Sunday Words of Encouragement October 24, 2021

We enjoyed Sunday School again today with a really good video message by Dutch Sheets.
We then shared in praise and worship before Pastor introduced a missionary to speak to us.
The missionary told us about his wife and five children, and shared that his wife is a leader in a new-to-me ministry: M.E.N.D Mommies enduring neonatal death.

The missionary explained that he was concerned about reaching Roma gypsies. One person might get to hear about the gospel but how will they share the right messages within the unique traditions of their culture? Assemblies of God have a ministry named “oli” which is oral learning initiatives. They have developed olBi or the Oral Learning Bible Initiative. The goal is to remove barriers of illiteracy, poverty, and smaller, hard to reach communities.

Evangelizing villages can be challenging. The OLI provides training through cell phones and online lessons.

The missionary explained: How everyone can advance the great commission.
Think small...

85 percent of faithful believers are reached before the age of 18. It is important to stress training with children and youth.

Give up…

What are you willing to give up in order to show the love of God to others? John 15:12-13. God’s word tells us that we prosper when we give freely. Proverbs 11:24-25. Also when a person has a closed hand it is not available to receive more. You need an open hand to receive a new opportunity.

Go have a cup of coffee…

Sharing time with others provides the opportunity to share the Gospel even by the way you live your life. Hebrews 13:7. Seek to establish a focused mentoring arrangement between a mature believer and a newer believer who needs one on one assistance.

By using these steps the church could experience exponential growth in making believers, disciples, and leaders.

I had a different song but wasn’t settled.
So my search brought me to this which fits better than my first choice. 😊
Love God, Love People

A Verse For Today:
Hebrews 13:7 NIV
7 Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.


Lord, I come to you again asking for Your help to share Your love with others.

#FraterfestRat Audible Book Review: Dead Acre by Rhett C. Bruno, Jaime Castle

This is a quick listen with a demon hunting "hand of God".

Dead Acre
By: Rhett C. Bruno, Jaime Castle
Narrated by: Roger Clark

Series: Black Badge Series, Book 0.5
Length: 3 hrs and 24 mins
Publisher: Audible Originals
Categories: Fantasy, Supernatural, Western
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.

About This Audible Original
The Witcher meets the The Dresden Files in this Weird Western tale by the Audible number-one bestselling duo, performed by Roger Clark (Red Dead Redemption 2’s Arthur Morgan).
James Crowley met his mortal end in a hail of gunfire. Now, he finds himself in purgatory, serving the White Throne to avoid falling to hell. Not quite undead, though not alive either, the best he can hope for is to work off his servitude and fade away.
His not-so-sacred duty as a Hand of God? Use his new abilities to hunt down demonic beings that have infiltrated the mortal realm.
This time, the White Throne has sent him to the middle of nowhere: a western town called Dead Acre with a saloon, a moldy church, and little else worth talking about. There isn’t even a sheriff. But the local cobbler has gone missing at the same time as a number of graves were desecrated.
Crowley must follow the clues, all while dealing with a cutthroat gang which treats Dead Acre like they own it, an extraordinary woman who makes it hard to focus, and locals not keen on strangers.
Life isn’t simple for a Hand of God.
©2020 Aethon Books (P)2020 Audible Originals LLC

Review:
James Crowley was a rough cowboy outlaw… but he was still a good guy who tried to save a woman and child. That is how he died. But he didn’t go to heaven or hell. Instead, he was given a ‘second chance’ to avoid hell. He is asked to be a Hand of God to fight evil and unholy enemies of a demonic nature. Crowley has a strained relationship with his supervisor angel. This is partially the result of Crowley being sent to a location with only limited knowledge. He just knows he will face trouble, without knowing who the bad guys or demons are.

Crowley has been sent to a town called Dead Acres. The name fits the tone of the town, and few people welcome the man they perceive as a lawman. Crowley soon learns that a husband of a beautiful woman has gone missing. While he wonders if this is his assignment, Crowley quickly makes enemies of the local gang when he interrupts them when they begin to harass the lady. Then his angel tells him that Dead Acres borders demonic territory and there is more danger to expect.

Crowley’s investigation takes him to a dilapidated church and a cowering preacher who is doing nothing to help protect the community. Crowley may find the missing husband, but before he can complete his assignment, he will face creatures he hasn’t faced before.

