Extraordinary

Satisfy your intrinsic desire to rise above the norm. Isn’t it true that we long to see the extraordinary, experience the extraordinary, do the extraordinary? Yet, so often we settle for mediocrity when greatness is within our grasp. Why are we drawn to stories of heroic triumph over seemingly impossible circumstances? In our fascination with adventure movies, superheroes, and tales of incredible human feats, do we reveal an inherent desire for something larger and greater in life? Maybe what we think is a need to escape or be entertained is actually a God inspired longing…for the extraordinary. Best-selling author John Bevere reveals how all of us were “meant for more,” extraordinarily created and intended for a life that is anything but ordinary. Here is the roadmap for your journey of transformation. You are marked for a life that far surpasses the usual definitions of success or fulfillment. Isn’t it time to pursue your extraordinary life?

Last spring, Pansy chickened out on going to spring break camp, even though she’d promised her best friend, Anna, she’d go. It was just like when they went to get their hair cut for Locks of Love; only one of them walked out with a new hairstyle, and it wasn’t Pansy. But Pansy never got the chance to make it up to Anna. While at camp, Anna contracted meningitis and a dangerously high fever, and she hasn’t been the same since. Now all Pansy wants is her best friend back—not the silent girl in the wheelchair who has to go to a special school and who can’t do all the things Pansy used to chicken out of doing. So when Pansy discovers that Anna is getting a surgery that might cure her, Pansy realizes this is her chance—she’ll become the friend she always should have been. She’ll become the best friend Anna’s ever had—even if it means taking risks, trying new things (like those scary roller skates), and running herself ragged in the process. Pansy’s chasing extraordinary, hoping she reaches it in time for her friend’s triumphant return. But what lies at the end of Pansy’s journey might not be exactly what she had expected—or wanted. Extraordinary is a heartfelt, occasionally funny, coming-of-age middle grade novel by debut author Miriam Spitzer Franklin. It’s sure to appeal to fans of Cynthia Lord’s Rules and will inspire young friends to cherish the times they spend together. Every day should be lived like it’s extraordinary. Sky Pony Press, with our Good Books, Racehorse and Arcade imprints, is proud to publish a broad range of books for young readers—picture books for small children, chapter books, books for middle grade readers, and novels for young adults. Our list includes bestsellers for children who love to play Minecraft; stories told with LEGO bricks; books that teach lessons about tolerance, patience, and the environment, and much more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.

Each page from this book turns into a project that can help you save the planet, from plastic-free diaries, bug hotel 'rooms' and apple seed planters to upcycling papers, organic recipe cards, and litter pickup invitations.

Important Information and Presentation: Our book is free. The whole book can be read in “Free Sample” section. It is not necessary to give your credit card information. You can download our book in word or pdf format from the following web addresses: goo.gl/hNIUou or yadi.sk/d/09r41tL9ecYUA You can download the text of our book and its visual/interactive versions from the folder of “Basic-Resource Book” in “English Books and Risale-i Nur Training Program Presentations/English Books-Risale-i Nur Training Program” section in this address. Besides, you can view or download the files of all of our books, and videos, texts and PowerPoint presentations of our seminars altogether or one by one, from these storage spaces where all of our work on Risale-i Nur (Treatise of Light) are uploaded. In Google Books and Google Play, it is not possible to open and view the links and videos just by clicking them. We suggest that you download the Pdf files from the address we provide before or from Google Books and read them. Our Website for Journeys of Discovery Risale-i Nur (Treatise of Light) Training Program http://www.kesifyolculuklari.com http://www.risaleinuregitimprogrami.com Alternative Website: http://www.risaleinuregitimprogramidotcom.wordpress.com Web address of our YouTube Video Channel: http://www.youtube.com/c/EdizSözüer BOOK PRESENTATION: A Journey of Discovery for an Extraordinary Treasure Risale-i Nur (The Treatise of Light) Training Program (Text Version) Basic/Resource and Academic Course Curriculum An Imaginary and Mental Journey of Discovery You are Invited to the Adventure Discovering the high truths about the humanity, life, universe and religion… Advancing along the way of progress for mind, soul and heart… Making sense of the world in which we exist… Obtaining an awareness that is more amazing than ever before… Understanding the working mechanisms of the divine technology… A Wonderful Mental