Average customer rating:
- Letters from Prison #1
- Challenge hearts and offer hope
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Once Life Matters: A New Beginning
Marty Angelo
Manufacturer: Impact Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 General
| Christianity
| Religion & Spirituality
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0961895446
Release Date: 2006-01-16 |
Product Description
'Once Life Matters: A New Beginning,' is a powerful life-changing auto-biography written by former music business entrepreneur, Marty Angelo.
The book reveals how God totally transformed Angelo's life from the snarls of drugs, booze, rock/disco music and prison into a strong witness of God's saving grace and mercy.
Over 40,000 books have been distributed 'free of charge' to prisoners, substance abuse rehab clients, and troubled celebrities.
Please read some of the hundreds of response letters received at the author's website: martyangelo.com/book_feedback.htm
Customer Reviews:
Letters from Prison #1.......2007-09-25
These are some of the hundreds of letters received by the author directly from people serving time in either a jail or prison. See author's website for more feedback.
Dear Marty. Thank you for coming to our prison here in Gatesville, Texas. We really got a lot out of your talk. I also thank you for giving us some of your books. I have read it and really like it a lot. I want to send it home so my daughter can read it. Please keep up the good fight for the Lord. - JL - Gatesville, TX
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Dear Marty, I read your book, "Once Life Matters" and to tell you the truth Marty, it brought tears to my eyes. I feel you can help me out on some questions that I cannot figure out by myself. To be honest with you Marty, my question is - I have absolutely no idea what the Lord has planned for me. I am only 22 years old, I have turned to the Lord because of your book, and I am ready for what He has for me. He wants me to live my life now, and live it right! I really loved your book. - JG - San Bernardino, CA
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Marty, I am in county Jail. I just had the pleasure to read your book, "Once Life Matters." Your story blessed me more than you could know. It confirmed for me some things that I have been praying about. I received the Lord as my Savior years ago. However, because of disobedience and rebellion I sit here being charged with our state's "Three Strikes and You Are Out Law." I praise God that I have that peace that surpasses all understanding; amen. Both of us have passed from death over to life by the precious blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. That is what matters. Just like the title of your book. Jesus is what matters. Once we realize that, then our lives begin to matter. It is not that you associated with rock stars and industry big shots... where as I was with gang members and convicts. I have spent more than half of my 43 years in over ten of our state's penitentiaries. Once again, I want to say to you that your testimony and ministry is a much-needed blessing and glory to God. - CM - Ventura, CA
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Dear Marty. I read your book, "Once Life Matters" in one night! I could not put it down. Thank you for sending our chaplain a case of them. Everyone here in our dorm is reading it and we all want to say how much we like it and can relate to everything you said. I never did drugs in my life but did have some of the same problems you write about... no peace, joy, patience, happiness, etc. before I met Jesus. Your book is helping me see where I made my mistakes in my life and it is a blessing to know how much we both came through to get to this point. I will make it out of here someday and I will always remember you speaking here as well as how your book affected my life. Thank you. - GJ - Topeka, KS
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Dear Marty. I have just finished reading your work of art, "Once Life Matters," which was given to me via one of our jail pastors. I would like to say how amazing it was reading your story. I myself am a couple years younger. I will be 50 next week, but spent most of my life the same way you did before you were a Christian. I was also heavily into music, drugs, and the life that came along with those. I was taken down until I was finally incarcerated a couple of years ago. I sent my son a copy of your book and he read it and says that he is happy he never made music his life. He has given himself over to Christ because of your book. Thank you, brother Angelo for helping. Congratulations on your book, and from another soldier on the battlefield, may you go blessed in all of your works. - JT - Cody, WI
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Dear Marty. I recently read your book, "Once Life Mattes" and I have found it to be quite a comparison to my life. There are a few differences, however I hope the endings are the same. I played in a band for quite sometime. I started my addiction with heroin. I guess I did not fool around. I just got right into the big stuff right away. It landed me in and out of jail most of my adult life. I could talk my way out of just about anything. Manipulating people became an easy way of making money and I did not care who I hurt. I have gone as far as talking a mother of seven kids out of her welfare check with no remorse. I have read your book and it is helping me to change my life. Thank you for giving our prison chaplain four cases of books. He has spread them around and we are all reading it and learning. God bless you. - TF - Virginia Beach, VA
