WHAT I READ THIS PAST YEAR - A Year's Review

I did a lot of reading this past year. I usually read between 5,000 pages to 7,000 pages a year. To some readers this isn’t much, but to other people this is quite a lot. I did a lot of reading, but I didn’t do so well on the writing of my book reviews. Thus, I decided to make a list of what I have read for this year. This is not everything, some books are not worth mentioning; some books are not healthy Christian or secular reading (read for reviewing), so I am not going to include them. I should mention that I don’t usually read what is new and current either. The book usually has to be a gift to me to be new.


 

Now That You're A Christian (Christianity 101)
Topic: witnessing
Bickel, Bruce & Stan Jantz
Harvest House Publishers / 2005 978-0-7369-2316-3
what God has done for you, what you need to do for God 43 pgs








 
Heaven Is For Real
Topic: witnessing non-fiction
Burpo, Todd with Lynn Vincent
Thomas Nelson / 2010 978-0-849946158
a 4 year old goes to Heaven - Aren’t we as Christians supposed to have our focus on Jesus Christ, our Savior, and bringing salvation to all the earth, not on what Heaven is like. If we were to know more about Heaven wouldn’t God have written it in His word? I feel that these days we focus too much on angels and Heaven and not enough on our mission. I read this one because many churches are recommending this book to their attendees. 163 pgs





The Harbinger
subtitle: The Ancient Mystery that Holds the Secret of America's Future
Topic: fiction, prophecy, suspense
Cahn, Jonathan (a Messianic Rabbi)
FrontLine / Charisma Media/Chrisma House Book Group / 2012 978-1-61638-610-8
from the cover: "Hidden in an ancient biblical verse from the Book of Isaiah, the mysteries revealed in 'x' are so precise that they foretell recent American events down to the exact days…" This book is a great warning for those unsaved; and the salvation plan is included, but I have reservations about this book. 253 pgs
(See prior post in 2012)




You Don't Have To Be Blind to See
Topic: motivational, business
Stovall, Jim
Thomas Nelson / 1996 978-0-785277378
From a Christian perspective and as a blind business man, Jim Stovall tells Christians to get their act together and motivates them toward a more successful business. He gives examples from his own life that success can be attained. Recommended reading. 
278 pgs
(See prior post in 2012)





A Millionaire's Notebook (How ordinary people can achieve extraordinary success)
Topic: business
Scott, Steven K.
Fireside (Simon & Schuster, Inc.) / 1996 0-684-80303-8
Another Christian business book, motivational, Steven Scott puts together a plan for success. I need to reread this, take notes & go through the process. Recommended reading. I also invested in the full Master Strategies of Super Achievers set; I just haven’t taken time to take the course. 254 pgs



Forever & Ever Amen
Topic: Autobiography
Overstreet, Paul
Treasure House (Destiny Image Publishers) / 2001 0-7684-2120-9
Christian country music writer, my copy came with a DVD of music videos. This is "the heart-warming stories behind the music of Paul Overstreet" 183 pgs






Get Out Of Our House! Revolution!
Topic: A new plan for selecting our Congressional Representatives
Cox, Tim
Bridgeway Books / 2008 978-1-934454-03-9
Intriguing, filled with thought provoking questions, this is a good book to consider if you wish to run for Congress. However, the author’s plan to put new people in office probably won’t come to fruition. It would be nice, though, if it did. Our Congressional Representatives are not supposed to be career politicians, yet “we the people” do not kick them out of office. And we pay for it in taxes and spending!!! I bought copies of this book for others that I felt would be interested in this plan. 291 pgs

 

The Cat Who Went Into the Closet
Topic: novel
Braun, Lilian Jackson
G.P. Putnam's Sons / 1993 0-399-13830-7 hardcover
“The Cat Who…” books are fun reading, light-hearted mystery novels. I always enjoy these. 235 pgs





