Stress Test Book Review

Richard Mabry just keeps getting better and better.  This is a fast moving book that grabbed my attention right off and never let go. I wish that I could have read the whole book right through but alas I had to put it down to eat and sleep. I have read all of Richard Mabry's fictional medical mystery books.

Stress Test is the story of Dr. Matt Newman. Dr. Newman just about has his life on track with a quieter professional position and a love interest that is headed in the direction of marriage. That is until he is kidnapped in a parking garage in the middle of the night. Suddenly he finds himself in ICU and is being charged for murder. He is later accused of another murder and is kitnapped again.

Can his beautiful red-headed attorney prove his innocence? Will they figure out who is trying to frame Matt? Will he ever get his life back?

This book contains all the elements I have come to enjoy: medical, legal, and mystery. I am not an expert on medicine or law, but did not have to be to enjoy this book without getting bogged down in medicine or law that was over my head.

The only negative in the book as far as I was concerned was that I thought the author was against law abiding citizens owning guns.  This is a hot topic right now and I stand very strongly on our Second Amendment right to bear arms.  In the way the story in the book played out it was good to get rid of the handgun he acquired, but I don't think that is always a good thing to do.

Anyway, Dr. Matt Newman survived his stress test, can you survive the stress of reading this thriller? You will have to read it to see.

Darkness Rising Book Review

"Darkness Rising"  is the second book in the East Salem series and the sequel to "Waking Hours". It is supernatural thriller that has a Frank Peretti ring to it.  There are angels and there are demons and people carrying out their plans.

I always like to read books that are in a series in order and in this case I highly recommend reading book one first.

In this book, forensic psychiatrist Dani Harris and private investigator Tommy Gunderson continue in the quest to find the truth of what is happening at St. Adrian's Academy.  As they delve even deeper into the mysteries that surround the school, they discover that the truth is far more encompassing than they thought.  Supernatural influences have had a stronghold for generations. Dani and Tommy are wondering who they can trust and battle with demons in a showdown of good verses evil.

The thing that I didn't like about the book is that it goes too deep into medicine and psychology for me. Someone with more understanding in those fields would enjoy it much more.

This is the second book of a trilogy.  The last book, "Final Tide" is due out in September of 2013.

I do recommend this book. It is skillfully written, engaging and absorbing.  Even though the subject is heavy there are moments that made me laugh.  And yes there is romance as the relationship between Danny and former classmate, professional football player, and now Private I Tommy Gunndersonwho Dani hires for $1.00 per year, is growing.

"The Second Amendment" Book Review

"The Second Amendment:Preserving The Inalienable Right Of Self Protection by David Barton.

This is sure a hot topic right now and David Barton makes clear what the orignial intent of the Second Amendment was.  David Barton's book is an excellent read.  It is a short book that I read  casually over a couple of days.  He documents better than anyone the oringal quotes of the Founding Fathers.  So many modern authors quote each other...other modern authors.  David Barton goes right the the original souces.

David Barton is the founder of WallBuilders, an organization dedicated to presenting America's forgotten history and heroes, with an emphasis on our moral, religious, and constitutional heritage. David is author of numerous best-selling works and a national award-winning historian who brings a fresh perspective to history.

David Barton begins his informative little booklet, by giving the reader a few excerpts from recent articles printed by mainstream American publications and statements made by prominent sources which display the reinterpretation of the U.S. Constitution's Second Amendment by the anti-firearm crowd. He then proceeds to blow their position out of the water.

I highly recommend this book as a must read for any citizen who wishes to know the truth in the midst of the current "American Gun War". It is an easy read and one I thought would be a little techincal and boring but it was just the opposite.  I didn't want to put it down.

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God's Sovereignty Over Time And History

I read a story one time about a person who went to a psychic, but there was a sign on the door that read, "Closed due to unforseen circumstances."  There are no unseen circumstances with God. He rules sovereignly over this world. The God of the Bible knows everything (omnniscient), is present everywhere (omnipresent), and possess all power (omnipotent).  Because He knows all things and is present at all time in all places, He has the power to fulfill all of His predictions.

Isaiah 42:9 (KJV) Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.

Isaiah 44:6-8 (KJV) ⁶ Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God. ⁷ And who, as I, shall call, and shall declare it, and set it in order for me, since I appointed the ancient people? and the things that are coming, and shall come, let them shew unto them. ⁸ Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any.
 

