Hi all and Happy Friday.
I am away with family (son this time) and the internet is super slow. I didn't set up my hotspot since it will only be three days.
Plus my time on computer has been limited by granddaughter sleep time and DH wanting to go ride the monorail instead of sit at computer.
So I am postponing the Friday Pick today. I hope to post it later this afternoon after we have been monorail hopping.
Enjoy your Friday everyone!
Friday, July 17, 2015
Wednesday, July 15, 2015
Audible Book Review: The Martian by Andy Weir
This is a gripping tale and great listening entertainment.
The Martian
Written by: Andy Weir
Narrated by: R. C. Bray
Length: 10 hrs and 53 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:03-22-13
Publisher: Podium Publishing
Genre: Sci Fi
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0
Six days ago, astronaut Mark Watney became one of the first people to walk on Mars. Now, he's sure he'll be the first person to die there. After a dust storm nearly kills him and forces his crew to evacuate while thinking him dead, Mark finds himself stranded and completely alone with no way to even signal Earth that he’s alive—and even if he could get word out, his supplies would be gone long before a rescue could arrive. Chances are, though, he won't have time to starve to death. The damaged machinery, unforgiving environment, or plain old "human error" are much more likely to kill him first. But Mark isn't ready to give up yet. Drawing on his ingenuity, his engineering skills—and a relentless, dogged refusal to quit—he steadfastly confronts one seemingly insurmountable obstacle after the next. Will his resourcefulness be enough to overcome the impossible odds against him?"
Review:
Mark Watney is stranded on Mars when his crewmates, believing he is dead, make an emergency evacuation. Mark is in a hostile environment with damaged equipment. He has no means of communication and limited provisions. But Mark isn’t one to give in and die easily. He gathers what supplies he can find and begins to implement plans for survival.
Mark’s skills as a botanist and engineer come in handy as he uses every creative means he can think of to provide a supply of water and food for an extended period. He doesn’t know if he can survive until the next mission arrives but first things first – he has to survive long enough to find a way to let mission control on earth know that he is still alive and kicking.
Once the mission specialists at home realize he is alive they go to work trying to figure out a way to rescue him. It was encouraging to think the NASA family, superiors and drones of all divisions, would be willing to pitch in hours of overtime and ignore the phenomenal costs to bring Mark home alive.
I was continually impressed by Mark’s ability to find solutions to problems he faced. He has a brilliant mind that works out “jury-rigged” solutions. Most of the fixes I found fascinating but there did come a spot further in where one of the explanations lost me. I enjoyed the mission control personalities, particularly Venkat Kaporr, as they argued their way to difficult decisions.
The story is filled with humor, courage, determination and ingenuity in face of overwhelming obstacles. It shows the underlying heart of man to cling to hope and strive to survive. I was a little disappointed as I thought the ending was a bit abrupt. Then again— after a whole book of tension, any ending might seem a bit of a let down. As I was a little more than half way through I remarked to my husband: “I really think you would love listening to this story.” His usual reply is “I’ll wait for the movie.” I realized I was happy that he could wait for the movie which I anticipate sharing with him.
I recommend this story to those who love to see man succeed in the face of adversity. Those who enjoy tinkering and figuring out how to make things work would enjoy this too.
A cautionary note: there is some bad language, especially noticeable at the beginning but it is worth persevering beyond that.
Audio Notes: R.. C. Bray does a fine job of capturing the emotional highs and lows of this story. His voices for different characters worked well and his narration made the characters more alive for me, adding to my enjoyment of the story.
The Martian
Written by: Andy Weir
Narrated by: R. C. Bray
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:03-22-13
Publisher: Podium Publishing
Genre: Sci Fi
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0
Six days ago, astronaut Mark Watney became one of the first people to walk on Mars. Now, he's sure he'll be the first person to die there. After a dust storm nearly kills him and forces his crew to evacuate while thinking him dead, Mark finds himself stranded and completely alone with no way to even signal Earth that he’s alive—and even if he could get word out, his supplies would be gone long before a rescue could arrive. Chances are, though, he won't have time to starve to death. The damaged machinery, unforgiving environment, or plain old "human error" are much more likely to kill him first. But Mark isn't ready to give up yet. Drawing on his ingenuity, his engineering skills—and a relentless, dogged refusal to quit—he steadfastly confronts one seemingly insurmountable obstacle after the next. Will his resourcefulness be enough to overcome the impossible odds against him?"
