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“When it’s time for me to go, I just want to know that my life made a difference, Lord…”–Emma Estes’s journal, January 1During her long and rich life, Emma Estes had a powerful impact on the lives of countless people–from the neighborhood’s latchkey kids to the community of elderly women who all consider themselves her “best friend.” It seems the only people Emma could not reach were those in her own family.After Emma’s death, however, something strange happens: her personal “Living on Purpose” journal mysteriously disappears. As the search for it unfolds, Emma’s life continues to have a dramatic, unexpected, and miraculously healing influence on those she loves most–as well as those she has never met–including her henpecked son Stuart; her tormented daughter, Judy; her emotionally fragile granddaughter, Ashley; and brokenhearted widower Ben Shoffner and his young daughter, Sunshine. A story of hope, inspiration, and real-life encouragement, Emma’s Journal offers comforting assurance that a life lived in faith truly can make a difference.

Help Your Child Heal From Life’s LossesA favorite toy breaks . . . . A pet dies . . . It’s Okay to Cry.Parents divorce and you’re forced to move . . . It’s Okay to Cry.A best friend is hurt badly . . . . A grandparent dies . . .It’s Okay to Cry.Look through the eyes of a child again. When something unexpected, disappointing, or traumatic occurs, children feel a very real sense of loss. They may respond with fear or with anger. Most likely they are confused. They have questions they want answered. They need help from their parents or others who care to understand and process their grief. It’s Okay to Cry offers practical help for parents. It explains the symptoms of loss and unresolved grief so that parents can recognize them and walk alongside their children on the path to recovery.Well-known and respected author H. Norman Wright speaks to parents with sympathy and reassurance. He recognizes that most parents don’t know how to teach their children to process loss, because often they weren’t taught themselves. His sage advice will give you and your child the comfort and hope you seek.

Kid-Tested (and Tested, and Tested…) Guidance for Parents in the Trenches. The Inside Track to Raising Kids.Most of us find raising one, two…or maybe three or four children to be challenging enough. The idea of parenting a half dozen seems almost crazy, and more children than that–impossible. But Pat and Ruth Williams have together raised (and are continuing to raise) nineteen kids. More importantly, they’ve not just survived the process–they’ve loved it! What do they know that the rest of us don’t? What does it take to make a family of any size not only work, but thrive? After bringing up nineteen kids–as biological parents, adoptive parents, single parents, and step-parents–Pat and Ruth Williams have gained a volume of insights and experience that will enrich your home, strengthen your family, and help you be the parent you want to be. Inside you’ll find counsel that really works–whether you’re raising one child, one dozen (or more), or any number in between.

Take a look at life from behind the beverage cart.“They asked me to be groomed, be kind, and show up on time; it was too much pressure.”“It was like being a waitress, only I was hurtling through space and wound up in Paris.”“I thought it would be funny to climb into the overhead bin. How did I know the President of the United States would be on the flight that day?”Where flight attendant Marsha Marks goes, funny things happen, and she tells them all in this hilarious and insightful chronicle of her career as a naive flight attendant and a struggling author. From missed flights to missing uniforms, miracle babies to indecipherable southern accents, Flying by the Seat of My Pants is a laugh-out-loud reminder of what is important and what keeps us steady through the turbulence of life.

You may be single by choice or circumstance. You may plan to marry and have a family, or you may sense a call to lifelong singleness. Even so, your situation is God’s will for you now. What will you do with it? What will you learn from it? And how will you survive the temptations confronting singles in this world?You know firsthand that single men face unique spiritual and moral struggles. Character is the cornerstone of being God’s man as a single in today’s culture. To live successfully out of a commitment to Christ, you as a single man must master the issues of sexual integrity, isolation, contentment, spiritual battle, and identity in Christ. Being God’s Man…as a Satisfied Single is designed to help you do just that.

