Solitary Refinement

A musician’s journey never ends, and the work is often solitary. Fortunately for bassoonists, Solitary Refinement can be a trusted companion throughout their musical career, replete with exercises adaptable by bassoon students who are still developing their skills, all the way to virtuosi seeking to perfect their craft. Drawing on her extensive career as a professional bassoonist and teacher, Nadina Mackie Jackson has assembled a comprehensive volume of technical exercises for the serious bassoonist. This book covers chromatic scales in many permutations and intervals, diatonic scales and chords, and exercises designed to strengthen fundamental basics, such as fingering, embouchure, double tonguing, vibrato, tuning and tone quality. In elegant, accessible prose, Nadina Mackie Jackson also shares her wisdom on the importance and philosophy of technical practice, with sensible advice on how to build good habits. Beyond the exercises, this book also serves as a guide for bassoonists on how to set personal goals and develop a sustained practice that will nurture their musical growth over a lifetime. Solitary Refinement is designed for the seriously committed bassoonist of any age to maintain, develop and expand their command of the bassoon, and will inspire players to see themselves in a world that combines musical passion and fundamental discipline.

In the frantic pace of everyday demands, finding even a few moments of quality "alone-time" for yourself is nearly impossible. Solitary Refinement shows you not only how to find precious time alone but to use it to catapult you to greater levels of health, happiness, and success. Not only do we crave and need time for ourselves but we must know how to make the most of it - to benefit ourselves as well as others. Whether you are always on the go or lonely in the middle of it all, Solitary Refinement shows you how to find and embrace alone-time using it productively to change your thoughts and your life for the best. In this book you will discover: The ten voices you must ignore How to think like God thinks How being alone with His words will change the way you think, feel, and act The four ways to set your priorities right How to eliminate emotional isolation

In a global competition between continued harvesting of fossil fuels and the slower-paced exploitation of renewable energy, which side will win, and how? In a dangerous world of big business, big government, and greedy scoundrels, up against a decades-long march of peaceful activists for renewable energy, who arises as the resolute savior?

After a group of upstart humans are sentenced to hell, they develop a 100 year master plan to get more humans to hell. Their plan conceived in the late 1800's consists of a series of inventions that will provide Satan with unbelievable reach to humans. Unfortunately, the plan does not receive a warm reception in hell. "Year - 1890 - Satan stood in his office surveying hell through the window. His concern grew as he analyzed his market reports on the number of souls arriving in hell. The results looked worse than ever...his regime was at a critical juncture at this point in history. If this flat growth in soul acquisition continued, good would reign over evil.” In frustration, Satan glanced at his desk, spying the two strategic plans to boost his soul-a-meter. One plan, the safest choice, recommended continuing with the current strategies. The other plan, presented by a new addition to hell, Sal, not only had him quite confused, but the old guard of hell despised it. He contemplated his options and just wasn’t sure what to do...Satan read the title of the plan, “Satan’s One Hundred-Year Master Plan.” He was aghast! One hundred years—wow—“Why should I wait one hundred years?” What happens to the master plan? Can Sal "win" in hell? Can Sal and Barb be together? All these questions will be answered through this unprecedented emotional ride through life in the most terrorizing existence. With the answer to the ultimate question, “what if our world is really not an accident, but rather crafted by the king of evil over 100 years ago?” Imagine the past as our future

In this witty, engaging guide, a renowned Vogue editor takes readers through the fundamentals of living alone by showing them how to create a welcoming environment and cultivate home-friendly hobbies, "for no woman can accept an invitation every night without coming to grief." "Whether you view your one-woman ménage as Doom or Adventure, you need a plan, if you are going to make the best of it." Thus begins Marjorie Hillis' archly funny, gently prescriptive manifesto for single women. Though it was 1936 when the Vogue editor first shared her wisdom with her fellow singletons, the tome has been passed lovingly through the generations, and is even more apt today than when it was first published. Hillis, a true bon vivant, was sick and tired of hearing single women carping about their living arrangements and lonely lives; this book is her invaluable wake-up call for single women to take control and enjoy their circumstances. With engaging chapter titles like "A Lady and Her Liquor" and "The Pleasures of a Single Bed," along with a new preface by author Laurie Graff (You Have to Kiss A Lot of Frogs), Live Alone and Like It is sure to appeal to live-aloners—and those considering taking the plunge.

If necessary, use words.When you think about evangelism, you probably think about what you need to say to an unbeliever. You imagine memorizing a five-point outline or a three-point plan. Christine Wood acknowledges that it is important to be able to express the truth of Christ. But in Character Witness she emphasizes that it is just as important to live a life that expresses who Christ is. St. Francis of Assisi put it this way: "Preach the gospel at all times; if necessary, use words."Character Witness is about personal integrity in evangelism. It will help you develop qualities like graciousness, purity, wisdom and patience. And it will show you how to extend yourself to others in ways that express the fullness of the grace of Christ.Wood's message is simple, but revolutionary: Your character is your most valuable evangelism resource.

Wayne Cordeiro found himself paralyzed by burnout. He had been in ministry for 30 years, and 10 years after founding what is now the largest church in Hawaii, he found himself depleted. Wayne took a season out of his growing ministry to recharge and refocus on the truly important. He was able to get back in touch with his life, get back in proper balance, and re-energize his spirit through Christ in a way that propelled him forward to greater levels of service. Wayne first gave this message at a recent Willow Creek Leadership Summit, where it was the highest-rated presentation by those in attendance. Pulling no punches, Wayne talks about the walls leaders must break through and how to move on with integrity. Included are ways to care for oneself physically and emotionally as well as spiritually.

Singles and the church may seem to go together like a grilled steak at a vegetarian party but God has a radically different plan . . . one where everyone truly belongs in the family of God.