nothing but wrong by those who care for her. She has no more control over her nature than she does over the weather. One of the most interesting aspects of this character is that her vices - vanity, impulsivity, which Hardy attributes to her being young and beautiful - lead to the downfall of others, but she is continuously saved from downfall by her own intelligence and inner personal strength.

REal tragedy finally does strike Bathsheba, but rather than let it destroy her as retribution for her wicked ways, she grows from it. We may not be able to escape the hardship of life, Hardy seems to be saying, but we can grow and prosper by learning from it.

This was a fantastically entertaining book. The only warning that I could give with it is that it is slow-moving. The action comes in fits and spurts, and Hardy has a penchant for elaborate descriptions of the countryside, for farmhouses, churches and festivals. They are beautifully written, but take time to digest fully. Highly recommended.

It took me a while to get into the author's style of writing, along with the dialect of the country folk, but once into it and the story it was very enjoyable. There are times where the author goes on with descriptions of the countryside, farming life, etc. and the story lulls a bit at those times, but then picks up again.

All in all well told and I am looking forward to more from this author.

Thomas Hardy (1840-1928) is one of the glories of English Literature. Hardy wrote this novel in serial form for the Cornhill magazine edited by Leslie Stephen (father of novelist Virginia Woolf). In this Penguin Classic editon the editors have chosen to present the novel in the manuscript form in which Hardy first wrote it. The book is, therefore, free of the changes made by the Cornhill staff in which they sought to remove any improper language and changed some of the names.
The book was made into an outstanding movie in 1967 with Julie Christie as Bathsheba who has to choose three lovers. The bellicose sexy sergeant Frank Troy; the stolid and mentally disturbed rich farmer Boldwood and the reliable shepherd Gabriel Oak. What ensues is a tragedy filled with those ironical situations so beloved of the sceptical mind of Thomas Hardy.
All Hardy novels set in his mythical Wessex are filled with
rural humorous types and include many allusions culled from the
Bible and mythological subjects.
Hardy was greatest when he described the lush English countryside of southern England. His evocations of dawn breaking, snow falling and leaves tumbling to the groud are
beautifully drawn. The scenes of sheepshearing, barn burning
and the routines of rural life in 19th century England are
richly drawn.
This novel was authored shortly before Hardy wed his wife
and shows the novelist at the beginning of his great career.
Some readers may have trouble with the extensive use of dialect for the farmer characters but this novel is to be read
and savored and remembered long!

I'm not sure that this book qualifies as one of the greatest of all time, but it is certainly one of my all-time favorites. My first aquaintance with the story was seeing the 1967 movies, with Julie Christie, Terence Stamp, Peter Finch, and Alan Bates as the four main characters. (If you haven't seen it, this movie is very much worth the trouble.) Of course seeing the movie first has somewhat influenced the mental images of the characters in my head, despite the blonde, blue-eyed Christie playing the dark-haired, dark-eyed Bathsheba Everdene.

Yes, the story is about a beautiful women and the three men who court her, marry her, die for her, and swing for her (almost). There are lots of interesting sociological and historical topics here, and a great deal of the drama and pathos of the plot stems from the completely defenceless position of a women who, whatever wealth she may possess, essentially loses all control over her life when she marries someone whom, in contemporary terms, we might call a serial abuser.

But for me the real attraction of the book is the wonderful portrayal of nineteenth century rural life and the beautifully handled dialogue which is full of humor, pathos, and ultimately tragedy.

So, although in some respects the plot is not all the dissimilar from your typical Mills & Boon type scenario, there is much, much more in this book, and by the time you finish reading it, you have experienced a totally absorbing emotional rollercoaster ride and it is hard to say goodbye to these characters who truly come to life in the imagination.

Very, very highly recommended.

