Sunday Words of Encouragement October 11, 2020

This morning in church we had a visiting missionary who ministers to the rural areas in the panhandle of Florida. We might not always think it but rural areas need Jesus just as much as cities.

Our guest noted that everything is changed by the gospel of Jesus. He encouraged us to be available to the Holy Spirit. God does things in spite of us. God does supernatural things through those he calls by giving them the power of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 1 tells us that Jesus was raised from the dead, returned to heaven and then God sent His people the comfort and power of the Holy Spirit. God wants to move you spiritually in your life right now. Whenever you are feeling overwhelmed, God is ready to move you from that. There is a choice to be made: it's heaven or it's hell.

This world needs a fresh baptism of the Holy spirit. We walk by faith, not by sight. The church is a place for refueling and refilling, but revival is out there on the streets of life.

When the real power of God cones in (shows up), then every demon must go.

Every believer of God has help to overcome the situation they are facing. The enemy wants you to hide rather than reach out. But Christ’s Resurrection is a game changer. Jesus was raised and then sent the Holy Spirit in his place. The Holy Spirit gives us power to overcome. Acts 1:3-8.

We need to pray now that God renews our need for His power instead of relying on our own know how. The Holy Spirit allows us to say: I can do all this through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13.

There is no greater cause than lost souls. So, lets get out of bed and out of the church to love on people and share the Good News that Jesus saves!

I think this song goes with today’s message.

Verses for Today:
Acts 1:3- NIV 3
After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with[b] the Holy Spirit.” 6 Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”

Lord, I pray that You fill me with Your Power, the Holy Spirit.

#NetGalley Book Review: Silent Bite: An Andy Carpenter Mystery (An Andy Carpenter Novel Book 22) by David Rosenfelt

This is another satisfying win and read in the Andy Carpenter Series.
Silent Bite: An Andy Carpenter Mystery (An Andy Carpenter Novel Book 22)
by David Rosenfelt

File Size : 2556 KB
Print Length : 299 pages
Publisher : Minotaur Books (October 13, 2020)
ASIN : B084M1ZNNJ
Genre: Crime, Detective, Mystery, Fav Series
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0.

Andy Carpenter and his golden retriever, Tara, are finding that all is not calm or bright in Silent Bite, the latest Christmas mystery in this heartwarming series from bestselling author David Rosenfelt.
Lawyer Andy Carpenter can finally take a breath; he’s back on dry land after a family Caribbean cruise forced on him by his wife, Laurie, to get into the Christmas spirit. Of course the family’s first stop is to the Tara Foundation, the dog rescue organization that has always been Andy’s true passion.
But when Andy arrives, his partner, Willie Miller, needs his help. Willie’s old cellmate, Tony Birch, has been arrested for murder. Andy doesn’t necessarily believe in Tony, but Willie does. And Andy believes in Willie, which is why Andy decides to take the case.
Once again David Rosenfelt puts readers in the Christmas spirit in a tale that is equal parts mystery and holiday cheer.

Review:
As an independently wealthy criminal attorney, Andy Carpenter still considers himself as a semiretired lawyer and he isn’t seeking new clients. Andy doesn’t rouse himself much unless it has to do with dogs. And Christmas is no exception as he leaves all the decorations and shopping to his wife, Laurie. Shortly before the holiday, Andy’s friend, Willie, a former client and his partner in their dog rescue foundation, asks Andy to do him a favor – represent Tony Birch, a former cellmate, recently accused of revenge murder.

Tony has a rough past, having served time after being wrongly accused of murder as a young man and leader in a gang. Another gang member who testified against Tony has turned up dead and the police were quick to charge Tony. Andy isn’t positive that Tony is innocent, and he isn’t sure Tony is telling him everything which is a major problem. Still, Andy doesn’t want to disappoint Willie and Tony has the unwavering support of his dog, Zoey.

Andy begins to pull together his usual team when he learns that his second attorney is off in South Carolina getting married! The recommended replacement, Eddie, a big guy and retired football player who speaks in sports terms, is introduced to the team. Laurie and another retired cop, Corey (with wonder dog Simon) are the investigative team, Sam is the computer information hacker and Marcus, as always is the big, scary muscle.