I liked Crowley’s character and the tough western setting. I also enjoyed the clear writing and first-person view. I look forward to more in this series. I recommend this to fans of western and fantasy.

Audio Notes: Roger Clark does a good job of narration. He captures and portrays the dark nature of the characters and story. I totally enjoyed this audible experience.

Source: December 2020 free Audible Plus Catalog. This qualifies for 2021TBR and 2021Audiobook goals. This is my second listen for #FraterfestRat.

Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway October 22, 2021

Happy Friday! 8 days to Halloween.
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 15, 2021 Pick. There was one automatic win last 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.
BN100 gets The Stranger.

CONGRATULATIONS
to Random.org picked Winners from October 15, 2021 Pick:
FREDAMANS gets a GC

AND
ASHFA 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.}

Which is more magical? The wand or the book?
Image found at Book Riot on Pinterest.

New Book Box #94 May 28, 2021 (10 books)

Three Audio CD Books:
Web of Evil by J.A. Jance
One Good Deed by David Baldacci
Dance Upon the Air by Nora Roberts
SINGLE TITLES
Flowers From the Storm by Laura Kinsale
The Hidden Heart by Laura Kinsale
A Summer of Firsts by Susan Wiggs and Sarah Morgan
Moonlight Mile by Dennis Lehane
Christmas on 4th Street: An Anthology by Susan Mallery
The Stranger by Harlan Coben
Vortex by Robert Charles Wilson


New Book Groups #92 and #93 November 13, 2020.
#92 (15 books):

A Most Unsuitable Man by Jo Beverley
The Tender Stranger by Carolyn Davidson
Her Wedding Wish by Jillian Hart
Heart's Desire by Ruth Ryan Hagan
The Deputy's Duty by Terri Reed
Summer by the Sea by Susan Wiggs

Box #93 (14 books)

Seducing Mr. Darcy by Gwyn Cready
There's Only Been You by Donna Marie Rogers (personally signed)
For the Love of Pete by Julia Harper
The Irish Bride by Alexa Harrington
When We Met by Susan Mallery
Anne of Green Gables by Montgomery
All of Me by Lori Wilde

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

SINGLES: Ten books in this box:
Fight or Flight by Natalie J. Damschroder
The Sinister Pig by Tony Hillerman Audiobook

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

Born in Fire Audiobook Cassettes
Montana Sky
Valley of Silence
Inner Harbor and
Chesapeake Blue


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

SINGLES:
Alias by Smy J. Fetzer
Hot Sex by Janet Evanovich (Audio cassettes)

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

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:
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

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 ELEVEN years I have posted 91 groups of 16 books plus an additional 21 totaling 1,477 books available to find new homes! (As of November 6, 2020).

I am happy to say that so far about 1,375 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, TWRP, 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!

#FraterfestRat Audible Book Review: Black Virus by Bobby Adair

It is a quick listen with young protagonists in a messed-up, infected world.
Black Virus: Black Rust, Book 1
By: Bobby Adair
Narrated by: Tristan Morris

Series: Black Rust, Book 1
Length: 2 hrs and 34 mins
Publisher: Audible Studios
Genre: Horror, Post-Apocalyptic
My Rating: 3.75 of 5.0 Overall; Story 3.75; Narration 4.0.

Publisher's Summary
Virus. Chaos. Survival. Alienated in a world where he doesn't fit in, Christian Black survives because he's different. Then the virus came, and made the world turn different, too. Now people are dying by the million. Food supplies are short. Riots are blazing through the streets, and Christian's only goal is to keep his family alive. But safety lies far from the city, and just getting out will be tougher than anyone knows.
©2016 Bobby L. Adair (P)2016 Audible, Inc.

Review:
Christian Black has been dubbed “different” by his parents, teachers, counselors, and doctors. He is always pushing the edge of acceptable behavior and has little emotional response to punishment. Yet, he is deeply loyal to his family, his ill parents and his older brother. They have already lost his younger twin brothers, his father is almost in a vegetative state, and his mother is becoming more confused every day. The virus that has struck the community kills some outright, but leaves others in various stages of ‘degeneration’, slowly losing cognitive and physical abilities. Alone the infected degenerates may be docile, but together they become loud and violent with social controls abandoned.

