Christian Book Review - Living with Confidence in a Chaotic World, by David Jeremiah

Annie’s Ink-Lings

“Sure, we realized the good times couldn’t last forever.  Everybody knows that economies move through seasons and cycles, just like everything else.  What goes up must come down – just basic common sense, right?  Still, those realizations didn’t quite prepare us for the reality.  It was as if the United States of America went to the doctor’s office for its annual checkup.  The nurse said, ‘This will hurt just a little bit,’ then picked up a mallet and smashed us a good one on the head!”

This is part of the introduction to Living with Confidence in a Chaotic World, by David Jeremiah.  While this book is mainly about the aftermath of the economic crisis of 2008, it is still pertinent to the present chaotic, disastrous, and fearful time.   Confidence can be hard to come by these days. People are losing their jobs, their houses, and their life savings at an unprecedented rate. Violence, natural disasters, and moral depravity seem to be skyrocketing.  

In the midst of all this chaos, we need to know...what on earth should we do now? You will find hope and confidence from the priceless counsel of the Word of God as he answers our most urgent questions, including:  •How can we weather this storm with a calm heart?  •What does it truly mean to “wait on the Lord?”  •What is Jesus saying to our chaotic world today?

Highly recommended.  Pick up a copy to read soon.

Blessing,
Annie

Book Review: In the Footsteps of Jesus, One Man's Journey, by Bruce Marchiano

Annie’s Ink-Lings

In the Footsteps of Jesus, One Man’s Journey, 

by Bruce Marchiano

This is a book written from the heart of the author, Bruce Marchiano, who portrayed Jesus in the movie, “The Gospel According to Matthew.”  It is his personal testimony of the effects that playing this roll had on his spiritual life and in his personal life.  One of the things that I found so encouraging was that he related how wonderfully God worked in his life and then shares that he is nobody special.  God wants to relate to each one of us right where we are.  Bruce talks about his background and details about how he came to be in such a film. He gives insight to his thoughts, feelings, and attitudes leading up to and during the filming.  You come away feeling as if you were on location with him during the shoot.

Bruce's writing is so fresh and conversational that you feel he is sitting in your home and chatting with you about what matters most in the world - Jesus!  Although he was a believer before playing the role of Jesus, I feel he was very transparent about what was in his heart and thoughts as the Holy Spirit led him to know a Jesus that he previously didn’t fully understand. 

It was an encouragement to me to read Bruce Marchiano's testimony about his amazing journey of following Christ and his life changing experience of portraying Jesus in the film.  What he shares is from the heart as he bares his soul in this book and the greater knowledge he gained of who Jesus really was. After reading the book, you feel as if Bruce is a friend who has shared an intimate part of his life with you.  More importantly, he reveals to us the Jesus who is a friend to us all, not a solemn or sad Messiah, but a man of joy and love.  I believe it will deepen your own relationship with Christ as it did with Bruce - it did mine!

Blessings,

Annie

Book Review: All the Light We Cannot See, by Anthony Doerr

Annie’s Ink-Lings

Haunting, harrowing, heartbreaking. This book was an incredible depiction of the Second World War, told from the point of view of two characters in very different circumstances.  It’s just before the Nazi invasion and occupation of Paris. A young blind girl relies on her father for everything and she is his world as well. He spends all his time making her a miniature wooden model of the city so she can get around alone with her white cane. In neighboring Germany, a young boy, who lives with his sister in an orphanage, starts fooling around with crystal radios and becomes a crackerjack radio repairman enthralled by the voices coming over the air. Her blindness and his fascination with these invisible waves give us the main theme of the book.

For me, this was a very special story. I feel like I have been on a long gut-wrenching journey, and in a way I have, traveling with two young children, one in Berlin and one in Paris and follow them as they grow-up. There are poignant moments, downright sad moments, moments that made me smile and moments that made me so very angry. Werner in Berlin is a curious child, a child with the talent for putting things together, like radios, he and his sister Jutta live in an orphanage. Marie-Laure, a blind girl and her father live in Paris. Her father is the locksmith and keeper of the keys the natural history museum. It is the radio that will connect these two lives long before they actually meet.

