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This week on Kingdom Now:
Just Between Us Christians: Q&A Author Spotlight
Showcasing dozens of questions submitted by ministry friends and fans, join Apostle Lee Ann B Marino as she shares excerpts from her new book, Just Between Us Christians: Real Answers to Real Questions Submitted by Real Christians, out August 1.
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Looking for a great gift? Books are the perfect way to touch someone’s life, especially if you know their interests and desire to inspire them, especially in the sense of something that lasts longer than a box of chocolates or even clothes might last in someone’s closet. Here is our 2022 holiday list, perfect for everyone you know!
All books are available in both paperback and ebook format.
IT WAS FATE that brought Nathan Black and Kaitlyn Daniels together, fueling their intense mutual passion and companionship discovered through an average experience on your run-of-the-mill dating site. Though markedly different: Nathan an IT specialist and Kaitlyn, an online conspiracy streamer, neither one could deny the intense bond they forged through online dating. Watching Kaitlyn dive into various conspiracy theories was entertaining at first, as she commanded both Nathan – and the audience – with her wonder of words. After a few run-ins with the QAnon community, Kaitlyn dives head-first into a world she never expected…only to turn up missing after a weekly livestream. Nathan knows something is wrong, even if the two have never met in person. Where is Kaitlyn? Who will believe she is missing, and how can he find her?
In this riveting, fast-paced novel that weaves together the pitfalls and successes of modern-day dating, the effects of technology on our social lives, conspiracy, current events, and national history, The Morning After the Night Before will have you cheering for Kaitlyn, admiring Nathan, and waiting for the morning to come awash in suspense. Here’s to a story that will have you look at the world of modern-day social conspiracy in a way you never thought possible before.
THE WORLDS of grief, loss, pain, and hurt take people on a roller coaster journey filled with emotional ups and downs. In such an experience, the hurting find themselves questioning everything as they learn to accept the world is a far different place from what they once believed. No longer is the world black and white, truth isn’t an ideal but an unsettling reality, and life feels cold…distant…and yes, often bitter. In a world that encourages positivity at any cost, where do the bitter find their place? For twenty-eight days, join Dr. Lee Ann B. Marino as she writes from her own experiences of true dark bitterness: Learning to reorient to life after trauma, embracing the darkness as a place of insight and wisdom, and finding hope and lessons without minimizing the realities of embittered places. A companion to her previous devotional, Waiting: Devotions for the Journey, Dr. Marino uses her words to sit with you in the dark as you narrate life in a bitter place.
Serving as a secondary leader – Whether in the worlds of church, business, or education – is an important and vital task. How do secondary leaders handle their unique tasks? What questions should they ask themselves? More importantly, how do they prepare for the various practical, emotional, and spiritual facets of working day in and day out with the constant temptations to challenge authority, cause division, or personal disappointment?
In It’s Not Good for Leaders to Lead Alone, long-time pastor Shell Osbon breaks down the world of secondary leadership as only one who has filled such a position can: with Honesty, good humor, and encouragement. Here is a safe place to talk about the essential nature of secondary leaders, how to avoid pitfalls, encouragement for the future, and take honest assessment of one’s motives and work ethic. Whether leaders are content to remain where they are or desire to advance, this is one book everyone in leadership should be excited to read, as it has the power to transform one’s perspectives on their position – whether that position is as a secondary leader, or as one who works with secondary leadership.
On a special snowy day, Amanda pays a visit to her Aunt Carol’s house for a full day of activities: molding clay, assembling a puzzle, and visiting the frozen pond. After a morning full of fun, a decision about the next adventure was in order. A visit to the attic reveals some special adventures in the discovery of old toys and the memories they call to mind. As Amanda and Aunt Carol tend to the dolls of the past, the two explore the world of special memories, special thoughts, and most poignantly, one great purpose in the passage of time and the meaning of inter-generational connections.
PETER, a neighbor boy, lived nearby with his mom, dad, and sister. When he wasn’t playing, learning, or exploring his world, Peter loved to eat all foods, especially one special treat: lemon meringue pie. Celebrate the simple things in life – including those of childhood and fun times – in this classic-style story, written as an easy reader for childhood reading. From young to old, all will enjoy the memories of a time gone by and a boy who loved all things in life – especially a big slice of lemon meringue pie.
Manifesting the fruit of the Spirit is an essential aspect of the believer’s life. Jesus calls us to not only produce fruit, but produce more excellent fruit. How can we do this, and how can we operate in the principles of spiritual fruit? How do we recognize spiritual fruit in our lives? In Fruit of the Vine: Study and Commentary on the Fruit of the Spirit, Dr. Lee Ann B. Marino invites the reader to learn more about what it means to bear “fruit,” specifically the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control. Presented with detailed word studies, background information, personal and relatable experiences, humor, warmth, and a whole lot of reflection on what it means to be in the vine and live a spiritually fruitful life, this book will change how you view the fruit of the Spirit and developing its important characteristics in your life.
