Sunday Words of Encouragement October 11, 2015

We had another good service today. Our Sunday School teacher shared stills and videos from the Band of Brothers first trip to Haiti. We are holding the ministry in prayer this week as they hold crusade. We believe the trailer of wood and supplies will be going out this week. A second trip will be planned when they know the supplies have arrived.

Pastor’s sermon was titled: The Problem of Spiritual Ignorance.
There are people who Do Not Know – however, ignorance doesn’t change reality.
Acts 19:2. It is our job to learn the laws, rules and respond. Acts19:6 -- when they listened and learned, they obeyed. Otherwise people act improperly from ‘impure passions’ because they do not know the Scriptures. Matthew 22:29.

There are people who Refuse to Hear – they chose to do what displeases God. Isaiah 65:12. They think they have religion in their hearts but they are not yielded in relationship. Isaiah 66:4. As Jeremiah 5:21 says, there are foolish people, ‘who have eyes but do not see, who have ears but do not hear.’ They choose to worship other, false gods through immorality and their own self-will.

There are people who Refuse Understanding – they chose to believe lies Romans 1:18,25 and fail to recognize that the intent inside defiles, not outside actions. Mark 7:18-29. God abandons them to their evil minds Romans 1:28... and they lead others astray. v31-32.

Then there are those people who Choose Understanding – The blind man chose to believe that Jesus came to show the condition of men. When given the choice, some will choose salvation, others will choose more condemnation. John 9:37-39.

There are those people who Chose God's Rest -- Hebrews 3:11, 4:1-3.

Some Believe by Testimony -- Testimony to others: (old testament) Job 19:25-27; (new testament) John 2:11, John 4:39.
Some Believe by the Word – they hear and receive. 1 Corinthians 15:1, 11.

In the end -- Spiritual Ignorance is No Excuse for Disobedience. Hebrews 4:3.

I think this song fits today.

I Am Not Ashamed of the Gospel.

Verses for Today
Jeremiah 5:21-22
21 Hear this, you foolish and senseless people, who have eyes but do not see, who have ears but do not hear:
22 Should you not fear me?" declares the LORD. "Should you not tremble in my presence? I made the sand a boundary for the sea, an everlasting barrier it cannot cross. The waves may roll, but they cannot prevail; they may roar, but they cannot cross it.

This week's old testament reading has been in Jeremiah. The verses above were from Monday 10/5/15. I love how messages are consistent and confirmed. I give thanks that I have chosen to see, to hear, and to believe.

Sharing Beyond Books #223 Comment Giveaway for October 10, 2015

Hello again and Welcome to Sharing Beyond Books, SBB!
I am enjoying the cooling weather as fall has moved in nicely here. I am mindful though of dangers for those in the fire areas (California), the flooding areas (east coast of the US), severe weather in UK, and typhoon victims in Taiwan and China.

