The Wake of Forgiveness

"The Wake of Forgiveness" by Bruce Machart, is a novel of the hard life of a family at the turn of the twentieth century. This novel tells the story of loss and life. We follow the life of Karel Skala, the main character, as he goes through hard times, with the loss of his mother during his birth. We see trials and tribulations between families and within family. It's a story of love lost and found with many twists and turns along the way. The story jumps back and forth in time giving the reading a glimpse into the history of the family and Karel's life as well as how his life turns out in the end. Machart has an interesting way to telling the story and you will not know what to expect with each subsequent chapter. One major event, brings a family back together, and community shows that it cares for it's own. A very good read.

Out Live Your Life, by Max Lucado

"Out Live Your Life," by Max Lucado, is a wonderfully scripted book which guides the reader on life's journey. Lucado utilizes Scripture to show and explain what we can do with our life, beyond the readers imagination and only through God. Each chapter is an expose of how life creeps up on each of us and before we know it, time passes, and if we're not careful or alert to what God has created for each of us, our time could be up. Many times it takes something dramatic to turn our lives around and begin to listen to God. We were all created by Him for a purpose. What we have to do is Pray, Listen, to what God is telling us, and then Act. You'll be amazed at what He has created us to do. Chapter 3 entitled ' Let God Unshell You', is the story of a man who has not listened to what God has been telling him, and through this example, turns the man around. When he encounters a man in old clothes and looking dirty, is attempting to purchase items and a convenience story with food stamps, finds that he can not afford the purchased because he doesn't have enough monetary value in food stamps to complete his purchase. The first man reverts back into his shell after briefly starting to offer to help pay for the purchases. In the end, God strips away the shell and shows us that we need to help. My favorite passage from this chapter is as follows: 'Let God unshell you. And when He does, make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. (Gal. 6:4) Don't miss the opportunity to discover your language.' Each chapter ends with Scripture, which follows the reading throughout the chapter. Bravo Max Lucado for another wonderful read and study.

"The Heavens Proclaim His Glory"

“If God has the power to create and sustain the universe, how can you or I think His power is insufficient for our daily lives?” Anne Graham Lotz
“The Heavens Proclaim His Glory” is majestic in picture, Scripture, and quotation. The photographs taken by the Hubble Telescope are breathtaking and wondrous, and the facts associated with each help you understand what you are seeing. God’s mighty hand is truly evident in the heavens! Children and adults alike will enjoy learning more about this pristine world of space while reading this book. This is definitely an encouragement to get out a telescope and a Bible, sit in the backyard, look at the heavens, and enjoy.
I was blown away by the pictures in this book. It is something I have shared with everyone who has come in our door, and the book has a prominent place on our coffee table. This isn’t really a book to be picked up and read straight through, but rather one that you can savor time and time again. I want to thank the Book Sneeze program for the opportunity to read and review this wonderful book.

The Butterfly Effect, Andy Andrews

Andy Andrews has captured the attention of the literary world again, with his writing of "The Butterfly Effect." This insightful read will grab you from the beginning and you won't be able to let go. This selection gives the reader the insight to realize that what we do, does matter, and in fact, the effects of what we do can and will be felt for eternity. A prime example of this theory, is the story of Joshua Lawerance Chamberlain, a schoolteacher from Maine, who finds himself leading a Union force during the battle of Gettysburg, during the American Civil War. His decisions and actions taken that July 2, 1863 had great impact on the outcome of that battle and probably the end of the war itself. The above is just one example of what you will read in "The Butterfly Effect. My favorite quote can be found right at the beginning and is by Any Andrews himself. "Every single thing you do matters. You have been created as one of a kind. You have been created in order to make a difference. You have within you the power to change the world." This quote says it all. We are in control of our lives and it's up to each and every one of us to use that power and to make the correct decisions and correct actions. Thank you Andy for another wonderful and thought provoking read.