“I’ve worked hard to get where I am. I’ve overcome great obstacles. I’ve earned it.” No one had a greater right to say those statements more than King David. He rose from the fields of Palestine to the palace of power and privilege. He’d made it. But now that he was on top, would he continue to grow spiritually in the midst of his success?Self-sufficiency is a temptation every man faces. But we can’t be both self-sufficient and on the move spiritually at the same time. Just as in David’s life, God often allows us to experience the consequences of self-sufficiency so that we can rediscover our need for his leadership and empowerment in our lives. In the end, the crushing blows we face serve to humble us…and forge the basis for the next wave of spiritual momentum in our lives.Being God’s Man…in the Search for Success will help you–whether in individual or group study–come to grips with the attitudes and actions you must own as you move forward to achieve God’s goals for you in life.

God Is at WorkWhether you work with your hands or your head, God wants your heart to be at work for Him. However, with all the confrontation, conflict, and frustration in the workplace, too often we leave God out of the equation. Amid the all-out pursuit of our hopes and dreams, we find ourselves wondering, How can my faith sustain me through challenges of work? How can I daily honor God on the job? The Walk at Work is a guidebook that combines daily inspirational readings with a seven-step plan for personal spiritual growth to answer those questions about faith at work. Whether you face difficult relationships, job anxiety, or office politics, Andria Hall will show you how to experience success by aligning your priorities with God’s. Through the down-to-earth, practical wisdom in these pages you will:· receive daily wisdom from God· discover the benefits of praying for others· learn how to carry out your God-given tasks in the workplace with integrity· unearth a new commitment to honor God in all that you do, say, and think· settle your mind and nurture your spirit through timely daily readingsExcellent as a daily devotional or group study, The Walk at Work also includes a topical index of common work-related challenges, questions for further reflection, and recommendations for additional reading.

Give control back to God and get back to what you enjoy most–loving your teen. Parenting teenagers isn’t easy. No matter how much we love our kids and want to protect them, we cannot control them or their circumstances. But God is in control, and– particularly when we trust him–he can take care of our kids far better than we ever could. So what else can we do? We can pray. In fact, prayer should be our first response–because prayer is the most powerful tool at a parent’s disposal. That is what this book is about: releasing our teens to God’s control, learning to pray specifically and with confidence for their every need, and recovering the sense of humor that will help us face the situations that now cause us so much stress. This book includes:• lighthearted stories designed to help take the edge off of parenting your teenager• valuable insights on more than twenty areas of conflict you are likely to experience with your teen–from language, grades, and clothing to drugs, drinking, and smoking• specific prayer strategies to help you make a difference in your teen’s life• perspectives on the “hot” issues, from real teens• what the Bible has to say on each subject• tips from parenting experts• specific prayers to get you started• discussion starters to help open up dialogue with your teenWhether parents have never prayed for their teens, have prayed sporadically, or have prayed every day, now is the time to pray even more and in whole new ways–and Prayer Changes Teens will show them how.

Lark Summerville’s life has few surprises–and that’s just how she likes it. All she wants is to live out her angst-riddled life in her blue-collar Baltimore neighborhood, punctuated by weekly trips to her local parish, where Lark is organist, and telephone conversations with desperate souls who dial her hotline at 1-777-IPRAY4U. Then one night, Lark’s home is destroyed by a fire, forcing her out of her comfortable nest and back to the childhood home she has avoided for years. At Stoneleigh House, Lark is surrounded by three very different women: her grown daughter, Flannery; her barely tolerable socialite mother, Leslie; and Prisma Percy, housekeeper and family confidante, all of whom believe Lark was widowed years before. In this circle of women, Lark’s carefully constructed existence begins to unravel, even as the promise of a new one unfolds. But when her contrite ex-husband shows up, longing to assume his role as Flannery’s father, twenty years after his desertion, Lark finds that she must face her own lies–and her past–before a new life can unfold.