If you are bewildered by the debates over physician-assisted suicide, suicide prevention, and the legal right to suicide, then this book should answer your questions. Szasz demonstrates clearly and logically what a mess we have made of dying and how we can choose ethical, compassionate options that give power to the dying rather than to government and physicians. Why should individuals be deprived of the right to the means of dependable, dignified suicide? What are the dangers of giving doctors the power and tools to kill people? Why are physicians --who are themselves three times more likely to commit suicide than the general population-- the appropriate persons to engage in "suicide prevention"? How is the "war on drugs" stripping us of the power to control pain and death? Szasz tackles these and many other questions. He points out that in Holland, where physician-assisted suicide in common, 23 percent of physicians say they have participated in the killing of a patient WHO DID NOT AGREE TO BE KILLED. Is this compassionate medicine or nazi-style euthanasia? Szasz provides convincing answers to the complete array of questions surrounding suicide.

Thomas Szasz is one of century's brilliant social thinkers. He's best known for his criticism of psychiatric pseudo-science and coercive practices, but his intellectual reach is vast. In this remarkable book about suicide he defends the right of individuals to control their bodies and lives -- including the ways they choose to die. He takes issue with physicians having the power to determine our fate and places the choice and responsibility for suicide into the hands of the individual. He would end drug prohibition (including limits on access to prescription drugs), and permit adults (not children) to obtain the drugs necessary to commit suicide. He presents a convincing argument that physician-assisted suicide takes us farther from personal autonomy, making us more dependent and vulnerable. He notes that about a quarter of physicians in Holland, where physician-induced euthanasia is common, admit to having killed a patient without asking for the person's permission. As I write this review the American Medical Association is enlarging its interest in suicide prevention, but Szasz points out that doctors and psychiatrists commit suicide at much higher ratest than the general population. Szasz asks readers to look to the historical record of physician participation in euthanasia (Nazi germany, for instance) to see what moral depravity and mortal mayham have resulted. Szasz flatly supports the right of an individual to commit suicide without interference from physicians, psychiatrists or government. As is always true with Szasz writings, this book is tightly reasoned and beautifully written. It is a work of great compassion and honesty.

Fatal Freedom: The Ethics And Politics Of Suicide by Thomas Szasz (Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry, State University of New York Health Science Center, Syracuse) is a thoughtful and persuasively written defense of the individual's right to voluntarily choose the time and manner of their own death. Criticizing the inhumanity of the established legal and medical policy prohibiting suicide for any reason allows extensive and widespread suffering, Fatal Freedom also reveals how suicide has been viewed down through the ages alongside other social practices about which public perception has changed. Very strongly recommended for academic and community library social issues collections in general, and psychology/health reference sections in particular, Fatal Freedom presents an emphatic presentation not to be ignored.

In his new book, FATAL FREEDOM, Dr. Thomas Szasz has taken the first step in destigmatizing suicide. In so doing he reminds us that not so long ago in England the failed suicide was punished by execution and his family deprived of his property. To "insanitize" him, that is, render him non compos mentis, seemed the only just solution.

Dr. Szasz does not admit the existence of mental illness unlike Dr. Kay Jamison who, in her book NIGHT FALLS FAST, assumes in the suicide its "almost ubiquitous presence." She discounts the will as a vital force in determining behavior; he emphasizes it as follows: Suicide is not a disease but a deed and as such, poses a moral, not a medical, problem. To allow medical experts to pathologize it is indicative of our willingness not to think, but to be thought for. More, these agents of our ever-expanding "therapeutic state" seem unable to call things by their right names. For example: Why say suicide is an unnatural act when they mean it is a wrongful one? Or misname medical intervention for the dying as medical treatment? Szasz deplores imprecise language because it rigor-mortises thought and begs significant questions. How can we, for example, without empirical evidence, accept the idea that mental illness is like any other illness?

Dr. Jamison reminds us that suicide among the young has tripled in the last forty-five years; Dr. Szasz asks whether suicide prevention in its present form does not increase its likelihood. Her study echoes the latest orthodox belief in biologically-based mood disorders. He, on the other hand, takes issue with our tendency to pathologize socially unacceptable behavior: Only yesterday we believed masturbation and homosexuality cause insanity. Today insanity causes suicide. To call the subject ill and to incarcerate him "for his own good" not only presupposes his act unjustified, it relieves him of responsibility for it;-and because it is more blessèd to forgive than to blame, relieves us of responsibility too.

