"....but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine."
I Timothy 4:12, 13

Friday, May 28, 2010

"The Last Christian" by David Gregory excerpts

Let me reetirate, this is a great book that I think every Christian needs to read.  It is a forecast of where Christianity in America is heading and is a real eye opener.  One thing he points out as part of the reason that people don't get saved anymore is that there is no real difference between some Christians and non Christians, and since there isn't a change, why bother?  That is so sad!  Can people tell you are a Christian by the way you act and dress, or do you have to tell people so that they will know?  Are you an example of Christ?  You don't want to be part of the reason Christianity falls in America do you?  Then you need to study God's Word and give yourself a "makeover"!
Okay, I'll stop preaching for now, :) and give you some qoutes from the book that I really liked.:
Remember, the book is fiction and set in the year 2088:
"Many people didn't keep up with either parent anymore.  The parents of my generation had never married and hadn't contracted to stay together more than ten years.  Parents had become a life stage, not a permanent commitment."  Don't you see this starting to happen already?
One of the many themes of the book is "Life", you have bioligical life and what would you consider the other Life"? God is Life. "This (pregnant) mother's life was constantly flowing into her baby.  The baby didn't have to do anything to get it.  It was already his.  ...Apart from her, he had no life. .... All he had to do was be at rest and receive that life."  This is just like a Christian's relationship with God.  We have no life apart from Him and He gives it freely to us.
Here is a link to his website with more information on him:
http://davidgregorybooks.com/index.php
This book tells it the way it is and makes no excuses.  Please read this book for a great blessing!
Happy Reading!
Missy

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

"The Last Christian" by David Gregory

I had never read David Gregory before and probably would not have read this one if Waterbrook had not sent this one to me.  I am so glad that I read it!  It is one of the best fiction novels that I have read in a long time!!!  Mr. Gregory is able to weave fiction with biblical facts and some great "what ifs" about the future.  Some of the laws he talks about has already come to pass.
The year is 2088 and America has changed tremendously.  Abby has lived in Papua New Guinea with a tribe that has had no outside contact with the world for over 20 years.  Her parents were missionaries and Abby was born in this village.  Abby has to leave the village to get help for her village and adopted daughter, Miraba.  She is thrust into a world where Christianity has been wiped out, people no longer get married and just have ten year contracts with their life partners instead, people have brain transplants, and morals are done away with.  Abby has to re-introduce Christianity into America, but is Christianity salvation only, or is there more to it?  Will she find the true meaning of "Life"?  You have got to read this book for a great spiritual lesson.  The ending is a surprise that you would not expect.

Here is a link to buy the book directly from Random House:
http://www.randomhouse.com/gm/results.pperl?title_subtitle_auth_isbn=the+last+christian

I'll post some great quotes from the book tomorrow on my blog!

Happy Reading,
Missy!

Monday, May 17, 2010

"Deadly Intent" by Camy Tang

I just finished another "short read" from Love Inspired Suspense.  Camy Tang is a new author for me and I really enjoyed her book.  There is a murder at an exclusive spa and the lady in charge, Naomi, is being framed for murder.  Her faith is tested as she tries to figure out why the Lord would let this happen to her.  I would recommend it.
I'm sorry this review is so short today but I have a terrible sinus headache and I don't want to forget the book.  :)
Happy Reading!
Missy

Thursday, May 13, 2010

"A Cloud of Suspicion" by Patricia Davids

When I started to read the book  "A Cloud of Suspicion" I first made sure that it was not a part of a series.  Guess what?  It is right smack in the middle of a series!  UGGGH!  It is part of the series "Without A Trace" by Love Inspired Suspense.  That is very frustrating wondering what is going on!
Aside from the "series thing", it was a great book!  Patricia Davids does a great job writing.  She weaves the mystery and her characters together beautifully!  The book is about three murders and the disappearance of another.  Shelby is a Christian and does not apologize for talking about God and inviting people to church.  More people should have her attitude.
It's a great book and I can't wait to read more by Patricia!
Happy Reading!
Missy

Monday, May 10, 2010

"Indivisible" by Kristen Heitzmann

Waterbrook - Multnomah sent me this book to review and blog about.  I was trying to hurry up and finish "Uncle Tom's Cabin" so that I could start reading Indivisible.  I took the book with me on my camping trip this weekend and finished it in two days!  I expected it to last me the whole weekend, but I could not put the book down.  The first couple of paragraphs used too many descriptive words to set the setting and my mind started to blur, but after the first page the book just took off. Kristen is great at giving you just enough information to keep you interested, but not enough to give anything away, you have to keep reading it to find out what happens.
She takes several people who have "issues" to deal with and are very different and throws them together to become great friends.  You have Jonah, the police chief who had an abusive father growing up, Tia, the smart girl who could never please her mother and was emotionally abused, Piper, the Barbie look-a-like who just wants a normal life, Sarge, a grouchy old man who yells at everyone, and Miles, who has a germ-a-phobia.  These people seem to have nothing in common, yet they help each other in a big way.  She sets the tone of the book with Piper finding two raccoons sewn together, they killed each other trying to get apart.  Jonah has to figure out what kind of sick person would do such a thing.
The book had an excellent story line, was well written and taught a good lesson.  However, it contains stuff that should not be in a Christian book.  Yes the characters go to church and pray, but it never mentions salvation or anything else.  They drink alcohol, listen to rock music, etc.  She even talked about Jonah liking a girl's boobs,and one of the characters say a bad word.  Philippians 4:8:  "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."  This is why I read Christian books instead of secular books, to keep my thoughts pure, I wish all Christian authors would honor
Here is an interview Kristen gave about the book.
that.http://www.multnomahemails.com/wbmlt/audio/Kristen_Heitzmann.mp3

Happy Reading,
Missy

Monday, May 3, 2010

Uncle Tom's Cabin or Life Among the Lowly

I'm almost done with the book.  I have learned a lot of things about slavery they never taught in History Class.  They had men who would whip slaves for a living.  If a master or mistress was unhappy with a slave, they could be sent to these people who did nothing but whip slaves all day.  Often if the slave girl was pretty, the man would humiliate her in many ways. 
They had slave warehouses where slaves would be sent who were waiting for auction, and the warehouse owners would "fatten" up the slaves and make them healthy in order to bring more money at the "market".  Sounds like I am talking about animals, doesn't it?
Some slave owners would buy some women just to be breeders, so they could sell their children to make money.  This is kind of like what people do with horses, they would match them up with their best "bucks" to produce the best slaves.  Some men would buy the pretty girls just for their pleasure at home, and then sell their own children. 
"And behold, the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power, but they had no comforter."  Ecclesiastes 4:1
Mrs. Stowe often talks about how these people will have to answer for their sins at the judgement seat of Christ, and she is absolutely right!