FORGIVENESS is a challenging topic of faith for many Christians. Confused about what it is, what it is not, and the requirements of forgiveness, many Christians opt to sidestep God’s commands and avoid the issue of forgiveness in their own lives. Doing so is problematic, though, because forgiveness is the central message of Christianity. If we avoid it, we never come to learn about the bounty God has for us within its essence. Join author Anthony Sluzas for a balance between the essential command to forgive and its true beauty and grace, not just available, but essential to each and every Christian believer. Find an important and sanctified message about forgiveness present in these words, learning everything you ever needed to about this most sacred aspect of our faith and spiritual development.
ALTAR work. Nursery. Cleaning the church. Hospitality ministry. Community outreach. Do you still see helps ministries in the church? Do you believe they are important? In days gone by, helps ministries were the first avenue of church service required for anyone who felt they had a ministry call. While some found their niche in helps, others went on to do incredible things within the ministry, having that solid, purposed foundation, recognizing service as the key to ministry work. With modern trends pushing more individuals into leadership, the ministries of helps have all but disappeared in favor of premature promotion and adaptation of offices and titles many do not properly understand. What are we missing in ministry today? In Ministry School Boot Camp: Training For Helps Ministries, Appointments, And Beyond, Dr. Lee Ann B. Marino, Ph.D., D.Min., D.D. takes the participant through the meaningful and vital role helps ministries play in the function of the church. Learn about the various appointment ministries, assistants, volunteers, protocol, dress, and assignments – and their importance – all while learning the proper way to interact as a minister coming up under the work of helps. Whether you are working toward a greater ministry call or find your greatest joy in the various helps ministries, this book sets the participant on the straight and narrow in the forgotten arts of church service.
WHAT do the Charlie Ross kidnapping, the Dunning sale, Britain’s female mason, Sherlock Holmes and the Littlewood’s pool, the founding of the YMCA, George Sloane, and the Madeline Smith Postcard all have in common? Stamps were an important part of these historical events. Even though we don’t often think of stamps in the context of making history, those small, decorative aspects of the mail system are far more than just there to decorate the envelope. At the heart of every letter, every postal moment for hundreds of years, stamps can be found, changing history as we know it.
In this book, author and stamp historian Herman Herst, Jr. shares with us about the rich history of several historical events and the way that stamps influenced them. Told with good humor, perspective, and solid documentation, Herman Herst, Jr. offers us insight into the smallest details of the mail industry – stamps – and shows us that history is often staring back at us every time we mail or open a letter. Come along to share in seventy-seven stories where history proves that stamps are the stars, sealing history in ways we would least expect it.
THE Song of Solomon is uncommon reading material in today’s church. Many are uncomfortable with its contents, and many others readily admit they have never read it. Why are we avoiding the book? In treating the Song of Solomon with such discomfort, what are we, as a church, missing out on?
The Song of Solomon is about many things: relationships, men, women, freedom in relationships, love, marriage, sex, sensuality and, believe it or not, our relationship with God. Above all, the Song of Solomon has much to offer on the topic of intimacy and intimate dynamics, ways in which we, as people, interact with one another in loving, committed relationships. Tackling the complicated prose of the book, Dr. Lee Ann B. Marino explores the incredible beauty God intends us to find in intimate relationships, and why these relationships start with a balanced perspective of our needed intimacy with God. By looking at the depth of this book, the depth of interpersonal relationships, and the depth of our relationship and love for God, learn the proper reading for this important book – and what it has to teach every single person, whether single, married, divorced, and set apart for the Lord.
THE book of Jonah sparks memories of Sunday School pictures, workbooks and images of the Prophet Jonah in the belly of a whale. Most people, especially if they have been in church since children, are familiar with the story of Jonah, the fact that he disobeyed God, and the result of his disobedience. In the cute way in which the book of Jonah has been retold in parts as stories, we think we know Jonah…but do we really know the ins and outs of the story? Why did Jonah disobey God in the first place? Did he resolve his issues? What was the result of Jonah’s encounter with God? Above all, what message is in the story of Jonah for each one of us? Transforming the book of Jonah into more than a Sunday School picture, Dr. Lee Ann B. Marino, Ph.D., D.Min., D.D. takes the reader on the journey of Jonah, paralleling both ancient and modern application to help the reader examine the ways that many “stumble to Nineveh” in their own lives and the powerful ways in which God either transforms us into a testimony…or makes an example of us. By looking at contemporary events and spiritual depth, learn about all Jonah has to teach every one of us, right where we are, no matter where that is in our relationship with God.
IT WAS FATE that brought Nathan Black and Kaitlyn Daniels together, fueling their intense mutual passion and companionship discovered through an average experience on your run-of-the-mill dating site. Though markedly different: Nathan an IT specialist and Kaitlyn, an online conspiracy streamer, neither one could deny the intense bond they forged through online dating. Watching Kaitlyn dive into various conspiracy theories was entertaining at first, as she commanded both Nathan – and the audience – with her wonder of words. After a few run-ins with the QAnon community, Kaitlyn dives head-first into a world she never expected…only to turn up missing after a weekly livestream. Nathan knows something is wrong, even if the two have never met in person. Where is Kaitlyn? Who will believe she is missing, and how can he find her?
In this riveting, fast-paced novel that weaves together the pitfalls and successes of modern-day dating, the effects of technology on our social lives, conspiracy, current events, and national history, The Morning After the Night Before will have you cheering for Kaitlyn, admiring Nathan, and waiting for the morning to come awash in suspense. Here’s to a story that will have you look at the world of modern-day social conspiracy in a way you never thought possible before.
