Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Snow Melts in Spring

(Book #1 - Season of the Tallgrass Series)

Debut novel by Deborah Vogts

Zondervan 2009
304 pages

A Romance Even Men Would Read

Veterinarian Mattie Evans loves the wide open spaces of Flint Hills, Kansas and can't imagine calling any other place home. But her business is faltering, and in order to keep it, she must regain the trust of area ranchers. After suffering through several mishaps, she's not confident she can earn their support.

Then she gets called to save a severely injured horse and is thrust into the middle of a good friend's family conflict--between an estranged father and his pro-football playing son.

Will this be the end of her career or the beginning of an unexpected romance?

In Deborah Vogt's debut novel, she proves herself to be a marvelous storyteller. In painting this story of forgiveness, she colors the Kansas prairies and ranch with beautiful detail. In combining romance and football, she has created a story that both men and women will enjoy.

Friday, September 25, 2009

The Familiar Stranger

By Christina Berry
Published by Moody Publishers (2009)
320 pages


REVIEW

Love … Betrayal … Forgiveness … Restoration

When Craig Littleton leaves his home, he plans to never return, to abandon his wife and sons in pursuit of freedom. And his detailed plans are foolproof.
     But, as he literally drives on the road toward liberty, he’s involved in a severe accident. He lives, but all his memories are gone.
     His wife, Denise, unaware of his plans to desert the family, nurses him back to health, and he learns to love her again.
     But then, his memories come tumbling back …
     Will he be able to restore all the lives he broke before the accident?


***
In the tradition of Francine Rivers, debut author, Christina Berry, delivers an impactful story of love, betrayal, forgiveness, & new beginnings. Her unique method of telling the story from both Denise’s and Craig’s point-of-view adds dimension to the characters, & depth to the emotions. I look forward to reading more from her in the future.


AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY
Single mother and foster parent, Christina Berry carves time to write from her busy schedule because she must tell the stories that haunt her every waking moment. (Such is the overly dramatic description of an author's life!) She holds a BA in Literature, yet loves a good Calculus problem, as well. Her debut novel, The Familiar Stranger, releases from Moody in September and deals with lies, secrets, and themes of forgiveness in a troubled marriage. A moving speaker and dynamic teacher, Christina strives to Live Transparently--Forgive Extravagantly!
     Her work has also appeared in The Secret Place, The Oregonian, and Daily Devotions for Writers. Find her at http://www.christinaberry.net/ and http://www.authorchristinaberry.blogspot.com/


A CHAT WITH CHRISTINA …
Thanks, Christina, for taking time to chat with me. I look forward to getting to know you.

I'm wondering, as a writer for the CBA market, how important is the faith element in your books?
     My faith undergirds every scene that I write. My hope is that it comes across to the reader in a very organic way, never as preachy or self-righteous. However, my characters’ spiritual arcs are a huge part of the storyline.

Then, what role does God play when you write?
     I believe He guides the story, adding layers I’m not even capable of comprehending while I write it. I’m not great at starting my writing time with prayer, but I try to stay open to where He might lead me.
     I see writing as one of the tools He uses to form me into His image—a tool to teach me patience, self-control, determination, reliance on Him, and other life lessons. I also see writing as a gift that brings hope, fulfillment, and purpose when the rest of my life is falling apart.

Some Christian writers argue that fiction is first and foremost entertainment and decry any "agenda driven" stories. What is your opinion?
     I say we're all writing with an agenda, whether we recognize it or not. Maybe it's to show what a godly romance looks like, maybe to draw attention to child abuse, maybe to attempt to understand why people are capable of such evil, or ... With this book, I felt called to share what God has taught me about forgiveness. That is definitely my agenda, which correlates with my tagline: Live transparently—Forgive extravagantly.
     However, if the story is not presented in a highly entertaining way the agenda will never be accomplished because the reader will toss the book down if she gets bored. The real skill—and I am by no means saying I'm setting the watermark with my writing—is to so thoroughly wrap the story around the agenda that it becomes unrecognizable to the reader. I'd love to hear other’s opinions in the comments.

I absolutely agree. I definitely have an agenda when I write. The difficulty comes in keeping the story flowing without watering down the message.

And, like you, I’m a literature major. What effect did your college education have on your writing?
     Honestly, I went with the lit major instead of creative writing because I was chicken. I was scared that my writing would not be up to par and I would get less than an A in a class for the first time. Eek! Plus, I loved to read and I figured I might as well do something I liked since I was paying thousands of dollars anyway.
     However, I do believe it has added greatly to my writing. While we can't be super symbolic in a "preachy" sort of way--like shouting LOOK! LOOK AT THIS BEAUTIFUL SYMBOLISM I'M SHOWING RIGHT NOW!--I think many novels do subtly inject many of the same characteristics of the classics. For example, the setting can almost become a character, as the setting of Jane Eyre does.
     In the manuscript my mother and I wrote together, a lot of the structure came from Mrs. Dalloway. The novel even has similar themes, now that I think about it. I loved the idea of a story jumping from character to character as they pass without interacting, but as the novel progresses, the connections get stronger.
     All those stories I read and wrote papers on in college are still swimming around in my head, rubbing off a little bit here or there on the flow of ideas that pour onto my computer screen.

Who are your favorite literary artists?
     I believe that much of Jane Kirkpatrick's work could be classified as literary. Jamie Langston Turner is another favorite who definitely fits the bill. Leif Enger's Peace Like a River amazed me. (I have it on my night stand to re-read right now, as it's been years and years since I have!) All three authors put words together in a delicious way.

Are there others whose work you admire? How have they influenced you as a writer?
     Most of my favorite authors have voices I never dream to come close to: Nancy E. Turner, Jane Kirkpatrick, Leif Enger, Francine Rivers, or Randy Alcorn, to name a few. The writers that really influence my stories are ones that examine the real grittiness of life like Roxanne Henke, Bette Nordberg, and James Scott Bell.

Those are some of my favorites too! Since you like lyric prose, you should also try Charles Martin, W. Dale Cramer, Athol Dickson, Ann Tatlock, Linda Nichols … well I could go on, but it’s time to let you go.

Thanks so much, Christina, for visiting Spire Reviews today. I really appreciate you taking the time, allowing us to get to know you better. I look forward to reading more from you in the future.


NEXT STOP ON THE BLOG TOUR
Be sure to catch Christina on her next stop: http://reflectionsbykrista.blogspot.com/ on Saturday, September 26.

WIN A BOOK …
Don’t forget to leave a comment for your chance to win a copy of The Familiar Stranger. Everyone who comments on this tour will be entered into Christina’s 10 book giveaway. On her birthday, September 30, she will draw 10 names. She’ll repeat this process on October 31.

…AND OTHER FREE STUFF
Also, if you sign up for her infrequent, humorous newsletter at www.ashberrylane.net/update.aspx , you will be entered into a contest to win a 4GB iPod Shuffle or free books for the life of Christina’s writing career.

