In 1863, General Ulysses S. Grant appointed one of his regimental chaplains, John Eaton of Ohio, as general superintendent of contrabands for the Department of the Tennessee. As the American Civil War raged, the former chaplain’s approach to humanitarian aid and education for the newly freed people marked one of the first attempts to consider how an entire population of formerly enslaved people would be assimilated into and become citizens of the postwar Union. General superintendent Eaton...

“My Bondage and My Freedom,” writes John Stauffer in his Foreword, “[is] a deep meditation on the meaning of slavery, race, and freedom, and on the power of faith and literacy, as well as a portrait of an individual and a nation a few years before the Civil War.” As his narrative unfolds, Frederick Douglass—abolitionist, journalist, orator, and one of the most powerful voices to emerge from the American civil rights movement—transforms himself from slave to fugitive to reformer, l...

There are things we learn to live with.And then there are the things that quietly live within us.Whispers of Lavender is a literary novel that traces the inner lives of its characters with unflinching honesty and restraint. Moving between past and present, the story follows moments of fracture, memory, and awakening-revealing how what is left unresolved continues to shape identity, relationships, and the choices we make long after the moment has passed....

Eternal First Glance: Sonnets of Love's Beginning is a luminous collection of one hundred sonnets tracing the sacred journey of love-from its quiet awakening to its enduring, transformative depth.Beginning with a single glance, these poems explore the unseen moments where connection is born: the silence before words, the recognition before understanding, the feeling before definition. From that fragile beginning, the collection unfolds across love's full landscape-...

Unspoken: 12 Devotions for What We Carry in Silence is a gentle yet deeply honest devotional for anyone who has ever whispered, "Is it just me?" Written with pastoral care and spiritual depth, this book creates sacred space for the quiet burdens that often go unnamed-grief without funeral, fatigue without rest, loneliness in a crowded room, and questions too fragile to speak aloud.Each of the twelve devotions explores one unspoken burden through a Scriptur...

Black Man's Tears is a powerful and lyrical collection of poetry exploring the inner and outer lives of Black men in America. Through five deeply reflective movements, poet and pastor John David Smith weaves themes of identity, fatherhood, faith, fear, silence, survival, and resilienceThese poems bear witness to generational pain, spiritual strength, and the complexity of manhood in a world that often misreads or ignores the Black male experience. With language tha...

The Presence of Knowing is a collection of 100 poems that explores the depths of the human experience through themes of love, loss, resilience, and self-discovery. Written with poignant reflection and a rhythmic cadence, these poems invite readers on an introspective journey to uncover the quiet strength that emerges from life's trials.Each poem is a window into the soul, offering solace and clarity, and a reminder that we are all connected through the sha...

Life's journey is marked by seasons-times of struggle, doubt, healing, and triumph. Inspired by the moving lyrics of "A Christmas Winter Song," this collection of poetry reflects the heart's passage through winter storms, the search for faith, and the enduring hope that leads to healing. With vivid imagery, contemplative tones, and a celebration of grace, these poems remind us that no matter how fierce the storm, we can find our way to light and peace. We will be fine in time.

What does it mean to love, to grieve, to hope, and to endure in the vastness of time? In The Reverence of Time, these eternal questions are explored through the lens of poetry-a tapestry of reflections on mortality, love, and existence.With themes that range from the whispers of lost love to the celestial wonders of the universe, this collection invites readers to journey through moments both intimate and universal. Each poem is a meditation on life's frag...

Love is not bound by time-but revealed through it.In Love in 4 Seasons, poet John David Smith invites readers on a heartfelt journey through the emotional landscapes of Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter-each season mirroring a stage of love's evolution.From the first stirrings of new affection to the quiet strength of enduring devotion, this collection unfolds with rich imagery, spiritual depth, and lyrical beauty...

Shattered Praise: Devotions for When Worship Feels Hard is a deeply honest and hope-filled devotional for those who still believe-but find it harder to sing.Written with pastoral care and spiritual depth, this book creates sacred space for the moments when faith feels fragile, prayers feel quiet, and worship no longer sounds the way it once did.Through twelve guided devotions, readers are gently led through seasons of grief, silence, surrender, and rebuildi...

This Civil War history provides an in-depth look at the impact and experiences of African American men fighting in the Union Army.After President Lincoln issued the final Emancipation Proclamation of January 1, 1863, many enslaved people in the Confederate south made the perilous journey north—then put their lives at risk again by joining the Union army. These U.S. Colored Troops, as the War Department designated most black units, performed a variety of duties, foug...