Talk about working out your faith with fear and trembling–a scheme is plotted to put the fright back into Skary–and get their most famous resident out of love and back into the thrill business.  The biggest thing to happen to Skary, Indiana, is renowned horror novelist Wolfe Boone–or, “Boo,” as the locals fondly call him. For the past sixteen years, the reclusive writer has been the town’s greatest attraction, having unintentionally turned the once-struggling Skary into a thriving tourist-trap for the dark side: from the Haunted Mansion restaurant, famous for its “bloody fingers” (fries splattered with ketchup) to Spooky’s Bookstore (where employees dress like the walking dead). But when a newly reformed Boone suddenly quits the genre and starts to pursue Skary’s favorite girl-next-door, Ainsley Parker, the little town made famous by his writings becomes truly horrified. The residents know that the only solution is for Boo to fall out of love and get back to scaring.    Filled with humor, small town charm, and a gentle message of enduring faith, Boo shows how even the most colorful group of busybodies and hypocrites can become a community changed forever by God.

After a woman is rushed to the ER in shock from massive blood loss, second-year medical resident Julien “Red” Richison becomes suspicious about the procedures being practiced at the nearby “VIP” abortion clinic. Soon, with the help of Bethany Fabrazio, director of a pro-life women’s clinic, Red finds himself investigating what goes on behind closed doors at VIP. But what Bethany and Red don’t know is that some VIP doctors will stop at nothing to keep their secrets under wraps–even if it means taking Red’s life. Addressing with sensitivity and conviction some of the most crucial moral, ethical, medical and spiritual issues of our time–including sanctity of life, bio-ethics, RU-486, ectopic pregnancy, in vitro fertilization, abortion, fetal tissue research, post-abortion emotional and spiritual recovery–False Positive take readers on a fast-paced thrill-ride ride and bring them face-to-face with the inseparable miracles of God’s forgiveness and grace.

The Amazing Story of One Faithful Man...One Extraordinary Vision... One Unstoppable Movement.        An unforgettable chronicle of courage, determination, faith, and humility, Amazing Faith is the exclusive and inspiring account of how Dr. Bill Bright, founder and president of Campus Crusade for Christ International, stepped out in simple, unwavering obedience to God. Readers will delight in the extraordinary story of how an obedient Oklahoman left the ranch at God''s urging, and how that obedience opened the door to reaching literally millions of lives with the message of Christ''s love and the coming Kingdom.        From Bright''s formative years in the Midwest to the lonely struggles and all-too-human foibles of his early ministry...the founding of the unparalleled Campus Crusade movement to the explosive global outreaches of the new millennium...this authorized, behind-the-scenes biography leaves no stone unturned in its examination of a humble life remarkably used by God-a life which, by God''s power, has made an impact on three billion souls. Written by a retired investigative reporter who has closely followed the life and ministry of Dr. Bright for more than a decade, and with a foreword by Dr. Billy Graham, Amazing Faith uncovers the calling, the passion, the strategic thinking, the sacrifice, and the astounding impact of one man committed to bold evangelism, disciple-ship, and the fulfillment of the Great Commission in his lifetime. "He''s just the kind of man I had in mind when I started the program twenty-five years ago because he''s an example to everybody of all religions that it''s possible to have progress in religion." -Sir John Templeton, founder of the Templeton Prize for Progress in Religion, which Dr. Bill Bright was awarded in 1996. He donated the $1 million honorarium to support a national movement of prayer and fasting.     

In the late 1960s, NASA proposed hardware and mission parameters for an extended Apollo program that never materialized. Decades later, the existence of ice beds at the lunar south pole was discovered by NASA’s space probe Clementine and confirmed by the lunar satellite Lunar Prospector. Now, author and Apollo missions historian Shane Johnson explores the fantastic possibilities of what might have transpired, had the more ambitious version of the Apollo program gone forward as originally planned. It is February, 1975. Apollo 19, the last of the manned lunar missions, has successfully landed. Exhilarated and confident, Commander Gary Lucas and Lunar Module pilot Charlie Shepherd set out to explore a vast, mysterious depression at the lunar south pole.There, in the icy darkness–where temperatures reach 334 degrees below zero–the astronauts search for the fragments of crystalline bedrock the scientists back home had hoped for. But when tragedy strikes, the men are driven deeper into the lethal realm, where they find much more than they bargained for, including a strange machine that seemingly transports Lucas back to a pre-flood Earth, and startling evidence that could transform mankind’s perspective on all creation and its Creator– if only the men could miraculously make their way back home to earth to reveal it.

