Born in a Chicken Coop is an unforgettable journey through family life against the conflicting tides of hardship and hope. John E. Johnson's memoir unfolds across the dusty plains of New Mexico and into the green embrace of the Ozarks, where his family's spirit shines brightest amidst the challenges of poverty. With a blend of prose and details, Johnson brings each scene to life-the worn dirt roads, the aroma of simple meals, and the determined faces of his family...

The Jilted Rancher by John E. Johnson transports readers to the rugged plains of Colorado during the Great Depression, where Gene Johnson, a talented violinist and rancher, faces heartbreak and betrayal. After being abandoned at the altar, Gene's life unravels, but his determination to rebuild leads him to an unexpected new romance. As Gene confronts his deepest sorrows and grapples with relationships, will his past set him free-or is another heartbreak awaiting b...

We Called Her Little Sister transports readers to mid-twentieth-century America, following the Johnson family's pleasant and occasionally melancholy memories. John E. Johnson depicts the ordinary joys, frustrations, and deep bonds that define family life, often hilarious. Little Sister, the story's protagonist, captivates readers with her upbeat personality as she learns about family and friendship. Johnson reminds us on each page of the importance of everyday events and the strength of fa...

People are desperate for leaders who are credible – those who possess a moral center and exhibit sound leadership skills. Given our global realities, we need strategic leaders who possess cultural intelligence and theological discernment. The aim of this book is to shape such leaders. Each chapter combines careful research with contributions from leaders around the world. These voices bring much-needed insight to leadership issues when translated and applied in different settings, especial...

The means by which non-enveloped viruses penetrate cellular membranes during cell entry remain poorly defined. Recent findings indicate several members of this group share a common mechanism of membrane penetration in which the virus particle undergoes programmed conformational changes, leading to capsid disassembly and release of small membrane-interacting peptides. A complete understanding of host cell entry by this minimal system will help elucidate the mechanisms of non-enveloped virus...

The Zondervan Reflective Audio Study series provides a unique audio learning experience. Unlike a traditional audiobook's direct narration of a book's text, Rooted Leadership Audio Study include high-quality live recordings in which the author teaches the content of the book, discusses important points, and introduces additional sources. The end result is an engaging audio study focused on learning.Behind many of the challenges facing us today is a failure...

One of the best-selling young adult books of all time, written by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Paul Zindel. John Conlan is nicknamed “The Bathroom Bomber” after setting off firecrackers in the boys’ bathroom 23 times without ever getting caught. John and his best friend, Lorraine, can never please their parents, and school is a chore. To pass the time, they play pranks on unsuspecting people and it's during one of these pranks that they meet the “Pigman.” In spite of themselves, John and ...

There is a big old sledding hill not more than two or three good snowballs’ worth of distance from our home, just behind Hank Macabee’s house. That hill was waiting for me and my brand new toboggan. It’s one of those sneak-up kind of hills with a long slow ride down that picks up speed as it goes with a bump-hump at the end that you never see coming.I didn’t see what was coming next, either.The Christmas tree crashed through Hank Macabee’s bay window. The tree stand clatter...

**The extraordinary debut collection from the Guggenheim Award-winning author of the forthcoming Gold Fame CitrusWinner of the 2012 Story PrizeRecipient of the American Academy of Arts and Letters 2013 Rosenthal Family Foundation AwardNamed one of the National Book Foundation's "5 Under 35" fiction writers of 2012Winner of New York Public Library Young Lions Fiction AwardNPR Best Short Story Collections of 2012A Boston Globe, San Francisc...

This is a story about a 45-year-old man who simplifies his life by getting rid of his material possessions and then sets off around America on a bicycle to discover new ideas about his country and himself. The journey takes him through all 48 contiguous states and Washington, D.C.

“Uh-oh” embraces “Here we go again” and “Now What?” and “You never can tell what’s going to happen next” and “So much for plan A” and “Hang on, we’re coming to a tunnel” and “No sweat” and “Tomorrow’s another day” and “You can’t unscramble an egg” and “A hundred years from now it won’t make any difference.”“Uh-oh” is more than a momentary reaction to small problems. “Uh-oh” is an attitude—a perspective on the universe. It is a power of an equation that summarizes my view of the con...

“In luminous prose that effortlessly portrays the intimate and familiar pangs of growing up, Funk captivates from the get-go, and the ’80s nostalgia will hit the spot for those who came of age amid skyscraper bangs, acid-washed jeans, and the ubiquity of teen heartthrob Kirk Cameron. These small-town stories are big on charm.”—Publishers WeeklyA funny and whip-smart memoir about a feisty young woman’s quest for independence in an isolated Me...