FLYOVER CHURCH: HOW JESUS' MINISTRY IN RURAL PLACES IS GOOD NEWS EVERYWHERE

 

The subtitle for this engaging ministry manual is, “How Jesus’ Ministry In Rural Places Is Good News For Everyone.”  And yes, I did indeed say “ministry manual.”  A disclaimer of sorts is in order: “Rural ministry is not for the faint of heart.” 

According to a 2021 study of more than 15,000 religious congregations by Faith Communities Today (FACT), 7 in 10 U.S. churches have 100 or fewer weekly worship service attendees.¹  And the number of rural churches is growing in number, if not in size.

Pastor and author Brad Roth ministers in one such church congregation, in rural central Kansas.  He grew up baling hay, tending sheep, and shearing Christmas trees on a farm in Illinois.  He’s writing from personal experience when he says, “Rurality isn’t a problem to be solved.  Rural is a way of life, a kind of culture.  We’re still here.”

What sets rural ministry apart is the communities themselves.  “There are formal responsibilities and contracts and job obligations in rural communities just like there are in cities and suburbs,” Pastor Brad writes, “but what really sets rural apart are the informal obligations and responsibilities that bind people together.”

Pastor Brad feels that ministry is not “task-based,” but is more “presence-based.”  In rural communities, the need to “get to know the people” is even more crucial than in urban or suburban ministries.  “Pastors have to be in, with, and for the community.”  “Showing up” and “staying put” are important concepts.  Loyalty is not optional.  

For Pastor Brad, the message hasn’t changed.  It doesn’t need to be rebranded.  The same gospel, the same methods that Jesus used to establish His church are the same.  But the rural community has its own mentality which must be understood in order to minister the Gospel effectively. 

Using the Gospel of Mark as a backdrop, Pastor Brad “walks” the reader through the joys and challenges that are part and parcel of the rural community ministry.  Rural ministry avoids typical “measuring tools” that seem to be the bread and butter of urban and suburban ministry. 

As a graduate of Harvard Divinity School and the Anabaptist Mennonite Seminary, sometimes the author’s education gets the better of him.  But through it all, Brad Roth’s championing the cause of the rural church is a refreshing journey through the Flyover Church. 

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

FLYOVER CHURCH

BRAD ROTH

ISBN: 978-1-5138-1372-1

RELIGION / CHRISTIAN MINISTRY / PASTORAL RESOURCES

HERALD PRESS

159 pages

$19.99  U.S. paperback

 EVER SINCE DR. JAN WUBBENA “TURNED ME ON” TO CLASSICAL MUSIC IN MY VISUAL ARTS AND MUSIC COURSE, THE “CONDUCTOR” HAS LOOMED LARGE.  A CONDUCTOR’S JOB IS TO GET EVERY  INSTRUMENT IN THE ORCHESTRA TO PLAY TOGETHER.  ONE OTHER HUGE IDEA I JUST GOT OFF THE INTERNET IS THAT “THE CONDUCTOR’S JOB IS TO DO JUSTICE TO THE COMPOSER.”

TAKING BOTH THOSE IDEAS, ONE MUST FIRST REALIZE THAT GOD IS THE CONDUCTOR, NOT ME.  I’M ONE OF THE INSTRUMENTS HE IS CONDUCTING.  BUT INSIDE THIS BODY OF MINE, THERE ARE MANY INSTRUMENTS.  PAUL SAYS,

“LIKEWISE RECKON YE ALSO YOURSELVES TO BE DEAD INDEED UNTO SIN, BUT ALIVE UNTO GOD THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD.  (12)  LET NOT SIN THEREFORE REIGN IN YOUR MORTAL BODY, THAT YE SHOULD OBEY IT IN THE LUSTS THEREOF.  (13)  NEITHER YIELD YE YOUR MEMBERS AS INSTRUMENTS OF UNRIGHTEOUSNESS UNTO SIN: BUT YIELD YOURSELVES UNTO GOD, AS THOSE THAT ARE ALIVE FROM THE DEAD, AND YOUR MEMBERS AS INSTRUMENTS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS UNTO GOD.  (14)  FOR SIN SHALL NOT HAVE DOMINION OVER YOU: FOR YE ARE NOT UNDER THE LAW, BUT UNDER GRACE.”