Szasz goes further: If we have birth control, why not death control? If we allow justifiable homicide on grounds of self defense, why not justifiable suicide? The question gives one pause.

Death is the final indignity imposed by time; it is, paradoxically, our only refuge from it. "One loves ultimately one's own desires," writes Nietszche, "not the thing desired." And when desires fade from old age or debilitating illness, are we not sometimes obliged to relieve our loved ones and ourselves of further agony? Yes, says Szasz. For suicide is not only an act of will, it may be a moral responsibility.

I think of the Myth of Sisyphus, its corollary in our lives: Sisyphus, whose punishment was to push a boulder up a mountain that must always roll down again, could not choose but submit. Can free will have taught us that unless we find joy in our struggles we had best not struggle at all? Shall we all lie down and sleep in the shadow of the rock? Yes, if we choose, says Szasz! Yet he does not advocate suicide, only its option: Who but we should control how and when we die? he asks. But to sanction such a choice for every adult?

Running rampant among the young today is the infectious disease of despair that breeds on the fallacy that things difficult are necessarily impossible, and what is largely true is wholly true. And symptomatic of this disease is the alarming insistence that there is nothing to prevent the pendulum from swinging us all into annihilation. Statistics don't lie. These are parlous times.

And our suicide-prevention programs are failing. Should we abolish them then? No, says Szasz, we should abolish coercive suicide prevention, and instead practice verbal persuasion as do the Samaritans in England. They, in respecting the suicide's wishes, more often than not dissuade him from the act.

I don't remember the last time I talked back to a book. FATAL FREEDOM is an exciting read, a tonic breath of fresh air. I recommend it highly for lay people and medical professionals alike.

In this important and disturbing work, Professor Szasz pulls the plug on murder masquerading as medicine, and sanctifies suicide as the ethical act of a moral agent--the natural evolution of autonomy and personhood.

These men are the best preachers of our day. They bring a strong, sound and biblical content to their expository preaching.

'Preaching is important as a means of grace not merely because it is used of God to bring about conversions, but also because it is used for our sanctification, that is, our growth in holiness.' pg 43

In this volume, they explain and defend why they continue to be expository and true to the biblical text, as opposed to post-modernists, textual-critics, hyper-pneumatologists, and just about every other Enlightenment deviation.

The text as primary object, and not the preacher, is once again brought to bear and made to be understood as the fundamental difference to bringing glory to our triune God.

The Fact that this book is excellent should be no surprise, merely take a glance at the authors. This book will probably offend pastors who are in to the modern pop pyschology, but then they probably wouldn't be reading it anyway. Granted, that was probably unfair but...
Naturally some chapters are better than others, here are a few:

"The Lasting Effect of Experimental Preaching"--the essay on spiritual formation--worth the price of the book.

"The Primacy of Preaching"--by Albert Mohler--very good, a wake up call to the church.

"Expository Preaching"--good and bad examples of expository preaching, very fun chapter.

"Preaching to Suffering People"--by John Piper. It is by Piper, enough said.

"A reminder to Shepherds"--By John Macarthur, a fitting close to a fine book.

A must read for those who have a passion and desire to preach the word from the Biblical perspective...... This book is not limited to pastors but also to anyone who desire to teach the word of God such as Small Group leaders, Sunday School teachers, etc... The Authors of this book are among my favorites: John MacArthur, Piper, Mohler, Sproul, etc.. You will enjoy it from these passionate men of God.

Contributors to this book argue that the preached word of God has become a diminished part of Sunday morning worship service in the United States. Pastors and their congregations want other means of worship to be more prominent. When the pastor does preach, less is spoken about what is written in the Bible, but a form of psychology and/or an alternative World view is `shared'. Seeking more bodies in the pews, God's word has been left behind.

