Unplanned by Abby Johnson

"Unplanned" is the autobiography of Abby Johnson who was a director at a TX Planned Parenthood.  Through the mighty hand of God Abby left her position and joined the "other side of the fence."  While it could be said that this is a book for or against abortion, there is so much more than that.  It is the spiritual journey of a women who made the right decision but the wrong choices.  She truly wanted to help women in crisis, but through the faithful prayers of people she knew and didn't know, God showed her that she was going about it in the wrong way.  I loved when Abby said never do anything you don't want your mother to know about.  That simple statement could keep a lot of us out of trouble!  Throughout her journey love wins out.  God had a plan and was involved in every aspect of her life.  I walked away thinking about the impact of showing up for God because He calls us.  We never know where it will take us.  A great read! 

The scarlet thread by Francine Rivers

I am glad that Tyndale re released this book as I thought I had read all the older Francine Rivers books. I didn't remember this one so it was a great discovery. Sierra Madrid has her life right on track. Everything is exactly the way she wants it. Though she's had struggles - parent's approval of her and Alex's relationship, her father's death, etc. - she still has a good life. Two children, a loving husband, parents close by, a cozy home and then Alex drops a bomb. Alex isn't happy and he is moving ahead with life the way he wants it. This decision means Sierra has to leave behind all that is familiar and surrender her will. About the same time her mother discovers the journal of a long lost family member; Mary Kathryn. Though hundreds of years apart both woman share a similar story. A husband that sets out to follow his dreams, dragging behind a rebellious wife. Both Sierra and Mary Kathryn journey though the anger, resentment, bitterness, acceptance, and finally surrender to God. Both woman find that once God is at the center on their lives nothing else really matters. Things now have to be made right as they realize the wrong they have done. Both see that things are not always solved by a simple apology. Will Sierra and Mary Kathryn find healing and wholeness in their relationships with man and God? Will either of them find they are better for the journeys their lives have taken them on? Another Rivers work of art. Worth the read!

The Tehran Initiative

Joel Rosenberg has yet another winner with The Tehran Initiative. Though it had been a year since reading The Twelfth Imam I was able to pick up the story quickly. The plot was quick paced, attention grabbing and believable. Iran has a nuclear bomb. When will they use it? Will Israel strike first? Will the US be involved? All are questions that you'd ask yourself today. While being fictitious it's obvious that Rosenberg has an understanding of the culture, the land and events in modern age Middle East. Though over 400 pages the story moves along rapidly and once again the book ends before the story does. David/Reza has been developed well. He continues to grow as spiritually and relationally. One thing I liked was how clearly the message of Jesus Christ is woven into the story line. It doesn't seem like an add on or unrelated. Rosenberg clearly presents the Gospel while creating a diplomatic mystery. Worth the read

Flame of Resistance

Flame of Resistance by Tracy Groot is set in Normandy, France of the brink of D-Day.  Each of the characters in the book were developed well.  Each became intricately woven into each other's lives as the story unfolds.  The motives of each character was tested and judged.  Who could you trust?  Who was loyal?  Why do they do the things they do?  How could they? Etc. Etc. Etc.  Brigitte longed to be accepted; to belong.  Father Chaillet tells her, "Acts of repentance will not lead to the mercy you seek, but mercy will lead to acts of repentance.  God has mercy on you...."  How many times do we try to clean ourselves up, do good and think maybe then we will be deserving?  Each character was challenged to look beyond the surface to the person beneath.  To see the good in them.  To discover who they really were.  Toward the end of the book Michel has a revelation of God with the most unlikely group of people.  He realizes every plot of God, is always about people.  He feels "a swell of love, caught in God's plot for humanity."  Groot writes "He felt a great swell of pleasure, as he knew in this moment that he had aided and abetted the scheming God of humanity, and felt, in fact, God's pleasure with him."  What a powerful illustration of how when we accept God's mercy, we in fact realize He uses us in the most unlikely ways.  And it feels GREAT!  A great read about a pivotal point in history, through the eyes of common people.

Imagination Station - Revenge of the Red Knight

Since I could read and review some of the kids fiction as part of Tyndale's Summer Reading Program I did.  Personally I'll stick with adult books!  I read "Imagination Station - Revenge of the Red Knight" by Marianne Hering and Paul McCusker.  It was a simple chapter book.  Using the "Imagination Station" and not magic, the kids travel through time on one great adventure after another.  The prologue gives the previous 3 books adventures in a summary that leads up to this book.  Though the adventure ends, the book sets itself up for another adventure for the cousins.  Though a simple story there is an educational/historical lesson about knights and jousts of peace.  The kids have to fit into the time perios so they ask questions, lending itself to an educational story that doesn't seem educational.  Not much of a Biblical message, though the children pray with Sir Andrew and good triumphs over evil.

Accused

Accused by Janice Cantore was an excellent debut novel.  I look forward to the next book in the Pacific Coast Justice series.  The main character Carly has a lot to deal with.  Recently divorced, a shooting investigation that lands her in juvenile, a "religious" mother, and now a conspiracy all make her bitter and overwhelmed.  When Carly is pulled into a murder investigation only to be shut out and things removed from the computer system, she begins to suspect things are not above board.  Enter the undercover friend Jeff and the mystery deepens.  Trust no one.  As the story takes twists and turns in many unsuspected ways Carly is out to prove she is not a broken cop.  Cantore does a good job of developing Carly's spiritual side in a realistic way.  It will be interesting to see how she develops her character in the next books.  Great read for those liking mystery/cop stories.

The Search Committee

I have just finished the book "Search Committee" by Tim Owens.  A ragtag group is gathered to go out and search for a new pastor.  The group is undercover, trying not to attract attention, in an effort to snag the right "man" but not let others know they stole him!  Put together 7 people of mixed age and background and you've got the recipe for the perfect storm.  Each one is dealing with their own insecurities, baggage and motives.  Yet each one wants to do the right thing by their church.  Can they ever reach an agreement?  Can they ever do what is right, for the right reasons?

Travis can't keep focused on the sermons most of the time as he's secretly lusting after Susie.  He has guilt from his childhood that prevents him from moving forward with his wife Jenny.  If one is honest his internal speeches are probably similiar to our own.  The sin may not be the same, but the guilt, the justification and the question of God's grace eat at all of us from time to time.

Dot's busybody nature stives to cover her lack of self worth.  Bill's great attitude is a facade for lack of motivation.  Matt's hanging in limbo; not living, but not knowing how.  Frankie's out to keep everyone at peace.  Joyce is on the outside looking in.  Susie's trying to cope one day at a time.  Put them all together and someone's got to speak to you.

An all too common mix of people and problems that all comes down to everyone needing healing and grace.  A good read.  Humorous, poignant and honest.

Beckon by Tom Pawlik

Tom Pawlik's book Beckon was a suspensful, creative, sci-fi read. I'm not big into science fiction, but all together felt Beckon was good read. The characters emotions and reactions were very realistic. Though the N'watu tribe, the HUGE spiders, bone pit and glowing micro-organisms were beyond the scope of everyday life, they were woven into a story that made sense.

I liked how Jack's character found himself in constant self inspection. He was trying to make sense of his father's disappearance when he set out on the trip with his best friend Rudy. Yet when things happened, and the did A LOT, Jack had to face himself. Once we arrive in the town of Beckon, Wyoming we find that most of the characters DO NOT face themselves. They have shut down their consciences to exist in the "world" of Beckon. Yet, characters like Jack and Elina will rely on them finding their conscience in this bizarre place.

Fans of Peretti and Dekker will enjoy Pawlik's wild ride into the unknown.