HOW TO GET IN TOUCH WITH CHRISTINA
www.christinaberry.net
www.authorchristinaberry.blogspot.com
www.ashberrylane.net

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Scared: A Novel on the Edge of the World

By Tom Davis
Published by David C. Cook (2009)
304 pages

Finding Hope in Suffering

Hoping to salvage a few crumbs from his once award-winning career, photojournalist Stuart Daniels reluctantly takes an assignment in Swaziland, a small African country, to cover the AIDS crisis. What he discovers is suffering that, those of us living comfortably in the United States, can’t imagine.

Interspersed with Stuart’s perspective, is the viewpoint of Adanna, a recently orphaned young girl burdened with the care of her younger siblings, hoping just to survive from day to day. Tomorrow isn’t even a thought.

Adanna can teach all of us so much.

With the current state of the United States economy, we are barraged with negative stories about people losing jobs, overburdened food shelves, and homelessness. All of which are devastating to those affected. Still, in these times, the average American cannot imagine what it would be like to be truly hungry, to live from day to day wondering if you will have food to eat. We search our overfilled closets for the right outfit, while others are fortunate if they have something decent to wear at all.

In this fictional story, author Tom Davis breathes reality into the plight of people who live in places like Swaziland. The reader experiences, along with Adanna, what it feels like not to have eaten for days, to live in fear of man’s brutality. We see through Stuart’s eyes how much we have, and how just a small sacrifice on our part can help.

Like Stuart, we probably have the most to learn.

We also experience hope, and see that God has not forgotten his children. God has presented us with an awesome opportunity to reach out to those who are truly in need.

You can’t read this story and not be affected. This is a rare work of fiction that touches on all our emotions and motivates people into action. It’s a novel I will highly recommend to readers of fiction and non-fiction
.

Safe At Home

By Richard Doster
Published by David C. Cook (2008)
348 pages

Painfully Honest Portrayal of Segregation in the 1950's
In the spring of 1953, Jack Hall is content being a sports columnist for a small town south of the Mason-Dixon line, thrilled to write about the town’s minor league baseball team. The town of Whitney is populated with people who would do anything for their neighbor; the idyllic place to live.
Jackie Robinson has only recently broken the color barrier in major league baseball, creating a fissure allowing more may squeeze through.

It is that fissure that rips the town of Whitney apart when a 17 year old “colored kid”, Percy Jackson, joins the minor league team.

Author Richard Doster is painfully honest in his portrayal of the people of Whitney. The helpful, kind neighbor turns into a bearer of fear and hate. Those hired to enforce the law become lawbreakers. Doster paints Jack Hall very realistically, portraying him as someone comfortable with segregation, who, over time, wrestles with his ingrained beliefs as the town fractures.

Doster makes the reader uncomfortable – and that’s a good thing – as he continuously holds a mirror to the reader’s face as if to ask: would you have responded any differently?

Thursday, April 16, 2009

The Passion of Mary-Margaret

by Lisa Samson

Published by Thomas Nelson (2009)
320 pages
A Story of How God Pursues and Loves the Unlovely

All her life Mary-Margaret has desired only one thing: to serve the God she loves and dedicate her life to Him as a religious sister. But when Jesus tells her to do the unthinkable and marry the town’s promiscuous prodigal, can she serve God with her obedience and risk her own life in the process?

Lisa Samson has painted a story that shows how God pursues and loves the unlovely by coloring out-of-the-lines with dark and dirty hues, mingling the darkness with light and splendor, crafting a final picture of exquisite beauty. Her characters are fresh, quirky and multi-faceted, and her flowing, vivid prose enhances this masterpiece.

This is Lisa Samson’s best work yet.

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Enduring Justice

(Defenders of Hope Series #3)
by Amy Wallace

Published by Multnomah Books (2009)
336 pages


Riveting Suspense - True-to-Life Characters


Hanna Kessler thought she’d buried her past years ago, but when it claws its way to the surface, she tries to run from its ugliness and the support of family and friends. That includes handsome FBI Crimes Against Children Agent, Michael Parker, who’s struggling to cope with his own wounded past.

With Enduring Justice, and the first two books in the Defenders of Hope series, author Amy Wallace has raised the bar for Christian fiction writers. Not only has she drawn a riveting and thoroughly-researched suspense story, but she melds it with complex, true-to-life characters you truly care about, and wraps it all in redemptive hope. Most writers shine in one facet of storytelling, but few excel at both plot and characterization. I look forward to reading Amy Wallace fiction for many years to come.

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Daisy Chain

(Defiance Texas Trilogy)

by Mary E. DeMuth

Published by Zondervan (2009)
355 pages


A Hauntingly Honest Coming-of-Age Tale

When Jed Pepper’s best friend, Daisy Chance, ends up missing, Jed is convinced he’s to blame. An abusive father further beats in that message of guilt. In Jed’s search for Daisy, he finds much more than a lost friend.

Using poetic & visual prose, Mary DeMuth pens a heart-tugging novel of tragedy and redemption. The author proves once again that she has the courage to delve into taboo subjects, yet she embraces them with grace and wraps them in hope. Her characters are complex, some quirky, others evil. All are very authentic.

We truly feel Jed’s empathy and guilt as he searches for Daisy. We experience his fear and self-debasement when around his father. We root for him when he prays for courage to protect his mother and sister, Sissy. And we rejoice when he finds what he needs the most.

Winter Haven

by Athol Dickson

Published by Bethany House (2008)
336 pages
It’s been thirteen years since Vera Gamble’s autistic brother ran away. Thirteen years of cloaking herself in guilt, when the dreaded call finally comes.

Vera’s older brother, Siggy, has been found. Dead. Washed up on a remote island off the coast of Maine, thousands of miles from her home in Dallas.

What she finds when she travels to the island, named Winter Haven, belies all reality. Her brother didn’t age a day after he ran away.

Does this mist-shrouded island, haunted with a deadly past, hold the secret to Siggy’s eternal youth? Will Vera uncover its secret, or will she become the island’s next victim?

Author Athol Dickson has crafted a complex novel of doubt, faith, and truth by appealing to our fears and superstitions. Then he illuminates the truth behind the terror. Winter Haven’s gothic, supernatural storyline is reminiscent of the writings of Frank Peretti or Ted Dekker, but Dickson’s intricate plotting and artistic prose is comparable to the literary works of Charles Martin and Dale Cramer.

It’s a novel I will definitely read again, this time opening my eyes to the truth revealed along the way.

Widows & Orphans

(Rachael Flynn Mystery Series #1)

by Susan Meissner

Published by Harvest House Publishers (2006)
280 pages

“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” James 1:27

That is the verse Rachael Flynn’s ministry focused brother, Joshua Harper, chose to live his life by: to aid widows and orphans. Unfortunately, in doing so Joshua frequently found himself on the wrong side of the law, most of which were petty misdemeanors committed to aid someone, thus he believed, for the greater good. So when Rachael, a Manhattan attorney, receives the call that her brother has once again landed himself in jail she is not surprised…until she learns the reason behind his incarceration: a confession to murder.

