40 Days Prayers and Devotions on God's Amazing Miracles: A Review

40 Days Prayers and Devotions on God’s Amazing Miracles is Dennis Smith’s 7^th book in  his “40 Days” series.

While skeptics proclaim miracles don’t exist, and many Christians question their reality, in today’s broken world it seems most everyone could do with a miracle of some kind.

Dennis Smith reminds us that miracles do still happen today.

However, God’s Word must be received into the heart by faith for the miracle to become a reality. The Apostle John wrote that it is through our faith in God’s word that we receive the promise: “And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask any thing according to His will, He heareth us: And if we know that He hears us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desire of Him.” (1 John 5:13, 15.)

One can read this book in one day as I did, or you can read it the recommended way of over a period of 40 days.  There are 40 sections written to be read as separate readings with a section with questions for Personal Reflection and discussion at the end of each of the 40 sections.  In addition, there are several appendices at the end, including one which gives a broad historical perspective on  healing and other miracles.

I recommend this book. Click on the following link for more information and to read the first chapter:

http://www.adventistbookcenter.com/40-days-prayers-and-devotions-on-god-s-amazing-miracles.html

Bread of Angels: A Review

I enjoy biblical fiction because the fiction helps me learn more about people and events described in the Bible. Bread of Angels is the story of Lydia, the seller of purple cloth and garments who became a Christian in Philippi when the apostle Paul came there to preach.
The book’s author, Tessa Afeshar, was born in Iran to a nominally Muslim family and lived there for the first 14 years of her life. She then moved to England and “survived” boarding school for girls and thereafter moved to the United States.

Tessa converted to Christianity in her twenties,after coming to the United States,which changed the course of her life forever.

Tessa places the subject of her book, Lydia and her father in Thyatira, which is the setting of the book. Lydia’s mother was killed by a wild boar when she was a small child.

For purposes of the story, Lydia is Greek. She works with her father in his shop creating purple cloth and garments from the cloth. Her father has a secret dye he created which makes their purple very special.

A Roman family wants their secret formula and eventually Lydia has to leave town and travels to Philippi with a Jewish girl who was disinherited because she refused to marry an old man her father wanted her to marry. Bit by bit, the Jewish girl tells Lydia stories of her Jewish heritage and before the story is over both Lydia and her Jewish friend have become Christians.

If you like learning more about the Bible times and enjoy biblical fiction this is a good book for you to read.  The isbn is 978-1-964-0647-7

Power of Hope: A Review

Authors Melgosa and Borges bring a much needed perspective on how to deal with anxiety, stress and depression. These problems have become increasingly common in this agitated, demanding, and confusing world and many are unsuccessful when they seek a solution

If you or someone you know is living with one of these problems, this book is the first step along the path that leads to a life of peace, restoration, and healing.

To learn more about this new book and to read the first chapter please click on the following link:

http://www.adventistbookcenter.com/the-power-of-hope.html

Where the Wind Leads: A Review

A Refugee Family’s Miraculous Story of Loss, Rescue, and Redemption by Vinh Chung with Tim Downs

Foreword by Richard Stearn, president, World Vision US

Where the Wind Leads is the remarkable account of Vinh Chung and his refugee family’s daring escape from communist oppression in Vietnam for the chance of a better life in America. It’s the story of personal sacrifice, endurance against almost insurmountable odds, and what it means to be an American.

The author was 3-1/2 years old when his family was forced to flee Vietnam in June 1979.

Several weeks later, his family lay half-dead from dehydration in a derelict fishing boat jammed with ninety-three refugees in the middle of the South China Sea. They arrived in the United States with nothing but the clothes on their backs and unable to speak a single word in English.

That was in 1979.

Now his family holds 21 University degrees and Vinh is a medical doctor with a successful medical practice in Colorado. He also serves on the board of World Vision.

This is one of the most inspiring autobiographies that I have read in a long time and I recommend it highly.

The isbn # is 978-0-8499-47568

On Sand and in Stone: A Magazine Review

This story comes from the July 2017 issue of the monthly magazine Signs of the Times. I really liked it so I have decided share it on my blog even though my blog is about book reviews.

One day two friends began to argue as they walked through the desert. The dispute became so intense that one of them slapped the other one in the face. Without saying a word, the one who was slapped bent over and wrote in the sand, “Today my best friend slapped my face.”

Continuing their journey, they came to an oasis and bathed in the water. Unfortunately, the one who was slapped sank in the miry bottom and began to drown but his friend rescued him. After he had rested for a bit, the friend who nearly drowned found a flat surface on the sandstone cliff near the oasis where he carved the words, “Today my best friend saved my life.”

His friend said, “After I hurt you, you wrote in the sand, but when I saved your life you carved on a stone, Why?”

He replied, “When someone hurts us, we should write the injury in sand so that the winds of forgiveness can blow away the memory. But when someone blesses us we must engrave the record in stone so that no wind can ever erase it.”

To learn more about this magazine click on the following link:

http://www.adventistbookcenter.com/signs-of-the-times-magazine-yearly-us-subscription.html

Life in the Valley: A Review

 James Dobson has been quoted as saying that 93% of people will admit that they were raised in a dysfunctional family, and the other 7% are liars. In other words every family has some dysfunction.

When you read Life in the Valley the biography of Laura Hamilton, written by Susan Harvey you will agree that the dysfunction in Laura’s home were colossal.

