Dance in Palestine has a history as complex and contentious as the land itself. Whether dismissed as bacchantic madness by Bible tourists in the 19th Century, revived and glorified by Zionists, Pan-Arabists and Palestinian Nationalists in the 20th Century, or rejected by Islamic Reformists in the 21st Century, dance in Palestine has a rich and elusive story that remains to be told. 'Raising Dust' traces one dancer's journey into Palestine's past and present. Through historical archives, the memories of dancers of yesteryear and into today's vibrant performing arts scene, Nicholas Rowe shows how dance has acted as a barometer of social change, a forum for debate and a means of expressing forbidden ideas. Far from apolitical, this most physical of art forms has often defined the political mood of the day. Sumptuously illustrated, the author provides a unique, rare and compelling cultural history of dance in Palestine.

How we organize our churches might seem insignificant, but it's not. In his letter to the church in Rome, the apostle Paul climbs great, theological mountains. But he also explores the valleys where we live our lives. Love one another with affection, he writes. Outdo one another in showing honor, he writes. Contribute to the needs of the saints and show hospitality. This is the calling of all Christians. And God intends that deacons lead the way. How is your church doing? Raising the Dust will help you better understand who deacons are, what God expects them to do, and how they bless the body of Christ. About the Authors Gregg R. Allison (Ph.D., Trinity Evangelical Divinity School) is professor of Christian theology at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is the author of many books, including 50 Core Truths of the Christian Faith. Gregg is also a pastor of Sojourn Community Church. Ryan Welsh, (D.Min. Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary) is the lead pastor of Redeemer Church in Bellevue, Washington and an adjunct professor of preaching and biblical studies at Corban University. He is currently a Ph.D student at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Endorsements "Such a concise, instructive resource! What they have to say here deserves careful consideration." Matthew Arbo, professor at Oklahoma Baptist University "Gregg and Ryan have written a book that tangibly helps the church understand the importance of deacons." Tyler Johnson, pastor at Redemption Church, AZ "This book will serve churches well as a guide for understanding a biblical perspective on the responsibilities of deacons and for developing a healthy deacon ministry." Ken Magnuson, professor at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

Illus. with photographs from the Dust Bowl era. This true story took place at the emergency farm-labor camp immortalized in Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath. Ostracized as "dumb Okies," the children of Dust Bowl migrant laborers went without school--until Superintendent Leo Hart and 50 Okie kids built their own school in a nearby field.

A powerful post-nuclear holocaust novel described by the author as, 'my cry against the monstrous weapons men have made'. Everyone thought, when the alarm bell rang, that it was just another fire practice. But the first bombs had fallen on Hamburg and Leningrad, the headmaster said, and a full-scale nuclear attack was imminent . . . It's a real-life nightmare. Sarah and her family have to stay cooped up in the tightly-sealed kitchen for days on end, dreading the inevitable radioactive fall-out and the subsequent slow, torturous death, which seems almost preferable to surviving in a grey, dead world, choked by dust. But then, from out of the dust and the ruins and the desolation, comes new life, a new future, and a whole brave new world...

The struggles and triumphs of a large family who left Oklahoma to find work in California during the Dust Bowl years.

A remarkable memoir by a mother and her autistic daughter who’d long been unable to communicate—until a miraculous breakthrough revealed a young woman with a rich and creative interior life, a poet, who’d been trapped inside for more than two decades. “I have been buried under years of dust and now I have so much to say.” These were the first words twenty-five-year-old Emily Grodin ever wrote. Born with nonverbal autism, Emily’s only means of communicating for a quarter of a century had been only one-word responses or physical gestures. That Emily was intelligent had never been in question—from an early age she’d shown clear signs that she understood what was going on though she could not express herself. Her parents, Valerie and Tom, sought every therapy possible in the hope that Emily would one day be able to reveal herself. When this miraculous breakthrough occurred, Emily was finally able to give insight into the life, frustrations, and joys of a person with autism. She could tell her parents what her younger years had been like and reveal all the emotions and intelligence residing within her; she became their guide into the autistic experience. Told by Valerie, with insights and stories and poetry from Emily, I Have Been Buried Under Years of Dust highlights key moments of Emily’s childhood that led to her communication awakening—and how her ability rapidly accelerated after she wrote that first sentence. As Valerie tells her family’s story, she shares the knowledge she’s gained from working as a legal advocate for families affected by autism and other neurological disorders. A story of unconditional love, faith in the face of difficulty, and the grace of perseverance and acceptance, I Have Been Buried Under Years of Dust is an evocative and affecting mother-daughter memoir of learning to see each other for who they are.