Jesus Revealed reintroduces readers to the true Son of God, helping them see him with clear vision, so that they can love him more fully and follow him more completely Readers will be surprised and delighted as they get to know the Jesus whose face is clearly revealed through the titles God gave him and the names used for him by his earliest followers.A sense of comfortable familiarity with the Savior can cloud people’s vision–and even prevent them from drawing closer to Jesus as he really is. His titles and descriptions are heard so often that it’s easy to miss the impact of their true meaning. Even the name Jesus is so well known that it has lost much of its power in believers’ lives. In these pages, readers will encounter a Jesus who surprises and unsettles, who comforts and empowers, in astonishingly authentic ways. Each chapter focuses on one aspect of Jesus’ identity–such as Rabbi, Son of Man, Light of the World. As pastor and scholar Mark Roberts explores what’s behind each of these titles, he brings insight into the theological and historical meanings, and then relates them to life today. Readers will travel back to first-century Palestine, meet the God-man we know as Jesus, and experience a soul-changing encounter with him. Because to know him is to love him.

After her Aunt Teza’s test results turn out to be inconclusive, Dot Cooper resolves to raise money for a new mammogram machine, through the creation and auction of a magnificent, king-sized quilt to be sewn by the women of Jefferson City. Dot’s efforts quickly draw the support of disparate members of the community, including newcomer Beth Donnelly, married to a local pastor; Elaine Giovanni, the stylish wife of a local surgeon; and an ailing Aunt Teza. But as the four different generations work the squares of the quilt, they are also confronted with ragged pieces of their own lives. Though the women could not be more different on the surface, they hold in common quiet suffering triggered by painful circumstances: the death of children, the abandonment of husbands, the loneliness of depression. Yet their struggles will bring them closer together than they ever could have anticipated, and their lives will be dramatically changed, as together they experience the curative powers of The Healing Quilt.

Weaving together the strong threads of family and friends in a pattern of grace, forgiveness, and kindness, A Can of Peas invites readers into a place where every day brings a new story and neighbors are more than just people who live down the road. Sometimes funny and often poignant, these vignettes will draw both men and women into the reassuring rhythms of life as it ought to be–and as it still is in the heart of America. After the death of his grandfather, Peter Morgan and his new bride, Mae, face a life-changing decision: should they embrace the career-chasing ambitions of their family and friends in St. Paul or accept the absurd challenge of saving the family farm in the Minnesota countryside? Enticed by the romance of a simple, quiet life, the Morgans set out to follow in the footsteps of Peter’s grandparents. Soon, Peter is farming around the clock, barely one step ahead of failure as Mae struggles to find her place in Peter’s life and in the community. Will the strain of saving the farm tear their marriage apart? Was it a mistake to dream?

She gambled with her husband’s trust. At stake is–everything. Evy Varley''s marriage to Rogan Chantry is all she had hoped it would be–until she finds out that she is pregnant with a honeymoon baby. Fearing that Rogan won’t allow her to travel while she is expecting, Evy plots to keep her pregnancy secret in order to accompany him to South Africa. Her thoughts are not only for her husband, but Evy is determined to travel to Bulawayo, the new mission station of Dr. Jakob van Buren–the one man who can help Evy to finally clear her mother’s name. After she and Rogan set out to sea, however, Evy discovers that she has gone too far in her deceit, and the damage to her marriage may be irreversible. Matters only worsen in Africa, where malaria, murder, and an African uprising all take their toll–and where Rogan and Evy must fight not only for their love, but also for their very lives.