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Dear Marty, First of all I want to say thank you so much for opening your life up for others to read about. I started reading your book and had it read in a day! I guess the best thing was that I had already met you in person so I was able to really see a face with your story. The night you came to our prison in Topeka, Kansas was great. I was the one on the front row soaking it all in. I want so much to be a mentor or help adolescents not go down the same road I did. I so much regret getting into the drug scene but today I do know that I had to go through what I did to get to where I am at with Jesus Christ. I should be dead burning in hell but it is by the grace of God I am alive today. It was a true blessing me coming to prison. I want to say thank you again and thanks for coming to prison, talking, and encouraging us. - FR - Topeka, KS
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Hello Marty. I have read your book, "Once Life Matters" and it is great! Thanks for writing it and making it available to us through our chaplain. - RJ - West Palm Beach, FL
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Dear Mr. Angelo (Party Marty), I am writing to inform you that your life's trials and tribulations touched me and have found myself accepting Christ in my life now. I am a newly recovering heroin addict in need of salvation. Your life was much like mine. I was in the entertainment business too. Please pray for me. I do not want to go to prison. This has to stop! Now. - SL - Ventura, CA
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Dear Marty. I am sitting in county jail and was given your book by my chaplain. I have only read a few pages but feel the Lord's presence already. I felt conviction the moment I opened it. I have been studying and sitting idle for a while. I know I cannot continue to live like this. I have been like the blind deaf person walking down Main Street toward a cliff. Jesus has been there all the time slowing down traffic when necessary, so I am not run over. My life is full of near misses with death. Stumbles and falls, with many times people helping to pick me up and show me the path. I know I am not comfortable. I confuse myself. Anyway, my problems in life are mainly drinking, depression, loneliness, irresponsibility, insecurity, and I do not cover them up. I would really like to find some kind of treatment program when I get out of here where I can take time to get right. I would like to go to one of those places you mentioned in your book. Thank you again for your book and your testimony. Moreover, I thank God for you. You have been a big help. I know what I now must do. PS.. I forgot to tell you. The other day while I was reading your book I had to stop for a few minutes when I felt the need to pick up a Bible. I was not sure where to go but God lead me to 1 John. WOW! God is amazing. He is telling me again His instructions to salvation and a better life. God bless you. - EW - Cody, WI
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Dear Marty, Your book was very inspiring, I could relate in a lot of aspects. I am doing my second bit. My first one I knew Jesus but I was not in touch. Before my second bit, I got back in touch with Jesus and was reinstated. I had one foot in and one foot out. During this time I got married and had my daughter, my wife has a 10-year-old son. At the time, he was six. My daughter is about to be three. God made me realize that I have everything I need and I should work hard to keep it. I received a mandatory one-year term. During this time, I got my faith stronger and my relationship with my wife grew stronger. God has a plan for me and I need to get to it. He did not take away everything but he made me realize without my family, I am nothing. By putting and keeping my faith in Him, everything will turn out wonderful. - PD - Newark, NJ
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Marty, I got your book from my chaplain. It helped me find the Lord and accept Him into my heart. I have only read three books in my life and yours is one of them. My life finally matters. Everyone in my tank will tell you I am different. Thank you and God bless you. - RR - San Bernardino, CA
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Dear Marty, as the song goes, "Thank you for giving to the Lord. I have a life that was changed." Blessings. RL - Lexington, KY
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Dear Marty. I am currently doing a parole violation in prison. Mr. Marty, I have just finished reading your book, "Once Life Matters." Sir, I have come to realize that you and me have experienced the same type of life, although I did not grow up in the '70s and '80s. I am only 27 years old. I started smoking pot when I was nine and that led to speed, coke, crack and any and everything you can think of. You see Mr. Marty - I was born without ever knowing my father and as I grew older, my mom started working long hours and drank a lot in between. Just because I grew up without a dad, or life was hard growing up, doesn't mean I have to be a complete idiot for the rest of my life. I can be just as successful as the next person. Mr. Marty... I have recently welcomed Jesus into my life after reading your book. I have been studying the Bible everyday. What led me to spirituality was a desire to believe I was human and that being human mattered!! Just like you said in your book. I am getting stronger and I believe I can do anything I put my mind to. I have a desire to help people, actually, it is not a desire, but I think it is a gift. I am going to enter a drug rehab when I get out in a few months and then from there I am going to enroll in college to become a counselor. Believe me... I am ready for the challenge. I look forward to meeting you someday. Thank you so much for helping me see the Light. I finally know the real meaning and purpose of life. Praise the Lord! - GF - Chino, CA
