Dying Is a Journey, Living Is a Privilege

After receiving his terminal cancer diagnosis, Gary F. Kelly wanted to prepare for dying and find meaning in the experience. His memoir recounts his journey from the initial visit to see his doctor about some unusual discomfort and fatigue through his days of hospice care to the death that he imagines. He shares his gratitude when a compassionate nurse squeezes his hand as a needle is inserted into his liver and his anguish when his difficulty swallowing makes eating and drinking nearly impossible.

Kelly cherishes the comforting family rituals of Thanksgiving and Christmas, marks such milestones as no longer being able to drive, and records the uncertain rhythms of terminal illness as new cancer sites appear, symptoms multiply, and the debilitating effects of treatment increase.

Along this journey of dying, he wrestles with: What can he learn? Can he find meaning and value in dying comparable to that which he found in living? How does he face the end of life with dignity and grace? As a therapist says to him, “Dying is hard work.”

The Last Sunset

On a beach in Florida is a mysterious manuscript written and left there by an unnamed narrator who’s eager for somebody to know his life story. Starting with his first day of kindergarten, the narrator holds nothing back in sharing the important moments, as well as the moments he only now realizes have had a big impact on his life. The narrator tells of his mishaps as a child, his troubled teen years, a devastating heartbreak, a frustrating illness, and his struggles to find his place in the world as an adult. Taking place in an era before smartphones and before mental illness was discussed openly, the narrator looks back on everything that has gone wrong in his life, the things he could have done differently, and how it has all led to the most difficult decision of his life.

Presenting the Messiah

Presenting the Messiah by Brandon Carpenter invites readers on a captivating journey into the first-century world of Yeshua—Jesus—unveiling the vibrancy, depth, and richness of the Gospels as they were originally experienced. Drawing from years of pastoral teaching and in-depth study, Carpenter bridges the gap between ancient Jewish tradition and modern Christian faith, revealing how the Messiah’s identity is rooted in the soil of Second Temple Judaism. With each chapter styled as an engaging “act” in an unfolding drama, this book challenges common assumptions and brings familiar stories to life through Jewish eyes.

Discover how parables, miracles, and teachings resonate with new power when understood against their authentic backdrop. Explore the traditions, debates, and expectations that shaped the daily lives of Jesus’ earliest followers and see how the Scriptures—Old and New Testaments—form a unified, high-definition portrait of the Messiah. Through accessible explanations, practical reflections, and thoughtful group discussion prompts, Presenting the Messiah inspires readers to see Yeshua not as a distant religious figure but as the fulfillment of God’s promise to Israel and the world.

Whether for personal study, group discussion, or anyone longing to encounter the Scriptures anew, this book invites all to step onto the grand stage of faith—discovering not only the Jewishness of Jesus but a deeper, more transformative understanding of discipleship and hope.

You Got This

In today’s times of uncertainty and mental difficulties like depression and dwindling motivation, we truly need these inspiring words and uplifting photographs to improve our outlooks and our mindsets. These motivating ideas and photographs cannot help but lift our spirits as we gaze at the natural scenes of beauty and the whimsical items of everyday life.

The repeated lines of affirmation and daily boosts of positivity will help us all to achieve a sense of self-betterment and a feeling of peaceful confidence as we read, absorb, and give thought to the many wise yet simple and easy-to-apply words of advice.

Travelling through the pages, we begin to breathe deeply, relax our minds and bodies, and become the creatures of creativity and success we were truly meant to be. We all want and need to achieve the mental wellness that we all so richly deserve. With dedication and perseverance we will see and feel a marked improvement in not only our attitudes but also our joie de vivre on a daily basis.

Ibn Khaldun’s Ilmual-Umran Pioneering Paradigm in the World Pyramids of Social Sciences

The author of this book has a sociological imagination that has made him consider the huge world volume of social sciences like several pyramids built through the ages, where Ibn Khaldun inaugurated the building of the first pyramid in his famous book, The Muqaddimah. Ibn Khaldun’s innovative social science work is the outcome of multiple factors, among which are his creative personality that allowed him to perceive and capture the dynamics of latent and manifest features of Muslim societies, particularly in North Africa, which other scholars failed to do.