Isaiah 46:8-11 (KJV) ⁸ Remember this, and shew yourselves men: bring it again to mind, O ye transgressors. ⁹ Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, ¹⁰ Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: ¹¹ Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.

 

In the book of Revelation, the word ALMIGHTY is used to describe God eight times. The Greek word translated Almighty is pan-tokrator.  It is made up of two Gree words - pantos, meaning "all" or "everything," and kratein, meaning "to hold."This compound word describes a God who holds everything in His hands. God hands His hands on everything.  He is the Almighty.

 

Bible prophecy proves beyond a shadow of doubt that God is the true God who alone rules over time and history!  He not only rules the ages, but He also controls the events in the life of every person.  What a comfort and encouragement to know that God has His hands on every area of your life.

Seeing The Invisible God

"For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse" (Romans 1:20). Wait a minute! How can something that is invisible be clearly seen? Oh, by creation. We can understand the Godhead by studying His creation.

Well when we think of creation, we think of Genesis 1, right?  "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth" (Genesis 1:1).  How does this help us to understand the Godhead?  Well first of all the Godhead is made up of three persons: God the Father; God the Son; and God the Holy Spirit. These three are one.  "For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Shost: and these three are one" (1 John 5:7).

Genesis 1:1 (KJV) In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

God created the universe.  What is the Universe made of?  Three things...time, space, and matter.

"In the beginning..."  What is that?  It is time.  One thing.  But time is made up of three parts: past, present, and future.

"In the beginning God..." The word for God here in the Hebrew is Elohim, the plural name for God.  God is Trinity...One in Three...Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. 

"In beginning God created the heavens..."  What is that?  Space.  What is space?  Width, depth, height.

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."  What is that?  Matter. What is matter?  Solid, liquid, and gas.

What are you?  Body, soul, and spirit.

What are atoms made of?  Proton, nuetron, and electron.

How do you see God?  You see Him through His creation.

THE BIBLICAL DEFENSE OF BEARING ARMS

It is necessary to define the Biblical defense of bearing arms since today many politicians only quote the Bible to talk about peace, and often quote verses that only have to do with the millennium as if they were dealing with their political office. One such misuse of Scripture is quoting Isaiah 2:4 as if it were dealing with today, and as if the politician quoting it is the Messiah:

And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

 

Everyone that looks forward to the glorious reign of Messiah treasures this verse, but he also knows that many tyrants in history have tried to use this verse for their own benefit. We must be careful that we properly interpret the Scriptures, and not just try to make the Bible fit into our already preconceived ideas.

Some of our greatest Bible heroes were men and women who resisted government edicts. Certainly Amram and Jochebed are tremendous examples of people who were denied their right to defense, and still obeyed God.

And Amram took him Jochebed his father's sister to wife; and she bare him Aaron and Moses: and the years of the life of Amram were an hundred and thirty and seven years (Exodus 6:20).

By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment (Hebrews 11:23).

We could further observe that in these cases their civil disobedience was obedience to God's mandates. The real persecution was not against their rights, but against God since He was the One Who had commanded them.

An illustration that is probably more apropos to the question at hand is found in the book of Esther. Mordecai was Queen Esther's uncle. Haman was a mortal enemy of Mordecai and wanted him dead, along with every other Jew whose worship so antagonized him. He had Artaxerxes, the emperor, sign a decree putting every Jew in the kingdom to death. When the emperor was informed by Esther that this evil plot would cost her and her people their lives, the emperor signed another decree.

Wherein the king granted the Jews which were in every city to gather themselves together, and to stand for their life, to destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and province that would assault them, both little ones and women, and to take the spoil of them for a prey, Upon one day in all the provinces of king Ahasuerus, namely, upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar. The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province was published unto all people, and that the Jews should be ready against that day to avenge themselves on their enemies (Esther 8:11-13).

Not only did the decree allow them to defend themselves, but to band together in a militia for their own self-defense. They were to arm themselves and protect their own lives and that of their families. They were to take a pre-emptive strike against those that were known to persecute them.

What kind of personal self-defense was permitted, or mandated in the Scriptures? There are actually too many passages in the Bible to properly treat all of them here. This will not prevent us from getting a proper definition from the Bible about personal self-defense, even though we treat only a representative number of verses.

The Bible talks about the use of an armed citizenry to defend the country. The size of the standing army was really rather small in Israel, but every able-bodied man was expected to be armed, and to defend his country in time of need. The major reason for the ill-advised national census that King David ordered was to find out exactly how many armed men there were in the country that could be counted on in the case of war or invasion.

