Yaffa shares her sensual vision of the elusive patterns created by light and shadow. In an intimate format, images celebrate line and form the beauty and grace of botanicals, and nudes, demonstrating a humanity inseparable from nature. Her work is tender, poetic and gentle. Her images remain with us as a reminder of life's beauty and its fragility.

Yaffa shares her sensual visions of the elusive patterns created by light and shadow. Presented in an intimate format, the images celebrate in line and form the beauty and grace of that which encompasses nearly The self portrayed in her work is tender, poetic and gentle Her photographs invite a detailed perspective of our world, from the broad, sweeping motion of a forest to the fluid line of a leaf.

very sensitive yet stimulating representations of leaves , plant life, and the human form. The lighting and the shadows are both sensual and sensitive. Appreciated by such giants of photography as Gordon Parks, Cornell Capa, and Duane Michels.

This book, LUTHER AND ERASMUS: FREE WILL AND SALVATION, contains some great summaries of the arguments involved. Originally, Erasmus, author of IN PRAISE OF FOLLY (1509) and a great scholar who edited a Greek New Testament in 1516, pictures his philosophical self as the perfect opponent of tyrannical godliness in DIATRIBE ON FREE WILL (1524). Luther was offended, not so much that he was named by Erasmus as a particular kind of fool for God, but that Luther's interpretation of the Bible on this question, ON THE BONDAGE OF THE WILL (1525), based on absolute interpretations which depend on the kind of faith proclaimed by Paul, because "the power or endeavor of free choice is something different from faith in Jesus Christ. But Paul denies that anything outside this faith is righteous in the sight of God; and if it is not righteous in the sight of God, it must necessarily be sin. . . . With men, of course, it is certainly a fact that there are middle and neutral cases, where men neither owe one another anything nor do anything for one another. But an ungodly man sins against God whether he eats or drinks or whatever he does, because he perpetually misuses God's creatures in his impiety and ingratitude, and never for a moment gives glory to God from his heart." (p. 308).

In the history of religion, Martin Luther might be remembered mainly for his opposition to the established church of his time and place. Having been subject to many vows as a monk, he openly rejected certain restrictions that the religious organizations of his day had imposed on those who wished to lead worship or serve communion, and his marriage was a scandal that was altogether typical of the kind of disagreements in that time which survive in some form in the present day. One question of faith that I still find meaningful, in FREE WILL AND SALVATION, is the Bible's comparison of life with military service, as assumed in the first verse of chapter 7 of the book of Job, which Luther uses to explain a similar passage in Isaiah. " `The life of man is a warfare upon earth,' that is there is a set time for it. I prefer to take it simply, in the ordinary grammatical sense of `warfare,' so that Isaiah is understood to be speaking of the toilsome course of the people under the law, as if they were engaged in military service." (p. 267).

As old Europe attempts to secularize itself into an economic empire with minuscule military forces, it seems oddly historical that a few fundamentally religious political movements are being tied to such warfare as exists in our times, a modern age in which terrorism excites the forces of civilization so much that no government or political spokesman that harbors such killers is safe. LUTHER AND ERASMUS: FREE WILL AND SALVATION does not attempt to solve this problem. If anything, this book is just a book that shows how knowledge in the form of books can trap scholars by allowing them to do what the best scholars have always been best at, exhibiting the meaning of states of mind that others usually flee, far beyond the realm of what Job 7:1 in THE JERUSALEM BIBLE asks, "Is not man's life on earth nothing more than pressed service, his time no better than hired drudgery?"