Naturally, Rachael cannot believe her brother capable to be of murder so she returns home to Minneapolis and sets out to discover why he would confess to such a crime—who is he covering for? Her eyes are set on the sisters, ages 15 and 12, who had been forced into a childhood prostitution ring by the murder victim. She believes Joshua would sacrifice himself to help the sisters and tries to convince her brother that he is not helping them by letting them live a lie.

Both Rachael and the St. Paul police officer in charge of the investigation know that Joshua is not being completely forthright. There are too many unanswered questions. Still too much evidence points to Joshua’s guilt.

Rachael employs some unorthodox methods to unearth the truth, but when the truth is revealed, will she be able to accept it?

Susan Meissner has put together a compelling murder mystery. Her scene descriptions are complex but not overly stated. The characters are well developed, believable and likeable, including the eccentric friend, Figaro, who is quirky without being a caricature.

The Road to Unafraid

How the Army's Top Ranger Faced Fear and Found Courage Through Black Hawk Down and Beyond

by Jeff Struecker

Published by Thomas Nelson (2006)
232 pages

"The difference between being a coward and a hero is not whether you're scared, it's what you do while you're scared." Captain Jeff Struecker

U.S. Army Rangers aren’t afraid. At least that’s what they would like you to believe. In this book Captain Jeff Struecker shows us a very human side of a man who shows unbridled courage, even in horrific situations.

That fear is exemplified by an incident in 1993. An elite military force was sent into Mogadishu, Somalia to rein in a warlord’s abusive control over the population and ruination of what should be a beautiful nation. On October 3, 1993, a Sunday afternoon, they received word of an opportunity to capture two of the warlord’s (Mohamed Farrah Aidid) top aides. What resulted was eighteen hours of trekking through bullet and RPG (rocket propelled grenade) laden streets in an attempt to rescue troops from two downed Black Hawk helicopters, an incident we know today as Black Hawk Down.

While the Black Hawk Down incident dramatically represents fear, Struecker doesn’t stop there. He writes about experiencing terrifying nightmares as a child—nightmares that went away when he became a Christian. He tells about his fear of being a good enough husband and father, when the family he’d grown up in was terribly broken. He tells about the fears of sharing his faith with his fellow soldiers—a group comprised of tough men, many who would claim that reliance on God is a weakness. How could he be a Christian and still garner respect from the men he leads? When he felt God’s call to the ministry, he feared the change.

But through it all, he was obedient to God’s call, and went forward despite his very human fears, and is now ministering as a Chaplain in a Ranger unit.

***Captain Jeff Struecker is a decorated member of the U.S. Army Rangers. He was featured prominently in the book, Black Hawk Down: A Story of Modern War, by Mark Bowden, and was represented in the movie by the same name. In 1996 he, along with partner, Isaac Gmazel, won the competition for Best Army Ranger, an event far more difficult than Hawaii’s famous Ironman triathlon. He is currently a Chaplain ministering to 1,000’s of troops serving in hot spots around the globe.

The Pawn

(The Patrick Bowers Files, Book 1)

by Steven James

Published by Revell (2007)
432 pages

The game is on …

And FBI Special Agent Patrick Bower’s opponent always seems to be steps ahead in this life or death match. If Bowers doesn’t capture the serial killer soon, his own stepdaughter may be the next victim. But if he continues the grueling and time-consuming search, will he be responsible for the death of the very relationship he needs to resuscitate?

When Patrick Bowers arrives in Asheville, North Carolina, the killer has already claimed six female victims. Six families have lost their daughters. Bowers makes it his job to ensure that no more daughters are stolen from their families.

Underscoring Bowers determination to capture the assassin is the rocky relationship with his seventeen-year-old stepdaughter Tessa. Less than a year into his marriage to Tessa’s mother, Christie was diagnosed with breast cancer. Now, six months following his wife’s death, Bowers has no clue who his stepdaughter is.

The author, Steven James, deftly weaves together a riveting story with the complexity of a chess match, using strategic planning and misdirection to guide the reader down numerous dead-end paths ultimately ending in a satisfying victory … or is it?

His protagonist, Patrick Bowers is an environmental criminologist, someone who studies the offender’s relationship with the victim and the environment. This position requires remarkable attention to—and analysis of—all details, in addition to ability to read between the lines. As the reader we experience, along with Bowers, appeals to all five senses, and we are given insight to the sixth: intuition. It’s Bowers job to get into the killer’s head, to know precisely what the killer’s thinking, to understand him, almost adding a compassionate and human element to the evil perpetrator.

Ironically, the very man who whose job it is to notice the details no one else will see, fails to see the blessing he has in front of him in Tessa.

Patrick Bowers is an everyman hero, a father who is believably flawed, who wears an arrogance born of experience, education, and natural ability. He’s a man who, like so many of us, wonders, “Where is God in the midst of all the evil?” Yet he’s wise enough to learn the very important lesson of hope:

“Chaos is evidence of human beings.
Hope is evidence of God.”

The King's Game

by John Nemo

Published by JNB Books (2007)
240 pages

“A story of fathers, sons and baseball,
along with the eternal choice each man must one day face…”


It’s Game Seven of the World Series. The Warriors are resting their hopes on their star pitcher, the eccentric, thirty-six year old Cody King. The hometown crowd is chanting his name as he takes the mound, squeezing the ball tight in his hand, staring in to find the catcher’s eyes behind the catcher’s mask. Even so, his mind is drawn elsewhere.

This story, told in a narrative fashion, transports you into the game, narrating each inning, often pitch by pitch, but does it in a way that captures the mind of the reader. You become a spectator, hearing the thump of the ball in the catcher’s mitt, the crack of the bat, the catcalls and cheers of the crowd and the droning of the organ. You feel the cool rain on your face, see the tobacco-spit covered dugout floor, and smell the tantalizing scent of hot dogs.

Within each inning and even in between pitches, the reader is also given insight into the tormented mind of Cody King. Cody relives those moments in his life, the painful losses and the stolen moments of joy, that created who he is today: his lowly and tragic birth, the adoptive father who taught him the game, the foster homes he disdained, his wife who tried to teach him of God’s love, and the opportunities to learn about the Father who really loves him. You find yourself feeling for Cody, then jeering at him, and then cheering for him, wanting so badly for him to win this one last time.

Will Cody King finish the game, winning the prize God place before him, or will he fall short?

The King’s Game is the first-published novel of Minnesota native, John Nemo. Nemo’s knowledge and love of baseball is evident throughout this book which uses the game of baseball as a metaphor for life. Baseball fans will appreciate Nemo’s understanding of the intricacies of the game. Those who don’t follow baseball will enjoy his colorful prose and insight into the human heart and the God—the Father—who loves us.

