Thanks to Shining Brightly author and resilience expert Howard Brown, we all may feel a little better this week as we reach May 18th!

How auspicious is 18? Well, let Howard tell you in this episode of his Shining Brightly podcast:

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Care to learn more?

This is a perfect moment to become one of Howard’s growing global community of friends by ordering your copy of his book.

Here are other articles we have published, exploring the launch of this book:

Take a look at the book’s Foreword: ‘Shining Brightly’ Foreword by Dr. Robert J. Wicks: ‘Learn anew about the American Dream’

And especially read this story: Two-time cancer survivor Howard Brown writes ‘Shining Brightly’ to encourage others to stay healthy

Free Resource Guides

Download (and free-to-share) resource guides for discussing Shining Brightly:

• First is What are the ‘Keys to Resiliency when Confronting Cancer?’ Howard is freely sharing resources from the Discussion Guide for his new book—a page that lists 18 keys to resiliency that have proven valuable in his life and in the lives of people he has mentored through cancer.
• Second is Why should we become mentors?
• And finally Interfaith Bridge Building: Why do this work? 

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All of us, across our community of authors, are celebrating with retired Col. Clifford Worthy as a veterans’ group honored Cliff with a beautiful red-white-and-blue Quilt of Valor. And we want to thank Ham Schirmer for sending us the following report:

The handmade quilt was presented to Col. Worthy by a Michigan chapter of Quilts Of Valor. This is a volunteer group of people whose mission is to bestow a symbol of thanks and remembrance to those who have served in harm’s way to protect our lives and freedoms. The beautiful quilts are handmade by countless volunteers across the United States, who wish to thank those who have served.

The way in which Col. Worth received his was through an arrangement made by a fellow resident at Cedarbrook, where Clifford lives. After attending a ceremony for another veteran at the residence, this friend felt that Clifford was more than deserving of the honor. He contacted Quilts of Valor and arrangements were quickly made. As a result, Clifford is now the proud owner of a beautiful red, white and blue quilt which he proudly displays in his apartment.

Care to learn more about this hero?

Readers nationwide have told us how much they have enjoyed Col. Worthy’s memoir, The Black Knight: An African-American Family’s Journey from West Point—a Life of Duty, Honor and Country.

This is an especially timely story, because July 26, 2023, marks the 75th anniversary of Executive Order 9981, issued on July 26, 1948, by President Harry S. Truman. This executive order abolished discrimination “on the basis of race, color, religion or national origin” in the United States Armed Forces.

Retired Col. Clifford Worthy is the oldest living Black graduate of The United States Military Academy: West Point.

He is a great grandson of slaves; he was born in Atlanta, Georgia, and raised in Hamtramck, Michigan. Worthy was one of the few African American men of his generation who were accepted and excelled as a Black Knight of the Hudson, the traditional nickname for West Point cadets. He served as an officer in the U.S. Army from 1953 through 1975—including as an artillery officer in Germany during the Cold War and in Vietnam just after the Tet Offensive. He participated in Operation Gyroscope after World War II and served as Battalion Commander and Military Assistant to the Under Secretary of the Army.

It’s thAT time of year when all the big media outlets publish their “Best for the Holidays” lists written by their resident experts. So, we asked our own resident book marketing expert—Susan Stitt, founding CEO of Morgan Street Media Services in Georgia—to list her Best Books picks from our own ReadTheSpirit bookstore. Here are Susan’s picks for gift giving (and don’t forget—that includes giving yourself a gift or two)!

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By SUSAN STITT
Morgan Street Media Services

For the Detroiter in your life: Hope For the City by Jack Kresnak. The story of Father Bill Cunningham and others who were drawn to the mission of Focus: HOPE. It is a captivating retelling of the life of an English teacher who wore a Roman collar, rode a Harley-Davidson and marched with Dr. King across the Edmund Pettus bridge; a suburban mother of five who organized marriage enrichment events before she persuaded her husband to move into Detroit; the 1967 riot that exposed systemic racial inequality; and the civil rights organization that evolved. Read more about the book and find links to buy it here.

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For the animal lover in your life: Every Living Thing from The Humane Society of the United States. The world’s 2 billion Christians are hearing loud and clear teachings about animals. Pope Francis’s encyclical on creation care now is joined by a chorus of American Evangelical leaders writing about care for animals. The Humane Society of the United States has collected the latest teachings from Christian leaders to inspire individuals and spark fresh discussion in congregations. This book includes the new “Evangelical Statement on Responsible Care for Animals” and teachings from a dozen denominations. Buy it here.

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For the movie lover in your life: Jesus Christ Movie Star by Edward N. McNulty. What did Jesus look like? Add some popcorn and this will be the perfect gift for the movie lover in your world. America’s beloved faith-and-film writer Edward McNulty leads the reader or small group through a dozen big-screen stories inspired by Jesus’s life. McNulty provides everything needed to spark spirited discussion from the best film clips to show your group—to dozens of questions you could ask. Readers explore hits like The Passion of the Christ and Jesus Christ Superstar. There are some surprises too! Can you find Gospel themes in Cool Hand Luke and Broadway Danny Rose? Buy it here.

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For the new parent or toddler in your life: Pre-School U from Detroit Public Television. Pre-School U offers helpful, easy-to-understand lessons in brief videos that are extended and driven home by pointed conversations you can lead among parents and caregivers. These lessons cover all aspects of children’s development—language and literacy, cognition and general knowledge, physical well-being and motor development, social and emotional development and approaches to learning. Buy it here.

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For the tween or teen in your life: Bullying Is No Laughing Matter by Kurt J. Kolka. Millions of Americans follow the adventures of Beetle Bailey, Blondie, Luann, Dick Tracy, Gil Thorp and other top comic strip characters. We love to laugh at their adventures—and their misadventures. This full-color paperback represents a historic “team up” of America’s cartoon favorites, who are springing from the funny pages into this big, colorful book. They’re united in encouraging kids to support each other when someone begins picking on them. National research shows that new forms of bullying follow kids wherever they go—inescapably plaguing them through social media on computers and smartphones. Some of the comic artists contributing to this book have even added personal notes sharing their own experiences with bullies—or offering brief words of encouragement to kids. Buy it here.

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For the peacemaker in your life: Harnessing the Power of Tension by Brenda Naomi Rosenberg and Samia Moustapha Bahsoun. Harnessing the Power of Tension introduces the paradoxical and evolutionary leadership approach to conflict transformation—Tectonic Leadership. By harnessing tension, the authors bridge their commitment as Jew and Arab to directly address the tension that separates them and use it to build alliances at home, in the boardroom, on campus and in communities. Buy it here.

 

Thanks Susan!

Want more?

Check out our entire ReadTheSpirit bookstore.