COMING JANUARY 5, 2016 . . . THE MERCHANT OF ALYSS, Book 2 in The Legends Of The Realm epic adventure!

The epic adventure, begun by author Thomas Locke with The Emissary, continues.  But for Hyam . . . this time, it’s personal.

He’s been having trouble sleeping, his dreams troubled by a great dragon who is desperate to communicate with him.  Or is it a dream?  Before he can discover the meaning, he and his companions are forced once again into daring and doing the impossible.  Along the way, they will each face their personal demons as they grow together from a group of individuals to a mighty army.

The Merchant Of Alyss follows the same formula that garnered praise for Thomas Locke in the first installment of The Legends Of The Realm.  The reader will be swept away on a literary journey fraught with peril, filled with challenges, and tinged by sorrow.  New friends will be made, new enemies will be met, and new obstacles will be overcome.  And yet through it all, there are the never-ending, ever-enduring themes of loyalty, courage, honor . . . and love.

To reveal more in this review would be to spoil the adventure.  If you’ve never read The Emissary, that might be a good place to start.  While The Merchant Of Alyss can be read as a stand-alone book, there are enough allusions to the first book to make this somewhat tedious.

Five Stars for author Thomas Locke and The Legends Of The Realm epic adventure!

The Merchant Of Alyss

Thomas Locke

ISBN 978-0-08007-2386-6

Fiction/General/Contemporary

Revell

368 pages

$14.99 U.S., paperback

GET "THE EMISSARY" eBOOK FOR FREE!!!

What a lovely Christmas gift! 

The ebook version of Emissary is FREE from December 24-31, 2015.

From January 1 through February 29, 2016, it’ll be $6.99.

It’s the perfect time to get “caught up” before diving into book 2 in the series, Merchant of Alyss (which releases January 5).

"THE EMISSARY" AT AMAZON!

"THE EMISSARY" AT BARNES AND NOBLE!

"THE EMISSARY" AT CHRISTIANBOOK.COM!

REMEMBER, THIS IS A FREE OFFER UNTIL THE BALL DROPS ON NEW YEARS EVE!

AS AN ADDED BONUS:  You could win a FREE copy of The Merchant of Alyss from The Book Club Network. The contest runs through December 31. To enter, leave a comment on this post at The Book Club Network blog.  

THE BOOK CLUB NETWORK

AND, AS MENTIONED BEFORE,I WILL BE RUNNING A CONTEST FOR A FREE COPY OF THE MERCHANT OF ALYSS THE WEEK OF JANUARY 11 - 15.  LET'S GET THE BALL ROLLING!  TELL YOUR FELLOW EPIC ADVENTURISTS ABOUT THIS AWESOME OFFER!  YOU CAN FIND OUT MORE AT THE LINK BELOW.

DOC'S DOINS BOOK REVIEW BLOG

WOULD YOU LIKE TO WIN A COPY OF THOMAS LOCKE'S LATEST BOOK, THE MERCHANT OF ALYSS? THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO!

YOU'RE NOT SEEING THINGS!  IF YOU'VE READ THE EMISSARY, THEN YOU ARE NO DOUBT WAITING ANXIOUSLY FOR THE SECOND BOOK IN THE SERIES, THE MERCHANT OF ALYSS.  

WHAT IF I TOLD YOU IT COULD BE YOURS . . . FOR FREE?

WITH THE GENEROUS ASSISTANCE OF THOMAS LOCKE AND HIS PUBLISHING TEAM, I WILL BE OFFERING ONE FREE COPY OF THE MERCHANT OF ALYSS THE WEEK OF JANUARY 11 - JANUARY 15, 2016.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

TO WHET YOUR APPETITE, I'VE INCLUDED SOME LINKS TO GET YOU "UP TO SPEED" WITH THE LEGENDS OF THE REALM EPIC ADVENTURE SERIES BY THE GENTLEMAN ADVENTURER HIMSELF, THOMAS LOCKE (aka DAVIS BUNN.)  READ THE OPENING CHAPTER OF BOTH THE EMISSARY AND THE MERCHANT OF ALYSS.  GET ACQUAINTED WITH THE AUTHOR, HIMSELF.

AND . . . OF COURSE . . . SIGN UP TO WIN A FREE COPY OF THE MERCHANT OF ALYSS!

