Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth. Serve the LORD with gladness; come before Him with joyful singing. Know
that the LORD Himself is God; it is He who has made us, and not we
ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name. For the LORD is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting and His faithfulness to all generations. (Psalm 100)
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
Verse of the Day
"The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my
God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my
salvation, my stronghold and my refuge; my savior, You save me from
violence. I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies." (2 Samuel 22:2–4)
This is how it reads in the paraphrase The Message:
GOD is bedrock under my feet, the castle in which I live, my rescuing knight. My
God—the high crag where I run for dear life, hiding behind the
boulders, safe in the granite hideout; my mountaintop refuge, he saves
me from ruthless men. I sing to GOD the Praise-Lofty, and find myself safe and saved. (2 Samuel 22:2–4)
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Monday, November 25, 2013
A MARRIAGE IN MIDDLEBURY | ENTER Anita Higman’s Double Kindle Fire Giveaway & RSVP for “Tea for Two” 12/12 Facebook Party!
Anita Higman is celebrating the release of
her latest book, A Marriage in
Middlebury, with a double Kindle Fire giveaway (one
for you & one to give away!) and a "Tea for Two" Facebook Author
Chat Party on December 12th.
One winner will receive:
- A Kindle Fire for you AND a friend
- A Marriage in Middlebury by Anita Higman (one to keep and one to give away!)
Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on December 12th. Winner will be announced at the "Tea for Two" Facebook Author Chat Party on December 12th. Invite your friends and connect with Anita for an evening of book chat, prizes, and an exclusive look at Anita's next book!
So grab your copy of
A Marriage in
Middlebury and join
Anita on the evening of December 12th for a chance to connect and make
some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you
from coming!)
Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today by clicking JOIN at the
event page. Spread the word — tell your friends about
the giveaway and party
via FACEBOOK or TWITTER.
Hope to see you on 12/12!
A Marriage in Middlebury by Anita Higman
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Verse of the Day
Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget none of His benefits. (Psalm 103:1–2)
Friday, November 22, 2013
Critical Reaction by Todd M. Johnson
This week, the
is introducing
Bethany House Publishers (November 19, 2013)
by
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Todd M. Johnson has practiced as an attorney for over 30 years, specializing as a trial lawyer. Todd's career experience blends with his passion for writing in his novels published through Bethany House.
A graduate of Princeton University and the University of Minnesota Law School, he also taught for two years as an adjunct professor of International Law, and served as a US diplomat in Hong Kong.
The Deposit Slip, Mr. Johnson's first novel, debuted in 2012. Todd's second novel, Critical Reaction, will be released in November 2013.
Todd lives outside Minneapolis, Minnesota, with his wife Cathy and children Ian and Libby.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
After decades of turning out plutonium for the arms race, the Hanford Nuclear Facility has long been shuttered, though its deadly legacy cannot be fully contained. The men who guard the facility from sabotage or monitor its buildings for radiation leaks are told the risks are under control. They believe it, until the worst happens: a thunderous explosion in the dead of night.
Two workers, lifer Poppy Martin and new hire Kieran Mullaney, believe themselves lucky to survive the blast. But as the debris is cleared, they discover their safety is not assured. Dead ends and closed doors halt their efforts to discover what really happened--and what radiation may have poisoned them. When stalling and threats force them into the hands of experienced trial lawyer Ryan Hart, they learn that theirs is no ordinary lawsuit. There is something still hidden in the desert of eastern Washington, and someone is willing to go to extreme lengths to make sure it never sees the light of day.
If you would like to read the first chapter of Critical Reaction, go HERE.
Margie's Comments: Review to come later. Loving it so far!
Verse of the Day
Even though the fig trees
have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vine, even though the olive
crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in
the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I
will be joyful in the God of my salvation. The Sovereign Lord is my strength!