Review:
Mark Watney is stranded on Mars when his crewmates, believing he is dead, make an emergency evacuation. Mark is in a hostile environment with damaged equipment. He has no means of communication and limited provisions. But Mark isn’t one to give in and die easily. He gathers what supplies he can find and begins to implement plans for survival.
Mark’s skills as a botanist and engineer come in handy as he uses every creative means he can think of to provide a supply of water and food for an extended period. He doesn’t know if he can survive until the next mission arrives but first things first – he has to survive long enough to find a way to let mission control on earth know that he is still alive and kicking.
Once the mission specialists at home realize he is alive they go to work trying to figure out a way to rescue him. It was encouraging to think the NASA family, superiors and drones of all divisions, would be willing to pitch in hours of overtime and ignore the phenomenal costs to bring Mark home alive.
I was continually impressed by Mark’s ability to find solutions to problems he faced. He has a brilliant mind that works out “jury-rigged” solutions. Most of the fixes I found fascinating but there did come a spot further in where one of the explanations lost me. I enjoyed the mission control personalities, particularly Venkat Kaporr, as they argued their way to difficult decisions.
The story is filled with humor, courage, determination and ingenuity in face of overwhelming obstacles. It shows the underlying heart of man to cling to hope and strive to survive. I was a little disappointed as I thought the ending was a bit abrupt. Then again— after a whole book of tension, any ending might seem a bit of a let down. As I was a little more than half way through I remarked to my husband: “I really think you would love listening to this story.” His usual reply is “I’ll wait for the movie.” I realized I was happy that he could wait for the movie which I anticipate sharing with him.
I recommend this story to those who love to see man succeed in the face of adversity. Those who enjoy tinkering and figuring out how to make things work would enjoy this too.
A cautionary note: there is some bad language, especially noticeable at the beginning but it is worth persevering beyond that.
Audio Notes: R.. C. Bray does a fine job of capturing the emotional highs and lows of this story. His voices for different characters worked well and his narration made the characters more alive for me, adding to my enjoyment of the story.
This audio is from my own Audible library. It adds to my Audiobook Challenge.
Tuesday, July 14, 2015
Audio Book Review: The Lost Starship by Vaughn Heppner
I found this to be an engaging Sci Fi listen with lots of danger and little touches of humor.
Review:
Earth has a new and formidable enemy known as the New Men. They resemble men but they are bronze, big and stronger – basically they are superhuman.
Captain Maddox has had a successful career in intelligence. No one knows that he has a secret that helps him succeed – except apparently his supreme commanders. They have kept facts from him that he is just uncovering. Now they are asking him to save mankind. They direct him on a stealth mission to go to The Beyond of the known galaxies to pursue a rumored weapon. He is to commandeer a relic of an alien super-ship which is left over from a battle thousands of years ago. It is believed that only the technological secrets of that supership can help mankind survive an invasion by the New Men. Maddox is provided the journal and notes of Professor Ludendorf who is the only explorer known to have led an expedition to the supership and survived to return.
Maddox is told what crew he is to recruit because they have “the right stuff”. Some he has to coerce, or kidnap and some he has to rescue. The only one who comes along voluntarily is Valerie Noonan, the sole survivor of a New Men battle attack. She has a reputation for knowing and following regulations and commands. This trip will definitely take her out of her comfort zone. The pilot is a brash Irishman who lost himself to the bottle. He is a brilliant pilot but only if he can keep his head clear. Two other crewmates must be rescued from a prison planet where the harsh environment and jungle rot are the primary cell walls. There Maddox is to rescue his second in command who killed the arrogant son of a wealthy crime lord who was cheating in a fight against Maddox. The second person to be rescued is a genius scientist who worked with Professor Ludendorf. She believes the mission is suicidal and, bitter towards all of mankind, she could care less about saving anyone but herself and her bodyguard friend, an amazon woman.
It is bad enough that Maddox and his mismatched, sometimes antagonistic, crew are being sent to retrieve a ship that is set to kill those who invade its territory. But matters get worse when it becomes clear that the New Men have infiltrated the Star Watch command so that Maddox can’t trust any other ships or communities.
I found these characters to be well developed and fascinating in the world they face. There are flaws and issues among the crew which adds in-fighting to the suspense. The story had humor, danger and action and it moved at a good pace with a reasonably plausible (if out of this world) mission. The betrayal and constant tension make for good engagement as I wanted to know how they would overcome the next obstacle – always trusting that Maddox or his team would pull a rabbit out of the hat. I recommend this to readers who enjoy a fast paced sci fi adventure. I will seek out more from this series!
