It's 1980, and junior high has started. Chris is experiencing a rise in confusion and anxiety toward himself and society. He finds some comfort with his best friend, Nathan—and a pretend spaceship set up in Nathan's garage, where they share imaginative stories.Chris questions and struggles with his Christian beliefs, passed on respectfully from his parents, but now becoming uncertain and frightening, especially concerning a Biblical apocalypse.Discouragement from haunting n...

This case study of two rural parishes in County Durham, England, provides an alternate view on the economic development involved in the transition from medieval to modern, partly explaining England's rise to global economic dominance in the seventeenth century. Coal mining did not come to these parishes until the nineteenth century; these are an example of agrarian expansion. Low population, favourable seigniorial administration, and a commercialised society saw the emergence of large farm...

Larson examines the changing relations between lords and peasants in post-Black Death Durham. This was a time period of upheaval and change, part of the transition from ‘medieval’ to ‘modern.’ Many historians have argued about the nature of this change and its causes, often putting forth a single all-encompassing model; Larson presses for the importance of individual choice and action, resulting in a flexible, human framework that provides a more appropriate explanation for the many paths ...

Create Big Romance on a Small BudgetTired of the usual dinner-and-a-movie dates? Looking for new ways to connect with your spouse?Energize your marriage by getting out of your normal routine with the help of these 52 creative date ideas. From outdoor dates to out-on-the-town dates, you and your spouse will have no trouble finding the perfect date that fits your mood--all on a $10 budget!See for yourself how new experiences can help you bond together...

A Guide to Meaningful Parent-Daughter ConversationsYour daughter is growing up. There are so many issues she'll face, such as body image, confusion about relationships, and taking ownership of her spiritual life. How do you connect with her on the things that are important to both of you? This structured approach to conversations and activities with your girl will make it easier to have those memorable times together. You'll find practical ways to encourage her in ...

A Guide to Meaningful Parent-Son ConversationsDo you know what your son really thinks about girls, school, God, his future? It's not easy to be sure, is it? Boys aren't known for being great communicators, especially entering their teen years. How do you connect with him on the things that are important to both of you?Based on tried-and-true parenting wisdom, this book shares fun, thoughtful questions and talking points that lead to meaningful, natural conv...

Finally, a Way to Connect Spiritually That You'll BOTH Enjoy!While juggling the kids, work, church, and community commitments, are you and your spouse finding time to connect? When was the last time you had a good talk about faith or did a devotional together?To help you jump-start deeper connections, four marriage experts have come up with 10 creative date ideas, each centered on a spiritual theme, including· Appreciating your differences· Ex...

Given the necessity of spies to hide in plain sight, on some level it is perfectly sensible that women played a larger and more decisive role in espionage operations, because during the Civil War, women were not taken seriously as threats. They openly moved through areas that men in uniform could not easily penetrate, and they were able to publicly receive callers, visit prisoners, manage households, carry on the ordinary commerce of social life, and cross lines that military authorities m...

Americans have long been fascinated by the Civil War, marveling at the size of the battles, the leadership of the generals, and the courage of the soldiers. Since the war's start over 150 years ago, the battles have been subjected to endless debate among historians and the generals themselves. The Civil War was the deadliest conflict in American history, and had the two sides realized it would take four years and inflict over a million casualties, it might not have been fought. Since it di...

Americans have long been fascinated by the Civil War, marveling at the size of the battles, the leadership of the generals, and the courage of the soldiers. Since the war's start over 150 years ago, the battles have been subjected to endless debate among historians and the generals themselves. The Civil War was the deadliest conflict in American history, and had the two sides realized it would take four years and inflict over a million casualties, it might not have been fought. Since it di...

During the 17th century, the Netherlands, despite having only 1.5 million people in 1600, became a global maritime and trading power. By contrast, France at the time had 20 million people, Spain had 8 million, and England had 5 million. Nevertheless, Amsterdam became one of the most important urban centers in the world and the location of the world’s first stock market, and Dutch merchant ships and pirates plied the Atlantic Ocean, the Indian Ocean, and the Pacific Ocean. The Dutch acquire...

In September 1862, the Union had no intelligence service worthy of the name. It had detectives, scouts, scattered networks of informants, balloons, signal flags, and a great deal of luck, but the federal government did not have a coordinated system, to the extent that military commanders did not know enemy troop strength. By the end of the war, the Union would be running the most sophisticated intelligence operations in American history to that point. The government eventually forged an in...