Happenstance, at the end of World War II, picked on Hiroshima, for the purpose of a ten-minute speech, to be a military base, instead of a city, for the announcement of the use of an atomic bomb on August 6, 1945. Most people's lives, the way they live, are more like the city, now, but there is a geopolitical interpretation of world power that allows anyplace to be the Hiroshima of the moment, if the rest of the world wants to see it that way. Luther blames the devil, in FREE WILL AND SALVATION, whenever a man thinks he is choosing to do something on his own, and considering Hiroshima a military base instead of a city in 1945 is the kind of thinking that ought to be considered worthy of the devil, even if Harry Truman was willing to adopt it for ten minutes so he would not seem too far out of step with his military advisers. But the outcry, after dropping a couple atomic bombs within a week back then, started to make it obvious that not everybody was inclined to accept the incineration of cities so lightly. I might even be leaving out something terrible about the nature of the judgment of God, which is the primary topic of this book, because Luther seems so much closer to the nature of Hiroshima than we are, survivors though some of us might be. What makes LUTHER AND ERASMUS: FREE WILL AND SALVATION such heavy reading now is because it makes no attempt to lighten up to match the spiritually and economically commercial nature of our society, which usually considers itself thoroughly artistic or comical, especially in the manner in which people all get along by going along. Half of this book doubts that the world could ever be considered so normal. After a general index (which includes some latin phrases, though the tough latin phrases, like *praeter casam,* are explained in an "Appendix: On the Adagia of Erasmus") of several pages, the Biblical References take most of four pages. Anyone who wondered why Luther thought Christians should be reading the Bible, instead of being spoon fed lessons by officials, should get a load of this. Praeter casam to you, too.

Is our will really free or are we predestined? Where do we stand when it comes to our salvation? Can we contribute to the salvation of our souls? Erasmus and Luther argued over what they and their contemporaries thought was the characteristic difference between the evolving Catholic and Protestant positions concerning human nature, namely, the question of the freedom of the will. However, we shouldn't be limited by this ideas, their often heated discourse reveals, as much about their subjective modes of thinking and about the atmosphere of this turbulent period. But in the history of ideas this discourse gains an added significance. It shows some limitations of Christian Humanism and enlightens most of subsequent developments of modern thought. Neither one of them loses we all win! The introductions to the texts are, for themselves, worthy of this price. E Gordon Rupp and Philip S. Watson, offer and impartial analysis of the two men's positions, assuming an important familiarity with the circumstances of the conflict. A great buy.

I shall preface this review by stating that, in my opinion, Luther wins this debate. Erasmus makes some very good points, but Luther's "Bondage of the Will" contained within this volume is, perhaps, the clearest and most humble presentation of the election of God and its relation to human will that I have ever come across -- to the extent that it rivals John Calvin's "Institutes" itself! I found the arguments convincing and clear, and I found Luther's dedication and submission to the authority of Scripture inspiring.

I love this book. It is an enjoyable read in addition to a great reference tool. I use it on an almost daily basis. It is a great place to find ways of improving your diet, finding healthy recipies, or just looking for something new and interesting to snack on. I have shown this book to several people and they have immediately ordered their own copies. Buy it - use it - you won't regret it.

Maximum Food Power for Women taught me how to make positive changes in my eating habits that I can actually live with. Not only does it tell the reader which foods to eat, but it provides sample menus and recipes to incorporate these foods into your daily life. Reading the book actually motivated me to change my eating habits, and the recipes are so good, that my whole family is eating healthier. I keep going back and reading; learning more and getting more excited about good health and nutrition.

This is the best book I have ever read and used daily. It has a wealth of information about how to eat sensibly and how to incorporate all of the healthy power foods into your diet without denying yourself. It has gotten me on track with my eating habits and exercise. Whenever I want a healthy meal or snack I just open this book! I keep it right on my end table so I can consult it daily. I love it so much and find it so helpful, I am purchasing one for my Mother! You can't go wrong with this book!

I'm in the midst of this book, and am savoring it. Mary Gordon's use of the language makes me able to read Men and Angels at a more measured pace than what I usually have == her phrasing is so precise and her scenes and characters are jarringly familiar.

She describes the intensity of mother love so well, how all consuming it is when your children are small, how there's no question that you treasure them above life itself -- of course they're more important than anything.

I love also the way she looks at the mystery of how someone can be a good parent to one child but not another. How bereft a child in such a situation feels, and how angry the parent -- for not living up to such a basic requirement and instinct -- loving one's own child well enough. I also love the way she paints Laura, the young babysitter whose mother hated her, who believes herself to be beloved by God, who despises every adult except Anne, the book's central figure, and who is clearly going to do something awful. Laura is so despicable and so pitious at the same time that you don't know what to do with her.

It's interesting that psychology has in recent years verified Gordon's view, with the experts saying that yes, the personalities of parents and children sometimes don't mesh, and can get in the way of a good enough relationship. It's something that people took for granted in earlier centuries, but in the past 100 years or so, of course it's unforgivable to not love your children equally.

