Books with author Alan Collins

Behind the Christmas songs we love to sing lie fascinating stories that will enrich your holiday celebration. Taking you inside the nativity of over thirty favorite songs and carols, Ace Collins introduces you to people you've never met, stories you've never heard, and meanings you'd never have imagined. The next time you and your family sing 'God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen,' you'll have a new understanding of its message and popular roots. You'll discover how 'Angels from the Realms of Glory,' with its sublime lyrics and profound theology, helped usher in a quiet revolution in worship. You'll learn the strange history of the haunting and powerful 'O Holy Night,' including the song's surprising place in the history of modern communications. And you'll step inside the life of Mark Lowry and find out how he came to pen the words to the contemporary classic 'Mary, Did You Know?' Still other songs such as 'O Come, O Come, Emmanuel' trace back to mysterious origins--to ninth-century monks, nameless clergy, and unknown commoners of ages past. Joining hands with such modern favorites as 'White Christmas' and 'The Christmas Song,' they are part of the legacy of inspiration, faith, tears, love, and spiritual joy that is Christmas. From the rollicking appeal of 'Jingle Bells' to the tranquil beauty of 'Silent Night,' the great songs of Christmas contain messages of peace, hope, and truth. Each in its own way expresses a facet of God's heart and celebrates the birth of his greatest gift to the world--Jesus, the most wonderful Christmas Song of all.

A riveting novel by MWA Grand Master Award winner Max Allan Collins.In Eastern Europe four CIA agents are dead—geopolitical pawns caught in border dispute cross fire. Why were they there? Who sent them? Not even the President knows.Back in Washington, the Secretary of the Interior dies from an apparent allergic shock. As details emerge, so do suspicions that she was murdered.Investigating their respective cases, ex–Secret Service agent Joe Reeder and FBI Special Situations Task Force leader Patti Rogers recognize a dangerous conspiracy is in play. When suspects and government contacts are killed off with expert precision, their worst fears are confirmed. As the country edges closer and closer to war, Reeder and Rogers must protect the President—and each other—from an unseen enemy who’s somehow always one step ahead.The stakes have never been higher, against killers who might be anywhere, and Reeder and Rogers have no one to trust but each other.

The cheer of a crackling hearth fire. Colorful cards from friends and loved ones. An evergreen tree festooned with ornaments. The golden traditions of Christmas—gifts, wreaths, stockings, carols, mistletoe, and more—infuse our celebration of the season with meaning and glowing memories. And, in ways you may not realize, they point us to the birth of Christ. Stories Behind the Great Traditions of Christmas reveals the people, places, and events that shaped the best-loved customs of this merriest of holidays. Here are spiritual insights, true-life tales, and captivating legends to intrigue you and your family and bring new luster and depth to your celebration of Jesus’ birth. Discover how • after eighteen centuries of all but ignoring the event, churches began to open the door for believers to commemorate Jesus’ incarnation. • the evergreen tree, once a central theme in the worship practices of pagan cultures, came to represent the everlasting love of God. • the magi’s three gifts—gold, frankincense, and myrrh—are filled with spiritual symbolism. The traditions of Christmas lend beauty, awe, and hope to the holiday, causing people all over the world to anticipate it with joy. The stories in this book will warm your heart as you rediscover the true and eternal significance of Christmas.

Students can quickly get to grips with problem solving and reasoning by completing activities categorised by topic and question type. Fully in line with the Cambridge Primary Mathematics Curriculum.Problem solving and reasoning are focuses in the Cambridge Primary Mathematics Curriculum. It is essential that all students have access to problem solving and reasoning activities. Some key benefits to problem solving in maths include:• Helping pupils grasp diverse mathematical concepts and understand the application of the subject• Enhancing strategic thinking• Developing transferable skillsThis book consists of three different types of mathematical problem solving challenges:1.Solving mathematical problems. This involves pupils solving problems ‘within’ mathematics itself, recognising patterns and relationships, making conjectures and generalisations, and explaining and justifying conclusions.2.Reasoning mathematically. This involved pupils using logical thinking to solve problems, focusing on making conjectures and generalisations, and explaining and justifying conclusions using appropriate language.3.Using & applying mathematics in real-world contexts. This involves pupils engaging in challenges that require them to use and apply their mathematical knowledge and skills in open-ended, real-world contexts.

If you’re looking to quench your thirst for quiz trivia, this ebook offers more than 200 quizzes to meet all of your pub quiz needs!Specially designed for Kindle, with easy-to-navigate question and answer sections so anyone can be the quizmaster.Q: What’s inside this ebook?A: The quizzes cover everything from pop stars to death stars. The rounds are a mixture of themed and potluck and the questions go from friendly teasers to ones that will scramble even an egghead’s brains.Q: Who is it for?A: You, your mum, your dad, your family and friends, the man down the road and two halves of the crowd at your local. Each quiz provides good clean fun for all. All the quizzes appear twice: once with only the questions showing, once with both questions and answers visible. So you can choose to test yourself or be the Quizmaster. A link at the end of each quiz lets you jump between the two versions.

If you’re looking to quench your thirst for quiz trivia, this ebook offers more than 200 brand new quizzes to meet all of your pub quiz needs!Specially designed for Kindle, with easy-to-navigate question and answer sections so anyone can be the quizmaster.Q: What’s inside this ebook?A: More than 200 brand new quizzes covering everything from pop stars to death stars. The rounds are a mixture of themed and potluck and the questions go from friendly teasers to ones that will scramble even an egghead’s brains.Q: Who is it for?A: You, your mum, your dad, your family and friends, the man down the road and two halves of the crowd at your local. Each quiz provides good clean fun for all. All the quizzes appear twice: once with only the questions showing, once with both questions and answers visible. So you can choose to test yourself or be the Quizmaster. A link at the end of each quiz lets you jump between the two versions.