Green

Ted Dekker's Green is part of his Circle Series and he notes that this book can be read first or last as part of that circle. Since I read it last, I had to skim back over Black, Red, and White to understand the circle theory and place Green into the circle's sequence.

Thomas Hunter, the main character, continues to travel between the past and the future with dire consequences to both worlds. In the histories, the fall of mankind keeps good and evil in the spiritual realm. But, in the future world, good and evil can be seen, touched and tasted until mankind once again rejects that reality creating apocalyptic results.

The circle's story continues with the The Books of History Chronicles broken down into two additional series: The Lost Books (Chosen, Infidel, Renegade, Chaos) and The Paradise Novels (Showdown, Saint, Sinner).

Cry in the Night

Colleen Coble's Cry in the Night takes the reader to Rock Harbor, Michigan (the setting for previous Rock Harbor mysteries) where search-and-rescue worker Bree Matthews and her dog Samson find an abandoned baby in the woods. Bree ignores the objections from Kade, her second husband, takes the baby girl in and continues to search for the baby's mother. But, when her search reveals a strange connection to her first husband's mysterious death, it unravels her faith.

This was another easy-to-read "who done it" story. The characters draw the reader into the setting while keeping the reader intrigued with solving the mystery.

Walking Lazarus

Since T.L. Hines gives away the subject of his book in the title, Walking Lazarus, it is no surprise that the main character, Jude, has died and come back to life. The twist is that it happened three times and seems to have an underlying purpose. Jude has changed his name, moved to a new town and become a recluse near an area where children are disappearing.

As Jude unravels the mystery of his own deaths and the evil lurking around his new hometown, he struggles to hide his identity while being accused of killing children. the book definitely has the one thing most appealing about a good supernatural suspense thriller ... things are not always as they appear while the reader is traveling through the pages of the unknown.

The Autobiography of Zig Ziglar

July is the time to revisit a couple of favorite books that inspire and encourage with the first one being The Autobiography of Zig Ziglar.
Zig Ziglar, now in his 80s, is a motivational speaker with a message of excellence and hope. His classic best seller, See You at the Top, built around the idea that  "you can have everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want" has been popular in the corporate world for generations.

Zig's life story and the people and events that helped shape him into a world-renown author, motivator and speaker are highlighted in this book. It also gives insight into his life-learned success philosophy of  discipline, hard work, common sense, integrity, commitment and a sense of humor. The last few pages of the book discuss what Zig considers most important and ends with the sinner's prayer.

Prepare to be inspired! You know it is vintage Zig when you see this declaration written before the title page:  "You, ___________, will find the help, hope, and encouragement in this book that will serve as a reminder that if man can take moldy bread and make penicillin out of it, just think what a loving God can make out of you".

Dead Heat

Joel C. Rosenberg's Dead Heat is the fifth and final novel in his geopolitical thriller series. The author's note prefacing the first chapter reiterates that the novel is fiction, but it still makes one wonder about the turbulent world we live in and what role, if any, the United States will play in the end times.

President MacPherson's second term in office is ending, a new dictator is rising in Iraq, Israel is on a urgent quest to complete the Third Temple, China and North Korea forces appear ready to strike and  the world is on the verge of a mammoth disaster. After terrorists attack the United States, Jon Bennett is called upon again to help. But this time he is in a remote Jordanian refugee camp with his wife, Erin, who has contracted a potentially fatal illness.

Although it is a fast-paced, action-packed and thought-provoking read, I add my prayer to the author's that the events stay fictional.

The Last Days

The Last Days is one of  Joel C. Rosenberg's geopolitical thrillers where Jon Bennett, a former Wall Street strategist, becomes the point man for an Arab-Israeli peace plan. With the world watching, Jon and his beautiful CIA partner, Erin McCoy, arrive in the Middle East to meet with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.

However, before the historic meeting can take place, explosive events send Jon and Erin underground where they facilitate a peace plan in secret. The plan would harness vast supplies of oil and natural gas and make every Muslin, Christian, and Jew in Israel and Palestine wealthy. But men with evil hearts and the countries that support them want no part of peace in the Middle East and launch assaults aimed to kill all those involved with the peace plan.

The scary part about this fictional story is that you can easily imagine it tomorrow's headlines.

Scream

Scream, by Mike Dellosso, is a thriller that will keep you glued to the pages. The main character, Mark Stone, has his phone calls interrupted by otherworldly screams, the kind of screams that remind him of the weeping and gnashing of teeth describing hell.

When Mark realizes that the people on the other end of his phone calls die shortly after hearing the screams, he begins to search for their meaning. While struggling with his own broken faith and marriage, he receives a phone call from Cheryl, his kidnapped estranged wife. That phone call sends Mark racing to save Cheryl from both the kidnapper and the screams.

A final note from the author points out that while the book was written to entertain, it was also written to challenge us to think about life and death, heaven and hell, and where we will spend eternity. He also gives a call to action: to accept Jesus and then tell everyone about it. A good reminder that the Christian supernatural thriller I'm working on also has that dual purpose.



 

Going Rogue

Going Rogue is Sarah Palin's memoir. Although scrutinized and criticized to the nth degree, I enjoyed the book. I wasn't looking for the errors, exaggerations, and "gotcha" moments I'd heard so much about from mainstream media since the book was published. I was looking for the story of the ordinary woman who became the 2008 vice presidential candidate. The woman who believes in many of the same things I do.