Audio Notes: David Stifel does a very good job with the narration. He hit the right voices and attitudes for the characters. There were one or two minor slips but that didn't disrupt my enjoyment. My reading experience was enhanced by the audio format and I would like to listen to more.
The Lost Starship
Written by: Vaughn Heppner
Narrated by: David Stifel
Length: 13 hrs and 49 mins
Series: The Lost Starship, Book 1
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:11-13-14
Publisher: Vaughn Heppner
Genre: Sci Fi Adventure
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0
Publisher's Summary
Ten thousand years ago, a single alien super-ship survived a desperate battle. The vessel's dying crew set the AI on automatic to defend the smashed rubble of their planet. Legend has it the faithful ship continues to patrol the empty battlefield, obeying its last order throughout the lonely centuries.
In the here and now, Earth needs a miracle. Out of the Beyond invade the New Men, stronger, faster and smarter than the old. Their superior warships and advanced technology destroy every fleet sent to stop them. Their spies have infiltrated the government and traitors plague Earth's military.
Captain Maddox of Star Watch Intelligence wonders if the ancient legend could be true. Would such an old starship be able to face the technology of the New Men? On the run from killers, Maddox searches for a group of talented misfits. He seeks Keith Maker, a drunken ex-strikefighter ace, Doctor Dana Rich the clone thief stuck on a prison planet and Lieutenant Valerie Noonan, the only person to have faced the New Men in battle and survived to tell about it.
Maddox has to find a place hidden in the Beyond and bring back a ship no one can enter. If he fails, the New Men will replace the old. If he succeeds, humanity might just have a fighting chance...
©2014 Vaughn Heppner (P)2014 Vaughn Heppner
Written by: Vaughn Heppner
Narrated by: David Stifel
Series: The Lost Starship, Book 1
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:11-13-14
Publisher: Vaughn Heppner
Genre: Sci Fi Adventure
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0
Publisher's Summary
Ten thousand years ago, a single alien super-ship survived a desperate battle. The vessel's dying crew set the AI on automatic to defend the smashed rubble of their planet. Legend has it the faithful ship continues to patrol the empty battlefield, obeying its last order throughout the lonely centuries.
In the here and now, Earth needs a miracle. Out of the Beyond invade the New Men, stronger, faster and smarter than the old. Their superior warships and advanced technology destroy every fleet sent to stop them. Their spies have infiltrated the government and traitors plague Earth's military.
Captain Maddox of Star Watch Intelligence wonders if the ancient legend could be true. Would such an old starship be able to face the technology of the New Men? On the run from killers, Maddox searches for a group of talented misfits. He seeks Keith Maker, a drunken ex-strikefighter ace, Doctor Dana Rich the clone thief stuck on a prison planet and Lieutenant Valerie Noonan, the only person to have faced the New Men in battle and survived to tell about it.
Maddox has to find a place hidden in the Beyond and bring back a ship no one can enter. If he fails, the New Men will replace the old. If he succeeds, humanity might just have a fighting chance...
©2014 Vaughn Heppner (P)2014 Vaughn Heppner
Review:
Earth has a new and formidable enemy known as the New Men. They resemble men but they are bronze, big and stronger – basically they are superhuman.
Captain Maddox has had a successful career in intelligence. No one knows that he has a secret that helps him succeed – except apparently his supreme commanders. They have kept facts from him that he is just uncovering. Now they are asking him to save mankind. They direct him on a stealth mission to go to The Beyond of the known galaxies to pursue a rumored weapon. He is to commandeer a relic of an alien super-ship which is left over from a battle thousands of years ago. It is believed that only the technological secrets of that supership can help mankind survive an invasion by the New Men. Maddox is provided the journal and notes of Professor Ludendorf who is the only explorer known to have led an expedition to the supership and survived to return.