R. Albert Mohler, one of the contributors to Feed My Sheep, agrees that Gods word cannot exist without God's people, but he completes the quote from Martin Luther "...... and conversely God's people cannot exist without God's word." Furthermore Paul argued for the word to be preached:

of which I became a minister according to the divine office which was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now made manifest to his saints. (Colossians 1:25-26 RSV)

It is the Pastor's job to proclaim God's word to inspire the listener to seek the will of God and to correct the hearers of God's word in any misimpression of God's written word and direct disobedience to God's word:

Him we proclaim, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man mature in Christ.
(Colossians 1:28 RSV)

John Montgomery Boice tells how God chooses to bring salvation into a person's life. The proclaimed word of God should tell of man's sinful state and his ultimate destination is hell. No one can avoid his just reward unless another takes the punishment for his sin. Jesus has done this for those who accept Him as Lord and Savior. God chooses man to spread the good news. Through the Holy Spirit God works upon man's heart. Boice further argues God's word is the chief means of Spiritual growth in God's church. To bring further comprehension of God for those that are already saved.

Joel R. Beeke makes the argument for experiential preaching; {...."to explain biblical matters ought to go, how they do go, and what is the goal of the Christian life." The passion for fellowship with triune God means experiential preaching; It also addresses the believers conscience, his relationship with like believers, and those in the World:

And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. (Romans 5:3-5 AV)

A sermon should be written to teach doctrine. A better comprehension of God and His will has an effect on the listening Christian. The more correctly one understands God, the better chance one will walk closely with God. One's comprehention of God will effect how one praises God through song, prayer, scripture reading, fellowship with fellow Christians, and other means to communicate thanksgiving and reverence towards God. Experience in Christ effects how one routinely prays through the day and the setting aside time for formal prayer. How one serves inside the church and serves those outside the body of Christ. Christians should not neglect fellowship with like believers. They should always be willing and able to defend their faith.

R.C. Sproul contributes with a piece on how the preacher ought to be an educator. Preaching is not to be a diversion or entertainment. Knowledge acquired will be used in one's daily walk. The preacher is not to be bashful, but bold. Freely telling his listeners the word of God, because he has the assurance of the Holy Spirit and that he is correct understanding of the bible. Likewise the Christian is to boldly to defend his faith to the world. "Luther was convinced that preachers ought to preach the law as well as the Gospel. Unless the law is set forth clearly and unambiguously, people will never have an appreciation for it." According to Sproul preaching Law and Gospel will cause conflict, because it reveals sin. When people avoid talking about the law, the heartfelt need for the Gospel grows dim. Effective preaching does cause conflict and enlightens us to God's truth.

The subject of a sermon should ultimately be about God, truths given by God, and wisdom provided by God. The preacher is to depend on Scripture and guidance of the Holy Spirit. Those called to be pastors do have a spiritual gift to speak and the ability to reason. One called to share God's word may lean away from the Holy Spirit, but instead lean upon one's own understanding.

John Piper argues preaching is an expository exultation with the aim to glory to God through Jesus Christ. Exultation of God should be a regular part of the Christian life. God is glorified when his people are content in Him. Suffering happens to Christians. Suffering is done by design through God. When a Christian suffers it endangers the individuals contement in Jesus. Through use of several scripture references, John Piper illustrates that Christians do suffer from other men because of their faith. He also illustrates through scriptural passages that the Christian will suffer injury, pain, and illness that is common to all men. God purposes suffering in the Christian life. God wants His followers to be content in Him even when suffering. Preaching involves telling the whole truth. God's sovereignty and the accompany suffering of His followers is part of the Chistian message. Jesus taught the disciples why he must suffer, why His disciples must suffer, and that commom human suffering brings glory to God. The Paster should preach so the Christian is equiped to endure suffering. This includes the message to have joy in the Lord despite and because of one's own suffering.