I WILL BE POSTING MORE INFORMATION AS THE WEEK OF THE CONTEST APPROACHES.  STAY TUNED, AND LET OTHER EPIC ADVENTURISTS IN ON THE CONTEST, AS WELL!

Thomas Locke is an award-winning novelist with total worldwide sales of seven million copies.

His work has been published in twenty languages, and critical acclaim includes four Christy Awards for excellence in fiction and his 2014 induction into the Christy Hall of Fame.

Thomas divides his time between Florida and England, where he serves as Writer In Residence at Regent’s Park College at The University of Oxford. Visit Thomas at http://tlocke.com.

Hyam is a likeable lad who will make a fine farmer someday. But he carries a burden few can fathom. As his mother slips toward death, she implores him to return to Long Hall, where he spent five years as an apprentice. It was there that Hyam's extraordinary capacity for mastering languages came to light--and soon cast him into the shadows of suspicion.

How could any human learn the forbidden tongues with such ease? When Hyam dares to seek out the Mistress of the Sorceries, her revelation tears his world asunder.

He has no choice but to set out on the foreboding path--which beckons him to either his destiny or his doom. An encounter with an enchanting stranger reminds him that he is part hero and part captive. As Hyam struggles to interpret the omens and symbols, he is swept up by a great current of possibilities--and dangers.

With lyrical prose that unveils a richly imaginative world, Thomas Locke takes readers on a journey into the Realm. There he invites them to awaken their sense of wonder. This cracking adventure moves like a contemporary thriller but harkens back to the enduring genre of classic fantasy.

READ THE e-BOOK SHORT, "THE CAPTIVE"

Life for Hyam is bittersweet. Admired by the citizens of Falmouth for his heroic rescue mission, he cherishes these peaceful days with Joelle by his side. Yet grief over the loss of his magical skills during the great Battle of Emporis threatens to engulf him. Sometimes he even wishes he had never known magic at all.

When Hyam comes into possession of an ancient Milantian scroll, he is thrilled to feel the surge of power that courses through him whenever he touches it. But what he discerns in the text could mean war. He embarks upon another journey to determine its true meaning and forestall any attack. But as Hyam is seeking answers, he is unaware that the merchant of Alyss is seeking him…

FREE SAMPLE CHAPTER FOR "THE MERCHANT OF ALYSS"

DO YOU WANT TO GET CAUGHT UP IN AN EPIC ADVENTURE? HERE'S YOUR CHANCE!

IF YOU'VE READ THE EMISSARY BY THOMAS LOCKE, THEN YOU ARE PROBABLY ALREADY DEVOURING THE MERCHANT OF ALYSS.  BUT WHAT IF YOU HAVE STUMBLED ACROSS BOOK 2, AND CAN'T SEEM TO MAKE SENSE OF IT ALL?

I'VE SHAMELESSLY CUT AND PASTED AN E-MAIL FROM THOMAS LOCKE.  I'VE REVIEWED BOTH THE EMISSARY AND THE MERCHANT OF ALYSS, AND I'M HOPING THAT I WON'T GET BLASTED FOR THIS . . .

‘Emissary’ ebook sale: $6.99 through Dec. 23

By Thomas Locke

I’m already excited for the January release of Merchant of Alyss, book 2 in the Legends of the Realm fantasy series.

If you haven’t yet read Emissary (book 1), now’s the perfect time to get caught up so you’ll be ready for the next installment in the series.

The ebook version of Emissary is only $6.99 (or less!) through December 23, 2015. A Christmas gift, perhaps?

Here are some bookseller links to Emissary:

Amazon – currently $5.38 for Kindle

Barnes & Noble – currently not displaying a sale price for NOOK Book – the price of $0.00 is for “The Captive,” a free ebook short that features scenes from Emissary.

(Other online booksellers that stock the book are not yet showing the sale price.)

Watch the Emissary trailer

HERE'S A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY TO GET "CAUGHT UP" IN ONE OF THE BEST EPIC ADVENTURES SINCE THE LORD OF THE RINGS.  ENJOY!

DO YOU HAVE "SKIN IN THE GAME?" FIND OUT IN THIS CHALLENGING READ BY RICK LAWERENCE!

Have you ever had a good friend ask you a really tough question, and then pin you down until you provided an answer?

In this book, Skin In The Game, think of author Rick Lawerence as a good friend.  Except, he is not just asking one really tough question.  He has eight of ‘em. 

