Books published by Front Edge Publishing, LLC

Who is the Spiritual Wanderer? He's an ordinary person like you and me. When he crawls out of bed each morning, he needs to find a cup of frozen coffee before he can contemplate searching for spiritual answers in the cosmos. As his day unfolds, Rodney Curtis looks everywhere for meaning and hope-and always for humor. He wanders through the lives of people around him, through the streets with his beloved dogs and even searches for spiritual guidance in the lights high above us, although that winking glow up there sometimes turns out to be a streetlight. Rodney Curtis uses his unique wit and gifted storytelling throughout these 40 easy-to-read short essays. Rodney takes a humorous, extraordinary look at his ordinary life as he searches for spiritual guidance and hope in everyday events and in the lives of those around him. These stories will lift you up and make you laugh and when you are finished reading, you'll pass it on to a friend and buy another copy for another friend.Some chapter titles to entice you: Antidisestablishment Presbyterianism My Easter Bat My First Real Girlfriend How to Cry Basement Parties A Carnival Inside My Head Marci's Uterus Snoop and Bubba Inconvenience Store Last Will and Testicles I See Church Jesus is Just All Right With Me

Through reports nationwide, including the Wall Street Journal and TV news, Americans are discovering Faith Fowler's ideas for transforming lives in Detroit. Known for her deep faith and creative ideas, Faith serves as one of the city's leading pastors and as a nonprofit entrepreneur. As a co-founder of a wide array of Cass startups, Faith and her Cass community are turning one of the nation's most impoverished urban centers into a gold mine of talent and resources. Now, Faith Fowler shares dozens of inspiring true stories of men and women who found new hope and were able to join in building a healthier community through Cass. Mitch Albom says: "The world waits for people like Faith Fowler. ... This memoir, like the author herself, is funny, poignant, moving, beautifully staged and oozing with a commitment to a simple yet profound idea: that other people are worth the trouble." From turning trash heaps of old tires into a stylish line of sandals to a host of other startup businesses, Faith's work at Cass already has drawn nationwide attention. Headlines have chronicled her innovative ideas and her infectious belief that each and every life is valuable, despite the ravages of homelessness, addiction and violence. In this book, she shares the best of this inspiring community through stories of lives renewed and transformed. This is the first book published by Faith Fowler's latest entrepreneurial venture. Cass Community Publishing House is the first interfaith publishing house established in the city of Detroit in more than two centuries-since Father Gabriel Richard, a Catholic priest and co-founder of the University of Michigan, hauled the first printing press into Detroit and invited his Presbyterian friend the Rev. John Monteith to publish with him. Like Richard and Monteith before her, Faith Fowler's work is one reason that Detroit is recognized as a center of hope for those who believe peace is possible in our ever-more-diverse world. Mitch Albom urges: "Everyone, religious or not, should read these pages."

"One Hundred Questions and Answers About East Asian Cultures" is part of the Michigan State University School of Journalism series in cultural competence. This guide has sections on East Asian cultures, languages, religions, social norms, politics, history, politics, families and food. The guide is intended for people in business, schools, places of worship, government, medicine, law enforcement, human resources and journalism-anywhere it is important to know more about communities. We intended this guide for individuals and for groups. Questions include: What are major differences between East and Southeast Asia? Is it OK to ask Asians "where are you from?" What is the difference between South Korea and North Korea? What type of governments do East Asian countries have? What is the difference between China and Taiwan? Is Hong Kong different from China? Does one culture dominate East Asia? Do Asians value group success more than individual success? Is collective orientation related to "family honor" in Asian culture? What does it mean to "save face" or "lose face?" Why do some East Asians apologize so often? What is the humility or modesty value? What are Asian customs for bowing? What are gift-giving traditions in East Asia? Are East Asians generally more reserved than Americans? Why do some Asians take "American" names? Why is everyone named Lee or Kim? What is feng shui? Why do Chinese wear white or black at funerals but red at weddings? There's Japanese kendo and judo, Korean taekwondo, and Chinese kung fu and tai chi. Does Asian culture encourage fighting? What are major holidays for East Asians? How do Asians celebrate the Lunar New Year? What is the meaning of different animal years and the Chinese Zodiac? Are there beliefs about certain numbers in East Asia? What are manga and anime? What is Hello Kitty and what is "kawaii?" What is "hallyu," or the Korean wave? Did karaoke begin in Asia? What is behind the emphasis on respect for elders? Do Asian parents try to control their children's lives? What is China's "one-child policy?" Why do some East Asians value males more than females? Do East Asians get divorced and, if so, is it looked down upon? Is intermarriage discouraged? Does knowing one East Asian language make it easier to learn another? What are the major languages in China? Is it difficult for East Asians to learn English? Some East Asians seem to speak loudly and some seem quiet. Why?

