I’ve always wanted to write a book for my wife Tammie. I wanted it to be very special and truly capture her essence. She loves God, loves me, loves our daughters, loves her family and loves people. To best capture that essence, I chose to use various Bible verses to articulate real lessons that she espouses. Tammie is not perfect, no one is. However, she has a near perfect heart and tries to be Christ-like in everything she does. These are actual lessons she has taught our daughters or me, or that she has addressed with Meaghan and Sophia in everyday life or while doing devotionals with them. Some of these are how I see Tammie or embody what she stands for or aspires to be. I tried to use the expanse of the Bible for these lessons from both the Old Testament and the New Testament, and you’ll see representation from Psalms and from Proverbs. I also tried to use the great women of the Bible to highlight these lessons including Abigail, Deborah, Elizabeth, Esther, Eve, Hannah, Mary, Mary Magdalene, Miriam, Priscilla, Rachel, Ruth, and Sarah. I recommend reading the chapter or surrounding passages around the verse I use to fully appreciate the context of the lesson. This is not a Bible Commentary, and I do not attempt to give the reader the foundation for a Bible Study. These verses have inspired these lessons, even if the lessons seem secular.

David is one of the most perfect characters on which to do a study of leadership. We can learn a lot from David’s life. We can learn what to do and what not to do. I think both are important. No one is perfect and learning those tough lessons on someone else’s behalf is as important as learning the more positive ones. David was God’s anointed. He started as a shepherd and through God’s leadership, he became a ruler of a nation and a shepherd over His people. David did not set out to be Israel’s king. He did not set out to ‘be a leader.’ He was thrust into circumstances not of his making. He went through his own crucible time and time again. Through each experience he put more tools in his toolbox so to speak. Although not perfect by any measure, his zeal for God and faith in God became the standard that all future kings of Israel would be measured against. We can learn a lot from current and prior leaders, regardless of where we find them. Like the cook making a stew, you choose which ingredients and how much to use, and learn what works and what doesn’t work for you along the way as you perfect your recipe.

Teams, organizations, and institutions rise and fall on leadership. The simplest definition of leadership, and the one I prefer, is leadership is about influence. Most people think they can define leadership – good and bad leadership – but you definitely know it when you see it. Also, most people can easily tell when leadership is absent. In this study of the leadership lessons inspired by the judges, from the book of Judges and 1 Samuel, I will highlight situations when there was good, bad, or no leadership present. The common theme in the book of Judges starts with apostasy, oppression by a foreign antagonist, Israel’s appeal to God, God’s raising up of a ‘deliverer,’ and the peace that follows, and oftentimes the turn back to apostasy. I love the study of leadership, have been in the midst of it my whole adult life, will study it the rest of my life, and believe it is of highest importance regardless of environment.

These lessons, these proverbs are the product of nearly four decades of experiences as an adult. Many of these have been forged in the crucible of life. Having a father that’s a Sicilian-American, U.S. Marine, and a Catholic gave me a phenomenal foundation of wisdom. This wisdom was honed, put through the furnace, and forged under great pressure, during a 21+ years career in Special Operations. I have continued on a path toward better wisdom, through trial and error, introspection, and validation in my civilian career, now close to 20 years and counting. With my 17 books (counting this one) I have adjusted, added new ones, deleted ones that no longer apply, and perfected many of these. These lessons, these proverbs, are a peak behind the curtain. The title, The Red Pill on Wisdom, is a metaphor for the choice between the brutal truths, autonomy, and understanding of reality. We may not like it, we may love it, we may not agree with it, or we may embrace it. That’s the point.

Let #1 New York Times bestselling author Debbie Macomber and national bestselling author Sheila Roberts bring you two heartwarming small-town romances! See how a little yarn store and a local chocolate company can each bring a community together. Two Special Shops. Two Special Stories… THE SHOP ON BLOSSOM STREET There's a little yarn store in Seattle called A Good Yarn. It's owned by Lydia Hoffman, and it represents her dream of a new beginning, a life free from cancer. A life that offers a chance at love… Lydia teaches knitting to beginners, and the first class is How to Make a Baby Blanket. Three women join. Jacqueline, Carol, Alix and, of course, Lydia are brought together by the age-old craft of knitting. They make unexpected discoveries—about themselves and each other. Discoveries that lead to friendship and acceptance, to laughter and dreams. Discoveries only women can share… SWEET DREAMS ON CENTER STREET Sweet Dreams Chocolate Company has been in the Sterling family for generations, ever since Great-Grandma Rose literally dreamed up her first fabulous recipe. But now it looks as if they're about to lose Sweet Dreams to the bank. Can Samantha, the oldest daughter and new head of the company, come up with a way to save it? Events seem to be conspiring against Samantha, and her mother's attempts to help aren't helping. To make matters worse, the fate of her company is in the hands of her archenemy, Blake Preston, the bank manager with the football-hero good looks. It's enough to drive her to chocolate. But Blake's also enough to convince her that—believe it or not—there's something even better than chocolate. Previously published as BETTER THAN CHOCOLATE.