He will make me as sure-footed as a deer and will bring me safely over the
mountain. Habakkuk 3:17–19 NLT
Thursday, November 21, 2013
Verse of the Day
I will lead the blind in a way they do not know, in paths that they have
not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light,
the rough places into level ground. These are the things I do, and I do not
forsake them. Isaiah 42:16 ESV
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
Verse of the Day
"Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When
you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When
you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk
through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames
will not consume you. For
I am the LORD, your God, . . . your Savior." (Isaiah 43:1–3 NLT)
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
Strait of Hormuz Sweepstakes and Author Interview
Help Davis Bunn celebrate the publication of “Strait of Hormuz.” Enter to win His & Hers Luxury Swiss Watches or a $150 Amazon Gift Card! http://woobox.com/ipi8wk. You can enter once per email address per day. Rack up bonus entries by sharing the contest with your Facebook and Twitter friends!
Q & A
with Davis Bunn
Q: The first two
books in the Marc Royce series have been bestsellers and also won praise from
the critics. Lion of Babylon won the
Library Journal’s Best Book of 2011 award, and Rare Earth won the 2013 Christy Award for Suspense Fiction. What do
you see is behind this success?
Davis Bunn: The
stories have certainly resonated with readers. I have tried to develop a strong
sense of unfolding drama, combined with a unique spiritual theme. This moral
structure plays out both in the story and the characters. My aim is to create
an inspirational challenge that remains with the reader long after the book has
been set down.
Q: This story includes two special
components from your early life. Tell us about them.
DB: My mother worked as an antiques dealer. In truth, ‘work’ was not really
the correct term, because this was a passion she inherited from her mother. They
bonded while my mom was still a child, going to small eastern Carolina towns
and hunting around junk stores for the sort of bargains that don’t exist anymore.
Their first love
was early Americana, a type of colonial furniture known as Jacobean that predated
America’s nationhood. I never really shared this passion, but in two previous
books I came to respect and admire those who do.
And so I knew a
great delight in re-entering this world in Strait
of Hormuz, only this time at the very highest end. Strait takes place in the rarified world of multi-million dollar
art, where the richest of collectors vie with museums and galleries for items
that are no longer classed as antiques, but rather as treasures
The second special
component was the location. I lived in Switzerland for almost five years, and
many of the venues were places where I worked, and walked, and came to discover
myself as an author.
Q: In what way is the
setting important to this book?
DB: The Strait of
Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical waterways. Stretching between Iran and
the Gulf States, the strait us home to two US fleets. More than a third of all
the oil consumed worldwide pass through these waters. But the story actually
begins in Switzerland, before traveling to the Sinai and then into the
hotly-contested Strait of Hormuz.
Q: What spiritual
theme is the focus of this story?
DB: One growing
area of the missionary church movement is with displaced persons. More than
five million Iranians have been expelled from their homeland, or been forced to
flee the current regime. This includes virtually the entire Christian
population. The missionary church movement has made enormous strides in
bringing peace to these families and introducing Christ into the world of
Muslims fleeing a Muslim government.
Q: What drew you to
the missionary church movement as a theme?
DB: I came to
faith in a missionary church. I was working as a consultant based in Germany.
The year I accepted Christ, the Southern Baptist Mission Board founded a
missionary church in Dusseldorf. I attended the church, I grew in the church, I
studied under two amazing pastors, and one of them returned to Europe to marry
us.
It was also where I learned to write. Two weeks after coming
to faith, I felt called to writing. I wrote for nine years and completed seven
books before my first was accepted for publication. The church, its members,
and the elders all played a critical role in bringing me to where I am now. I
am living testimony to the vital role played by the missionary church.
Q: All three of the
books in this series have given significant insight into the Muslim world,
something critics have picked up on. What experience do you have with this
region?
DB: For the four
years prior to moving to Germany, I lived and worked in the Middle East. I was
the only non-Muslim in the management structure of a family-owned company. They
had three major arms: construction equipment, shipping, and pharmaceuticals. I
rose to become Marketing Manager of the pharmaceutical division.
