Sunday Words of Encouragement July 5, 2020

Our church opened this morning for Sunday School as well as church service. We look forward to our SS classes when we return to Florida. We shared church online from out of state today.
My husband has been enjoying church online as he visits our son’s church in Illinois, the church we attended in South Florida, and at least two services in the town where we live.

Pastor’s message centered on Independence and Freedom. He noted how America allows open, free worship which isn’t true of all countries. He expressed concern at the increased effort to take God out of our country and the increased divisions among our society. We used to be able to share diverse opinions and remain friends and family. Sadly, not so much anymore.

There is something bigger at work. Satan seeks to stop the Gospel and he will use whatever he can, especially division. The real battle isn’t about America. It is about the eternal soul. The chaos that is around us is about The End Game. The highway to hell is broad, but the gateway to life is narrow. Matthew 7:13-14.

In John Chapter 17 Jesus prays for the disciples and includes us in the prayer. John 17:14-21.
How do we live in perilous times: Stay prayed up. Stay in the word. Find instructions on how to live by reading Ephesians. See Ephesians 4:17-31.

Difficult and perilous times are not unprecedented. Follow the example of Jesus. We are citizens of Heaven first. Our identity is found in Christ. The cause of Christ is not popular in this world but it is all for Christ-followers. We know who holds our future. We can trust God to handle the enemy.

God made a way for everyone to have freedom; to receive eternal life. God provided redemption through the sacrifice of His son, Jesus Christ. What are we willing to commit? To surrender?

I found this song which I like for our current situations. This We Know.

Verses for Today:
Matthew 7:12-14 (NIV)
12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
The Narrow and Wide Gates
13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

My Heavenly Father - I give you thanks for creation and salvation. Help me daily to live by Your example.

Audible Book Review: Plan Z: How to Survive the 2009 Financial Crisis by Robert Pagliarini

With people out of work and the market down (well - up and down) I thought I'd listen to this book.

Plan Z: How to Survive the 2009 Financial Crisis (and even live a little better)

by Robert Pagliarini

Published 2008 by Skyboat Productions
Genre: Financial, Non-Fiction, Self-Help
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.

Plan Z is a FREE audiobook by number-one best-selling author Robert Pagliarini. It will show you exactly what you need to do to survive this recession....

Review:
This is a short work that presents practical suggestions for addressing finances and assets during a recession. The author recommends minimalizing ‘things’ when possible and also budgeting for everyone. I think these suggestions are good for everyone in all times and I recommend it accordingly.

Audio Notes: The narration was presented by the author and was clear and direct. I am glad I had this available to listen to.

Source: Free 2009 Audible. This qualifies for 2020TBR and 2020Audiobook goals.

Audio Book Review: Seven by Multiple Authors

This is an informative and heart-wrenching work.
Seven
Written By: Paula Cizmar, Catherine Filloux, Gail Kriegel, Carol K. Mack, Ruth Margraff, Susan Yankowitz
Narrated By: Anna Deavere Smith, Alex Kingston, Shannon Holt, Sarah Shahi, Annet Mahendru, Sameerah Luqmaan-Harris, Emily Kuroda, Jossara Jinaro
Publisher: LA Theatre Works

Publisher: LA Theatre Works
Date: May 2017
Duration: 2 hours 11 minutes
Genre: Drama, Radio Theatre
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0; Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.

Summary:
Seven women give voice to the voiceless. Seven is a documentary play created with the support of Vital Voices Global Partnership and is a collaboration between the playwrights and seven female activists from around the globe, telling inspiring stories of overcoming adversity to effect real change and improve the lives of women.
Includes panel discussions with Russian activist Marina Pisklakova-Parker, and playwrights Paula Cizmar and Susan Yankowitz. The moderators are René
Jones, Executive Director of the United Talent Agency Foundation, and Alyse Nelson, the president, CEO, and co-founder of Vital Voices Global Partnership.
An L.A. Theatre Works full-cast performance, featuring:
Shannon Holt as Marina Pisklakova-Parker
Jossara Jinaro as Laura Alonso
Alex Kingston as Inez McCormack
Emily Kuroda as Mu Sochua
Sameerah Luqmaan-Harris as Hafsat Abiola
Annet Mahendru as Farida Azizi
Sarah Shahi as Mukhtar Mai
Directed by Judyann Elder and recorded live in performance in January 2017 at UCLA's James Bridges Theater.
Sound Effects Artist and Additional Voices, Jeff Gardner. Production Manager, Tori Burnett. Post-Production Coordinator, Ronn Lipkin. Associate Producer, Anna Lyse Erikson. Recording and Mixing Engineer, Sound Designer and Editor, Mark Holden for The Invisible Studios, West Hollywood....

