Sunday Words of Encouragement November 4, 2012

I am very late with my Sunday post today. My granddaughter wanted to celebrate her 5th birthday with a Halloween theme party. Although her birthday isn't until December (when we will be away in Hawaii) my daughter had the party this afternoon. My DH supplied the Jeep and trailer for the hay ride and there were wonderful games and treats that our daughter found at Pinterest. We didn't get home until about an hour ago and then I had to sync my church notes from tablet to laptop and locate some links I want to share today.

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I was convicted this morning by our Sunday School lesson to share a slightly different message today. Then our Pastor's message reaffirmed that conviction.

I am certainly not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ and not ashamed to share my faith. The primary purpose of this blog is to share my love of reading through *reviewing books, *sharing through author and book features and *giving away old and new books.  I have kept sermon notes for many years and decided early in my blogging that I would share some spiritual thoughts and song videos on Sundays. This is part of my own desire to honor God through this blog as I hope that the way I live brings glory and honor to Him. If only a handful or even one person enjoys the Sunday Words  posts, or is encouraged by them now and then, that is enough. I pray the Spirit can use the seeds that might be planted and further their growth.

Today's sharing is because of our upcoming national elections. It is not intended to be a political endorsement but, as Pastor said this morning, "Do not be so concerned about being politically correct that you do not show our share your convictions."  I am sharing two links that were shared with me this morning.

Am I concerned about the direction of my nation? Yes, I am. But am I afraid? No, not really. Whatever occurs I have faith that my God is in control and Will work things out as He will. That does not give me the right to remain silent and do nothing. Of course, the most important thing I can do is pray and live a life that shares God's love with others.

With that in mind, I share these two resources today. 
First: There is a video interview discussing a correlation between blessings for those who honor and protect God's land and people, Israel, and punishments and disasters that fall on those who do not support Israel.

Second: Here is an article compiling many actions by President Obama that have been against the interests of Christians and those of Biblical Faith. I was very surprised to learn of all of this.

If you wish to skip the links, I hope you will still enjoy this worship song. The written words can be found at the original link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXnvckvpBxU&feature=related

Verses for Today:
Romans 8: 26-27 NIV
26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.

My prayers today are for those who have suffered loss in the North East as a result of Sandy. Also I pray for my nation this week and the elections on Tuesday.

Sharing Beyond Books #73 Comment Giveaway November 3, 2012

Welcome to another SBB!

Hello once more on Saturday Night. I hope everyone is doing well and that any friends in the Northeast came through Sandy okay. I am feeling good about moving into the final months of the year.  How about you? I didn't get my review posted today so I will probably do that tomorrow. We have Daylight Savings tonight so we 'fall back' and gain an hour.
This is the month to Give Thanks... so be thinking about something you are thankful for as I expect I will be raising the question in the next week or two.

Thank you to all who shared last week.

The majority of you would like illustrations in the re-released classics and several preferred the original classic versions. Although I agree that illustrations don't do well on eReaders, like the Kindle, I think they do fine on the tablets. I thought nrlymrtl's comment was interesting - she doesn't like illustrations if she already has an image in mind.

Most everyone would participate in the nicer and fun events of Halloween. Faith Hope and CherryTea had a great idea of dressing up and visiting the elderly to share with them. :-)

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The Winner from SBB #72 comments is: #16 bn100 There are still 5 'love' books to pick from and 1 Christmas choice (see my note above about adding more titles to that list soon). bn100 please choose a book (or GC if international) from the remaining five Love Books List for Giveaway, the new Christmas Giveaway Book list, OR pick from the Updated ARC/Review List and let me know your choice, your address and a choice of bookmarks by completing the WINNER FORM.

WEEK #73 Questions

Q1. Carol L asks: If you could pick one female literary character and swap lives for a week, who would you choose??

I passed this question for a while as I thought it had been asked but as I reviewed the spreadsheet I did not find it. Sooo - now to answer. It is the same  female literary character I had answered I would want to visit with: If I could swap a week I would want to live a week as Eve Dallas from the "In Death" series by J.D. Robb (Nora Roberts).

Q2. What are your favorite cleaning products.??

A: Ha! First this assumes I clean. Well I do... some. My favorite cleaning products are: Simple Green for the kitchen (although I still like 409 for grease and spots); Scrubbing Bubbles for the bathroom; Windex for windows; and Swifter dusters for dusting. Those are my standbys. I did recently see a blog about making your own substitutes! Several use old-fashioned white vinegar.

Image found at Crazy Town

Thanks to those who are sending in Questions. DON'T BE SHY! Surely everyone has a Q or two you'd like to ask. Input suggestions in this Suggested Question Form. At the end of each month I will draw from the suggestions I used the month before and that person will get a book choice or GC. I thank everyone for submitting questions but some of you others might want to get in a question or two as we have a few people submitting most of the questions so far. Either way - it works for me. :-) The question list is being replenished!  Thanks for sending in questions!

Your turn to share:

1. Carol L asks: If you could pick one female literary character and swap lives for a week, who would you choose??

2. What are your favorite cleaning products??

SBB Comment Winners can choose a selection from the remaining Valentine and "Love" books (5 left) or the new Christmas Giveaway Books. Also I have added the Updated ARC/Review List now.

SBB Rules:
a) Must be a follower.
b) Share a comment on any (or all) of the two/three questions above.
Open internationally and an international winner may get a smaller book or a $5.00 GC if I decide the mailing is too much.

I will pick a Comment winner from all comments made by Friday, November 9, 2012 at 10 PM central.