The Elevator

by Angela Hunt

Published by Steeple Hill (2007)
384 pages

Trapped in a high rise elevator:

Three women …

A betrayed wife about to confront her husband with rage…and a gun …

A mistress eager to deliver family news …

And a cleaning woman burdened with a dark secret …

Outside, a hurricane is bearing down on the deserted city, but the storm brewing inside the elevator may be even more volatile. Inside the women disclose their fears, their secrets, and even their deceptions. Will they discover courage or faith as they face an almost certain demise?

The author skillfully traps the reader, along with the unwilling passengers, by fashioning a story that won’t be put down. In typical Angela Hunt fashion, she seldom takes the reader where you want or expect to go. While the novel is not overtly didactic, elements of Christ’s love and sacrifice are demonstrated throughout the book. Discussion questions, following the story, help the reader contemplate truth, life, death and, ultimately, their faith in God.

Breaking the Mold in Christian Fiction

Christian fiction is often ignored by readers looking for quality fiction, and not without good reason. All too often the characters in the standard Christian fare are too perfect (both physically and emotionally), the stories are cliché, the endings neatly wrapped up. Publishers avoid stories that touch on controversial issues. Many Christian publishers have a list of “don’ts” that writers need to follow: Christians shouldn’t smoke, drink beer, dance, play cards, etc. Church’s should be “community” or “Baptist”. Even infant baptism is seen as too controversial. The result is a story that is removed from reality. Add that to substandard writing skills, and you have a product that even the most avid reader will set down before finishing.

Over the past few years, some writers have broken through the box that the Christian market has placed them in. More authors have been able to craft stories with authentic characters living through real life situations. The quality of writing has improved along with the stories.

Following this entry, I’ve highlighted two authors who have dared to break the mold: Dale Cramer and Charles Martin. Both write colorful fiction whose appeal goes beyond the Christian audience. Their books present a witness without being preachy. If they are representative of where “Christian” fiction is heading, its outreach will finally draw in the secular reader it covets, as well as the Christian.

The Dead Don't Dance

(Awakening Series #1)

by Charles Martin

Published by Thomas Nelson (2004)
320 pages

Life is as it should be for Dylan and Maggie Styles. They’re content living on their farm, earning just enough to get by, and a baby is on the way.

Then their child is stillborn, and Maggie goes into a coma. At first Dylan maintains a constant vigil at her bedside, letting himself sink into despair. How can he go on when the one he loves is alive, but not living?

Charles Martin has a way with words that truly paints a beautiful picture. His prose shows light and dark, sun and shadow, as you would expect to see in quality photography or painting. His protagonists are imperfect and realistic. The supporting characters are uniquely drawn without being caricatures. Throughout his novels you see people witnessing with their lives, not their mouths. That witness often takes place in the most unlikely of settings.

Summer of Light

by W. Dale Cramer

published by Bethany House (2007)
400 pages

The freak accident was his fault. Sort of. Regardless, it costs construction worker, Mick Brannigan, his job. He’s got a family to raise—three children—and good construction jobs are rare. At the same time Mick’s wife, Layne, sees her career take off. With a special needs preschool child, he knows a parent should be home full-time. He’s the logical choice, of course, but what kind of man would he be if he’s not the family provider?

Mick accepts the responsibility—on a temporary basis—until he can find the job to equal his last. Until then he chooses to endure the awkward looks and the gossip and the guilt. What he learns about himself, his children, and his life might just have him rethink his opinion on the stay-at-home-Dad.

Dale Cramer has penned a story filled with rich, well-developed characters, using humor and pathos to connect with the reader. His descriptions are vivid, and easily transport you into the setting.

Dale Cramer is the winner of Christy Awards (for fiction) for his books Levi’s Will and Bad Ground. His first novel is Sutter’s Cross. All are highly recommended.

Sincerely, Mayla

(Just As I Am Series #2)

by Virginia Smith

Published by Kregel Publications (2008)
256 pages

After quirky Mayla Strong is laid off from her job, she finds that is only the beginning of her problems. Soon she is battling winter storms, frozen rabbits, angry friends, and a church gossip chain, all without the comfort and support of a boyfriend—therein lies another problem.

Yet, strong-willed Mayla is determined to work her way through her issues and does so by flying off to Florida to visit her aunt and cantankerous grandmother. Unfortunately, her struggles follow her to Florida. Literally.

With all the problems trailing after her, will Mayla manipulate those around her to get what she wants, or will she learn that her ultimate strength comes from surrendering to God?

Author Virginia Smith has created a colorful and witty character in Mayla Strong, one that resonates with today’s twenty and thirty-somethings in particular. Smith uses humor to tackle difficult and complex issues, wrapping them in arms of love and grace.

While Sincerely, Mayla is the second book in the series, it can definitely be read as a stand-alone novel. But then, you’ll probably want to go back and read Mayla’s story in Just As I Am.

Reluctant Burglar

(To Catch a Thief Series #1)
by Jill Elizabeth Nelson

Published by Multnomah Publishers (2006)
352 pages

Desiree (Desi) Jacobs breaks into museums and steals art for a living. An honest living. Could there be a better way for a security firm to test the security of museums?

Then her father, the man who began the security company, is murdered leaving behind a cache of stolen art. Could it be that the man she looked up to all of her life, a man of faith, honesty and integrity, is actually a thief?

Then Desi becomes the prime suspect of FBI Special Agent Tony Lucano who has never trusted her alibi that she is hired to “steal.” To complicate matters, Desi and Tony find themselves fighting a romantic attraction. Will they learn to trust each other and work together to find her father’s murderer and the actual thieves and prove her father’s innocence? Or will they discover that Desi’s father was guilty after all?

Jill Elizabeth Nelson, a Minnesota native, has deftly woven together a novel full of suspense and intrigue, of romance and conflict, sprinkling in a touch of humor. She catches the reader’s attention from the very first sentence and doesn’t let go until the end.

Reluctant Burglar is the first in a series of three To Catch a Thief novels. Reluctant Runaway and Reluctant Smuggler continue to follow Desi and Tony as they struggle in their dangerous careers, solving crimes and mysteries, wondering if their relationship can endure the constant danger and conflicts.

Interview with Jill Nelson

Jill Nelson very graciously gave me a few minutes of her time to ask a few questions at a recent book signing. I’ve included part of that interview below:

Question: Your stories have a unique premise: an art and antiquity security firm owner who “steals” art. Where did you come up with the idea?

Answer: The catalyst for the whole series was a literal sleeping dream. I woke up in the wee hours one night all tense from a dream where a woman in black sneaked into an estate. She took a painting off the wall and replaced it with an identical-looking painting. Straight up theft, right? Wrongo! I was aware as I watched this scene unfold that the woman was stealing the forgery and returning the original. What a bizarre thing for a thief to do! I was also aware that if she didn’t get away with her act of reverse larceny that disaster would follow for many innocents, not just her.

After I woke up, my waking mind played with this odd scenario. I had to decide what sort of career the woman could have that would give her cat burglar skills without making her a thief. Museum security expert fit the bill. I also asked myself what dire set of circumstances would force her to take such outrageous action. The answer to that question became the plot for the first book, Reluctant Burglar.