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Dear Mr. Marty Angelo. Hello! I would like to let you know I just finished reading your book. It only took me three days to read. Usually it takes me anywhere from one week to a month to read a book. It really held my interest and I learned a lot from it. I am applying some of the principles you mentioned... especially letting God open all the doors. Take care. - JS - New Port, AR
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Dear Marty, When I was out to court the other day I was given a copy of your book from the chaplain of the local county jail where I was being held. I read the entire book in two hours! It was the best book I ever read. I learned a lot from it. Your book gave me a lot of hope. God performed a miracle in court. Two of my charges were dropped and the other was reduced to a misdemeanor. God is good. For the first time in my life, I gave my worries to Him and asked Him to be the judge and it was wonderful! This is the first and last time in prison for me. When I get out, I am going to go to a Christian based program and take direction and be willing to do whatever I have to. I want to remain in God's will and stay sober and out of jail and be a good person and good mom. Your book helped me so much. Thank you. - LR - Corona, CA
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Dear Mr. Angelo. I am an inmate here in Arkansas. I just got done reading your book, and I believe it is one of the best I have ever read yet. I even read Franklin Graham's "A Rebel With A Cause," and yours far surpasses Mr. Graham's. I am serving 20 years under the 70% law, and I am only about a year into my sentence. I am doing Bible correspondence lessons, but I am still long ways to being a Christian. I am slowly but surely working my way across country to that road less traveled. I do not know if you actually read these kinds of letters or not, but I had to write to you and let you know how good of a read I found your book to be. It actually put a little hope back into me, that I might now even be able to actually change my life. After reading your testimony, if you can do it, I believe anyone can do it. Sorry to have taken up so much of your time, but I just had to let you know you have touched at least one inmate's heart with your testimony. Thank you!!! - CR - Tucker, AR
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Dear Mr. Angelo. I am not sure if you will be reading this letter or someone from your staff will be. However, either way, I wanted to write to you and let you know how much your book, "Once Life Matters" influenced me. Thank you for the book and your testimony. It was a beautiful story and I am glad that God is working in your life. It is obvious that God saved you so that you then would be able to help to save many and lead them to Christ. I could so very much identify with parts of your story. I too was raised in a Catholic family, church, and school. Myself being a female, of course I was not able to be an altar boy. However, I do remember being back in the sanctuary before mass and "stealing" Holy Communion hosts! Ha-ha. I also grew up and was exposed to much sex, partying, drugs, staying out all night.... This ultimately led me to where I am today... in custody at the county jail. It looks as if I will be doing 15 months in prison. The funny thing is, that for some reason I am at peace with this. I mean not 100%, but pretty close to it. I too believe that God has a plan and a purpose for my life... The next 15 months will simply be a small part of my journey. Your book came to me at a time when I really needed it... God's timing is good like that, huh? Again, Mr. Angelo, thank you for sharing your story. God bless you. - CT - Olathe, KS
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Dear Marty. I just finished reading your book. Thank you for sharing your empty existence as well as your life full of joy. I am currently in county jail here in Florida. My experience to this point did not include all the "glitter" yours did; however, I definitely shared that same empty feeling. I thank Jesus each and everyday that I finally know what love and joy can be found here on earth. I, like you, did not think there was much to fill my emptiness. I now realize how completely wrong and confused my idea of living had been. I have lived my entire adult life as an active alcoholic-addict. I even got sober once for almost three years! I now realize that without Jesus I was lost. What you said about stepping through the doors that God opens for you, touched me deeply. I have about two months left here before my release and I know above all one of my purposes is to witness Jesus Christ and to help build the body of the Christian Church. I am confident that Jesus can pull me through any situation, yet I do not want to stumble again. I do not ever want to hurt others or myself with my sick behavior again. I want to go to either Dunklin Memorial Camp or Faith Farm when I get out of here. Even now, my present situation is totally caused due to my drinking. I am extremely joyous that the Chaplain gave me a copy of your book. I believe every inmate should read it. Your style is forthright, yet plain enough for anyone to understand. I pray you find time for additional writing during the course of your ministry. I pray that all Christians will continue to grow, share, and never become stagnant in their faith. God bless you. - GS - Clearwater, FL
