Inside the Revolution by Joel Rosenberg

True to Mr. Rosenberg's form with his fiction works this is a non-fiction work that is as spell binding as any of his fiction work. His previous non-fiction book Epicenter was also spell binding. In all of Mr. Rosenberg's books he has proven to be eerily prophetic. I have no doubt that this work will also prove prophetic.

Inside the Revolution is divided into three sections. The first section pertains to The Followers of Jihad. Although is has some history prior to the 1979 Iranian Revolution, it basically begin with the revolution and the return of the Ayatollah Khomeini to Iran and his declaration of the jihad. It provides much insight as to the position of the US toward the Shah and the Ayatollah and how the US was caught unprepared for the revolution. It gives background regarding former President Carter's wavering attitudes as well as many of those in his administration.

The second section of the book, The Followers of Jefferson, pertains to the attitudes of many of the leaders in several of the Middle Eastern countries. Surprisingly, there are many leaders in Muslim countries steering their countries to more democratic forms of government. It provides background information of many of the leaders that has not readily been provided to the American public. It includes the leaders of Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Morocco, Egypt and others. Some of these leaders have been making changes for years but because of Muslim pressure have gone very slowly to keep from drawing attention to the changes.

The third section, The Followers of Jesus, documents many Christian believers and preachers in the middle east region. There are substantially more than what the American public is lead to believe. It details the "Revival" happening from northern African to Pakistan. It also makes clear what should be done by Christians to encourage the revival and Muslims who are looking for more that jihad and the killing of innocents.

If you have any interest in the middle east or its effects on the U.S. this is a must read book. I was extremely surprised at the corroborated information provided and the number of one-on-one interviews Mr. Rosenberg conducted. It certainly gave me a new perspective regarding Muslims.

Miracle on the 17th Green

"Miracle on the 17th Green" by James Patterson and Peter deJonge was originally published in 1996 so it is an early Patterson book. It is an easy and fast read with only 149 pages.

It is not "just" a golf book but a basic knowledge of golf will make the novel much more enjoyable. However, you don't have to have a golf history to enjoy the book.

The story is about a man unhappy with his life, attitude, and direction who is quite disconnected with his wife and children. It is surprising what and how he decides to do about his life.

Once An Arafat Man

"Once an Arafat Man" by Tass Saada with Dean Merrill is subtitled "The True Story of How a PLO Sniper Found a New Life."

First, Tass Saada is the father of one of my fellow bloggers that I read on a daily basis, Ben Abu Saada. He is also the Worship Minister of Grace Church in south Overland Park, Kansas.

This is a MUST read for everyone!

This is Mr. Saada's biography and covers his life up to just months ago. For any Christian, Jew or Muslim it will open your eyes as to what has been going on and is currently going on in the middle east.

Although this book covers the time when Mr. Saada was a sniper with the PLO it is not a bloody, gory book. He does explain much about his and other Palestinians' feeling toward the Jews and the Fatah organization that Arafat started.

The forward for this book is written by Joel Rosenberg, another of my favorite authors.

The Secret Life of Bees

The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd is not just a "chick" book although that is what it is advertised to be. It took me about 40-50 pages to really get into the story but then it became a page turner.

The story takes place in 1964 at the time that President Lyndon Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act. It was a turbulent time that affects the story and makes one aware of how far we have come in the 40+ years.

The Sue Monk Kidd web site describes the book as follows:

Living on a peach farm in South Carolina with her harsh, unyielding father, Lily Owens has shaped her entire life around one devastating, blurred memory--the afternoon her mother was killed, when Lily was four. Since then, her only real companion has been the fierce-hearted, and sometimes just fierce, black woman Rosaleen, who acts as her "stand-in mother."

When Rosaleen insults three of the deepest racists in town, Lily knows it's time to spring them both free. They take off in the only direction Lily can think of, toward a town called Tiburon, South Carolina--a name she found on the back of a picture amid the few possessions left by her mother.

There they are taken in by an eccentric trio of black beekeeping sisters named May, June, and August. Lily thinks of them as the calendar sisters and enters their mesmerizing secret world of bees and honey, and of the Black Madonna who presides over this household of strong, wise women. Maternal loss and betrayal, guilt and forgiveness entwine in a story that leads Lily to the single thing her heart longs for most.