The sequels, Reluctant Runaway and Reluctant Smuggler, were birthed in my quirky imagination as natural progressions when you throw a strong-willed, impetuous museum security expert into drastic situations with a skilled and intense FBI agent.

Question: What type of research is involved in crafting your novels?

Answer: As far as researching the technical details for the series, I’ve had the opportunity to visit with lots of interesting people, including an FBI agent, a homicide detective, and a former Naval intelligence operative. I also have bookshelves groaning with research material on art, the FBI, museum security, and locations that my books are set. The Internet is also a treasure trove of information, but I always double check my information to verify by two or more sources. The only art form I seem to be gifted at is word craft, but I thoroughly enjoy discovering more information about art and art theft. Each book in the series features an aspect of the art world and the kinds of crimes that go with it. In fact, I have a whole presentation that I do for church and civic groups called Art Snatcher and Thief Catchers that’s chock full of research details I couldn’t fit into my books.

Quiet Strength

The Principles, Practices, and Priorities of a Winning Life

by Tony Dungy

Published by Tyndale House Publishers (2008)
352 pages

Typically when one talks about their sports “heroes”, that hero is renowned for their extraordinary athleticism (think Torii Hunter making one of his Spiderman-like catches in centerfield). Conversely, the athlete often gains notoriety for their less than noble actions off the field. Usually the image we get of that athlete is one-dimensional. Tony Dungy is a man who beats the stereotype.

Dungy has earned a reputation, on and off the field, as being a man of integrity and honor: an African American head coach, the first to ever win a Super Bowl, a leader who encourages his players to always be at their best, especially when the game is over; a philanthropist involved with several charitable organizations; a family man who embodies what it means to be a loving father and devoted husband; a child of God who, in all things, puts God first. Even when interviewed on national television for the Lombardi Trophy Presentation, he credited God for bringing him and his team through the storm. “…we said this is going to be a storm, we said the Lord doesn’t always bring you directly through, sometimes you gotta work for it.”

While Quiet Strength is written about a head coach in the National Football League, it is not a book about football. Rather it is a story of Tony Dungy’s journey through life, about his parents who lived their faith, teaching their children to do the same. It’s about his time as a quarterback for the University of Minnesota Gophers, his brief stint in the NFL as a safety, his years as a defensive coach, his ascension to head coach of first the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and then to the eventual Super Bowl Champions, the Indianapolis Colts. He writes about the temptations faced in the business, the challenge of finding time to be a proper husband and father, and the tragic death of his son. He talks about the discipline required to study the Bible every day (giving particular credit to the book of Nehemiah as being an excellent tool for leaders). He espouses the importance of keeping “winning” in the proper perspective citing, Matthew 16:26: “What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?” He speaks of the challenge to remember that his life is perpetually in the spotlight. Everything he says and does is a reflection on his character; therefore he needs to live his life in a manner that lets others see Jesus shine through him.

Dungy believes that is the reason he’s been given the gift of being a head coach in the NFL. It’s his platform on which to serve and glorify Christ, to demonstrate the Quiet Strength that can only come from God. He does it all, admirably.

Colton Parker Mystery Series

Original Sin (2006), 276 pages
Seventy Times Seven (2006), 276 pages
The Root of All Evil (2007), 288 pages
The Lost Sheep (2007), 288 pages

by Brandt Dodson

Published by Harvest House Publishers

Fired by the FBI and newly widowed, Colton Parker is a private detective who, in the midst of trying to investigate his first case, is also struggling to deal with the single parenthood thrust upon him. His “cowboy” style of justice frequently leads him into more trouble and, all too often, drives him further away from his thirteen year old daughter. What is made evident, throughout these books, is that Parker’s investigations parallel his search for God.

Brandt Dodson has created a unique character for Christian fiction. Perhaps his most unique characteristic is that Colton Parker is not a Christian, nor does he experience the “Damascus” type of conversion that is prevalent in much Christian literature. Yet he is surrounded by people who are taking the “walk across the room” to gently teach him about Christ. He is learning to listen, but is not yet ready to take the message to heart.

The books are detailed, well thought out, and suspenseful. It is clear that the author has connections in law enforcement (see biography following review).

I find the Colton Parker character to be very similar to a famous character in popular literature: Michael Connelly’s Hieronymous (Harry) Bosch. Both characters experienced a similar childhood, growing up in foster homes thus engendering a loner persona. Bosch is a member of the LAPD homicide division and is known for his rough and tumble, going out of the box style of policing—similar to that of Colton Parker. Both Parker and Bosch struggle with personal issues which seem to be the driving force behind their desire to see that justice is served. Thus, showing their very human side.

The big difference is in the telling of their story. Typical of secular literature, the characters in Connelly’s novels find difficulty speaking without lacing the dialogue with profanity. An encounter with a member of the opposite sex usually find the characters in bed. They are not books I would recommend for my fourteen year old daughter.

Conversely, Dodson’s Colton Parker character is definitely imperfect, but the reader doesn’t have to wade through the muck of cursing and bedroom scenes to understand that point.

What we find at the end of the Colton Parker mysteries is a message of hope, a message that is frequently absent in literature today.

A Voice in the Wind

(Mark of the Lion #1)
by Francine Rivers

Published by Tyndale House Publishers
515 pages


The year is 70 A.D. and Jerusalem is crumbling under the weight of its own disobedience. The beautiful temple is nearly obliterated - only a single wall remains standing. Jerusalem’s ultimate destruction is finalized by legions of Roman soldiers seeking the eradication of the Jewish population. Only a remnant survives - and many of those remaining will be sold as slaves or will soon perish in gladiator arenas.

Young Hadassah is one of those remaining and she questions why. Her mother and sister died of starvation when the doors to the walled city were closed, in an attempt to waylay the Romans ... a move which aided in the city’s destruction. Her brother was killed by a Roman soldier and her father was murdered because of his faith ... a faith in Jesus ... a faith Hadassah has always struggled with.

Francine Rivers weaves a graphic and emotional story of Hadassah as she is led on a harsh journey from Jerusalem to Rome. There she is sold to the wealthy and powerful Valerian family to be the daughter’s personal slave. Julia, the daughter is high spirited and longs to live like her older brother Marcus. He is handsome and brilliant and indulges in everything the amoral and corrupt city has to offer. The mother, Phoebe, finds solace in stone gods and the father, Decimus, is bereft over what has become of his family.

Throughout the novel, Hadassah contends with fear - afraid of proclaiming her faith in Rome, a city where Christians are not accepted and are frequently fed to the lions in the arena as they will not acknowledge the emperor to be a god. She frequently beseeches God to give her the courage to speak to the Valerians about Jesus, still, the words never come.

What Hadassah doesn’t realize is that, through her behavior, her witness is more powerful than words. While Hadassah sees herself as struggling, those around her are affected by her unfailing and gracious servitude. They marvel at her ability to be at peace when they, who have everything, know no peace. Ironically, the only person who is truly free, in the household, is the slave.