ROMANS 6:11-14 

 I HAVE MANY “INSTRUMENTS” IN MY BODY; I NEED TO FOLLOW THE LEAD OF THE CONDUCTOR – THE HOLY SPIRIT – SO THAT HE CAN DO JUSTICE TO THE COMPOSER.

STAY BLESSED!!

 Here's a one-off post, just because I was led to.  Opened up YAHOO! and saw, "TODAY IS THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE."  And I thought, first of all, of all those "soothsayers" the Apostle Paul warned the Thessalonians about when he said, "But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.  (2)  For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.  (3)  For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape." (1 Thessalonians 5:1-3.)  

And then I remembered the legacy of my Lord Jesus Christ:  "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." (John 14:27.)    

And I realized, "Every day could be a day of peace."  But before there can be peace between two warring parties, one side must surrender.

Sin has made every man Jack of us enemies of the Lord God Almighty.   David explored this theme in Psalm 2: "Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.  (11)  Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.  (12)  Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him." (Psalms 2:10-12.)  The phrase "kiss the Son" is a euphemism for "lay down your weapons."  It's an illustration of surrender.  And the Apostle Paul explores the various nuances of "surrender" in Romans 5:1-2:  "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:  (2)  By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God." (Romans 5:1-2.) 

Traditionally, when conquering kings (and nations) entered into peace treaties, they pretty much pillaged the conquered nation.  They broke up the population, sometimes even to the family members.  They looted, and destroyed, and let their military forces have their way with the conquered foe.  It wasn't pretty.

But when we "surrender" to Jesus . . . when we surrender to the Lord God Almighty, He doesn't punish us; He doesn't loot, pillage and destroy.  Instead, He restores us.  He lavishes blessings upon us.  We not only receive peace . . . we also get "full access" to the grace in which we stand, upon our surrender.  And we can "rejoice in hope of the glory of God."  

When we surrender to Christ . . . it doesn't feel like losing. 

"I lost it all . . . to find everything.  

I died a pauper . . . to be born a king.  

When I learned how to lose, I found how to win.

Oh, I lost it all, to find everything."  

                                                 (Bill & Gloria Gaither)

 True worship involves every aspect of one's being.  I went to a four-year Christian College for my bachelor's degree, and the school motto was "Head, Heart, and Hand."  A recognition that worshipping God involved the whole person.  Worship is not just an emotional release; it's an understanding of how much God has done for us, and a dedication of the head, the heart, and the hand to proclaim His name to succeeding generations.

1 Chronicles 16:8-13 records the "worship service" led by King David, and exhort us to respond to God's blessings in appropriate ways:  "Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people.  (9)  Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him, talk ye of all his wondrous works.  (10)  Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD.  (11)  Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually.  (12)  Remember his marvellous works that he hath done, his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth;  (13)  O ye seed of Israel his servant, ye children of Jacob, his chosen ones." (1 Chronicles 16:8-13.)    

Worship is vocal.  The mouth, the tongue, to vocal chords, the diaphragm are as much "instruments of praise" as the musical instruments noted in my last post.  The ear is involved, making sure we are "on pitch."  God created us for excellence, and excellence is what we ought to strive for.  However, if some of us are "tone deaf," that doesn't mean we shouldn't worship!  God never said, "Make a joyful melody unto the Lord."  He didn't say, "Make a joyful harmony unto the Lord."  Scripture tells us, "make a joyful noise."  Not once, not twice . . . but SEVEN times, we are encouraged to do so.  I can do that.

