Well, I'm back.  This used to be my book review blogspot.  I've gotten away from book reviews, because God's calling me closer to Him, so I'm going to try to make this my faith blog from hereon out.  Bear with me . . . I, just like every other child of God, am a work in progress.  And if you read this, and it encourages you in your walk with the Lord, please let me know.  And if you read this, and you're thinking to yourself, "My goodness, this man's next-door to a heathen!"  please let me know.  Kindly.  Gently.  Looking to yourself lest you also be tempted (Galatians 6:1).  I don't have the details for this quote, and I'm not sure if I'm quoting it correctly, but I heard of a conversation between a famous atheist and an equally famout theologian.  The atheist declared, "Christianity is a crutch!"  The theologian replied, "You're right, my friend . . . but who isn't limping?"  

I know I've "not arrived."  Far from it.  But that doesn't keep me from keeping on keeping on, and doing my best to encourage others to do so.  

I'm going to be trying to set aside time each night, and work my way through a book I received from Grace To You ministries, the publishing arm of Dr. John MacArthur.  I consider him one of my mentors, though he wouldn't recognize me if he saw me on the street.  That's to be expected.  I've never been to his church.  But I "cut my spiritual teeth" on John MacArthur back in 1985, when I came to know the Lord at Grace Baptist Church, Jacksonville, N.C.  I was halfway through my active duty hitch in the U.S. Navy.  I was a Navy Hospital Corpsman, cross-assigned to 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marines, 2nd Marine Division, Weapons Company, Dragons Platoon, 2nd Squad.  I go into such detail for 3 reasons:  1)  Because I actually remember it.  2)  I'm patriotic to a fault.  3)  It's the only aspect of my military career that is still in existence today!

I have my boot camp yearbook.  It's got my face . . . but it's got the wrong name.  And while I went to boot camp in Orlando, Florida, the Navy has since sold the property and it's become a subdivision.

My first ship was the U.S.S. Raleigh (LPD-1), stationed out of Norfolk, VA.  Found out that she was decommissioned and used as a target for artillery exercises.

My first hospital assignment was Naval Hospital Bethesda . . . which has since been taken over by Walter Reed.

Enough of that.  Except for the fact that Jacksonville, NC was the site of my spiritual birth.  That's the red-letter day for me.

So.  The book I mentioned 6 paragraphs ago.  The title is WORSHIP.  The subtitle is, THE ULTIMATE PRIORITY.  Have you wrapped your mind around the spiritual principle that "That is our supreme duty for time and eternity-honor, adore, delight in, glorify, and enjoy God above all His creation, as He is worthy to be worshiped."  (WORSHIP:  THE ULTIMATE PRIORITY; Preface).  Just reading those words stirred my heart at the very core, and sparked a longing to do that very thing.  I have so many "spiritual mentors" who have directed my thoughts to this same principle.  So I'm going to go through this book, bit by bit, and hopefully others will come along for the ride.  I know that I will never be the same, once I begin doing what I was created to do:  worship!

BODY OF EVIDENCE by Irene Hannon

This isn’t the first book I’ve reviewed for Irene Hannon.  And by God’s grace . . . it WILL NOT be the last!  I literally got 1 ½ hours of sleep last night, because I could not put BODY OF EVIDENCE down. 

Grace Reilley is a gifted forensic pathologist who brings moral conviction, brilliant intellect, and bull-dog determination to every case.  She’s got a sense of humor, and she’s also quite easy on the eyes, as they say.  It’s a combination that’s hard to beat.  And she’s going to need every bit of it to plumb the depths of the bizarre rash of deaths that are occurring in rural Missouri. 

Former Army SpecOps soldier Nate Cox is doing his best to learn the ropes of his new position as Sheriff.  He, too, is puzzled by the sudden rise in deaths.  Once is peculiar; twice is coincidence.  Three times is a pattern.

And a deadly one, at that. 

As Grace and Nate pool their resources, it’s evident to both that something more than professional courtesy is in the air.  And the more convoluted the investigation becomes, the closer they are drawn to one another.  But when Grace becomes more than a nuisance to the mastermind behind the deaths, she becomes the next target in the grand scheme of it all. 

And this killer is playing for keeps. 

Irene Hannon brings all of her story-weaving craftsmanship to bear in this, the third installment of the Triple Threat series.  With fully developed characters, plot twists and enough red herrings to stock a pond, you will be riveted to your reading corner until the last page. 

I received this book free of charge in exchange for my open and honest review.

BODY OF EVIDENCE

(Book 3 of Triple Threat)

IRENE HANNON

ISBN: 0800736192

Christian Mystery & Suspense

Revell Books

348 pages

$17.99 U.S. paperback / hardback; $11.99 Kindle

WORD OF HONOR by Hallee Bridgeman

Wow!  Better strap yourself in before you open this book, because author Hallee Bridgeman is about to take you on the ride of a lifetime!