"One Hundred Questions and Answers About Hispanics and Latinos" is part of the Michigan State University School of Journalism series in cultural competence. It focuses on the diversity of the largest ethnic group in the United States. This guide has sections on Hispanic and Latino identity, geography, language, religion, social norms, politics, immigration and deportation, education, work, money, families, culture, health and food. It explains terms such as Chicano, Tejano and Texano, Boricua and deals with deportation and immigration. The guide is intended for people in business, schools, places of worship, government, medicine, law enforcement, human resources and journalism-anywhere it is important to know more about communities. We hope this guide works for individuals who just have questions about the people around them. We began by asking Hispanics and Latinos about myths, misconceptions and biases that they run into and wish others knew more about.Questions include: What are the definitions of Hispanic and Latino? How did Hispanic and Latino become official terms? Are there U.S. regional or state preferences for Hispanic or Latino? So people can be one and not the other? What does "Latina" mean? What do "Chicano" and "Chicana" mean? What is the definition of Chican@? What does Tejano mean? What does Boricua mean? What race are Latinos and Hispanics? How many Hispanic people live in the United States? What are their places of origin? Which states have the largest Hispanic populations? Is Puerto Rico a country, colony or commonwealth? Why is Puerto Rico a territory and not a state or a country? Do people living in Puerto Rico vote in U.S. elections? Do Puerto Ricans in Puerto Rico pay U.S. taxes? What is Hispaniola? How prevalent is bilingualism? What is Spanglish? What is the English-only movement? Are Hispanics more religious than other Americans? Are U.S. Hispanics mostly Catholic? Is Pope Francis the first Latin American pope? Are Latinos generally more emotional or expressive than other Americans? Are Latinos traditionally modest about their accomplishments? How do Hispanics align politically? What are top political concerns for Hispanics today? How much weight does the Hispanic vote carry in U.S elections? What is turnout like among Hispanics voters? Are Hispanics represented proportionately in government? Who are some nationally prominent Hispanic politicians? What draws Latinos to the United States? What are the "waves" of Latino immigration to the United States? Are most Latinos in the United States today immigrants? Do most Latino immigrants come to the United States legally? What is the "DREAM Act?" What is DACA? What is the "Drop the I-Word" campaign? What is a green card? What are the difference between permanent residency and citizenship? What are remittances? Are Latinos profiled? What is the average educational level of Hispanics? Do Hispanics come to the United States for schooling? Which colleges or universities are more welcoming to Hispanics?

*100 Questions, 500 Nations: A Guide to Native America* is by the Native American Journalists Association as part of the Michigan State University School of Journalism series in cultural competence. This guide has sections on tribes, reservations, sovereignty, treaties, federal offices, casinos, education, language, religion and culture. The guide is intended for people in business, schools, places of worship, government, medicine, law enforcement, human resources and journalism-anywhere it is important to know more about communities. We hope this guide works for individuals who just have questions about the people around them.Questions include: Who is an American Indian? Where did American Indians come from originally? Why are native peoples referred to as Indians? Which is correct: American Indian or Native American? How many American Indians and Natives are there? What are the reasons for rising population? Why does the government refer to most indigenous people in Alaska as Alaska Natives instead of as American Indians? Are Native Hawaiians considered American Indians? What is a tribe? How many tribes are there? Which is the largest tribe? Are Indian tribes and Indian nations the same? What powers do the tribes, as nations, hold? What kind of governments do the tribes run? What is the tribal council? What is a reservation? Why is it called a reservation? How many American Indians live on reservations? How much land do tribes hold? What is Indian Country? What are the living conditions in Indian Country? What is tribal sovereignty? What is sovereign immunity? Do states have jurisdiction over American Indians or their land? Do American Indians have to obey the same laws as non-Indians? Are Indian Americans U.S. citizens? Can American Indians vote? Do Native Americans pay state or federal taxes? What are treaties? What agreements did the treaties contain? Why did European settlers enter into treaties with the tribes? Why did the tribes agree to the treaties? Are Native Americans affected by the Affordable Care Act? Are treaties still valid? Do treaties grant Native Americans special rights today? Are treaties being challenged? What organizations represent tribal interests? What does the Bureau of Indians Affairs do? Do American Indians have the right to hold elective office? Do Native Americans serve in the U.S. armed forces? Who regulates Indian casinos? Do all tribes have casino gambling? Do the tribes pay taxes on their revenues? Are individual tribes getting rich from casinos? How do tribes use gaming revenue? Why are Indian casinos a popular enterprise among the tribes? Do all American Indians favor gaming? What is a tribal school? How many American Indian students attend public schools off the reservation? How many American Indians are high school graduates? What is a tribal college? How do graduation rates for American Indians compare with the general population? Do Native Americans get a free college education? Do American Indians speak their own language? How many American Indian languages are still spoken? Which are the most common languages? Were there written Indian languages? What is being done to preserve American Indian languages? Is there an American Indian religion? How many American Indians identify themselves as Christians?

"This is a breakthrough work coming from the heart of evangelical Christianity and offered into the heart of evangelical Christianity," writes David P. Gushee, the prolific Christian author and Director of the Center for Theology and Public Life at Mercer University. In describing this book, Gushee continues: "It is unlike other books that demand revision of traditional Christian sexual ethics but do so primarily by rejecting the authority of the Bible. That is not how evangelicals think, and it is not what Ken Wilson does here. Instead Wilson shows how God has led him on a journey toward a rethinking of what the fully authoritative and inspired Bible ought to be taken to mean in the life of the church today." "This is a remarkable and timely book," writes Tanya Luhrmann, an author about contemporary religious life and the Watkins University Professor in the Stanford Anthropology Department. "It is clear to an observer like me that evangelical Christianity is at a crossroad. ... That problem is the broad and widening gap between evangelical Christianity and its young. ... The book you hold is a passionate and courageous argument. Many people will not like it. But they should read it and weigh whether it is true, because more hangs on the argument than the fate of gay marriage within evangelical Christianity. At its heart, this book asks Christians to rethink what God and scripture may be saying about what it means to be a good and decent person. The answer to that question will shape what the church becomes in twenty years."Best-selling author and journalist Phyllis Tickle, an expert on religion widely quoted in news media, says of this book: "We Christians ...rarely think of our clergy as men and women who routinely spend agonizing hours and days and weeks pouring studiously over sacred texts in relentless, on-going attempts to penetrate the mysteries contained there, to discover their wisdom, their instruction, their relevance, and to consider the means and repercussions of their implementation within our here and now. ... This is midrash. ... And in the pages that follow, we have before us one of the most exquisite, painful, candid, brilliant pieces of contemporary Christian midrash that I have ever seen."