A wicked shaman traps a golden eagle and disguises her as a phoenix. She is to be a pawn in his villainous scheme to swindle the townsfolk out of their money, but will he succeed? 'The Phoenix & The Peacock' is an atheist short story for teenagers. They will enjoy the use of rhyme, the emotive plot and the inclusion of some remarkable birds as metaphors. It is also subtly educational. Not only does it introduce the philosophies of both science and humanism but, through the comfortable medium of exciting fiction, it gently warns of the dangers of ultra-religious cults. The book's goal is to be light, engaging and thought-provoking; to succeed in conveying a message where a long prescriptive factual tome would surely bore and fail. At the end there is a 'Did You Know?' section full of interesting scientific facts related to the story, including an explanation of Darwin's Theory of Evolution. 11+ years

How do we ground our young people in the faith while encouraging their relationships with friends of other faiths? Veteran youth minister and researcher Len Kageler digs into the data surrounding this exciting multifaith era and offers surprising confidence that our kids can be guided into mature Christian faith while simultaneously learning to love their neighbors of other religions.

Five British children discover in their new carpet an egg, which hatches into a phoenix that takes them on a series of fantastic adventures around the world.

"I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Whether used as a reference or a beautiful keepsake, it's a very worthy addition to the world of Mah Jongg." --Ruth Unger, President, National Mah Jongg League This is the first book to fully capture the story of the exotic and exciting game of Mahjong or "Mah Jongg", offering an intimate look at the history of the game as well as the visual beauty of the tiles. When authors Ann Israel and Gregg Swain began playing Mahjong, they were unaware of the vintage collections that existed not only in the United States but also across the globe. Slowly, they started to collect their own sets of Mahjong and as their collections grew, so did their appreciation of the history of, and interest in, the game. Finding few references, Israel and Swain set out to create a book that chronicles the early beginnings of the game and documents Mahjong sets from the most basic, made simply of paper, to the most precious materials such as ivory and mother-of-pearl. Recognized and respected scholars and game experts have collaborated with Israel and Swain, contributing important chapters on the game's history and its pieces as well as technical information on the tiles. Lastly, great collectors from around the globe have shared their incredible sets and memories for the first time in one book for everyone to enjoy. With hundreds of beautiful new images by renowned photographer Michel Arnaud, and including historical documentation and ephemera, Mah Jongg: The Art of the Game fills the void between the past's and today's game, providing vision, inspiration and resources. Anyone who has ever been intrigued by a Mahjong tile will find in these pages visually stunning photographs that will entice them into becoming an enthusiast of the timeless game of Mahjong.

K Arsenault Rivera's second novel, The Tiger's Daughter, the continuation of a new epic fantasy trilogy "Rich, expansive, and grounded in human truth...simply exquisite.” —V. E. Schwab, New York Times bestselling author of the Shades of Magic series Once they were the heirs to a prophecy that predicted two women would save an empire. Now Shefali is dying—and her wife is unaware of the coming tragedy. Shizuka is too busy trying to reunite a fractured empire and right the wrongs of her ancestors. As the Imperial Army gathers against a demonic invasion, Shizuka must do all she can with an empire on the brink of civil war. Ascendant #1 The Tiger’s Daughter #2 The Phoenix Empress #3 The Warrior Moon At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

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Originally published in 1965, this study examines the concealed meanings in the second part of Faust, often considered obscure. It is of value not only to students of literature but also comparative religions, as it deals with Goethe’s knowledge of ancient myths, mysteries and Hellenistic religions. It is of value too, to those interested in alchemy as it traces the many alchemical references in Faust. The book gives a psychological interpretation of elements of Goethe’s personal life and work, which succeeds in making the man and the veiled references in his most profound work accessible to the modern reader.