The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, Prince Caspian, Voyage of the "Dawn Treader", The Silver Chair, The Horse and His Boy, The Magician's Nephew, and The Last Battle – 7 books
Topic: children’s novel
Lewis, C.S.
Collier Books (NY, NY) (1972) / 1950
My copy is old and my children have read them. This is the order for the books that my copy says is the correct order. This is probably the fourth time in my lifetime that I have read these. What caused me to read them this time was The Walt Disney’s company promise to the C. S. Lewis estate that they would stay true to what Lewis had written and his intent. I don’t know about the intent part but I found several discrepancies between what Lewis had written and what Disney put on the screen. In book form is the wonderful story of salvation, God’s love for us through His Son, Jesus. The first time I saw this it was my second reading. I wonder if Lewis made his Narnia stories to be seven books because seven is used by God to mean perfection and completion?
from reader paxdomini, “While The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is not an allegory in the strict sense of the word, it does contain a great deal of strong and rather unmistakable Christian imagery. The most apparent such imagery centers around Aslan, who is an obvious Christ figure, and whose fate parallels Christ's Passion. Indeed, while Aslan debuts rather late in the book, he dominates the story, which is, at its core, all about what Aslan is doing rather than what the children are doing.” 1,422 pgs 


For One More Day
Topic: novel
Albom, Mitch
Hyperion / 2006 978-1-4013-0327-3
I enjoyed reading this short book. A man about to commit suicide because of the turns his life took, he ends up at the house he grew up in and finds his deceased mother there. Her love helps him start on the path to putting his life back together and healing the old wounds. I’ll probably read this one again. (found this one at Dollar Tree store) 198 pgs
Mitch Albom's Amazon page




 

Frantastic Voyage (Franny K. Stein, Mad Scientist)
Topic: children’s novel
Benton, Jim
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (April 25, 2006) 978-1416902300
A girl (child) who is a Frankenstein scientist makes this a fun story for children. 112 pgs
Jim Benton's Amazon page

 

 


The Widows of Danford
Topic: novel
Thacker, Jan
Bridge Logos Foundation (Alachua, FL 32615) / 2011 978-0-88270-602-3
My mom loved this book, I'm more ambivalent about it. Some of the situations in the story just didn’t feel real to me, especially one of the characters. 412 pgs



 
The Girl's Still Got It: Take a Walk with Ruth and the God Who Rocked Her World
Topic: Bible Study
Higgs, Liz Curtis
WaterBrook Press / 2012 978-1-57856-448-4
Creative writing, well research, but I feel, she takes some licenses in some areas (i.e. I disagree with some of her suppositions). However, Liz Curtis Higgs did have several insights that made the book of Ruth more meaningful. 222 pgs






 
Promises To Peter: Building a bridge from parent to Child
Topic: raising Children
Shedd, Charlie Word Books (Waco, TX) / 1970
Lib of Congress: 76-128353
This book is not written as a “How-To” book, but tells the story of how he raised his son Peter, beginning with the promises he wrote to his son when he was first born. I wish I had this book when I was raising my daughters. I have had this book on my shelves for years, but not until after my daughters were gone. This book is written by the author of Letters to Paul and Letters to Karen. I read Letters to Karen when I was a teenager. 147 pgs


 
Since this article is about what I read throughout 2012 let me add this, for most of the year I read 1 Proverb and 5 Psalms from God’s Word each day. I varied the translations used each month, Amplified, New American Standard, New International Version, the Living Bible Paraphrased (which you can’t buy anymore, the new version is a translation). The blessings from doing this are greater than reading all the other books in the world.

May YOU have a blessed year 2013.

PS: You don’t need to buy your books from Amazon.com, in fact I recommend that for Christian books you go to Christian retailers, but I’ve included the links for your convenience.

  

the rest of my tags (they wouldn't fit):  reading, books, witnessing, faith, Jesus, Narnia, God’s Word, Bible, changing, action, autobiography, grace, storms, true, trust, believing, blind, business, challenges, positive attitude, seeing, success, novels, fiction, children’s, harbingers, prophecy, motivate, success, Christian Living, grace, miracles, Sovereign God, strategies, achievers, country music, politics, Congress, career, cat, mystery, raising, allegory, fantasy, healing, relationships

When Sea Billows Roll

When Sea Billows Roll, by Paul Schlener
This is Paul Schlener’s second book.
While still in the United States Navy, during World War II and out at sea, Paul and his shipmates turn to God for His protection during the worst storm ever. You will experience life in the storm and at sea in the same manner as “A Perfect Storm” (movie), but God is in this story.
I asked several of my friends to read this story and write reviews, rather than always hearing from me. As I receive their reviews I will post them.