Your Teenagers Are Under Attack.Help Them Defend Themselves. The world presents an unflattering, one-sided picture of teenagers–rebellious, alienated, and hostile to adult guidance. Sadly, many Christian parents embrace this myth and refuse to provide the direction their teens hunger for. We want our sons and daughters to make godly choices, but we wrongly assume they have stopped listening to us. It’s hard to know how to lead our changeable and unpredictable teens–or if we should even try.Even well-meaning parents believe the myth that teens do best when they experiment with life and learn from their mistakes. No approach could be more destructive. The stormy years of adolescence are the worst time for parents to back off. This is the time when bad friends, unharnessed emotions, rebellion, and a long list of irreparable mistakes could ruin your teen’s life. More than ever, this is the time our sons and daughters need proactive and confident parents.Don’t Get Overwhelmed. Get Involved. No matter what your parenting history, Bold Parents, Positive Teens shows how you can get confidently back into the game–and stay there. Focusing on ten of the greatest challenges faced by teenagers today, this invaluable guidebook provides the clear direction and commonsense wisdom every parent needs to love and guide their teenagers while effectively addressing their teens’ deepest needs.

A quick glance at the headlines reveals a world plagued by violence, hatred, unrest, disease and death–a world without hope. A look into our hearts yields similar results: loneliness, anger, sorrow, and depression are companions many of us would rather not carry. What happened to the “abundant life” Jesus promised us?William Frey suggests that root of the problem is a loss of memory. In our haste to study and know the Bible, we have failed to experience the story of the Bible, and thus we have forgotten who we are. The Dance of Hope helps readers regain the Bible story as it reveals the fullness of our identity as God’s creation, recovers a biblically founded hope for the future, and equips the Christian community to be bearers of authentic hope to the world. When believers view the Bible story through what William Frey calls a “creation lens,” they discover a promised future of glory that can fill them with hope for today. Also included is a study guide that leads readers through times of prayer, reflection, personal assessment, and Scripture study, teaching them to view the world through hopeful eyes.

Answers to the Burning Questions Christian Parents, Educators, and Others Are Asking about Harry Potter. In the world of publishing, few successes have equaled that of J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series—magical stories centered on one boy’s adventures at Hogwarts, a school for witchcraft and wizardry. Yet this popular series presents a perplexing—even divisive—challenge to the Christian community. Although the books present a clear picture of the epic battle between good and evil, they appear to support the use of magic and have had a controversial impact on our culture. As a result, many of us are wondering, “How should I respond to this Harry Potter thing?”Find out what the Harry Potter books really say about witchcraft and wizardry.Hear what Christians on both sides of the debate are saying about Harry Potter—and decide what you believe.Learn how you can use the series to protect your child from real occult influences.In What’s a Christian to Do with Harry Potter?, you’ ll explore the valid concerns some Christians have about the series, sort out the fact and fiction at the center of the debate, discover biblical answers that may surprise you, and learn how you can tap into this powerful cultural phenomenon to help advance the kingdom of God.This book has not been prepared, approved, or licensed by any person or entity that created, published, or produced the Harry Potter books or related properties.

Welcome to a Place Where Love Abides. Experience the splendor of love with four sweet romances–each one the story of hearts and homes renewed–authored by some of the leading names in Christian romance fiction. The Queen of the World and the Handyman by Barbara Jean Hicks Incensed by town gossip about Gran-Marie and her hired hand, Chloe Burnett determines to protect her grandmother’s reputation at all costs, even if it means posing as the cocky handyman’s fiancé! But a near-tragedy reveals that nothing is as it seems to be–including the pretend engagement that no longer feels pretend. Beside the Still Waters by Barbara A. Curtis Interior designer K.C. McKenzie wants to restore her late husband’s family farmhouse, as well as her memories. But the new owner, Chicago architect Raleigh Kincaid, refuses to sell. When he enters a restoration contest, however, Raleigh finds that he needs K.C.–in more ways than one. Home for the Heart by Shari MacDonald When spunky TV host Flynn Kelley inherits half of a historic Maryland estate, she squares off against a maddening–and endearing–figure from her troubled youth. Working together, can she and Charlie Kenilworth renovate the crumbling estate–and their wounded hearts?   Don''t Look Back by Jane Orcutt One year after a divorce she didn’t want, Laurie Golden has moved her children to small-town North Texas, hoping to restore what’s left of her family and the family home. But skeletons in her family’s closet reveal that history is sometimes best left in the past, and that the future is an open book in which life and love can be written.