We live in a world that is becoming increasingly and aggressively self-centered.  Everyone has rights, and holds beliefs that they are willing to die for . . . or kill for.  Which is why we need people like FBI Agent Lynda Culter and Army Weapons Specialist Sergeant Bill Sanders (you can call him Drumstick, he won’t mind!) on your side.  

Green War, an extremist ecoterrorist group with a history of blowing up oil pipelines around the globe, has finally been run to ground by Agent Culter and her partner (and serious love interest!) Jack Haynes.  While serving a warrant on the group in Anchorage, Alaska, the situation suddenly and tragically escalates, and Jack is shot and killed, and then set on fire, while Agent Culter is forced to look on helplessly.  Backup arrives in time to rescue Agent Culter, but there are some things one never recovers from. 

Months later, Sergeant Bill Sanders and the rest of the Alpha Team he serves with receive orders to Turkey, where they coordinate with other international agencies . . . including the FBI and Agent Culter.  However, this isn’t the first time the Sergeant and the Agent have met. 

In fact, the last time they met, Bill had shattered Lynda’s heart, and annihilated her world.  As Bill and Lynda will soon discover, the Lord works in mysterious ways, His wonders to perform. 

Thrown together as “newlyweds” for the sake of the operation, it doesn’t take long for the old flame to start flickering again, and it soon flashes into a consuming fire that neither one feels led to extinguish. 

Spanning the globe in search of the mastermind behind Green War’s vendetta, the closer they get to their final destination, the more certain it becomes that Bill and Lynda were meant to be together.  

Full of twists, turns, and surprises, Word of Honor will keep you up nights turning the pages as you travel with the best of the best, doing what they do best. 

Unapologetically Christian in her writing style, Hallee Bridgeman openly and honestly reveals the character and nature of a God who truly cares about His warriors, both in and out of the battle. 

Word of Honor has a couple of treats at the end of the book:  several Middle Eastern recipes inspired by the book are included, as well as a discussion guide which is perfect for individual use, or for small-groups. 

I received this book free of charge in exchange for my open and honest review.

WORD OF  HONOR

(BOOK 2 OF 3 in the Love and Honor Series)

HALLEE BRIDGEMAN

ISBN: 978-0-8007-2721-5 (ebook)

Christian Mystery / Suspense

REVELL

194 pages

$6.49  U.S. (ebook)

MEDICAL MYSTERY by Richard L. Mabry, M.D.

    Author Richard L. Mabry, M.D. publishes medical 

suspense with a cutting edge and a solid faith-

based message that draws one in rather than driving one

away.  His latest release, MEDICAL MYSTERY, is no

exception.  

Diane is an Emergency Room nurse who, up to this point, has managed to keep a professional distance.  Until her mother begins to experience increasing episodes of heart-related incidents.  As her mother's condition becomes increasingly serious, the lines between family and profession become blurred, and Diane is sometimes confused as to which hat she needs to wear at a particular time.

Which is why Dr. Joe Adams is such a welcome addition to the equation.  Recently widowed, Joe has decided that it's time to rejoin the land of the living, and has set his sights on Diane.  Since Diane's mother is also his patient, the situation seems to be Providential, to say the least.  And with the added stress of Diane's sister, brother-in-law, and ex-fiance dropping in at most inopportune times, Dr. Adams also serves as a much-needed harbor to help Diane weather the storms that life is bringing at this point in her life.

I really enjoy Dr. Mabry "pulling the curtain back" on the medical profession, in an entirely appropriate manner.  Letting the reader in on some of the "medical jargon" that doesn't show up in the medical dictionaries serves to bridge the gap between the layman and the professional, without compromising the necessary doctor/client relationship.

And no Dr. Mabry novel would be complete without his usual plot twists.  Just when you think you know whodunnit . . . 

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

MEDICAL MYSTERY

Dr. Richard L. Mabry

Medical Mystery / Christian Suspense

Published by Books & Such Literary Management

copyright Richard L. Mabry

112 pages

$.99 preorder at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09MZPFGNJ

 The land of Israel is as much a character of Scripture as Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Moses.  And just as important.  Praise the Lord someone has recognized this . . . and written something about it!

It's always a pleasant surprise when an author knows whereof he or she speaks.  Cyndi Parker does, indeed, know whereof she speaks.  Her extensive, intensive association with the land upon which Jesus walked lends color, sound, and texture to her written words, and provides a solid foundation upon which they rest.

When I was offered the opportunity to review this work, by Hendrickson Publishing, I couldn't get to the ordering site fast enough.  True bibliophiles (of which I unabashedly claim to be) recognize, instinctively, important books "on sight."

This is an important book.

It belongs in the library . . . excuse me, on the desk . . . of everyone who spends anytime in the Word of God.

Get this book, and let the land of Israel tell you her story of Jesus!

This book was given to me without cost, in exchange for my open and honest review.

ENCOUNTERING JESUS IN THE REAL WORLD OF THE GOSPELS

Cyndi Parker

ISBN: 978-1-68307-310-9

Publisher:  Hendrickson Publishers

Pages:  184 pages

$29.95 U.S. paperback

DELIVER US: The Heart Cry Of God's People Everywhere!