Thanks to everyone who commented last week.
Eight commenters feel they are not online as much as they used to be due to families and life issues. Six people feel they are on too much; one wants to get outside more and another wants to exercise more. Alyn even thinks her online time lessens her reading time - ouch! One person feels well balanced on time and another person feels it is up and down.

~~~~~

The regular Winner from SBB #222 comments is: #8 Rita who can make a GC choice if international or book choice from the Updated ARC/Review titles or (not yet updated) Love titles - all linked near the end of the post. I'm hoping to update the book choices this week. Please let me know your choice by completing the (new) WINNER FORM.

WEEK #223 (One Question.)

Poetryinleaves asks: Do you subscribe to any magazines? If so, which ones??

I no longer subscribe to magazines. A long time ago I had STACKs of National Geographic - I donated them to a library. And I used to get Highlights for my kids mainly because I loved that when I was a kid. My children didn't enjoy it as much as I did. :-(.  

(At least this image isn't full of nearly nude covers!)
Image found at The Richest.

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! The supply of questions is dwindling so share some if you think of any -- even if they are duplicates I'll weed through or try to modify to use.

Your turn to share:
Poetryinleaves asks: Do you subscribe to any magazines? If so, which ones??
SBB Comment Winners can choose a selection from the Valentine and "Love" books or the February 2015 Newly Updated ARC/Review List. (My daughter pulled several of the Christmas titles to give with gift bags we made up for the nursing homes. One of these days I will get together a new box of Christmas titles.)

SBB Rules:
a) Must be a follower.
b) Share a comment on the question 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 through Saturday October 17, 2015 at 5 PM central.

Book Review and Giveaway: First the Dead: A Bug Man Novel by Tim Downs

I really liked the history, mystery and forensics in this story.
First the Dead: A Bug Man Novel
by Tim Downs

Hardcover: 368 pages
Publisher: Thomas Nelson; First Edition edition (January 8, 2008)
ISBN-13: 978-1595540249
Genre: Mystery
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

When a national disaster strikes, "first the living" is the rule.
Unless you're the Bug Man.
When Hurricane Katrina strikes New Orleans, forensic entomologist Nick Polchak signs up to help with the recovery effort. He is known as the Bug Man for his knowledge of insects and what they can reveal about the dead. The government's mandate is clear—rescue the living first, recover the dead later.
But something is very wrong in the toxic soup-bowl of post-Katrina New Orleans.
Someone is using the cover of disaster to kill . . . hiding the victims of murder in the same watery grave as the victims of Katrina.
It's a tale only the dead can tell. But no one besides the Bug Man is listening.
" . . . stands out from the pack of CSI-inspired mysteries with its quirky hero and creative handling of the Hurricane Katrina disaster."
—Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)

Review:
Nick Polchak is a forensic entomologist more commonly known as “the Bug Man”. He studies the bugs (maggots, larvae and flies) that inhabit, grow and feed off of dead bodies. He is able to determine time of death, location and many other details if he gets to the bugs early enough. Nick is often called in as part of a DMORT (Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team) when there is a crisis like an airplane crash or natural disaster where bodies have to be recovered and identified. This time the team has been called in to set up on the edge of New Orleans to help deal with the expected disaster of Hurricane Katrina. The order has been given that everyone, including Nick, is to help rescue the living first and worry about dead bodies later.

Nick isn’t happy about the order to ignore the dead as he knows that forensic evidence on the dead bodies will quickly deteriorate in the flood conditions left behind by the hurricane. He tries to comply with the order but when he discovers two bodies that he suspects did not die in the hurricane, but before it, he can’t stop himself from trying to preserve the evidence. But someone else clearly doesn’t want him preserving any evidence or poking his nose into unexplained deaths found in the flooded homes.

Nick is a very brusque and dry character – a singular loner. The DMORT psychologist, Dr. Beth Woodbridge, would love to figure Nick out but he is clearly, adamantly unwilling to cooperate with analysis. I really enjoyed the forensic elements of this story and the mystery. I also found the history of Katrina’s impact on New Orleans very fascinating. There is also detailed description of meth addiction which was all new to me.

Not all of my ladies’ book club members liked this. However, I think any reader who enjoys CSI type shows or novels should enjoy this book and series. Of course, that assumes that the reader isn’t turned off by bugs. Although I got the book at deep discount through Christianbooks.com I did not really find anything more than a sentence or two that might be considered to touch on faith. One of our book club ladies has read more books in the series and said that some of the others do have some faith references. I would be interested in reading more in this series.

