Many read the book of Revelation for clues about what will take place in the so-called "End Times." Others find comfort in the descriptions of what awaits the followers of Christ in the "New Heaven" and "New Earth."However, Revelation is much more than a source of information about the future. It is a practical book which is relevant today to us as individuals, as well as to the entire church. It not only provides hope, it helps us understand the pressures we face. If we take its m...

German immigrants created leafy beer gardens here nearly two centuries ago, establishing Bucktown as the heart of entertainment in downtown Davenport for generations. In 1916, the founding of the Tri-City Symphony Orchestra at the Burtis Opera House embodied the neighborhood's reputation for high culture. The numerous saloons and theaters, as well as the forty-two documented brothels that flourished within two blocks, lent a bawdy side to the good times. Varied industries thrived through W...

For decades, evolutionary analysis was overlooked or altogether ignored by sociologists. Fears and biases persisted nearly a century after Auguste Comte gave the discipline its name, as did concerns that its effect would only reduce sociology to another discipline – whether biology, psychology, or economics. Worse, apprehension that the application of evolutionary theory would encourage heightened perceptions of racism, sexism, ethnocentrism and reductionism pervaded.Turner and Mac...

"Short Stories For Long Discussions…"Delight in intriguing, thought-provoking conversations about ethics, philosophy, and social issues! After Dinner Conversation is a (501(c)(3) nonprofit that publishes a monthly short fiction literary magazine.Each issue features both established writers and up-and-coming authors who contribute fascinating philosophical insights on controversial topics like marriage equality, assisted suicide, the meaning of death, animal...

In 1975 there was nothing reasonable about the road-trip Dad proposed. Much of it would be on rugged, unpaved tracks where services and spare parts were unavailable. If we had mechanical trouble we would, for the most part, have to deal with it ourselves. Should we have an accident or become ill, medical facilities were few and far between. We would have no way to communicate with family or friends except by letter – and, in many places, mail service was iffy. We would be driving through p...

John wrote the Gospel which bears his name as a supplement to the other 3 Gospel accounts. Though John used simple language, the concepts and ideas he presents are anything but simple. His intent was to explain the significance of what Jesus said and did, that we may come to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.Beloved Witness is a practical commentary on John's Gospel. It explains the difficult passages and esoteric sayings in John in an infor...

The Quad Cities—three hours from both Des Moines and Chicago—is a unique metropolitan area along the mighty Mississippi River, growing in both size and nationwide reputation.This region of 400,000-plus people has all the friendliness, affordability, and short, headache-free commutes of many small towns, but also a staggering variety and quality of things to do. 100 Things to Do in the Quad Cities is an invaluable source to help you track down some of the top places, events...

Few concepts are as central to sociology as institutions. Yet, like so many sociological concepts, institutions remain vaguely defined. This book expands a foundational definition of the institution, one which locates them as the basic building blocks of human societies—as structural and cultural machines for survival that make it possible to pass precious knowledge from one generation to the next, ensuring the survival of our species. The book extends this classic tradition by, first, app...

70 per cent of the planet is covered by water, and 90 per cent of global economic trade is transported by sea. The world's seas and oceans are big business. Based on gross marine product, the ocean can be considered the world's seventh-largest economy, with the total global value of the Blue Economy predicted to rise to $3 trillion by 2030.Grounded in detailed market research, and brought to life through over 250 meticulously researched case studies, ***Technology and the Blue Econ...

Professor of Linguistics, Stacy Foster still grieves for her late husband. Preacher Keith Campbell suffers from ministry burnout. While on a tourist jaunt to Turkey, a natural disaster forces them to trust and depend on each other for survival. In the process they stumble upon an archaeological discovery which, if brought to light, will forever change biblical scholarship. However, powerful forces are arrayed against them. Many would like to suppress the truth. Will Stacy and Keith give in...

Written by leading theorists and empirical researchers, this book presents new ways of addressing the old question: Why did religion first emerge and then continue to evolve in all human societies? The authors of the book—each with a different background across the social sciences and humanities—assimilate conceptual leads and empirical findings from anthropology, evolutionary biology, evolutionary sociology, neurology, primate behavioral studies, explanations of human interaction and grou...

Benjamin Carpenter, a gifted Bible teacher and church planter, is still recovering from his wife’s death five years ago. He leaves his home in the United States to develop a training program for church leaders in Pakistan. This helps him regain purpose in life. However, he discovers that teaching and living in a different culture also makes him vulnerable. He runs short of food and money. He faces ridicule and false accusations. And he’s drawn the attention of someone who is willing to kil...