When a second member of the gang is found dead the case gets stronger against Tony. But Andy is always ready to search out alternative suspects to create reasonable doubt. This time his search takes him to local crime gang boss, Luther, who was also the head of the group that oversaw Tony’s ‘boyz’ gang. Andy exercises his usual snark and twists in court, stepping on the edge of propriety and finding more clues than expected.

As normal, I enjoyed the characters and the mystery. The story is told by Andy in first person with his usual self-deprecation and dry wit. I often listen to this series on audio and I could hear Andy’s voice in Grover Gardner’s deep narration. My only disappointment with this episode was that, even with the dog on the cover, the dogs didn’t play that much of a role. This might be read as a standalone as each story has its own mystery to be solved. Still, I recommend reading at least the first couple stories of the series to get the character history. And they are fun reading too.

Source: 8/25/2020 Received from Publisher and NetGalley. This qualifies for my 2020NetGalley goal.

Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway October 9, 2020

Happy Friday! Continuing in October! 

Just to forewarn Friday Pick followers: my post next Friday, 10/16 , may be delayed.  My staff and I are scheduled for a surprise weekend retreat. It is a surprise because we don't know yet where we are going. We picked a vacation site that sets it all up and we are all looking forward to it!

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 too 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, 2020 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 no title blocked.

CONGRATULATIONS
to Random.org picked Winners from October 2, 2020 Pick:
ASHFA gets a GC
and
MARYP gets a GC.

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.}

Do you wear a hood when you read?
Image found at WiseGeek.

New Book Group #91 October 2, 2020 - Suspense themed

SINGLES: Ten books in this box:
Senseless by Mary Burton
Indefensible by Pamela Callow
Fight or Flight by Natalie J. Damschroder
Final Appeal by Joanne Fluke
The Shape Shifter by Tony Hillerman
The Sinister Pig by Tony Hillerman Audiobook
Capital Crimes by Jonathan & Faye Kellerman
Deadly Promises (Black Ops) Anthology, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Diane Love, Cindy Gerard, Laura Griffin
Every Secret Thing by Laura Lippman
Justice by Dan Mahoney
PAIRS:

Janet Evanovich: Plum Spooky and Foul Play
Sharon Sala (aka Dinah McCall): Out of the Dark and Bloodlines

PICK TWO  your choice (listed below the picture) Nora Roberts:

Born in Fire Audiobook Cassettes
Montana Sky
A Dark Magic
Inner Harbor and
Chesapeake Blue


New Book Group #90 June 19, 2020
Quite a few mysteries in this box.

SINGLES:
Siren's Song by Trish Albright (personally autographed)
Alias by Smy J. Fetzer
Angel Face by Suzanne Forster
Stalking the Puzzle Landy by Parnell Hall
Hot Sex by Janet Evanovich (Audio cassettes)
The Warrior by Frances Richey (poetry - hardcover)


New Book Group #89 March 6, 2020

Singles:
My Surrender by Connie Brockway
How to Tame a Modern Rogue by Diana Holoquist
Phoenix by A.J. Scudiere

New Book Group #88 November 8, 2019

PAIRS:
Stella Cameron: Body of Evidence and Fascination
Singles:
A Lady Never Tells by Candace Camp
Dawn of Redemption by Starla Childs


New Book Group #87 August 23, 2019

SINGLES:
Captain's Paradise by Kay Hooper
Open Season by Linda Howard AUDIO CASSETTES


New Book Group #86 June 7, 2019
Another group of variety from my shelves.

SINGLES:
Forget Me Not by Vicki Hinze
Show No Fear by Marliss Melton
A Question of God's Balance (Vol 1) by Joseph Thek
King by Right of Blood and Might by Anna L. Walls


New Book Group #85 March 22, 2019
A variety from my shelves.

SINGLES:
Summer Skies by Judith Christenberry
Windfall (two stories) by JoAnn Ross
Daddy's Little Cowgirl (two stories) by Judith Bowen and Kimberly Raye
The Forever Year, Cold Pursuit, Lover's Lane and Temporary Sanity (Reader's Condensed)
ToxiCity by Libby Fischer Hillmann

New Book Group #84 December 15, 2018
Here are some Christmas titles to pick from.