This is a wonderful book about love and the human condition, and I'd be still reading it now except that I read for the past hours on a Sunday afternoon, read until I'm seeing everything double, and squinting to see the print.

I can't understand why no one has reviewed this book either so I thought that I'd lend you some support by posting a couple of words.

I think this is Mary Gordon's best book but what makes if good is also what makes it different from her other novels - the babysitter narrative gives this book a darker thriller aspect which balances Gordon's usual narrative. The result is a book you can't put down and a must read if you have't picked it up yet.

I can hardly believe I'm the only person to review this book. I often check this page simply because I am so curious to hear other people's views on a novel that has stayed with me for over nine years. It is an intense and thoughtful study of women, art, religon, and motherhood...unsettling and disturbing at times, but richly wriiten and full of intriguing characters. I would urge anyone who has found Ms. Gordon's later work somewhat unsatsifying to look into this provocative novel.

Gordon MacDonald, one of my most favorite authors, has written and excellent book on the need for us to evaluate our lives as we enter the 30s and 40s and beyond. Granted, this book may be more appropriate for older readers, but younger ones will also benefit as they prepare for the "prime of life".

Among the principles MacDonald covers include:

1. Abraham exercised great faith when he left the comforts of his home and followed God's voice to go to a new land.
2. Although Abraham experienced scars in his life, he was a man who learned to trust God.
3. We have to go to quiet places to get a glimpse of God's majesty. Faith is built in the tough places of life.
4. Character is what truly exists in the hidden life of a person. A fall in character is often due to the neglecting the inner life.
5. Principles of perseverence.
6. Jesus was (and is) very interested in a person's character.
7. A person's character is revealed in impossible situations.
8. To have life change, we must be willing to reach for the unfamiliar.

All in all, an excellent and highly recommended book!

"Mid-Course Correction" is Gordon MacDonald's best book to date. As in all of his books, this is a very practical book, full of concrete suggestions. He suggests that all of us need to be in a lifelong process of continuing conversion. Either we need to escape from a certain staleness in our life, or we need to become more dedicated "Christ-followers" He sees Abraham as the most relevant model for conversion because his conversion was most like that which people today face. He, and we, come from a pagan culture and need to learn much that some from the culture (or subculture) take for granted. MacDonald is a gifted storyteller who uses events from his own life as well as biblical narrative to illustrate his points effectively. read this book, you will be better for doing so.

I have been a fan of Gordon MacDonald's books for almost a quarter century because he is so strongly focused on the practical aspects of the Christian life. This, his latest book, deals with the question of moving onward to the next step. He is convinced that God has more for His people if we live a life of continuing "mid-course corrections". No matter what apparent disaster has befallen the Christ-follower, God can use it to bring good. If you are finding your spiritual life a bit flat, here you may find hope from one who has learned from experience that God is a God of the second chance.

I found this book to be most helpful and thorough, I was immediately inspired to practice these useful tips and easy to intuit instructions.

I continue to use it for reference as a resource manual. I highly encourage anyone just getting interested in the concept of data mining, anyone in sales, marketing, public relations, and analytics to start with this book first. After reading this book you will have a strong foundation into data mining applications and a vivid sense of direction on how to make it work for you personally!!!!

We're just starting to look at mining the clickstream, and this is the first book I've found that cuts through the hype and really comes clean on what works and doesn't work. Good, solid techincal information, but better is their coverage of business issues. I love all of the detailed cases. Great job!

I own Berry and Linoff's first two books on data mining (Data Mining Techniques and Mastering Data Mining); they're the best, and this book lives up to their standards. All three are great for not just teaching the technical stuff, but how and when to apply it to solve problems I really face at my company.

Andrew Gordon covers the important aspects of Japanese history through time. He starts off by dealing with the Tokugawa and ends with the current political situation at the turn of the century. The appendixes provide a good account of Japanese government by listing the prime ministers and the country's election results since the end of WWII. Contemporary History of Japan focuses on important aspects of the Tokugawa regime such as its political, social and economic set up of Tokugaw Japan and focuses on its eventual downfall. The book continues with the Samurai revolution and the Meiji revolution that set the path for Japan to become a world power. Gordon then continues Japan in the early 20th centiru and how the countr began to change internallly as a result and how Japan dealt the Depressoin Crises in the 1930s, its wars with China and Russia and its eventual role in WWII and the American influence in the post WWII years. After the end of WWII, Japan becomes a dominant figure on the world stage with rapid economic growth unparalled else where in the world resulting in massive changes in society. Gordon does deal with Japanese economic troubles in the post WWII era such as the oil crises in the 1970s and the how Japanese bubble burst as well as other issues Japan is facing such as low-birth rates and changing gender roles.

