Essays on the conjunction of art and history as demonstrated in dance, music, poetry, and novels.

People living with mental health challenges are not excluded from God’s love or even the fullness of life promised by Jesus. Unfortunately, this hope is often lost amid the well-meaning labels and medical treatments that dominate the mental health field today. In Finding Jesus in the Storm, John Swinton makes the case for reclaiming that hope by changing the way we talk about mental health and remembering that, above all, people are people, regardless of how unconventionally they experience life. Finding Jesus in the Storm is a call for the church to be an epicenter of compassion for those experiencing depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and related difficulties. That means breaking free of the assumptions that often accompany these diagnoses, allowing for the possibility that people living within unconventional states of mental health might experience God in unique ways that are real and perhaps even revelatory. In each chapter, Swinton gives voice to those experiencing the mental health challenges in question, so readers can see firsthand what God’s healing looks like in a variety of circumstances. The result is a book about people instead of symptoms, description instead of diagnosis, and lifegiving hope for everyone in the midst of the storm.

How do you turn your struggles into strengths? Beloved Bible teacher Sheila Walsh teaches readers how the daily spiritual practices of confession, meditation on God’s Word, and prayer result in fresh freedom in Christ. In her long-awaited book, Sheila Walsh equips women with a practical method for connecting with God’s strength in the midst of struggle. From daily frustrations that can feel like overwhelming obstacles to hard challenges that turn into rock-bottom crises, women will find the means to equip themselves for standing strong with God. Using the spiritual applications of confession, prayer, and meditation on Scripture to form a daily connection to Jesus, women will learn how to experience new joy as a child of God who is fully known, fully loved, and fully accepted. In In the Middle of the Mess, Walsh reveals the hardened defenses that kept her from allowing God into her deepest hurts and shares how entering into a safe place with God and practicing this daily connection with him have saved her from the devil’s prowling attacks. Though we will never be completely “fixed” on earth, we are continually held by Jesus, whatever our circumstances. Sheila Walsh acts as our guardian in In the Middle of the Mess as she shows us we’re not alone in our struggles, guides us through a courageous journey of self-discovery, and reminds us where to find hope, comfort, and strength in tough times.

Tropical storm Tammy offered no mercy. The wind and rain were fierce that dreary afternoon. The funeral was over and the family was meeting for an early dinner to mourn the loss of Michelle's fianc . She told everyone that she would meet them there, she just wanted to run and grab some cigarettes and have a minute alone. While Mom spoke with Michelle on the phone she heard a brief, "Oh no," and then silence. We lost her.

Not since Betty Eadie’s Embraced by the Light has a personal account of a Near-Death Experience (NDE) been so utterly different from most others—or nearly as compelling. "This is a book you devour from cover to cover, and pass on to others. This is a book you will quote in your daily conversation. Storm was meant to write it and we were meant to read it." —from the foreword by Anne Rice In the thirty years since Raymond Moody’s Life After Life appeared, a familiar pattern of NDEs has emerged: suddenly floating over one’s own body, usually in a hospital setting, then a sudden hurtling through a tunnel of light toward a presence of love. Not so in Howard Storm’s case. Storm, an avowed atheist, was awaiting emergency surgery when he realized that he was at death’s door. Storm found himself out of his own body, looking down on the hospital room scene below. Next, rather than going “toward the light,” he found himself being torturously dragged to excruciating realms of darkness and death, where he was physically assaulted by monstrous beings of evil. His description of his pure terror and torture is unnerving in its utter originality and convincing detail. Finally, drawn away from death and transported to the realm of heaven, Storm met angelic beings as well as the God of Creation. In this fascinating account, Storm tells of his “life review,” his conversation with God, even answers to age-old questions such as why the Holocaust was allowed to take place. Storm was sent back to his body with a new knowledge of the purpose of life here on earth. This book is his message of hope.

Are you going through an unbelievable crisis in your life and don't know what to do? Well there is an answer for you. You can make it through this horrible time. In life we all must go through storms that either make us stronger or break us. Don't let the storm overtake you. You can make it through the storm if you don't give up. This book was written for you so you can go through your crisis, problem, disaster - storm - VICTORIOUSLY! As an Earth Science Teacher for several years, I have taught sixth graders about the different storms on our Earth such as tornadoes, hurricanes, and thunderstorms. God gave me a revelation that just as a physical storm on Earth goes through several stages, a spiritual storm will take you through these same stages. In this book, I compare the stages of a spiritual storm to that of a physical storm. Most importantly in reading this book, you will learn how to weather the storm and know what to do at each stage so you can become a stronger, more spiritual person. In this book I include steps to take when going through a crisis. There are several similarities between a spiritual and physical storm. We eventually recover from a hurricane, tornado, or flood and we can also recover from a spiritual storm or crisis. It may take time but if we are diligent and don't give up we can come out of the storm victoriously.

Have you tried everything you know to fix the problem confronting you, and nothing is working? The message conveyed in this book will open your eyes to see the most difficult times in your life from a different perspective and will prepare you to fully harvest the treasures they conceal. If you have ever felt like or are currently feeling like you are stuck, off track, or have run out of options, then this book will give you a better understanding of the reasons behind it all and point you to the solution. The book is based on a prophetic vision. Read it to discover: The true meaning of worship The tree dimensions of worship The four levels of worship Why God hides treasures in storms Why worship is man's most valuable possession Why God does not intervene in our seasons of crisis The fastest way out of any crisis The most powerful weapon on earth