Winners - The Jupiter Chronicles and Loving Luke

CONGRATULATIONS TO WINNERS

Giveaways Ended November 2, 2012

Giveaway Download The Jupiter Chronicles.

nrlymrtl

Giveaway Earrings and eBook Loving Luke.

Bison61

nrlymrtl and Bison61 Please fill in the Winner's Acceptance Form or email me at mesreads AT gmail.com to confirm the win and I will arrange the downloads and mailing.  Please reply within 72 hours!
Thank you to all who entered these giveaways.

Saturday Snapshot November 3, 2012 - Our Visit to Juneau, AK

On the fifth day of our cruise we visited Juneau. We did two great tours - the Mendenhall Gardens and Mendenhall Glacier.

We learned that the Tongass National Forest is a temperate (rather than tropical) rain forest. A mudslide had brought many trees down the side of the Thunder Mountain leaving it bare and messy. It was purchased in 1985 and the new owners took many of the trees and made them hanging planters. They are gorgeous! The staff bring the flowers out in the spring and put them all back in the green house in late September, after the tourist trips are done. We took a tram ride up the hill and saw the beautiful Mendenhall Valley from the top.

Once we finished at the Gardens we visited Mendenhall Glacier and it was beautiful too. It was fascinating to see the blue in the ice. This is a zoom in and you can see some of the blue along the edge.

To participate in the Saturday Snapshot meme post a photo that you (or a friend or family member) have taken then leave a direct link to your post in the Mister Linky hosted by Alyce of At Home With Books. Photos can be old or new, and be of any subject as long as they are clean and appropriate for all eyes to see. How much detail you give in the caption is entirely up to you. Please don’t post random photos that you find online.

Audio Book Review: Outer Diverse by Nina Munteanu

If you enjoy strong science fiction with action and intrigue this is a story you should listen to (or at least read)!
Outer Diverse -- The Splintered Universe Book 1
by Nina Munteanu

Narrator:
    Dawn Harvey
Publisher:
    Starfire World Syndicate
Proof-listener:
    Mary McCullough
Length:
    11:27:35  
File Size:
    ~ 583 MB  
Genre: Science Fiction
My Rating: 4.5 0f 5.0

Description
Outer Diverse is the first book of the Splintered Universe Trilogy, set in and around the Milky Way Galaxy. The first book begins as Galactic Guardian Rhea Hawke intestigates the massacre of an entire religious sect, catapulting her into a treacherous storm of politics, conspiracy and self-discovery. Her quest for justice leads her into the heart of a universal struggle and toward an unbearable truth she’s hidden from herself since she murdered an innocent man.

Review:
Rhea Hawke is some tough cookie... well - I guess you wouldn’t call a Galactic Guardian Enforcer, a “cookie”. Rhea has a strong sense of justice and is prepared to kill in the line of duty. The problem is that she killed an innocent man by accident when she was just a child and that still haunts her.  That event has shaped her life, leading her to become the only human law enforcement officer on the Eosian force. Now it is the reason she is on leave from her job and has enemies hunting her out of fear and for revenge.

Rhea has kickin' weapons, including a Guardian Great Coat that is a shield, weapon cache and healing cover. But her most significant weapon is the ‘MEC” (Magnetic-Eelectro Concussion) pistol that she designed herself. The gun is technically outlawed but it is being sought by many because it is so powerful. She has created it so it can’t be dismantled and copied and the only design schismatics are in her head.

Rhea is frustrated that her Eosian boss doesn’t believe her arguments that the Vos, a brutal alien race that attacked Earth, pose a  real terrorist threat to the galaxy. She continues the investigation on her own and with the help of another Guardian, Basileus, she steals Bennie, her beloved little ship, (saving him from the junk heap) and heads off to face more danger.

Whew- this one takes some concentration. I had a little confusion getting the characters, races, friends - well mostly foes - sorted out.  There is wonderful world building with fascinating aliens and planets, along with detailed  weapons, missions, errors, and blunders. I was a bit frustrated about a third into the book when Rhea falls in lust with a stranger and begins a heavy romantic relationship. Although Serge seems loving and caring it puzzled me that Rhea totally failed to use her police smarts in getting involved with this handsome guy.  Is he safe or not; lover or the worst sort of enemy?

Rhea faces one perilous situation after another. Some she is led into and others she plunges head long into. There are ideological twists and parallel world theories at the root of the terrorist threat that Rhea seeks to thwart. As her investigation proceeds the issues become even more complex. This isn’t a light read but it sure kept my attention as I listened to see who was really a foe or a friend and what Rhea’s ultimate fate might be.  This is the first book of the Splintered Universe Trilogy. I hope the next book will be available soon so I can continue to follow Rhea and Bennie on their dangerous adventures.

Audio Notes:
Ms. Harvey did a superb job with the narration. She manages to enthuse the personality of the characters into each voice. The wise, gentle Caw has a soft, strong sound that reminds you of a wise old bird. Shlsh Shle She, a slippery, slimy creature has a slurry, garbled voice like a mouthful of mushy, wet food.  Dawn's reading conveys the loneliness in Rhea, the sexiness of Serge, the frustrated, friendliness of Bas, and the faithful, coziness of Bennie. She is able to bring emphasis to the action or romance, weariness or fear elements of the story. The narration never takes over the story but rather enhances it.

Thought words jotted while listening:
         Harsh, lonely, intense, complex, naive, betrayal, secrets.  Some sexual content.

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A good description of Rhea by wise Caw:

You are presumptuous, Rhea. You speak half truths.  You are a paradox, so out of tune; a jumble of discord yet surprisingly open for one so closed. You are very cynical for one so naive, so young; but also incredibly naive for one so cynical.  Track 21.

 

This audio download was provided for review by Iambik Audiobooks through AudioBook Jukebox.