Furthermore, his scholarly vision had set his path to achieve great success in being the social science pioneer in the entire world. He had a critical view of Arab Muslim historiography: Arab and Muslim historians had pitfalls in their methodology and in the analysis of historical events. In the views of Ibn Khaldun and Thomas Kuhn, their works were hardly credible. Thus, there was a pressing need to solve the Arab Muslim historiography’s crisis. The Muqaddimah’s new sociological perspective, according to both Yves Lacoste and Arnold Toynbee, is an exceptional intellectual piece of work. Professor Dhaouadi believes that The Muqaddimah constitutes a new paradigm to meet that crisis.

In Kuhn’s terms, The Muqaddimah sets the pace for reforming the science of Arab Muslim Historiography by shifting from what Kuhn calls normal science to revolutionary science. Ibn Khaldun’s sociological approach is inclusive (it stresses the influence of both latent and manifest factors in shaping society and individual behaviours); he was unlike Positivist contemporary social scientists, who give prominent role to manifest factors. They are rather exclusive social scientists. One may claim that The Muqaddimah has revolutionized the relation between the disciplines of history and sociology in North Africa and the Arab Muslim world by affirming that ‘good historians must be first of all good sociologists.’

No Regrets

Sheila is a determined woman, strong in spirit, who reached her dreams despite all obstacles. Her derailed life, her cobbler, and her struggle with her family will churn the reader’s stomach and make you think, what would you do if you were in her shoes?

The Radical Thread

Ever wonder what it would look like to weave a little bit of Heaven into your everyday work?

To turn ordinary emails, meetings, and customer chats into something that feels... sacred?

That’s the heartbeat of The Radical Thread. This isn’t just another customer service strategy. It’s a completely different way of working—one built on a foundation of real faith, genuine love, and service that’s led by the Spirit, not a script.

The Radical Thread is a call to live out your discipleship right at your desk. To see that no task is too small when it’s done intentionally, in the name of Jesus. Every single thing you do can carry eternal weight.

It’s time to stop managing your faith and start weaving it—into every thread of your business and your life.

And honestly? The world is waiting for what you’ll bring.

Finite Element Analysis

There are several objectives in this book. These include teaching the history, basic principles, and the theory of finite element analysis. The students will be introduced to applications of finite element analysis to real-world applications. These applications include, but are not limited to, analysis of thin shells, fracture mechanics, analysis of reinforced beams and columns, stress analysis, earthquake analysis of structures, buckling, seepage under a dam, a medical example, registration of MRI and PET scans, and a finite element analysis of the Golden Gate Bridge. These examples come from my own personal work experiences, research, and technical publications authored by me and persons instrumental in the development of the finite element method.

James A. Mandel, P.E., is a registered professional engineer. He designed bridges on the interstate highway system. He also did the structural design of the Gemini Ballute. He was a full-time professor in the department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Syracuse University from 1967 to 2008.

Grit & Gratitude

Adnan Adnan’s journey along the historic Camino de Santiago transformed a personal pilgrimage into a masterclass on self-realization. The strenuous journey demanded grit and gratitude, revealing a practical, twelve-part framework for making a dream a reality.

Through twelve profound experiences—from recognizing a dream and finding focus to understanding the power of routine and the function of boredom—the author maps the journey from dreamer to doer. This transformative spiritual map asks the essential questions:

How to recognize a dream? How to stay focused? What is clear thinking? What is the power of routine? How to find escape velocities? Is willpower a lifestyle? Why do the difficult tasks? What is the function of boredom? Are there other forms of meditations? Why rest? What does fasting symbolize? Why is enough, enough?

If you are in possession of a dream, you are in possession of courage. Discover who you are.

