MSI Press Blog

  WORDS MATTER “If I speak with human tongues and angelic as well, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong, a clanging symbol.” --I Corinthians 13: 1   My three brothers recently visited from afar. We spent a week together crammed into my small apartment. We exhausted ourselves talking about our lives and our favorite subjects--religion, psychology, and politics. I daily used up my quota of words. Many family and friends avoid talking about these subjects to avoid conflict. But we relish the give-and-take of debate. Coincidentally, the Republican National Convention was televised each night. We watched it diligently and exchanged views. Our convictions ranged across the political spectrum. So our conversations were animated, our disagreements passionate. However, at the end of the week, we learned something from each other and parted friends. Words matter. They have power. Our traditions attest to this fact. For example, God created the world with His word. He be...

  Over the past week, Irit Schaffer, author of Good Blood, Second Edition , has been sharing family photos to help readers get a feel for the people in the memoir. Here she shares a photograph of her Aunt Elli, who is featured in the book, writing -  " Here is a photo of my Great Aunt Elli and myself in Kosice. She is 88 years old in the photo. Ice cream was a rare delicacy for her. She was the one who shared with me that the greatest gift of life is the gift of love. She shared how the Nazis knew nothing about love and what is important in life, and it was why she was able to forgive the Nazis. She was the closest person to an angel that I knew. She was filled with so much light and love. " Book description: When she was a child, her father said he had "good blood" and that is why he and his wife survived and healed from the Holocaust. The author searched for the meaning and significance of her father's words over two continents and through four generations. He...

  Today's blog post, "The Essence of Live: From the Personal to Unconditional," comes from Nanette Hucknall, co-author of  The Rose and the Sword  and author of  How to Live from Your Heart , who writes: In the intricate tapestry of human existence, one thread stands out with unparalleled significance – love. Not just the romantic kind, but the profound and overarching yearning to love and be loved. Love manifests in various forms: the love of a teacher, the warmth of companionship, the bonds of friendship, and the affection of family–both spiritual and biological. However, as with any powerful emotion, the pursuit of love can sometimes become excessive, leading individuals to prioritize it above all else–including their personal growth and spiritual development. Read the rest of the post HERE . Book Awards Book of the Year Award finalist Kops-Fetherling Legacy Award in Self-Help Pinnacle Book Achievement Award Book Excellence Award Readers' Favorite Book Award final...

  Dennis Ortman, author of several award-winning books, offers the following reflection for MSI Press blog readers -  FULL LIFE “I came that they might have life and have it to the full.” --John 10: 10   We have two natural desires: to live forever and to be happy. Modern medical science promises the first, but cannot guarantee the second. However, a recent bestselling book suggests that we can have both, now. Hector Garcia and Francesc Miralles wrote  Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life  (New York: Penguin Books, 2016) in which they described the natural steps to a long, fulfilled life. They journeyed to Ogimi, Japan, where a large portion of the population lives into their hundreds. They interviewed dozens of the elderly residents to discover their secret. What they learned was a natural way to live longer with joy. Here are some of their recommendations: ·           Live an active life doing what y...

  The affiliated book, The Celeste Experiment , by Omar Imady has just won a silver award from Literary Titan.   When modern science fails to save his wife Celeste, Michael turns to religion. When religion fails to cure her, he is left searching for answers.  From his grief flows anger, determination, and finally the plan – a meticulous experiment to unravel the truth in one of civilization’s most controversial topics … the concept of God.  At the heart of this plan is Hamida Begum. A young woman of depth and intelligence, heiress to a lost lineage. Selected and prepared. Qualified in ways even Michael could never have anticipated.  Will her involvement in this vast, mysterious, and at times unethical endeavor deliver resolution?   This literary work, with a touch of magical realism,  The Celeste Experiment,  is the story of one man’s attempt to sever the spiritual threads of history once and for all. It is a thrilling journey of revenge and ...