Jim Grant

What is their big toe to a child who first encounters it? A lot of things, it turns out About the AuthorJim Grant has a vested interest in enhancing the life of his community, volunteering at a food bank and driving a bus for an intervention center for children and their parents to meet once a week. He comes from a large, loving family of six brothers and sisters, and five nieces and nephews, two beautiful daughters of his own, and one grandson, who happens be the best little boy ever. Grant has been contemplating the idea of writing a children's book since his daughters were little, but the birth of his grandson, Jameson, gave him the final push to publish.

The lasting solutions to rural America's churches challenges will be found in rural America. The rural church in America in the twenty-first century must develop new relationships and new ways of doing things to ensure prosperous and socially healthy future. But we should not delude ourselves into thinking that the rural American church has so many unique issues. In fact, most of the challenges facing the rural American church today are often the same challenges for the declining rural, urban fringe, and extreme urban church seeking renewal and revitalization. Yet, while the challenges are similar, the solutions are more unique. It has been just a little over a year since I completed my study sabbatical focusing on rural church revitalization. Our research revealed three profound types of churches among the rural landscape. The first type were those churches which were benign. These benign churches were 118 (33.71%) out of the 350 rural churches surveyed. Benign churches are the churches which have primarily a maintenance mindset which is displayed by very little effort and very low expectations. The second type we discovered were the bewildered churches in the rural landscape. Bewildered churches are those which are so frustrated that they are all but ready to jump off the proverbial bridge. These churches were 117 (33.43%) out of the 350 churches interviewed and surveyed. They are not only doing nothing they have no desire to seek renewal or life. They are the ones which have the mantra that the last one left alive remember to turn the lights off. The third type of rural church our research and interviews revealed are those who are the bold. These bold churches along the rural landscape have leaders which operate more as a community watcher and chaplain for the entire region not just a few church members. These churches were 115 (32.86%) of the 350 churches surveyed and interviewed. Without a doubt these were the healthiest of all the three types. They had a forward focus and were willing to try almost anything to reach their tiny population for Christ Jesus. Those churches were led by leaders who were strong voices for righteousness in their rural communities. They were not only participants with community leaders but they were partners in projects for the good of the area. These bold churches also stretched the usual outreach area around their church from six miles to thirty miles. The bold churches were most interested in connecting with the community. They sought ways to think outside of the box for the betterment of community not just the church. They emphasized newness over deadness. I am extremely encouraged at what I have seen and the pastors who are giving it their all for the sake of Christ in these rural areas. As a rural church revitalizer, you cannot settle for just doing a little. You must give it your all if you are going to revitalize a rural church. Successful rural revitalizers stay out front and on the edge. Dying rural churches are more focused on relaxing in a recliner. There have been many who I met that could barely make ends meet and yet their daily walk and Christian experienced makes ours pale in compare. There was such joy and intimacy in these congregations. The pace was much slower and so much more relaxed. These rural churches affirmed the membership and accepted everyone. Pastors of these rural churches were known in these small communities. They were making a difference. This will be the most challenging ministry assignment you will ever face Might I make one more parting observation? While so many in denominational life are focusing on a small number of urban centers for their future hopes, perhaps such short sightedness will be the cause for us to lose the rest of America. What a sad day that will be. Our Lord Jesus loves the little communities just as much as He does the big ones. Hold on and keep on. Hold on Rural Church Revitalizer. Hold on

This fully updated and revised edition of the best-selling title The Archaeology Coursebook is a guide for students studying archaeology for the first time. Including new methods and key studies in this fourth edition, it provides pre-university students and teachers, as well as undergraduates and enthusiasts, with the skills and technical concepts necessary to grasp the subject. The Archaeology Coursebook: introduces the most commonly examined archaeological methods, concepts and themes, and provides the necessary skills to understand them explains how to interpret the material students may meet in examinations supports study with key studies, key sites, key terms, tasks and skills development illustrates concepts and commentary with over 400 photos and drawings of excavation sites, methodology and processes, tools and equipment provides an overview of human evolution and social development with a particular focus upon European prehistory. Reflecting changes in archaeological practice and with new key studies, methods, examples, boxes, photographs and diagrams, this is definitely a book no archaeology student should be without.