Maddox is told what crew he is to recruit because they have “the right stuff”. Some he has to coerce, or kidnap and some he has to rescue. The only one who comes along voluntarily is Valerie Noonan, the sole survivor of a New Men battle attack. She has a reputation for knowing and following regulations and commands. This trip will definitely take her out of her comfort zone. The pilot is a brash Irishman who lost himself to the bottle. He is a brilliant pilot but only if he can keep his head clear. Two other crewmates must be rescued from a prison planet where the harsh environment and jungle rot are the primary cell walls. There Maddox is to rescue his second in command who killed the arrogant son of a wealthy crime lord who was cheating in a fight against Maddox. The second person to be rescued is a genius scientist who worked with Professor Ludendorf. She believes the mission is suicidal and, bitter towards all of mankind, she could care less about saving anyone but herself and her bodyguard friend, an amazon woman.
It is bad enough that Maddox and his mismatched, sometimes antagonistic, crew are being sent to retrieve a ship that is set to kill those who invade its territory. But matters get worse when it becomes clear that the New Men have infiltrated the Star Watch command so that Maddox can’t trust any other ships or communities.
I found these characters to be well developed and fascinating in the world they face. There are flaws and issues among the crew which adds in-fighting to the suspense. The story had humor, danger and action and it moved at a good pace with a reasonably plausible (if out of this world) mission. The betrayal and constant tension make for good engagement as I wanted to know how they would overcome the next obstacle – always trusting that Maddox or his team would pull a rabbit out of the hat. I recommend this to readers who enjoy a fast paced sci fi adventure. I will seek out more from this series!
I received this audible from the publisher through Audiobook Jukebox for an honest review. This is part of my 2015 Audio Challenge.
Sunday, July 12, 2015
It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday July 13, 2015
Sunday Post - It's Monday! is still not up and linking while Sheila finds her way after her family tragedy.
Kathryn at Date Book suggested linking with Sunday Post at Caffeinated Book Reviewer. I guess I'll have to rename the post starting next week.
This meme starts at Book Journey!
What Are You Reading, is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week. It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.
I had a busy week and will have a crazy week coming up. We will be meeting our son and d-i-l as they transition from Maryland to Mississippi with a stop in Florida to visit.
I am still having some computer freeze up. I have a new computer on order so the new one may go to office and office lap top come home. We'll see after it comes in if it is faster.
I enjoyed my reading/listening week. I finished one ebook and one audio. I posted four reviews to work toward getting caught up. One is with tour giveaway. I did get the memes in this week.
I got to visit a bit at the end of the week.
Thanks as always to all the nice people who visit me.
These were last week's posts:
1. Audible
The Martian
Written by: Andy Weir
Narrated by: R. C. Bray
This is very entertaining.
I plan to post a review this week.
Click on book title for full description.
Currently reading:
1. eBook/Kindle
A Town Called Dust: The Territory 1
by Justin Woolley
I am 23% in and enjoying the development of the primary characters.
I purchased this to read before book 2 which I have from NetGalley.
Click on book title for full description.
3. eBook/Kindle
SEAL Team Six: Hunt the Fox
by Don Mann, Ralph Pezzullo
I plan to start this before the end of the week.
I selected this title through NetGalley.
In war-torn Syria, the heroes of the SEAL Team Six series defuse an ISIS warlord's explosive plot.
After a meeting with a CIA source in Istanbul ends in tragedy, SEAL Team Six Chief Warrant Officer Thomas Crocker vows revenge. He suspects the men who attacked him and his contact are involved in the the latest and most harrowing scheme SEAL Team Six is charged with preventing, in a region that grows more volatile by the day.
Syria's government is unraveling, with the alliances among rebel groups increasingly complex and ISIS dangerously in the mix. Farid al-Kazaz, aka the Fox, leads the most threatening of the ISIS factions. The Fox believes Syrian President Bashar al-Assad ordered the murder of the Fox's brother and is planning a sarin gas attack that would wreak havoc across not just Syria, but the entire Middle East. It's up to Crocker and the rest of SEAL Team Six to stop a ruthless killer and keep an explosive plan from detonating.
The SEAL Team Six series has been hailed by special forces veterans and members of the intelligence community as a fascinating, behind-closed-doors look at the real-life heroism of our country's bravest soldiers. Now, Mann and Pezzullo use their experience and insight to tell the story of a terrifying plot ripped straight from the headlines.
June/1/15- I am still up to date on Bible reading and greatly enjoying the readings-- It seems my eyes are open to more details and meaning.. I am reading The One Year Bible again along with my husband and others from our church. I am also listening to the companion commentary online.
July: Nothing else scheduled right now.
I posted four reviews last week so I have three so far for this week.
I am back to six books at NetGalley.
I really want to get to a TBR eBook in July as I didn't get to any in June.
