This book presents an interpretive, macro-historical, and sociological account of martyrdom. Moving away from the notion of martyrdom as an object of individual behavior and seeing it instead as a significant cultural work performed by communities in the wake of a violent death, it provides a novel interpretation of Western political and religious history. In addition to thus redressing the disproportionate attention given to the concept’s relationship to Islam, the author offers a new perspective on two defining historical processes: secularization and the rise of modern sovereignty in the form of the nation-state. An innovative analysis of the role of sacrifice in contemporary culture, which constitutes a timely critique of long-dominant theories of disenchantment and the privatization of religion, The Ultimate Sacrifice will appeal to sociologists and social theorists with interests in religion, politics, and the connection between the two.

Our story begins in the tainted south, where America is not the land of the free that we sing of. In 1934, injustice is alive; and it is not well with the sons of slavery. What does one woman do to save her child from the cotton fields? What would you do? By the time Versa Lee is delivered from the soul-bending cycle of auction and plantation, she has only one goal: The ULTIMATE Sacrifice.

THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE BY Shirley Harris Reed INTRODUCTION Jackie realized that there's another way to live and one day he would find that way, no matter what he had to do. He was determined that he would not turn out like his father Ben..His father had never learned how to treat his family. Jackie's childhood was unbelievably horrid and violent, but He knew just how to treat his wife Lynn and his sweet child Laura, the love of his life. He always wanted the best for his family. "Things don't always turn out like we want, but yet never give up" Jackie thought. Paula was the quiet one. She always wanted to be at her mother's side. Jackie fell as if Laura was turning out just like his father, it was devastating for him, Jackie believed that anyone could survive in any situation with God on their side, if they just believed.

Within our world exists a much darker world only known to a select few. Some are identified as "gifted" and brought to a special institute where they develop their own unique talent and understanding of this world within our world. It is here Kassia finds out her talent is both dangerous and difficult to control. She has the ability to inflict pain on an individual within her sight. It is only after a friend is being attacked that she realizes her talent is much more powerful when she brings death to the attackers. Little did she know that use of such a powerful talent alerted demons to her existence. Suddenly she is on the run with her best friend, who ironically is immune to her power, and a new kid at school she was falling for. Realizing she can't outrun the demons, she seeks the guidance of a local shaman. The shaman explains the only escape is through her own death. In order to protect her friends and institute, she sets out to do just that.

When one thinks of the sacrifice that Jesus made for mankind's salvation, the mind automatically goes to the cross on Calvary, His bloody face from the crown of thorns, His nail-pierced hands and feet, and His cut side from which flowed blood and water. We think of His burial tomb and the spices and fabric used to wrap Him, and we think of that glorious resurrection morning. These things are the center of the history of the world, the focus of all of history, and certainly the center of a Christian's life. But when we stop at the resurrection of Jesus in thinking of His sacrifice, we stop far too short. This book's purpose is to open the readers eyes not only to the multitude of sacrifices that Jesus made, but to the ultimate sacrifice that is almost always overlooked with its life-changing power.

Betrayal is worse than slaughter. That s what Antonio Ameen Felder always instilled in his friends. When a murder at the prison threatens to incarcerate them all for life, one man decides to sacrifice himself to free the others. All he asks in return is for his family to be taken care of. Luther Khadafi Fuller is the leader of the recently freed trio. He takes his two friends Boo and Umar on a ride they will never forget through the streets of DC. Take a ride with these three men as they make love and money, while trying not to forget the man they left behind. When one wrong move causes things to spiral out of control, can their bond survive the viciousness of the streets? Will their lives be spared? Or will their promises to each other be forgotten? The Ultimate Sacrifice is a story of love, life, money, sex, betrayal and murder. This is a page turner that you won t be able to put down.

Give the streets an inch and the streets will take a mile. They will also destroy a man's soul. Antonio "Ameen" Felder learns this through the most painful of circumstances. Finally a free man with the love of his children and the woman of his dreams beside him, Antonio prays that the streets allow him to chill so that he never has to go back behind the wall. Set on creating a decent life for his family, he squashes all beef with his enemy, puts his dark, murderous past far behind, and like the ultimate hustler, pursues his dreams. The streets, however, disregard this gangster's prayer and commits the most diabolical of deeds against him, resurrecting the old Antonio out of the trenches and back into beast mode. Now all bets are off and he takes no prisoners, leaving the guilty and collateral damage in his wake. This sacrifice may be the greatest Antonio has ever offered.

Their face off was inevitable, but neither man knew exactly when it would happen. Antonio "Ameen" Felder is an irresistible force destined to collide with an immovable object in Khadafi Fuller. They were once friends, bound by blood and sacrifice but now they are bitter enemies who both want to bring the other's demise. The line between love and hate is thin. And as Khadafi struggles to find out why someone shot Kemie, the love of his life, a man who once loved him now hates him and is hunting him. Tyrone "CJ" Carter has just learned that Khadafi was behind the murder of their best friend Bean and his appetite for vengeance knows no bounds. With the fathers of her children determined to kill one another, whose side does Shawnay take knowing that she is the cause of it all? Detective Maurice Tolliver wants nothing more than to solve the riddle of the many murders that are taking place in DC and to put the men responsible, Khadafi and T.J. in prison forever.

As blood spills from his body and pools beneath him, Luther Khadafi Fuller believes he is taking his last breath after being stabbed in the Beaumont Penitentiary. But he is wrong. It isn't his day to die. Over time his wounds heal, but his heart is forever scarred. The man who has made the Ultimate Sacrifice for him has tried to take his life. One year later and back on the streets, Khadafi wants nothing more than to punish the two men responsible for his near demise, Tony Coleman and Ameen. Charles Lil' Cee Gooding is suspected of snitching on his men about a murder that happened in the shower room in a Beaumont Pen. The truth is he never told a soul about the murder. As a result of that suspicion, his mother and three-year-old sister pay the ultimate price with their lives. Newly released from prison, Lil' Cee is determined to exact revenge on the one man left that he knows killed his family . . . Khadafi. Rakemie "Kemie" Bryant loves Khadafi with all her heart, but a secret from her past resurfaces and it is about to change all of their lives forever, in this ULTIMATE SACRIFICE II.

God’s Impeccable Lamb: The Ultimate Sacrifice For Man’s Sin is a uniquely rich and compelling sacred narrative portraying Jesus Christ of Nazareth, God’s ultimate sacrifice for man’s sin. Indeed, this spirit-filled sacred narrative captured the magnificent signs and miracles that Jesus demonstrated on the poor, oppressed, and downtrodden in bringing release to the sick and disease. Dr. Wright’s chronicle of Jesus’ teaching and healing and His complete devotion to his Father demonstrates God’s love and care for the people of Israel. In truth, God sent his only son Jesus on a mission to be Israel’s deliverer. And Jesus faithful obedience to his Father God captured the hearts of the people of Israel. Therefore, it is also hoped that this sacred narrative, God’s Impeccable Lamb, will capture the hearts of those who read it. And their lives would be significantly changed by the ultimate sacrifice their Lord and Savior made on Calvary for the sins of mankind, as God’s Impeccable Lamb.