Jesus, Jihad, and Pace by Michael Youssef

What Bible Prophecy Says About World Events Today

Judaism, Christianity, and Islam all feature parallel accounts of the ‘end times,’ and all three accounts feature a messianic Savior, an apocalyptic final war between good and evil, and a central role for the city of Jerusalem; do these three ‘end times’ scenarios intersect in some way? In a world that cries out for peace, which will prevail—Jesus or jihad?

My review:

 It is very rare that I read a non-fiction book in one setting, but I read this one in one setting. The author knows his stuff, and writes in a way to make a fascinating and informative read.

  I know of some of the differences between Islam and Christianity, and between Allah and God, but Yousseff lays out the differences in an easy to understand graph and also discusses them. I found myself wondering more than once why people turn to Islam over Christianity..... Jesus offers so much more.

 There is a chapter on the Antichrist and the parallels between him and the Muslim Mhadi, a powerful Muslim figure who will rise to power in the last day, and although the author didn't come out and say it, it sounds like the two could be the same man, which could possibly mean the Antichrist will be a Muslim.

  He also describes the start of Islam and what all of the mess in the Middle East is about. As the title suggests, he talks about Jihad and what it really means, and the final section is on peace and what it really means.

 I'll admit, I am even more fearful of Islam and what they are doing here in America now, but I learned a lot from the book and would recommend reading it. It is well written and very informative. We all need to know more about this stuff and this is a great book to read to learn more.

About the author:

Michael Youssef, Ph.D., is the founder and president of Leading The Way with Dr. Michael Youssef, a worldwide ministry that leads the way for people living in spiritual darkness to discover the light of Christ through the creative use of media and on-the-ground ministry teams. His weekly television programs and daily radio programs are broadcast more than 4,300 times per week in 24 languages to more than 190 countries. He is also the founding pastor of The Church of The Apostles in Atlanta, Georgia.


Jesus, Jihad, and Peace is available from Worthy Publishing.

Thanks to Worthy Publishing for the review copy.

   

Seek and Hide by Amanda Stevens

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Seek and Hide David C. Cook (September 15, 2014) by Amanda Stevens

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

As a child, Amanda G. Stevens disparaged Mary Poppins and Stuart Little because they could never happen. Now, she writes speculative fiction. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in English and has taught literature and composition to home-school students. She lives in Michigan and loves books, film, music, and white cheddar popcorn. Amanda's first novel, Seek and Hide, will be available September 15, 2014 from David C Cook.



ABOUT THE BOOK

Six years ago, the government took control of the church. Only re-translated Bibles are legal, and a specialized agency called the Constabulary enforces this and other regulations. Marcus Brenner, a new Christian, will do anything to protect his church family from imprisonment--including risk his own freedom to gain the trust of a government agent. Aubrey Weston recanted her faith when the Constabulary threatened her baby. Now released, she just wants to provide for her son and avoid government notice. But she's targeted again, and this time, her baby is taken into custody. If only she'd never denied Him, maybe God would hear her pleas for help. When Aubrey and Marcus's lives collide, they are forced to confront the lies they believe about themselves. And God is about to grab hold of Marcus's life in a way he'd never expect, turning a loner into a leader.

If you'd like to read the first chapter of Seek and Hide, go HERE.



My review:

  Although the premise of this book is sobering and scary - an America where Christianity is illegal, the Bible is banned, and only state approved churches are allowed - this was a great read that I found hard to put down.

 It is a fact that this premise could happen here some day, and most likely will, and the author did a great job of portraying what life might be like for Christians in that day. It wasn't a mystery/suspense novel, but it was still a very suspenseful read.

  I liked the main character, Marcus a lot. He wasn't perfect, a new Christian battling alcoholism, but very willing to risk his life to help other Christians, or "family" as he thought of them.

 This is the first book this author has had published, and it is a great debut novel. It is also the first book in a series, and I am looking forward to reading more in this series. I highly recommend,

The Ishbane Conspiracy by Randy, Angela, and Karina Alcorn

Jillian is picture-perfect on the outside, but terrified of getting hurt on the inside. Brittany is a tough girl who trusts almost no one. Ian is a successful athlete who dabbles in the occult. And Rob is a former gang-banger who struggles with guilt, pain, and a newfound faith in God. These four college students will face the ultimate battle between good and evil in a single year. As spiritual warfare rages around them, a dramatic demonic correspondence takes place. Readers can eavesdrop on the enemy, and learn to stave off their own defeat, by reading The Ishbane Conspiracy.



My review:

  This book came out in 2001, and if I am correct, was marketed for teenagers. It was offered for review, and I can't remember if I read it or not, so I requested it. If I did read it, I don't remember any of it.

  This is very similar to C.S. Lewis' book, The Screwtape Letters. It is an "inside look" at demons work on an individual, or in this instance, four different individuals, all of them college students.

 I listened to The Screwtape Letters and read Randy's similar adult book, but like this one the best. Since there are more people involved, it makes the book more interesting and moves it along at a faster pace.