PETER, a neighbor boy, lived nearby with his mom, dad, and sister. When he wasn’t playing, learning, or exploring his world, Peter loved to eat all foods, especially one special treat: lemon meringue pie. Celebrate the simple things in life – including those of childhood and fun times – in this classic-style story, written as an easy reader for childhood reading. From young to old, all will enjoy the memories of a time gone by and a boy who loved all things in life – especially a big slice of lemon meringue pie
Author: Shell Osbon
Publisher : Righteous Pen Publications (July 28, 2022)
Language : English
Paperback : 188 pages
ISBN-10 : 1940197694
ISBN-13 : 978-1940197692
Ebook ASIN : B0B843L65V
Serving as a secondary leader – whether in the worlds of church, business, or education – is an important and vital task. How do secondary leaders handle their unique tasks? What questions should they ask themselves? More importantly, how do they prepare for the various practical, emotional, and spiritual facets of working day in and day out with the constant temptations to challenge authority, cause division, or personal disappointment?
In It’s Not Good for Leaders to Lead Alone, long-time pastor Shell Osbon breaks down the world of secondary leadership as only one who has filled such a position can: With honesty, good humor, and encouragement. Here is a safe place to talk about the essential nature of secondary leaders, how to avoid pitfalls, encouragement for the future, and take honest assessment of one’s motives and work ethic. Whether leaders are content to remain where they are or desire to advance, this is one book everyone in leadership should be excited to read, as it has the power to transform one’s perspectives on their position – whether that position is as a secondary leader, or as one who works with secondary leadership.
Recently, Dr. Lee Ann B. Marino (a Righteous Pen Publications Group author) completed an interview that now appears on awesomegang.com. Check it out!
Looking for a great gift? Books are the perfect way to touch someone’s life, especially if you know their interests and desire to inspire them, especially in the sense of something that lasts longer than a box of chocolates or even clothes might last in someone’s closet. Here is our 2020 holiday list, perfect for everyone you know!
All books are available in both paperback and ebook format.
WAITING… DEVOTIONS FOR THE JOURNEY (DR. LEE ANN B MARINO)
Nobody likes to wait. We think about the things we are missing, losing, or should have, but don’t…all because we are waiting. The experience had during a wait has a way of feeling dark, alienating, and brooding, because we don’t have what we’d hoped to receive. It feels like everyone else has more, is moving in a better direction, and here we are…waiting.
Whether we are waiting for something great or have news of something terrible on the horizon, waiting is a difficult, introspective time. What are we to gain from waiting? What spiritual insights and lessons do we learn while we wait? What is God trying to teach us? For twenty-eight days, join in the journey of insight and depth about waiting and the lessons that go along with it. From depths about patience and change to the treasures of darkness and holy ground, see the blessings present in waiting – and what they have to offer you.
THE BLANKET OF MANY COLORS, TRIMMED WITH SATIN AND LOVE (CAROL LIETO)
Before the birth of her beautiful baby girl, a future mother sits and quilts a baby blanket. With patchwork squares of many colors to depict every emotion and experience, this quilt, trimmed with satin and love, was destined to become a long-standing source of comfort and joy in her daughter’s life. From birth to adulthood and beyond, share in the story of how a keepsake blanket became a powerful reminder of love and strength throughout a young woman’s life, as well as a connection to her mother and the threads of love that bind families together.
LOVING FIONA: THE STORY OF A VERY SPECIAL DOG (NINA B. MARINO)
Fiona was a feisty puppy, full of life and wonder from day one. Beautiful in color and endlessly energetic, Fiona filled the lives of her owners with adventure and exploration. Over time, Fiona became a dog with a huge appetite – for literally everything! What was life like with this most special dog, one that faced her days with courage and inspiration despite living with a long-term adrenal condition. A book meant to be read and shared, explore with us the wonders of pet ownership, even when a pet is different or otherwise has something about them that separates them from the rest. Come and learn just why Fiona was loved by many – especially those who were closest to her – and why they were blessed to love and care for her throughout her life.
UNDERSTANDING DEMONOLOGY, SPIRITUAL WARFARE, HEALING, AND DELIVERANCE: A MANUAL FOR THE CHRISTIAN MINISTER (DR. LEE ANN B. MARINO)
The study of the divine and the demonic – and how the two affect humanity – has been a source of fascination and intrigue for thousands of years. While divine interaction with humanity has always brought about the benefit and growth of human beings, demonic interaction is never so uplifting. The demonic realm has caused humans to lose their status with God, venture where they should not, fall into sin, and at times, into places of oppression, depression, and possession. How are the divine and demonic understood in such situations, and how do we fight, liberate, and deliver those when such situations arise?