And Joab gave up the sum of the number of the people unto the king: and there were in Israel eight hundred thousand valiant men that drew the sword; and the men of Judah were five hundred thousand men (II Samuel 24:9).

And Joab gave the sum of the number of the people unto David. And all they of Israel were a thousand thousand and an hundred thousand men that drew sword: and Judah was four hundred threescore and ten thousand men that drew sword (I Chronicles 21:5).

The first thing that we see in these two passages is that David's sin consisted of not trusting God to protect Israel. David wanted to know how many people he could call on to make up his army in the time of need. A census in and of itself could have a good purpose, but David's census was disobedience to God.

Some people get so tied up on the seeming contradictions of the verses that they fail to see the clear teaching. The verses counted the men who were able to defend the country in the time of an emergency. That is the primary focus.

There were one million, one hundred thousand men in the northern tribes that could be counted on in the time of war. They were the right age, being neither too young nor too old. Women, children, handicapped, and those too young or too old to fight were not counted. Those who were left were the able-bodied men. But of the million, one hundred thousand, how many of these were trained in warfare? There were eight hundred thousand valiant men. The Hebrew word which is translated "valiant" is the word chayil. The most frequent translation of chayil is "army."

David's army was a citizen army. They were men who knew that their country needed to be defended by all male citizens.

Even though David's census showed a lack of trust in God for their protection, David was right in believing that male citizens were expected to defend their country. How was a small country like Israel, with no large paid, professional, standing army going to protect itself against enemy countries which were all better equipped and greater numbers than Israel? Even this large citizen militia was unable to adequately protect the nation against the overwhelming odds that it had to face. That is why Israel needed to trust God. The country was to be like a hive of angry bees who could band together in a moment's notice to defend their hive. Their attack could rout a much greater size army of armed men. Moses wrote of that when he said:

And I will give peace in the land, and ye shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid: and I will rid evil beasts out of the land, neither shall the sword go through your land. And ye shall chase your enemies, and they shall fall before you by the sword. And five of you shall chase an hundred, and an hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight: and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword (Leviticus 26:6-8).

During the time of the Judges, God raised up men who would be the leaders of the citizen militia. During the interval of time between Joshua and King Saul, God named twelve men. Their job was to defend Israel.

And after Abimelech there arose to defend Israel Tola the son of Puah, the son of Dodo, a man of Issachar; and he dwelt in Shamir in mount Ephraim (Judges 10:1).

We must be careful to note that when a man defended his country, in Bible times, he was also defending his family and his own life. Nehemiah wrote of the danger to the nation. He said that the walls of Jerusalem needed to be rebuilt so that Israel could be a safer place to live. But the safety of the workers who were rebuilding the wall, as well as all the inhabitants of the city demanded that something be done immediately. In Nehemiah 4:17-21 he wrote:

They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with those that laded, every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon. For the builders, every one had his sword girded by his side, and so builded. And he that sounded the trumpet was by me. And I said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, The work is great and large, and we are separated upon the wall, one far from another. In what place therefore ye hear the sound of the trumpet, resort ye thither unto us: our God shall fight for us. So we laboured in the work: and half of them held the spears from the rising of the morning till the stars appeared.

Every man was expected to defend himself and defend his fellow workers. They were to work with one hand, and have their weapons in the other hand. They were to remain ever vigilant so they could remain ever free. The idea that a man was to always be prepared to defend his country, his family, his property and his life was further extended in that he was to defend his faith. Can you imagine how people would react today if you told people that while their mouths were filled with praise to God, their hands should be filled with weapons? Yet that is exactly what David wrote in Psalm 149:1-7

Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints. Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: let the children of Zion be joyful in their King. Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp. For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation. Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds. Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a twoedged sword in their hand; To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people.

The right to carry a weapon was considered a necessity at all times. There could be an attack on an individual at any time, but his attacker was more likely to come at night when there was no one around to help, or when visibility was reduced. Therefore Solomon wrote:

They all hold swords, being expert in war: every man hath his sword upon his thigh because of fear in the night (Song of Solomon 3:8).

Even the Levites and the Priests in Israel carried weapons in their worship of God. There was nothing considered incongruous about worshipping God and having weapons at the same time.