Werner finds that he has been chosen to be put into a military school. This is the brutal story of his education at a military school; the military escapades of the boy as he works with a German unit identifying and killing resistance radio operators. We travel along with him as we learn that the many young men in the Nazi party were trained to be cold blooded killers.

Letters from his sister back in Germany become the boy’s conscience after he enters military service. How far would you go along with the prevailing threats and times, how would you react when confronted with an injustice? This young man pays heavily for his supposed weakness of character. How long can one pretend everything is fine, trying to keep eyes closed so one cannot see?

This is the story of the chaotic flight of Marie-Laurie and her father from occupied Paris to distant relatives in St. Malo in Brittany; the imprisonment of her father; the search for a missing jewel; the formation of a women’s resistance movement in St. Malo; a budding one-day romance between the French girl and the German boy.

This is the story of a miniature towns and houses built by Marie-Laure’s father so she can get around wherever she lives. It is keys, the French resistance, the United States Air Force bombing of St. Malo, of imprisonments, love, and moral questions.

What I loved most about this book was all the light that I did see. There is so much here that captivated me - from the beautiful writing to the strong, caring characters, to the loving relationships, and the way people touched each other's lives during the trying times of WW II. The descriptions are wonderful, very detailed as they are made for a blind girl, to enable her to envision the many things described.

I really did not want this story to end.

Blessings,

Annie

Book Review: Agents of the Apocalypse

Annie’s Ink-Lings

                                  

Agents of the Apocalypse, by

 David Jeremiah

  

Dr. David Jeremiah makes the study of the End Times so exciting!  I could hardly put this book down.  It is written in a way that keeps one riveted to the pages and makes it very easy to understand what the Bible has to say about the things that are to come!  This is the perfect book for those of you who refrain from reading Revelation because you think it is too difficult to understand.  It is written using a style that should be especially helpful to someone who is not a Bible scholar.

Agents of the Apocalypse is not a word-for-word study of Revelation but instead, a study to understand the 10 primary characters involved in the book of Revelation.  Each chapter is divided into two parts.  The first part is a dramatized version of the specific agent; a "real life" fictional story to help the reader understand how the end times might play out.  The second half of the chapter is the actual biblical truth and explanation of the scripture.

Alternating each chapter with the story followed by the Scripture and commentary to back it up was absolutely fascinating.  I'd say that it captured my imagination but actually, it was more than that - my heart was captured more than my imagination.

This book filled me with both hope and heartache.  Hope that this life, no matter how bad it may get, is not the end.  Heartache that so many of those I love are choosing this world instead of Jesus.  My mind cannot grasp eternity, especially for those whose names are not found in the Book of Life.  The section on The Great White Throne chilled me to the marrow.  The question now is, am I motivated enough to boldly share the Good News.

Dr. Jeremiah's style relates the full meaning of the scripture; this is spiritual food for my soul!  Amazing and breathtaking!

Agents of the Apocalypse Chapters

 1. The Exile

 2. The Martyrs                      

 3. The 144,000                                               

 4. The Two Witnesses         

 5. The Dragon                   

 6. The Beast from the Sea

 7. The Beast from the Earth

 8. The Victor   

 9. The King

10. The Judge

 Epilogue:  The Overcomers

  

In addition, there is an Apocalypse DVD Bible Study.

Blessings,

Annie

Only the River Runs Free - Christian Book Review

Annie’s Ink-Lings

Only the River Runs Free, Book 1 of 4 of The Galway Chronicles

by Bodie and Brock Thoene

I am a big fan of  the authors Bodie and Brock Thoene's (pronounced Tay-Nee) a Christian husband-wife team. Previously, I have read the Zion Chronicles and Zion Covenant, both of which are in our church library.  I recently began reading The Galway Chronicles, which is also in our library. The Thoenes are known to be accurate in the historical content of their books and are amazingly gifted in bringing forth characters and developing them.   The Galway Chronicles is an awesome series of four books about the persecution of the Irish by the British.  In an endeavor to eliminate all influences of Irish heritage, the English forced an intellectual and spiritual bondage on Ireland as well as a bitter physical bondage of servitude.  Freedom had become so rare that the Irish coined a saying, "In Ireland only the rivers run free."

And, of course, it was this clash of Protestantism and Catholicism, English and Irish, that has become Ireland's story.

This is a review of the first book of the series. 

