A story containing a wealth of villainous and heroic characters that will transport you to places you never dreamt of going, and from which you may not return.

Colombo is in the throes of an explosion. Its face changes continuously, its vices are legion, its future as yet obscure and its paths speak of sunlight as well as of shadow.-' Carl Muller begins his quasi-fictional portrait of this beautiful, war-torn city by describing the great battles fought over it by European colonizers-. In AD 1505, a Portuguese fleet blown off-course took shelter in Galle, overthrew the local kings, fortified Colombo and decided to stay. The Dutch came along, ousted the Portuguese, made Colombo their capital and ruled till the British arrived and sent them packing. Muller intersperses the tales of the past into descriptions of the battles that are being fought in Colombo today"political battles in which vested interests play a major role as well as battles fought on the individual level in the struggle to survive: young women and children turning to prostitution to earn an extra buck, people begging in the streets to make ends meet, unemployed young men turning to crime in frustration, students demonstrating against atrocities, lovers pining for nightfall in order to push away loneliness if only for a few moments... Written in Muller's lucid style, Colombo: A Novel is a chronicle of a city's trials and triumphs.

"This is by far the most serious study undertaken by a Protestant missiologist on the Latin American base ecclesial communities. It is also one of the few studies that relates this extraordinary ecclesial phenomenon with its counterpart in Protestant history. The fact that Cook writes not only as a Protestant but as one identified with the evangelical tradition makes it all the more relevant. It should be required reading for everyone interested in the life and mission of the grassroots church in the Americas and in the renewal of local congregations everywhere."Orlando E. Costas, Andover Newton Theological School"The book is painstakingly researched, extraordinarily well written, and - in my judgment - sets a new benchmark for understanding one of the truly phenomenal things God is doing among grassroots Christians in Latin America."Alan Neely, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary"Guillermo Cook has performed an invaluable service. With his encyclopedic grasp of the history, ethos, and current activities of the comunidades de base - grassroots lay communities in the Latin American Catholic Church - he has provided a vivid reminder of the sort of parallel stirrings that brought renewal to many Protestant churches and spawned new spiritual movements during the last four hundred years. These Catholic ecclesial communities are being used of God to transform static, clergy-dominated, sacramentalist structures into living, spontaneous movements of loving service and evangelistic concern. All should join Dr. Cook in praying that they shall continue to be the 'Hope of the Church' and the 'Expectation of the Poor' throughout Latin America today, and tomorrow!"Arthur F. Glasser, Fuller Theological Seminary"The Expectation of the Poor is the most inclusive study on the subject that I know. Cook brings to this task his long years of experience and study as a missiologist who has spent decades working in Latin America. His bibliography is probably the most complete on the subject that has been published."Mortimer Arias, author of The Cry of My People

This book is addressed to the readers operating in the sea urchin field of research, as well as to the lovers of this fascinating organism. Sea urchin, among the most known marine invertebrates belonging to the deuterostomes, is more closely related to humans than other invertebrates, thus representing a suitable model system not only for developmental biology and ecotoxicology but also for biomedicine. The topics described highlight the validity and versatility of this organism for different kinds of investigations. A collection of interesting chapters contributes to this volume and clearly shows the reason of the high interest manifested by a huge number of scientists around the world for this organism over time. Each contribution is a separate and comprehensive chapter but within the book's aim.

On September 9, 1919, an American nightmare came true. The entire Boston police force deserted their posts, leaving the city virtually defenseless. Women were raped on street corners, stores were looted, and pedestrians were beaten and robbed while crowds not only looked on but cheered. The police strike and the mayhem that followed made an inconspicuous governor, Calvin Coolidge, known throughout America, turning him into a national hero and, eventually, a president. It also created a monster: for two days, more than 700,000 residents of Boston's urban core were without police protection, and the mob ruled the streets.

After accepting an invitation to rescue children in Brazil, Lila, and her Israeli friends set out on an adventure of a lifetime. A mission compound far from the wealthy tourist district had been established by the Crow family. This would be Team Operation Set Captives Free headquarters for the duration of their stay. Aptly named Magnolia Square for the abundance of Magnolia trees that lined the property, where impoverished children are loved, taught, and fed during the school week. On Sunday the church’s mission bell rings, calling everyone to gather for worship. It’s a humble work, important and lifesaving. The Crow family had been given permission to repurpose several city lots in the Warehouse district that neighbored the city dump. Homeless children, many with disabilities, were in want of medical attention, clean water, proper nutrition, and an education. Overwhelming needs for sure, but as of late, change seemed to be in the air. The Holy Spirit was on the move, He had called and they had answered. In short order, Team OSCF and the Crow family realized they were not the only ones that had been requested to attend His party. An afternoon visiting the inhabitants of the city dump brings the team in contact with a peculiar young man. Father Jude, a thirty-something Anglican Priest from England who had made Brazil his home and the residents of the landfill his people. Jude’s Council members had told him to expect help to come from the Holy City and that when it arrived, Dunamis Belem would ignite. It was time. The Holy Spirit was wooing and brooding, breathing fresh wind into souls and spirits and explosively empowering His church.