Review:
I felt the need to be more aware of the oppression of others. This book tells the struggles of women from seven countries who sometimes didn't even know that freedom and education were available to women. Their oppression often comes with physical and sexual abuse and in one case it seemed to be directed by the community elders in order to punish the woman trying to protect her family. The community’s attitude was to shun and shame the abused woman and I was glad to hear that she was brave enough to tough it out.

Those of us who have been blessed to be born and raised in free societies need to be more aware of oppression around the world and find ways to help and support through education and other programs such as Vital Voices. I think all women should listen to this to get a perspective and information of the struggles of the abused and downtrodden and an appreciation for our better circumstances.

Audio Notes: This was presented by a panel of women with accents that fit the authors. It was particularly effective to hear the stories shared int the appropriate accents, and emotions. I am glad that I had the opportunity to listen to this.

Source: 7/5/2018 One of Eight titles won from Audiobooks.com through Beth Fish Reads. This qualifies for 2020TBR and 2020Audiobook goals.

No Friday Pick July 3, 2020

No Friday Pick today. We arrived in Illinois (with no trouble during the travels) but I was tired last night. Today I have been feeding, swimming, and sharing reading time with our grandchildren. So I decided not to post a Friday Pick today.  I'll have one ready for next week. Thanks for understanding.

Have a safe and Happy Fourth of July to those celebrating America's Independence. 
We also celebrate my husband's birthday although he insists he is still 39, he is double that this year.

Book Review: Justice in an Age of Metal and Men by Anthony W. Eichenlaub

I enjoyed reading the first book in this futuristic western lawman series.

Justice in an Age of Metal and Men
(Metal and Men #1)
by Anthony W. Eichenlaub

File Size: 2139 KB
Print Length: 212 pages
Publisher: Oak Leaf Cemetery (March 4, 2014)
ASIN: B00ISKWNC2
Genre: Cyberpunk, Sci-Fi, Western
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0.

Does victory mean justice, or is J.D. staring down the barrel at revenge? There was a time that might have been a simple question, but not anymore.
Nothing's easy in the small town of Dead Oak, Texas where the outlaws scour the skies on flying motorcycles, tech warps the minds of witnesses, and a person can't even trust the metal parts of his own body.
But a rancher's been murdered, and J.D. is determined to find the killer. Whether that's revenge or justice, well, probably best to let the bullets decide.

Review:
Jasper Davis Crow, known as J.D., is an old-time sheriff – sort of. He does have a modified metal arm but he doesn’t have all of the high tech that many of the younger officers have. Most who have the ability, take advantage of the body enhancing nanos and tech. J.D. likes his small-town job where crime is mostly manageable even with tough country outlaws. He is faced with a dead rancher that appears to be death by stampede. But his new deputy, Contrisha (Trisha), a highly teched young woman, convinces J.D. to investigate further. After walking the scene more carefully J.D. agrees that there is a murder to solve.

Soon he and Trisha are interrogating corrupt businessmen and outlaws on flying motorcycles. They will be dodging bullets and J.D. will be branded an outlaw himself before he can solve the case. Behind the scenes is a strange child, the son of the murdered rancher. J.D. tries to shield the young boy but he goes through a good deal of trauma which causes consequences for the future.

The story is set in a west where dust storms have destroyed communities as we know them. There are plenty of brawls and chases to keep the story moving along at a fast pace. I listened to part of the book on my Kindle and found that I had to stop and re-read a bit to keep track. I like the well-developed character of J.D. who leans to the past even as the times race forward. I enjoyed the story and look forward to reading book 3, Honor, which I have through NetGalley.

Source: 2019 Kindle Purchase. This qualifies for 2020TBR goal.