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God Bless you Marty Angelo, I just read your book. Wow! The Lord put it in my heart to write to you to express the similarities of the feeling and wonder that came over us when we received the Holy Spirit. For me, it was a peace easier to remember than to explain. Yes, I do remember things turning bright and a inner feeling of cleansing, as if my inner life slate was made anew and clear of all previous burden, weight, and sin. Praise the Lord! I know the Lord has a plan for me and I am in His Word daily and in prayer. I have never been so excited about learning what the Lord wants and how he wants me to serve Him. I do know in my heart that I am right where He wants me to be. Thank you for confirming that the Lord is working in my life, has been working in my life, and does have a plan of His for my life. Amen. - FL - San Bernardino, CA
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Dear Marty Angelo. I just finished reading your book, "Once Life Matters." I was very touched and inspired by it. In fact, I could not set it down, so I read it a second time. I can relate to you. You really touched home. You have given me courage and inspiration. I commend you for all that you do for the prisons and how you teach the Word of the Lord. You truly are an inspiration to others. Thank you for sending our chaplain a case of your books. It has helped me so much and gave me an opportunity to change my life and be given a second chance by God. - TB - Chowchilla, CA
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Hi Marty! I am writing you about your book, "Once Life Matters." WOW! What can I say? It really touched me in so many ways. I am only 22 years old and I still have my whole life ahead of me. Your book really opened my eyes. This is the second time in three months I am reading your book from the beginning to the end. I did not want to put the book down! I have been saved now for sometime and everyday I build my relationship with God. It gives me great joy to be able to write to you and share my thoughts on your book. You went through a lot throughout your life and when you decided it was time for you to change your life around, you stuck it out and now today you are a better man, doing God's work. I want to do the same thing with the rest of my life. I have a beautiful wife and daughter who have stuck it out with me during this time. Please pray for my family and me. Thank you again for your book. My wife is going to read it too. God bless you. - GD - Elizabeth, NJ
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Dear Mr. Angelo. I am writing you in regards to your most welcome book, "Once Life Matters." It is so real and unique. We have all had our difficulties. I am on a down side now. You did a one-time bit, where my life has been a revolving door of lock ups - from the age of 12 to now -- 34! It is stopping right now. Your book has really inspired me to stick with God and allow Him to make a way for me to, not only get out of here and back with my four children, but to open the right doors out in the community so I never return to prison again. God bless you in all you do. Your book is "Bomb Diggity." Thank you again for writing it and making it available to me free through my chaplain. That was a very generous thing to do. - HG - Topeka, KS
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Dear Mr. Marty Angelo. I recently received a copy of your book, "Once Life Matters" from my chaplain. I asked him to write to you for a free case of books and you really sent it fast, brother. Thanks. I was the first one to receive a copy and I just finished reading it a few days ago. It was excellent and I have been recommending it to several other inmates. - ST - Crawfordville, FL
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Dear Marty, I have read "Once Life Matters" and it inspired me a lot in many different ways and I have accepted the Lord into my life. I am an inmate in state prison. Another inmate gave me your book to read and when I read it I was amazed me by how it reflected my life in many ways. I am only 19 years old and been in and out of jail since I was 13 years old. I never knew what life was about except for drugs and partying. I am glad to finally find out what life has in store for me. I thank you a lot for your testimony. With Love, JM - Burkey, ID
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Dear Marty, Hello and how are you? I am writing from county jail. This is the first time in my life that I have read a book and decided to write someone. I know you are a real busy person. Nevertheless, I wanted to let you know that your book was wonderful. I am 25 years old with four children. This is my second time in jail and the first time was just a couple of days ago. I have never truly read the Bible. Now I am using this time wisely to study the Word. Please pray for me. I have been using coke since 2001. I need help. Thank you for telling your story. It has inspired me. - CH - Hopewell, VA
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Dear Mr. Angelo, I am currently serving two years. I read your book and I was inspired. I am new in Christ and I am strengthening my faith in the Lord everyday. I wanted you to know that your story let me know that there is hope and that God forgives us for our sins. I want to thank you for the opportunity to read such an inspiring story. God richly bless you. - PW - Chowchella, CA