The setting for the series is Ballynockanor, Ireland, in 1841, under the rule of the British.  Queen Victoria was on the throne in England.  Some of the Irish turned on their own during this time to avoid the wrath of the British.  The story is woven with mystery and intrigue, love and romance, sin and forgiveness, and much Irish history, scenery, and folklore.

Only the River Runs Free is aptly titled, for no one, not even the land of Ireland itself, is free in this book. Joseph Connor Burke is a lost man.  Cheated out of his inheritance as the Burke after his father was murdered, he has lived a silent, hidden life apart from his native Ballynockanor.  As would be expected, Joseph has also been waiting for an opportunity to right old wrongs, to free himself from his past, and to step into the role he was destined to fill.

The Donovans are a proud, Irish family.  A tragic fire had taken the life of Mrs. Donovan, her youngest child, and the young husband of her oldest child Kate.  Mr. Donovan, still heartbroken over the deaths of his wife and youngest child, is bound to the bottle, while Kate, scarred from the fire, which still holds her heart in bondage, believes her beauty has been marred and she will never be loved again.  She is still beautiful, however, to Joseph, who is beginning to question his call to the priesthood.

This is more than Joseph's and Kate's story, however, and the other Donovans are just as engaging. The setting is well done and almost a character in itself. You will smell the green of Ireland. You will feel the land kick against English suppression. The Thoenes do a great job of meshing the political and religious issues into the plot without overwhelming the reader with details. While the characters are finding their way to freedom, so are the Irish people.

Only the River Runs Free is a highly recommended series by me!

Blessings,

Annie

Cold Shot

Cold shot is a term used by snipers.  You make the shot without a practice shot first.  Chief Park Ranger Griffin McCray of Gettysburg National Military Park knows all about cold shots, as he was formerly a SWAT team sniper.  Therefore, when Griffin was called to a crime scene in the park at Gettysburg, along with Finley Scott, a forensic anthropologist, they were able to determine that an expert sniper killed the victim.  Also called into the case are two of McCray’s three best friends from college days – Declan Grey an FBI agent and Parker Mitchell a crime scene analyst.  However, the third friend, Luke McCray, brother of Griffin McCray, had mysteriously disappeared after the tragic death of his and Griffin’s sister.  Their world – and their friendships – crumbled.  Each of the group realized that if they were going to be able to work together and solve this case, they were going to have to confront the dark days of the past.  Little did they know that their investigation would lead them to the mysterious disappearance of Luke.

The plot of this story has a lot going for it.  I really liked the action and suspense and how the author led us through the collection of clues and tied them together. What I did not like is the author’s weak attempt to add to the story a budding romance between Griffin and Finley.  I mean how could this woman, Finley, – all at the same time – 1. be fearfully shaking in her boots,  and  2. so overcome by Griffin’s closeness and manliness that she could hardly breathe from the excitement of standing next to him?  These romantic notions seemed to be randomly thrown in and did not add anything of merit to the story.  It was the same with references to God and faith – just thrown in so it could be called a Christian fiction book.  Not!

Bethany House Publishers provided this book to me for free in exchange for an honest review.

The Looney Experiment in the Life of an Eighth Grader

Meet Atticus Hobart, an eighth grader who has decided that his life is pretty much a mess and wonders how it got that way.  Why did his dad just up and walk out on his family, why does he choke up and cannot utter a word in public, why is he the one who is constantly beat up by Danny, the school bully, will he always silently pine for Audrey, the most beautiful girl in school?  And by the way, why was he named Atticus of all things?  Just so Danny could taunt him by calling him Fatticus?

Then into this mess and confusion, Mr. Looney appears as their substitute teacher for the rest of the year.  Not only is Mr. Looney old, he’s a bit loony himself, and older than dirt according to Atticus.  Taking the path less traveled seems to be Mr. Looney’s teaching style.  And yet there’s something about this guy that makes Atticus want to listen to him, and not just because Mr. Looney has a loud, clear, and strong voice.  Atticus began to feel safe inside and thought to himself, “I’d better listen up.  This voice has got something interesting to say.”

I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Looney Experiment written by Luke Reynolds.  It was very humorous and entertaining.  When Atticus’ imagination kicked in and he became the super hero in all kinds of situations, I actually laughed aloud.  But also it presented a very strong message.  In small steps Atticus left his shell of protection and began to feel hope.  This is a book about finding things within one’s self that you didn’t know existed.  Things like courage, believing in yourself, and the ability to manage the problems in your life.