And yes, he wants to pin you down until you come up with an answer.  But he’s going to help you find the answer.  He’s going to explore them with you.  Because the questions really are that important:
Will You Face Your Shame? 
Will You Receive Grace? 
Will You Embrace Your True Identity?
Will You Own What You Want? 
Will You Confront Your Fears? 
Will You Risk? 
Will You Wait, Even When All Hope Is Lost?   Will You Make Jesus Your First And Last Resort?

The questions are all centered around the title of the book.  Basically, Rick Lawerence wants us to realize that the Christian life really isn’t going to be lived for the glory of God until we have “skin in the game.”  Until we have something invested in the journey. 

Each question serves as a chapter heading, and Rick Lawerence explores each question from a variety of points of view.  He also anchors the questions to Scripture, the teachings of Jesus as he ministered 3 ½ years as the God-man.  You see, Jesus, too, had “skin in the game.”

There are only 139 pages in this book, but don’t let the length of the book fool you.  This is not light reading, by any means.  Find some place where you won’t be disturbed, and prepare to be challenged by some of the toughest questions you will ever face.

Challenging reading by author and church leader Rick Lawerence

SKIN IN THE GAME

Rick Lawerence

ISBN 978-0-8254-4359-6

Christian Life / Spiritual Growth

Kregel Publications

139 pages

$13.99 U.S.

THE FIVE TIMES I MET MYSELF Fascinating Fiction from James L. Rubart

I’ve been played.  Like a fine-tuned instrument in the hands of a master.  In his latest project (you cannot call what James L. Rubart does writing, anymore than you can call what Michelangelo did sculpting, or what DaVinci did painting, or what Beethoven did composing) James L. Rubart subtly captured my interest, and then skillfully played upon my emotions and my intellect.  Until it was too late.

To stop, that is.  To stop experiencing (one does not read James L. Rubart’s projects) the vision that is THE FIVE TIMES I MET MYSELF.

Who doesn’t have regrets over decisions made in the past?  Who hasn’t entertained the idea, even said the words, “If I only knew then what I know now . . .”

Things would be different.  I’d have done things differently.  I would have chosen what’s behind door number three.

Regret is a huge idea that lingers in the background; it’s the outline of many of our future decisions and determinations.  Sometimes it’s the foundation of many of our most intricately laid plans, and most expansive endeavors.  (Sometimes, it may even spark one’s interest and cause one to write a book about it.)

Brock Matthews’ once promising life is unraveling.  His coffee company.  His marriage.  So . . . when he discovers his vivid dreams – where he meets his younger self – might actually let him change his past mistakes, he jumps at the chance.  The results are astonishing – and disturbing.  Because getting what Brock wants most in the world will force him to give up the one thing he doesn’t know how to let go.

And his greatest fear is that it’s already too late.

* WARNING *  Do not open this book unless you are willing to entertain the idea of having your whole world turned upside down.

5 stars for mesmerizing fiction from James L. Rubart

THE FIVE TIMES I MET MYSELF

James L. Rubart

978-1-4016-8611-6

Fiction

Thomas Nelson

$15.99 U.S. / $19.99 CAD

AGENTS OF BABYLON . . . Transformational Bible Teaching from Dr. David Jeremiah

Get ready to experience Bible Prophecy as you’ve never seen it before!  Dr. David Jeremiah, following up on his best-selling book Agents of The Apocalypse, uses the same literary techniques to bring you Agents Of Babylon, a fresh look at the prophecies of Daniel, their implications for the future and their applications for today.

In his own words, Dr. Jeremiah explains:  “In my previous book Agents of the Apocalypse, I opened each chapter with a fictional narrative about the subject of the chapter and ended with an exposition of the Scripture behind the story.  The fictional section is designed to whet the reader’s appetite for scriptural truth by showing the drama and excitement inherent in biblical narratives.  The second section is designed to separate fact from fiction and make relevant applications to our lives.”

The result is a book that draws you in, opens the Scriptures, and then suggests immediate, relevant, authentic applications of the Scriptures to your life.  Dr. Jeremiah’s gifted imagination enables him to write compelling narrative, and his commitment to teaching the complete Word of God teaches you in such a way that you don’t even realize you are “learning.”  In fact, Dr. David Jeremiah’s ministry is not education, so much as it is transformation.

If you are the same person after reading Agents of Babylon, perhaps you need to read it again!