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Marty, I hope this letter reaches you. I just finished reading your book and found it to be very interesting and a superb book. Thanks for making it available to us inmates. - PM - Chino, CA
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Dear Brother Marty, I just finished reading your book, "Once Life Matters." Your testimony is a trip and I enjoyed reading it, as it inspired me. I will be 56 years old soon and I am sure tired of all the madness that drugs and serving the devil has brought into my life. Growing up in the San Fernando Valley in the early '60s was the scene for me. I listened to the Beatles, Eagles, Mothers of Invention, while smoking weed, hash, eating pills like whites, reds, and yellows. I was kicked out of 1st, 4th, 5th, 9th, and 10th grades in both Lutheran as well as public schools. I use to go to concerts all the time. I hung out in parks with my friends and drank wine, smoked weed, ate pills and found ways to be destructive. I tried heroin in Vietnam. I came home a junkie. I got my first prison number when I was 21 at Soledad prison. I have a daughter I did not raise because of my drug use and wild sinful self. My wife left along time ago. Right now, I am in solitary confinement. It is where I read your book. I now want to only serve Jesus and when I get out of here someday, I can be a minister. I want to be a godly man, lead a Christian life both in here, and finally out in the world. Thanks for being there, brother. I have learned so much by reading your book. God bless you. - SM - Tehachapi, CA
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Dear Mr. Angelo, I am a 52-year-old inmate in one of the worst penitentiaries known to humanity. I am doing a 10-year sentence of which I already have seven years in. It seems like I have been in here for a lifetime. I have to say I really did enjoy your story.. it truly does increase my faith in my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I love how you put it thou. "When He opens doors..." After reading your book and seeing how God was always -- always right there with His loving hands on you, is the way over and over again how God is so wonderful that He allows us a free will even when it is not truly His will for us. What an awesome God we serve! Amen? I also have to tell you I like how you pointed out that God has a purpose for us. I want to write my own book and will send you a copy of it someday. Thanks for inspiring me. I am starting it right now. - JD - McAlester, OK
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Hey, How is it going Mr. Angelo? Well I just want to let you know I really enjoyed your book. It opened my eyes. I am 30 years old, born and raised in the tough streets of Los Angeles. I have lived a very fast and rugged crazy life since I was a toddler. I lived a life of womanizing and drug abuse. I use to be a small time pusher and hardcore active gangster but I managed to get away from all that as a late teenager and moved away from all that. I am sick and tired of being sick and tired. I have done two county bits, one prison term and five prison violations, so you can say I've done my little share of hard time and frankly I'm tired of it... all the streets, drugs, fast women, and prison. So that is just a little bit about what I have been through but... hey ... without the bitter, the sweet would not be so sweet, so things happen for a reason. Right? The truth is, I am really trying to say is, I want to change my life. I want a way out of this life and find peace of mind, like what you said in your book: "You were tired of living an empty life of booze and partying." Well ... me too, and I have nothing to show for it. I have turned my life over completely to Jesus after reading your book. I know He will help me change my life. Thanks again for your book. LC - Chino, CA
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Dear Marty, I am serving time and am a newly re-dedicated Christian. I read your book and it helped me a lot and uplifted me. It was a joy to read. I have been a drug addict and alcoholic for years. I need to get stronger as a Christian. I have gotten out before as a Christian and fell back into my old life three times! I've been to prison eight times, one youth authority sentence, three county sentences, and three prison violations. I have had 15 different sentences. I am trying to go into a drug rehab program once I get out. I hope to find one like those you write about in your book. I know I could sure use it. I do not want to keep coming back to prison. Take care and God bless you. - EH - San Luis Obispo, CA
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Dear Mr. Angelo, A couple days ago I was sitting in the jail chaplain's office trying to make some type of sense out of my life. For the past 10 years, I have been in and out of jails and prisons because of my addiction to cocaine. That day, as I left the chaplain's office, he handed my your book, "Once Life Matters." He told me that he had not had time to read it, so maybe I could and let him know what I thought about it. I have been in and out of churches all of my life. The problem I always had was I constantly felt like an outsider. After reading your book, I realize I have never totally committed myself to Jesus Christ. Nearly every page of your book hit home with me in a very personal way. I know it was not by accident the book was given to me. Thank you so much for sharing your life with me. I don't know if this letter will ever be seen or read by you, but I felt the need to express my gratitude. Please pray for my family and me. I need as much help as I can get. In brotherly love - MH - Kokomo, IN