One of the requirements of this job was to take instruction
in the Koran and Islamic history from an imam who taught at the local
university. I think this experience played a major role in my coming to Christ.
Q: How can readers find you on the
Internet?
Subscribe
to my blog’s feed (to get my latest posts via e-mail or through your feed
reader) at http://feeds.feedburner.com/DavisBunn
Sign up
for my e-newsletter (for subscriber-only giveaways and advance notice of my
upcoming novels): http://www.davisbunn.com/news.htm
Facebook
Author Page: facebook.com/davisbunnauthor
Pinterest:
http://pinterest.com/davisbunn/ -- check out my “Strait of Hormuz” board at http://www.pinterest.com/davisbunn/strait-of-hormuz/
Strait of Hormuz by Davis Bunn
An under-the-radar phone call from the U.S. State Department
puts Marc Royce once again on assignment—ferreting out rumors of a clandestine
operation stretching from Asia to the Mideast. At stake is Iran’s threat to
blockade the narrow Strait of Hormuz, cutting off vital shipping routes and
escalating global tensions beyond the breaking point.
Under the guise of investigating money laundering via high-end art purchases in Europe, Royce finds himself in Switzerland with only sketchy information, no backup, and without a single weapon other than his wits.
His appointment with a gallery owner in Geneva is a dead end--the man is on the floor with a bullet through his chest. But it turns out Royce does have backup. The Mossad has sent someone to keep an eye on this undercover op, which is of more than casual interest to the Israelis. And it's someone Royce knows...
Under the guise of investigating money laundering via high-end art purchases in Europe, Royce finds himself in Switzerland with only sketchy information, no backup, and without a single weapon other than his wits.
His appointment with a gallery owner in Geneva is a dead end--the man is on the floor with a bullet through his chest. But it turns out Royce does have backup. The Mossad has sent someone to keep an eye on this undercover op, which is of more than casual interest to the Israelis. And it's someone Royce knows...
Read Chapters 1-3 of Strait of Hormuz for free: http://statictab.com/j4s7yd8
About Davis Bunn:
Davis Bunn is a
four-time Christy Award-winning, best-selling author now serving as
writer-in-residence at Regent's Park College, Oxford University in the United
Kingdom. Defined by readers and reviewers as a "wise teacher,"
"gentleman adventurer," "consummate writer," and
"Renaissance man," his work in business took him to over 40 countries
around the world, and his books have sold more than seven
million copies in
sixteen languages.
Strait of Hormuz is the series finale of the popular Marc Royce Adventures.
Library Journal named Lion of Babylon (Book
1) a “Best Book of 2011.” Rare
Earth (Book 2) won the 2013 Christy Award for best suspense novel and was a
CBA top 20 best-seller.
Margie's Comments: Wow! What a fantastic finale to the Marc Royce Adventure series! Strait of Hormuz is nonstop heart-pounding action from start to finish. Sometimes in series' fiction, the main characters tend to stagnate after the initial book, but Davis Bunn doesn't allow his characters sit back on what they learned in the previous adventures. They continue to grow and in spite of heartbreak or looking death in the face over and over, they grow in self-knowledge and toward the Lord, the acknowledged source of life and purpose. The author continues to show his understanding of the unity believers have in Christ, a unity that surpasses ethnic differences and long-ingrained hostility. For Kitra and Marc, this means not hiding their faith, even when it means putting their lives on the line. The plot line of Strait of Hormuz comes straight from today's headlines in every newscast and newspaper. Learning to distinguish between friends and foes is essential to Marc's staying alive to protect the ones he loves most. The Marc Royce Adventure series is one I can highly recommend, including Strait of Hormuz.
I received a complimentary
copy of Strait of Hormuz from Bethany
House Publishers in exchange for my honest review.