Hailed as the most comprehensive textbook on the topics of demonology, spiritual warfare, and healing and deliverance you will ever need, this writing stands as a thorough and complete examination of matters that relate to all things we encounter, but many that we cannot easily see with the naked eye. Learn about the realms and operation of both the divine and the demonic, spirits and identifying types of spirits, demonology and mythology around the world, the occult, witchcraft and magic, superstitions, spiritual warfare from the perspective of Ephesians 6 and the War Scroll from the Dead Sea Scrolls, needed spiritual disciplines, healing and deliverance, having the right attitude about healing and deliverance, ethics in healing and deliverance, regulating healing and deliverance ministry, and helping others maintain healing and deliverance. Designed for classroom use, perfect for discussion and containing textual assignments for each chapter, this book is a must-have for any serious student who wants to learn the truth about – and the proper ways – to handle all matters of spiritual warfare, healing, deliverance, and ultimately, spiritual discernment.
PUT A STAMP ON IT: SEVENTY-SEVEN SPARKLING STORIES SHOWCASING HOW STAMPS HAVE INTERCEPTED HISTORICAL EVENTS (HERMAN HERST, JR.)
WHAT do the Charley Ross kidnapping, the Dunning sale, Britain’s female mason, Sherlock Holmes and the Littlewood’s pool, the founding of the YMCA, George Sloane, and the Madeline Smith Postcard all have in common? Stamps were an important part of these historical events. Even though we don’t often think of stamps in the context of making history, those small, decorative aspects of the mail system are far more than just there to decorate the envelope. At the heart of every letter, every postal moment for hundreds of years, stamps can be found, changing history as we know it. In this book, author and stamp historian Herman Herst, Jr. shares with us about the rich history of several historical events and the way that stamps influenced them. Told with good humor, perspective, and solid documentation, Herman Herst, Jr. offers us insight into the smallest details of the mail industry – stamps – and shows us that history is often staring back at us every time we mail or open a letter. Come along to share in seventy-seven stories where history proves that stamps are the stars, sealing history in ways we would least expect it.
PERTAINING TO LIFE AND GODLINESS (ANTHONY SLUZAS)
OBEDIENCE to God appears to be a dirty word in the mouths of many ministers and believers today. Pursuing the life abundant means more than just amassing things; it is about pursuing the qualities of God within our lives, those that relate to godliness. Developing a godly walk calls each and every believer to serious personal examination about things such as God’s place in one’s life, one’s relationship with the Scriptures, and one’s own adherence to spiritual matters, no matter how uncomfortable they may be.
In this book, Anthony Sluzas offers not just a challenge to every believer, but a resource for living by one’s faith, day in and day out. Whether you seek to grow spiritually, expand your walk of faith, learn how to overcome the devil, identify false religion, or learn about better living with God, your spouse, and others, this book provides the perfect introduction for all life and godliness have to offer the Christian believer.
CELEBRATING THE SACRED IN MINISTRY: THE RITES, RITUALS, ORDINANCES, AND PRAYERS AND BLESSINGS OF THE CHURCH (DR. LEE ANN B. MARINO)
THE concept of the sacred is an idea that has hallowed throughout the ages and brought celebrations of spirituality, God coming to meet humanity, and stages of growth attainable and blessed. Recognizing that we, as human beings, benefit from acknowledging the sacred stages in life, we come together through different experiences and acknowledgements of our growth and movement in Christ. An overwhelming number of ministers seek more depth and connection with the sacred in a profound manner (especially when it comes to the needs of their congregations), so how do we understand the relevance of the sacred in ministry? How can we connect with God in a way that is both Biblical and speaks to us today, in our modern times?
In this new and updated edition of Rites, Rituals, And Ordinances: Celebrating The Sacred In Ministry, Dr. Lee Ann B. Marino, Ph.D., D.Min., D.D. both educates on and explains the different guidelines, standards, and apologetics for ten rites, rituals, and ordinances that restore the sacred within ministry. Originally written for Apostolic University as a part of seminary instruction, Dr. Marino presents practical and Scriptural information, wisdom, and approach into sacred rites, rituals, and ordinances, including ordination, appointments, weddings, funerals, presentations/dedications, consecrations, anointing, water baptism, holy communion, and this new volume also includes instruction on graduation services and sacred assemblies (such as first preaching, birthday services, convocation and more). Learn the reasons why these rites, rituals, and ordinances are important and essential for Kingdom believers today as we strive to find the sacredness of God in a world and experience that is often chaotic and disordered. New, updated, and revised edition also includes a special section full of prayers and blessings for special (and ordinary!) occasions that ministers and laity alike will find useful and powerful for ceremonial and devotional purposes.
MINISTRY SCHOOL BASIC TRAINING: BE ALL THAT YOU CAN BE IN GOD’S ARMY (DR. LEE ANN B. MARINO)
When we think about church membership, we are quick to engage classes expounding levels of theology for new members or the “basics” of faith that revolve around salvation. These are all great and important to spiritual development, but there are many aspects of ministry membership for lay members that we either ignore or fail to discuss. If we are going to be members of God’s Kingdom, we need to know how to do it right, and how it all fits together for the Christian believer personally, spiritually, and as part of a Christian ministry. Tackling the “Basic Training” principle for the average church or ministry member, Dr. Lee Ann B. Marino examines ten key areas of Kingdom spirituality, identity, relationship, participation, understanding, and involvement essential for powerful spiritual growth and purpose. If you’re struggling to find meaning in your church experience, this is the book for you! If you are looking for a great starting point for new members or even members who are looking to grow in their understanding of church membership, this is the book for you! If you want to learn more about Kingdom identity, selecting the right church for you, ways to be involved, keys for unity, relationship issues with leadership, personal devotional issues, discerning place in church, giving, issues of freedom and deliverance, and more – settle in, take notes, and devote yourself to the disciplinary rigors of basic training that will help you develop the needed spiritual fitness you seek in your walk with God.
FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT: GOD’S CODE FOR LIVING (NINA B. MARINO)
Learning about and developing the fruit of the Spirit is an important part of being a Christian believer. Helping children to recognize and memorize the fruit of the Spirit in their lives can go a long way in raising kind, compassionate, empathetic, and caring children who are quick to think of others as much as they think of themselves. By presenting the fruit of the Spirit in a fun, relatable way, author Nina B. Marino takes years of Sunday School instruction and applies it to these important spiritual virtues. Designed to get young children interested in spiritual development, the easy-flowing rhyme text, beautiful full-color graphics, and the practical ways the fruit of the Spirit becomes alive to a young child, this book is perfect for your favorite child, grandchild, or for any nursery, children’s church, or Sunday School program.
CREATED FOR LOVE: AN EVOLUTION OF LOVE IN THE BIBLE (AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR US) (DR. LEE ANN B. MARINO)
The word “love” is frequently elusive for most human beings. We talk about loving everyone and everything, but trip up when it comes to expressing love and truly experiencing love in a way that changes and transforms us. In a world that regards love as a fairy-tale of perfection, how do we come to understand the love of God for us – and His call for us to love others?In the first installment of the “Pocket Full of Faith” pocket books series, Dr. Lee Ann B. Marino reveals the way that love and the understanding of love has evolved throughout the Bible – spanning through physical attraction, to familial love, to kindness, to friendship, and finally, to divine love – and why each one of these different forms of love are important to our overall well-being, spiritual experience, and human interaction. Come along and learn everything the Bible has to say about love for you, and, most importantly, how discovering different aspects of Biblical love can help you connect with God and others in your life.
THE DIVINE FEMININE: A TREATISE ON THE FEMALE IN CHRISTIAN SPIRITUALITY (DR. LEE ANN B. MARINO)
THE HISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY has frequently been unkind in its interpretations of things as pertain to women. This has left many women under the impression that they have no voice and no relevance in the Christian life, must accept a subordinate place to men by divine design, or that they must surrender themselves to an identity that is void of purpose and meaning unless they attach themselves to a human male figure. This has sent many women away from Christian identity, believing that being a woman of purpose and a Christian are mutually exclusive. Despite many years of scholarship, feminist instruction, and teachings on women, it seems like Christianity is doomed to deny its women any sense of proper identity. Such is the result of a lack of Christian scholarship, biased and sexist translators, and traditions that teach us to turn our heads to anything unfamiliar or outside of our customary backgrounds. The multitudes of Christian women (and women in general) never hear of the many female representations, identities, expressions, and spiritual perceptions found within the Scriptures and the history of the church.
In The Divine Feminine: A Treatise On The Female In Christian Spirituality Dr. Lee Ann B. Marino, Ph.D., D.Min., D.D. explores these different female touch points as found within Biblical understanding, grammatical language, church history, and spiritual understanding, ready for embrace in our present day. Read along to learn why it is a powerful and blessed thing to be a woman – from a Biblical and Christian perspective – and why all things female – from Eve, to Ruth, to wisdom, to love, to the Church and the Holy Spirit – are identified as female, with female characteristics – for a reason. Almost two decades in the making, whether this book challenges or affirms you, it will definitely be an eye-opening, spiritually changing, read.
Drivin’ Sideways: The Story of the Band DANGER DANGERBy: Aaron Joy
THE USUAL book about bands follows a predictable course of action: Band meets. Band plays together. Band makes album. Band has millions of adoring fans. Band gets in trouble, usually with drugs or women or something of that nature. Band breaks up. Band gets back together later, and all love each other, and start writing again. Band’s new album sucks. Nobody believes band is all forgiven. Everyone loses interest in band, so someone writes a book about it. Blah, blah, blah.
Some people really like that style of biographical band research. They like the idea of treating the band like it’s a literal discography, a timeline of events that seemed crammed into a specific order. Seldom, if ever, is life – and history – that neat, nice, and simple. If that’s your only reference of band biographies, then let me introduce you to something better: an intimate portrait of a band, composed over several hundred hours’ of research, detailing, and interviews that contain the actual words of band members. Enter in: Drivin’ Sideways: The Story of the Band DANGER DANGER.
I admit that DANGER DANGER wasn’t a band I was particularly familiar with prior to reading Aaron Joy’s work. Though familiar to a certain extent with the 80s metal scene, largely in part because my late husband was a huge metal fan (and saw many of the bands in person when he was still in his teens), DANGER DANGER wasn’t ever on my radar. Now that I’ve read it, I feel like I sat down and personally talked with each member of this band. Instead of presenting a timeline of events, Aaron does something unique with his book: he focuses on members of the band, one at a time, as well as the album creation and thoughts about the final product from the members themselves. Instead of just talking about their experiences with the band, he also provides an extensive background on their musical history, other bands and musical acts they were part of at different parts of their careers, including Michael Bolton, Megadeath, Savatage, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Mahogany Rush, Alice Cooper, UFO, and beyond.