Mailbox Monday is a gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week and explore great book blogs. This Meme started with Marcia at A Girl and Her Books (fka The Printed Page) and after a tour of hosts has returned to its permanent home at Mailbox Monday. Thanks to the ladies sharing hosting duties: Leslie of Under My Apple Tree, Serena of Savvy Verse & Wit and Vicki of I'd Rather Be at the Beach. Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.
I am considering some new author offered books this week. So far, no events for the rest of July so that leans toward taking a little break to read from my TBR shelves/boxes.
I downloaded the free Audio pair from SYNC and I added many free kindle titles to my library.
(Although I have gotten to a couple, I still have many author requests, old and new ones, to consider and reply to.)
Are your mailbox and TBR piles blooming?
I won this book at Drey's Library.
Thank you Drey!
Mistress Firebrand: Renegades of the American Revolution
by Donna Thorland
British Occupied Manhattan, 1777...
I actually had this in my Kindle Library from 2013. I have picked this up in paperbook for Ladies' BookClub reading this month.
Dying to Read (The Cate Kinkaid Files Book #1): A Novel
by Lorena McCourtney
All she wanted was a paycheck. What she got was a murder.
Free Downloads from AudioFile SYNC 2015 for week Ten.
The Explorers Club
by Nell Benjamin
Read by Jack Cutmore-Scott, Carson Elrod, David Furr, John Getz, Martin Jarvis, David Krumholtz, Lorenzo Pisoni, Jennifer Westfeldt, Matthew Wolf
Around the World in Eighty Days
by Jules Verne
Read by Michael Prichard
Over the past week I added 62 free Kindle titles to my library this week. Titles found linked through Bookbub, Bookfun, Ereader News Today, Free Par-tay, Ignite Your Book, Inspired Reads, Pixel of Ink or Kindle ebooks.
Kathryn at Date Book suggested linking with Sunday Post at Caffeinated Book Reviewer. I guess I'll have to rename the post starting next week.
This meme starts at Book Journey!
What Are You Reading, is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week. It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.
I had a busy week and will have a crazy week coming up. We will be meeting our son and d-i-l as they transition from Maryland to Mississippi with a stop in Florida to visit.
I am still having some computer freeze up. I have a new computer on order so the new one may go to office and office lap top come home. We'll see after it comes in if it is faster.
I enjoyed my reading/listening week. I finished one ebook and one audio. I posted four reviews to work toward getting caught up. One is with tour giveaway. I did get the memes in this week.
I got to visit a bit at the end of the week.
Thanks as always to all the nice people who visit me.
These were last week's posts:
- Book Review: Judas the Apostle by Van Mayhall Jr.; Biblical thriller; my rating 4.0.
- Book Review, Guest Post and Giveaway: Two Hearts: When I Said I Do, I Meant Forever by James Richey; Contemporary Romance; my rating 4.0. US and Canada; Ends 8/8//2015.
- Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway July 10, 2015. Open Worldwide. Ends 7/16/2015.
- Audible Book Review: Extremes: A Retrieval Artist Novel by Kristine Kathryn Rusch; Sci Fi Mystery; my rating 4.75.
- Audible Book Review: Top Dog: The Story of Marine Hero Lucca by Maria Goodavage; Personal Memoir; my rating 4.5.
- Sharing Beyond Books #210 Comment Giveaway for July 11, 2015. Open Worldwide. Ends 8/8//2015.
1. Audible
The Martian
Written by: Andy Weir
Narrated by: R. C. Bray
This is very entertaining.
I plan to post a review this week.
Click on book title for full description.
2. Print
Love in Disguise
by Carol Cox
Our Ladies' Book Club enjoyed this story of a female would be Pinkerton.
I will soon post a review with print giveaway.
Click on book title for full description.
Love in Disguise
by Carol Cox
Our Ladies' Book Club enjoyed this story of a female would be Pinkerton.
I will soon post a review with print giveaway.
Click on book title for full description.
Currently reading:
1. eBook/Kindle
A Town Called Dust: The Territory 1
by Justin Woolley
I am 23% in and enjoying the development of the primary characters.
I purchased this to read before book 2 which I have from NetGalley.
Click on book title for full description.
2. Audible
Seduction in Death: In Death, Book 13
Written by: J. D. Robb
Narrated by: Susan Ericksen
I'm enjoying another investigation
with Eve Dallas and Roarke.