Verse of the Day
I do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my
prayers. [For I always pray] the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of
Glory, that He may grant you a spirit of
wisdom and revelation—of insight into mysteries and secrets—in the [deep and
intimate] knowledge of Him,
By having the eyes of your heart flooded with light, so that you can know
and understand the hope to which He has called you and how rich is His glorious
inheritance in the saints—His set-apart ones. And [so that you can know
and understand] what is the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness
of His power in and for us who believe, as demonstrated in the working of
His mighty strength. (Ephesians 3:16-19 amp)
Monday, November 18, 2013
Verse of the Day
Cause and effect:
"Out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks." (Luke 6:45 ESV)
Let
the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one
another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
with thankfulness in your hearts to God. (Colossians 3:16 ESV)
Friday, November 15, 2013
Verse of the Day
Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The unfailing love of the LORD never ends! By his mercies we have been kept from complete destruction. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each day. I say to myself, "The LORD is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!" The LORD is wonderfully good to those who wait for him and seek him. So it is good to wait quietly for salvation from the LORD. (Lamentations 3:21–26 NLT)
Without wavering, let us hold tightly to the hope we say we have, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. (Hebrews 10:23 NLT)
Thursday, November 14, 2013
TO KNOW YOU | Win a Personal Coaching Session with Shannon Ethridge and $100 to Lisa Leonard Designs!
Shannon Ethridge is celebrating the release
of To Know
You (co-written by Kathryn
Mackel), by giving away a
$100 gift certificate to Lisa Leonard Designs and a personal coaching
session, as well as throwing a Facebook Author Chat
Party!
One winner will receive:
- A $100 gift certificate to Lisa Leonard
Designs
- To Know You by Shannon Ethridge
Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry,
the giveaway ends on November 19th. Winner will be
announced at the "To Know You" Facebook Author Chat
Party on the 19th. Connect with
Shannon and friends for an encouraging evening of fun chat, book club
discussion, giveaways, and a chance to win a PERSONAL COACHING SESSION
WITH SHANNON!
So grab your copy of
To Know
You and join Shannon on
the evening of November 19th for a chance to connect and make some new
friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from
coming!)
Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today by clicking JOIN at the
event page. Spread the word — tell your friends about
the giveaway and party
via FACEBOOK or TWITTER or
Pinterest and increase your chances of winning. Hope to
see you on 11/19!
To Know You by Shannon Ethridge and Kathryn Mackel
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Verse of the Day
“He knows the way that I take;
when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.” Job 23:10 NIV
David strengthened himself with trust in his God. 1 Samuel 30:6 MSG
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
Derailed by Neta and Dave Jackson
This week, the
is introducing
Worthy Publishing (October 8, 2013)
by
ABOUT THE AUTHORS:
As a husband/wife writing team, we are enthusiastic about books, kids, walking with God, gospel music, and each other! Together we are the authors or coauthors of over 120 books. (You can see our Publication Record by clicking HERE.) In addition to writing several books about Christian community, we have been privileged to coauthor numerous books with expert resource people on a variety of topics from racial reconciliation to medical ethics to ministry to kids in gangs.
But over the year we have especially enjoyed writing for children and young people! This includes our award-winning TRAILBLAZER series, historical fiction about great Christian heroes and heroines for young people ages 8–12, and the four-volume HERO TALES: A Family Treasury of True Stories from the Lives of Great Christians, and the companion book, Heroes in Black History.
Somewhere along the way, our own children grew up! Son Julian is Director of Experience Design for the Alder Planetarium in Chicago where he “provides the experience of exploring space” for visitors. He has two sons, Liam Isaac and Elijah David. Daughter Rachel graduated from Eastern Mennonite University and after working in the field of rape-crisis prevention went on to earn a Masters Degree in counseling from the University of Illinois. She is now a counselor at Uni High School in Champaign, Illinois. She is the loving mother of Havah Noelle (our first grandchild!) and Noah Zion, our youngest grandchild. The Jackson family also includes a Cambodian foster daughter, Samen Sang, who has four children.
