What's the natural next step in a relationship before marriage? For Shiina and Shuu, it’s moving into an apartment together! But each up comes with its own down, and the couple is surprised by the roadblocks popping up alongside the conveniences and fun of sharing a cozy abode. This is especially true for Shuu, who has a habit of not voicing his emotions, complaints or otherwise. Can the two of them hold on to their lovestruck bliss and successfully navigate the challenges that come with cohabitation?

Following in the footsteps of one’s family is never easy—especially when that family runs a traditional coppersmithing business in rural Japan. This is a tough lesson for Shuu, who must now decide whether to follow the path his father walked or find his own. But that’s not the only thing he must learn. A coppersmith must meet the expectations of their clients—and the clients themselves—something with which the reticent Shuu struggles. Somehow life has become more complicated than simply hammering away on copper. With his loving fiancée Shiina as his anchor, can the smithing nut rise to all the challenges his vocation presents?

Shiina, a freshman in college, is enjoying a cozy life in Niigata Prefecture dating her coppersmith boyfriend, Shuu. She’s grown used to the rhythmic sound of his hammer, inwardly dubbing him the “smithing nut” for his obsession with hunkering down in the workshop, even on his days off. What she’s not ready for is a sudden proposal out of nowhere! Barely out of high school, is she ready for the next step? And more importantly, can she really hack marrying into a prestigious smithing family?

“Pamela Burford just keeps getting better and better!” — The Romance Reader ◊ When four high school friends promise to find husbands for one another if any of them are still single at age thirty, they have no idea how complicated the pact will make their lives twelve years later! Book 3 of the Wedding Ring matchmaker series is One Eager Bride to Go. ◊ The Prospective Bride: Sunny Bleecker, who’s been waiting tables at Wafflemania for twelve years… and waiting just as long for her knight in shining armor to come rescue her. She can’t wait for her matchmaking friends to find him! The Prospective Groom: Kirk Larsen, who’s a college professor, a widowed single dad, and Sunny’s high school sweetheart. Between teaching and raising a toddler, Kirk isn’t looking for romance, but his unexpected reunion with Sunny feels so perfect. The Hitch: Sunny is dubious when her blind date turns out to be her old boyfriend, but her doubts quickly evaporate. Soon she’s walking on air, dreaming of a white picket fence and a passel of kids... until a devastating secret threatens their second chance at happiness.

Four romantically minded high school girls, besties forever, vow to find one another husbands in the laughably unlikely event any of them are unmarried at age thirty. They’re not laughing twelve years later when the Wedding Ring pact kicks in for the four single pals! Each girl—Raven, Charli, Sunny, and Amanda—gets her own story in this feel-good romantic comedy series. Book 1: Love’s Funny That Way The Prospective Bride: Raven Muldoon, hypnotherapist by day and aspiring stand-up comic by night. She realizes her matchmaking friends have made a grave mistake—and that’s no joke. The Prospective Groom: Brent Radley, a blind date who appears to be perfect husband material… until Raven meets his sexy-as-sin younger brother, Hunter, owner of the local comedy club. Did her pals pick the wrong brother? The Hitch: Hunter is no choirboy, but not even he would steal his brother’s girlfriend, no matter how tempted he might be. But how committed is Raven to Brent, and he to her? Book 2: I Do, But Here’s the Catch The Prospective Bride: Carlotta “Charli” Rossi, last of a dying breed: the thirty-year-old virgin. It’s love at first sight when her matchmaking friends set her up on a blind date with Grant—but does he feel the same way about her? The Prospective Groom: Grant Sterling, a handsome, rich, worldly lawyer, always in control. This confirmed bachelor’s only goal is to make partner at his stuffy law firm, and for that he requires a mousy, undemanding wife who doesn’t turn him on. The Hitch: Charli is thrilled to become Mrs. Grant Sterling, but maybe she should have paid closer attention to the details before the wedding! Grant thinks he’s planned the perfect marriage of convenience, devoid of messy complications like sex and commitment. Good thing perfect plans never go wrong, huh? Book 3: One Eager Bride to Go The Prospective Bride: Sunny Bleecker, who’s been waiting tables at Wafflemania for twelve years… and waiting just as long for her knight in shining armor to come rescue her. She can’t wait for her matchmaking friends to find him! The Prospective Groom: Kirk Larsen, who’s a college professor, a widowed single dad, and Sunny’s high school sweetheart. Between teaching and raising a toddler, Kirk isn’t looking for romance, but his unexpected reunion with Sunny feels so perfect. The Hitch: Sunny is dubious when her blind date turns out to be her old boyfriend, but her doubts quickly evaporate. Soon she’s walking on air, dreaming of a white picket fence and a passel of kids... until a devastating secret threatens their second chance at happiness. Book 4: Fiancé for Hire The Prospective Bride: Amanda Coppersmith, successful at everything except marriage. Been there, done that—twice! No way is she going to let her matchmaking pals fix her up with another husband. She’s determined to remain single, which means outwitting her well-meaning friends. The Prospective Groom: Nick Stephanos, studly New York taxi driver and the perfect choice for fake fiancé. The Hitch: Nick is willing to play along, and the meddling matchmakers are completely taken in. So how did a simple fake engagement become so darn complicated?

Reproduction of the original: Margery by Georg Ebers

This issue of The Ministry contains a complete record of the six messages given during the 2007 Thanksgiving Weekend Conference held in Boston, Massachusetts on November 22-25, 2007. The general subject of the conference was "Closely Following the Present Vision of the Lord's Recovery." The burden of these messages can be summarized in the following four statements: 1) To live out and work out the New Jerusalem is to live out and work out God's complete salvation according to the intrinsic essence of the unique New Testament ministry for the reality of the Body of Christ and a new revival; 2) God became man so that man may become God in life and nature but not in the Godhead to produce and build up the Body of Christ for the fulfillment of God's economy to close this age and bring Christ back to set up His kingdom; 3) God's intention is, through the universal woman, to bring forth the man-child--the stronger part of God's people--whom He will use to defeat His enemy and bring in His kingdom; and 4) We must closely follow the present vision of the Lord's recovery by holding to the teaching of the apostles to remain in the essence of oneness. The Reports and Announcements section includes a schedule concerning the upcoming conferences and trainings for 2008.