In this story we see despair brought on by acts of wanton selfishness and peace gained through acts of true courage, love and sacrifice. We see a family who has the world but no happiness and a young woman who owns nothing but has discovered true joy in her faith. The Valerians see the irony of the situation. The question is, are they willing to sacrifice what they own to gain what Hadassah has?

This novel is one that is better suited for mature teenagers through adult. Graphic depictions of warring and gladiator matches paint a believable picture of life in Rome and Ephesus. Romans are seen as arrogant, placing themselves above all others and living only for the moment ... searching for peace through money, amorality and their numerous stone gods and goddesses.

The book’s 500 pages fly by quickly and leave you yearning for more. The story of the Valerian family continues in a second book, An Echo in the Darkness. A 3rd book in the series, As Sure As the Dawn, follows the life of a Germanic gladiator who plays a prominent role in the first book. I highly recommend all three novels. They are very well written and thoroughly researched. They provide a hard glimpse into a life that today’s Christian could not even fathom.

Living on the Ragged Edge

by Charles R. Swindoll

Published by Thomas Nelson
384 pages

“Meaningless! Meaningless!”
says the Teacher.
“Utterly meaningless!
Everything is meaningless.”
(Ecclesiastes 1:2)

How many of us have felt that way, at one time or another, that the life we live serves no purpose, has no meaning, provides no joy? King Solomon, this great man of God, a man gifted with unsurpassed wisdom who through his weakness became a fool, identifies with us – the common man.

In this book Chuck Swindoll tunnels deep into the heart of Israel’s once great king by methodically dissecting Solomon’s “journal,” a journal in which Solomon holds nothing back. Solomon is painstakingly honest about the life he led and the miserable consequences of his choices. (Note: there is some disagreement about whether Solomon is the author of Ecclesiastes, but that does not take away from the important message of the book.) We see a man who has become broken and despondent; someone who, after years of trying to go it on his own, by living a life away from God, by living on the ragged edge, realizes that life “under the sun” – life without God - is truly meaningless.

Swindoll breaks down the book of Ecclesiastes chapter by chapter, often verse by verse, using Greek and Hebrew texts to provide greater depth of meaning. He demonstrates how the book of Ecclesiastes can be a wise tool to use in raising children, in being a leader, in aging, in everyday living. In all of this our only fulfillment comes from God. Only God can fill that vacuum in our hearts, the one so many of us try to fill with earthly things: food, alcohol, drugs, sex, business and busyness, these earthly ‘idols’ which only succeed in pulling us away from God.

Yes, life happens. Life is unfair. Bad things happen to good people. Bad people go unpunished. Swindoll says Solomon is teaching us through examination of his own failures, that yes, life is unfair and, with a horizontal perspective (a humanistic perspective), life is meaningless, but when we look at the unfairness of life with the vertical perspective (upward - relying on God), we realize that even with great wisdom things are beyond our control and that only through trusting in Him, knowing God sees the whole picture, will this life have true meaning. God doesn’t want us to get bogged down with the things of this world. He wants us to enjoy life with Him at the center.

Chuck Swindoll uses 369 pages to explain what my NIV Bible covers in eleven. This demonstrates how thorough he is with his examination of Ecclesiastes. There are times when I felt he could have made his point in a shorter, more concise manner, but all in all, I found Living on the Ragged Edge to be very enlightening. Many things that had confused me before (particularly chapter twelve where Solomon uses vivid metaphors to describe aging), I now feel I understand. It is a book I will definitely read again and I would highly recommend to others.

House

by Frank Peretti & Ted Dekker

Published by Thomas Nelson
400 Pages

The Wayside Inn, by all outward appearances, is a quaint and well-cared for refuge. It brings together two couples mysteriously marooned in strangely similar car mishaps. But the Inn, miles away from civilization, isn’t what it appears to be.

At first the Inn looks to be deserted, but the proprietors strangely appear, seemingly from nowhere. They seem to know their guests’ darkest secrets and play off their stifled insecurities. Before night falls, the couples find themselves trapped inside the Inn with someone or something out to get them. There are no phones to call for help and their cell phones are useless. A can, thrown down through the chimney presumably by a murderous maniac, describes the macabre rules of a game in which participation is mandatory. It is the only way the house will allow them to leave. If the rules are ignored, by 6:15 a.m. they will all die.

Will good or evil prevail in this spiritual battle for souls?

In this much anticipated collaboration by Frank Peretti and Ted Dekker (each known for supernatural Christian fiction), the duo fails to disappoint. They hook you in with the prologue and don’t let you go until the final page. The book is replete with spiritual metaphors, although at times, the metaphor gets so complicated the reader loses the point the authors are trying to make. Still, all in all, fans of Peretti and Dekker will thoroughly enjoy the novel.

The Hiding Place

by Corrie ten Boom


The Hiding Place is the true story of Corrie ten Boom and her family who lived in the small village of Haarlem, Holland, just a thirty minute train ride from Amsterdam. In this book we see an ordinary family thrown into extraordinary circumstances, resulting in remarkable acts of heroism while enhancing an already strong faith in God. They are a family who simply lived their faith without flaunting it or pushing it on others and that is what drew others to them. When God required them to stretch their faith and help others, knowing the risks inherent in their actions, they did so without hesitation.

When Holland became occupied by the Germans during World War II, changes occurred gradually and, at first, were barely noticed at all. The fact that some people simply disappeared, literally overnight, seemed to be merely a footnote in people’s lives. Those who were not Jewish felt they had little to worry about. But bit by bit rights were removed from all citizens: phones were disconnected, all radios had to be turned in, food rations became smaller and less healthy and filling. Seemingly without warning, the seeping effects of evil had spread to everyone.

The ten Boom family had a choice. They could deny what was happening and ignore it, they could play it safe and ally themselves with the Nazis, or they could risk their lives to help those the Nazis wanted to eradicate. Becoming part of the underground wasn’t even a conscious choice. When a frightened Jewish person showed up at their door one day begging for sanctuary, it was offered without a second thought and before they knew it, their home had become a hiding place and a brief stop for many waiting for an opening at another "safe house".

The family knew the consequences of aiding runaways but they could not turn away the needy. Eventually they were caught and that is when we are given a glimpse into the horrors of imprisonment in a concentration camp. Yet, it is in the midst of these horrors that their already strong faith is further nurtured and strengthened.

Betsie ten Boom, the older sister of Corrie made, this statement while incarcerated at Ravensbruck, Germany: "[We] ... must tell people what we have learned here. We must tell them that there is no pit so deep that He is not deeper still. They will listen to us, Corrie, because we have been there." Those words, full of hope, were spoken from a place that offered little hope. Those words exemplified her life and defined her character. She had always been physically weak but her spiritual strength was such that we should all aspire to. Even in the midst of the most terrifying and horrific moments in her life she found reasons to give thanks. Betsie encouraged Corrie to give thanks in all circumstances and she lived up to her words by giving thanks for overcrowding as many more would hear God’s word because of it. She even gave thanks for the fleas and the reader finds out later that even the infestation of fleas served a divine purpose.