The Jesus You Can't Ignore

Right from the beginning, MacCarthur shows through explanation, the lessons which must be learned from the ‘Bold Confrontation of Christ.’ This is noted prominently on the cover, as well as the title page.
“The Jesus You Can’t Ignore,” by John MacCarthur, is a premier explanation of God’s love for us. MacCarthur’s depiction and clear cut explanation of Jesus’ time on earth should convince even the hardest heart that He came to earth as the Savior of all mankind. I would venture to say that even the hardest heart would be transfixed and softened by the descriptions and the Scripture used throughout this Study Guide. If the Preface and Introduction don’t convince the reader of the power of God, all they need to do is begin reading Chapter One, ‘When It’s Wrong to Be Nice.’
This chapter begins with Scripture from Luke 20:45-46 – Then in the audience of all the people He said unto His disciples, “Beware of the scribes, which desire to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the market, and the highest seats in the synagogues. And the chief rooms at feasts. (KJV). In this portion of the Scripture, Jesus is speaking of the Sanhedrin and the Sadducees, not to mention the Pharisees themselves.
Jesus came to earth to teach and of course take away our sin. The question which arises here is whether we as sinners are going to accept Jesus as our Savior.
In “The Jesus You Can’t Ignore,” the reader is confronted with the Truth. Jesus was not always kind or gentle in His teachings. Sometimes He needs to be blunt, as evidenced with His conversations, battles and confrontations with the Pharisees. MacCarthur explains how the religious leaders tended to add rites and rituals beyond what God intended, and when Jesus confronted them with it, the Pharisees rebelled. Such a waste on their part.
I could go on for quite a long time, but, I strongly urge everyone to purchase and read/study the manuscript of John MacCarthur’s “The Jesus You Can’t Ignore.”

The Scent of Rain and Lightning

"The Scent of Rain and Lightning", by Nancy Pickard, is the story of murder, secrets, love and lies. It is the story of a young lady, Jody Linder, who at a very early age, losses her father to death as a result of murder, and at the same time her mother disappears at the same time of the murder.

The Linder family, a prominent well to do family of Rose, Kansas, where they have a large ranch and employee many young men. Hugh and Annabelle Linder also have kind hearts when it comes to trouble youth. They take them in as employees and offer guidance to assist the trouble youth in getting their lives straightened out. Many of these young men have turned their lives around, but one, Billy Crosby, is the exception to the rule. For some reason, he just doesn't get it. He in turn, becomes the prime suspect in most everything that goes wrong in the town and county, and he is also suspect in the murder and missing case. But did Billy have anything to do with the murder of Hugh-Jay and the disappearance of Laurie Linder?

The question right from the beginning is who murdered Hugh Jay and where is Laurie? It takes a span of twenty plus years for the Linder family to find out the true story. As you read this story, there are many ups and downs in the lives of the characters, throughout, and you will find yourself cheering on many of the characters. Each character is unique in their own way.

As the title "The Scent of Rain and Lightning" suggests, there are storms, literal and in the lives of the people involved in this novel, which have great impact on the story.

Pickard has a wonderful knack of grabbing the reader right from the start, and pulling them into the story and keeping them there. You will find yourself in the lives of each of her characters, and you will not be able to let go throughout the story.

The Portable Patriot

"The Portable Patriot", is a wonderful and essential collection of writings from our forefathers, those men who took their faith and desires literally and therefore, began a transition from colonial establishment to the birth of a new nation. One must note that "The Portable Patriot" is a collection of excerpts of these famous and necessary documents, otherwise this book would be just to large to carry with the reader. Joel J. Miller and Kristen Parrish, have obviously taken great time and apparent pleasure in bringing these documents, speeches, and sermons together so that we as readers, can drink in the sources of the Patriotic natures of our forefathers. This collection beckons the reader to think about their own Patriotism and asks the question of that Patriotism that only each individual can answer. This book/collection also provokes the reader to look at today's conditions and activities with a more than passing glance. The question that comes to mind of this reader is "What would our founders think about the conditions and actions of our country today?" At the very onset of this collection of "I. Beginnings" ' The Mayflower Compact', through and all inclusive of The section 'Afterword,' we can get a glance if not a more in depth look at what was a birth of a nation. I find it appropriate that I am writing this review on July 4, 2010. What a wonderful way to celebrate our nation's birthday. Happy Birthday to The United States of America. While reading this collection of documents, speeches and sermons, I was reminded that we must all be vigilant in the protection of our rights and obligations as citizens of this great country. It was most revealing in reading Noah Webster's Oration on the Twenty-Sixth Anniversary of The Declaration of Independence. This is a quote from the section. Noah Webster warns America about those who would advance their own interests through the political system, and by pandering to the people even seducing and deceiving them. "Nation like individuals, may be misled by an ardent enthusiasm, which allures them from the standard of practical wisdom, and commits them to the guidance of visionary projectors. By fondly cherishing the opinion that they enjoy some superior advantages of knowledge, or local situation, the rulers of a state may lose the benefit of history and observation, the surest guides in political affairs; and delude themselves with the belief, that obstacles which have baffled the exertions of their predecessors.....". Finally, "The Portable Patriot" is truly portable in size, but it is also jam packed with everything a person needs to remind them as to where and how our great nation started and it is a constant reminder to all of us of how fragile our freedom is. Let us all be ready and willing to protect that freedom.