The Lord Jesus Christ told the apostles to buy arms. In Luke 22:36-38 He said:

Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one. For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end. And they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto them, It is enough.

Jesus Christ not only recommended that the apostles have a right to bear arms, but further commanded them to buy arms. God stated very clearly that a man had a responsibility to defend his country, his family, his life, his faith, and his property. Since the beginning of time tyrants have first sought to control or rule a free man's country, family, life, faith or property by disarming him. Once disarmed, all of these things could be easily taken. Jesus warned of that in Luke 11:21-23 (KJV) ²¹ When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: ²² But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils. ²³ He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth.

Mark 3:27 (KJV) No man can enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house.

Matthew 12:29 (KJV) Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.

In the Matthew passage, it clearly links together a man's property and his right to bear arms.

In order for a government to take away a man's rights to life, liberty, property, speech, religion, or the sovereignty of his nation, it must first undermine his ability to defend these things. The "strong man" was an "armed" man who kept his home. If government was allowed to be "stronger than he" then it could come and "take from him all his" arms. This enemy could then "spoil his goods" and "bind the strong man." This man would then face that this stronger than he would "spoil his house." This mans life was in danger. He was bound. His wife could be raped. His children could be taken as slaves -- even sex slaves. These were considered the spoils of the house. His property could be confiscated. The only protection that Jesus said a man had for any of these other rights was his right to bear arms. Jesus considered that there would always be a "stronger" one who wanted to remove our rights and freedom from us. The existence of this today should not surprise us. It should not surprise us either that they have formed together into groups and associations, even political parties.

Can a Christian go to war?  If your government calls you, you are obligated to obey.  1 Peter 2:13-14 (KJV) ¹³ Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; ¹⁴ Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.

The Constitution is the United States of America's ordinance!

In Romans 13, God gave the government the right to bear the sword,  so if the government is asking an individual to go to War for their country, Christians should bear arms.  Christians are to obey the government unless the government asks  them to do something that God strictly forbids.

There is little difference between an armed police force which is necessary and an armed military which is also necessary.

"When A Nation Forgets God" Book Review

When a Nation Forgets God: 7 Lessons We Must Learn from Nazi Germany

 

Years ago, a cartoon appeared in a Russian newspaper picturing a fork in the road. One path was labeled freedom; the other path was labeled sausage. As we might guess, the path to freedom had few takers; the path to sausage was crowded with footprints. When given a choice people will choose bread and sausage above the free market and individual liberties. The promise of bread gets votes, even if the bread is at the expense of freedom. The people of Nazi Germany weren't any more barbaric, uncivilized, or depraved than any other Western nation of the early Twentieth Century, yet the Nazi regime will forever serve as an example of brutality and extreme racism run amok. What led so many people to such extreme ends?

According to Dr. Lutzer, the German people's progression from civility to barbarity was not extraordinary, and more than a few benchmarks from their transition can be observed in present day American society (Do any of these sound familiar?):  The Church is silenced, the economy is king, the lawmakers determine behaviors, the media controls beliefs, the Gospel and nationalism become inextricably tied to each other, and yet, heroes still have power.

This short, manageable book does not suggest the United States is definitely marching toward authoritarian oblivion, but that we - especially we believers - must be vigilant in our stand for truth, justice, and righteousness.

We must take note of these lessons from history. The parallels are real, but the conclusion is not a foregone one.

 

Erwin Luther wrote a very timely book for America.

 

Here are the lessons from Nazi Germany and the warnings for America.

 

1.  When God is seperatged from government, judgement follows. 

Hitler got rid of Christian symbols and would not let the pulpits speak against the regime.

2.  The economy has the power to either strengthen or destory.

3.  That which is legal may also be evil.

4.  Proaganda can change a nation.

Slogans become very polular. (Consider the term "talking points" used today).

5.  Parents, not the state have the right to educate their children..

Hitler shut down home school and faith-based schools.

6.  Ordinary heroes can make a difference.

7.  We must exalt the cross in the gathering darkness.

 

We must get back to the right message and fight the right battle.

Philippians 1:27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel.

 

We must use the right weapons. 

Philippians 1:30 (KJV) Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me. Paul realized his earthly conflicts were spiritual and took on him the whole armor of God and used the weapons of the cross, the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God, and all prayer.

 

We must be willing to pay the right price.

Philippians 1:28 (KJV) And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God.

 

We must show the right attitude (Philippians 2).

 

We must leave the right legacy.