SINGLES:
A Family for Thanksgiving
On this Holy Night
Christmas Haven
King Harold's Snow Job


New Book Group #83 November 30, 2018

(Starting bottom left and continuing up then down)
SINGLE
Seductive Secrets by Lynne Connolly
Seven Up by Janet Evanovich - Audio Cassettes
A Good Walk Spoiled by John Feinstein Audio Cassettes
Three Reader's Digest Condensed Books - each hardback:

Cold Harbour and The Courtship of Peggy McCoy
The Things We Do for Love, Three Weeks With My Brother, The Murder Artist and Night Train to Lisbon
Follow the Stars Home, Hunting Badger, The Quiet Game and Second Wind

New Book Group #82 November 9, 2018

Stella Cameron: Key West
SINGLES:
Magic Strikes by Ilona Andrews
Killing Time by Linda Howard
The Wedding Night by Barbara Dawson Smith

New Book Group #81 August 17, 2018

SINGLES
Best Laid Plans by Allison Brennan
Darkness Tell Us by Richard Laymon
Cooking Most Deadly by Joanne Pence


New Book Group #80 August 17, 2018

Note: The Final Judgment and
The Book of Fate are Audio Cassettes
SINGLES:
Summer’s Moon by Lacey Baker
The Final Judgment by Richard North PattersonAudio Cassettes
Firebird by Janice Graham
No Getting Over a Cowboy by Delores Fossen
The Book of Fate by Brad Meltzer Audio Cassettes


New Book Group #79 July 13, 2018
I found this box of books buried under some other boxes.

The Vanishing Act of Esme Lenox by Maggie O’Farrell
P.S. by Helen Schulman
Her Sexiest Surprise by Dawn Atkins (personally autographed)
Dakota Child by Linda Ford
Calling the Shots by Ellen Hartman
Promises, Promises by Amber Miller
This Time for Keeps by Jenna Mills
A Daughter’s Legacy by Virginia Smith
Another Man’s Baby by Kay Stockham


New Book Group #78 April 27, 2018

SINGLES
Blackberry Bush
Breaking Point
A Tangled Affair
Too Wicked to Love
Roses are Red Audio Cassettes


New Book Group #77 February 16, 2018- All gone

New Book Group #76 November 3, 2017
13 books remain of the original 37:

I finally Have them Listed!
Boots & Booties by Kristine Rolofson
Saucer the Conquest by Stephen Coonts
The Scorpion Seducer by Bonnie Vanak
Hell On Earth by David L. Porter
Riders of the Purple Sage by Zane Grey
The Glimpses of the Moon by Edith Wharton
Crisscross by Harmon Henkin
Maelstrom by Anne McCaffrey
Inhuman Condition by Clive Barker
101 Commonsense Rules for the Office by John R. Brinkerhoff


This shelf of 35 books are what is left from Groups #1 (11/27/09) through Group #75 September 29, 2017

(Title list reads left at bottom to right at top - 14 titles.)
Rehabilitation
Secret Blessing
Named of the Dragon
Aunt Erma's Cope Book
The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan
Bound by Destiny by Rayka Mennen

(Title list reads left at bottom to right at top - 21 titles.)
Plan of Attack by Dan Brown
(*Three One more very old books from my Gothics box.)
*The Man in the Garden by Paule Mason (1969 - yellowed)
Fire Dancer by Ann Maxwell
*Four One books are very old; pulled from a box of gothic novels I found.
*Maggie – Her Marriage by Taylor Caldwell (1953 very old, yellowed pages, some stain damage doesn't effect reading)
First Things First by Stephen R. Covey- Audio Cassette
Trilogy Of Mysteries Audio Book Shadow Prey, There Was A Little Girl, Smokescreen Audio Cassettes (NOT CDs)
Raintree Haunted by Linda Winstead Jones (spine creases)
The Shadowing by Joan Overfield
The Sweetheart Dance by Patti Ann Colt
BOX 4 2015 (reboxed from Boxes 47-53)
Undateable by Ellen Rakieten & Anne Coyle
Jezebel by Katherine Sutcliff
The Hidden Truth of Cytech's Randall Forty by Vickie Kennedy
Breakfast in Bed by Sandra Brown - Audio Cassette Tapes (link is for mass media version)
BOX 3 2015 (reboxed from Boxes 39- 47)
Shetland Summer by Janet Lynnford
BOX 2 2015 (reboxed from Boxes 24- 38)
The Trailsman: Texas Lead Slingers by Jon Sharpe
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
An Honorable Man by Rosemary Rogers (spine creases)
The Willful Widow by Valerie King (spine wear)
Foundation (Foundation Novels) by Isaac Asimov
BOX #1 2015 (reboxed from Boxes 1- 23)
Ghost Writer (Shivers #3) by M.D. Spenser
Alien Chronicles - The Crimson Claw by Deborah Chester

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 almost NINE years I have posted 88 groups of 16 plus an additional 21 totaling 1,429 books to find new homes! (as of November 8, 2019).