The Secret Life of Bees has a rare wisdom about life--about mothers and daughters and the women in our lives who become our true mothers. A remarkable story about the divine power of women and the transforming power of love, this is a stunning debut whose rich, assured, irresistible voice gathers us up and doesn't let go, not for a moment. It is the kind of novel that women share with each other and that mothers will hand down to their daughters for years to come.

Double Cross

Double Cross by James Patterson is another book in the Alex Cross murder mystery series. This one has a little twist to it in that two psychotic killers are loose. Not only are they killing the public but both are after Dr. Cross and his family. One of the killers craves an audience and the other is the mastermind from a previous novel. The mastermind is Kyle Craig, a former FBI agent, who has broken out of a super maximum security prison.

Although this is a good quick read like all of Patterson's books I don't think that it is one of his better books. Even so, it is still worth the read... maybe I've read too many Pattersons in a row without a break!

Tornado! Up from the Debris

Tornado! Up from the Debris to Thank God Personal Accounts of the Greensburg Kansas Tornado May 4, 2007 was compiled by Greensburg resident Fern (Mrs. Eric) Unruh.

From the back cover of the book:

"An EF-5 tornado plundered through the farming community of Greensburg, Kansas on May 4, 2007; stripping it bare of homes, businesses, huge trees, and entire farmsteads. In its wake, only a pile of debris was left as evidence of what was once a peaceful existence. Miraculously, only twelve people lost their lives.

"As they pulled themselves up from the debris, it was with great thankfulness to God who spared their lives. This book is the account of what happened that day, and in the days following. It is their 'thank you' to all those 'ministering angels' who helped them in so many ways to dig out of the debris."

This is absolutely amazing stories starting minutes prior to the tornado strike to months after, during the reconstruction of homes and the town.

It details the power of God to protect during this terrible storm of life, the faithfulness of the people being tested and the thankfulness of the people that came through. It is an inspiring story from many people who suffered and survived and are now thriving.

You've Been Warned

You've Been Warned by James Patterson and Howard Roughan is not the run of the mill murder mystery. It is a psychological thriller and an eerie story that really gets to a person and to a certain extent haunts.

The James Patterson web site has a good review by the New York Sun:

Kristin Burns has lived her life by the philosophy "Don't think, just shoot" – pictures, that is. Struggling to make ends meet, she works full-time as the nanny for the fabulously wealthy Turnbull family, looking after their two wonderful children and waiting for her glamorous life as a New York photographer to begin. When her photographs are considered by an elite Manhattan art gallery, it seems she might finally get the chance that will start her career.

You've been naughty, very naughty.

But Kristin has a major distraction: forbidden love. The man of her dreams is almost hers for keeps. Breathless with an inexhaustible passion and the excitement of being within reach of her goals, Kristen ignores all signs of catastrophe brewing.

Now you've been warned.

Fear exists for a reason. And Kristin can only dismiss the warnings for so long. Searching desperately for the truth through the lens of her camera, she can only hope that it's not too late. This novel of psychological suspense is a stunning new achievement for thriller master James Patterson, "one of the bestselling writers in history"

More James Patterson

It goes without saying that I am a huge James Patterson fan! I am trying to get caught up on my reading of his books. I go started reading Patterson years ago after I saw an interview. At the time, he was writing the scripts for several television programs but I can't remember the name of any of them.

Anyway, both of these books are, typically, excellent in the James Patterson mystery way and if one is into murder mysteries they are worth the read. As with most Patterson the stories move quickly, are page turners and the pages turn quickly.

I'm working on You've Been Warned now and still have 3-4 to go before I'm caught up. I am having trouble finding one of the old books. Apparently, it isn't in print anymore and isn't traded very much. If you see a copy of Miracle on the 17th Green let me know.

Yeah, I'm so addicted I even keep a list of his books!

Fresh Power by Jim Cymbala

Fresh Power: Experiencing the Vast Resources of the Spirit of God is another in a series of books I have read by Jim Cymbala. Although I enjoyed this book a great deal I liked the other two better. This one just didn't seem quite as powerful as the others but , again, it was worth the read.

