Your Word for the Week

In a world where voices often speak only what people want to hear, many are left feeling burdened by life’s challenges, searching for a genuine sense of hope. This devotional seeks to provide that hope, offering a vision of a bright, eternal future with a place prepared by Him who has promised to return and fulfill His Word.

Though society’s leaders sometimes betray our trust, exploiting our childlike faith for their own gain, there remains One who watches over us, unwavering and steadfast. The Almighty God, Creator of all, extends forgiveness and redemption through His Son and the power of the Holy Spirit.

With one devotional per week, this guide illuminates the path to a deep and personal relationship with Christ, encouraging readers to embrace His unique plan for their lives. It reminds us that by living with purpose and faith, we invest in an eternal promise, one that offers a profoundly satisfying return beyond anything we can imagine.

Pioneers & Icons of Australian Motorsport

The author has captured in words and lavish illustrations (many of his own that have never been seen before), the stories of over one hundred men and women whose personal motor racing journeys paved the way to establish and explode this sport. They did so both locally and overseas, showing that Aussies were as good as the world’s best when it came to not only skill behind the wheel but also in the design and manufacture of the fastest cars, and in organising events of the highest level and regard.

Most of these names are extremely well known by all Aussie petrol heads-household names admired around any backyard barbecue. Just the mention of their names brings nods of respect. But you will additionally read accounts of some very significant lives and racing achievements you previously knew nothing about-and some are quite simply amazing.

There’s our first woman to race commercially overseas. Just how she got there is incredible. Then you share the exploits of an illegal inter-capital record holder who went to New Zealand to break the land speed record, the farmers whose sons and grandsons became racing dynasties, and the home-grown mechanics and car builders whose designs obliterated all competition.

Strap yourself in and hang on. It’s gonna be a bloody wild ride!

SIPS

SIPS: The Molecular Connection Between Immunity & Learning

Have you ever wondered why anxiety has become so prevalent in modern society? Or why today’s children seem to be grappling more than ever with depression and other neurofunctional disorders? SIPS: The interaction of the Sympathetic nervous system (NS), Immunity, and Parasympathetic NS.

A ground-breaking idea has emerged in the ever-evolving field of immunology and neuroscience, connecting dots we never thought to join. Dive into the riveting exploration of how the very molecules responsible for warding off infections in our bodies play a pivotal role in how we learn and process the world around us.

More than just a revelation of interconnected systems, SIPS provides a comprehensive road map to ensure every child navigates the challenges of modern childhood and reaches their full potential. This book unfolds the symbiotic relationship between our body’s defence mechanisms and cognitive functions.

At its core, SIPS sheds light on the hidden crisis of childhood mental health and is a call to action to reinvent the nurturing environments that are vital for healthy development.

It highlights the urgent need to shift our understanding and approach to well-being. Discover why reviving the innocent smiles of our youth isn’t just a nostalgic endeavour but a societal necessity. Learn practical strategies to protect and nurture the mental health of our young ones, preventing the rising tide of childhood depression.

In SIPS, we’re invited to reimagine the future of learning and development and reinvent the essence of healthy childhood for generations to come. With this guide, we step closer to a world where every child’s potential is realised and nurtured.

Time-Space

Are you curious about the nature of time-space and the dynamics of human lives within it? Dive into this book and explore these fascinating concepts.

Time, the fundamental dynamo, leads the union with space, its perennial partner. Together, they frame a vast and restless cosmos where all individual has their unique time and place. Yet, humans do not survive alone; they share this beautiful but tiny planetary homestead with many other species.

While humans walk upon Planet Earth, they simultaneously scan the stars, probing the unfolding saga of their home planet and the entire cosmos:

‘Twinkle, twinkle, little star
How I wonder what you are…’

This book combines insights from history, physics, geography, and literature – not forgetting songs. The opening section reveals how humans live, remember, forget, and think through time. The next section highlights key features of time and explains why denying time is nonsensical.