It is not a book that one can read without feelings of disbelief and revulsion. It’s difficult for us to imagine that human beings could have been and can be so completely inhuman ... that it is so easy for the bystander to turn their head and pretend not to see what was and is happening. It is a book that removes the reader from their comfort zone and hopefully encourages us to see past ourselves to willingly serve God whatever the circumstances.

He Chose the Nails

by Max Lucado

Published by Thomas Nelson Publishers (2005)
240 pages

He said “yes” to inhuman pain—the thorns—the wine-soaked sponge—the cross hailing Him as King of the Jews—the two crosses sharing the hill with Him. And, yes, He Chose the Nails.

In typical fashion, Max Lucado has written a book that takes a complex issue and breaks it down in a way we all can understand. Using story-telling, humor, real-life analogies, and self-deprecating wit, Lucado explains why Jesus would choose to die for us—why His death had to happen as it did. None of it was accidental.

He takes us along the torturous path of the Via Dolorosa; he describes the thorny crown which symbolizes the consequence of sin, the nails in Jesus’ hands which opened the doors of heaven to us, Jesus’ seamless garment—his perfection—which he gave up for us. Lucado takes every incident, every symbol, from the crucifixion and breaks it down into layman terms so we can all comprehend the true scope of what Jesus did.

The book is a very quick read. My copy has only 150 pages of reading material. Plus, there is a detailed study guide in the back which encourages the reader to look even deeper yet into Jesus’ sacrifice—Jesus love. With fifteen quick chapters, the book is an excellent resource for a small group Bible study.

Fossil Hunter

by John B. Olson

Published by Tyndale House Publishers (2008)
368 pages

Evolution or Intelligent-Design?

That’s the question on debate when a shepherd discovers a whale fossil in the Iraqi desert. Is it a new species or more proof of evolution?

Paleontologist, Katie James, daughter of a pastor, striving to prove she’s unbiased, races archrival, Nick Murad, to recover the ancient fossil. Instead, they discover a human jawbone that could prove to be a missing link in the evolutionary chain.

Along the way, Katie fights prejudice from the scientific and collegiate communities, eager to discredit her and her findings simply because of her Christian beliefs. Then Katie and Nick join forces against a new enemy. The Iraqi government, knowing the fossil could strengthen evolution’s voice, dreading the chaos resulting from such a conclusion, wants the fossil destroyed.

Once the remains are analyzed, will they prove Darwin’s theories, or will it point to the work of an intelligent creator?

Fossil Hunter is in an intelligent and complex novel that, read in conjunction with watching Ben Stein’s Expelled documentary, shines a light on some scientists and universities who resist the notion that the universe was created by an intelligent being, some going as far as black-balling anyone who would consider the theory.

Mystery and romance sweep the reader along with just enough science thrown in to educate, but not too much to bog you down with litanies of scientific facts.

The Ezekiel Option

by Joel C. Rosenberg

Published by Tyndale House Publishers (2006)
432 pages

Roughly 2600 years after the prophet Ezekiel makes his cryptic prophecies regarding the end times, his words seem to be coming true. Russia is preparing for war against Israel and most nations stand with Russia. In a race against time, realizing Russia’s imminent demise, former Wall Street mogul and currently the president’s “Point Man for Peace”, Jon Bennett smuggles himself across Russian borders to rescue his fiancé, Erin McCoy (CIA operative), presumably held captive by the new Russian government. The story eerily echoes the events currently unfolding in the Middle East.

Like Rosenberg’s books leading up to The Ezekiel Option, this novel begins with instant action and is initially a page turner. Midway through the book, though, Rosenberg’s tempo makes a drastic change.

The Last Jihad and The Last Days, precursors of The Ezekiel Option, were published by a secular publishing company and the tone clearly demonstrates that. The books are geopolitical, action packed, page turners and are difficult to put down. Many readers compared the first two novels with those written by Tom Clancy.

A main difference between Rosenberg’s novels and others of the same secular genre is that you would allow your children to read them. His language is clean and there are no explicit scenes. Rosenberg proves that you can write an intense novel without the unnecessary garbage. The president is an evangelical Christian, as are several other characters, though they do not come across as proselytizing. It is merely a description of who they are.

That changes in the third book, The Ezekiel Option. The publisher changed from secular to Tyndale and the target market clearly changed as well. Where the first two books are simply political thrillers, this book is clearly written as an evangelical tool. It’s a piece of apocalyptic literature that is profoundly more complex than the Left Behind novels, but carries the same fundamental message, speaking of the end times and the impending rapture.

If you enjoy literature that explores eschatological matters, then this novel is for you but if you are looking for a book to match the first two (both of which I highly recommend), you may be disappointed.

Divine

by Karen Kingsbury

Published by Tyndale House Publishers (2007)
384 pages

Mary Madison is a powerful lobbying voice in Washington D.C. She is highly educated and greatly revered by politicians on both sides of the aisle. She has been open about her horrific childhood and teen years for which she has engendered much respect.

By using a series of flashbacks, the reader is given a close-up look into Mary Madison’s upbringing. She was a victim of terrible circumstances which ultimately led her into a life battling modern day demons of fear, addictions and promiscuity, to name a few.

There is only one way out of the life she was thrown into – through believing in the divine power of Jesus love for her – that Jesus could love even her. When she learns to accept Jesus’ love, her life is transformed. God begins to work through her, using the story of her past to help others in abusive situations. We see the power of God’s redeeming love as Mary uses the story of her past to help others while working at a woman’s shelter and by being a voice of persuasion in front of Congress to help battered and abused woman.

In typical Karen Kingsbury fashion, the author weaves an emotional story which keeps the reader captivated until the final sentence. I wouldn’t consider this novel her best work, but it is still a worth while read.

Clear Blue Sky

by F.P. Lione
Published by Revell (2007)
352 pages

On the morning of September 11, 2001, the sky was clear blue, offering no hint of impending disaster. Tony Cavalucci, an 11 year NYPD veteran, was following his daily routine, grabbing an egg sandwich at the end of his night shift. But then he glanced up 5th Avenue and saw smoke rising from one of the towers of the World Trade Center and knew his routine would never be the same again.

While Clear Blue Sky is a fictional account of 9/11, the story is related with gritty realism. The tale begins on September 2nd, introducing the reader to the individuals who would become heroes. We are taken on rides in the patrol car; you can hear the Eastern accent in the character’s dialogue; the banter in the police station is rife with the cynical humor of those who frequently witness the worst in humanity. The attitude of the New York citizen, toward the NYPD, is painted as disdainful. These heroes are clearly under appreciated, but yet they faithfully perform their duty protecting the innocents of New York.