Rations have diminished and Christian sets out to the city to get supplies that are needed for his family. He stumbles upon a group of attackers and steps in to help save some apparent survivors. When the dust settles, Christian has to struggle to escape with a father and his teen daughter, Abby. Things aren’t good when they get back to Christian’s home. How are they to move forward in this wicked, sick world?

In this short story, the author provides reasonably developed characters and a twist on a virus that doesn’t quite result in zombies. I liked Christian even though he is presented as a dark youth. There is violence and suspense as the young protagonists try to move away from the danger and move forward. It is sufficiently entertaining if not gripping. It may be a while before I use a credit on book 2. I recommend this to fans of the zombie or virus post-apocalyptic genres.

Audio Notes: Tristan Morris does a good job with distinct voices for both the male and female characters. I am glad I had this as a free audiobook.

Source: August 2020 free Audible Plus Catalog. This qualifies for 2021TBR, 2021Audiobook goal. This was my first listen for #FraterfestRat.

Audible Book Report: End Time: The End Time Saga, Book 1 by Daniel Greene

This zombie story follows a handful of survivors trying to stay a step ahead of the infected.

End Time: The End Time Saga, Book 1
By: Daniel Greene
Narrated by: Keith Szarabajka

Series: The End Time Saga, Book 1
Length: 11 hrs and 17 mins
Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Genre: Horror, Military, Zombie
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.25.

Publisher's Summary
The protests in front of the embassy aren't what they seem....
In the dark, primal jungles of the Congo Basin, something is ravaging the local population. When protests turn violent in front of the US embassy in Kinshasa, only the foreign policy experts paid attention. Civil war erupts, and people rip each other apart in the streets of the African capital.
To avert disaster and preserve its self-image, an overwhelmed State Department dispatches a team of elite counterterrorism agents to bring their besieged people back alive. Mark Steele, a young agent within the division, and his team of gritty operatives are used to trudging through the worst society has to offer, all while operating from the shadows. But Steele's team is plunging headlong into a maelstrom of death so much worse than rebels in the streets.
A highly contagious microbe is spreading unchecked, killing everyone in its wake only to bring them back again as the ravenous undead. Only a lone CDC virologist understands the extent of the outbreak at hand. He cowers among the embassy staff praying for extraction from the hands of death, fearing his part to play in the epidemic.
Follow this harrowing tale of survival, duty, love and horror as the living dead bring the world to its knees. The first installment of an epic series, End Time starts as a slow burn that turns into a breakneck-paced struggle for survival. Greene does an excellent job of depicting individual stories within the larger scope of the global epidemic. Enter the End Time.
©2018 Daniel Greene (P)2018 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Review:
Doctor Joseph was flown to the Congo as a CDC virologist to study a “Monkey” Virus. He is horrified when his tent of patients turns into a walking mass of the ‘dead’ feeding on the living. He doesn’t understand what has happened, but he knows he needs to get back to the States to warn the CDC to set up quarantines. Having reached the embassy Joseph is frightened when he sees the state of chaos.

The State Department sends out a specially trained counterterrorism team to rescue the people at the embassy, but particularly Doctor Joseph. The team led by hardcore warrior, Steele, has to struggle to get the Doctor out. Along the way they find themselves exposed to the madness in the confines of an airplane. Steele is a man who is accustomed doing what it takes to save lives, so he had a little difficulty realizing that some of the ‘people’ around him are enemies.

Things aren’t calm back in the States and the Steele’s girlfriend, Gwen, is struggling to get home safely. Along the way she picks up two other uninfected, one a protector and the other who needs a protector. She is convinced that Steele will return home to save her but can he survive to get there in time?

I figured I should include at least one Zombie story for October. This one has a good mix of action and character development. There isn’t much new about the nature of the infected, nor the nature of idiotic bureaucrats who won’t listen to informed warnings. There are a few detailed segments describing guns and military training which slow the pace a bit. The result is an entertaining story, if not a gripping one. I do have the second and third books so I will continue the story sometime.

Audio Notes: Keith Szarabajka does a nice job with the narration. He provides distinct voices and good energy. The audio enhanced my enjoyment of the story.

Source: October 2020 Audible Plus Catalog. This qualifies for 2021TBR and 2021Audiobook goals.