Deus Misereatur

Ultimate Martial Arts Encyclopedia by John  Little My rating: 3 of 5 stars Quite the spiffy and informative book. It's small for an encyclopedia, but covers a wide range of martial arts' history and rational. With regard to it being "ultimate," the authors must have used this word to describe, not the depth of material, but the breadth of the subject. No singular martial art is covered deeply, but the authors spread out to cover numerous modern and ancient styles, as well as from different continents: Asian, European and African. Beyond the subject matter on the different styles, there are chapters to inform and help broaden the thinking, perception and motivation of the martial artist. These chapters are nicely written, drawing out finer points, and explaining the importance of more technical elements in punches, kicks, and blocks. For example, there's the chapter that emphasizes the fluidity and artfulness of any particular technique, so that "a lock

Taekwondo Grappling Techniques: Hone Your Competitive Edge for Mixed Martial Arts [DVD Included] by Tony Kemerly My rating: 3 of 5 stars The upside to this book is that it draws out several combative and grappling aspects from various Taekwondo movements. The author demonstrates these maneuvers from twelve different katas, and translates them into throws, breaks, arms holds, chokes, and submission holds. The pictures and explanations are fairly easy to follow. The downside is that the Jujitsu applications of the Taekwondo movements seems forced and artificial. There are several times when the moves translate easily from Taekwondo to Jujitsu. There are other times when the Taekwondo positions and sequences are clearly being stretched beyond their intended use. And finally a few of the throws or chokes are well outside of the initial flow. In the end this book is about 50/50. A martial arts instructor could use it as a prompt to help make some sample applications to different steps in

From Shame to Sin: The Christian Transformation of Sexual Morality in Late Antiquity Kyle Harper Harvard University Press 79 Garden Street Cambridge, MA 02138  http://www.hup.harvard.edu/ ISBN 9780674072770; $42.00; June 2013 Assessing Antiquity: 5 of 5 Stars Foucault, Langlands, Williams, Verstraete and Provencal, along with an army of others, have spilt gallons of ink to chronicle and choreograph the tricky and intricate sexual mores of ancient Rome into the Christian era. Kyle Harper, Professor of Classics and Letters at the University of Oklahoma and Executive Director of the Institute for the American Constitutional Heritage, has added his voice to the discordant chorus in his 316 page hardback, “From Shame to Sin: The Christian Transformation of Sexual Morality in Late Antiquity.” It is a work written for both the lettered and the thoughtful learner alike. The author is clinical in his approach, analytical in his reading, and fairly impartial in his object

Yang Tai Chi for Beginners (DVD) Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming YMAA Publication Center, Inc. PO Box 480 Wolfeboro, NH 03894 www.ymaa.com ISBN: 978-1-59439-230-6; February 2012; $29.95 Steady and Sequential: 5 of 5 Stars Tai Chi is spreading through the United States like a dust storm blowing across the Oklahoma plains! I have seen versions of it surface in adult care facilities, libraries, yoga centers, YMCAs, and hospitals. But what is the meaning of Tai Chi, its various purposes, and its benefits? All of those questions, and more, are answered in the 293 minute instructional DVD, “Yang Tai Chi for Beginners,” by Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming, award-winning martial artist and instructor. Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming walks the learner/viewer through the longer form of Yang style Tai Chi, a form that includes 37 postures and 113 stances. Though the thought of learning 113 stances may sound daunting, the majority of the steps are repeats of the 37 postures being done in several different

Sunday morning: O Lord Jesus Christ, our great God and Savior, your mercies and loving-kindnesses are new every morning. In your incarnation you united our humanity to divinity; you became the Son of Man that we might become sons of God; you brought us life and immortality to consume our death and mortality; and as our great High Priest you regard the humble prayers of all who call upon you, who call upon you in truth. Incline your ear and hear. Remember your Holy Universal  Church, which you have liberated and laundered with your precious blood, including this church and Emmanuel Tabernacle; Emmaus Baptist Church; Epworth UMC; Everlasting Gospel Lighthouse Church; Faith Bible Church; Faith Crossing Baptist Church; and Faith Fellowship Church. Strengthen, O Lord, and have mercy upon all the ministers, pastors, elders, and overseers of your Church: guide us to feed your flock with the true Gospel, the whole counsel of God, sound doctrine, and rightly administered sacraments