 I thought the authors did a great job on the characters and plot. It not only kept my attention, but made me realize how hard the devil does tempt us. Even though the story is fictional, and the demons and their activities a figment of the authors' imaginations, it still was a stark reminder of what we face and how much the devil wants is to fall to his snares.

  This is more modern than The Screwtape Letters, and although it was geared for teenagers, adults will enjoy this fresher look at what C.S. Lewis did in his novel.

About the author:

Randy Alcorn is the founder of Eternal Perspective Ministries (EPM), a nonprofit organization dedicated to teaching biblical truth and drawing attention to the needy and how to help them. EPM exists to meet the needs of the unreached, unfed, unborn, uneducated, unreconciled and unsupported people around the world.

"My ministry focus is communicating the strategic importance of using our earthly time, money, possessions and opportunities to invest in need-meeting ministries that count for eternity," Alcorn says. "I do that by trying to analyze, teach and apply the implications of Christian truth."

Before starting EPM in 1990, Alcorn co-pastored for thirteen years Good Shepherd Community Church outside Gresham, Oregon. He has ministered in many countries, including China, and is a popular teacher and conference speaker. Randy has taught on the part-time faculties of Western Seminary and Multnomah University, both in Portland, Oregon. 

Randy is a best-selling author of over 40 books including Heaven, The Treasure Principle and the 2002 Gold Medallion winner, Safely Home. He has written numerous articles for magazines such as Discipleship Journal, Moody, Leadership, New Man, and The Christian Reader. He produces the quarterly issues-oriented magazine Eternal Perspectives, and has been a guest on more than 650 radio and television programs including Focus on the Family, Family Life Today, The Bible Answer Man, Revive Our Hearts, Truths that Transform and Faith Under Fire.

Alcorn resides in Gresham, Oregon with his wife, Nanci, and their Dalmatian, Moses. The Alcorns have two married daughters, Karina and Angela.

Randy and Nanci are the proud grandparents of four grandsons. Randy enjoys hanging out with his family, biking, tennis, research and reading.


The Ishbane Conspiracy is available from Waterbrook/Multnomah Publishing.

Thanks to Waterbrook/Multnomah for the review copy.

The Babylon Contingency by Clifford Longley

A riveting international adventure-mystery

Investigating a burglary at an English country house, Detective Chief Inspector Robbie Peele comes face to face with one of the most mysterious objects in world archaeology, the Phaestos Disk--and with the Middle Eastern terrorist cell determined to steal it.

The vital clue is a long abandoned Muslim village in Crete, where a Victorian gentleman explorer witnessed horrors that were meant to be secret and recorded what he saw in coded diaries. Seeking the truth about the Phaestos Disk, Peele and his assistant, Sarah Shipton, are on the cusp of solving the mystery when they are caught in an ancient Egyptian burial chamber during an earthquake.

In the end Peele has to ask far harder questions than simply who committed the original burglary. The origins of the Phaestos Disk are inextricably bound up with the Middle East peace process in ways that frustrate and astound him.

Certain to draw readers into a world of ancient secrets and international intrigue, The Babylon Contingency is the first in a riveting new series from experienced journalist and broadcaster Clifford Longley.

My review:

   This was a new author to me, but it sounded like a book that was in my preferred reading genre'.

  Outside of some mild language, the book is clean, though not much on the Christian content side. It is an interesting and suspenseful read, though a bit slower than some suspense novels I have read.

  I am not much for first person point of view books, though some are better than others. I think I would have enjoyed this one more had it been in the third person point of view. I did like the main character and the other characters.

  Any book that has historical parts to it interests me, so I enjoyed that part of the book. I liked the book overall, and felt the author brought the story to a satisfying conclusion.



The Babylon Contingency is available from Lion Publishing, part of the Kregel Publishing Group.
  

The Crimson Cord by Jill Eileen Smith

Wife to a gambler who took one too many risks, Rahab finds herself sold as a slave to cover her husband's debt. Forced into prostitution, she despairs of ever regaining her freedom and her self-respect. But when Israelite spies enter Jericho and come to lodge at her house, Rahab sees a glimmer of hope and the opportunity of a lifetime.

In one risky moment, she takes a leap of faith, puts her trust in a God she does not know, and vows to protect the spies from the authorities. When the armies of Israel arrive weeks later, Rahab hopes they will keep their promise, but she has no idea what kind of challenges await her outside Jericho's walls--or if she will ever know the meaning of love.

Under Jill Eileen Smith's talented hand, the familiar story of Rahab bursts forth in high definition. Immerse yourself in a world of dark and dusty streets, clandestine meetings, and daring escapes as a mysterious biblical figure claims her full humanity--and a permanent place in your heart.

My review:

  I didn't used to like Biblical fiction, and I went years without reading any. Most of what I read years ago didn't impress me and so I avoided that genre'. Then some new authors started writing it, and I started reading some of it again, and found to my amazement that there is some great Biblical fiction out there.

