A contemplative monk’s musings on living a “useless life.” “Brother Paul bears witness of being keenly aware that every aspect of his monastic vocation has been carefully crafted to nurture and protect the contemplative way of life in which one is called to seek and to find and give oneself to God who is wholly poured out and given to us in the gift of life itself.” —James Finley, author of The Healing Path In the spirit of Thomas Merton’s The Sign of Jonas come five decades of life at the Abbey of Gethsemani in Kentucky from the private journals of one of Merton’s former novices, Brother Paul Quenon. Readers are introduced to multiple aspects—the inwards and outwards—of a monk’s life. Reflections, meditations, insights, and wanderings are mingled with outward experiences in nature, community, and sketches of monks—saintly, comical, or strange—poetic moments. Remarks are made on world events, seen from a local and momentary perspective, such as the war in Iraq, or the end of the war in Vietnam. Private discoveries of animal behavior, and magical locations for prayer are experienced with wonder. No daily chronology is followed, but entries are arranged from the 1970s to the 2000s according to the decade they occurred in, including the visit of the Dalai Lama and other occasions when this contemplative’s life has intersected with spiritual teachers outside the monastery. Overall, a multi-colored, diverse, and surprising display of what it is like to live “an enclosed life.”

A guarded surgeon questions a handsome reporter’s interest with her story in this inspirational romance. Operating on a sick little boy is Dr. Nora Blake’s responsibility. Answering a determined reporter’s questions about the surgery is not. Especially because Robert Dale is delving into her life, too. Nora has her share of secrets. She won’t allow a newspaper to profit from the child’s story—or her own. Granted, the handsome reporter truly seems to care. About young, orphaned Ali. About her. And thanks to Rob’s skills at digging deep, there is one question she just might answer with a joyful yes. . . .

The Parables are instructive stories that Jesus told while teaching His disciples and the crowds who came to hear Him. Memory can be fickle. Facts and details fade despite our efforts to keep them fresh, but when they are wrapped in an exciting story we can recall them with clarity. Consequently, Jesus taught using stories parables so that our memories would be invigorated and we would remember these lessons for years, if not for a lifetime. In A Matter of the Heart we will study eighteen parables Jesus taught. These are some of the most important, if not the most important lessons He wants us to understand and remember. We will study the parable of the Prodigal Son wherein we will come to know the meaning of sin, of repentance, forgiveness, and the grace of a loving father. In the parable of the Good Samaritan we will see that Gods desire for mercy trumps obligation and duty, and we will see through this man a model of Jesus, our Good Samaritan. We will study the Kingdom of Heaven parables for a picture of the kingdom that Jesus established, and come to understand what it means to be a citizen thereof. We will explore the parable of the Wedding Feast which reveals an awesome future event wrapped around a marriage that God the Father arranged for Jesus, His son. We will look at the wise and the foolish, the just and the unjust. We will get a glimpse of heaven itself through the lens of Jesus teachings. We will study His instruction about prayer, the dangers of ingratitude and a cold heart, the true measure of success, and the meaning of stewardship. Jesus taught using parables each and every one a blessing, each A Matter of the Heart.

While recovering from a heart transplant, a strange dream kept returning. Bob Hunter found himself once again on a small lobster boat bobbing up and down in the ocean in front of a beautiful lighthouse he had never seen before. A number of colorful lobster floats and a stack of lobster traps were on the boat in front of him. Waves crashing and exploding against a rocky shore in front of the lighthouse, sending giant sprays of white foam into the air. A girl in a white dress was standing on a rocky ledge to the left of the lighthouse and waving. He knew that somehow she was waving at him. As the sequence of dreams returned, he would find himself walking up to her as she opened her arms to greet him. She was one of the most beautiful girls he had ever seen. Her long auburn hair and white dress were gently flowing in the breeze off of the ocean. He would always wake up just as he approached. Over a period of time, he developed an unexplainable and obsessive love for her, even though he knew she could not possibly be real. Bob Hunter was an artist and a naturalist and painted a picture of both the lighthouse and the girl in his dreams. A new acquaintance saw the painting of the lighthouse and told him it was real, as she had visited and photographed the same lighthouse. She encouraged him to travel to the area to see if he could find a reason for his dreams. The dreams had no rhyme or reason. Bob had never seen a lobster boat and could not believe that the lighthouse in his dreams actually existed. The only way he could rid himself of these dreams was to follow his friend's suggestion and travel to the lighthouse and begin a search for the lady of his dreams.

Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7). Throughout this book, the authors will focus on ten reasons to give. They are listed here for your convenience, but the reasons will be interspersed throughout the book. Look for them over and over again. They are some guidelines for becoming a more generous giver. 1. God wants us to remember the story of Cain and Abel (Genesis 4:3-7). 2. God blesses us because of who He is, not who we are or what we have done (2 Corinthians 8:7-9). 3. God blesses us to bless others (Ephesians 2:10, Acts 17:26, Esther 4:14). 4. God blesses us to fund the Great Commission (2 Corinthians 9: 10-11, Proverbs 28:27, Romans 10:13-15). 5. God wants our gifts to be first, the best, and from the heart (Proverbs 3:9-10, Genesis 4:3, Malachi 3:8-12). 6. God wants us to be generous, not as an act, but as a response. Generous giving includes an obedient will, a joyful attitude, and a compassionate heart (Matthew 10:8). 7. God wants our heart because money follows our heart (Matthew 6:21). 8. Gods purposes should be our highest priority (1 Corinthians 16:1-4). 9. God wants us to be godly and content (1 Timothy 6:6). 10. God wants us to know that salvation is free, ministry has a cost, and there is a cost to being a disciple (Luke 14:33).

About the Book A BOOK ON THE STATE OF EDUCATION IN INDIA BEYOND THE MAIN CITIES AND AN ODE TO EDUCATORS WHO ARE SHAPING THE FUTURE OF OUR COUNTRY. Education is the possibility of building something better—a better future, a better community, a better society, a better world. But what really is education? What does it mean to build a better future? And how does one build this future—beyond the metropolitan cities and the schools for the elite? In this collection of essays, Anurag Behar takes us to schools in remote villages of India. He gives us insight into where our nation stands on education and, through that lens, into the nation itself. He shows us an India that is waiting for better infrastructure and one where the right to education is in constant struggle with the need for survival. But what emerges is the heart-warming and life-affirming story of how people and communities, energised from within, are changing lives—of individuals and the nation. This book is testimony to the essence of education: ‘The heart of the matter is that it is a matter of the heart.’

BESTSELLING AUTHOR COLLECTION Reader-favorite romances in collectible volumes from our bestselling authors. MERGER OR A MARRIAGE To snag a coveted promotion, financial whiz Anna Wilder has to close one last important deal: the takeover of her hometown hospital, Walnut River General. Black sheep Anna never felt like she fit in to the respected Wilder clan, and now her job is making the proposed merger personal—especially after she meets her opponent in the boardroom! Richard Green is the savvy attorney—and ex-love—determined to foil her plans. After one unbelievable kiss years ago, Anna ran far away from her home, her insecurities and the man who made her pulse quicken. But perhaps her return is a second chance in disguise. Can Richard convince Anna that this merger is bad business…and take over her heart instead? FREE BONUS STORY INCLUDED IN THIS VOLUME! A Matter of the Heart by USA TODAY bestselling author Patricia Davids Operating on a sick little boy is Dr. Nora Blake’s responsibility. Answering Robert Dale’s questions about the surgery is not. Granted, the handsome reporter truly seems to care, and there is one question she just might answer with a joyful yes… Previously published.

This book was written in the hopes of helping returning veterans and others with brain injuries see that life is not over when you are diagnosed with this condition. With the help of my church, I started an advocacy group to help me with my trips to Washington, DC to speak with members of congress.

“Will make your heart pound—anxiously, joyfully, triumphantly.” —New York Times bestselling author Lauren Myracle Readers will happily dive into this emotionally grounded, contemporary young adult novel about the sudden end of one girl’s Olympic swimming dreams and the struggles she endures before realizing there are many things that express who we are. Sixteen-year-old Abby Lipman is on track to win the state swim championships and qualify for the Olympic trials when a fainting incident at a swim meet leads to the diagnosis of a deadly heart condition. Now Abby is forced to discover who she is without the one thing that’s defined her entire life. “More than a sports novel, this book delves deep into issues of identity—how we identify ourselves separately from what we do well—and the importance of support systems while making life-altering decisions. Give this to fans of Catherine Gilbert Murdock’s Dairy Queen series.” —School Library Journal “This engaging and fast-paced read expertly paints the world of high-school sports and the single-minded focus and commitment that some high-school athletes can have.” —Booklist “This is a solid look at an elite athlete who gets benched. . . . An enjoyable read even for couch potatoes.” —Kirkus Reviews