This is an excellent collection of essays by the greatest preachers in the Reformed tradition today. Some of the topics include The Primacy of Preaching (Mohler), The Teaching Pastor (Sproul), Evangelistic Preaching (Alexander), and The Foolishness of Preaching (Boice). John Piper's essay on Preaching to Suffering People is one of the best things he has ever written and by itself is worth the price of the book ten times over. Derek Thomas' essay on Expository Preaching is full of very good instruction. Joel Beakes' contribution on Experimental Preaching is also excellent. I highly recommend this book for pastors. If you are not a pastor, consider purchasing it for your pastor as a gift. He will be appreciative.

Fiesta Moon takes you to a colorful Mexico where haciendas are haunted and superstitions abound. Corinne is an American with Mexican roots who is trying to help a local orphanage and find her biological family. Mark is an American businessman who doesn't put forth much effort to help anyone but himself. Linda Windsor develops these wonderful characters in such a way that you can imagine their pasts unfolding to motivate their current behavior. She weaves the romance throughout the story line - which is easy to do with such a romantic setting - in such a way that it warms the heart. I appreciate that her writing style is "hopeful romance" that avoids leading the reader to experience the disappointment of massive conflict between the romantic leads.

This is a sweet, suspenseful love story that will leave you wanting more of these characters and this author.

This is book two in Linda Windsor's Moonstruck Series and my favorite. I enjoy reading about the rogues. That's reading about them, not living with them. I like my men a little more steady in real life.
Mark Madison is the renegade of the Madison family. He's been sent to a remote Mexican village as a last chance to prove himself. Or as Mark puts it, his 'get out of jail card.'He's supposed to get the hacienda ready to open as an orphanage. But before he even gets to the hacienda he is adopted by a pig. Yep that's right, a pig falls in love with Mark. And if that isn't enough, he has a run-in with Corinne Diaz, who remembers him all too well. She's a volunteer at the orphanage and she isn't impressed by Mark Madison. But never underestimate the power of the Mexicalli Moon.
Add a hidden treasure, a ghost, and a really bad villain and you have all the necessary ingredients for a fun filled, romantic, suspenseful book. Put Fiesta Moon on your want list. It's a good one.

This was a very romantic book. Cute storyline, some good solid points about our relationship with God. Otherwise, was definetly a cute love story.

After his third DUI, Mark Madison is overjoyed when his older, more responsible brother Blaine pulls some strings and offers him a Get-out-of-Jail-Free card by sending him to a minute Mexican village to oversee a building project for orphans. Mark, a 32-year-old single man who is permanently enjoying a life of fiesta, plans to make the most of this respite. But even the best-laid schemes can be and often are hijacked by circumstances, people, and most importantly, God. Even before arriving in Mexicalli, Mark has another car accident, and thus he enters this smallish town aback a truck of pigs smelling of swine and trying to shake off one that had become attached to his very person.

Corinne Diaz, a 27-year-old with a heart for people --- especially those without family, since she was once orphaned and then adopted --- looks upon the newcomer with the pig in both confusion and amusement. Then, as the swine runs wild, such commotion and near disaster ensues that Corinne is momentarily distracted as she races to the rescue of an elderly woman on a runaway burro-bound cart. Mark, seeing impending catastrophe, rushes forward and brings the cart to a halt. It is after this heroic act that Corinne gets her first up close and personal look at him --- and her response is one of contempt. "We danced at your brother's wedding...just before you became sick on my shoes." With a sigh, Mark asks himself if his day could get any worse.

Seemingly, Mark's reputation for living the high life cannot escape him. And yet, as the days pass --- those long, hot, never-getting-much-accomplished-South-of-the-border days --- Corinne and Mark find common ground in the oddities of the Mexican village. Their living conditions, the food, the help, even the social customs and the superstitions combine to make their conversations and humiliations more conducive to geniality and humor. While Mark attempts (often futilely) to get the orphanage into sound working order, Corinne's business savvy in working with the villagers helps the couple find further common ground --- but not without some injurious, cutting remarks, wounded emotions, and lots of inner reflecting. It seems that both are on a mission to erect a building and to tear down whatever ails the soul.