We live in Evanston, Illinois, where for twenty-seven years we were part of Reba Place Church, a Christian church community. We are now members of a multiracial congregation in the Chicago area.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Forced to give up his hard-earned retirement, Harry Bentley goes back to work as a detective. Receiving a bizarre undercover assignment that sends him across the country by train. Things suddenly go awry when it appears one of his new neighbors may be part of a smuggling ring and suspicion rises about his own son’s involvement in a major drug cartel.
The second in the Windy City Neighbors series, Derailed is a contemporary, and often humorous, tale in an urban setting, featuring ordinary people wrestling with the spiritual and practical issues of real life. Intersecting with Grounded (book one), the Jacksons employ their innovative storytelling technique of “parallel novels.” Though each book follows its own drama and story arc, the characters’ lives become intertwined and affect one another. Derailed transports you to Beecham Street—a typical, isolated American neighborhood . . . until hope moves in.
If you would like to read the first chapter of Derailed, go HERE.
Margie's Comments: Review to come later.
Verse of the Day
Commit your works to the Lord and
your plans will be established. Proverbs
16:3
“My thoughts are nothing like
your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could
imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are
higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8–9 nlt
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
Verse of the Day
So
we're not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often
looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is
making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There's
far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today,
gone tomorrow. But the things we can't see now will last forever. (2 Corinthians 4:16–18 MSG)
Monday, November 11, 2013
Verse of the Day
Lead me in the right path, O LORD, or my enemies will conquer me. Tell me clearly what to do, and show me which way to turn. (Psalm 5:8 NLT)
Friday, November 8, 2013
Paige Rewritten by Erynn Mangum
This week, the
is introducing
NavPress (October 8, 2013)
by
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
A few things about her:
So, if we were having this conversation in person, we would probably be hanging out at Starbucks or one of the cute coffeehouses in town. I’m nuts about all things coffee, I’m crazy about all things pink and girly, and I love, love, love the Food Network! I’m married to my best friend and the most amazing guy ever, Jon. He is amiable toward coffee, does not like anything pink or girly and tolerates the Food Network. So, we make a good match! In July 2010, we became parents to one of the funniest, cutest, sweetest little guys in the whole world (and nope, we aren’t biased at all!), our Nater-Tot, who is legally known as Nathan. Most days, I’m cleaning up messes, making goofy faces, trying to fit some writing in, and just LOVING the life that God has given me!
ABOUT THE BOOK
Paige Alder is in a really good place. She’s dating nice guy Tyler. Her boss has offered her a raise. Her walk with God is strong. Life is great—and that’s when things start to change.
First, the youth pastor at church keeps asking Paige to work with him full-time. Then her sister shows up newly engaged and wanting to reconnect, even though they haven’t spoken in years. And now former boyfriend Luke has come back into her life. How is Paige supposed to know what the right decisions are?
This warm and humorous second book in the Paige Alder series will help young girls work through important issues, such as forgiving others and obeying God.
If you would like to read the first chapter of Paige Rewritten, go HERE
Margie's Comments: Paige Rewritten is the second book in the Paige Alder series. I haven't read the first book, but it stands alone in what is promising to be a very well-written series. The characters are well-drawn and play a vital role in the story line. The first-person point of view is well done, giving the reader an excellent perspective on the events surrounding and affecting Paige. What I like best about the book is the natural way the spiritual thread is woven into the story. Because Paige is well-grounded in her faith, she recognizes herself in the story of the prodigal son. Faced with the sudden appearance of two people from her past she hoped she wouldn't have to deal with again, Paige is forced to face her own role in those events. A very good read that kept my attention, the only drawback was the sudden ending more fitted to the ending of a chapter not the end of a book—even one in a series.
Verse of the Day
"You are My servant, I have chosen you and not rejected you. Do
not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am
your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will
uphold you with My righteous right hand." (Isaiah 41:9–10)
"They will fight against you, but they will not overcome you, for I am with you to deliver you," declares the LORD. (Jeremiah 1:19)
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