Aaron Joy holds back nothing in his honest assessments and critiques of the band, while still presenting the band’s story as their own, from their own words. From their early days with the moderate hit, BANG BANG, to their dark days of grunge’s sound with their album, Dawn, to reunions, quasi-reunions, breakups, and new members, the group’s entire history is found within its pages, written in a way that lets the band speak for themselves. Documented from hundreds of interviews, each band member’s thoughts are found in this book. Uncensored, raw, and sometimes shocking, you are able to hear exactly what the band thought about their own projects, their songs, what they thought was best or worst, what they enjoyed most, what they disliked, and how they feel about themselves, growing from DANGER DANGER now to the quasi-reunion present in the group, The Defiants.
It’s evident the author is a fan; not just of the band, but of many of the band’s members, and that can be heard in his commentaries, historical details, and array of knowledge that can only be had when one truly enjoys the music as well as the people. Sincere, intimate, and candid, the book reflects as if you aren’t just learning a band’s basics, but about the members of the band, themselves. After all, isn’t that what makes great music – feeling like you know the artists, rather than just ideas about them?
For those who are interested in band information, the book contains the group’s complete discography, a list of each member who was a part of DANGER DANGER, along with additional bands each member of the group belonged to at some point in time or another. The book also contains reviews of each album, tour locations, and a list of songs covered by the band throughout their history.
Unique to this writing is the “Closing Notes by the Author.” In it, Aaron shares why this book wasn’t just any old biographical writing; it is a reflection not just of the band, but of something he wanted to do, for a long time, and now set forth to do it. Helping to pull him through the confines of a difficult relationship, Drivin’ Sideways wasn’t just about giving the band a heads up, but also about a mutual achievement: reaching goals, completing things we always say we want to do, but never get around to doing, and accomplishing dreams, even when things seem impossible.
More than just a biography about a band, the author provides a true backdrop of the interconnected nature of the music industry. Through his essential detailing, I felt like I learned not just about a group, but also about how the music industry works: the good, the bad, and the hard, laborious work it takes for a band to go from status as unknown to having a devoted fan base. It’s not as simple as writing great songs, playing in huge arenas, and having thousands of adoring fans. There are details of production, songs that get written and then rewritten, fights and disagreements, and the inevitable way life enters the picture of musical fantasies and illusions: marriage, divorce, being broke, drugs, and the like, all of which have a way of influencing the music and the way a band is perceived.
If you are an 80s metal lover (even if you weren’t a fan of DANGER DANGER themselves), if you like music biographies, if you are interested in hearing where many of your favorite current bands are from (such as Trans-Siberian Orchestra), if you enjoy an “intimate portrait” of a group that influenced music, even if it was by accident, or you just like things that are real, cool, and different, this is the perfect book for you. Fresh enough to give an old band a new look – and even peer into their current through The Defiants, Drivin’ Sideways has all the components for a literary journey back into the 80s, through the 90s, the early 2000s, and today.
(Reviewed by Lee Ann B. Marino)
Book can be purchased here: https://www.amazon.com/Drivin-Sideways-Story-Band-Danger/dp/0359527051
Looking for a great gift? Books are the perfect way to touch someone’s life, especially if you know their interests and desire to inspire them, especially in the sense of something that lasts longer than a box of chocolates or even clothes might last in someone’s closet. Here is our 2019 holiday list, perfect for everyone you know!
All books are available in both paperback and ebook format.
THE BLANKET OF MANY COLORS, TRIMMED WITH SATIN AND LOVE (CAROL LIETO)
A new release, already impacting and taking our readers by storm. This is a must-have read for a grandparent, new parent, quilter, or family that is ready to discuss and celebrate the joys of family love.
Before the birth of her beautiful baby girl, a future mother sits and quilts a baby blanket. With patchwork squares of many colors to depict every emotion and experience, this quilt, trimmed with satin and love, was destined to become a long-standing source of comfort and joy in her daughter’s life. From birth to adulthood and beyond, share in the story of how a keepsake blanket became a powerful reminder of love and strength throughout a young woman’s life, as well as a connection to her mother and the threads of love that bind families together.
SURROUNDED BY SO GREAT A CLOUD OF WITNESSES: WOMEN OF FAITH WHO REVOLUTIONIZED HISTORY( DR. LEE ANN B. MARINO)
When we talk about great figures in spiritual history, women are frequently absent from the conversation. We hear about the Martin Luthers, the Davids, the Charles Finneys, but we leave out the Marys, the Rosa Parks, the Syncletias, and the Amy Carmichaels. For Christian women, it can be easy to assume that you have no place and no real part in Christian history. Yet one of the greatest joys a woman of God can experience is that she is not alone, and that history is full of women who have struggled, overcome, and experienced life much like she has, and got through it every step of the way with faith and perseverance. In this new and updated version of Surrounded By So Great A Cloud Of Witnesses: Women Of Faith Who Revolutionized History, Dr. Lee Ann B. Marino, Ph.D., D.Min., D.D. Introduces the world to over 250 different women in devotional-style format. The women featured in this book come from different backgrounds, nations, eras, and lives, but all have one thing in common: They are all women of faith who have changed the face of history. Suitable as a meditative focus or reference work, this book will take the reader from Biblical times to modern-day “she-roes,” women who are some of the most unsung – and yet powerful – “herstory” makers. See how God has worked through women throughout history as you gain empowerment and inspiration for your own walk with God.