I am happy to say that so far about 1,330+ books have found new homes through this feature! YAY. [A year or so ago I posted I had reached 2000 books given away. As I calculated the numbers 11/2/17 I realized that had to be an error. I realized I went from 1098 to 2001 instead of 1101. Guess I was tired; sorry for the error.] 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 faraway 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!

MBS September 2020 Reading List Wrap Up

MBS 2020 Reading List - SEPTEMBER

Code for the list is:
A = Audible; ABJ = Audiobook Jukebox; ABB = Audiobook Boom
e = eBook; eA = eBook from Author; eT = eBook from Tour
NG = NetGalley
P = Print;
PT = Print from Tour
LBC = Ladies Book Club
TBR = From the TBR shelves prior to 2020
Favorites for the month:
5 Stars = none
4.75 Stars =  The Righteous Mind
4.5 Stars = Hunted, Interview with the Robot, and Kit and Elizabeth

1. ATBR- Audible Book Review: Machine World, Undying Mercenaries, Book 4, by B. V. Larson; Genre: Hard Science Fiction, Military Space Sci-Fi; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.5.
   
2. ATBR- Audio Book Review: Hunted by Meagan Spooner; Genre: Action & Adventure, Fairy Tales & Folklore, Romance; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.
3. A2020- Audible Book Review: Snowflakes by Ruth Ware; Genre: Collection, Mystery, Short Story, Thriller & Suspense; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.
4. NG2019- #NetGalley Book Review: Honor in an Age of Metal and Men by Anthony W. Eichenlaub; Genre: Cyberpunk, Futuristic,Sci-Fi, Western; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0.
5. ATBR- Audible Book Review: Open Season by C. J. Box; Ecology, Mystery, Suspense My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0.
   
6. ATBR- Audio Book Review: Dead Rising (The Templar Book 1) by Debra Dunbar; Genre: Necromancy, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy, Vampires; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.
7. A2020- Audible Book Review: Interview with the Robot by Lee Bacon; Genre: Children's Audiobooks, Science Fiction & Fantasy; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.
8. ATBR- Audible Book Review: Dungeon Born by Dakota Krout; Genre: Fantasy, LitRPG, Teen & YA, Sci Fi; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.5.
9. NG2020- #NetGalley Book Review: Kit and Elizabeth by Karen Tuft; Genre: Historical, Regency Romance; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0.
10. ATBR- Audible Book Review: The Tracker, Sam Callahan, Book 1, by Chad Zunker Genre: Political Thriller, Suspense; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.
11. A2020- Audible Book Review: The Gun: The End Time Saga Origin Short Story by Daniel Greene; Genre: 90 minute Short Story, Horror, Sci Fi; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.
12. ATBR- Audible Book Review: The Righteous Mind, Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion by Jonathan Haidt; Genre: Non Fiction, Psychology; My Rating: 4.75 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.75; Narration 4.75.

Total read = 12; TBR = 8; New to Me Authors = 10
Audio/Audible = 10 (7 TBRs)
eBook = 0 (0 TBR)
NetGalley = 2 (1 TBR)
Review books (other than NG) = 0
Print = 0 (0 TBR)
• Series: 8
• New to me Series: 6 (4 most likely to continue)
• Continuing for me Series: 2
• Finished for me Series: 1

Goal Progress (Year to date meaning through the end of the given month):
Goodreads Goal Read to Date: 112 of 150
TBR to Date: 81 of 100 total
TBR ebooks: 3 of 24
Audio to Date: 75 of 75
NetGalley to Date: 29 of 40
Author Reviews: 10 of 12
Nonfiction: 9 of 12
Series to Date: 70 (48 New and 22 Continued) 5 Finished
• Seasonal title: Winter 1, Spring 1, Summer 1,
• Alphabet letters covered: 10 Jan; 7 Feb; 5 March; 0 April; 0 May; 1 June; 0 July; 1 August; 0 September; 

Audible Book Review: The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion by Jonathan Haidt

This helps me to see and understand other views.