This fully updated and revised edition of the best-selling title The Archaeology Coursebook is a guide for students studying archaeology for the first time. Including new methods and key studies in this fourth edition, it provides pre-university students and teachers, as well as undergraduates and enthusiasts, with the skills and technical concepts necessary to grasp the subject. The Archaeology Coursebook: introduces the most commonly examined archaeological methods, concepts and themes, and provides the necessary skills to understand them explains how to interpret the material students may meet in examinations supports study with key studies, key sites, key terms, tasks and skills development illustrates concepts and commentary with over 400 photos and drawings of excavation sites, methodology and processes, tools and equipment provides an overview of human evolution and social development with a particular focus upon European prehistory. Reflecting changes in archaeological practice and with new key studies, methods, examples, boxes, photographs and diagrams, this is definitely a book no archaeology student should be without.

This edited volume provides a coherent and comprehensive assessment of Antonio Gramsci's significant contribution to the fields of political and cultural theory. It contains seminal contributions from a broad range of important political and cultural theorists from around the world and explains the origins, development and context for Gramsci's thought as well as analysing his continued relevance and influence to contemporary debates. It demonstrates the multidisciplinary nature of Gramscian thought to produce new insights into the intersection of economic, political, cultural, and social processes, and to create a vital resource for readers across the disciplines of political theory, cultural studies, political economy, philosophy, and subaltern studies.

This edited volume provides a coherent and comprehensive assessment of Antonio Gramsci's significant contribution to the fields of political and cultural theory. It contains seminal contributions from a broad range of important political and cultural theorists from around the world and explains the origins, development and context for Gramsci's thought as well as analysing his continued relevance and influence to contemporary debates. It demonstrates the multidisciplinary nature of Gramscian thought to produce new insights into the intersection of economic, political, cultural, and social processes, and to create a vital resource for readers across the disciplines of political theory, cultural studies, political economy, philosophy, and subaltern studies.

Do you use the document in your job search that is more important than a resume? - Are you still wasting your time applying for jobs through the HR Department? - Do you know how to avoid answering the "What are your salary requirements" question? - Do you know "who" to network with, along with "how"? - Do you know how to tell the difference between the "good", "bad", and "ugly" recruiters? - Are you using all four fundamental approaches to searching for a job? Do you know which produces the best results? - Do you know how to answer "Behavioral" interview questions? - Do you know how to use your references proactively to help get you an interview? - Do you know where you are in the job search process and what you need to do next? - Do you know how to overcome objections when they say they won't meet with you? - Do you know what you need to say during a job interview to sell yourself to the hiring manager? This book will give you the answers to those questions and hundreds more.

Now completely revised and updated, and expanded by more than fifty percent, The Complete Canvasworker's Guide, Second Edition, brings you Jim Grant's thorough step-by-step approach to constructing a nearly endless variety of attractive and functional gear for your boat. Grant, with his wife, Connie, has taught sailmaking and canvaswork for more than 20 years, and he brings an often intimidating craft within the grasp and budget of anyone from an all-thumbs beginner to a would-be professional. Forget that canvas always used to be made of cotton. Today it is far more commonly woven of synthetic fibers: acrylic, polyester, or nylon. Here is all the information you'll need to make use of them all. Grant's no-frills approach, refined over years of answering the questions of puzzled students, is for any boatowner who wants to take needle to fabric. And as tens of thousands of proud boatowners will happily testify, it really works. Here's what reviewers have said about The Complete Canvasworker's Guide:"Literally every question is answered in this book."--Yachting"Chock full of everything from basic information to a variety of ideas designed to improve, upgrade, and protect a boat."--Small Boat JournalAn immensely practical book."--Practical Boat Owner"A concise and to-the-point workbook."--Soundings