A captivating work of cultural blending unlike anything created prior, Andrew Archer's Edo Ball must be seen to be believed. This series of paintings seamlessly fuses contemporary basketball imagery with Edo-period Japanese art and culture, with captivating results. Often front and centre, an NBA personality is dramatically reimagined and yet recognizable, surrounded by the myriad trappings of the 'floating' world. Brief accompanying texts describe the thematic connections between each painting's converging themes and explore the roles that culture, community, celebrity, and games play in our daily lives.
Lively, up-to-date accounts of every significant building are included, with
detailed walks exploring the outer areas, and a scholarly narrative
introduction to put the architecture in context.
A priest is thrown to the floor as the Jerusalem Temple sways and shakes. The skies blacken with storm clouds and rain extinguishes the fire of the Great Altar. The frightened holy man watches in horror as the great curtain separating the Holy of Holies is torn from top to bottom. Why does God shake the very foundation of His Temple? Does it have something to do with the three men crucified on Roman crosses? Fifty days later, the Holy Spirit descends on a novice priest named Ezra and a young woman, Mariam, who has taken the Navarite oath. Ezra and Mariam are baptized into a new faith but what does it mean? Has Jesus established new rules for faithful living? How can the laws of the Temple be reconciled with these fresh teachings?
Deborah is witness to the marriage of her lifelong friend-the beautiful and adventurous young Rebekah-to her forty-year-old cousin, Isaac. The Bible assures us that Isaac loved Rebekah; Isaac's eyes never wandered though Rebekah remained barren for twenty years before God fulfilled His promise of twin sons. But even that promise came with a prophecy that put Rebekah at odds with her husband... but never at odds with Deborah. For all their lives, Isaac, Rebekah, and Deborah were companions and faithful servants to the Lord. They tried to live as God called them to and their story is a testament to the call to love our neighbor.
Facing his most cunning foe, can Robert serve the Lord, save the king, and forestall civil war? It's 1630 and there's a bounty on the head of King Charles I. English cities are plastered with pamphlets and posters promising riches and honors to whoever kills the king. The Lord Inquirer, Robert Curtis, searches for answers. Who is this dangerous pamphleteer who would launch England and the church into civil war? And how does a Christian man serve a tyrant without becoming an instrument of injustice? The King's enemies, like his sins, are vast and varied. Trampling on the Magna Carta and the rights of Englishmen, he betrays allies, nobles, churchmen, and humble subjects alike. Famine made grain scarce and costly, but the king sells as a profiteer of misery. Novel new taxes not approved by Parliament add a heavy burden to the starving subjects put out of work by his greed. Families who are displaced from generations of tenancy to make way for mines and the king's sheep on royal lands parade in protest. And his French Catholic wife rocks the foundations of the Church of England. Can there be loyalty and fidelity in the face of such cruelty? Would even God save such a king? For God and King is the fourth book of the Robert Curtis Mysteries, a series exploring politics, religion, and stories of faith, mercy, justice, and love.
Set against the backdrop of the Thirty Years War, Robert, an English priest and soldier, finds himself compelled to help search for a young Calvinist pastor imprisoned in Mainz. Rescued by strangers and motivated by gratitude, he navigates the complexities of war and faith, highlighting the intertwining of personal conviction and the broader religious conflict of the era. The story explores themes of loyalty, sacrifice, and the moral dilemmas faced during turbulent times.
Exploring the theme of fear, this book delves into the concept of darkness as a universal metaphor that resonates with everyone. It examines how this pervasive sense of dread impacts individuals and society, encouraging readers to confront their own fears and the shadows that lurk within. Through thought-provoking insights, it invites reflection on the nature of fear and its role in the human experience.
Set against the backdrop of political intrigue in the English court, the story follows Sir Robert Curtis as he navigates a treacherous landscape after witnessing the murder of a Spanish envoy. With King James seeking an alliance through marriage, tensions rise as old conspirators resurface, threatening the stability of the kingdom. Sir Robert faces the daunting task of protecting his sovereign from emerging dangers and the looming prospect of war.
The plot centers around the mysterious death of a gamekeeper, shot by the Archbishop of Canterbury during a hunting trip with King James. Captain Robert Curtis, tasked with investigating the incident, is troubled by the circumstances surrounding the gamekeeper's presence and begins to unravel a deeper conspiracy. As he uncovers new evidence, Curtis questions whether King James himself was the intended target, leading to a thrilling exploration of intrigue and danger within the royal court.
In World War II New Zealand was heavily involved on the battle lines of the Mediterranean. The experience was eye-opening for the emerging, Empire-loyal nation. A lasting bond was formed with Greece, and the complex, divisive and sometimes violent and surreal events of the time, now fading from memory, are vividly recounted by the author.