“Where there is no vision, the people perish:but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.”                        Proverbs 29:18

The Bible is filled with poems. The prophets, along with the books of Job and Ecclesiastes, are mainly poetic. The Song of Songs, Proverbs, Lamentations, and the Psalms are wholly poetic.  Many of David’s Psalms which we find in the collection are also found in the historical books of Kings and Chronicles.  And one of the first “songs” recorded in our English Bible is found in Exodus 15, where Moses and the children of Israel recount God’s deliverance from the army of Pharaoh:

 “Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spake, saying,

“I will sing unto the LORD,for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.”  Exodus 15:1 (KJV)

The impact that the Psalms have in our everyday lives has not escaped the notice of author Michelle Howe.  Having immersed herself in the emotional center of Scripture, author Michelle Howe poured herself into this creative effort to enable people to work through some of life’s most daunting challenges.  The breadth of ground she covers, from loneliness and depression to physical and financial challenges . . . to the one challenge that everyone is currently facing in the COVID-19 Pandemic . . . time and again Michelle Howe draws the reader back to the source of hope: the hymnbook of God’s chosen people, the Psalms of Scripture.

Each chapter begins with a reading from the Book of Psalms; then using real life stories, Howe captivates the reader’s attention, illuminating life’s heartaches with the sweet salve of Scripture.  A personal prayer, relevant application in the Take Away Action Thought, and two or three activities for reader response round out each chapter.

One unique aspect of the book is the reading pattern mentioned in the Introduction, which enables the reader to read through the entire book of Psalms twelve times each year. 

Personally, I would have appreciated more time spent exploring the actual Scripture text itself, opening up the passage in terms of background and context.  Having said that, the fact remains that author Michelle Howe has provided the reader with the key to fanning the flame of hope, to enable the believer to “keep on keepin’ on.”]

I received this book free of charge in exchange for my open and honest review.

HE WILL TAKE ME BY THE HAND . . .

"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. 11  Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish. 12  Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contended with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought. 13  For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee."                         

Isaiah 41:10-13 (KJV) 

THREE EXHORTATIONS, AND 11 PROMISES . . . IN 4 VERSES OF SCRIPTURE.

THAT’S SIMPLY ASTOUNDING. AND WHILE ONE MUST RECOGNIZE THAT THESE PROMISES WERE MADE TO ISRAEL, THERE IS NOTHING IN THOSE VERSES THAT MAY NOT BE APPREHENDED BY THE NEW TESTAMENT BELIEVER. BECAUSE THE SAME GOD WHO SAID THESE WORDS TO HIS CHOSEN PEOPLE HAS PROMISED THE NEW TESTAMENT BELIEVER:

“LET YOUR CONVERSATION BE WITHOUT COVETOUSNESS; AND BE CONTENT WITH SUCH THINGS AS YE HAVE: FOR HE HATH SAID, I WILL NEVER LEAVE THEE, NOR FORSAKE THEE.”
HEBREWS 13:5

THERE’S NOTHING SPECIFICALLY PROMISED TO ISRAEL; NO LAND – SEED – BLESSING CLAUSES, NO ISRAEL/ GOD COVENANT LANGUAGE. WHEN GOD SHOWS UP, ALL OF THESE PROMISES COME ALONG WITH HIM.

AND IT’S SO WONDERFULLY PERSONAL! SO INTIMATE! GOD DOESN’T JUST DROP A BLESSING ON THE DOORSTEP . . . HE KNOCKS ON THE DOOR, COMES IN (CLOSING THE DOOR BEHIND HIM!) AND TAKES YOU BY THE HAND. THEN, AND ONLY THEN, DOES HE COMFORT US WITH HIS WORDS: THE TOUCH OF THE MASTER’S HAND ALWAYS PRECEDES HIS PROMISES AND EXHORTATIONS.

THE RIGHT HAND IS MY DOMINANT HAND; IF GOD HAS ME BY MY RIGHT HAND . . . THAT MEANS HE HAS COMPLETE CONTROL. I'M NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO DEFEND MYSELF WITH MY RIGHT HAND; IN THE OLD TESTAMENT, WHERE MOST PEOPLE WERE RIGHT-HANDED, THIS WOULD MEAN THAT GOD IS HOLDING THEIR SWORD-HAND. THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO ATTACK OR DEFEND THEMSELVES.

WHICH MEANS THAT ALL OF THE PROMISES MENTIONED, IF THEY ARE GOING TO BE BROUGHT TO PASS . . . . WELL, THAT MEANS THAT GOD IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE THEIR SHIELD AND DEFENDER.

WOW. WHAT A CONCEPT. . . .YOU MEAN ALL THAT STUFF ABOUT "TRUSTING GOD," AND "WALKING BY FAITH," HE MEANT THAT?

UHHHHHH . . . YUP!