Tony Cavalucci, a recovering alcoholic and an infant Christian, finds time spent with his dysfunctional full-blooded Italian family is proving more difficult than his job. His family exhibits an open dislike for Tony’s fiancée, Michele, who is only one-half Italian, and, worse yet, is an unwed mother. Yet, even worse, she is a Christian. Tony’s family faults Michele for his growing faith and his new “morality.” He faces a continuous struggle having to choose between living the life God wants for him and appeasing his family. Life was easier before he became a Christian.

Then the events of September 11th happen, and faith and family are viewed from a new perspective. Will Tony’s family learn to accept the man he has become?

Before I Wake

by Dee Henderson
Published by Tyndale House Publishers (2006)
416 pages


“I still don’t understand why God lets evil … exist. It hurts. How can God let us get so hurt if He loves us?”

That is the question Rae Gabriella is asking herself when she moves to the small town of Justice, Illinois. Physically, emotionally, and spiritually wounded, the former undercover agent arrives in town just in time to get caught up in another mystery. Young women, with no obvious connection, are suddenly dying of seemingly natural causes. Rae, with the aid of town sheriff, Nathan Justice, and private detective, Bruce Chapel (former fiancé), tries to discover the underlying truth about these deaths. Will she become the next victim?

Throw in a union strike that could potentially decimate the small town, several deaths from a designer drug at a rave party, plus a potential love triangle and you’ve got the foundation for the typical page turning Dee Henderson novel. What is not typical is how the book ends. It is not the neat cookie cutter ending often expected in so many novels and it leaves you hoping for another book – soon.

As usual, Henderson strengthens her novels by using exhaustive research. She seems to be very familiar with the methods of law enforcement, making her stories believable. Yet, she does not bore the reader by being overly detailed. Her characters are generally likable, if not a bit too perfect at times. Fans of Dee Henderson’s The Witness novel and the O’Malley series will also notice familiar names woven into this book and makes you wonder if they will play a part in future novels.

A Table In The Presence


By Lt. Carey H. Cash
Chaplain serving with the U.S. Marines
Published by Presidio Press (2005), 256 pages
The Dramatic Account of How a U.S. Marine Battalion
Experienced God’s Presence Amidst the Chaos of the War in Iraq


”Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me…” (Psalm 23:4a)

And God truly was with the men of the 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment—the regiment which was the first to cross the Iraqi border during Operation Iraqi Freedom and, less than a month later, were met with an ambush in Baghdad that should have resulted in the slaughter of our troops. Their success in this mission was made possible only by divine intervention.

While this is a book that gives the reader a hard glimpse into the bleak reality of war, one that takes us into the desert with the soldiers; it is more about the hearts of the men fighting for our country, as seen through the eyes of Lt. Carey Cash. It is the real life story of how God is in all circumstances. It is the story of how we can find God even in the most horrific of situations—how God is ever-present.

Their journey begins in the desert of Kuwait where the soldiers were greeted with the following message: “Welcome to Kuwait. You are now within range of Iraqi Scud missiles.” Their mission had suddenly become all too real.

Yet, as we see demonstrated so frequently in the Bible, the desert has a way of breaking through the non-essential and the insignificant, forcing the men to focus on what was truly important in their lives, bringing God closer, preparing their hearts for what was to come. Lt. Cash describes it: “In tents, lying in fighting holes, sitting together over MREs, (Meal Ready to Eat) warming ourselves by the fire, questions abounded, coming from men who were searching for answers. Life, death, salvation, heaven, hell, forgiveness, broken relationships, learning to trust again: these were the issues first and foremost on their minds. Sweeping through the camp were a hunger for God and a hunger for spiritual resolution.” Their presence in Iraq not only becomes a fight for a nation’s freedom, but a quest for a freedom of hearts.

The desert also has a way of dispersing those doctrinal differences that encumber so many of our spiritual lives. There were no Lutherans, Methodists, Baptists, Catholics. Only men searching for God. Lt. Cash writes: “We Christians are sometimes the worst at “majoring in the minors,” embroiling ourselves in debates about minor theological points, focusing on peripheral matters of doctrine and practice that too easily divide us. But in the cramped cabins of those greasy AAVs, (Amphibious Assault Vehicles) it all seemed so clear. Men in need, humbly and with a childlike faith, were seeking a God who never fails to provide for His children.”

But the desert—a place where the sands were the sanctuary, the tailgate of a Humvee the altar which held the cross and communal elements, a place where 49 troops were baptized—is only the stage of preparation for the soldiers: preparation of the heart.

When they arrive in Baghdad, the importance of their mission’s success is all too evident. Poverty and squalor, beyond what we in America can imagine, stood right outside the gates of marbled presidential palaces. When the men offered food to the residents, it became a ‘survival of the fittest’ as the strongest, usually adult men, consumed the food without a thought to women and children. These oppressed, starving and abused people are also children of God, loved by God, people who deserved a chance at freedom.

But, unfortunately, freedom is not achieved without cost.

On April 10th, 2003, the men of the 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment began its trek through the streets of Baghdad on a mission to take the presidential palace. The trek led them into a nightmarish and seemingly unending ambush. Between the hours of 4:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. the American troops, nearly 1000-fold, fought against a continuous hail-storm of bullets and rocket propelled grenades (RPGs), but they pressed on to their goal, knowing that the tally of injuries and fatalities were mounting with each foot. A slaughter seemed eminent.

The numbers told a different story: 76 injuries, 1 fatality. Each soldier had a story to tell about their miraculous survival, that they should have been dead. The following is just one example of astonishing survival: “An enemy round had entered his helmet just above the top of his right ear. But as if its path were marked out in advance, the round had curved up and over his head, still underneath the Kevlar skin of the helmet, and finally lodged itself on the left side, about the same place where it had entered on the right.”

Stories abounded about how RPGs and bullets suddenly were flung in different directions away from the men, how the mere presence of a backpack on the side of an AAV saved the lives of twenty plus men, how Iraqi insurgents would point and run from an enemy our soldiers couldn’t see. Like Daniel in the lion’s den, like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the fiery furnace, these men survived to tell the story of God’s intervention. God had been there shielding, protecting and defending, turning disbelieving soldiers into faithful followers.

The Secret Life of Becky Miller

by Sharon Hinck
Published by Bethany House (2006)
304 pages

"Faster than a speeding minivan, able to leap piles of laundry in a single bound, it’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s ... Supermom!"

We all know one of those types of mothers, right? The soccer mom who also volunteers for church, school and the local Rotary. Who always make perfectly healthy meals, her house is immaculate and her children are model students and role models. Well, maybe not, but this "Supermom" persona seems to be the one so many moms aspire to be - the one Becky Miller aspires to be.

Becky Miller’s main goal is to do great things for God and she has all her plans in place to achieve that goal. When life happens and her plans seem to fall apart will she turn to the One who has other plans for her?

New author, Sharon Hinck, bursts onto the Christian fiction scene with a humorous yet poignant story of a mother who tries to do it all for God. She is able to take the seemingly mundane tasks motherhood requires and make them interesting and important.

The story is a fun and fast read for mothers and future mothers and even non-moms of all ages. (It wouldn’t hurt the husbands to take a peak either!)