Author Linda Windsor offers a humorous yet lightly romantic tale that gratefully is profuse in its subtle comedic style. Windsor's characters are likable because they're so real, and as their foibles are so honestly portrayed, readers will smile when they commiserate with their frequently self-inflicted emotional pain. With easy conversation, the author provides not simply a story to amuse and entertain, but also slips in some biblical principles on offering forgiveness, not judgment; grace instead of condemnation. Above all, female fans will embrace Windsor's message not to become wallowed in yesterday's failures, whether they be poor choices, wrong attitudes, or faulty preconceptions. Today is a new day to embrace hope and life and start again.


--- Reviewed by Michele Howe

At Madison Engineering, CEO Blaine Madison lectures his brother Mark for his third DUI offense. Tired of his sibling's shenanigans Blaine offers Mark a deal; if he brings in the hacienda contract on time and sober, he can take over the on-site management of their projects. Mark readily agrees as he wants to travel anyway while wondering why Blaine prefers to stay home with his wife and children.

Corinne Diaz came to Mexicalli, seeking information on her biological mother at the last known place she lived. She works at the Hoger de los Ninos orphanage at the local orphanage when Mark arrives to take charge of the renovation project. Corinne thinks very little of the alcoholic hedonist though she is attracted to him. He wants her too, but hates the scorn in her eyes. Matchmaking them is a haunted piglet who adopted Mark as her pet. However, what begins to bring the two outsiders together besides a deep attraction is someone, perhaps a voodoo practitioner, who wants the project stopped and them out of town.

Mark is an interesting character who all his compared unfavorably to his successful siblings, using charm with no substance to compete. However, Corinne, who initially write him off as a playboy with no core, begins to see little things in him based on his interactions with the children and his piglet; she encourages him and the underachiever begins to accomplish the mission. That Pygmalion Effect transition is the key to the inspirational romance FIESTA MOON; a fine Moonstruck tale filled with humor and a serious undercurrent that the locals believe is a voodoo curse on Mark while he deems that he is simply doing God's work.

Harriet Klausner

Warm and insightful story of a white boy growing up in a poor black/latino neighborhood in the 60s. Fascinating perspective on the experiences and perspectives of blacks, whites and latinos. Also, a touching story of a boy coming of age, dealing with a best friend who is gay. Open and honest -- addresses issues of drugs, alcohol, gangs, crime, violence and racism but recognizes the good too. He maintains a positive outlook (in the book and in life).

Flying over 96th Street encourages the reader to examine race and relationships. It challenges the reader to look beyond the color of one's skin and examine what happens when you allow yourself to trust and love others who neither look like you or who at first glance seem so different.

A must read for those yearning to explore their relationship with others - and a exceptional message for young people - encouraging them to reach beyond their small circle, embrace and take the risk to love others who "appear" so different.

Flying Over 96th Street is a great read. Tom Webber tells his story in with humor and remarkable powers of observation. As a New Yorker, I loved the details of "El Bario".. But you don't have to be a New Yorker to get into the experience of this young guy who goes "beyond the looking glass" of the white middle class world into another reality-- where HE is the minority...

Even though race and class is rarely (if ever) being discussed nationally, it is a core issue of who we are as Americans. And for those of us who talk about it, it is often just that-- talk. Kudos to the generations of the Webber family who put their neighborhood where their mouth is...

Webber's portrait of New York in the 1950s and 60s is full of vivid description. He captures the sounds and smells of his neighborhood and, more importantly, draws his characters with an empathetic brush. Yet the book is not just an elegy to a time past. Dr Webber deals deftly and incisevely with class, race and prejudice, while never preaching or teaching. Every page is full of delights. It is a deeply touching book that will rank as one of the great New York City memoirs.

Flying over 96th Street is the most moving memoir I have ever read. It tells the story of a white young boy growing up in Spanish Harlem durnig the 50s and early 60s and how he and his new black and Puerto Rican friends grow to appreciate, help, teach, and love each other. It is a totally absorbing account of coming of age and should be read by every high school student in america.