Sunday Words of Encouragement July 21, 2013

We had a good Sunday School message with an exploration to find the True Mount Sinai. The point being that every archealogical discovery that is consistent with the Bible is one more evidence of the Truth of God's Word!

Our service atmosphere was particularly sweet and Pastor's message was titled: God’s Glory in Us.

The scripture tells us that we are complete in Him.  Colossians 2:9-10.  But when we look at our actions we might question: “If I am righteous, why are my actions unrighteous?” This is not a new dilemma as Apostle Paul wrote of the same questions and struggles in Romans 7:15-18.
Another way to ask the Question might be “If I am complete in God why do I still need work?”

Pastor compared our spiritual righteousness to a holy marriage. In a legal marriage there are loop holes that allow one or other, or both, to break the bond. In a spiritual marriage the two are directed to "become one" and that makes the bond much more difficult to break. We are to have such a oneness with the Holy Spirit.

When we accept God we do so by belief and faith, accepting that Christ shed His blood to cover our sins. But our bodies are still flesh and sin in our bodies still has possession or control. It takes a lot of power to conquer the flesh (and sin) that is our nature from birth. We really do not have that power without the help of the Holy Spirit – God living in us – bonded to us. We are bonded by belief and faith to the triune God but our transformation from fleshly being to spiritual being is a work in progress.  Hopefully we walk and grow with God which helps our struggling earthly desires to grow toward righteousness.  We are being transformed – changed – by glory on glory...step by step.  2 Corinthians 3:18.

We are on a journey and must continually seek God’s help through prayer for righteousness and deliverance rather than just giving in to the flesh or our sin. Are we allowing the world to direct our behaviors rather than Spirit? We need to reflect the Spirit of God in us rather than the world around us. The Key is being under the Spirit-- yielding.

Fortunately, even at the early stages of our belief and faith, once we accept the sacrificial gift of Christ’s death, God sees only the blood covering of Jesus and no longer sees us in sin. Colossians 2:13-14.

I could not find this song with lyrics on a video
but the words fit today’s message and these images are lovely.
I Stand in Awe...Let me be changed....

A Verse for Today:
2 Corinthians 3:18 (NLT)
18 So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.

Thank you God for seeing righteousness in me; for allowing Your Glory to grow in me. Please let me be changed by Your presence!

Sharing Beyond Books #109 Comment Giveaway July 20, 2013

Hello again on Saturday night and Welcome to SBB, Sharing Beyond Books.

For some reason I am very tired tonight so I am getting this post up and then heading to dreamland. (I'll post winners of book giveaways tomorrow or Monday.)

Thank you to all who shared last week.

Many of us, 8, like to read both Cowboy and Highlander; 7 prefer Highlanders and 5 prefer cowboys. And one doesn't read either. :-)
 