Laura was the 8^th of 11 children and grew up on a 650-acre farm in Texas.  Her dad farmed another 2,200 acres. Everyone worked on the farm. When Laura was 6-1/2 years old she learned to drive the farm truck and she with her 3-1/2 year-old brother would drive out at 5 in the morning to wake up the 150 milk cows and bring them in to the barn for milking.

Laura loved the farm but soon was subject to abuse and struggled to find peace. By the time she was 14, she seriously considered suicide because of all the abuse she was suffering. As she was entertaining these thoughts, she heard a voice in her mind telling her ‘don’t commit suicide; change your attitude and be determined to be a success.’  With that, Laura decided she would be a medical doctor but later changed her mind and decided to study chemical engineering. She studied hard and her analytical mind was helpful in questioning many things in the field.

By this time, Laura had turned her back on her childhood religion of German Catholic and instead visited most of the protestant churches in her town and then started studying non -Christian religions.

I encourage you to read her story and see where God led her. For more information about this book click on the following link- you can read the first chapter and also listen to an audio recording of Laura telling an overview of the highlights of her story.

http://www.adventistbookcenter.com/life-in-the-valley.html

Steps to Christ: A Review

This year 2017 is the 125^th anniversary of the first publication of Steps to Christ by Ellen G White.  This book is one of the finest books on Salvation through Jesus Christ our Savior. I first read the book when I was 9 years old. When I reread it many times later in life, I appreciated it much more but I know that seeds of truth and faith were planted in my mind from the first reading of it.

This book was first published by the Fleming H Revell publishing company and has since been published by several different publishers with millions of copies printed and distributed worldwide in over 100 different languages.

Although this is a Seventh-day Adventist book, people from very many denominations have been blessed by the message in the book. 

Several years ago when I was working at the book store a customer who had been raised a Lutheran told me that her Pastor who taught her “Confirmation” class at the Lutheran church used Steps to Christ as the textbook for the class. He told the young people that although this was not a Lutheran book it was the best book he knew of to teach about Jesus and salvation.

Speaking of the Lutheran church, this year 2017 is the 500^th anniversary of Martin Luther nailing his 95 Theses to the church door in Wittenburg, Germany. Martin Luther was part of the great Protestant Reformation and his theses were about being saved through grace alone through Jesus Christ.

Here are a few of the quotations from the book that I would like to share.

“Nature and revelation alike testify of God’s love. Our Father in heaven is the source of life, of wisdom, and of joy.”

“The price paid for our redemption, the infinite sacrifice of our heavenly Father in giving His Son to die for us, should give us exalted conceptions of what we may become through Christ.”

“The world’s Redeemer accepts men as they are, with all their wants, imperfections, and weaknesses; and He will not only cleanse from sin and grant redemption through His blood, but will satisfy the heart-longing of all who consent to wear His yoke, to bear His burden. It is His purpose to impart peace and rest to all who come to Him for the bread of life.”

“In the matchless gift of His Son, God has encircled the whole world with an atmosphere of grace as real as the air which circulates around the globe.  All who choose to breathe this life-giving atmosphere will live and grow up to the stature of men and women in Christ Jesus.”

“Jesus is our friend; all heaven is interested in our welfare. We should not allow the perplexities and worries of everyday life to fret the mind and cloud the brow. If we do we shall always have something to vex and annoy. We should not indulge a solicitude that only frets and wears us, but does not help us to bear trials.”

If you have not read this book I really want to encourage you to get a copy and read it. You can click on the following link to see various bindings and covers available and to order a copy.

http://www.adventistbookcenter.com/stepstochrist

Who Was Ellen White: A Review

This new title by Jerry Thomas is especially written for children, but it is one that adults can enjoy and learn from too.

This book Is filled with stories form Ellen White’s childhood to her retirement years and helps children to see Ellen White as a regular person who was given a special job by God and shared the messages of her most important visions in her writings and speeches.

These messages and visions helped build faith in God’s church and in His prophet.

You can follow this link and learn more about this new book and read the first chapter:

http://www.adventistbookcenter.com/who-was-ellen-white-for-kids.html

Looking for Alaska: A Review

My wife and I have just taken an 18 month tour to Alaska with Peter Jenkins.  The tour was through reading this book and it did not take us 18 months to read it. However Peter spent 18 months in Alaska to gather the material for this book.

Perhaps you have read, Peter Jenkins earlier book, A Walk Across America. If you have you know what a great writer Peter Jenkins is. If you have not read it I would recommend you read that book too.

Looking for Alaska is Peter’s account of 18 months traveling over  20,000 miles in tiny bush planes, on snow machines and snowshoes, in fishing boats and kayaks, on the Alaska Marine Highway and the Haul Road, searching for what defines Alaska. Hearing the amazing stories of many real Alaskans- from Barrow to Craig, Seward to Deering, and everywhere in between- Peter gets to know this place in a way that only he can. His resulting portrait is a rare and unforgettable depiction of a dangerous and beautiful land and all the people that call it home.

He also takes his family with him, renting a “home base” in Seward, Alaska, and coming and going from there. The way his family lived, how they made Alaska their home, is as much a part of this story as Peter’s own travels.

All in all, Jenkins delivers a memorable diary of discovery- both of this place that captures all of our imaginations, and of himself, all over again.

This book is a wonderful way to “Find Alaska” in a way that most of us never would even by taking a vacation to Alaska. I would encourage you to get a copy and read and enjoy it.