Great background to Japan overall.

This is an outstanding book on the modern history of Japan since the early 19th century. Mr. Gordon writes exceptionally well; unlike most academics, his sentences are mercifully short. You won`t get lost in any run-on sentences that take up half a page. Having said that, however, this is not a book just for children. People who have lived in Japan for years or who have studied Japan extensively as graduate students will find something to learn in this book. The book has many appealing aspects. It devotes considerable time to discussing the lives of ordinary Japanese, and it makes for fascinating reading. The book is relatively short and can be finished in one week. Finally, the author`s emphasis on the similarities between Japan and other nations in the tumultuous modern era is most welcome. The Japanese are not a unique, bizarre people; like all people everywhere, modernity is something they have adjusted to and dealt with, with varying degrees of success and failure. Mr. Gordon`s book is well worth reading.

I received this book today and flipped through it while doing laundry. I'm impressed. It's been a long time since I read a history book and this isn't like the dry, boring texts I remember from school.

I won't waste time mentioning that he covers all the obvious stuff, all the wars and major political events that you would expect a history book to cover.

What struck me is his ability to smoothly give you the big picture while sticking in little bits that give you some idea of what the people at the time thought and experienced.

In addition to telling you about the hardships of farming, he gives a picture of a 21-year-old girl's hands; that's all you need to see. In addition to telling you about the influence of the west, he shows you pictures of Japanese women in wanna-be outfits that just say it all. The cartoons, political posters, songs, propaganda posters -- they give a feel for Japan I wasn't expecting from a book.

This book is mostly text; I don't want to imply it has a ton of extras but it has enough to really drive home some of his points.

All that and I haven't even read the book yet!

It was interesting to learn that (obviously) Japan wasn't always like it is now. The description of the employment situation in the 1920s sounds quite a lot like America in the 1990s boom -- no loyal employees with lifelong employment then! Knowing that less than a hundred years ago the reserved, peaceful Japanese engaged in widespread political riots where they beat each other and the police shook up my stereotypes.

Good book, highly recommended.

This book is a perfect text for the laymen and the pastor. I love how Gordon Fee writes in a way in which it helps the layman do some real study of the bible and how he teaches step by step on how do exgesis of the passages of the Holy scripture. It has great recommendtions on other resources in which will spark the laymen to study like a student of the bible not just a church goer. Gordon Fee a HIGHLY respected scholar and he knows what he's talking about. Praise God for this man in which God raise up...
God bless Dr. Fee

Fee's handbook is probably the best guide in doing Exegesis available today. It is useful both for the one who knows Greek and for the one who is forced, by lack of language skills, to work around this deficiency. His technique for doing so will enable any diligent student to work around this and still use many of the best helps in the field.

Fee also guides you step by step through various projects for which one would do exegeis. Whether that be a scholarly paper, a Sunday morning sermon, or other types of research.

As noted above, the resources he guides one to are indeed worth the price of the book in itself, as it is an indispensible tool in library building.

This book provides a thorough and detailed explanation of the process of determining the meaning of a New Testament passage. It is concisely written and provides invaluable guidance that is scholarly but accessible by the layperson, such as myself, who is interested in achieving a less superficial understanding of scripture. The bibliography in the back contains an incredible amount of useful information and is probably worth the cost of the book by itself.

This is a very honest look at what very few people know about the world of ballet. The physical and mental horrors that come with job are an additional slap in the face for anyone who hopes to become a ballet dancer...especially for the non-white ballet dancer. Its the only ballet book that has admitted the deep racism is exists in ballet. I use to love ballet but I had so many racist white teachers that didnt care for nonwhite dance students, that they helped to dash my hopes (and many many others like me). It can really break a young girls heart and its something that one never forgets. I hope that this will change one day.