Only three of us have actually gone geo-caching. Many had never heard of it so I am glad I could tell you of a fun activity to try. Apparently the majority of the locations are in US but there are a couple in UK.

~~~~

The Winner from SBB #108 comments is: #16 Liss who can make a GC choice if international or book choice from the ARC/Review titles, Christmas titles or Love titles - all linked near the end of the post.  Please let me know your choice by completing the (new) WINNER FORM.

WEEK #109 Questions

Q1. Nikki asks: Do you read Japanese/Korean manga (comic books)??

A: A few years ago I would not have known what 'manga' was but thanks to blogging I do know. However - I haven't read any. 

This is credited as the first manga magazine.
Image found at Wikipedia.

Q2. My non-bookish Question to go along with Q1: Do you watch anime movies??

A: I have seen some anime movies -- thanks to my son! I guess the one that comes to mind is Princess Monoke,  a 1997 Japanese animated epic historical fantasy.

Image found at HD Wallpaper Pics.

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 draw from the suggestions I used during the month and that person will get a book choice or GC. I thank everyone for submitting questions. Thanks for sending in questions! We can always use fresh questions. I do have a group of questions from the same submitters so if you have a question don't be afraid to ask!

Your turn to share:

Q1. Nikki asks: Do you read Japanese/Korean manga (comic books)??

Q2. My non-bookish Question to go along with Q1: Do you watch anime movies??

SBB Comment Winners can choose a selection from the Valentine and "Love" books , the Christmas Giveaway Books, or the June 2012 Newly Updated ARC/Review List.

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, July 26, 2013 at 10 PM central.

Saturday Snapshot July 20, 2013 Rainy Day Images

I am enjoying capturing shots of nature. These images are a rainy morning two Saturdays ago when I went to the office to work.

It was not raining when I got in the car but within a mile I was driving through rain.
This is a shot on main street after I parked.

Looking across the street from my office, across the four lanes, 
the Courthouse is blurred by the rain.

I was hoping to get the 'rooster tail' of water from one of the passing cars 
but it didn't really come through in the picture.

I had to exit my car and dash up the steps to get into my office.
See the rain pouring off the awning to the right?
I waited about ten minutes then made the dash.
Even with an umbrella I got soaked!

That was a week of rain; then we had several hot days.
I hope you are staying dry if it is raining where you live. :-)


Thanks to all who stop by and visit.

A big Thank You to Alyce at Alyce of At Home With Books who has hosted this meme for a number of years. She is taking a summer hiatus at her blog and the new host will be Melissa at West Metro Mommy. Thank you to Melissa for picking up the responsibility. 

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 being hosted this summer by West Metro Mommy. 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.

Book Review and Giveaway Link: Blood and Bone by Don Hoesel

This book has lots of mystery and danger but it didn't quite click for me.

Blood and Bone

by Don Hoesel

• File Size: 728 KB
• Print Length: 321 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0764209264
• Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (July 1, 2013)
• ASIN: B00B85M58Q

Genre: Thriller

My Rating: 3.75 of 5.0

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 2013

More Archaeological Adventures from Popular Suspense Writer Don Hoesel

A decade after Serpent of Moses, Jack is married to Espy and back teaching at Evanston University. They have two sons, one of whom has cystic fibrosis. Despite this challenge, life is comfortable. But that all changes when the CIA, while combing through the papers of the late Gordon Reese, uncovers the secret of Elisha's bones. Jack's world is then turned upside down by an urgent call from his old friend Duckey, who's been alerted to the CIA's probing by one of his former contacts. Jack and his family escape from their home just ahead of the CIA, and he decides to do what he should have done long ago: recover the bones and destroy them. Except the bones aren't where he left them.

So now Jack is in a race, for the last time, to find the bones. And he's not the only one. Pitted against both the CIA and an organization that will kill to protect their secrets, Jack and Espy follow hard-to-decipher clues across the globe before arriving in the catacombs of Paris for a final showdown that will either save their family--or tear apart everything they hold dear forever.

Review:
Jack and Espy met when Jack was a young adventurer and relic collector. Now he is a professor and they live a quiet life with their two boys. Suddenly their world is disrupted by a corrupt, rogue CIA operative, Mckeller. Mckeller’s wife is very ill and he knows that Jack and Espy had located the bones of Elisha ten years before. The bones are rumored to be able to raise the dead, as described in the Biblical story.  Jack knows they work (an event from a prior book) but he and Espy had buried the bones rather than turn them over to a corrupt man years before. Mckeller wants the bones and he kidnaps the boys to use as leverage.

Jack and Espy head off globe hunting trying to get the bones. They fly from South America to Australia where the bones were buried only to determine that they have been removed. They follow faint clues seeking to uncover members of the secret organization that was designated to guard the bones. Their search for the new location takes them to London, St. Petersburg, Russia, and Paris. Along the way they uncover puzzles, with Espy’s language skills and Jack’s logic skills, that lead them to investigate cemeteries, basements, prison cells and catacombs.

Jack and Espy meet two of the head members of the powerful organization.  Jack takes a risk and calls in the help of the Israelis who would have an interest in recovering the bones.  Now they are dodging not only the CIA man who is trying to keep tabs on them but someone who is trying to kill them.

Although I enjoyed the action in this story and the various puzzles and solutions were interesting. (Made me think of National Treasure even more than Indiana Jones.) Unfortunately I had some problems with the unrealistic elements and I never really felt engaged with the characters. The couple are racing around the globe with minimal funds and fake passports. They repeatedly lose a tail only to have assassins attack them in their hotel or on the streets. It was a week or so before they even got to talk to their sons to make sure they were okay. It just was hard to swallow. I did like the conflict between the power hungry leaders and I also liked Jake’s solid faith, even accepting the illness of one of his sons. Come to think of it, I liked the irony at the end too.

The ending pulls together in a satisfactory, if not totally surprising, fashion. There is plenty of suspense and danger for those who like mystery and thrillers. There are many more favorable reviews so other readers clearly enjoyed the action and weren’t effected by the implausibility issues.

I received this title through NetGalley and the author for an honest review as part of BookBlast. See Giveaway below and Giveaway at the BookBlast post.

Buy Links:

Amazon * Barnes & Noble

Author Don Hoesel links: Twitter * Facebook * Website

Tour Schedule

Blog Tour Giveaway
$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 8/4/13

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway July 19, 2013

[** If you are new to Friday Pick Giveaway - Welcome!  Scroll down a bit (below book group #19) for instructions on how to enter.]

Happy Friday Friends!! Oh I am sooo glad it is Friday. It seemed like I had a long week. My assistant (daughter) was away with our Grandson for his baseball playoffs.  No assistant for two days leaves me scrambling.

[UPDATED NOTE - US entrants I prefer, please, that you pick a book as that is the first purpose of this giveaway - to find new homes for books. The GCs are for the  international entrants because postage has jumped up.]

Thank you to all who entered the July 12 Pick. There was no Automatic wins this week. (Automatic winners are those who requested the book four times and I did not note other people asking for that book during those weeks). There were two blocked titles - one selected by several people.

CONGRATULATIONS
to Random.org picked Winners from July 12 Pick:

Jolene gets Mission: Irresistible

Bookishqueen gets Her Last Chance

All winners please fill in the Winner's Acceptance Form or email me to confirm your win, send your snail mail address information and let me know if you would like bookmarks - sensual or sexy and I have a new supply of sweet bookmarks. {The form is new because Google changed their forms and the old one wasn't letting me print out the responses.}

How about some surfing summer book fun?!

Image found at Classroom Clipart.

New Book Group #40 June 28, 2013

Pairs:
     (Highlands) Highland Treasure by Amanda Scott and Highlander Unbound by Julia London
     (Angels) Not Quite An Angel by Bobby Hutchinson and An Angel for Dry Creek by Janet Tronstad
Singles:
What Sarah Saw by Margaret Daley (Cover has black line across where bookstore crossed it for clearance)
Her Last Chance by Terri Reed  (Cover has black line across where bookstore crossed it for clearance)
The Clairvoyant Countess by Dorothy Gilman
Breakfast in Bed by Sandra Brown - Audio Cassette Tapes
Mission: Irresistible by Lori Wilde
Sin and Scandal in England by Melody Thomas