5 stars for transformation Bible teaching from Dr. David Jeremiah!

Tyndale House Publishers has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for a fair and impartial review.

AGENTS OF BABYLON

DR. DAVID JEREMIAH

ISBN 978-1-4143-8052-0

Current Events / Prophecy

Tyndale Publishing

361 pages

$24.99 U.S.

THE MERCHANT OF ALYSS . . . Thomas Locke's latest project is NOW available!

  Here's a puzzle . . . what might this be?   The BOOK COVER below is a rather BROAD hint . . .

Thomas Locke's latest project, THE MERCHANT OF ALYSS, is now available for order!  You may order from Amazon (paperback and Kindle), Barnes and Noble, Books-A-Million, ChristianBook.com, and Baker Retail.  Here's a link to the home page to assist you in ordering!
FOLLOW ME TO THE HOME PAGE!

 Picking up where THE EMISSARY left off, the epic adventure continues!  More on this later!  For now, enjoy the PUZZLE (the link is at the top of this post) to whet your appetite.

Synopsis

Life for Hyam is bittersweet. Admired by the citizens of Falmouth for his heroic rescue mission, he cherishes these peaceful days with Joelle by his side. Yet grief over the loss of his magical skills during the great Battle of Emporis threatens to engulf him. Sometimes he even wishes he had never known magic at all.

When Hyam comes into possession of an ancient Milantian scroll, he is thrilled to feel the surge of power that courses through him whenever he touches it. But what he discerns in the text could mean war. He embarks upon another journey to determine its true meaning and forestall any attack. But as Hyam is seeking answers, he is unaware that the merchant of Alyss is seeking him…

Want to read MORE?  FOLLOW THIS LINK TO READ Chapter 1 of THE MERCHANT OF ALYSS

And for those who are enamored of maps, we've got you covered, as well!  

MIRACLE DRUG from author Dr. Richard Mabry

Personal physician to one of the former leaders of the world.  Possibly every physician’s dream job.

Josh would rather have his colleague back.

Appointed to the position following the suspicious murder of Dr. Ben Lambert, Dr. Josh Pearson already has a bad feeling about this.  His fears are confirmed when he diagnoses former president David Madison with a mutated form of diptheria.  Mutated, as in . . . genetically engineered for the purpose of biochemical warfare.   His girlfriend is diagnosed, as well.

And there is only enough serum for one patient.

While holding to his medical thriller roots, author Richard Mabry seems a bit lost in this book.  The imagery is flat, the pace is pedantic, and the plot feels forced.  Everything seems a bit superficial, which is uncharacteristic of this author.  Still one of my favorite authors, this is probably one I would have trouble recommending wholeheartedly.

3 stars for another medical thriller from Dr. Richard L. Mabry!

MIRACLE DRUG

RICHARD L. MABRY, M.D.

ISBN 978-1-6308-8118-4

Fiction/Christian/suspense

Abingdon Press

296 pages

$14.99 U.S.

THE SURPRISING IMAGINATION OF C.S. LEWIS

THE ORIGINAL INTENTION IN MIND WHEN I REQUESTED THIS BOOK FOR REVIEW WAS TO GLEAN AN UNDERSTANDING OF HOW TO USE IMAGINATION TO BETTER CONVEY THE TRUTHS OF SCRIPTURE.

I WANTED TO SEE HOW C.S. LEWIS LOOKED AT VARIOUS GENRES, AND BE ABLE TO USE IT TO BE A BETTER PREACHER / TEACHER OF THE WORD.

THAT INTENTION . . . DIDN'T QUITE PAN OUT.

BUT I'M NOT GOING TO DUN THE BOOK BECAUSE MY INTENTIONS DIDN'T COME TO FRUITION.  THIS IS STILL A FIRST-CLASS EXPLORATION OF THE WAY THAT C.S. LEWIS "LOOKED AT LIFE" THROUGH THE LENSES OF MANY DIFFERENT GENRES.

THE "SURPRISE" MENTIONED IN THE TITLE IS, THAT C.S. LEWIS WAS ABLE TO BRING HIS IMAGINATION TO BEAR SO PROLIFICALLY TO SUCH A WIDE RANGE OF LITERATURE.  FROM RELIGIOUS WRITING TO LITERARY CRITICISM, FROM FAIRY STORIES TO SCIENCE FICTION, AND OF COURSE HIS EVER POPULAR ALLEGORIES, THE IMAGINATION OF C.S. LEWIS ENABLED HIM TO GRASP THE ESSENCE OF THE GENRE, INFUSE IT WITH HIS IMAGINATION, AND THEN PRODUCE LITERARY WORKS THAT CARRIED HIS OWN "BRAND" UPON IT.