Let's stop moaning and groaning about terrible teachers, terrible schools and eating disorders in ballet dancers and DO something about it! This is a great book for parents and students to become critical consumers of ballet instruction and demand different approaches to training. The key to change is communication and education! When the students will know more than their teachers and demand sound advice for their bodies and health, the dance world will change! It is today's young dancer who will be a teacher, dancer or company director in the future.
It is up to us to take responsibility for change and not perpetuate the old paradigms.
Dance is a wonderful thing!
Niki, Michigan

Everything is NOT beautiful at the ballet.... This is a no-holds barred look at the dark side of ballet. If you thought "Little Girls in Pretty Boxes" was horrifying, this book is twice as shocking. Parents need to read this book in order to see what kind of life is in store for their child pursuing a career in dance. Ballet's stringent requirements for female dancers demand a breastless, hipless, ultra-thin body, which causes most dancers to become bulimic or anorexic. Gordon devotes an entire chapter to eating disorders rampant at ballet schools and in companies; it is shocking to note that many schools have weekly "weigh-in's", which only adds to the dancers' anguish if their weight goes up. Coupled with the physical demands of ballet, undernourished dancers are highly prone to injury and illness. Former dancers that Gordon interviewed are so crippled from injuries they can barely walk. The sacrifices to become a professional ballet dancer are enormous for both dancer and parents. Apart from principals, professional dancers make very little money, with no benefits or security after they've retired. The lifespan of a dancer is brief; many are already washed up and finished by their late twenties. Gordon admires the tenacity and dedication of the ballet dancers, but deplores their working conditions and the appalling demands ballet requires on their bodies. Gordon talks about the invisible partner, that of the ballet mother and how these women give up a normal life to give total support to the dancing child. She writes about the bitter rivalries between ballet mothers, which only increases their isolation and loneliness; it's not surprising these women become totally absorbed and obssessed with their children's success in dancing. With only a limited number of slots available in ballet companies, there is fierce competitiveness amongst students at the ballet academies, which is encouraged by the teachers. Movies like "Center Stage" and "The Turning Point" only scratch the surface of what life is really like as a ballet student or professional dancer; this books paints a more realistic portrait. Gordon interviewed hundreds of dancers for this book; however, the ballet world is such a closed world, most did not allow her to use their actual names, for fear that their comments would jeopardize their careers in dance. It is astonishing to discover how much power these ballet schools, teachers and choreographers have over their students; life in the studio causes dancers to have tunnel vision and renders them totally unprepared to cope in the real world once their all-too-short careers have ended. Although this book is out of print, do what you can to get a copy through amazon.com's services. You'll think twice before encouraging your child to become a dancer.

The Offenhauser is arguably the most successful racing engine ever designed, and this book traces its earliest incarnation (when it was the "Miller") to the last turbo-charged days...Inbetween it powered an staggering number of conseutive Indy 500 winners, plus AAA/USCA sprint and midget champions, not to mention IMCA and amazingly even some road racing wins (not to mention possibly the least succesful grand prix car of all time, the Scarab) The "techie" will find loads of specs, cross-sections, and line drawings, the vintage race fans plenty of photos of the cars of the era. (Note to the author: a larger color section in the next edition please.)A really great addition to those of us interested in the history of auto racing....

I have just finished Gordon White's book on Offenhauser Racing Products, and fascinating is a word that comes to mind to describe the effort. Idid not attend the Indy 500 until 1994 and missed all those wonderful years when the Miller/Goosen/Offenhauser engines dominated the race. I was lucky enough to attend several years of Championship Car races at the old Sacramento Fairgrounds and witnessed the Offy in action. Gordon has done a fine job bringing back some of those memories, and making a strong case in my view that these individuals were American heroes! If you are at all interested in things mechanical, this is a must read!

Offenhauser tells the story of the engine that dominated American Championship, sprint and midget and even sports car racing for nearly a half-century. It is surprising that such a book was not written long ago, but the author has done an amazing job of research into racing's past. He tells both the human story of the men who built the Offy - Miller, Goossen, Sobraske, Meyer, Drake and Fred Offenhauser himself, and the technical and political story of the old four-banger's rise to victory at Indianapolis, its long domination there, its fall in 1965, rebirth with turbocharging and final demise in the 1980s. The collection of photographs is amazing - many I never saw before as well as those of well-known drivers such as Foyt who drove Offenhauser-powered cars. Anyone remotely interested in auto racing should definitely have this book.