I purchased this with an Audible credit
to keep going in the series.
Publisher's Summary
Dante had been courting his victim in cyberspace for weeks before meeting her in person. A few sips of wine and a few hours later, she was dead. The murder weapon: a rare, usually undetectable date-rape drug with a street value of a quarter million dollars. Detective Eve Dallas is playing and replaying the clues in her mind. The candlelight, the music, the rose petals strewn across the bed - a seduction meant for his benefit, not hers. He hadn't intended to kill her. But now that he has, he is left with only two choices: to either hole up in fear and guilt or start hunting again....
©2001 Nora Roberts (P)2013 Brilliance Audio, Inc.
Seduction in Death: In Death, Book 13
Written by: J. D. Robb
Narrated by: Susan Ericksen
I'm enjoying another investigation
with Eve Dallas and Roarke.
I purchased this with an Audible credit
to keep going in the series.
Publisher's Summary
Dante had been courting his victim in cyberspace for weeks before meeting her in person. A few sips of wine and a few hours later, she was dead. The murder weapon: a rare, usually undetectable date-rape drug with a street value of a quarter million dollars. Detective Eve Dallas is playing and replaying the clues in her mind. The candlelight, the music, the rose petals strewn across the bed - a seduction meant for his benefit, not hers. He hadn't intended to kill her. But now that he has, he is left with only two choices: to either hole up in fear and guilt or start hunting again....
©2001 Nora Roberts (P)2013 Brilliance Audio, Inc.
3. eBook/Kindle
SEAL Team Six: Hunt the Fox
by Don Mann, Ralph Pezzullo
I plan to start this before the end of the week.
I selected this title through NetGalley.
In war-torn Syria, the heroes of the SEAL Team Six series defuse an ISIS warlord's explosive plot.
After a meeting with a CIA source in Istanbul ends in tragedy, SEAL Team Six Chief Warrant Officer Thomas Crocker vows revenge. He suspects the men who attacked him and his contact are involved in the the latest and most harrowing scheme SEAL Team Six is charged with preventing, in a region that grows more volatile by the day.
Syria's government is unraveling, with the alliances among rebel groups increasingly complex and ISIS dangerously in the mix. Farid al-Kazaz, aka the Fox, leads the most threatening of the ISIS factions. The Fox believes Syrian President Bashar al-Assad ordered the murder of the Fox's brother and is planning a sarin gas attack that would wreak havoc across not just Syria, but the entire Middle East. It's up to Crocker and the rest of SEAL Team Six to stop a ruthless killer and keep an explosive plan from detonating.
The SEAL Team Six series has been hailed by special forces veterans and members of the intelligence community as a fascinating, behind-closed-doors look at the real-life heroism of our country's bravest soldiers. Now, Mann and Pezzullo use their experience and insight to tell the story of a terrifying plot ripped straight from the headlines.
4. Print
If My People . . .: A 40-Day Prayer Guide for Our Nation
By: Jack Countryman
I have to catch up a few days to be back on track.
The quotes from our founding fathers are particularly interesting at this time.
If My People guides believers on a 40-day prayer journey in the spirit of 2 Chronicles 7:14.
Click on book title for full description.
If My People . . .: A 40-Day Prayer Guide for Our Nation
By: Jack Countryman
I have to catch up a few days to be back on track.
The quotes from our founding fathers are particularly interesting at this time.
If My People guides believers on a 40-day prayer journey in the spirit of 2 Chronicles 7:14.
Click on book title for full description.
June/1/15- I am still up to date on Bible reading and greatly enjoying the readings-- It seems my eyes are open to more details and meaning.. I am reading The One Year Bible again along with my husband and others from our church. I am also listening to the companion commentary online.
July: Nothing else scheduled right now.
I posted four reviews last week so I have three so far for this week.
I am back to six books at NetGalley.
I really want to get to a TBR eBook in July as I didn't get to any in June.
Welcome to Mailbox Monday.
I am considering some new author offered books this week. So far, no events for the rest of July so that leans toward taking a little break to read from my TBR shelves/boxes.
I downloaded the free Audio pair from SYNC and I added many free kindle titles to my library.
(Although I have gotten to a couple, I still have many author requests, old and new ones, to consider and reply to.)
Are your mailbox and TBR piles blooming?
Review Titles
None.
Won
Thank you Drey!
Mistress Firebrand: Renegades of the American Revolution
by Donna Thorland
British Occupied Manhattan, 1777...
