Out of A Far Country

“Out of A Far Country” is written by Christopher Yuan and Angela Yuan, a Mother and Son who traveled a troubled and dangerous road through homosexuality, drugs, and prison that eventually led them both back home. Christopher was the Son of Chinese immigrants who felt as a young child that he was somehow different from other kids and these feelings led him into a gay lifestyle. His Mother Angela was so distraught with her son’s choices and the fear of what might happen to him that she tried everything in her power to “change” him. When she felt like she was absolutely at the end of her rope God showed up in an interesting turn of events and she realized that not only was her Son a Prodigal, but she was as well. She gave her life to the Lord and gave her fears for her Son to God and began to trust Him with he results. Angela started praying and fasting for her Son, spending many hours on her knees in her makeshift prayer closet. When Christopher was imprisoned for drug dealing instead of being fearful she had a calm assurance that God was going to work in his life while he was in prison…..and He certainly did! While in prison Christopher found out that he had been infected and was HIV positive…..but more importantly he found God in prison which turned his life in a direction that he never thought possible and eventually it led him back home.
This is a powerful story of hope, love, forgiveness, and redemption….it is amazing to see the way God works in the lives of this Mother and Son. I highly recommend this book.

"When Sparrows Fall"

I am reviewing the book “When Sparrows Fall” by Meg Moseley that I received free from Water Brook Multnomah Publishing Group. I first thought that this was going to be a typical story about a young widowed Mother who falls for the Brother-in-law when he steps in to help. That did happen, but it became much more than that! Miranda, who had been repressed by an overbearing husband and a controlling Pastor, had some secrets in her past. But she wasn’t the only one with secrets. The Pastor also had some and because of the scandal that would ensue if his indiscretions were found out, he was leaving town and taking his entire congregation with him. When Miranda took a terrible fall off the cliffs behind her home her husband’s brother was called to help. She had only met him once, but in that one visit she saw someone who she could trust her children with. And she also found that she could trust her secrets with him as well. Together they worked through the mire of her life, helped the Pastor’s wife leave her abusive husband, and let the Church members know why the Pastor was moving them away. This is a good love story with several intriguing twists…..I recommend it!

The Final Summit by Andy Andrews

Andy Andrews is a New York Times best-selling author and his latest book is "The Final Summit". This book takes place 28 years after David Ponder found the Seven Decisions for life in "The Traveler's Gift". In this book Gabriel appears to David and gives him the ominous challenge of finding the answer that will allow humankind to carry on...and the answer must be in the form of two words. As in the first book the main character in this book meets people from the past who are there to assist him in coming up with the answer. Fellow "travelers", including Benjamin Franklin, Winston Churchill, Joan of Arc, and George Washington Carver, give David what they feel was the key to their success and what they believe to be the critical answer. After several unsuccessful tries and as time is running out, they finally come up with the correct 2 word answer that will save humanity!

This book is at times a bit confusing, but it is interesting, fast-paced, and fun to see who is on the scene next to help David Ponder! If you enjoy parables, suspense, and a bit of history....you will enjoy this book!

Voices of the Faithful

Do you have a heart for Missions and want to hear more about what is happening on the Mission Fields…….then you will want to read Book 2 of “Voices of the Faithful”. It is a series of daily devotionals compiled by Kim P. Davis and written by Missionaries currently serving in other countries. This book not only inspires the reader to courageously spread the Good News to those on our “mission field”, but it also is a wonderful source of information about the cultures of other countries and religions. In reading this book I have learned things about other religions that I had never heard before. One thing that really made an impression is that when Muslims are being wooed by the Holy Spirit they have dreams about Jesus……then as they are later approached by someone with the Gospel message they understand who the Missionary is talking about. It is also made clear to the reader that new believers in many countries do not have the freedom to express their new beliefs…..in fact, they are many times shunned by family, persecuted by governments, or perhaps even martyred for their new faith. This is definitely a book that I am recommending.

Same Kind of Different As Me

A homeless black man who has never had anything of his own and a rich white man who has everything……what could they possibly have in common? What would cause these two men to become friends and end up sharing everything together? Denver Moore and Ron Hall were polar opposites whose lives became intertwined when Ron’s wife Debbie is moved to help out at a soup kitchen and meets Denver. Denver at first wants nothing to do with this upscale white woman, but over time comes to love her. In time and after much coaxing Debbie convinces him to attend a retreat where he finds salvation ….and starts to develop a relationship with God, Debbie, and Ron. When Debbie becomes ill Denver spends hours each day in prayer for her. And after her death he helps Ron to find healing and encourages him to move on.

The book is written from the point of view of both Ron and Denver……one chapter written by Ron and the next written by Denver. Each tells the same story, but each tells it from their own perspective, giving the reader insight into how the things that people go through color the way they look at life. For me the book started out a bit slow…..but the story is fascinating and compelling and I highly recommend it.

I've just finished "The Heart Mender" A Story of Second Chances by Andy Andrews and what a treat it was! This is the first I've read anything by this author....but it certainly won't be the last. Andy Andrews is a New York Times best-selling author of "The Noticer" and "The Traveler's Gift".

As the story goes the author, while digging up wax myrtle trees on his Gulf front property, found a rusty metal box of medals and pictures from the WWII era with definite Nazi connections. Of course this sparked interest and with his curiosity leading him he starts to question some fascinating people in the region that he thinks might have some clue to the story behind the box.

The author introduces the reader to Helen Mason, a young attractive American war widow and Lt. Josef Landermann, a German soldier who she finds washed up on the gulf coast shore near her home. You will read how their lives intertwine and how they learn the great lessons of reconciliation and forgiveness.

Throughout the book there were times that I thought that this story had to be true....and at other times I wondered if it was purely fiction. To the very end of the book I am still wondering.....and hoping that it is true.

I highly recommend "The Heart Mender" by Andy Andrews.

When a Woman Trusts God by Sheila Walsh

I think that as women most of us want to trust God, but much of the time it is a very difficult thing to do. In this book Sheila shows you how several Biblical characters learned to trust God in the most difficult of circumstances.....and the circumstances some of them had to live by when they didn't trust Him. She also made it clear in the book that the choices they made, whether to trust God or to trust in themselves, affected not only themselves but affected many future generations. She also shares her own personal story of going from a well-known Christian TV personality to spending time in a psychiatric ward. That's where she truly learned to trust God. She learned that the safest place to be, even though it may not look safe, is wherever Jesus is. She found that sometimes you have to go through the dark places to find the light....

Through her own experiences and those of Abraham, Nicodemus, Samson, and other Biblical characters the Author shows you how to trust God with your fears, your dreams, and your journey. And it is never too late to start trusting God.

In the book the Author includes a Discussion Guide and a complete Study Session for each chapter.