The final section surveys the collective human journey through time-space. Humans are a complex species, capable of both deceit and trust, hatred and love, conflict and cooperation. Yet, slowly, they are creating international networks and a global civics. This exciting trend is crucial, especially in responding effectively to today’s urgent climate crisis on Planet Earth.

Endless Suffering

Hanging out with street punks, I often see them acting like crazy people under the influence of illegal drugs. I got to know them because I thought they were people who, like me, lived in torment and were neglected.

I have heard every story of their lives. They left comfortable homes with sufficient food supplies, torturing themselves because they did not get enough attention from their parents.

The suffering they feel is nothing compared to what I have experienced. I live relying only on myself. If I kept hanging out with them, maybe I would lose myself – the only thing I truly have in my life. So, I decided not to spend time with them anymore. What I was looking for were friends who shared the same suffering as me, people who could support each other, exchange ideas, and offer mutual strength.

But until now, I have not found any friend whose suffering comes close to mine. Finally, I thought that maybe it would be good to write about my life journey. Everyone has their own suffering, but perhaps my life experiences could motivate others who are in despair.

Behind your suffering, there are many people suffering even more. Behind your happiness, there are people who are even happier. In this life, all you need is to be grateful and never lose yourself.

Pandemic Stories

In that turmoil of the mind and the spirit, I felt that I could add another drop of water in the sea and make waves, by giving voice to those people who, seeing their past in perspective, had extraordinary experiences or emotions to share. 

My sketchbook became a journal and my laptop a window through which, confined in an artist studio in Madrid, I could reach the outer world. I interviewed and sketched people from many different countries through videoconference, and when travelling was permitted, I did it from life. Eventually, I wrote each of their stories and shared them.

In order to counterbalance the bombarding negativity of the media, I felt that art needed to reach out and create hope. I wanted to make people feel listened to, to share their stories and portraits on social media to inspire reflection, empathy and growth. Humanity had never been so united before, it was a time to re-think our values system, and art needed to take action.

From Blinker Hall to Room 39: British Naval Intelligence 1880-1945

Dr. Wells offers an exhilarating deep dive into the world of British Naval Intelligence, exploring its intricacies with a level of detail and professionalism never before seen. As the only living person to have served in both British and United States Intelligence, and having been trained by the leading figures of British Naval Intelligence during World War Two, Anthony Wells brings unmatched expertise to this compelling history. Spanning over 65 years, this book draws readers into a captivating exploration of the political, institutional, organizational, personal, operational, strategic, and technical aspects of British Naval Intelligence across both World Wars. Wells invites us into the inner sanctum of British Naval Intelligence, revealing how history was shaped by the extraordinary expertise, courage, resilience, and intellectual brilliance of those who came from all corners of British society. This book not only enthrals and captivates but also educates, shedding light on the essence of outstanding intelligence work, much of which continues to influence the present day.

The S. C. R. A. P. Book

In The S.C.R.A.P. Book, Malcolm Leach embarks on a whimsical and thought-provoking exploration of the history of rowing and its impact on the world. With a keen eye for detail and an insatiable curiosity, Leach delves into the origins of this ancient sport, tracing its development from the earliest days of human civilization to the present. Along the way, he uncovers fascinating stories and anecdotes that illuminate the crucial role that rowing has played in shaping the course of history.

Leach’s engaging and often humorous writing style brings to life the colourful characters and pivotal events that have defined the sport of rowing. From the early Egyptians and Greeks to the Vikings and Normans, he shows how the humble oar has been a driving force behind some of the most significant moments in human history. With a wealth of illustrations and a keen sense of the absurd, Leach takes readers on a rollicking journey through time, exploring the impact of rowing on cultures around the world and the enduring legacy of this timeless sport.

Whether you’re a seasoned rower or simply a curious reader, The S.C.R.A.P. Book is sure to entertain and enlighten. Leach’s infectious enthusiasm for his subject and his unique perspective on history make this a must-read for anyone who has ever wondered about the story behind one of humanity’s most enduring pastimes.