Dance With Me by Luanne Rice
A Mother's Day Anthology - three stories
Rising Moon by Lori Handeland
Star Light, Star Bright by Katherine Stone
Another View by Rosamunde Pilcher
Promise Forever by Marta Perry


New Book Group #39 May 31, 2013 - Plenty of "summer" titles!
Oops - I never added all the links last month so no promises on these either.

Pairs:
Hannah Howell
     Highland Hearts and Highland Destiny
Catherine Anderson
     My Sunshine and Blue Skies
Elizabeth Lowell
     Remember Summer and Too Hot to Handle
Singles:
Touched by Fire by Kathleen O'Reilly
Playing with Fire by Gena Showalter
Shetland Summer by Janet Lynnford
That Summer by Joan Wolf
Shadow of the Sun by Tammy Hilz
Dark Summer by Iris Johansen
Summer at Willow Lake by Susan Wiggs
Summer by the Sea by Susan Wiggs
Shadow Beach by Barbara Freethy
It All Began at Monte Carlo by Elizabeth Adler


New Book Group #38 April 20, 2013
Here is a group with many mysteries.  Links to be added as I get time.

Pairs:
Amanda Scott
      Abducted Heiress and Highland Bride
Sandra Brown
     Texas! Chase and Exclusive (spine wear) (not the covers as on the links)
A Murderous Yarn by Monica Ferris
Deadly Advise by Roberta Isleib
Dial Emmy for Murder by Eileen Davidson 
On Deadly Ground (Love Inspired Suspense) by Lauren Nichols
Happy Never After by Kathy Hogan Trocheck
Female Intellignece by Jane Heller
Improper English by Katie MacAllister
Sheer Dynamite by Jennifer Skully
Golden Chances by Rebbecca Hagen Lee
Caitlin's Guardian Angel by Marie Ferrarella
Burning Alive by Shannon K. Butcher
Awaken the Senses by Nalini Singh


New Book Group #37 March 22, 2013

As I am linking these titles it is clear to me why they were in my TBR boxes and it is really hard to let them go but I have soooo many. Better that they find good reader homes than sit on my shelves, or in a box, and collect dust. 
Pairs:
Carly Phillips
     The Heartbreaker and Simply Sinful
Singles:
Anthology: Something Borrowed, Something Blue - this book has spine creases and minor water damage...I thought I had read it and liked it but now I realize it was another anthology I read with Elaine Barbier.
Bride by Command by Linda Winstead Jones
To Tame a Rebel by Georgina Gentry
While Passion Sleeps by Shirlee Busbee
Lord Liar by Laurie Grant
Lady in Red by Karen Hawkins
The Admiral's Bride by Suzanne Brockmann
Marry Me, Maddie by Rita Herron
Lady Ice by Joan Hohl
Dark Roots & Cowboy Boots by LuAnn McLane
Only My Dreams by Anna Blundy



New Book Group #36 February 15, 2013

Pairs:
Tara Taylor Quinn
     Father: Unknown and McGillus v.Wright
Tom Clancy
     Power Play: Cold War (paperback) and Power Play: Ruthless.com (audio cassette tapes)
Singles:
Timeline by Michael Crichton
Bride of Shadow Canyon by Stacey Kayne
The Trailsman: Texas Lead Slingers by Jon Sharpe
Always a Lady by Sharon Sala
Her Wedding Wish by Jillian Hart


New Book Group #35 January 11, 2013
*asterisks indicate lighter, smaller books possibly suitable for international mailing 

Pairs
Mary Baxter
    His Touch and One Summer Evening
Singles-- I found a couple of boxes of romances (a lot of Harlequins) that I haven't gotten to read over the past 8 years so... I will send them off to others to read!
Never Say Never Again by Tori Carrington
*Merger of Fortunes by Peggy Moreland
*The Banker's Convenient Wife by Lynne Graham
* The Millionaire's Daughter by Sophie Weston


New Book Group #34 December 7, 2012--- (All gone)

New Book Group #33 October 27, 2012
*asterisks indicate lighter, smaller books possibly suitable for international mailing

SINGLES - CHRISTMAS TITLES (Better sizes for international) 
*Deck the Halls by Arlene James (slight spine creasing)
*A Holiday Prayer by Deb Kastner  (slight spine creasing)


New Book Group #32 October 5, 2012

- Oops upside down book! NOTE This book has dog bite damage; it is missing half back cover and the edges of pages in the back third of the book... it does not effect the text but I will understand if no one wants this one - A Courtesans Guide to Getting Your Man by Susan Donovan and Celeste Bradley
Please Remember This by Katleen Giles Seidel
The Boy's Tale (Sister Frevisse Medieval Mysteries) by Margaret Frazer


New Book Group #31 August 31, 2012
I pulled some more books from several of my boxes.

An Honorable Man by Rosemary Rogers (spine creases)


New Book Group #30 July 27, 2012
This time I pulled some books from one of my older boxes.
*asterisks indicate lighter, smaller books possibly suitable for international mailing

The Willful Widow by Valerie King (spine wear)
Wild Escapade by Lisa Bingham
Dancing on Snowflakes by Jane Bonander (postage too much - replaced with GC)

New Book Group #29 June 29, 2012
*asterisks indicate lighter, smaller books possibly suitable for international mailing

Magic: The Gathering Distant Planes, An Anthology
*One is the Lonliest Number - Tom Clancey's Net Force

