Louis Knobel was born in South Africa in 1946. He has been actively involved in nature conservation and has also worked for many years as Consultant for major organizations in various fields, including IT. He has travelled extensively and has lived and worked in the United Kingdom, Belgium, France and the United States of America as well as countries in Africa. His interests include conservation, photography, fine arts, hand-crafts and writing. He is a vegetarian and ardent animal lover. This, his debut work has been many years in the making and it covers various stages in the life of one man. Though he sees himself as neither a poet nor a philosopher, this Mensan has a remarkable ability for lateral thinking which brings an uncommon depth to the interpretations he links to everyday events and objects. As a writer, Louis is able to paint clear word pictures and the spiritual depth and vision he portrays, often leaves the reader filled with new insight into otherwise ordinary events. This book has the ingredients of a superb travel companion in which the reader can find subjects ranging from observing an ordinary seashell through to experiencing joy, tears, prayer and love.

Just in time for the first anniversary of Billy Graham’s death, Allison’s reflection on the life and work of America’s pastor is now available in paperback. New preface by the author, new to this edition. Billy Graham said, “You have no idea how sick I get of the name Billy Graham, and how wonderful and thrilling the name Christ sounds to my ears.” So why another book about him? Lon Allison, evangelist himself, and popular evangelical pastor in Wheaton, Illinois, has learned much from Billy. Allison retells the highlights of what has been, by any objective account, a fascinating life, and tells it in a way that resonates with the Graham legacy of serving God and seeking to spread the Good News. Every stage of Graham’s life is included, even the rough spots, with appreciation and a desire to answer the question: What can we learn from the life and ministry of Billy Graham? What is his legacy? What was his message and how might it still be relevant for today. “Many will welcome the intimate details of his life revealed by Allison. Their close relationship allows the author to present a ‘bird’s-eye view’ of the evangelist.” —David Gibson, Catholic News Service

About the Book The Diary of an Ordinary Man is an autobiography of a man who hailed from alcoholic parents in a distressed neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York. Tom Barry dropped out of high school and joined the U.S. Army, where he did tours in Korea and Germany. After his military service, he drifted from job to job before joining the New York City Department of Corrections as a new corrections officer. This book introduces the reader to some of the diverse characters employed in the department at that time and reviews some of the many aspects of working in a jail, including Tom’s perspective of the formative 1970 New York City jail riots and their aftermath. During his twenty years with the agency, Tom worked his way through the ranks to become a warden and in the process he put himself through college (NYIT) and graduate school (St. John’s University in Queens, New York). One of the author’s many successes was preparing and managing the nation’s first municipal direct supervision facility for operation. Under his leadership, the facility became a model for the department and an example for the nation. The Diary of an Ordinary Man was written from the perspective of a blue-collar worker. Within the book the reader will be entertained with some humorous and human-interest stories. The book covers a particularly volatile period in our nation’s history, wherein major societal changes occurred, which resulted in many challenges and innovative solutions, some of which may be relevant today. Tom’s many difficulties during the course of his career and his methods for overcoming them may inspire the reader in dealing with his or her own challenges, for no life is without its problems. Everyone must climb their own fences on their road to success. About the Author Tom Barry lives in San Antonio with his wife, Nancy. Together they enjoy hosting backyard barbeques, traveling, dancing to country music, salsa, oldies, and listening to blues. In his retirement he immerses himself in woodworking, chess, bowling with his wife and friends, and shooting skeet and targets. He is an amateur student of history, having read many texts on a wide variety of historical subjects. His reading tends to be nonfiction and an occasional novel. Additionally, he enjoys Southwestern art and the poetry of Robert Frost. Prior to his retirement in the early 2000s, Tom was a jail auditor for the National Sheriff’s Association and the American Correctional Association. He served as president for the North American Association of Wardens and Superintendents and the American Jail Association, and finally as a member of the Board of Directors for the International Correctional Arts Network (ICAN). He attends church regularly and is a member of the Knights of Columbus. He also is a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and a member of the American Legion.

This book contains practical advices given by the author to the spiritual seekers over a decade. There are 360 topics into which this voluminous work is divided covering everything that a seeker needs to know about the intricacies of the path. Usually there is a lot of confusion in the spiritual field, with gurus springing up like mushrooms everywhere, professing their own ideologies as standard systems of sadhana. In this state of affairs, the age-old traditions of Vedanta, Yoga and Tantra are freely being borrowed from and used for selfish gains but seldom acknowledged, much less clearly explained. Going through the available literature on these subjects, the reader is usually perplexed and often misled. Hence arises the need to explain the spiritual path and its sadhanas authentically and clearly. In this book, you will see the practical spiritual wisdom of India explained in simple terms, covering the intricate topics of Vedanta, Yoga, Tantra, Indian Astrology and Mysticism in the light of the teachings of great saints, both ancient and modern.

Experience the author’s thoughts and feelings as you travel through each poem contained within this book. Let your imagination ride alongside as you find yourself immersed in the beauty and heartfelt poetry that bring to life this writer’s everyday visions, passions, and wonders—accepting the courage to transform life’s journey into a language that will uplift, encourage, and settle one’s thirst to creating a gateway to live life to the fullest and always remembering that “living life to the fullest is but a poem waiting to be written.” Listen for the humor, thought, and mind-set that will be revealed as you wander through the Words of an Ordinary Man: Volume I.

Too often men are portrayed by the media as weak or mean, violent or passive. But men are diverse and mostly, quite wonderful. (Sharon) gives us a rare glimpse into the heart and soul of what is best in men.--Jed Diamond, Ph.D., director of Men Alive and author of "Male Menopause" and "The Irritable Male Syndrome."

REFLECTIONS ? The Musings of an Ordinary Soul is a specialinsight into the heart and mind of a very special man. Shayne Hall?s spiritual awareness and understanding of who we are and why we are here makes this a complete package of inspirational sayings to inspire eveyone who reads the book.It gives the reader an insight into their own life, and good advice for the day ahead.Shayne is a man on a mission ? his mission is to help everyone understand themselves and help them cope with everyday events ? his own life is finite ? he has terminal merkel cell cancer. If, in writing these musings, Shayne is able to help the average person cope with life?s problems and to give them hope, then he has achieved what he wants.It is also a memorial to a great human being and a friend of many people.