Worship is rememberable. That is, it has a body of historical recollections upon which to draw for content in our worship.  David encouraged the congregation, "talk of all His wondrous works; REMEMBER His marvellous works, His wonders, the judgments of His mouth."  There's a reason they were to sing. . . and we have reason to sing, as well.  "Count your many blessings, name them one by one; and it will surprise you what the Lord has done!"

Finally, worship is personal.  This worship service was comprised of those who belonged to the Lord, who had experienced His faithfulness to all generations, who had worked His mighty wonders in their very midst.  The congregation was comprised of "the seed of Israel His servant," and "children of Jacob, His chosen ones."  They are the only ones who could sing this song.  If a Philistine or a Moabite had tried to sing this song, there would have been problems.  You can't sing a song like this if you haven't experienced the lyrics firsthand.

 So, what does worship look like?  There are many, many instances of worship in the Old Testament, and in the New Testament as well.  I "stumbled" upon one in my devotions this morning that really struck home, and I'd like to share it.  1 Chronicles 16 records the bringing of the ark of the covenant into Jerusalem, after having passed through many delays and adventures that one can read about in 2 Samuel 6.  1 Chronicles 16, however, puts the typical "devotional / applicational" spin on the historical account.

Worship begins with "getting right with God."  "So they brought the ark of God, and set it in the midst of the tent that David had pitched for it: and they offered burnt sacrifices and peace offerings before God.  (2)  And when David had made an end of offering the burnt offerings and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD."  (1 Chronicles 16:1-2)  One should never come into the presence of God empty-handed.  There is always a sacrifice of praise to be offered; there is always a recognition of how much God has blessed us that needs to be acknowledged.

Next, David enlisted the aid of the people.  "And he dealt to every one of Israel, both man and woman, to every one a loaf of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine."  Critics and liberals would point to this and say, "David bribed the people into worshipping God."  I don't see it as a bribe; I see it as an invitation.  David was going to worship, and he wanted all of his people to worship as well.  This was an invitation to worship; encouragement to worship.  It also pointed out how much God had blessed, that their king was able to bless every man and woman with the necessary supplies to encourage worship.  There's nothing like the recollection of a blessing to encourage worship more!

Next, David "tuned up the orchestra."  "And he appointed certain of the Levites to minister before the ark of the LORD, and to record, and to thank and praise the LORD God of Israel:  (5)  Asaph the chief, and next to him Zechariah, Jeiel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Mattithiah, and Eliab, and Benaiah, and Obededom: and Jeiel with psalteries and with harps; but Asaph made a sound with cymbals;  (6)  Benaiah also and Jahaziel the priests with trumpets continually before the ark of the covenant of God." (1 Chronicles 16:4-6.)  

Finally, having set the stage, David commenced the worship service . . . David, himself, led the "opening hymn."  "Then on that day David delivered first this psalm to thank the LORD into the hand of Asaph and his brethren." (1 Chronicles 16:7.)  

The stage is set.  Stay tuned for the worship service!

  

“LET NOT YOUR HEART BE TROUBLED: YE BELIEVE IN GOD, BELIEVE ALSO IN ME.  (2)  IN MY FATHER'S HOUSE ARE MANY MANSIONS . . .”

μονή  “dwelling places,”  “rooms,”  “abodes”  “a place where one may remain or dwell”

“IF IT WERE NOT SO, I WOULD HAVE TOLD YOU. I GO TO PREPARE A PLACE FOR YOU.  (3)  AND IF I GO AND PREPARE A PLACE FOR YOU, I WILL COME AGAIN, AND RECEIVE YOU UNTO MYSELF; THAT WHERE I AM, THERE YE MAY BE ALSO.”