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Dear Mr. Angelo, I am currently in county jail here in Illinois. I just read your book, "Once Life Matters." Let me start by saying this: I found a small article in a Christian publication, which led me to have the jail chaplain order a case of your books. THANK YOU! I will try to keep this as brief as possible (as I have felt compelled to write you for some reason unknown to me) and share with you a few of the striking similarities between your life and my own. I was born in Detroit in 1970 and moved to a small town near Chicago when I was 5 years old. I became obsessed with music at an early age with Elvis, Beatles, Kiss, and all rock 'n' roll bands as the years went on. I got a public address system and a guitar at age 13 and started drinking, smoking pot, and progressively regressed into a full-fledged addict including crack, heroin, ecstasy, and too many others to list. I have a loving family and grew up going to church but all that changed. I have booked bands, ran sound, owed two music stores and a music venue. I have traveled from Los Angeles to Fort Lauderdale, Chicago, Madison, Phoenix, Denver and everywhere in between with my rock bands. I am now looking at 120 years in the penitentiary!! I gave my life to the Lord after being in jail in 2005. Everyday is a struggle for me to do the right thing and stay focused on doing God's will. I don't know why I needed to write to you but the Holy Spirit has been speaking to me loud and clear. I have been clean for 14 months. I did drugs and drank alcohol for 21 years. All I want to do now is be a humble servant like you and give God the glory and recognition. I want to serve others. My charges were just dropped down so I might be getting out of here in only another four years. Please pray that GOD'S WILL be done. I want to let you know that through Jesus Christ, your book and testimony continues to bring people closer to Him. Praise the Lord!!! Thanks again. MS - Rockford, IL
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Dear Marty, I have read "Once Life Matters" and it inspired me a lot in many different ways and I have accepted the Lord into my life. I am in prison. A fellow inmate gave me your book to read and when I read it, it amazed me by how it reflected my life in many ways, for I am only 19 years old and been in and out of jail since I was 13 years old. I never knew what life was about, except for drugs and partying. I am glad to finally be finding out what life has in store for me. I thank you a lot for your testimony.
With Love, - JM - Burley, ID
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Mr. Marty Angelo. I am 40 years old and now a believer in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. I have been battling addiction for the last 15 years. I have been in and out of the county jail system for about 10 years. After reading your book, I now understand why I could never stay sober. I had not totally surrendered myself to Jesus and allowed Him to change me. I NOW know. I must allow the Lord to change EVERYTHING about me. I need to get out of my own way and make all changes necessary for the glory of Jesus. Mr. Angelo, I have had a history of self-sabotage. I pray that through faith and grace this will change. I read your book, "Once Life Matters" and it made such an impact on my life so much so, I wanted to write you and tell you so and to thank you so much for writing it. I believe the Lord is leading me in the direction of helping others like myself and I am going to an aftercare ministry once I am released in order grow and become a minister. Thank you for your inspiration. I now know what path God wants me on. God bless you, brother. - VS - West Palm Beach, FL
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Dear Marty Angelo Ministries. I just finished reading your book, "Once Life Matters." I found it interesting and a lot about my life. Marty, I asked Jesus to come into my life back in 1973 and I just now rededicated my life back to Him after reading your book. Your book helped me. I need to stay out of prison. I understand there is a program similar to Faith Farm and Dunklin Camp (the ones you mentioned in your book) here in California called, "Teen Challenge." This is where you once worked. I am writing to them today because I get out of prison here in southern California in 75 days. I want to start a completely new life and need God's plan in it now and when I get out of prison. Your book has opened my eyes to a entire new way of open doors. Thank you again for your book and inspiration. God bless you. - WH - Chino, CA
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Marty. What's up? Not much here but time. As you see, I am in prison. I have got 16 more months left. I would like to share this with you. I read your book called, "Once Life Matters" and loved it. I see your life was as messed up as mine. In fact, I have never hung around stars or been in any bands but I have done as much, if not more partying as you. Cocaine is my downfall. In fact, I hate it cuz it is so good. Anyway, when I read your story and seen how you got a grip on life and made something of yourself, I, at that point said, "your life was just as bad as mine, so if you can come out of it, then so can I." Thank you for inspiring me. - TW - Ft. Madison, IA
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Challenge hearts and offer hope.......2007-05-23
Reviewed by Richard R. Blake for Reader Views (5/07)
While on a roller-coaster ride of self-destruction, Marty Angelo experienced the thrills and pinnacles of success and the despair and depression of the pits of personal failure. For fifteen years he pursued a career as a music business entrepreneur.