This was purchased for Ladies' Book Club discussion in October. I will count it towards my TBR since I have had it since 2014.

ONE (gently read) hard cover PRINT COPY GIVEAWAY

US Only

ENTRY FORM HERE

(Don't forget to fill in the form for entry!

I have noticed a few commenters who forgot to enter through the Form.)

For 3 Extra Bonus entries (a) comment on the review, OR

(b) Visit the AUTHOR'S FACEBOOK PAGE and tell me something you learned or like there.

* This contest is open to US only for Print Copy.
* This contest will close 5 PM (Central) October 17, 2015.
WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED after October 17, 2015.
Winners will have 72 hours to respond on the winners form linked in the announcement or by email.

Audible Review: The Remaining: Extinction by D. J. Molles

This is a satisfactory conclusion although I don’t want the series to be over.

The Remaining: Extinction

by D.J. Molles

Narrated by: Christian Rummel

Length: 12 hrs and 24 mins

Series: The Remaining, Book 6

Unabridged Audiobook

Release Date:07-28-15

Publisher: Audible Studios

Genre: Sci Fi, Post Apocalyptic

My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary

This is the sixth and final novel in the action-packed series following Special Forces captain Lee Harden and a group of survivors struggling to survive while rebuilding an America devastated by a bacterium that has turned 90 percent of the population into a ravenous horde.

The merciless tide of infected is flooding south, and time is running out to stop them. Bolstered by new allies, Captain Lee Harden continues his struggle to establish a safe haven from which the embers of a shattered society can be rekindled.

This is the sixth and final novel in D. J. Molles' best-selling series: Book one: The Remaining; book two: The Remaining: Aftermath; book three: The Remaining: Refugees; book four: The Remaining: Fractured; book five: The Remaining: Allegiance; book six: The Remaining: Extinction; novella one: The Remaining: Trust; novella two: The Remaining: Faith.

©2015 D.J. Molles (P)2015 Audible, Inc.

Review:
The healthy plague survivors led by the bottomless determination of Captain Lee Harden now face the infected hordes that are flooding into North Carolina from the northern states. Lee has already survived an assassination attempt and returned from near death to continue to lead the survivors at Camp Ryder. But the opposition has not done with its efforts to stop him. They will take ruthless steps and use betrayal to try to coerce Lee’s capitulation.

Lee and his allies make a last ditch effort to eliminate the hordes before they overrun North Carolina. As usual, the best laid plans face problems in the final execution and the situation is tense and frightening.

The lines between friends and enemies has become blurred at this point in the series. There are more human betrayals and losses to be suffered. There are also dangerous rescues to cheer. Some characters face a last chance for redemption and one newer character is revealed who might come as a surprise to some readers.

I enjoyed the continuing action, emotional ups and downs, twists and surprises. Either the language wasn't as severe in this book or I was more accustomed to it (I hope not) as it was not so glaring to me. There is still quite a bit of violence which goes hand in hand with the story lines.

This is intended to be the conclusion of the series which makes me sad. Molles really does a good job of wrapping up most of the loose ends and character threads. Still there is room for more beyond this stage and I would be eager to see the series continue. I truly enjoyed the action ride.

Audio Notes: As I have noted in the previous reviews I have greatly enjoyed Christian Rummel’s multi-faceted narration. He manages the variety of voice well and provides good emotional intensity and action. I highly recommend this series in audio. (Now I will be looking for more books narrated by Rummel in hopes of finding another good series.)

Links to my reviews of the earlier books:
The Remaining, Book 1  4.25
The Remaining: Aftermath, Book 2  4.5
The Remaining: The Refugees, Book 3  4.25
The Remaining: The Fractured, Book 4  4.5
The Remaining: Trust: a Novella  4.0
The Remaining: Faith: a Novella  4.0
The Remaining: Allegiance, Book 5 4.25

I had to get the last book to complete this series! I picked this up at Audible with my second September credit. It qualifies for my Audio Challenge.

Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway October 9, 2015

Happy Friday.
We have made it to 8:00pm so hopefully the power will stay up tonight. Losing power made me ponder what life would be like without it. I could listen to my Kindle and MP3 until their charges ran out. Then I would have to go back to print books and reading by daylight or candle/fire light. We should give thanks for all we have while we have it!
I have had a swamped week and my desk is covered with files that I will be in tomorrow to work on before I become overwhelmed. 

TO ENTER FRIDAY PICK:

US Entrants: Leave a comment and tell me WHICH BOOK you would like to get from the Friday Pick lists.
INTERNATIONAL: Leave a comment indicating "Gift Card" (see further comments near the end of the post.)