PUT A STAMP ON IT: SEVENTY-SEVEN SPARKLING STORIES SHOWCASING HOW STAMPS HAVE INTERCEPTED HISTORICAL EVENTS (HERMAN HERST, JR.)
A long-time bestseller for almost four years at the Righteous Pen Publications group, join in and see the awesome world of Pat Herst, Jr., a long-time stamp expert and collector who changed the world of collecting with his incredible wit and expertise on all things related to stamps and stamp collecting.
WHAT do the Charley Ross kidnapping, the Dunning sale, Britain’s female mason, Sherlock Holmes and the Littlewood’s pool, the founding of the YMCA, George Sloane, and the Madeline Smith Postcard all have in common? Stamps were an important part of these historical events. Even though we don’t often think of stamps in the context of making history, those small, decorative aspects of the mail system are far more than just there to decorate the envelope. At the heart of every letter, every postal moment for hundreds of years, stamps can be found, changing history as we know it. In this book, author and stamp historian Herman Herst, Jr. shares with us about the rich history of several historical events and the way that stamps influenced them. Told with good humor, perspective, and solid documentation, Herman Herst, Jr. offers us insight into the smallest details of the mail industry – stamps – and shows us that history is often staring back at us every time we mail or open a letter. Come along to share in seventy-seven stories where history proves that stamps are the stars, sealing history in ways we would least expect it.
GIDEON – A YELLOW LAB: A LOVE STORY (NINA B. MARINO)
The first children’s book (and book for children at heart) by Nina Marino, celebrating the love of pets and the connection that we have with our pets, even as they get older. Enjoy the beautiful story of Gideon, a dog who, although he is large, still believes that he is “little.”
Ever since Yellow Labrador Retriever Gideon was a puppy, he has always wanted to be “little.” Even though Gideon is a big dog now, he still remains, in the heart of his owner, Lee Ann, as “little.” Celebrate the joys and memories of Gideon, from the time he was a puppy, until now. Written in a style children can read and embrace and beautifully illustrated with pictures transformed into painting-like designs from throughout Gideon’s life, Gideon – A Yellow Lab (A Love Story) displays the love we have for our pets, as they transform our hearts and lives as they leave paw prints on our memories, long after they are older and bigger, and no longer literally “little.”
KNOW GOD: NO FEAR (ANTHONY SLUZAS)
Sometimes the greatest gift we can give someone is true encouragement – the message that they do not need to fear or experience fear in their lives. Spiritual empowerment is a gift that never goes out of style!
WITH life comes worries and cares that can overwhelm each and every one of us if we are not careful and attentive to the work of the enemy through fear in our lives. Whether it’s our family life, finances, situations, expenses, jobs, or personal spiritual concerns, worries and troubles always have a way of finding us, no matter how rich, poor, great, or small we may be. In this book, Anthony Sluzas draws on many years’ worth of insights into approaching our worries, cares, and fears with faith in Jesus Christ and applying the Word of God to every circumstance. This book will challenge the reader to delve into the real fears they have behind the ones we often voice and provide comfort, insight, and wisdom to those situations and problems as they arise. Grab your Bible, gird up yourself with strength, and come along on a journey out of fear to know God better in a more profound way.
UNDERSTANDING DEMONOLOGY, SPIRITUAL WARFARE, HEALING, AND DELIVERANCE: A MANUAL FOR THE CHRISTIAN MINISTER (DR. LEE ANN B. MARINO)
An always timely and interesting topic, this book is perfect for anyone who might want to learn more about the powers that be – both divine and demonic – as well as how both operate, interact, and how the demonic is overcome this side of heaven.
The study of the divine and the demonic – and how the two affect humanity – has been a source of fascination and intrigue for thousands of years. While divine interaction with humanity has always brought about the benefit and growth of human beings, demonic interaction is never so uplifting. The demonic realm has caused humans to lose their status with God, venture where they should not, fall into sin, and at times, into places of oppression, depression, and possession. How are the divine and demonic understood in such situations, and how do we fight, liberate, and deliver those when such situations arise? Hailed as the most comprehensive textbook on the topics of demonology, spiritual warfare, and healing and deliverance you will ever need, this writing stands as a thorough and complete examination of matters that relate to all things we encounter, but many that we cannot easily see with the naked eye. Learn about the realms and operation of both the divine and the demonic, spirits and identifying types of spirits, demonology and mythology around the world, the occult, witchcraft and magic, superstitions, spiritual warfare from the perspective of Ephesians 6 and the War Scroll from the Dead Sea Scrolls, needed spiritual disciplines, healing and deliverance, having the right attitude about healing and deliverance, ethics in healing and deliverance, regulating healing and deliverance ministry, and helping others maintain healing and deliverance. Designed for classroom use, perfect for discussion and containing textual assignments for each chapter, this book is a must-have for any serious student who wants to learn the truth about – and the proper ways – to handle all matters of spiritual warfare, healing, deliverance, and ultimately, spiritual discernment.
