Raging Waters

Despite a premonition of danger and feelings of personal conflict with her boyfriend, Brad, Sarah Davies is determined to enjoy her family's reunion during the Fourth of July weekend. But the festive atmosphere just outside of Bearsfield, Idaho, turns tense when five-year-old Joey, a boy who suffers from severe autism, disappears from the picnic site. Sarah and her friends join the emergency volunteers to search for Joey before an unexpected summer thunderstorm breaks loose. Joey, partially deaf and driven by fear, doesn't realize danger, and he's running scared. Undeterred, Sarah and her friends, Meagan, Brad, and Ali search relentlessly. They find clues that lead them deep into a forest and eventually to the consuming river of raging waters. None of them are prepared for the dangers or the challenges that await them, and nothing scares them more than the fear that they won't be able to get to Joey in time.

Hurricanes Katrina and Rita caused enormous damage and loss of life in the Gulf Coast region in late summer and fall of 2005. Lutherans living in the region and church buildings near the destruction were hit with great losses. The crisis called forth an outpouring of aid and service that continues even today. The book tells the story of how the Lutheran church and its people have responded to the suffering of those most affected by the storms. Following Jesus' admonition to love and serve those in need, the church has worked in partnership with synods and congregations to bring hope and healing to many in the region. Included are powerful firsthand accounts, insightful theological reflections, questions for group use. A portion of the proceeds of each book will be donated to the Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod Disaster Relief Fund.

And, of course, one poem about Texas that is magnificent in its awfulness, "Lasca," with memorable lines like "Scratches don't count/In Texas down by the Rio Grande."".

In Calm is the Water, we endeavor to still the outside noises so we can listen to the sound of our own heart sound, our own being, and the heart sound of the Universe. Calm is the Water beckons us to let go of the stress and tension of life and take hold of the calm and tranquility that is waiting for us to experience and nurture. We all enjoy the high waves at the seashore but not so much when we feel like we are one in the proverbial waves, beating on the shore or on our very being. Therefore, we must practice the way of inner peace to begin to enjoy the calm and peace we know is there for us, if we seek it. Like happiness, we can create inner peace and know it will calm the waves in our hearts and minds to a point of centering us and, at the same time, helping us to be as calm as the peaceful sea. Calm is the Water provides tips and insights to assist you in gaining understanding, techniques, and assistance. It will spur you to a greater understanding of how we can travel from shore to shore, relaxed, calm, and at peace, no matter what is transpiring around us, helping us to stay centered, relaxed, and to enjoy the quiet, even as we enjoy the music and sometimes the noise. Calm is the Water will help us to obtain that quest of longevity as we calm the seas and avoid burning the bridges at the same time. Be at peace, OM TAT SAT!

Have you been lost or hopeless and wanted to give up in life? Lost Faith to Living Faith is the true story of how Ren R. Royal overcame her struggles through loss, prejudice, rape, abuse, and depression by placing her faith in the God who is able to heal and restore. This is the inspiring story of Ren's transformation from hopelessness into a life full of love and joy as she went from Lost Faith to Living Faith. This inspirational and uplifting testimony is for anyone who feels hopeless or has lost faith. See how God's grace and love can take the most tragic of stories and turn them into something more precious than gold. It is so difficult for any of us to realize what it is like to be a person without a family and a home. The author has been there, and she tells both the good and the bad in such a way that makes it difficult to put the book down. Every person, young and old, will discover tremendous insights that will benefit them throughout all of life. Lost Faith to Living Faith is a must read for all. Pastor Donald C. Ofsdahl Author Ren R. Royal was a starving orphan from Seoul, Korea, was adopted into a Lutheran preacher's family, and came to America, where she became a naturalized citizen. Ren pursues her passion for writing and poetry with the support of her church and family. Ren and her husband, Charlie, reside in Garland, Texas.

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