This one is from Marilyn E., and she writes: “This is the story of the USS Cape Esperance during the Cobra and Viper typhoons as told from the experience of an 18 year old sailor, Paul Schlener.


“Waves battering the Esperance were in excess of 93 feet. Paul was 62 feet above water level on an open bridge holding his earphones on with one hand and the other hand clutching a one inch vertical pipe to hold himself against the ships bulkhead to keep from being blown overboard. Rugged men and immature teens wept with fear, desperately pleading with a God they neither knew or wanted anything to do with, until there was no hope!!


“This book had me gripped and I read it in a few hours. Now I am eager to pass it on to a friend who I know will enjoy it as much as I did. Thank you, Paul, for a great story.”

January 16, 2013  ... whenseabillowsrrol says:

Dear T...the blog for the above author, has moved...please ask all that need a book to personally write to the address in the book.


easy reading.
Publisher: Aspen Highlands Publishing (2010)
ISBN-10: 0981632815
ISBN-13: 978-0981632810

You Don't Have To Be Blind To See

You Don't Have To Be Blind To See, by Jim Stovall
subtitle: Find and Fulfill Your Destiny Regardless of Your Circumstances

Jim Stovall, a Christian businessman, desires that everyone should fulfill their destiny regardless of health, finances, or any other excuse we wish to use to keep
from achieving a fulfilling life and/or career. In challenging us to that end he tells his own story of how he was born with sight and gradually went blind. He tells of the challenges and struggles he went through while going blind, and the challenges he meets daily, his faith in God. But also, that the challenges are, in most ways, pretty much the same as the challenges that we are met with each day. The difference was his faith, his motivation and his attitude. Plus, he did have to add extra effort.

Jim Stovall went on to become an Emmy winner for building a television company that enabled blind people to “watch” television. He built a successful business at which he enjoys working.

Here is a quote from page 235, “…[V]irtually everybody else on the planet is going to think your idea is stupid. A few close friends or family members may embrace your idea, but they may embrace it only because it is important to you and not because they think that your idea or your dream is the greatest idea or dream they have ever encountered. … Prepare to face the hard, cold reality that nobody is going to be a continual source of motivation. You are going to have to become your own source of motivation.”

“Candidly evaluate why you do what you do.” “Choose to be a positive person. … Stay positive. Even if you fail, look for the lesson learned and apply it to your life.”

This book is staying on my bookshelves.


278 pages, easy reading.
ISBN-10: 0-7852-7737-4

The Harbinger

The Harbinger, by Jonathan Cahn
subtitle: the Ancient Mystery that holds the Secret of America’s Future

This book is written as a narrative novel, but is author Jonathan Cahn’s way of getting out the message of some fascinating revelations from the 9/11 terrorist attack on New York. He brings both Biblical history and United States history together in a revelation garnered from Isaiah 9:10 & 11. (Even the reference may be mystical.)


The style of writing is not to my liking, but the intricate details that Cahn has discovered and revealed were more than enough to keep me reading. A detailed, 2-day interview can be seen on Sid Roth’s It’s Supernatural television show, archived on the Internet.

Why is this man able to write this story at this time? Cahn is a Messianic Rabbi (for those who don’t know, that means he is an Israeli pastor/teacher who believes that Jesus IS the promised Messiah). Cahn grew up and still resides in the New York City area.

There are nine harbingers that the narrator reveals as he relates his experience and conversations with a prophet or angel to a publisher. In these harbingers he reveals how an earlier experience of Israel’s is now being repeated in the USA and for us to get the message and get our country right with God, quickly.

Read all of Isaiah chapters 9 & 10 for contextual reference to the details in this book. Then check out the historical connections.

Is Cahn a modern day prophet? Will he speak and, just as in the days of Israel’s prophets, we won’t listen, but instead, will we laugh and scoff?


262 pages, easy reading
ISBN 13: 978-1-61638-610-8


So tell me, did you like the way I created this review? Was it helpful in any manner? Do you want to see more reviews like this or should I change the style?