WHEN YOU GET UP IN THE MORNING, IS THE FIRST THOUGHT ON YOUR MIND, “TODAY, I MIGHT BE ABLE TO SPEND THE REST OF ETERNITY WITH JESUS!”  DOES IT FILL YOU WITH LONGING . . . OR DREAD AND APPREHENSION?  IS JESUS SO REAL TO YOU THAT YOU CAN IMAGINE BEING IN HIS PRESENCE FOR ALL OF ETERNITY . . . AND NEVER GET BORED AT THE THOUGHT?

 

JESUS . . . SHOW ME WHO YOU REALLY ARE.  SHOW ME THAT IT’S REAL. 

 

EVERYTHING FROM GENESIS 3:14-15

“AND THE LORD GOD SAID UNTO THE SERPENT, BECAUSE THOU HAST DONE THIS, THOU ART CURSED ABOVE ALL CATTLE, AND ABOVE EVERY BEAST OF THE FIELD; UPON THY BELLY SHALT THOU GO, AND DUST SHALT THOU EAT ALL THE DAYS OF THY LIFE:  (15)  AND I WILL PUT ENMITY BETWEEN THEE AND THE WOMAN, AND BETWEEN THY SEED AND HER SEED; IT SHALL BRUISE THY HEAD, AND THOU SHALT BRUISE HIS HEEL.” GENESIS 3:14-15 

TO REVELATION 20:11-15

“AND I SAW A GREAT WHITE THRONE, AND HIM THAT SAT ON IT, FROM WHOSE FACE THE EARTH AND THE HEAVEN FLED AWAY; AND THERE WAS FOUND NO PLACE FOR THEM.  (12)  AND I SAW THE DEAD, SMALL AND GREAT, STAND BEFORE GOD; AND THE BOOKS WERE OPENED: AND ANOTHER BOOK WAS OPENED, WHICH IS THE BOOK OF LIFE: AND THE DEAD WERE JUDGED OUT OF THOSE THINGS WHICH WERE WRITTEN IN THE BOOKS, ACCORDING TO THEIR WORKS.  (13)  AND THE SEA GAVE UP THE DEAD WHICH WERE IN IT; AND DEATH AND HELL DELIVERED UP THE DEAD WHICH WERE IN THEM: AND THEY WERE JUDGED EVERY MAN ACCORDING TO THEIR WORKS.  (14)  AND DEATH AND HELL WERE CAST INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE. THIS IS THE SECOND DEATH.  (15)  AND WHOSOEVER WAS NOT FOUND WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF LIFE WAS CAST INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE.” REVELATION 20:11-15 

EVERYTHING BETWEEN THOSE TWO “BRACKETS” (GENESIS 3:15 – REVELATION 20:15) IS ALL ABOUT THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY REDEEMING HIS CREATION FROM THE BONDAGE OF SIN AND SATAN.  AND IT WAS ALL DONE IN SUCH A MANNER THAT IT WAS ALL OF GRACE, AND ALL OF FAITH,  “NOT OF WORKS, LEST ANY MAN SHOULD BOAST.”

           WORSHIP:  THE ULTIMATE PRIORITY

 (Day Two)

What is worship?  That’s the question, yeah?  For some it’s a purely emotional release, where one “speaks in the Spirit,” “dances in the Spirit,” cries in ecstasy . . . just “lets loose” because God is good . . . and what He does is goodness. 

 For others, it’s the logical acknowledgment that God is the creator and sustainer of everything that was, and is, and is to come.  And since the soul is eternal, that’s a long time coming, right?  And so one responds by obedience and service.

 Opposite ends of the spectrum, but both expressions equally valid.  Because you never know what you are going to do when you come face to face with the Living God.  Just last night, I really had a longing to worship God in my music.  Now, I’m close to 60 years old, and I’ve been walking this road since I was in my early 20’s.  I should be past “putting out the fleece” to know God’s will.  But last night, for some reason, I just spoke to the Lord, “Lord, I want to praise and worship you on my way home from work.”  I opened up my CD collection (I burn CD’s, and label them according to genre) . . . and the first CD my eyes rested on was my Southern Gospel:  Praise And Worship.  And I just started laughing, and praising God right there.  I hadn’t even put the CD in, and God’s “answered prayer” had me before the throne, doing what I was so clearly made to do:  praising God for who He is, and for what He’s done for me, and in me, and through me.