I wasn't disappointed. I learned a lot about how the people and situations in her life led to that momentous event. I also learned a lot about Alaska, a state at the opposite end of the spectrum from my state of Florida. And, I enjoyed the stories and the photographs inviting me into her life.

The parts that talk about the campaign and the events since losing the election that have been so vehemently attacked in the media did not appear to be vindictive to this reader. They were written from her perspective so of course they are subjective to her perception of reality. Isn't that how we all see things? From our own reality.

Conservatives and even many independents will enjoy this look into Sarah Palin's life. Liberals will continue to be outraged.

A Tendering in the Storm

A Tendering in the Storm by Jane Kirkpatrick is part of her Change and Cherish Historical Series. Although the main character is Emma Giesy, some chapters are written from Lousia Keil's point of view. Since I find switching characters and point of view with chapters distracting, I didn't get lost in the story as I do with those that glide effortlessly between the characters.

However, it is a compelling story about the struggle of a strong-willed German American living inside a religious community and the desperate choices she makes so she can raise her children her way. A good reminder that our way isn't always the best way and may, in fact, hinder the blessings God has planned for our lives.

Seminole Song

Seminole Song by Vella Munn is a story about the struggle of Seminole Indians and runaway slaves living in the Everglades during the 1830s. Growing up near the Everglades and a Seminole Indian reservation, I'm always drawn to books about both topics.

 The story focuses on Panther, the war chief of the Egret clan of Seminoles, Winter Rain, half Seminole and half runaway slave, Gaitor, a runaway slave who is Panther's closet confident, and Calida, a runaway house slave who escapes a cruel plantation owner and former army officer. Army generals, angered by the Seminoles who help runaway slaves, refuse to live on reservations, and conceal themselves in the swamps, offer a false treaty to the tribal chiefs. Meanwhile, the cruel plantation owner rejoins the army under the false pretense of helping the army round up the Seminole clans so he can pursue capturing Calida.

One of the unique aspects of this book is the little-known alliance between the Florida Seminole Indians and runaway slaves just prior to the Civil War. It also examines the prejudice and injustice white plantation owners and army soldiers inflicted upon both the Seminoles and the slaves struggling for freedom. From the very beginning, I was struck by the cruelty, hate,and inhumane treatment white men dispensed while they referred to the Seminoles as savages and the slaves as animals.

The Circle Trilogy

The Circle Trilogy by Ted Dekker consists of three books: Black, Red, and White. The trilogy is about the main character, Thomas Hunter, living in two worlds. He falls asleep in one world and wakes up in another. Although he isn't sure which world is the real one and which world is the dream one until the very end, he comes to realize his actions in one world has an impact on the other.

I must admit I struggled reading Black in the beginning and had to get past the first several chapters before I was hooked. Once I reached that point I spent several late nights (too late I'd discover the next morning) absorbed in the books and racing to find answers to Thomas Hunter's questions.

The story continues with the The Books of History Chronicles broken down into two additional series: The Lost Books (Chosen, Infidel, Renegade, Chaos) and The Paradise Novels(Showdown, Saint, Sinner). I didn't realize Showdown was part of the this story and read it many months ago. It will fun to go back and scan through it in the context of the chronicles.

No Limits: Living on the Edge

From the wing walkers to the aerobatic airplane maneuvers to the high-performance jets, one common denominator resonates with exhibition pilots – a passion and desire for excellence. They push the limits of man and machine as far as they can with heart-stopping maneuvers.

As the planes twist, turn and loop with precision, many questions formulate. What is it about taking it to the next level and living on the edge that draws these pilots in? Are there lives different because they have a life-and-death job? How does it affect their faith? Are they so focused on the maneuvers they miss the splendor?

The earth passes by them in slow motion. Roads and rivers cut into the earth like pencil marks on an artist’s sketch pad. Buildings become linear, trees flat splotches of green, and lakes dark flat shapes. It makes one wonder. How big is our God? The human mind can’t begin to comprehend it. Each minuscule dot and linear shape houses individuals illustrating the minuteness of man. Do the pilots feel it? Do they feel the power of God while soaring through the skies? Or, do they focus on the task at hand with their mind focused only performance, avoiding a disaster, landing safely, and other earthly things?

As the plane descends the flat linear objects pop up and take on their three-dimensional shape. The closer to the ground, the bigger the objects appear. Within minutes, the plane lands, the majesty disappears, and man takes center stage. Are the pilots affected by the pull of man verses the freedom of spirit? What draws them toward the heavens? Is it mere adrenaline or is it something much more?

How differently would we live if our job had life-and-death consequences? Would we be closer to God? Would we live every moment? Live on purpose? We may not take to the skies everyday, but we all live with life-and-death consequences. Do we choose life or do we choose death? The Bible says choose life!

Springtime and Wildflowers

Springtime and wildflowers - celebrating birth, renewal, life.

To casual observers, Florida seasons are essentially non-existent or limited to hot and warm, tourist and non-tourist, summer and not summer. To natives, the seasons are subtle, but distinctive.

In springtime, babies abound in open spaces of the interior pine flat lands. Calves and colts cling to their mothers while quail, scrub jays, and mockingbirds guard their nests. In the wetlands, baby alligators and snapping turtles take their first swim. Weeds drink April showers and dance in the breezes to transform into yellow, pink, and lavender kaleidoscopes. "Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these." Luke 12:27 (NIV)

This flurry of activity in nature sets the stage for Easter. New life is born and weeds are transformed. " ... I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." John 10:10 (NIV) Souls are reborn, lives transformed, new creatures in Christ. Easter - celebrating rebirth, renewal, life. He is risen!