Since mid-nineteenth century when Charles Goren popularized the point -count system of hand evaluation and bridge bidding, a system that became known widely as "Standard American," there have been significant advances in the art of bidding, advances that have been time-tested and proven effective. Unfortunately "Standard American" did not keep pace.
Early point-count standards undervalue many hands. Furthermore, many traditional bidding rules became obsolete and fell by the wayside as new ideas were created, time-tested and adopted by the most innovative players. Prominent among the new...

The author has lost his wife to Breast Cancer-twice. The book is a reflection on his journey of love, loss, healing, and the establishment of a lively spiritual union with both Barbara and Susan. The public radio interview, "With Good Reason," and a musically enhanced slideshow are available at the website: mysaintsalive.com.

John Thomas's riveting debut collection features characters that are faced with existential crises and the challenges of everyday life. A clown steals a painting from the home of a business major at a children's birthday party; a man is visited by Satan on the eve of his wedding; a morgue attendant recalls an ex-girlfriend while staring at her dead body on his slab; a writer meets an interesting fan at his book reading. These are some of the stories that make up this thought provoking work by a promising young author.

Dickensian fans will delight in this raucously fun and altogether original and comedic tribute to Jacob Marley of A Christmas Carol fame. Part historical fiction, part ghost story, one hundred percent English charm, Jacob Marley, A Ghost's Story by John Thomas leaves the holidays behind as he examines the man, the myth, the legendary ghost of Jacob Marley.

Northeast India has witnessed several nationality movements during the 20th century. The oldest and one of the most formidable has been that of the Nagas - inhabiting the hill tracts between the Brahmaputra river in India and the Chindwin river in Burma (now Myanmar). Rallying behind the slogan, 'Nagaland for Christ', this movement has been the site of an ambiguous relation between a particular understanding of Christianity and nation-making.

This book, based on meticulous archival research, traces the making of this relation and offers fresh perspectives on the workings of...

"Elpis Israel" from John Thomas. Founder of the Christadelphian movement, a Restorationist Christian denomination (1805-1871).

James Sterling, Junior, has it all. He's young, handsome, Ivy League educated, and best of all, he's the only heir to a king-sized fortune. The only problem is James, Senior, disapproves of his son's good-for-nothing lifestyle and leaves his entire estate to charity. Desperate to prove himself, even to a deceased father, James struggles to give up his wild habits, find another source for money, and build his own empire. But, as his father predicted, James is unequal to the task. His path toward success is strewn with scheming betrayals, illegal surveillance, and destructive relationships....

Elpis Israel - An Exposition of the Kingdom of God (commonly called Elpis Israel (English transliteration of Greek for "the hope of Israel," taken from Acts 28:20)) is a theological book written by John Thomas, founder of the Christadelphians, in 1848-1849 and published in 1849. The book was based on a series of lectures given by Thomas in 1848 and is written in three parts, The Rudiments Of The World, The Things Of The Kingdom Of God And Of Jesus Christ and The Kingdoms Of The World In Their Relation To The Kingdom Of God.Thomas did not see, nor do the Christadelphians see, the book as...