"Once Life Matters: A New Beginning" is his life-changing memoir. Such well-known celebrities from the music industry as Jimi Hendrix, George Harrison, John Lennon, Janis Joplin, and Rob Grill all had a part in Marty's rise to success as a manager and promoter.
Although outwardly successful, Angelo was searching for more, for meaning. During this fifteen-year journey he experienced the powerful hold of drugs, alcohol, and rock/disco music on his life.
In March of 1981 Angelo had reached rock bottom. It was at this point that Marty experienced a dramatic and powerful life-changing conversion to Christianity. Since that time, he has become a strong witness of God's saving grace, mercy, and forgiveness.
In Marty's own words, "It took me thirty-five years, but I finally found peace through Jesus Christ. The decades of the wild life I led, along with the few times when I was close to finding the right path, weave an amazing story. I'm not proud of the many problems I created for myself--the incredibly stupid things I did--but I'm not running from them or trying to cover them up either. In fact, by telling my story here, I hope you, dear reader, can learn the lessons I learned without going through the trials and dangers I faced."
Since his conversion in 1981, Marty has served significant roles in full-time ministry with Chuck Colson's Prison Fellowship, as a counselor with Teen Challenge, and as director of evangelism and court liaison with the Faith Farm Ministries.
Angelo's writing is engaging, entertaining, informational, and inspiring. He made himself vulnerable, exposing his weaknesses as well as his strengths. I appreciated the no-holds-barred approach in telling his story, balancing the message of his newfound life as a follower of Christ with his experiences in the music industry and well as a glimpse into his life while serving time in the Federal prison in Lexington, Kentucky.
Marty views this book as a ministry. It is his prayer that readers will discover the truth of God's Word and be motivated and encouraged to take a stand for God. This is a book that will challenge hearts, offer hope, and I believe it will change lives, which is, I am sure, exactly what Marty intended it to do. I feel confident that "Once Life Matters" has that kind of potential.
Amazon.com
With its legacy of brutality and of the horrific overseas passage, the transatlantic slave trade may be imagined as the kidnapping of Africans without regard to nationality or ethnicity. Based on his research, however, Michael A. Gomez suggests that Africans, upon arriving in America, were dispersed much more closely along ethnic and cultural lines than previously acknowledged. The underlying theme of his provocative work, Exchanging Our Country Marks, is that while blacks eventually replaced their African ethnic identities with new racial ones after arriving in the American South, they retained much of their original cultures far longer than was originally suspected. Some of his most interesting evidence of this comes in the form of runaway-slave advertisements, which identified the slaves by their ethnic roots ("Dinah, an Ebo wench that speaks very good English"). By scrutinizing ex-slave narratives, stories, music, and even the location and nature of slave rebellions, Gomez pieces together a genealogy of blacks in the American South, attempting to examine their notions of identity. Of course, much is based on significant speculation, a fact that only underscores the difficulty of such scholarship. Gomez manages to present a wide range of information clearly as he expands on a wealth of recent research regarding the slave trade and the history of blacks in America, making Exchanging Our Country Marks a vast and creative exploration of African identity in the United States from 1526 to 1830.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent and Highly Educational!.......2007-03-08
This is an excellent book. I want every one of African descent to read this book. It is fantastic. This book is in my 10 list.
Early on the Africans were well aware of their ethnic identities, but over time, they were forgotten, and a new people emerged. Now this took generations. It was a slow and torturous process.
If you want to educate yourself about black folks in America and where they came from, and how they evolved, read this book.
Opening a new door to our history and our struggle.......2006-12-08
This book is of decisive importance, for by studying the convergence of an African American nationality out of the various nationalities and ethnicities that people were brought here from Africa, Michael Gomez underlines the function of the African-origins cultures and the construction of an African-American culture in a process of resistance and opposition to the inslavement, dehumanization, and degredation that Africans and their descendants have face.
Contrary to many popular assumptions, Gomez shows that in colonial and early independent America slave holders and slaves were quite aware of the different African cultures and ethnicities represented among the enslaved. Trade patterns, affinities of slave buyers for certain types of ethnicities, beliefs that some peoples were good for some tasks, others for others, led to many concentrations of slaves from the same culture and language groups in colonial America. This ensured that Africans in American tended to preserve very much of their native cultures, religions, and outlooks.