In this book Cymbala draws examples from the Bible and from the streets of New York City to show the power and strength of the Holy Spirit. One of the most interesting and powerful examples pertains to his and his wife's relationship with David Berkowitz, known as "Son of Sam."

This book provides a reminder that we need the Holy Spirit in our lives.

You Just Have to Laugh Through Tough Times

You Just Have to Laugh Through Tough Times is another David Naster Guidebook. This one has anecdotes that fall into the following categories: Humor, Illness, Injury, Danger, Grief, Laughter.

Although the categories in this book are more serious there are some very good stories that makes one stop and think about life and how serious we take it. It is a book spending and hour or two with; that is all it takes to read the whole book. It won't be time wasted.

When Work Gets Tough You Just Have to Laugh: A Guidebook

When Work Gets Tough You Just Have to Laugh by David Naster is an extremely humorous "Guidebook." Some of the anecdotes are familiar because they have been passed around via emails. Naster's web site describes the book as having three goals:

1. to make you laugh.
2. to teach you how to find humor.
3. to improve your work life.

Obviously, I can't testify to the third goal because I don't work but the first two are certainly met.

David is a hometown comedian... he lives in Overland Park, Kansas. His speciality is finding humor in the tough stuff of life. He is not only a comedian but also a motivational speaker. His web site is www.Naster.com.  You can purchase books, recordings and book an appearance through the site.

It's All About Him

It's All About Him: Finding the Love of My Life by Denise Jackson with Ellen Vaughn is a good worthwhile read. I wasn't too interested in reading this book when it came out. I saw the Jacksons on Oprah and the View and it just didn't sound like a book I would enjoy. However, I was wrong about this one.

In this memoir Denise Jackson chronicles her faith walk through the years and the importance of her faith as she recounts the highs and lows of her marriage to country superstar Alan Jackson, whom she wed at age 19. She is very open regarding her relationship with Alan.

In addition, you get a free Alan Jackson CD with the book.

Christians vs. Crusaders

One of my favorite podcasts I listen to every week in the sermon from Grace Church, Overland Park, Kansas. Yesterday, their guest speaker was a man called Tass Saada who happens to be the father of one of the church pastors, Ben Abu Saada.

Tass Saada is a former Muslim PLO Sniper and author of the upcoming book "Once an Arafat Man," scheduled for release in September. Yesterday, he spent a little time talking about his past as it related to his upbringing and his life in the Arab world including in the Gaza Strip. Primarily, he spoke of his journey and how he was brought to accept Jesus Christ as his saviour.

To me, one of the surprising statements, that he made was that he didn't like the word "Christian" because to him and other Arabs it brings thoughts of the Crusaders. He prefers to be called "a follower of Christ."

Even after all these centuries Arabs still think and talk about the Crusades. This actually hit home and explained a lot of the "bad feelings" Arabs have toward Christians. If you aren't familiar with the Crusades you should watch more History Channel. Another source of an example of Crusader behavior is James Patterson's book the Jester. Although a work of fiction there is some pretty accurate descriptions of work of the Crusaders.

It doesn't take a lot of study to figure out that the Crusaders were pretty ruthless in the name of God. So many of these men played right into the hands of the Pope to become Crusaders. They were told they were on a mission for God and the murdering committed by them was sanctioned by God when in reality it was sanctioned by the Pope.

Anyway, Jester is a good book worth reading and I can't wait for Once An Arafat Man to come out!

 

grandparents must read

I have never been a great fan of the "Chicken Soup" series and have only read a very few of them. However, Chicken Soup for the Grandparent's Soul is a fantastic read and a must read for all grandparents.

If every story in this book doesn't remind you of something about your own grand children then you must have a limited life with them and I feel sorry for you.

This book makes one laugh, cry, contemplate, wish for more experiences and give thanks for the life that has blessed one. I can't imagine another "Chicken Soup" book that is better than this one.

Sundays at Tiffany's by James Patterson & Gabrielle Charbonnet

I am a huge James Patterson fan! I have read almost all of his books and the ones I haven't read are on the reading list when I get enough money to buy them. I even keep a list of his books, with the ones I have read marked, in my PDA. I have never picked up a Patterson book that I didn't love and spend all my time reading until I was done with it. This is another hit for him and very different from most of his books. It really shows what a great writer he really is.

