"Waking Hours" Book Review

I was able to read a copy of Liz Wiehl's new book, "Waking Hours" before it is released October 4, 2011. I have been a fan of hers having read the "Triple Threat" Series.

The story takes place is East Salem, New York. It is a quiet town, but now supernatural forces are waking up. A girl is murdered and the way she is murdered is a mystery to this town. Intigued, forensic Physicatrist Dani Haris and former professional football player, Tommy Gunderson, set out to solve this murder (who have had secret crushes on each other since high school) the suspense lasts thorugh out the whole book. The only suspects are teenagers and none of them remember what happened.

The days are one thing, but the nights are something else for Dani Haris as she has horrible dreams...nightmares and wakes up at the same time every night.

I enjoyed "Waking Hours" but it is different from her other fiction books in that some things that happen are not given an explanation. We are not given a "natural" explanation so that leaves us to assume a "supernatural" explanation? For example, a knife is left under her pillow. There is no way a person could have gotten into her house and left it there. A demon? Perhaps? The final conclusion is up to you. I believe in the supernatural but I had a hard time trying to figure out if what happened was tied into an ancient evil or not. Could it also have something to do with the 12 plagues God put on the Egyptians as told in the book of Exodus in the Bible? I am not sure. It left me somewhat confused. Mabe that was the author's intent.

What I don't like is that Christians in many fiction books lately are not real strong Christians but compromise a great deal. For example in this book, Tommy's mentor drinks beer. I assume he is a Christian.

But on the whole I really enjoyed the book. I usually like a good mystery.

THE FINAL SUMMIT BOOK REVIEW

"The Final Summit" was written by Andy Andrews as the second book in a series with the first book in the series being named, "The Traveler's Gift". You don't have to read the first book first. Each stand alone. I am not a big fan of Science Fiction, but I did enjoy the book after I got into it for a couple of chapters. I enjoyed meeting characters from history such as: Abraham Lincoln, Winston Churchill, Anne Frank, etc.

The main character of the book is a finctional character named David Ponder. David is grieving the death of his wife. The angel, Gabriel comes to him and takes him to this final summit where he meets these and other characters from history. Their job is to come up with a two word answer to the question, "What does humanity need to do, individually and collectively, to restore itself to the pathyway to successful civilization?" I kept trying to think of the answer myself as I read the book.

I enjoyed the many character lessons throughout the book. I learned much from them.

I would recommend this book.

I received this book free as an ebook from the publisher through BookSneeze.com as part of the review bloogers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own.

A Guy's Guide To Life - Book Review

"A Guy's Guide To Life" subtitle "How To Become A Man In 224 pages or less" was written by Jason Boyett. It was written by teenage guys. I really enjoyed the book as the author has a good sense of humor which you would need in writing and reading such a book. He kept me chuckling throughout the book.

The book has many practical tips such as:
How to shave
How to tie a necktie
How to communicate (even with girls)
How to build and bulk up your faith.

The author answers questions young men have but would never ask out loud. I found myself agreeing almost all the time with his answers. I amgoing to encourage my teenage sons to read it and then keep it as a guide for the practical tips and advise it gives.

The book is divided into three parts: The mind, the body, and the soul.

I appreciated to author's honesty in saying that becoming a man is a lifelong journey, but this book certainly makes it interesting and less confusing.

In the end, Jason puts the emphaise of life where it needs to be, on Jesus. As a Christian, I feel that is where it needs to be. Each indivual must put his own faith there.

You Supply The River Bed, He Will Supply The River

I went camping and canoeing with our church youth group last Friday and Saturday. While we were going down the river in our canoe, we hit a sand bar and had to get out of the canoe and carry it off the sand bar. That was not fun. Then I got to thinking. How much fun would it be to take a canoe into an empty river bed. It would not be any fun at all without the river.