HE MADE IT BETTER.

AND HE WAS EXPLORING AND EXPRESSING HIS CREATIVITY EVEN BEFORE HE BECAME A CHRISTIAN.  ONCE HE HAD MADE THAT CONFESSION, HE MERELY RE-ORIENTED HIS GOD-GIVEN TALENTS IN ANOTHER DIRECTION.

AND THE WORLD HAS BEEN THE BENEFACTOR.

THIS IS A PAPER-BACK BOOK THAT READS LIKE A COLLEGE-LEVEL TEXTBOOK.  PLEASE KEEP THAT IN MIND.  THERE ARE SO MANY BENEFITS, AND SO MANY BLESSINGS, AWAITING THOSE WHO READ IT . . . BUT YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO CHEW.

5 STARS FOR A SURPRISING BOOK ON C.S. LEWIS' SURPRISING IMAGINATION!

THE SURPRISING IMAGINATION OF C.S. LEWIS
C.S. Lewis
ISBN:  978-1-4267-9510-7
Abingdon Press
270 pages
$34.99

TRIAL RUN . . . WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW CAN KILL YOU!

This is not your typical suspense / thriller novel.  Because Thomas Locke is not your typical novelist.  You may find yourself (as I did) putting the book down and walking away from it for a few days.  But rest assured – you’ll be back.

You may find yourself (as I did) starting the book over.  That’s ok, too.  Quite frankly, there really is a major “learning curve” involved, if you are not quite up to speed with the space – time continuum, particle physics and / or quantum computing.

Which merely serves to demonstrate how truly diverse Thomas Locke (you may know him as Davis Bunn) really is. 

There is a line from THE ANDROMEDA STRAIN by Michael Crichton, describing one of the characters:  “He knows everything, and is fascinated by the rest.”  When I think of Thomas Locke, that’s the statement that comes to mind.

Perhaps you can recall the “space race” of the late 1950’s, when everyone with the necessary money and technology competed to “win” the edge, gain the advantage, and reap the rewards that went along with it.

In TRIAL RUN, the race continues.  Only this time, it’s all in your mind.

Or is it?

Dr. Gabriella Speciale has assembled a team of elite scientists with one goal in mind – to create, and control, out-of-body experiences that transcend the limits of time and space. 

Reese Clawson is looking to take the same science and harness it for military use. 

Trent Major is a gifted grad student whose unsettling dreams have placed him right in the middle.

In the end, one warning remains clear:  what you don’t know CAN kill you!

With the two considerations firmly in mind, one should be prepared for the ride of the century in Thomas Locke’s TRIAL RUN!

5 stars for an edge-of-your-seat thriller from Thomas Locke

TRIAL RUN

THOMAS LOCKE

ISBN 978-0-8007-2433-7

Fiction/Thriller/sSuspense

Revell

374 pages

$14.99 U.S.

     THOMAS LOCKE'S NEW THRILLER IS NOW AVAILABLE!   CHECK OUT HIS FACEBOOK PAGE FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A COPY OF TRIAL RUN!


WHAT? YOU DON'T FACEBOOK? WELL, HERE'S A LINK, JUST FOR YOU!

     THOMAS LOCKE'S NEW THRILLER IS NOW AVAILABLE!   CHECK OUT HIS FACEBOOK PAGE FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A COPY OF TRIAL RUN!


WHAT? YOU DON'T FACEBOOK? WELL, HERE'S A LINK, JUST FOR YOU!

     THOMAS LOCKE'S NEW THRILLER IS NOW AVAILABLE!   CHECK OUT HIS FACEBOOK PAGE FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A COPY OF TRIAL RUN!


WHAT? YOU DON'T FACEBOOK? WELL, HERE'S A LINK, JUST FOR YOU!

TRIAL RUN - The Latest Techno-thriller by author Thomas Locke - FOR FREE! Enter at his FaceBook page for your chance to win!

VISIT THOMAS LOCKE'S FACEBOOK PAGE FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN A COPY OF TRIAL RUN . . . AND ENTER THE SWEEPSTAKES!