Indeed, Gomez illustrates that in language and religion large sections of the African American people in becoming retained their African religion, and at first retained their African languages, and then began our own African American language (Black English) precisely because the context of the dominant culture and its language and religion were hostile to the human dignity of Africans in America and their descendants.
Gomez's solid research and clear evaluation of massive amounts of original sources upsets many ideas on African American history that were assumptions and not facts. One of the most important is the lateness and difficulty that Christianity had in gaining seizable conversions among Africans in America and their descendants. He suggests that only by the time of the Civil War were African Americans substantially Christian. Gomez demonstrates that except for an overly assimilationist minority among "freed" slaves, Christianity only caught on where African religeous practices were mixed into it. More importantly, Gomez explains the reason for the final victory of Christianity is that it could be manipulated to provide a rationale and hope of liberation from racism and oppression both metaphysical and physical, that the individual African religions could not provide. Gomez illustrates that what occured was the development of an African American religion, rather than the adoption of a European religion.
In the process, the reader will learn new and more accurate views of whence and when Africans were brought to America during the period of slavery. The reader will learn the general political and religious outlooks of the different major groups of Africans who came here. The reader will learn a survey of the historical, economic, and political upheavals in AFrica wrought by the slave trade.
This is a serious and important book, written at the highest level of scholarship. Thus, it is sometimes not easy reading and certainly is not written as a popular entertainment. Yet, even the casual reader who sticks with this book and turns to Gomez's notes and bibliographic material for more to read will be vastly rewarded.
Excellent!.......2006-03-08
This book is excellent. Like someone said everyone of African ancestry needs to read this book. I had to buy my own copy.
A must read.......2000-10-29
A superb book that is a "must read" for every African African American man, woman and child. This book is the stuff of seminars, workshops and discussion groups at all levels. One of the fascinating positions exposed by Gomez was why it took the diverse ethnic Africans to achieve an African American consciousness. The depth of documentation was monumental. I always wondered why the color "red" had such significance in the African American "red clawt" tales. Gomez' book inspired me to research this aspect of African American tales. Thank you Mr. Gomez!
This work is a must read!.......1999-03-16
Gomez has done a tremendous service to the study of Africana by giving tangible evidence to what have heretofore been the answers rather than the questions on the who, what, where, when and WHY's of the African slave in America. Readers will be surprised at the degree to which something other than fact has helped form the base of their "knowledge". Suddenly the image of tobacco or rice will gain greater resonance than cotton. Virginia and Senegambia, for example, will have new and sharper meanings as we better ferret out who we were as Ghanaians, Senegambians, Angolans, etc. and how we became who we are as African-Americans.
Book Description
This scarce antiquarian book is included in our special Legacy Reprint Series. In the interest of creating a more extensive selection of rare historical book reprints, we have chosen to reproduce this title even though it may possibly have occasional imperfections such as missing and blurred pages, missing text, poor pictures, markings, dark backgrounds and other reproduction issues beyond our control. Because this work is culturally important, we have made it available as a part of our commitment to protecting, preserving and promoting the world's literature.
Average customer rating:
|
Life of Michaelangelo (2 Volumes)
Herman Grimm
Manufacturer: Little, Brown, and Co., Boston
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
General
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
Memoirs
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: B000RMJNL8 |
Product Description
A New Edition, with additions, illustrated with photogravure plates from works of art, published in 1896.
Publishers' Note.
"In selecting the illustrations for a holiday edition of this favorite work, the publishers have confined the choice entirely to works of art, and have included reproductions of Michael Angelo's most famous statues and painting, together with works by other celebrated Italian artists; the great range of the biography - which embraces nearly a century of Italian history - affording a wide field."
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- Phil Gordon's Little Green Book: Lessons and Teachings in No Limit Texas Hold'em
- Picasso's Weeping Woman: The Life and Art of Dora Maar
- Places of Worship (Architecture 3s) Sir Christopher Wren, Joze Plecnik, Tadao Ando
- Quantitative Conservation Biology: Theory and Practice of Population Viability Analysis
- Refuge of the Apocalypse: Doorway into other Dimensions
- Rescuing Da Vinci: Hitler and the Nazis Stole Europe's Great Art - America and Her Allies Recovered It
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