Sometimes as Christians I think we are empty river beds. Jesus said, "He that believeth on me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. But this spake he of the Spirit..."(John 7:38-39). If we supply the river bed, He will supply the river. I don't know anybody that is blessed by a river bed.

I believe the primary responsibility of the Christian is to be filled with the Spirit. Ephesians 5:18 says, "...Be filled with the Spirit." Notice:

1. This is a command of God. It is an imperative verb. The Holy Spirit is not optional equipment for the believer. I cannot do anything for myself in the spiritual realm. But if I make myself avaiable like a river bed, Jesus will supply the river...out of my being shall flows rivers of living water. I can't quench anyone's thirst, but if I come to Him, drink, and appropriate what He gives me, the river will overflow the river bed and people around me will be blest and ministered to. And the interesting thing is that you start out thirsty and you end up a fountain. "If any man is thirsty let him come unto me and drink" Jesus said. And the fellow that is thirsty ends up quenching the thirst of others.

2. This is a command to be controlled by God. The verb is passive. "Let the Holy Spirit fill you." One man translated this verse as, "Let the Holy Spirit possess you completely." This simply means that He is no longer just the owner of you life, but operator as well. Your life is under new managment. The Holy Spirit wants to empower you to dethrone yourself and enthrone Jesus.

3. This is a command to be continually controlled. The verb is in the present tense. The initial filling can extend into a daily walk. I read in Acts 6 where those deacons were not filled with the Spirit, they were full of the Spirit. There is a difference. They were men whose lives were characterized by fullness, a habitual continal experience, every day.

Is the Holy Spirit filling you right now? If you supply the river bed, He will supply the river!

The Four Freedoms

Norman Rockwell painted a series of four paintings called, "The Four Freedoms". They were inspired by President Franklin D. Roosevelt's 1941 State of the Union Address. The four freedoms are: Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Worship, Freedom From Fear, and Freedom From Want.
We are slowly losing these freedoms. We need to thank God for them and take advantage of them while we still have them.
I am grateful for our soldiers that have fought and died for us so we can enjoy these freedoms. I also am grateful to Jesus for setting us totally free through His sacrifice on the cross for us. Galatians 5:1: "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free..."
Have you read the story of the "Immortal Four Chaplins"? Read it at: www.immortalchaplins.org.
Have a happy and safe Memorial Day!

A Pentecostal Heritage

Yesterday was Pentecost Sunday. I would like to share my Pentecostal heritage. It all started with my grandparents, Orson and Eva Hobart. My grandma was a Christian, but my grandpa wasn't. They were living in Whitehall, WI. The church was having revival services. The whole church was praying for my grandpa to get saved. He was a good man, but not saved. Every night he had went to the services, but had not gone forward to receive Christ. It was the last night of the revival and the pastor's wife was standing by the back door greeting people as they came in. An old drunk came to the door and she thought about not letting him in. But the Holy Spirit spoke to her heart saying that he was needed in the service that night. She thought, "How could an old drunk be needed in the service," but she let him in. He came in and sat right behind my grandparents. The evangelist preached and when he finished he gave the altar call. The old drunk tapped by grandpa on the should and asked, "Mr. Is that for everybody." My grandpa answered, "Yes." He then asked my grandpa, "Will you go up there with me?" My grandpa did and was gloriously saved. The old drunk prayed for a few minutes, got and up and left. They never saw him again.
When my mom and grandparents moved to Union Grove, WI. there was no Assembly Of God church there, so they started having Bible studyings in their home. My grandpa feel very sick. A pastor from Illinois, Hugo Ziebe, came and prayed for him. My grandpa was miraculously healed. My grandparents talked hin into starting a church in Union Grove and that is how the church got started. I was saved at 9. Baptised in water and the age of 11 just before Pastor Anderson retired. Larry Liebe followed him, and under his ministry I was baptized in the Holy Spirit at the age of 12. I thank God for my Pentecostal heritage.

All Hail The Power Of Jesus Name

I love this story.