There was no way I felt I could do justice in writing about this book so I went to the James Patterson website and copied their description below:

AN IMAGINARY FRIEND
Jane Margaux is a lonely little girl. Her mother, a powerful Broadway producer, makes time for her only once a week, for their Sunday trip to admire jewelry at Tiffany's. Jane has only one friend: a handsome, comforting, funny man named Michael. He's perfect. But only she can see him. Michael can't stay forever, though. On Jane's ninth birthday he leaves, promising her that she'll soon forget him.

AN UNEXPECTED LOVE
Years later, in her thirties, Jane is just as alone as she was as a child. And despite her own success as a playwright, she is even more trapped by her overbearing mother. Then she meets someone–a handsome, comforting, funny man. He's perfect. His name is Michael...

AND AN UNFORGETTABLE TWIST
This is a heartrending story that surpasses all expectations of why these people have been brought together. With the breathtaking momentum and gripping emotional twists that have made James Patterson a bestselling author all over the world, SUNDAYS AT TIFFANY'S takes an altogether fresh look at the timeless and transforming power of love.

McClellan

McClellan says he believed in Bush as war started

WASHINGTON (AP) — Former White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan says he didn't object to the way the war in Iraq was sold to the American people at the time because he, like other Americans, gave the president the benefit of the doubt.

McClellan told NBC's "Today" show on Thursday that although he had worried about the rush to war, he felt affection for President Bush and trusted his foreign policy advisers.

McClellan says in his new memoir that he came to realize that the war was sold with propaganda that inflated the threat posed by Saddam Hussein. He says administration officials didn't deliberately lie — but they became wrapped up in trying to shape the story to their advantage, and ignored intelligence that didn't fit the picture.

Copyright © 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Of course the media isn't telling that this book was published by the same publisher that publishes George Soros. Yeah, the Soros of MoveOn.org, the liberal organization that all democratic candidates have to obtain an endorsement from. McClellan's first interviews were with anti-Bush NBC (Today) and MSNBC's Keith Olbermann, who isn't even a journalist.

I never have cared for "kiss and tell" in real life or books, so I won't be wasting time or money on this book.

Spurgeon: A New Biography

Spurgeon A New Biography by Arnold Dallimore is an abbreviated biography of the great London pastor Charles H. Spurgeon. There have been many biographies of Spurgeon published but most are multi-volumes.

I have never been much on biographies. To the best of my recollection I have only read two biographies, Kathryn Hepburn and Lee Iocca. But this is an exceptional one. Dallimore pulled some of the most interesting aspects of Spurgeon's life and works with and through the Metropolitan Tabernacle of London to focus on.

It is amazing that in the 18th century London church he was able to attract multiple thousands to his services. It is especially impressive considering the official church was and is the Church of England and he and his congregation were Baptist. Also, amazing was how much he was loved by people in America and how copies of his sermons were in hot demand in many countries of the world.

He established a Pastors' College, orphanages, ministries for men and women, ministries for the poor, evangelism programs and most of these were at his own expense paid for by the sale of his books and sermons.

Whether you enjoy biographies or not this one is worth reading. It isn't a suspenseful, thriller page turner but it is a book you will want to stick with and read to the very last page.

The Last Lecture

The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch, Ph.D. with Jeffrey Zaslow is one of the most meaningful books I have ever read. I posted about Randy Pausch and the video The Last Lecture last year. It is not necessary to watch the video before enjoying this book but you certainly should take the time to watch it at some point.

Professor Pausch has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and after leaving his position at Carnegie Mellon University he was invited back to give his last lecture which is a tradition. Unfortunately, the last lecture in his case had a special meaning.

This book is NOT a transcript of The Last Lecture video so don't think you can get it all from the "movie." There are no great revelations in this book but a lot of reminders pertaining to what we should remember, what made us who we are, what life is all about, and how we all want to be remembered. It also includes much about business, customer service, honesty and apologizing, sincerely. It is not a sad book but a celebration of life, specifically Professor Pausch's, but it could be any of our life's.