New Book Group #28 May 18, 2012 (All gone)

New book Group #27 April 13, 2012 (All gone)

New book Group #26 March 2, 2012--- (All gone)

New Group #25 January 12, 2012---(All gone)

New Group #24 Pick Books November 25, 2011---(All gone)

New Group #23 Pick Books October 14, 2011
I tried to pick some books that would be good for October -
Halloween or dark minded.
Ghost Writer (Shivers #3) by M.D. Spenser


New Group #22 Pick Books September 2, 2011---(All gone)

New Group #21 of Pick Books July 29, 2011
Mallory's Oracle (Kathleen Mallory Novels) by Carol O'Connell

May, 2011 New Group of Pick books Group #20
Luciano's Luck by Jack Higgins - Audio Cassettes

3/25/11 I did get to set up a new group of books: Group #19
Primary Colors - audio tapes
*Note of Peril (black strip on cover)

2/19/11 Book Group #18- Pairs!---(All gone).

I have finally updated the intro and Entry paragraphs here:

If you saw the pictures posted of my bookshelves and boxes you know I do have lots of books! And that doesn't include the other eight or so boxes at my office!! And more books as I find deals too good to pass up! I am sharing my book bounty by these Friday Pick Giveaways.

I started Friday Pick in November 27, 2009 and in three years I have posted 33 groups of 16 (528) books to find new homes! (as of November 2012)

I periodically update the lists - deleting those won. You can still go to the Friday Pick list link to see older posts and the older lists book pictures if you want! I am happy to say that so far about 530 books have found new homes! YAY. I have to update my print out to check the exact number sent out - a few were never claimed.

Note rules here regarding international entries.

Because postage to overseas can be prohibitive I am willing to give a $5.00 book certificate to international winners - Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Borders, ARe, TWRP, ClassAct Books, eTreasures, Desert Breeze, etc....you tell me where and I'll set it up. So for my overseas visitors your comment may indicate a smaller book and I'll check postage or note your choice of gift card.

I learned that The Book Depository does not ship to everywhere. The postage for some of the books to far away places runs between $5.00 $7.00 and $6.00 $10.00 and up. Since I would award $5.00 for The Book Depository to an international winner, as an alternative you may choose a smaller book and we will hope the postage will not exceed $6.00. If the postage is more, or if you want to pick a larger book and you are willing to pay any extra postage beyond the $6.00 I will work with you on that. This may not make a difference to many but if it helps one or two of you to give one of my books a home that will make me happy too. :o)

TO ENTER:

Leave a comment and tell me WHICH BOOK you would like to get from the Friday Pick lists.
CUT OFF TIME IS THURSDAY NIGHTS AT 10:00 PM CENTRAL so I do not have to stay up past midnight to do the winner post!
I will randomly pick two winners to announce Friday mornings with the next Pick post.
Automatic wins are those who requested the book four times and I did not note other people asking for that book during those weeks.
WINNERS PLEASE CHECK THE WIN POST ON FRIDAYS AND fill in the Winner's Acceptance Form or email me at mesreads@gmail.com. [I will confirm receipt of the addresses- well I realize I haven't always done this. But if you filled out the form and don't get the book within two weeks nudge me with an email please!] If I have the winners e-mail I will send a reminder in a week or so....

Thanks for helping these books find new homes!!

Repeating this helpful blog tip: You can right click on a link and you will be given the choice to open the link in a new window or tab so you do not navigate away from the screen you are on!! I use this all the time!

1/14/11 New List #17--- (All gone)

12/3/10 Book Set: #16
Sleight of Hand by Robin Hathaway
The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown  (postage too much - replaced with GC)

List #15---(All gone)

List #14---(All gone)

Here is set #13 of Used books! ---(All gone)

Group #12---(All gone)

Group #11
Cat's Eyewitness by Rita Mae Brown
Alien Chronicles - The Crimson Claw by Deborah Chester

List #1
Circle of Stars by Anna Lee Waldo

Pick #2---(All gone)

Pick #3---(All gone)

Pick #4
Talking God by Tony Kellerman

Pick #5
See Jane Lead by Lois P. Frankel
Cold Hit by Linda Fairstein - Audio Tapes

Pick #6---(All gone)

Pick #7
Prey by Michael Crichton - Audio Tape
Princess Charming by Jane Heller (slightly creased)

Pick #8
(sc) = slightly creased on binding otherwise all in good shape
The Jury by Steve Martini - Audio Tapes
No Safe Place by Richard North Patterson - Audio Tapes

Pick #9
On Treacherous Ground by Earl Murray
Guardian by Dee Henderson - Audio Tapes
Time to Hunt by Stephen Hunter - Audio Tapes

Pick #10---(All Gone)