Public Participation Involvement and Engagement in Cancer Research

Patients and the public have a history of participation and advocacy in cancer research, generally for the benefit of future cancer patients rather than themselves. Participation is necessary if drugs and treatments are to be properly tested. Advocacy adds a unique perspective that enables the integration of two valuable and powerful viewpoints, the experiential disease and treatment knowledge, needs and priorities of the patient, and the professional disease and treatment knowledge and priorities of the researcher or clinician. This synergistic combination is a key enabler for focused and relevant diagnostic and treatment advances in cancer research. However, recruitment of the right numbers and profile of patients and the public into participation and advocacy remains a challenge. This book seeks to take the mystery out of participation and advocacy in cancer research trials by explaining the whole process, in lay terms, in the hope that more people will be encouraged to participate and become advocates.

Rediscovering God

This book defends the existence of God, but not the God described in the Bible. First, it discusses two serious errors in the Bible. The first is that God made Adam first and then later made Eve. What science proves is that the template for the human body is without doubt female. Men are only modified women. The other serious error in Genesis is that God wanted to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah because of the sin of homosexuality. Read the evidence that homosexuality is genetic or epigenetic and hence created by God.

The book shows that if you want to be an atheist, you have to believe that: 1. All of the matter in the Universe came from nothing. 2. That, there must be an infinite number of Universes. 3. That, in a Universe where entropy (a measure of disorganization) rules, the dirt of the Earth self-organized into the most complex structure in the known Universe, your body.  A hint about the incredible complexity of the human body is given in the book.

Because a subatomic particle changes its behaviour based on whether it is being observed or not, Pantheism is the possible nature of God. The author is a big fan of the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, but because the God that created the amazing Universe we live in and then humanity would not require blood to be spilled to appease the disobedience of a primitive man, it is unlikely that Jesus was God.

Watch Out, He Bites!

Living the quiet life in a grassy paddock on a Yorkshire dairy farm is a small, fuzzy black-and-white Shetland pony, spending his days happily grazing with his even smaller ginger buddy.

From over the rickety dry stone wall, Humbug easily gives the impression of being very sweet – with big dark eyes, long eyelashes, a rounded tummy, a forelock that Tina Turner’s hairdresser would have been proud of, and slightly misshapen legs due to arthritis in his knees.

Nothing in his outward appearance gives even a hint of the chaos he’s caused over the past 20 years or so, but there’s a reason the stone wall is rickety – and it’s only as you look more closely that you realize the ponies are contained within a paddock with four (yes, four!) low strands of electric fencing. The gaps along the top of the stone wall are a testament to Humbug’s escapology pursuits, occasionally aided by large, wet-nosed dairy cows who love a bit of entertainment!

This is the true story of Humbug and his family (human and equine) and the often hilarious exploits and misdeeds that have entertained, frustrated, and exasperated his long-suffering humans.

You’re invited to sit back, relax, and enjoy getting to know this charismatic little pony. I hope you appreciate his adventures… but watch out—he bites!

Follow Humbug on X (formerly Twitter): @HumbugAndToby

And on Instagram: @humbug_and_toby

He looks forward to welcoming you there!

Police Surgeon

In Police Surgeon, Jennifer Gray weaves a lifetime of observations into poetry, drawing from her experiences as a doctor, forensic examiner, and keen observer of everyday life.

Her poems move effortlessly between the deeply personal and the universal, capturing moments of quiet beauty, profound sorrow, and unwavering resilience. From the solemnity of a crime scene to the delicate act of nurturing nature, from the lingering scent of lilacs to the devastation in Haiti, Gray’s verse is unflinchingly honest.

At times meditative, at times sharp and visceral, her poetry explores faith, memory, and the fleeting nature of life with striking clarity and compassion. A poignant and powerful collection that invites readers to reflect on the depths of human experience.