Maybe I feel a special connection to this book because Professor Pausch and I share a common factor... terminal cancer. Randy, nor I, nor any terminally ill survivor wants sympathy for the sake of our illness. Like most people we are looking for the way we can make a difference in our family's and friends' lives and be remembered in this world for something other than taking up space.

I've had a lot of thoughts and feelings about having cancer that I've been unable to explain. I think I found that explanation in this book and it is a great quote:

"Many cancer patients say their illness gives them a new and deeper appreciation for life. Some even say they are grateful for their disease. I have no such gratitude for my cancer, although I'm certainly grateful for having advance notice of my death."

Take a few hours and read this book!

Professor Pausch's web site is: www.thelastlecture.com.

Additional web sites mentioned in the book: The Entertainment Technology Center, www.etc.cmu.edu; the Alice project, www.alice.org.

The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit

The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit by Dr. R. A. Torrey is a recommended reading from Back to the Bible located in Lincoln, Nebraska. The original copyright of the book is 1910. Dr. Torrey was a late 19th, early 20th century teacher, pastor and lecturer. He received his A.B. and B.D. from Yale University and also studied in Leipsig, Germany. He served as superintendent of city missions in Minneapolis and later served as superintendent of Moody Bible Institute.

I found this book to be timeless and extraordinarily applicable to today's world. I didn't feel it was an "easy" or "quick" read but required me to re-read and study some passages to better understand explanations of some Bible verses. I found a highlighter was useful to have within reach. This is really a "teaching" book and required (at least from me) some re-reading of passages and some contemplation. In addition, I think I will need to re-read it in a few months.

Although I recommend this book be prepared for some challenges and very thought provoking ideas. It is an excellent explanation of the necessity of the Holy Spirit in your life and how to obtain it.

dead heat

Dead Heat by Joel Rosenberg is the fifth and final volume in the fictional The Last Jihad series. Joel has an uncanny way of writing his novels in a very prophetic manner. This is no exception.

Dead Heat is one of the fastest paced stories I have experienced. It is spell bounding, intriguing, insightful, Biblical based (Ezekiel 39-39) and, already, prophetic. It was not only Biblical prophetic but current event prophetic.

I was amazed at, not only, how fast the story moved but, also, how fast the pages were turned. I was done with the book when I felt like I had just started. It is one of those books you feel like you can't put down. You can't wait to see the next turn of events and those events are surprising, shocking, suspenseful, eerie and disturbing.

What is it about? Well, it about the aftermath of a nuclear attack against the United States with the prime targets being Washington D.C. and San Francisco. San Francisco being the location of the Republican National Convention. Other critical cities are hit, but one of the twists is how the nukes were delivered to each city... It probably won't be what you expect unless you have read Mr. Rosenberg's non-fiction book, Epicenter.

Although you don't necessarily need to read the four (4) previous books in the Last Jihad series to understand what is happening in Dead Heat I have no doubt you would enjoy each. Those books in order are: The Last Jihad, The Last Days, The Ezekiel Option and The Copper Scroll.

 

Epicenter: why the Current Rumblings in the Middle East Will Change Your Future was Mr. Rosenberg's first book. It was originally completed immediately prior to 9/11. He decided to not publish it because some of the things written were too similar to the 9/11 happening. After a period of time he and his publisher decided to go ahead with publication.

Of course, all of this is explained in the book. There is no way I could write a review to entice readers to invest time and money in this book so I have copied the description from Mr. Rosenberg's web site.

Author Joel C. Rosenberg has been called "eerily prophetic" and a "modern Nostradamus" for his uncanny ability to write political thrillers that come true. In his first nonfiction book, this evangelical Christian from an Orthodox Jewish heritage takes readers on an unforgettable journey through prophecy and current events into the future of Iraq after Saddam, Russia after Communism, Israel after Arafat, and Christianity after radical Islam. You won't want to miss Joel's exclusive interviews with Israeli, Palestinian, and Russian leaders, and previously classified CIA and White House documents. Similar to the approach Joel takes in his novels, his desire is to draw readers into stories, anecdotes…

You won't be wasting time or money to invest in all six (6) of these books!