 For me, that’s the simplest definition of worship:  “Worship is what you do when you realize you’re in the presence of the Lord God Almighty.”  And yes, there are emotions . . . you can’t escape it. As Mr. and Mrs. Beaver so aptly stated in The Lion, The Witch, And The Wardrobe (author, C.S. Lewis):

““Who is Aslan?” asked Susan.

 

“Aslan?” said Mr. Beaver, “Why, don’t you know? He’s the King. He’s the Lord of the whole wood . . . You’ll understand when you see him.”

 

“Is--is he a man?” asked Lucy.

 

“Aslan a man!” said Mr. Beaver sternly. “Certainly not. I tell you he is the King of the wood and the son of the great Emperor-Beyond-the-Sea. Don’t you know who is the King of Beasts? Aslan is a lion--the Lion, the great Lion.”

 

“Ooh!” said Susan, “I’d thought he was a man. Is he--quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion.”

 

“That you will, dearie, and no mistake,” said Mrs. Beaver. “If there’s anyone who can appear before Aslan without their knees knocking, they’re either braver than most or else just silly.”

“Then he isn’t safe?” said Lucy.

 

“Safe?” said Mr. Beaver. “Don’t you hear what Mrs. Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe? ’Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.”

 But don’t take Mr. Lewis’s words for it.  Scripture is full of instances in which the creation entered into the presence of the Most High God.  And the inspired, inerrant, infallible, authoritative word of God faithfully recorded those instances . . . and the responses.

 JACOB’S LADDER:  In Genesis 28, verses 10 – 22, the first night of his “exile,” fleeing from his brother Esau, Jacob fell asleep, and fell into a dream:

“And he dreamed, and behold, a stairway was set on the earth, and its top touched the heavens. And behold, angels of God were going up and going down on it.  (13)  And behold, Yahweh was standing beside him, and he said,  “I am Yahweh, the God of Abraham your father, and the God of Isaac. The ground on which you were sleeping I will give to you and to your descendants.  (14)  Your descendants shall be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west, and to the east, and to the north and to the south. And all the families of the earth will be blessed through you and through your descendants.  (15)  Now behold, I am with you, and I will keep you wherever you go. And I will bring you to this land, for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised to you.”  (16)  Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely Yahweh is indeed in this place and I did not know!”  (17)  Then he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is nothing else than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!”                               Genesis 28:12-17 

 If you know Jesus as your personal Savior and Lord, this might be your experience every night.  The writer of the Epistle To The Hebrews encourages us:

“Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.  (15)  For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.  (16)  Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”  Hebrews 4:14-16 

I plan on exploring more "encounters" in future posts. Have a blessed day!

 

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!

HOW DOES ONE MAKE A CRITICAL DECISION?

So much of life depends upon simple decisions.  What if I hadn’t .  . .

What if I had?

Dr.’s Kathy and Darren Hoover are about to experience this principle in the truest sense of the word. 

A former E.R. physician, Dr. Kathy Hoover felt that she’d exchanged the stress of the emergency room for a more wholesome work environment.  Married to Darren, a mathematician and professor, theirs was an idyllyic life that should have been the envy of any couple.

Then the door bell rang.

Now, Kathy has to come to grips with two horrific facts:  1)  Her husband Darren has been kidnapped, and will be killed if Kathy doesn’t do as she is told.  2)  She is being told to violate the medical oath that she swore to uphold upon being conferred the degree, Doctor of Medicine.

Now, it seems that every decision she has to make is a Critical Decision.

Writing with seasoned skill, Dr. Richard Mabry creates strong characters and places them in memorable settings, allowing the suspense to stir the pot until the final result is a well-crafted novella that is seasoned with just the right amount of faith, love and hope to keep the reader savoring the finished product long after the last page has been turned.