 This book really interested me. We don't know a lot about Rahab. She was a prostitute, hid the spies that Joshua sent into Jericho and was rewarded by having her and everyone in her house spared. She evidently embraced the God of the Israelites, for she married one and is one of four women mentioned by name in the lineage of Jesus. She is a character that needs a story, and this book gives her one.

  Now as with all Biblical and historical fiction, the author takes some license and weaves fiction around the real story. I liked the results of Jill's efforts to bring this story to life, while staying true to the Biblical account. The author gives a scenario from her mind of how Rahab may have gotten into the life she was living, and it worked for the story.

 There is some romance in the book, and the reader gets a look at what it may have been like for a non-Jew to come into the Jewish faith and leave behind their life and gods to worship the one true God. I found myself moved by the story, as I read anew how God defeated Jericho and other cities, how Achan's sin causes so many deaths and what his end was. The book was entertaining, yet had the great message that God can redeem anyone and use them. He even used a harlot in the lineage that would bring Jesus into this world.

 This is book one in the Daughters of The Promised Land Series, and if this book is any indication, this will be a great series.

About the author: 

Jill Eileen Smith is the bestselling author of the Wives of King David series, the Wives of the Patriarchs series, and the ebook novella The Desert Princess, book 1 in the Loves of King Solomon series. Her research has taken her from the Bible to Israel, and she particularly enjoys learning how women lived in Old Testament times. When she isn't writing, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends. She can often be found reading, testing new recipes, grabbing lunch with friends, or snuggling Tiger, her little writing buddy who chews her fingers as she works. She lives with her family in southeast Michigan. She loves hearing from her readers. Learn more at www.jilleileensmith.com.



The Crimson Cord is available from Revell Publishing, part of the Baker Publishing Group.

Thanks to Revell for the review copy.

NASB Note-taker's Bible

Finally, a hardcover Bible that has plenty of room for taking notes during public or private worship, small group fellowships, or any other time or place readers feel the need to make comments in their Bible. No more cramped writing in tiny margins—the NASB Note-Taker’s Bible makes it easy to stay organized and neat. Readers will be able to personalize the text of God’s Word to their lives like never before and will treasure it as a record of their spiritual journey. Includes the complete text of the popular New American Standard translation.

Features:

• Deluxe wide margins for note takers
• Complete NASB text
• Double column text for easy reading
• Words of Christ in red letter

My review: 

I have never owned or used a NASB Bible, so the translation was new to me. Although I still prefer a couple of other versions, I do like what I have read and seen of this one as I read it for reviewing.

  Note taking or writing in Bibles has never been something I have done, but that is the idea behind this Bible. It has large margins on each page and extra space at the bottom of each page, ideal for writing notes.

  The Bible itself is plain. There are no study notes, pictures, or any bells and whistles. It is done simply with only more space to take notes as its selling point and perk, but for those who do take notes, it is a great tool.

  I did find the print a bit small for reading, and wish they had used a larger font, but some may not have an issue with that.

  It is available in several other versions besides the NASB.

The NASB Note-taker's Bible is available from Zondervan Publishing.

Thanks to BookLook Bloggers for the review copy

The Wisdom Tree by Mary Manners

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Wisdom Tree White Rose Publishing (September 19, 2012) by Mary Manners

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

A Word from the Author:
I live in the beautiful foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee with my husband, Tim, and our teen-aged daughter, Danni. Also with us are Lucky and Gus - the two cherished cats we rescued from local animal shelters.

I'm a member of the Romance Writers of America and Smoky Mountain Romance Writers. During the school year, I teach middle-schoolers reading and Algebra. When I have free time, I love to garden, take long walks with my husband, and read romance novels in a hammock beneath century-old shade trees.

I write romance novels for White Rose Publishing. If you'd like to visit, I have an author page there, as well. That's where you'll find everything there is to know about my books.

I also have author pages at the following locations. Do come by and spend some time with me there!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Sometimes the last thing we think we need is exactly what God has planned
After the death of his parents, Jake Samuels has enough on his plate—including a fledgling church to lead and a mischievous younger brother to raise. The last thing he needs is a rambunctious woman to contend with.

Carin O'Malley is dealing with the death of her brother and a new job as an English teacher at East Ridge Middle School where Corey Samuels reigns as King of Chaos. The last thing she needs is to fall in love...especially with a handsome and complicated preacher like Corey’s brother Jake.

But when Corey's antics toss Carin and Jake together, the two must draw from God’s wisdom to find refuge in His perfect plan.

------------------------------------------------ Discover your own wisdom tree with the included one-month devotional.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Wisdom Tree, go HERE.

My review:
  Although this is a romance, it sounded worth reading to me. It was an awesome book and I enjoyed it a lot, though I was disappointed it wasn't longer.

  I liked the characters a lot in the book. I am a sucker for a story with kids in, especially troubled kids. The book had a great plot, and I liked the idea of having a wisdom tree. It made me want to have my own.