Hear Ye Hear Ye

A heart-warming and hilarious family memoir of growing up as one of eleven siblings raised by a single dad in Northern Ireland at the end of the Troubles. Séamas O’Reilly’s mother died when he was five, leaving him, his ten (!) brothers and sisters, and their beloved father in their sprawling bungalow in rural Derry. It was the 1990s; the Troubles were a background rumble, but Séamas was more preoccupied with dinosaurs, Star Wars, and the actual location of heaven than the political climate. ­ An instant bestseller in Ireland, Did Ye Hear Mammy Died? is a book about a family of loud, argumentative, musical, sarcastic, grief-stricken siblings, shepherded into adulthood by a man whose foibles and reticence were matched only by his love for his children and his determination that they would flourish. “In this joyous, wildly unconventional memoir, Séamas O'Reilly tells the story of losing his mother as a child and growing up with ten siblings in Northern Ireland during the final years of the Troubles as a raucous comedy, a grand caper that is absolutely bursting with life.”―Patrick Radden Keefe, NYT bestselling author of Say Nothing and Empire of Pain One of NPR’s Best Books of the Year

This book is aimed primarily at Catholics but has much to offer any Christian who is prepared to approach it with an open mind. For such a person, it offers an interesting and unique insight into a Catholic perspective on the times we are living in. It is a call for a radical reappraisal of what it means to be a mainstream Catholic. It is the considered view of the author that the Catholic Church, particularly in the Western world, has grown lukewarm and is in need of radical reformation, a true and genuine reformation from within. The people of God have largely lost sight of what it really means to be a follower of Christ, and many of the shepherds of the flock are themselves in need of radical renewal. Jesus said, "I have come to cast fire upon the earth and how I wish it were already kindled" (Luke 12:49). Mostly, one does not see that fire in Catholics when we gather together to worship and pray. This book represents a sincere attempt to help rekindle that fire. Any criticism of the Church is to be taken in that context. Among the most radical assertions in this book is the assertion that mainstream Catholicism urgently needs to reclaim the Christ-given power to cast out demons and lay hands on the sick and heal them and the Holy Spirit gift of tongues, according to the words of Jesus: "These are the signs that will accompany those who believe in Me: In My name they will cast out demons; they will have the gift of tongues...they will lay hands on the sick and they will recover" (Mark 16:17-18). Readers are urged to pay particular attention to the chapters which deal specifically with these issues. Equally radical within Catholic circles is the strong suggestion, based on Scripture, that the second coming of Jesus is imminent, perhaps even in this generation, and that we are already living through the beginning of the end-times: "the beginning of birth pangs" (Matthew 24:8). It is a cause for deep concern that the institutional Catholic Church appears to be sleepwalking into what Jesus declared would be the greatest tribulation the world would ever see (Matthew 24:21). The chapters on "Daniel and the Last Days" and "The Book of Revelation" are particularly relevant for those with a keen interest in the second coming. It is absolutely vital that all Christians be properly informed and knowledgeable on end-times matters, lest they be led astray by "false Christs and false prophets" (Matthew 24:24). Remember the warning from Scripture: "My people perish from lack of knowledge" (Hosea 4:6). In addition to the above themes, this book seeks to set out in simple, easy-to-follow, chronological narrative the story of God's relationship with mankind from the fall of Lucifer right down to the last days. It is hoped that this will help readers get a better perspective on where they fit into the story of God's unfolding divine providence and perhaps have a better understanding of the extraordinary times we live in.

The surprising science of hearing and the remarkable technologies that can help us hear better Our sense of hearing makes it easy to connect with the world and the people around us. The human system for processing sound is a biological marvel, an intricate assembly of delicate membranes, bones, receptor cells, and neurons. Yet many people take their ears for granted, abusing them with loud restaurants, rock concerts, and Q-tips. And then, eventually, most of us start to go deaf. Millions of Americans suffer from hearing loss. Faced with the cost and stigma of hearing aids, the natural human tendency is to do nothing and hope for the best, usually while pretending that nothing is wrong. In Volume Control, David Owen argues this inaction comes with a huge social cost. He demystifies the science of hearing while encouraging readers to get the treatment they need for hearing loss and protect the hearing they still have. Hearing aids are rapidly improving and becoming more versatile. Inexpensive high-tech substitutes are increasingly available, making it possible for more of us to boost our weakening ears without bankrupting ourselves. Relatively soon, physicians may be able to reverse losses that have always been considered irreversible. Even the insistent buzz of tinnitus may soon yield to relatively simple treatments and techniques. With wit and clarity, Owen explores the incredible possibilities of technologically assisted hearing. And he proves that ears, whether they're working or not, are endlessly interesting.

Long before the words of the Bible were written, God's communication through the spoken word rang out loud and clear. Jesus in particular commissioned representatives to speak on his behalf even during the time of his earthly ministry. And yet today we are a reading culture. It is easy for modern Christians to take for granted that the Bible was handed down in written form, but the way we receive God's message is far different from how the original hearers would have heard it. These differences not only shape the way that we hear God's message to his people, but they put us at risk of misunderstanding his revelation. In Hear Ye the Word of the Lord, biblical scholar D. Brent Sandy explores how oral communication shaped the ways that biblical writers received God's message—and even more importantly, how the ancient and modern faithful receive it through hearing. Filled with helpful biblical insights related to oral communication and constructive ways for modern readers to become better hearers and performers of Scripture, Hear Ye the Word of the Lord provides a constructive way forward for readers interested in exploring how we can better hear God's Word.

DESCRIBES THE INCIDENTS LEADING UP TO THE BOSTON MASSACRE, THE EVENT ITSELF, THE TRAIL FOLLOWING IT, AND ITS IMPORTANCE IN AMERICAN HISTORY.