MSI Press Blog

  Manama Manama is he modern pulse of Bahrain. The capital city (and, really, the only city of any size), Manama is Bahrain’s cosmopolitan heart, located on the northeastern coast. It is sleek and vertical—glass towers, luxury hotels, and financial hubs dominate the skyline. The rest of Bahrain is quieter and more horizontal—villages, date farms, and archaeological sites stretch across low desert terrain. This contrast can be seen in the coexistence of traditional souqs and modern malls, offering everything from spices and pearls to designer brands. The Bahrain National Museum, perched on an artificial peninsula, offers sweeping views of the sea and showcases the island’s 6,000-year history. Nearby, the National Theatre and waterfront cafés create a serene cultural corridor. When I worked there in the early 2000s, I often drove through the Pearl Roundabout. Iconic, it served as a national symbol (featured on currency). Later, in 2011, it became a protest site during a pro-democracy...

Excerpt from  GodSway   (Keathley): Daddy’s Girl (part 1)             Did you ever think about jumping off a building? No, I don’t mean in a suicidal way. If that’s what you’re thinking, you should call a crisis helpline immediately, seek professional guidance, and then finish reading this book. What I mean is, have you ever thought about the circumstances in which you would consider doing something so irrational, illogical, and yes, dangerous, that you would never do it under normal conditions? Like stuntmen in a movie, you’d want to know there was something there to catch you, say a net. And you’d have to trust the people on the ground enough to be assured they would hold on to the net tightly, not to let you hit the ground, right? It would help to know they’d had lots of practice and had successfully held the net for other jumpers. And you’d probably want to talk first-hand to those guys, or at least read up on what the...

  Today's meditation from  Weekly Soul: Fifty-two Meditations on Meaningful, Joyful, and Peaceful Living   by Dr. Frederic Craigie. -35-   The greatest thing is to give thanks for everything. He who has learned this knows what it means to live. He has penetrated the whole mystery of life: giving thanks for everything.   Albert Schweitzer   Gratefulness is not conditional. Gratefulness means being aware of and thankful for daily blessings, but thankfulness when things appear to be going well is just a slice of the pie. Gratefulness is a practice, an attitude, and a perspective on your life. Even amid the trials and challenges of your life, isn’t there a foundation—a big picture—for which you can be grateful? You are alive. If you’re holding this book, you can see, and you can read. There is someone, somewhere, who loves you. You have the ability to choose who you are and who you are going to become. This is the reality, and it’s always there in the backgroun...