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

CRITICAL DECISION

Richard L. Mabry, M.D.

ISBN: 979-86-00229-981-5

Christian Medical Suspense

Richard L. Mabry, M.D.

180 pages

$12.99  U.S. paperback

ALWAYS LOOK TWICE . . . YOU NEVER KNOW WHO'S BEHIND YOU!

ALWAYS LOOK TWICE

Before opening this book, brace yourself.  Elizabeth Goddard has a knack for leaving you breathless, while stealing your heart at the same time.  Quite a talent, that.

Harper Reynolds has hit the wall, and at the advice of her therapist has stopped photographing crime scenes, and began photographing wildlife.  Her talents have been recognized, and rewarded, enabling her to invest in top-notch equipment.  Just in time to become an eyewitness to a murder.

Lovely.

Writing at a rapid – fire pace, author Elizabeth Goddard has also managed yet another feat of creative writing skill:  she has packed her pages with memorable characters, engaging themes, and breathtaking settings which she skillfully weaves together in such a way that the reader has the impression that he or she is walking side – by – side with the characters.

This can be quite disturbing when one realizes that one is being hunted down like a rabid animal.  I mean, even the villain is memorable . . . and gains a sop of sympathy from the most callous and careless of readers.

5 stars for fast-paced suspense with a romantic twist

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

Elizabeth Goddard

ISBN: 978-0-8007-2985-1

Christian Fiction / Mystery / Suspense

Revell Books

198 pages

$ 15.99 U.S. paperback

CHURCH REFORMED: A 21st Century Call To A First Century Model

"Somehow . . . the Church is no longer viewed as essential to Christian growth.  Conferences are great.  Facebook groups, music, podcasts, broadcast sermons, discipleship material, Christian books . . . these fruits of evangelical ministry have supplanted Christ's Bride, the church." (CHURCH REFORMED, p. 6)

This one quotation from the book under review sums up the critical situation the Church finds herself in today.  While conversions to Christianity continue to occur, new believers are being deluged with so many alternatives to Christian growth outside the Church body, Church membership is declining, and Churches are closing their doors at a record pace.

Tim Bayly is writing on a level that is so far removed from the way church is being done today, that it's disturbing.  Confusion, bewilderment and disorientation often manifest themselves through emotional release.  For men, the most common response is anger, followed by irrational outbursts.  I must confess that my inability to process what the author was communicating was leading me to debunk the entire book as denominational bias.

Then my computer froze up, and I took pen and paper in hand to write my review while my computer righted itself.  And I realized that much of my reaction is probably due to embarrassment at failing to understand the principles being spelled out.  Because I've never seen church done this way before.  Putting up with people you don't like, simply because they are part of the church family?  Closed communion?  Church membership through baptism?  The inherent authority of deacons and elders?

While there are still denominational differences which will never be reconciled, the time has come to admit that Tim Bayly is telling the 21st Century Church what it is supposed to be by showing us what God intended the church to look like.

5 stars for a thought - provoking treatise on God's Bride . . . His Church.

I received this book

WHAT A BREATH OF FRESH AIR IN THE PULPIT!

Breathe deep . . . you can feel the warmth, the honesty, the sincerity, and the passion that Abraham Kuruvilla has for the precious Word of God.

You know . .  .Abraham Kuruvilla . . . the native of Kuwait, born to Indian parents, with degrees in immunology, pediatrics, and dermatology?  Who also teaches Homiletics and Hermeneutics at Dallas Theological seminary?  Who also volunteers his time and talents in the pulpit to give his pastor a few months vacation?  The same guy who listens to Bach . .  .and jazz . . . and acapella?

Our very own 21st century Renaissance man.  The man who sold his medical practice to preach the Word.