ENTER THE SWEEPSTAKES FOR A CHANCE TO WIN AN IPAD MINI!

     THOMAS LOCKE'S NEW THRILLER IS NOW AVAILABLE!   CHECK OUT HIS FACEBOOK PAGE FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A COPY OF TRIAL RUN!


WHAT? YOU DON'T FACEBOOK? WELL, HERE'S A LINK, JUST FOR YOU!

TRIAL RUN . . . PUZZLE #5! SEE IF YOU CAN BEAT THE BEST TIME!

                            IT'S PUZZLE TIME, AGAIN! TRIAL RUN PUZZLE #5

TRIAL RUN FANS . . . IT'S TIME FOR ANOTHER PUZZLE!!!

TRIAL RUN PUZZLE #4!

THIS IS YOUR FINAL OPPORTUNITY TO GET A FREE COPY OF THE PILGRIM by Author Davis Bunn! Don't Miss Out!

THE FINAL OPPORTUNITY TO GET A FREE COPY OF THE PILGRIM!

     ON YOUR MARK . . . GET SET . . . PUZZLE #3!!!

THE LATEST Q & A WITH AUTHOR THOMAS LOCKE, REGARDING TRIAL RUN

TAPESTRY WRITING in Thomas Locke's novel TRIAL RUN

HOW ARE YOU DOING ON YOUR PILGRIMAGE? READ DAVIS BUNN'S LATEST NOVEL TO DISCOVER THE MEANING OF PILGRIMAGE!

WITH THAT IN MIND . . . HOW ARE YOU DOING ON YOUR  PILGRIMAGE?  THE IDEA OF PILGRIMAGE HAS BEEN DRIVEN HOME TO ME THESE LAST FEW DAYS.  FIRST DAVIS BUNN'S BOOK, THEN THE LATEST NETFLIX MOVIE THAT ARRIVED IN OUR HOUSEHOLD, THE WAY.  FINALLY, THE MESSAGE I PREACHED ON SUNDAY MORNING LOOKED AT SEVERAL PILGRIMS.  HEBREWS CHAPTER 11 RECORDS THE HEROES OF "THE HALL OF FAITH."  HALF OF THEM SEEMED TO "MAKE IT THROUGH" IN WHAT THE WORLD WOULD CALL "SUCCESSFUL FASHION."  OTHERS EXPERIENCED PERSECUTION AND PAIN IN VARIOUS DEGREES THAT ARE NOT PLEASANT TO CONTEMPLATE.  I'LL LEAVE YOU TO READ THAT CHAPTER FOR THE DETAILS.

BUT HEBREWS 11 CLOSES WITH THIS FINAL THOUGHT:  THE "WINNERS," AND THE "LOSERS" ARE STILL WAITING TO CROSS THE FINISH LINE.  THEY ARE WAITING FOR THE OTHERS WHO ARE STILL RUNNING THE RACE.  IN GOD'S ECONOMY - WE ALL CROSS THE FINISH LINE AT THE SAME TIME.  WE ALL  WIN!

BETWEEN THE STARTING GUN (BIRTH) TO THE END OF OUR LEG OF THE RACE (DEATH), WE ARE ON A PILGRIMAGE.  ALONG THE WAY, WE MAKE ACQUAINTANCES.  THOSE ACQUAINTANCES SOMETIMES JOIN US AS COMPANIONS.  CIRCUMSTANCES FORCE COMPANIONS TO BECOME COMRADES . .  .AND OVERCOMING THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES TOGETHER FORGES FRIENDSHIPS.

UNLIKE THE WORLD'S VIEW OF "FRIENDSHIP," A TRUE PILGRIMAGE PRODUCES FRIENDS OF A DIFFERENT CHARACTER.  THOSE FRIENDS MADE ON PILGRIMAGE REMAIN FRIENDS FOR LIFE.  ALL IT TAKES IS AN E-MAIL, A NOTE, A POST-CARD, OR A PHONE CALL . . . AND THEY WILL MOVE HEAVEN AND EARTH TO BE AT YOUR SIDE BEFORE YOU CAN TAKE YOUR NEXT BREATH.

      Author Davis Bunn

SAMPLE THE PILGRIM: THE FIRST THREE CHAPTERS ARE FREE!