CUT OFF TIME IS THURSDAY NIGHTS AT 9:00 PM CENTRAL so I do not have to stay up to late to do the winner post! I will randomly pick two winners to announce Friday mornings with the next Pick post.

Thank you to all who entered the October 2 Pick. There were no automatic wins this week. Automatic wins are those who requested the book four times without other people asking for that book during those weeks. There was one title blocked again this week.
AUTO: rubynreba gets Only by Your Touch

CONGRATULATIONS
to Random.org picked Winners from October 2 Pick:
Janhvi gets a GC

CarolNW gets The Man Who Ate the 747

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, sexy or sweet bookmarks. {The form is new because Google changed their forms and the old one wasn't letting me print out the responses.}

Lovely thought! Books are for EVERYONE!

Image found at National Book Foundation.

New Book Group #60 September 18, 2015
A set of "haunting" tales and a few mysteries for October!

PAIRS:
Shannon Drake – When Darkness Falls (Alliance Vampires #2)  and Realm of Shadows (Alliance Vampires#4) 
Charlaine Harris – Club Dead and Grave Signt
SINGLES:
A Darker Dream (Love Spell romance) by Amanda Ashley
Bloody Good by Georgia Evans
Cat of Nine Tales by Deborah Macgillivray
Fated (Dark Protectors Book 1) by Rebecca Zanetti
Grave Sins by Jenna Maclaine
Primitive by Mark Nykanen (ARC copy)
The Accidental Human (Accidentally Paranormal Novel Book 3) by Dakota Cassidy
The Demon in Me by Michelle Rowen
The Shadowing by Joan Overfield
The Renegade Hunter by Lynsay Sands
Silent Night, Haunted Night (A Nicki Styx Mystery) by Terri Garey
Tombs of Endearment (Pepper Martin Mysteries, No. 3) by Casey Daniels
Trilogy Of Mysteries Audio Book Shadow Prey, There Was A Little Girl, Smokescreen Audio Cassettes (NOT CDs)


New Book Group #59 July 31, 2015
A few more summer titles, historicals and mysteries!

ANTHOLOGIES:
Broken Vows, Mended Hearts by Lynn Stone, Gail Ranstrom and Anne O'Brien
3,2,1 Married! by Sharon Sala, Marie Ferrarella and Beverly Barton
SINGLES:
Only by Your Touch by Catherine Anderson
Cruise to a Wedding by Betty Neels
Little Girl Lost by Shirlee McCoy
Beloved Enemy by Terri Reed
You Don't Know Jack by Erin McCarthy

New Book Group #58 June 26, 2015
-- A few summer titles, a few mysteries, a few historicals...

SINGLES:
Hot Pursuit - Karen Rose, Annie Solomon and Carla Cassidy
Love Me Tomorrow by Rosanne Bittner (spine creasing)
Sevant, The Awakening by L.L. Foster

New Book Group #57 May 1, 2015
(I'll finish the list with authors on Saturday 5/2/15)

SINGLES:
A Little Bit Wild by Victoria Dahl
The Ruthless Greek's Virgin Princess by Trish Morey
Rally Fever by Crea Jones

New Book Group #56 March 20, 2015
(I'll try to get the rest linked another day.)

SINGLES:
The Sweetheart Dance by Patti Ann Colt
Raintree Haunted by Linda Winstead Jones (spine creases)

New Book Group #55 February 5, 2015
(I'll try to get the rest linked another day.)

SINGLES:
If I Had You by Deborah Bedford
The Man Who Ate the 747 by Ben Sherwood

New Book Group #54 December 26, 2014

SINGLES:
Ender’s Shadow by Orson Scott Card - Tape Cassettes


BOX 4 2015 (reboxed from Boxes 47-53)

The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
The Hidden Truth of Cytech's Randall Forty byVickie Kennedy
First to Fight Anthology
Jezebel by Katherine Sutcliff
The Commander by Kate Bridges
The Cinderella Plan by Margaret Daley
The Mr. & Mrs. Happy Handbook by Steve Doocy
A Garden of Friends by Penny Pierce Rose
Richard Paul Evans PAIR: The Looking Glass and The Carousel
Undateable by Ellen Rakieten & Anne Coyle
Sleeping with Ward Cleaver by Jenny Gardiner


BOX 3 2015 (reboxed from Boxes 39- 47)

Shetland Summer by Janet Lynnford
Breakfast in Bed by Sandra Brown - Audio Cassette Tapes (link is for mass media version)
Cattle Rancher, Secret Son by Margaret Way
Whisper on the Wind by Joan Smith
Remember Me by Mary Higgins Clark
A Lady of Consequence by Mary Nichols
Sweet Talking Man by Betina Krain


BOX 2 2015 (reboxed from Boxes 24- 38)

Thinner by Stephen King
Foundation (Foundation Novels) by Isaac Asimov
Magic: The Gathering Distant Planes, An Anthology
The Willful Widow by Valerie King (spine wear)
Dancing on Snowflakes by Jane Bonander
An Honorable Man by Rosemary Rogers (spine creases)
A Courtesans Guide to Getting Your Man by Susan Donovan and Celeste Bradley -- 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
Tara Taylor Quinn: Father: Unknown and McGillus v.Wright
The Trailsman: Texas Lead Slingers by Jon Sharpe
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.


BOX #1 2015 (reboxed from Boxes 1- 23)

Circle of Stars by Anna Lee Waldo
Alien Chronicles - The Crimson Claw by Deborah Chester
Ghost Writer (Shivers #3) by M.D. Spenser
Death Angel by Linda Howard

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 on November 27, 2009 and in five+ years I have posted 54 groups of 16 (864) books to find new homes! (as of February 6, 2015).

I am happy to say that so far about 873+ 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. 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!

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 $7.00 and $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)

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!