journey… Amazing Facts… All These and Even More are Waiting for You! Come With Us for This Extraordınary Journey of Discovery! Let’s Get Acquainted With the Books Discoverıng the Secret of the Universe! This book is penned down in order to introduce you a piece of work, that is so unbelievably and astonishingly perfect that it will surprise you with the high truths and grand scientific discoveries contained therein and will make some of you say “How come I have never heard of it until now!” (Or could not really discover it). The main subject of study of these books is the following: To give correct answers to three basic questions of existence, which have remained as the unknown secrets of the universe that have been always wondered by the humanity. The discovery of the right answers in these areas has been possible not only with the use of the mind/intellect which is incapable of reaching to the truth on its own but rather with the common guidance of divine revelation and the mind. Nevertheless, the answers to the questions that were asked have been discovered solely with rational inferences and logical evidences. These three questions are: “Where did this universe and those within it come from? Where will they go? And Why are they here, what is their mission? That is to ask “What are we doing here?” High truths, which the whole humanity needs and which are appealing to all those who look for the explanation of the basic reality of existence and which is more interesting for the world of science and the scientists and which is brought by divine revelation, are discovered once again and proved with rational methods in these works. Especially today, while quantum physics, astronomy and astrophysics have reached to such advanced levels, common answers are looked for these three questions on matter, universe and human being; the science and these works study the same subjects and share a common ground of work. Here you are: The work, which contains in itself a spiritual/immaterial treasury for people who have an irresistible interest and passion for science and learning, is called RISALE-I NUR (TREATISE OF LIGHT). The content of the book is composed of 19 basic epistles selected from the Collection of Risale-i Nur. Some selected parts related to the subject from 23rd Word Epistle of Nature, Epistle of Resurrection, first eight Words and some other epistles are included in our book. The main texts from Risale-i Nur are placed in the beginning, the words and concepts are explained in the footnotes and the explanatory texts are provided afterwards. In addition, occasionally, as the need arises, explanatory texts are included within the text of the book in the form of an intermediary note. The first part of our book, which consists of two main sections is entitled as “Discovering the Value of the Treasure of Faith.” In this section, the following is presented: the meaning and the importance of the faith and worship, which are proposed by the Religion to the man; how the hidden secret of the universe is solved by the religion; the beauty of faith and how the true value of man comes to light with faith, and the levels of Qur’an and philosophy in terms of understanding the Secret of the Universe. Finally, we are trying to look closely at the great good news and the remedy for death brought by the religion through prophets and we are looking for the answer to this question: “What are the characteristics of true faith that will enable us to earn the eternal life?” We can regard this first part as the understanding of how great and precious a treasure is. The second part of the book is entitled as ” Proving the Existence of the Treasure of Faith with Evidences”. In this section, six pillars of faith are proved with detailed evidences. In other words, in the second section, the existence of the treasure sought to be achieved, whose value is understood/appreciated in the first section, is proved; its place is discovered, and this great and magnificent treasure is acquired. Primarily understanding that faith is such a great blessing and a treasure with a great value would determine the importance that we would give to that treasure and its evidences. Nevertheless, you will also observe that in the first part, a serious effort has also been made to search for the truth and evidences. Once you complete the book, you will have completed an important reading that could be considered as a brief summary of the Risale-i Nur collection and taken a serious step in studying the high knowledge of faith that is taught by these works. In “The Journeys of Discovery Risale-i Nur Training Program”, you are invited for an adventure of looking for and finding out the truth. We have a very strong reason to begin this journey: to witness the magnificent details of the divine technology and uniqueness of the artful creation and hence, to take a big step on the way of achieving the true faith that was demanded from us by Allah. We would like you to accompany us in this imaginary and mental journey of