God’s passionate power is about to burst through the floodgates of your soul.You want to influence others for God. To experience more of the abundant power Jesus promised. To live a life overflowing with God’s presence. To make a difference in the world.So why do these desires go unfulfilled? Where can you find the resources you need to experience the exhilaration of utter dependence on God?In Releasing the Rivers Within, Dwight Edwards reveals that all the good God wants to dispense through your life finds its origin in the indwelling supernatural resources He has already implanted within you. As Jesus told us in John 7:38, every believer has “rivers of living waters” within, pressing forward and awaiting release. And as you open yourself up and allow God’s life to flow through you, you’ll bring the greatest glory to Him, the most good to others, and the deepest satisfaction to yourself.Discover the resources God has placed within you. Release the rivers within…and experience life as God intended it: filled to overflowing.

Struggling with life''s dark side? Longing for change?Begin the journey toward a transformed life! Many of us look at our lives and wish we could experience lasting life-change. We long to live in the light of our relationship with God, but find that we often reside in the troubling darkness of temptation. It''s time to step onto the path that God has laid out for us, the only path that will lead us toward the life we long for. It''s time to embark on a Long Night''s Journey into Day. Using three keys found in Scripture, you can embark on the journey that leads to personal transformation. Lay hold of the desire, knowledge, and power that make it possible to move away from sin and replace it with life-giving virtue. As pastor and author James Emery White examines the eight basic sins from which all others grow, he also reveals the virtues that counter each sin. By recognizing sin for what it is and practicing the virtues that offset it, we can journey toward lasting life-change that draws from God’s incredible power. Find out what can happen to a life lived in full partnership with the living God. Set out on the path of personal transformation, the life that becomes a Long Night''s Journey into Day.

Your children can learn to give generously, save wisely, and spend carefully–and you can teach them.Young children are captivated by Saturday morning television commercials pushing the next must-have toy. Older kids think they’re losers if they don’t keep up with the latest fashion trend. Young adults find themselves facing financial temptations–like the lure of credit cards–that seem too good to resist. Behind all these sales pitches lies the dangerous promise: “You can have it all–just buy now and pay later.” Now, Money-Savvy Kids provides a workable strategy you can use–no matter what your financial history–to prepare your children for financial success today that will carry over into financial security for a lifetime.

In 1975, the life of Cornell graduate student T.G. Shass is forever changed when he finds himself in possession of a mysterious and ancient artifact. Unable to remember how he acquired it and powerless to rid himself of it, T.G. is soon shaken not only by the object’s presence, but by a chilling encounter with evil and a jarring journey to another world.He was the most unlikely of all prophets.His was the most critical of all missions.Upon his return, T.G. discovers that Earth is no longer the home he knew. His sweetheart, Jenni, is missing, and all evidence indicates that she’s been caught up into the macabre, unnatural realm he’s just departed. His determination to find Jenni overrides the bitter aftertaste of his otherworldly experience, and T.G. seeks a way to go back. But his second journey holds far more than he imagines. Can T.G. fulfill his key role in God’s plan to defeat the forces of darkness? Or will his imperfect faith lead to destruction as the last days draw to a climactic end?

When you live at the best Christian youth camp around–Camp Wanna Banana–life is filled with adventure, excitement–and fun! Join ten-year-old twins Jake and Joy; Joy’s pet spider monkey, Munch-Munch; and their “twibling” friends, Marco and Maria, as they solve a whole series of mysteries in and around Camp Wanna Banana.First, food starts disappearing from Miss Nellie’s café. Then lumber walks away from Mr. Henley’s hardware store. Always ready to solve a mystery, the Two Amigos Detectives, Marco Garcia and Jake Bigsley, set out to catch the odd thief. It appears to be an open-and-shut case. All the clues point to Mr. Klem, whose large family is poor by most standards. But Marco, friends with one of the Klem girls, can’t bring himself to accuse the head of such a happy family. When a surprise comes to Tall Pines, however, the case takes a sudden turn. In the days that follow, a revelation rocks the town and Marco’s understanding of what it means to be rich is challenged as he and Jake work to solve the crazy case of the Peanut-Butter Burglar.