THE WORLD KNOWS LITTLE OF PILGRIMS.  MAYBE, IF THEY GOT TO KNOW THEM BETTER, THE WORLD WOULD BE A BETTER PLACE.


HOW ARE YOU DOING ON YOUR PILGRIMAGE?






   

THE PILGRIM . . . HAVE YOU CHECKED OUT DAVIS BUNN'S LATEST NOVEL?

THE PILGRIM by author Davis Bunn

Helena – the consort of Emperor Constantinus, from which union came Constantine The Great – is on a pilgrimage.  Abandoned by her husband, in danger because of her faith, Helena nonetheless presses forward.  In so doing, she impacts history as no other woman has done.  Miracles seem to follow her as she wins many over to the faith.  Lives are changed forever, including her own.

Her faith provides the necessary courage, strength, and zeal necessary to begin the journey. . .

Will it be enough to see her through?

DO YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE?  HERE'S THE FIRST THREE CHAPTERS!!!

THE PILGRIM Chapters 1 - 3

In Memory of Dr. W. Wilbert Welch, Christian leader, statesman, and author

Cornerstone University Announces Loss of Fifth President and Chancellor, Dr. Welch With deep sadness, Cornerstone University announces the death of its fifth president and chancellor, Dr. W. Wilbert Welch, 97, on the morning of July 16, 2015.   Dr. Welch led the university from 148 enrolled students meeting in a church basement on Wealthy Street in 1959 to 130 acres in a strategic area of Grand Rapids on East Beltline Avenue five years later. He grew the small Bible Institute into an accredited Christian liberal arts college that now educates close to 3,000 in its undergraduate program, two seminaries, online classes and adult learning program.   The beloved former president served at the helm of the university until 1983 and later as interim president in 1991 until Dr. Rex Rogers was hired.   In 2006, Dr. and Mrs. Welch were honored with the naming of the centrally located campus clock tower.   He continued to be a presence on campus, stopping to pray for faculty and staff members in their offices, attending chapel and eating in the dining commons on a regular basis until 2012.   Born in 1918 in Greenville, Mich., Dr. Welch received his bachelor's, master's and doctorate degrees from Bob Jones University where he sat under the leadership of Dr. Bob Jones. He served multiple congregations in Georgia and Michigan before accepting the presidency of Cornerstone University.   "His leadership through the years has been outstanding,” said Dr. Joe Stowell, current president of Cornerstone University. “We wouldn’t be here today without his great work.”   Dr. Welch was married to his wife, Meryl, for 71 years before she passed away last year.   Please join the broader Cornerstone University community in remembering and celebrating the life and work of Dr. Welch at a memorial service on August 31 at 10 a.m. in Christ Chapel on the campus of Cornerstone University.

THRIVING IN BABYLON by Dr. Larry Osborne . . . EVEN IN BABYLON, GOD IS IN CONTROL!

Dr. Larry Osborne has served as a senior pastor and teaching pastor at North Coast Church – one of the ten most influential churches in the country – since 1980.  Dr. Larry Osborne is a pastor who recognizes truth . . . and has no compunctions in administering it.

How refreshing! 

In his work, THRIVING IN BABYLON, Dr. Osborne takes a fresh look at the book of Daniel.  Discarding the “typical” interpretation of Daniel as a book of mystery, disregarding the “popular” interpretation of Daniel as a book of encouragement, Dr. Osborne engages the text with scholarship and wisdom, and opens up the eyes of those who will see.   Along the way, the author explores:

• Why panic and despair are never from God
• What true optimism really looks like
• How humility disarms even the greatest of enemies
• Why respect causes those who would otherwise have nothing to do with God, to listen
• How wisdom can snatch victory out of the jaws of defeat

But be warned . . . as an old proverb counsels us, “Truth can sometimes wear a wry face.”  Are you prepared to handle the truth?

Author Dr. Larry Osborne can deliver it.

5 stars for a refreshing, reflective understanding of the life of Daniel

THRIVING IN BABYLON

Larry Osborne

ISBN 978-1-4347-0421-4

Religion / Christian Life / General

David C. Cook

199 pages

$15.99 U.S.

TRIAL RUN by Thomas Locke . . . A New Interactive Puzzle for your Puzzling Pleasure!

                   Trailer for techno-thriller TRIAL RUN by Thomas Locke

INTERACTIVE PUZZLE #1 at Thomas Locke's blog

INTERACTIVE PUZZLE #2 at JigSaw Planet