Port of Two Brothers

Port of Two Brothers, by Paul Schlener

This is the true story of two brothers, Paul and John Schlener and their families,
who gave up the comforts of home here in the United States and spent 40 years as missionaries in Brazil, in the Amazon jungles.

This is a lively account of their lives there and the many challenges they confronted. Well written and entertaining, they tell of their experiences delivering God’s love, more by demonstration than by Word, to a lost people. The book includes black & white photos.

How do you get 40 years of life into just 443 pages?
This author is one of the few still surviving veterans of World War II.

To all of my friends in Moses Lake, Washington, especially – get this book. He lives among us. (Yes, I’m trying to emulate Paul’s humor.)

443 pages, easy reading.
ISBN-10: 1888796219
ISBN-13: 978-1888796216

Age of the Fallen

author Mark Olmos
novel, fantasy, spiritual allegory

The characters include:
a group of 8 teenage spiritual warriors led by Aiko
Akira, their teacher
demons and angels demons and angels
many others

In Ephesians 6:10-18 we are told to put on the full armor of God. In Age of the Fallen
the armor of God becomes very real and full of power. The battle being fought is not how we have given thought of what the battle is, but changes the spiritual battle into a new reality. The armor God really comes to life in this allegory. It shows to us the battle our prayers are truly supposed to be fighting.

I am a fan of Frank Peretti’s books. If you have read Frank Peretti and enjoyed his books then think of this as Frank Peretti to the next level.

Aiko and her friends have spent some time fighting demons who are attacking individuals with drugs and self-deprecation, taking away the individual's willingness to live life. They have fought several battles like this but this new battle will take them beyond what they feel are their limits. Through prayer, their own and other warriors, God will supply them new strength to complete the battle of their life.

This book opened my eyes to how Satan has used depression and drug addictions to his advantage and for the destruction of mankind. If you are looking for a new awareness to the spiritual battle going on around us I recommend that you read this book. And don't forget to read your Bible while you're at it.

Mark Olmos, I’m looking forward to your next book.

278 pages, riveting reading.
ISBN-13: 978-1-933204-90-1

Obeying the Voice of God: Jack MacDonald’s Journey

The characters include:
Jack MacDonald and his family, as well as other persons he either had experience with or respected from history.

Just as a novel/a storybook, well written makes the characters come to life, so a book about the love of God, demonstrating His love through a contemporary’s life, when well written, brings God to life for the reader.

Jack MacDonald, with the help of his wife, Donnie MacDonald, walks us through his experience in the Vietnam War and the many miracles he experienced that saved his life. Jack’s walk with God is so close that it is in every conversation he has with every person. He wants you to know his Friend. The miracles don’t stop in Vietnam; they didn’t start there either. They have been a part of his life since he began his relationship with God.

Life was not easy for Jack, but his rest and his peace were in God. Jack demonstrates his relationship with God showing us how we are to get a close relationship with God ourselves

I do recommend this book. It is a book that I shared with my whole family. Shop for it at http://obeyingthevoice.com/.

After receiving it and reading it one person wrote, "Your book was an inspiration to me as God has been putting me through some serious testing. … I failed but God is faithful. He brought me through the valley of the shadow of death. He is good to me. Reading your book affirmed a few lessons the Lord has been teaching me lately and all my Christian life - that He is my provider. And through the words in your book, God reaffirmed His love for me and that He still has a plan for me and that is not to abandon me. I am thankful for the opportunity to read it."

Another person told me over the phone, "The day the book arrived our Bible Study group had just finished a study on Listening to God's voice. They were there when I opened the package and we saw the book Obeying the Voice of God. They were awe-struck. This is truly God making a point."

350 pages, easy reading.
ISBN-13: 978-0-9778545-1-6

I read the book first. Eventually, I sent it out as gifts to my family. My brother, Dean, actually beat me to writing a review of this book. He did such a fine job that I asked him if I could quote his review here. I didn’t. You can see his review at cominus.com and www.amazon.com

A reminder to everyone that you can share through the “comments” on this blog and register as a “follower.” If you have read a book and would like to share your thoughts (review) of it, please email me . I would love to post it here.