When you live at the best Christian youth camp around–Camp Wanna Banana–life is filled with adventure, excitement–and fun! Join ten-year-old twins Jake and Joy; Joy’s pet spider monkey, Munch-Munch; and their “twibling” friends, Marco and Maria, as they solve a whole series of mysteries in and around Camp Wanna Banana.A poor choice leads to a big disaster, however, and Maria and Marco wind up injured and far from home. Worst of all, there’s a frightening animal running around loose in the woods. Did that creature take Munch-Munch? Is it after them, too? Maria doesn’t think God cared about her longing for a pet. So does he care about the mess they are in now? WITH ACTVITITY PAGES TO SPARK YOUR OWN ADVENTURES!

When you live at the best Christian youth camp around–Camp Wanna Banana–life is filled with adventure, excitement–and fun! Join ten-year-old twins Jake and Joy; Joy’s pet spider monkey, Munch-Munch; and their “twibling” friends, Marco and Maria, as they solve a whole series of mysteries in and around Camp Wanna Banana.Who Is Stealing All the Jewelry around Camp Wanna Banana? When Joy’s antique gold locket disappears, she’s sure her crazy brother has done something silly with it. So Jake–a proud member of the Four Amigos Detective Agency–sets out to catch the real jewel thief and clear his name! But Jake has his work cut out for him. Pretty soon, lots of things are disappearing around Camp Wanna Banana. And that’s just the beginning of their troubles, because it looks like money problems just might force Jake and Joy’s father to close their beloved camp for good. Can Jake prove his innocence? Can he help find a way to save Camp Wanna Banana? Can God provide a way out of all this mess? The answer lies in the Secrets of Thief Cave! INCLUDES FUN ACTIVITY PAGES FOR YOUR OWN ADVENTURES!

For decades Americans have turned to the Commerce Department''s Index of Leading Economic Indicators to spot trends in the economy. The Index of Leading Cultural Indicators brings a similar kind of empirical analysis to the moral, social, and behavioral condition of American society from 1960 to the present--a vivid, clearly accessible portrait in numbers of who and where we are as a nation.First published in 1994 and now completely updated and considerably expanded, it draws from a wide array of government sources and academic studies to offer comprehensive chapters on crime, the family, youth behavior, education, popular culture, and religion, as well as new chapters on civic participation, international comparisons, and decade-by-decade comparisons. For each topic covered, there are statistical and numerical breakdowns; tables and graphs; ranking of states; and a "Factual Overview" interpreting the data. The Index of Leading Cultural Indicators should serve as the starting point of any discussion about America''s moral and cultural condition.William J. Bennett''s provocative introduction provides the essential context and perspective for the data he''s collected, offering an assessment of the problems besetting modern America. Some have gotten better--most notably, crime and welfare rates--leading him to conclude that politics and public engagement in social issues can make more of a difference than he once thought. But there is much else of a worrying nature, and Bennett pulls no punches in identifying pathologies and laying out the challenges we face. No one who cares about American society and a whole range of social issues can afford to be without this essential volume--a statistical snapshot, an invaluable sourcebook, and a call to action.

In recent years, "dating" has become a dirty word in many Christian circles. So dirty, in fact, that young believers are now encouraged simply not to date. This position has provoked an open debate among teens, their parents and youth workers, and single adults. For a great number of them, many questions remain unanswered. "Lord, what do I do with this desire to date?" "Can dating be an option for young adults who love the Lord and long to please Him?"Is not dating really the only acceptable option in God''s eyes? The answer, assures author and youth pastor Jeramy Clark, is a resounding "No!"The time has come for a sound, biblical, and practical approach that balances out the extreme perspectives: dating without responsibility versus a complete withdrawal from the dating process. Learn how you can confidently pursue healthy dating relationships that are characterized by holiness and integrity--and ultimately bring glory and honor to God--in I Gave Dating a Chance.