discovery. There is only one fixed price for a ticket of the Journey: A strong sense of wonder in the search for truth. BOOK INDEX * Journeys of Discovery Risale-i Nur (Treatise of Light) Training Program, Based on Academic Work and Supported by Visuals * Declaration on Copyright All Kinds of Free Usage, the Right to Print and Publish * Let’s Get Acquainted with the Books Discovering The Secret of The Universe! A Journey of Discovery for an Extraordinary Treasure: Risale-i Nur (The Treatise of Light) Training Program FIRST MAIN SECTION: DISCOVERING THE VALUE OF THE TREASURE OF FAITH 1.Discovery: Discovering the High Truth of Belief, Worship and Salaat (Prayer) * Telling and Remembering the name of Allah (1. Word) * The Universe is a Place of Festivity (2. Word) * Discovering the High Truth of Worship (3. Word) * Exploring the Truth of Salaah/Prayer (4. Word) * Irresponsible Doctor, Mentally Ill Soldier (5. Word) * The World's Most Profitable Trade Agreement (6.Word) 2.Discovery: The Insight into the Covered Truth of the Religion and the Universe * The Insight into the Covered Hidden Truth of Religion and the Universe (7.Word) * Down the Rabbit Hole! (8.Word) Sub Headings: A Critical Assessment of the Law of Attraction and Quantum Thinking Technique Down the Rabbit Hole! 3.Discovery: Man’s High Value That Becomes Apparent with Faith And the Beauties of the Being Faithfull - Picasso’s Painting -The Real Truth, Which Is Brilliant and Beautiful, of the Universe - The Source of An Amazing Feeling of Confidence - The Difference of the Man - Discovery of the Subtle Secret of Supplication/Prayer -‘On the Concept of “Self Confidence/Reliance” - Small Targets, Low Tastes - Big Target, High Tastes - Being Suspicious of Our Lifestyle - A Tremendous Truth Worth Being Discovered - For Those Who Wonder About the Secret of the Universe 4.Discovery: The comparison of Qur'an, Philosophy and Modern Science in Understanding the Secret of the Universe * The Story of the Creation of Our Universe (11. Word) * A Gift Package (12. Word-First Principle) * To Graduate from the Academy of Universe (A chapter taken from the Thirteenth Word) 5.Discovery: The Solution for Death * Looking at Death and Life Under a Different Kind of Light (Introductory Text) * The Gallows and the Lottery Office (From 11th Ray - The Treatise of Fruits) * Being Sentenced to Death * The Difference that A Muslim Makes (The Second Station of the Thirteenth Word) * How Do We Deceive Ourselves? * The Concept of Saving the Faith SECOND MAIN SECTION: PROVING THE EXISTENCE OF THE TREASURE OF FAITH WITH EVIDENCES 1.Truth: The Proof of The Truth of Faith in Allah (New Perspectives of The Treatise of Nature) * Looking at the Matters of Faith from the Right Side (Introduction to New Perspectives of The Treatise of Nature) * The Effort to Make Sense out of This World and Magnificent Skies * An Imaginary and Mental Journey of Discovery in The Depths of Divine Technology (23rd Flash, Treatise of Nature) Subheadings : -Thoughts over Existence -What is Nature? -What are Laws of Nature? -Intelligent Design -Coincidence and Material Reasons -A Fantastic Science-Fiction Story -Amazing Discoveries on The Existence of The Universe -What Happens when There Are Multiple-Universes? -Grand Design and Theory of Everything - A Different Perspective on Big Bang -The Impossible Scenarios of the Formation of the Matter/Objects, Formation Due to Causes and Self-creation -The Miracle of a Fly -Production of Living Beings from a Single Centre -Miracle of the Eye -The Thousand-Domed Palace The Concept of Irreducible Complexity -No Production Is Possible without Moulds! (Alternatives for Production of Living Things) -Journey to the Land of Miracles -Fantastic Data Stores: Brain and DNA -Looking at the Reality from a Blind-Spot -A Question That Will Open The Mysterious Door of The Universe -Interwoven Spiral Order -Getting Wet in The Ocean of the Cosmos -The Laws of Nature and Quantum Universe -Law of Atraction and A Critical Evaluation of Quantum Thinking -Design Signature over The Matter/Objects -Looking at Allah from the Right Side -Our World: A spaceship in the Sea of Sky -How Is Everything Taking Place with Divine Power -Is the Movement of Particles an Explanation for Everything? Additional Sections * Discussion Notes from Our Seminars on “The New Perspectives from The Treatise of Nature” - Scientific Findings about Evolution and the Miracles of Quran - About Quantum Approach and Divine Truths - Important Points on Evolution, Atheism and Creation 2.Truth: (Believing in Angels) Proof of the Existence of Angels * We Are Not Alone! (Introductory Text) * Why Does Life Exist? * What is the Meaning and Value of the Existence without Life? * Angels’ Truth * The Roles Shared in a Perfect Ecosystem 3.Truth: (Faith in the Divine Books) The Truth of Revelation and the Proof of the Coming of Qur'an from Allah It is Completely Different Word! (The Truth of Revelation and the Proof of the Coming of Qur'an from Allah) Sub Headings: * Extraordinary Spiritual