As comfortable as telling stories around the kitchen table, on the front porch, or in front of a campfire, Lightning Bugs and Sunday School presents a collection of narratives, points to ponder, and poetry that illustrates how God works in the lives of the faithful. Compiled by author Nancy Barry, the stories include appearances by angels and good Samaritans, prayers that have been answered, and the witnessing of unexplainable miracles. In Great Balls of Fire, Shirley Jones tells how listening to a message from God saved her house from ruin during a storm. In A Smooth and Quiet Ride, Daniel Street describes being rescued by an angel on a bitter night when his vehicle broke down. Sometimes You Have to Ask relates how a prayer for a boys new eyeglasses was answered by a thoughtful neighbor. With recipes and household hints included, Lightning Bugs and Sunday School offers a plethora of faith-based stories and recollections that provide inspiration and guidance.

As comfortable as telling stories around the kitchen table, on the front porch, or in front of a campfire, Lightning Bugs and Sunday School presents a collection of narratives, points to ponder, and poetry that illustrates how God works in the lives of the faithful. Compiled by author Nancy Barry, the stories include appearances by angels and good Samaritans, prayers that have been answered, and the witnessing of unexplainable miracles. In "Great Balls of Fire," Shirley Jones tells how listening to a message from God saved her house from ruin during a storm. In "A Smooth and Quiet Ride," Daniel Street describes being rescued by an angel on a bitter night when his vehicle broke down. "Sometimes You Have to Ask" relates how a prayer for a boy's new eyeglasses was answered by a thoughtful neighbor. With recipes and household hints included, Lightning Bugs and Sunday School offers a plethora of faith-based stories and recollections that provide inspiration and guidance.

The Lightning Bug is a work of Science fiction. It is the first book in a series and introduces American teenager Matt Johnson. Matt and his friends discover a warning message hidden in the behavior of lightning bugs. The message leads to the discovery of secrets that run counter to accepted scientific and religious beliefs. Solving the mystery requires the teens overcome racial and political turmoil. The teens must find a way to save the world; but who will save them?

As Jen Guidry begins the process of choosing a school for her kindergartener, she celebrates all the opportunities that big-city life offers. Unfortunately for Jen, her husband has other ideas. He's ready to ditch the big-city headaches and move back to his hometown with a population of only 298 people. Jen finds herself along with her family (husband Mike, five-year-old Henry, and three-year-old James) trading in the bright lights of Dallas, Texas, for the lightning bugs of Graisseville, Louisiana. All Jen can think about is how far she'll have to drive to find a good cup of coffee. The boys are ecstatic to be surrounded by trees and open spaces where they can just run. Mike is settling into his new role as owner of Big Ed's Parts 'n' More. Jen, however, has to make new friends and deal with all the eccentricities small-town life adds to her plate. As Jen navigates the nuances and backstories everyone else in town takes for granted, she finds new friends and new adventures. She volunteers to coordinate the Live Nativity event at her church, finds a backup beauty queen, and organizes the annual Mardi Gras Parade. Jen finds she is living a life she never realized she was missing. Will she be able to completely give up the bright lights forever and appreciate her yard full of lightning bugs?

A Heritage of Faith shows the legacy of faith handed down through families. Many incidents in the lives of the author and her family are told as she and her husband served Southern Baptist churches, preaching and working to bring people to a saving relationship with Jesus. The book shows how God can come into a person's life and change an entire family. It shows how God used a man to go to churches that were dying and help them to begin to love and grow again. It also outlines many of the methods he used as he pastored twelve Baptist churches in Missouri, Texas, and Florida to accomplish that purpose. Many of the people they met are showcased in these sometimes hilarious, sometimes poignant stories. Christian families are not immune to worldly influences, as is shown in the chapter that tells how the author and her husband learned that one of their sons is gay. Neither are Christian families immune to great sorrow, as is shown in the chapter about one of their daughters who experienced infertility for many years. A Heritage of Faith has stories of many hilarious things that happened in the author's family and in their churches, as well as some serious decisions made by people they met along the way. The author shows how a world-wise man and a naive girl put their lives together and have served churches for fifty-five years.

Renowned folklorist William R. Ferris has captured the voices of southern musicians, artists, writers, and thinkers for forty years—and we have been proud to publish his work in Southern Cultures for nearly half of that time. To celebrate Southern Cultures' 20th anniversary, we present our inaugural special omnibus ebook, The William R. Ferris Reader. Collected here for the first time are all 20 of Bill Ferris's essays and interviews as they have appeared in our pages between 1995 and 2013, as well as an introduction to the collection by Ferris. From folk humor to moon pies to Faulkner, Welty, Walker, and so much more, we are delighted to share this special collection of a favored friend, mentor, and colleague.