Memorable, provocative, and fearless, Grit & Gratitude: The Perseverance Powerhouse will show you the way to your own discovery.

“Gritty. Magical. Powerful. This work of art reminds us of the root of our personal power, which we often only discover when everything else is taken away.”

– Lisa Francesca, author of The Wedding Officiant’s Guide: How to Write & Conduct a Perfect Ceremony

All I Ever Wanted to Be Was a Nurse

Want to be a nurse? Find out what you’re in for. Already a nurse? You can identify.

All I Ever Wanted to Be Was a Nurse shares the sad, funny, terrifying, and compassionate feelings in the daily routine of a nurse’s life. Looking back, I can see more clearly how God guided this nurse in her work. Each chapter is its own individual story taken from my experience in different fields of nursing.

Here are a few samples, just a few, to whet your appetite:

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The impact of the car on the motorcycle sent Justin flying up into the air as the gas tank burst into flames, his body landing hard on the burning, racing bike. “No!” Justin screamed.

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“I’ve decided not to deliver—AND YOU CAN’T MAKE ME!

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I rushed into the street in pursuit of the beautiful, young-looking Alzheimer’s patient; now we had stopped the traffic both ways. As I tried to corral her, she started to beat me up with her large, leather purse. She rushed at the waiting traffic yelling. “Help, she’s trying to kidnap me!”

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“Give it to me or I’ll just hold my breath and die!” I couldn’t give more meds to him; surely a grown man wouldn’t do such a thing. But...

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“Director of Nurses, come here!” No one but the Director of Nurses was acceptable for this former neurosurgeon.

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All I Ever Wanted to Be Was a Nurse is still true—no regrets. I hope that those who are sitting on the fence about nursing will, after reading my story, choose to be that one more nurse who will carry on!

Defeat the Devil

This book was written so nobody would have to live in fear any longer. Fear is a demon sent by the devil to trouble you and I will teach you how to make it flee. This book will teach you to identify the three sources of thoughts in your mind and how to take a thought captive and give it to Jesus. You will learn how to destroy the devil’s lies, tear down strongholds and close gateways the devil uses to trouble you. I’ve included many categorized scripture promises for this purpose. By learning to use the sword of the Spirit you will be able to defeat the lies and deceptions of the devil and his demons. God parted the sea for Moses, He stopped the sun in the sky for Joshua, and He will break chains for you. Those chains of addiction, fear, anxiety, depression, discouragement and distress can all be broken by using the sword of the Spirit. Whatever the problem you’re experiencing, the Lord has a solution and is waiting to come to your rescue. Stop being a victim and become victorious by using the sword of the Spirit.

Famous Historical Mysteries & Their Solutions

Many famous historical events have been labelled as mysterious, sometimes allowing people to suggest that paranormal forces were involved. The events discussed here have a reasonable explanation once you examine all the available evidence using an unbiased viewpoint. You may enjoy stories of mysterious past events that defy explanation, but what if there is a reasonable explanation that no one has properly presented to you?

Even experienced investigators have difficulty defining what happened in certain cases, and investigators can prove biased. However, what would you be able to establish if you had all the available information? If you strip away theories and interpretations that people have presented, it leaves just the facts behind; that allows you to think for yourself. With the core facts presented in each account, which of the questions discussed in this book can you answer?

Was Lizzie Borden guilty? Did someone murder Marilyn Monroe? Did Meriwether Lewis commit suicide? Was Billy the Kid killed by Pat Garrett? Were paranormal forces involved in the cases of Devon’s Walking Devil, the Hammersmith Ghost, Spring-Heeled Jack, the disappearance of the crew of the Mary Celeste, or even the 1947 Roswell Incident? What happened to Jimmy Hoffa, Ambrose Bierce, Hale Boggs, Dorothy Arnold, or Percy Fawcett? Was America’s Stonehenge built by ancient Europeans? Who made it to the Americas before Christopher Columbus? Where can we find Atlantis?

Once you can define the real facts, what can you figure out about the cases presented here? You will be surprised.