Purchased
None.
Free
Dying to Read (The Cate Kinkaid Files Book #1): A Novel
by Lorena McCourtney
All she wanted was a paycheck. What she got was a murder.
Free Downloads from AudioFile SYNC 2015 for week Ten.
The Explorers Club
by Nell Benjamin
Read by Jack Cutmore-Scott, Carson Elrod, David Furr, John Getz, Martin Jarvis, David Krumholtz, Lorenzo Pisoni, Jennifer Westfeldt, Matthew Wolf
Around the World in Eighty Days
by Jules Verne
Read by Michael Prichard
Over the past week I added 62 free Kindle titles to my library this week. Titles found linked through Bookbub, Bookfun, Ereader News Today, Free Par-tay, Ignite Your Book, Inspired Reads, Pixel of Ink or Kindle ebooks.
Sunday Words of Encouragement July 12, 2015
This morning was another wonderful time at church. Our Sunday School teacher (G) recapped his message from last week when we were gone. The class discussed the ramifications of the recent Supreme Court ruling. The thing Christians have to remember about the world around us is stated clearly in Romans 1:20 and 32:
20For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.
...
32Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.
G’s message was titled “In The World Not of It” as he continues to remind us that we are in this world but we are beings apart who are not to be like everyone else. We are still studying Romans and G noted that Paul’s preaching focused on three issues:
1) We are to seek righteousness through Christ, which is the foundation of Christianity;
2) We are to exercise self-control over the lusts of man; and
3) We are to be mindful of the coming day of Judgment.
The “World” lives with no righteousness and no self-control. Jesus directed his followers to go into the world to preach the gospel, make disciples and change the hearts of people. Jesus did not send the apostles out to change the government or law.
Sometimes we allow too much of the world into our church systems. Churches try to reach the masses instead of reaching individuals. Instead of acknowledging and living as those set apart from the world, we too often blend with the world.
G proceeded to give us 25 passages that show how the world lives different than Christians.
Christians must exercise control against a) the lusts of the eyes, b) lust (cravings) of the flesh and c) pride.
Pastor's message was titled “Facing Life With God”. He noted that we live in a world where people are easily frazzled and stressed. But we grow through stress, trials and tribulation. The growing process includes a matter of knowing Who You Are. He shared Psalm 46 which he presented in three parts that signify our standing as those who know who they are in God; those who have assurance that God is in control. Verses 1-3: I will not fear. Verses 4-7: I will not be moved and verses 8-11: I will rest in Him (in His control).
2 Corinthians 10:2-5
2 I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world. 3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
Lord, I thank you for the peace that you give through assurance of knowing You are in control. Help me to share Your light in a dark world until You return in Your glory.
20For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.
...
32Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.
G’s message was titled “In The World Not of It” as he continues to remind us that we are in this world but we are beings apart who are not to be like everyone else. We are still studying Romans and G noted that Paul’s preaching focused on three issues:
1) We are to seek righteousness through Christ, which is the foundation of Christianity;
2) We are to exercise self-control over the lusts of man; and
3) We are to be mindful of the coming day of Judgment.
The “World” lives with no righteousness and no self-control. Jesus directed his followers to go into the world to preach the gospel, make disciples and change the hearts of people. Jesus did not send the apostles out to change the government or law.
Sometimes we allow too much of the world into our church systems. Churches try to reach the masses instead of reaching individuals. Instead of acknowledging and living as those set apart from the world, we too often blend with the world.
G proceeded to give us 25 passages that show how the world lives different than Christians.
Christians must exercise control against a) the lusts of the eyes, b) lust (cravings) of the flesh and c) pride.
Pastor's message was titled “Facing Life With God”. He noted that we live in a world where people are easily frazzled and stressed. But we grow through stress, trials and tribulation. The growing process includes a matter of knowing Who You Are. He shared Psalm 46 which he presented in three parts that signify our standing as those who know who they are in God; those who have assurance that God is in control. Verses 1-3: I will not fear. Verses 4-7: I will not be moved and verses 8-11: I will rest in Him (in His control).
This morning we sang this song as one of our Worship songs.
It goes so well with both messages! Looking for a City.
Verses for Today:It goes so well with both messages! Looking for a City.
2 Corinthians 10:2-5
2 I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world. 3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
Lord, I thank you for the peace that you give through assurance of knowing You are in control. Help me to share Your light in a dark world until You return in Your glory.
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