Light For Dark Days

This memoir of an American woman’s life in Moscow traces the social and cultural evolution of Russia from the era of Krushchev to the era of Putin. In the mid-1960s, Naomi Collins was a graduate student at Moscow State University. As the 21st century began, she was the wife of the American Ambassador to Russia. In this insightful memoir, she shares her reflections and impressions of life as an American woman living in the Russian capital over the course of four decades. Rather than retracing the economic and political events of the period, Collins focuses her narrative on daily as it changed over the years. She offers fascinating anecdotal snapshots that reveal rare insight into the evolving state of the nation. “This book is like a script for a documentary spanning four decades when an especially astute and literate observer watched Russia emerge from stagnation and enter a period of dramatic economic, social, and political change and, on many fronts, upheaval.” —Strobe Talbott, President of the Brookings Institution

From D. R. Nguyen, author of Dark Days Lonely Nights, comes his long-awaited second collection of poetry and prose. A stimulating and transcendent journey through dark days, broken love, love, faith, and inspiration.

This joint biography illuminates what it means to be a follower of Jesus today. In this intriguing portrait of the first Franciscans, Sweeney reveals the timeless temptations that come with being human and the many ways that Francis and Clare inspired change and brought light to darkness.

Limnological research on saline lakes is practiced by a growing cadre of scientists active worldwide in a diversity of disciplines. Every three years since 1979, an international symposium on inland saline waters has served to strengthen and expand the scope of the studies. Promising areas for further research especially well suited to saline lakes include the comparative physiology of adaptation to osmotic stresses, the role of microbial and protozoan communities in nutrient dynamics and biotic interactions in ecosystems with few species. The Third International Symposium on Inland Saline Lakes was held at the University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya, under the auspices of the Societas Internationalis Limnologiae (SIL). The symposium was sponsored by and received financial or other support from the U.S. National Science Foundation (International Program), United Nations Environment Program, University of California, Santa Barbara, and University of Nairobi. The proceedings occurred for three days (28-31 August, 1985) and were attended by 33 scientists from 14 countries (see list of Participants). On the day prior to the first formal session an afternoon trip to Lake Magadi and salt works was held. The tribulations of this excursion served to acquaint the participants with each other and with the realities of exploring the African bush. A three day post-congress expedition to the rift valley included visits to spectacular saline lakes such as Nakuru and Bogoria. Much of the meeting's and excursion's success is owed to the efforts of the local organizer, Dr. Stephen G.

These introductions, homilies, reflections, and prayers are not theory, but a priest's experience of a liturgical approach that works. The testimony of the faithful who say, "what a lovely mass..what a moving homily, could I have a copy?", is his touchstone. So is the popularity of the homilies on his internet,web, "A Priest Reflects". This book works because it treats each Sunday liturgy as a seamless robe of rich interwoven themes. Thus, the introduction identifies the links between the Old Testament reading and the Gospel, and adds any gems from the second reading. Then, when the scripture is read, people, clued in to the overall import, listen more profitably. The homily elaborates the key themes from the readings further, and relates them to life, with stories, anecdotes, newspaper headlines, references to common events etc. The aim is that the Word should light up our contemporary experience.. The final doxology reinforces the point that the Word is life for this world, not just the next; The creed introduction summarizes the whole, and the prayers carry that on into petitions for church leaders, civil authorities, youth, the sick, the dead, and special needs. There are special prayers for our youth, that gaps in our congregations there will be bridged. And the presiding minister should add other topical issues of the day. The reflection after holy communion again reinforces the overall message, but also leaves the people of God with something spicy and memorable to take home. So, all in all, this book should light up our masses, or services, and make them gospel based, relevant, inspirational, and focused.. The homilies are timed at about five minutes, people's normal attention span. So don't miss out on this innovative book. Buy it, and it will light up your Sunday mass, and provide spiritual food for the following week.

The existence of evil in the world represents one of the most complex problems for those who believe in God. Here, a range of Jewish and Christian contributors examine the issue of evil in the Bible and its impact on Judaism and Christianity from a variety of perspectives. For example, how has Jewish mysticism explained evil, and what were Luther's thoughts on the topic? The dialogue between specialists from different fields allows a broad overview of this problematic issue.