In exchange for my review, the publisher has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book through BookLook Bloggers.

Love Your Neighbor

Hello friends,

Thanks for stopping by today.  A few days ago I completed a poster and display for my church library.  I love it when I can use my paper crafting tools in my ministry work.  I saw a similar poster on Pinterest and adapted it to fit my purpose.  You can see it in these two pictures. 

The wording on the poster is, "We are each unique and beautiful, but together we are a masterpiece!"

The theme is about loving your neighbors world wide.   As you know, love can break all kinds of barriers - skin color, different languages, customs.  As Jesus taught us, "The first commandment is . . . you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. . . . And the second , like it, is this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'  There is no other commandment greater than these."  Mark 12:30-31 

Below are a few books and movie titles that I put on display with the poster.  Check through them to see what you might find for your reading or viewing pleasure.

Blessings,

Annie

How to Love Your Neighbor (Book)

Thunder Dog (Book)

Abel's Field (DVD)

God's Not Dead (DVD)

Chasing Mavericks (DVD)

Rescue the Captors (Book)

End of the Spear (Book)



Small Things with Great Love (Book)

Kite Runner (Book)

Unconditional (DVD)

Fearless (Book)

Behind the Sun (DVD)

  

Fall Has Come Upon Us!

How beautifully summer has turned into fall.  I am thankful that I live in a place that shows the splendor of all four seasons.  Our Creator paints a new picture every day and I'm always excited to jump out of bed in the morning just to see His newest work of art.  Really!  I climb out of bed and the first thing I do is pull back the curtain and look outside.  Psalm 118:24 (NKJV) tells us,

"This is the day the Lord has made;

We will rejoice and be glad in it."

A changing season also means that it is time to change my church library display.  I've been busily working up a design and die cutting leaves with my Big Shot.  Truly, the Lord has blessed me by calling me to be our church librarian because I get to do three things that are a passion with me:  I love reading books, I love being creative, and I love making available materials that will help others grow in their spiritual life and for good wholesome entertainment. 

As I mentioned above, all the leaves were die cut.  I found a picture of a basket on the internet, enlarged and printed it, cut it out, and glued it on the poster sideways so the leaves would look like they are falling from the basket.  Several years ago I made the scarecrow.  Joann's had material with a scarecrow pattern, so all I had to do was cut out the pieces, sew them together, stuff, and embellish.  Mr. Scarecrow has been in many displays over the years.  The straw bale came from Joann's too, at a good price - only $1.  The sunflowers and the vines came from the Dollar Store.  Being creative can also be a lesson in good stewardship.  I think the display is colorful and cheerful and I hope it puts a smile on the face of viewers.

I pray you are experiencing the blessings of the fall season.  Enjoy!
Annie

Murder at the Mikado by Julianna Deering

 Since I love a good old-fashioned murder mystery, I really enjoyed reading this story.  It was well written, taking lots of twists and turns, with dark secrets being revealed throughout the investigation.  Except for the three main characters, practically everyone else was a possible suspect.  Julianna Deering was an unknown author to me until my reading of Murder at the Mikado.  I’m glad she was brought to my attention and I plan to read more of her murder mysteries.

The story takes place in the 1930’s in a small English town and at the country estate of  Drew Farthering.  Whenever there is a mystery to be solved, Drew somehow ends up in the middle of the investigation.  This time Drew becomes involved at the request from the beautiful wife of one of his employees.  To make matters worse, the wife turns out to be a former girlfriend and this does not sit well with Drew’s fiancée.  The wife is the first suspect in the murder of a celebrated actor with whom she had had an affair.  I say the first suspect because as the investigation progresses, four or five others are rooted out as possible suspects and they all have a motive for murder.  Just when Drew thinks he might be close to discovering the truth, the story takes another turn and he is hard put to find any solid facts.  

Both the main characters are Christians with good moral character.  The story is without profanity and sexuality – just a good, clean “who done it” murder mystery.  I recommend it to all mystery lovers and plan to donate the book to my church library.

Bethany House Publishers provided this book to me for free in exchange for an honest review.