Just wanted you to know who you are going to be reading from, so that there is no confusion.  And if he brings that much to a book . . . and expects. . . no, demands! . . . that much from himself, imagine the wealth of ideas and practical applications that preachers and pastors are going to find in a book subtitled:  "A Theological Hermeneutic For Preaching."

It's all in there, and it's a book that needs to be at the elbow of every student of Scripture as they strive to properly interpret and apply scripture . . . both the Old Testament, as well as the New Testament.

Romans 10:14 asks several pointed questions:  "How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?" Romans 10:14 (KJV)

Privilege the Text helps us to hear!

I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

5 stars for humble excellence and God-given passion!  

TRACES OF GUILT - That's All Evie Blackwell Needs To Take The Case!

Evie Blackwell excels at her job as a detective in the Illinois State Police force.  So much so, that she is practically writing her own script . . . or job description.  So when a special "cold case" task force is created, the natural go-to to lead the endeavor is Evie.  True to form, her formidable detective skills not only shed light on two cold cases . .. . they also point to a potential third. 

In the meantime, Sheriff Gabriel Thorne is trying to come to grips with the unexpected discoveries . . . both in his jurisdiction, and in his heart.  Could Evie Blackwell hold the key to both?

I fell in love with Dee Henderson . . . the one who wrote the O'Malley series.  And I realize that time has a way of changing a person, but I don't really recognize the Dee Henderson I fell in love with.

The characters changed.  The moods changed.  The writing style has changed, and not in a good way. 

I received this book free in exchange for an honest review.

3 stars

COULD THE BOOK OF THE WARS BE THE BEGINNING OF THE END? Read Ronie Kendig's Latest Novel!

“From thence they removed, and pitched on the other side of Arnon, which is in the wilderness that cometh out of the coasts of the Amorites: for Arnon is the border of Moab, between Moab and the Amorites. Wherefore it is said in the book of the wars of the LORD, what he did in the Red sea, and in the brooks of Arnon, and at the stream of the brooks that goeth down to the dwelling of Ar, and lieth upon the border of Moab.”

Numbers 21:13-15 (KJV)

The Book has been found . . . and the mysteries surrounding said book have military leaderships around the globe scrambling to obtain the book of the wars of the LORD.  Navy Seal  Leif Metcalfe has been given command of his own team, and the opportunity to redeem himself from his previous failure, despite a 6 – month period of time of which he has no recollection. 

Bulgarian operative Iskra “Virorica” Todorova is also seeking the book, for her own personal desire . . . freedom.   However, a series of strange global storms, coupled with dire predictions of future events, have forced Leif and Iskra into an uneasy alliance in order to thwart impending disaster.

In the end, will Leif and Iskra find the freedom they are so desperately seeking? 

I normally devour Ronie Kendig’s writing.  However, I just couldn’t get into this particular book, for several reasons.

The book is large . . . not just in terms of pages.  It’s large in that it covers large areas of planet earth, much of which I’m not familiar with.  It contains many sub-plots, and those sub-plots develop over a large amount of time.  And this is just the first book in the series, which means the requisite “cliff-hanger” ending for this particular novel.

My biggest issue, however, stems from a personal bias – a prejudice, if you will.  I’ve never been a big fan of books that resurrect some obscure passage of scripture, and then unleash poetic license in megaton proportions.  My wife is an author, so I understand the imagination aspect of the craft.  But for me, the practice of eisegesis (reading something into the scriptures that may or may not actually be there) is not good.  God says what he means, and means what he says . . . human conjecture is not really necessary.

Ronie Kendig exhibits her usual nail – biting, gut – wrenching tension in her action scenes, putting the reader “into” the action as no one else can, and she develops the characters and their relationships so real that you feel you could recognize them on the street.  If you are looking to “escape” from reality, you could find no finer writer.

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

STORM RISING

Ronie Kendig

ISBN: 978-0-7642-3187-2

Suspense

Bethany House

381 pages

$15.99  U.S. paperback