Mastery of a Wonderful Book * An Unprecedented Challenge * Understanding the Environment in Which and the Persons against whom The Quran Made This Unprecedented Challenge * Uniqueness of Quran’s Style * A Spiritual Transformation Beyond Every Imagination * Quran’s Amazing Influence * Good News from the Holly Books * Quran: A Miracle Beyond the Capabilties of The Human Being * Scientific Miracles of Quran 4.Truth: (Belief in Prophets) Proof of the Truth of Prophethood and Proof of Prophethood of Muhammad (PBUH) Spiritual Sun of the Universe Sub Headings: * Spiritual Sun of the Universe * How Could It Be Understood That A person Is A (Real) Prophet? * The Most Brilliant Evidence of the Existence of Allah 5.Truth: Evidence for the Existence of Resurrection after Death * An Invaluable Truth: Eternal Life (Introductory Text) Sub Headings: - Rehearsal Scene - Banquet Table for Tasting - Magnificent Cinema House - Divine Information Repository - Dominoes - Great Show Centre, the Universe and the Cosmic Calendar - Union of Opposites - Missing Part of the Puzzle - Babies in Their Mother’s Womb - Drawing Conclusions Coherent with Most Basic Truths - Learning the Truth from Its Source - The Gate to Eternity Opened for the Human Being - Divine Causes Connected to the Human Being - Unknown Breakfast - Film without A Final - Privileged Planet - The Prayer Opening the Gate of Eternal Life - The Way to Salvation from A Paradoxical Situation - An Illogical Fiction - He will Do it if He Promised - Reviving Earth - Would the One Doing the Difficult, Be Unable To Do the Thing Which Is Easier? - The Truest News in the World - Secret Plan - Desolate Festival - A Truth As Unshakable As the Existence of the Earth - An Eternal Life Where Death Is Killed 6.Truth: The Truth of the Divine Determining and Free Will (Belief in Fate, Qadar) Sub Headings: * A Healthy Approach to the Matters of Qadar and Free Will * How can We Reconcile Divine Determining with Free Will? * Nature of Free Will * What is the Meaning of Everything Being Determined by Allah’s Will? * What Does It Mean If Everything about Divine Determining is Good and Beautiful? SPECIAL SECTIONS * The Life of Bediuzzaman Said Nursi and Risale-i Nur * An Attempt to Make Risale-i Nur the Property of Humanity: Explanatory Works Sub Headings: * Why and How of Risale-i Nur Explanatory Works * A Realistic and Alternative Model in Risale-i Nur Works, That Meets the Needs * An Attempt to Make Risale-i Nur the Property of Humanity: Explanatory Works * Our Responsibilities in the Service of Risale-i Nur * Quran, Risale-i Nur and the Place of the Explanation of Risale-i Nur From the Perspective of Religious Sciences * How shall the dream of Medresetüzzehra be realized? * How Could It Be Possible To Teach Risale-i Nur As A Textbook? * Applied Model of Medresetüzzehra * Analysis of Methods for Introduction of Risale-i Nur and Its Integration into Education System * The Analysis of Religion Lesson’s Text Book Which is Based on Risale-i Nur * Could Loyalty to Islam and to the Science Ever Be Considered As Betrayal to Risale-i Nur? * For A Positive Transformation in Education, Which Method Is Realistic and of Top Priority? * A Style of Explanatory Lecturing For Risale-i Nur, Which is Not Either Exaggerated nor Understated * Risale-i Nur, Civilization of Islam/Quran and Philosophy of Science * How will the Civilization of Islam/Quran be built? What does the Dream of Medresetüzzehra Express? * Your Journey Just Begins Now! THE COMPANIES OF ROAD FOR YOUR PERSONAL VOYAGE * Seminar Texts, Presentations and Videos* Our Website for The Journeys of Discovery * Our Books on Explanatory Notes for Risale-i Nur (Texts and Visuals/Interactive) * Our Video Channel for The Journeys of Discovery * Suggested Websites * The Opportunity to Read and Listen Risale-i Nur Round The Clock Wherever You Are * Locations Where You Can Participate in Risale-i Nur Conversations and Classes * Other Academic Training Activities * Author’s Contact Address

The highly anticipated new novel from the author of A Snicker of Magic Everyone in Emma's family is special. Her ancestors include Revolutionary War spies, brilliant scientists, and famous musicians--every single one of which learned of their extraordinary destiny through a dream. For Emma, her own dream can't come soon enough. Right before her mother died, Emma promised that she'd do whatever it took to fulfill her destiny, and she doesn't want to let her mother down. But when Emma's dream finally arrives, it points her toward an impossible task--finding a legendary treasure hidden in her town's cemetery. If Emma fails, she'll let down generations of extraordinary ancestors . . . including her own mother. But how can she find something that's been missing for centuries and might be protected by a mysterious singing ghost? With her signature blend of lyrical writing, quirky humor, and unforgettable characters, Natalie Lloyd's The Key to Extraordinary cements her status as one of the most original voices writing for children today.