The third book in the Occupational Hazards series, a laugh-out-loud novel about a group of strangers flying from Atlanta to Amsterdam Blissfully unaware that Atlantica Flight 1945 from Atlanta to Amsterdam is about to make aviation history, First Officer Danny McSweeney focuses his energies on navigating the turbulent personalities of an eccentric female captain, a co-pilot with a talent for tactless comments and conspiracy theories, and a lead flight attendant with an outsized attitude that definitely exceeds the limits for carry-on baggage. On the other side of the cockpit door, the unscheduled in-flight entertainment includes a potbellied pig, a jittery diamond courier, and the recently jilted Lucy Meredith, whose personal mantra of “What Would Oprah Do?” will be challenged by the sudden appearance of her ex and his new traveling partner. On her left sits Hank Hazard, whose unusually polite but constant requests--prompted by his covert role as a spy for the airline--test the limits of the crew’s customer service. But as Lucy and the rest of the crew discover, Hank’s odd behavior is linked to a quiet faith that may play a key role in the fate of everyone on board. Especially when an unexpected traveler sets this already bumpy flight on a course toward the unfriendly skies.

Where I lived was in a community called Old Jagger. There were ten families living there and each family had at least three kids. My best friend was Skid Marks. 'Skid' was not his given name. His given name was Alfonzo Lucia. With a name like that, he was glad that he had a nickname.And so begins the adventures of Skid and Bill. In this collection of short stories, Skid and Bill are always looking for something to happen; if nothing is happening, then they will make it happen. Most of the time, their plans spin out of control and even Skid can't figure out how to get it back on track. How about the time that they wanted to make the Homecoming bonfire more exciting by putting a few firecrackers under the wood? Who wouldn't want to see some adventure during a boring test day by scaring the daylights out of Jim 'Long Nose' Smith with a mouse on a string? Through all of these somewhat misunderstood adventures, Bill and Skid grow up together—and realize their friendship is even more important to them than being local heroes.

The Real Reality of Skid Row: A Practical Theology Perspective looks with an unblinking eye at the details of the lives of homeless people and uses the portraits that emerge as the perspective from which to think theologically about the challenges they face and calling the church hears to offer its witness to them. Rev. Jeffrey R. Thomas, PhD, drawing upon his time serving as a pastor of a congregation in Skid Row, Los Angeles, sketches out the contours of individuals' lives, analyzes the personal and societal factors that contribute to their circumstances, and suggests approaches for shaping the church's responses in both word and deed.