The Llano Estacado—dubbed by author Paul H. Carlson as “heaven’s harsh tableland”—covers some 48,000 square miles of western Texas and eastern New Mexico. In this new survey of the region, the story begins during prehistoric times and with descendants of the Comanche, Apache, and other Native American tribal groups. Other groups have also left their marks on the area: Spanish explorers, Comancheros and other traders, European settlers, farmers and ranchers, artists, and even athletes. Carlson, a veteran historian, aims to review “the Llano’s historic contours from its earliest foundations to its energetic present,” and in doing so, he skillfully narrates the story of the region up to the present time of modern agribusiness and urbanization. Throughout the ten chronologically arranged chapters, concise sidebars support the narrative, highlighting important and interesting topics such as the enigmatic origins of the region’s name, fascinating geological and paleontological facts, the arrival of humans, the natural history of bison, colorful “characters” in the history of the region, and many others. The resulting broad synthesis captures the entirety of the Llano Estacado, summarizing and interpreting its natural and human history in a single, carefully researched and clearly written volume. Heaven’s Harsh Tableland: A New History of the Llano Estacado will provide a helpful, enjoyable, and authoritative guide to the history and development of this important region.

In May 1936 Secretary of Agriculture Henry A. Wallace wrote to Caroline Henderson to praise her contributions to American "understanding of some of our farm problems." His comments reflected the national attention aroused by Henderson’s articles, which had been published in Atlantic Monthly since 1931. Even today, Henderson’s articles are frequently cited for her vivid descriptions of the dust storms that ravaged the Plains. Caroline Henderson was a Mount Holyoke graduate who moved to Oklahoma’s panhandle to homestead and teach in 1907. This collection of Henderson’s letters and articles published from 1908 to1966 presents an intimate portrait of a woman’s life in the Great Plains. Her writing mirrors her love of the land and the literature that sustained her as she struggled for survival. Alvin O. Turner has collected and edited Henderson’s published materials together with her private correspondence. Accompanying biographical sketch, chapter introductions, and annotations provide details on Henderson’s life and context for her frequent literary allusions and comments on contemporary issues.

The year 1877 was a drought year in West Texas. That summer, some forty buffalo soldiers struck out into the Llano Estacado, pursuing a band of raiding Comanches. Several days later they were missing and presumed dead from thirst. Although most of the soldiers straggled back into camp, four died, and others faced court-martial for desertion. Here, Carlson provides insight into the interaction of soldiers, hunters, settlers, and Indians on the Staked Plains.

From Donald Ray Pollock, author of the highly acclaimed The Devil All the Time and Knockemstiff, comes a dark, gritty, electrifying (and, disturbingly, weirdly funny) new novel that will solidify his place among the best contemporary American authors. It is 1917, in that sliver of border land that divides Georgia from Alabama. Dispossessed farmer Pearl Jewett ekes out a hardscrabble existence with his three young sons: Cane (the eldest; handsome; intelligent); Cob (short; heavy set; a bit slow); and Chimney (the youngest; thin; ill-tempered). Several hundred miles away in southern Ohio, a farmer by the name of Ellsworth Fiddler lives with his son, Eddie, and his wife, Eula. After Ellsworth is swindled out of his family's entire fortune, his life is put on a surprising, unforgettable, and violent trajectory that will directly lead him to cross paths with the Jewetts. No good can come of it. Or can it? In the gothic tradition of Flannery O'Connor and Cormac McCarthy with a healthy dose of cinematic violence reminiscent of Sam Peckinpah, Quentin Tarantino and the Coen Brothers, the Jewetts and the Fiddlers will find their lives colliding in increasingly dark and horrific ways, placing Donald Ray Pollock firmly in the company of the genre's literary masters.

Ron Lavin provides an ideal resource for small groups who want to explore the Psalms, or for preachers who want to present an inspirational series of sermons. Discussion questions are provided at the end of each chapter, as well as a guide for leaders. Says Lavin: "Griping is one of the most insidious and divisive things into which we easily fall, while gratitude is the most productive of attitudes. The Psalms are filled with the battle between griping and gratitude, a battle we all fight. The psalmists knew both attitudes, including the self-defeating nature of griping and the wonder and majesty of gratitude." By both verbal and written word, Ron Lavin has the ability to communicate with hearers and readers in a probing yet assuring way, a challenging yet comforting manner, with a confronting yet assisting approach. Through his vignettes on the Psalms, he makes yesterday's prayers, hymns, confessions, and thanksgivings our own. Dr. Reuben Swanson, former secretary Evangelical Lutheran Church in America What an inspiration to read homilies which deal head-on with everyday problems and possibilities... it's always an event when Ron Lavin mounts the pulpit. Jerry L. Schmalenberger, former president Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary These are just some of the enthusiastic testimonials from those who have field-tested this study: This book got me to grow up and face some things I needed to face. My attitude toward life changed in light of Psalm 30: "You turned my wailing into dancing..." Each chapter increased my knowledge of scripture and strengthened my walk with God. The practical applications in the book have become a source for coping with the many struggles of my daily life. This is an excellent study book for leading group discussions on what the Psalms mean in our daily lives. By reading the chapters and following up with group discussion, you can't help but grow in faith, understanding, and gratitude for the many gifts God has given us. Ron Lavin has served congregations in Indiana, Iowa, Arizona and California -- and congregational membership doubled in four of the five churches he served. Membership in his Davenport, Iowa parish increased by over 2,000, while more than 1,000 new members were baptized during his pastorate in Tucson, Arizona. A popular speaker at major conferences and a prolific writer, he has led the church in understanding the dynamics of small groups and evangelism.

“When I seek God's face” is a discipleship book that explains the necessity of closer walk with God. It contains the benefits in seeking the Face of God, dilemma of the Unbroken life, the need for renewal like that of eagle, the purpose and the nature of seeking God on our duty post, the arm of prayer in strengthening the man who seeks God, the power of keeping hope of Christ alive as the anchor for our soul and lastly the full concentration in pressing towards the mark of winning the presence of God at the end of all struggle on earth. This book challenges our thought to seek God's face, not His hand that we should be mature Christians that grow beyond earthly gain and to seek God for what He has for us, both now and hereafter.developing means and strategy for language barriers, mission funding and support, neglecting education as mission tool and ill-health challenges of missionaries which usually truncate dreams. This book, however, interacts with Nigerian Baptist Mission under GMB and her relationship with local churches on how to strengthen missionaries with SWOT Analysis. This book recommends suggested ways for African mission boards and agencies to be pragmatic in strategic making, be aware of the psychological welfare of her missionaries and provide a health insurance scheme for serving missionaries. When Mission Board and local churches hold hands together, missionaries will strive better on the field. Mission is still young in Africa dark soil, we only need men, methods and materials to grow gospel as God increases the open-doors for mission.