THE BIBLE ALPHABET: EXPLORING THE WONDERS OF THE BIBLE FROM A-Z (Lee Ann B. Marino)
If you’ve got a child who is ready to learn the wonders of the Bible, this is the perfect book for them! Colorful, exciting, and rhythmic in read, this is a great book for any young child who wants to learn more about Bible characters.
Who says learning about the Bible has to be boring? Bible reading opens up an entire spiritual world of adventure and excitement, and if it is approached with interest appeal and fun, children can find a spiritual excitement in an ancient book that is still relevant for today. Come along and share this book with a favorite child in your life and explore the Bible through the alphabet, looking at twenty-six different people, places, and things found in the Bible, corresponding to each different letter. From Adam to Zephaniah, and everything in between, the beauty of Bible people and places are explored through great artwork of the ages, edited as pencil drawings for beautiful illustration, relatable to children. Spark faith in the next generation by sharing this book with them, which will quickly become a repeat classic in your favorite child’s library.
FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT: GOD’S CODE FOR LIVING (NINA B. MARINO)
We all know the importance rhyme and rhythm have as we learn new things. Here we offer a beautiful rhythm to learn about the fruit of the Spirit, on a child’s level, and in a way that is easy to memorize.
Learning about and developing the fruit of the Spirit is an important part of being a Christian believer. Helping children to recognize and memorize the fruit of the Spirit in their lives can go a long way in raising kind, compassionate, empathetic, and caring children who are quick to think of others as much as they think of themselves. By presenting the fruit of the Spirit in a fun, relatable way, author Nina B. Marino takes years of Sunday School instruction and applies it to these important spiritual virtues. Designed to get young children interested in spiritual development, the easy-flowing rhyme text, beautiful full-color graphics, and the practical ways the fruit of the Spirit becomes alive to a young child, this book is perfect for your favorite child, grandchild, or for any nursery, children’s church, or Sunday School program.
MANIFESTATIONS OF THE SPIRIT: THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE CHURCH AND IN YOUR LIFE (DR. LEE ANN B. MARINO)
Released just this year and long-awaited, Dr. Marino explores the ins and outs of the power of the Holy Spirit – and just how the Spirit manifests in multiple ways to make sure we know the power and glory that is present therein.
THE Holy Spirit is alive and active, working to bring the church together and empower the people of God for proper spiritual service. Yet if we look over the state of many denominations and even the lives of believers, it appears as if the Spirit’s life and power is missing. It’s obvious there is much we have yet to learn about the Holy Spirit, but what do we need to know? How do we tap into the amazing life-giving power, being led into all truth, available to each and every believer?
In Manifestations of the Spirit: The Work of the Holy Spirit in the Church and in Your Life, Dr. Lee Ann B. Marino delves into practical pneumatology (study of the Holy Spirit) to help believers at all levels of their faith learn more about the precious and beautiful work of the Holy Spirit, and how connection to the Holy Spirit can change one’s life. Learn more about the identity, work, and life of the Spirit, the application of Pentecost for modern times, the importance of spiritual gifts and their operations, the leadership gifts, the way our spiritual gifts mature as we grow with God, the gifting attributes of the Spirit, prophecy, prophetic expressions, developing spiritual fruit, the Spirit and holiness, counterfeit spiritual movements, and ways the Spirit operates in your everyday life. Perfect for a Bible study, personal devotion, minister’s class, or just to gain insight into the work of the Spirit, this book will have you excited to realize just how incredible the Holy Spirit can be, when we fully invite Him into our lives.
ALL THAT IS SEEN AND UNSEEN: A JOURNEY THROUGH THE BOOK OF REVELATION (DR. LEE ANN B. MARINO)
If you know someone who is studying Scripture, afraid of Revelation, or curious about the world to come, this is the perfect book for them!
THE book of Revelation is one of the most talked about books in history, and also one of the most misunderstood. There are a variety of ways Revelation is understood: some believe it is historical, with the whole of its contents fulfilled; some believe it is all about futuristic events that have not yet happened, but are soon coming; some believe it has happened in part, and the rest is yet to come; and the rest of people fully well acknowledge that they have no idea what the book of Revelation is about. Many avoid it in teaching, and feel that if it is not a long, dramatic recitation of events, it has no relevance in our world today. Who is right?
In the “right fight” of Revelation, there is one very important aspect that many readers and scholars alike ignore, and that is the principle of the church’s participation in prophecy and prophetic history. Drawing on historical apocalyptic trends of the early centuries of Christianity, the obvious symbolism present, and the imagery contained therein, Dr. Lee Ann B. Marino attempts to give the reader a different view of the book of Revelation: One that opens up the reader of Revelation to all that is seen and unseen. Rather than seeing Revelation as an encoding to plug in modern-day headlines, Dr. Marino looks at Revelation from a mystical and revelatory perspective, viewing the church and the role of the church as central to history, from now until Jesus returns, and beyond. This gives all of us, as readers, hope and inspiration as we see ourselves not as pawns in a struggle, but as participants in the history of creation, all that is seen and unseen: past, present, and future; that which was, that which is, and that which is to come.
New, New, New! Just in time for the holidays!
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