The Righteous Mind
Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion
By: Jonathan Haidt
Narrated by: Jonathan Haidt

Length: 11 hrs and 1 min
Release date: 07-23-12
Publisher: Gildan Media, LLC
Genre: Nonfiction, Psychology
My Rating: 4.75 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.75; Narration 4.75.

Publisher's Summary
Why can’t our political leaders work together as threats loom and problems mount? Why do people so readily assume the worst about the motives of their fellow citizens?
In The Righteous Mind, social psychologist Jonathan Haidt explores the origins of our divisions and points the way forward to mutual understanding. His starting point is moral intuition - the nearly instantaneous perceptions we all have about other people and the things they do. These intuitions feel like self-evident truths, making us righteously certain that those who see things differently are wrong.
Haidt shows us how these intuitions differ across cultures, including the cultures of the political left and right. He blends his own research findings with those of anthropologists, historians, and other psychologists to draw a map of the moral domain, and he explains why conservatives can navigate that map more skillfully than can liberals. He then examines the origins of morality, overturning the view that evolution made us fundamentally selfish creatures.
But rather than arguing that we are innately altruistic, he makes a more subtle claim - that we are fundamentally groupish. It is our groupishness, he explains, that leads to our greatest joys, our religious divisions, and our political affiliations. In a stunning final chapter on ideology and civility, Haidt shows what each side is right about, and why we need the insights of liberals, conservatives, and libertarians to flourish as a nation. Download the accompanying reference guide.
©2012 Jonathan Haidt (P)2012 Gildan Media LLC

Review:
I often find myself struggling to understand how others view policies and political persons with such a different view from mine. I bought this book with the hope that it might give me insight…and I am happy to say it did.

Haidt presents his material in a clear essay format. He states the point he wants to make, discusses it with examples, shares supporting and opposition views, and then summarizes the evidence that he has argued. I found this helpful particularly since it has been 40 years since I studied sociology, psychology and religion in college. It helped to have the information laid out in a manner that I could process and understand.

I was surprised to hear Haidt discuss evolutionary psychology which I didn’t know existed. I am not a proponent of evolutionary theories, but I found his arguments of moral intuition, basic foundations and adaptations very interesting.

Haidt explains that the terms “left” and “right” came from the 1700s during the French revolution. When the National Assembly met to put together a new constitution, the participants sat on either side of the table. Those who wanted more change were on the left and those who wanted to stay closer to tradition were on the right.

Haidt shares a matrix of six “foundations of morality”: 1. Care/Harm (cherishing and protecting others); 2. Liberty/Oppression; 3. Fairness/Cheating (proportionality); 4. Loyalty/Betrayal (ingroup); 5. Authority/subversion (respect); and 6. Sanctity/degradation (purity). He also argues that humans are ‘groupish’. Haidt presents sound basis to support this theory that was apparently abandoned for many years. He notes that the groupish nature of man has aided in his survival.

Haidt shares which of the moral foundations are the strongest and most relevant to American liberals, Libertarians and social conservatives. Among the points, Haidt notes that our foundations “bind and blind us”. One of the most pointed things that Haidt shared was in the last chapter where he points out that some people, who score very high on the care morality foundation, often cause damage by tearing down their group supports. The example is ‘trying to help the bees even if it means burning the hive’. Haidt makes it clear that it is important for all insights to be shared and to seek compromises. If you want to understand others better, I recommend you read this book!

This definitely helped me understand the mindset of the other views. It still doesn’t help me understand the basis for the hate and violence. I don’t always agree with other policies or views but that doesn’t mean I hate the people or want to destroy them. That to me falls in the ‘cutting off your nose’ or “burning the hive” mentality.

Audio Notes: Jonathan Haidt narrates his own work and I thought he did a great job. He clearly cares about the information and wants to make it understandable while supporting it with other psychological citations or testing and surveys. I enjoyed listening but I suspect that having the print version would allow the reader to go back and be reminded of arguments. The pdf support of the described figures is helpful for the audio listener.

Source: 10/16/19 September 2019 Audible Credit. This qualifies for 2020TBR and 2020Audiobook goals.