this is a story about love! The world needs love, more than ever now . . . and I need the forgiving grace of God, truly! And the love of Ghee Ghee (Lucy), to move me away from this lonely, hideous hell, to nearer, and nearer heaven! Because greed hate, arrogance and sin are legislated! And shot into our body, souls and our veins like some small pox or swine flue vaccine . . . and only God’s love grace can turn the hands of time! Because, my heart was left, so cold, alone . . . and abandoned! And for my, poor heart, Gloria, no one can ever, take your place! Shall I not ever kiss you, or touch your waiting hands, or hear you call my name, so tenderly sweet? Was the last time I saw you the last time? If this be so, then . . . what a cold, cruel world, and life I have stumbled into! Can the world see this loneliness reflected in my eyes or on my face, as I choke back the tears, daily? Do they know my love lost? I think I hide it fairly well! But how much longer must I wait? Is it that . . . I’m so very eager, to hold you once more? Come to me and let me put my arms, around you! Closer . . . that I might fill my lungs, with you! And if I can’t have you, in this night-marish waking state, then to hell with it! Then come to me at night, every night, in my dreams! That I may profess my love for you; that I may have my never-ending fill of you! That you may call my name and say “Daa, come and take me right now!” I’m gonna keep waiting . . . and hoping . . . and . . . praying! Oh dear God, what is this that drives . . . and whirls me so? Between her voluptuous bosoms of pleasure, caressing mounds of luscious lure, with nipples erect, sweeter than grapes for sure! To taste this fruit is heaven! So pleasing to mine eyes, taste, touch, aroma, and I now breathe heavily! Her hair compliments the reflection of the face of the Most High! So beautiful, wet and warm, is this “soul treasure” A gift from God that, I love and long to partake, and be in heaven, even if for a moment only! And if I could recreate you, I would change nothing! Add, nor take away! The same curves of your body that surrounds this succulent fruit! And . . . God has made no other touch, as pleasing! Verily I tell you that, Gloria 22 David T. Hardison Lucy Garzia, is the Madonna, the ultimate of God’s feminine creation! How divine! So asterios; so for real! And yet, for me, so inaccessible! I mean . . . she’s so fine, she’s granulated! My heart shall never rest, till I hold you, at least, once more! No matter how far away you are! I shall never forget the night, you wanted to hurry home, to be loved, to sleep! Such colossal kisses, enormous wishes . . . and immense longings, for your love! To be intertwined, in your arms divine, as you and I eagerly disrobe! Now the petting . . . and heavy, sweating . . . oh, we’re climbing up the walls! Oh curses . . . its only pictures, in my mind! And back to reality, I find my arms empty, with nothing but aching longings for your love! And nothing, and no one . . . could ever, take your place Gloria! I adore . . . and need your love’s, warm, embrace, more than hope, money, wisdom, dreams or a drink! I need your love! For, when I look into your deep dark eyes, the sun begins to shine, and all about us is a sweet sweet melody! A song so sweet, the blue birds of happiness stop, and listen to the sweet song about us. Her eyes are a pool of calm, and I am bathed in her loving glow! The treasures are abundant, when she embraces me, and I’ve found the pot of gold! And the rainbow’s spectrum bridges, our two hearts! And your, tender full lips, and her kisses . . . and the touch of velvety silk, are one. Unlike any love I’ve ever known before or since then! It’s like thunder! Lightning! The way Lucy excites me! There’s no going back! The world did take on a new glow! But now all is left are clouds . . . dark and dank storm clouds . . . and no one, can ever, take your place! But when

Anyone who loves this joyous time of year will love these heartwarming and entertaining stories of family bonding, holiday hijinks, community spirit, and family and religious traditions. A fantastic holiday gift and a great way to start the season!