THE SECULARISATION OF THE UK CHURCH – EN
— Read on theweeflea.com/2020/07/21/the-secularisation-of-the-uk-church-en/
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Author: vicklea
I love to read! I’m a retired teacher with a spouse of 45 years, three amazing children and nine wonderful grandchildren. I am blessed!
Review of SUNSHINE ON SILVER LAKE by Annie Rains
What a delightful book to lose myself in during these days of the coronavirus! Absolutely delightful! This is book #5 set in Sweetwater Springs, North Carolina, but since the main characters change in each book each can be read as a standalone. The principal characters in my latest visit to this charming town were Emma St. James, the cafe owner, and Jack Hershey, the park ranger. These two have a past based on childhood friendship and the fact that Jack stood Emma up for her senior prom. So, yes, they have a friendship, but Emma is a little leery of taking the relationship further since she remembers prom night like it was yesterday. Reading this book was like stepping away from reality and into the pages of a funny and heart-warming romance. The characters were so realistic that as I read it was like I could actually hear them talking to each other in my living room. If you enjoy happily ever after books with some rugged territory before the finale, then this book is for you. It was a fun and fast read, and I loved it!
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary hard copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”
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Review of THE SECOND MOTHER by Jenny Milchman
The story of Julie Weathers is one of a slow burn to an “ah-ha” reveal. Julie has left behind her grief over losing her infant daughter and her betrayal by her husband who then asks for a divorce. In her attempt to start over again, Julie answers an ad for a teacher in a one-room schoolhouse on a remote island in Maine. At the island, Julie befriends Ellie who tells her a lot of island secrets as she drinks wine excessively. Julie attempts to befriend the dowager “queen” of the island, grandmother Hempstead, but seems to make an enemy of her from the beginning. Therein lies part of the mystery. Why is this leader on the island so unfriendly, in fact actually menacing at times? Julie also tries to help teen-ager Peter, a young man who is precociously intelligent but who keeps showing up unexpectedly wherever Julie is, scaring her and creeping out me. Then there is Callum, a man who handily does repairs at Julie’s new house and who also seems to be using the island for escape. His backstory is a big part of the draw to reading and finishing the book. The plot is so-so, but the characterization is excellent, with characters who are deep and realistically portrayed. I enjoyed reading the book, especially the fact that it made me think back on it after I read it and realize how deep it really was.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”
Available on August 18, 2020.
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Review of GUARDED BY THE SOLDIER by Laura Scott
Ryker Tillman was willing to give his life for his country in Afghanistan. Now, with his own security country, he is willing to lay down his life for the lives of pregnant Olivia Habush and her toddler son Aaron. Olivia knew that her husband was working for some really bad guys, but she had no idea that after Tim died, his legacy would be danger for her and Aaron. Pursued by the relentless killers from Blake-Moore, Olivia has nowhere to turn until Ryker shows up and rescues her. All of the action was like a movie rolling in my head, with one heart-stopping scene after another. Ryker called in his buddies from the war, the Callahans and Duncan. They offer a little comic relief and a lot of help to Ryker and Olivia. Throughout the book, no sooner do she and Aaron get out of danger than a fresh group of mercenaries shows up to force her to give them something that supposedly Tim left with her. The ride through this book was wild and fast-paced, but best of all, it was all a totally clean ride, with no expletives or graphically described violence. My only criticism is that the book was such a fast read that I was surprised when it ended. That’s not to say that I didn’t like the conclusion; I just didn’t want it to end!
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Harlequin via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”
Author bio: Laura Scott is honored to write for the Love Inspired Suspense line, where a reader can find a heartwarming journey of faith amid the thrilling danger. She lives with her husband of twenty-five years and has two children, a daughter and a son, who are both in college. She works as a critical-care nurse during the day at a large level-one trauma center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and spends her spare time writing romance. Visit Laura at http://www.laurascottbooks.com.
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• Author website: Laura Scott
• Author newsletter: Contact
• Twitter: Twitter link
• Facebook: Facebook
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B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/guarded-by-the-soldier-laura-scott/1135512737?ean=9781335402929
Google: https://books.google.ca/books/about/Guarded_by_the_Soldier.html?id=ALnDDwAAQBAJ&redir_esc=y
Indie Bound: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781335402929
Harlequin: https://www.harlequin.com/shop/books/9781488061233_guarded-by-the-soldier.html
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49374502-guarded-by-the-soldier
EXCERPT
A thud woke Olivia from a sound sleep. Had someone fallen? She pried open her eyes and peered at the cheap alarm clock on the nightstand.
Two in the morning. She glanced down at Aaron who was curled next to her. The noise hadn’t woken him.
Another thud and a muffled shout sent fear spiking through her body. What in the world was going on?
She slid out of bed, steadying herself with a hand on the wall. Her bladder urged her toward the bathroom, but before she could take a step, she heard a sharp report.
A gunshot?
No! Please, Lord, help us! She bent over and scooped Aaron into her arms, although she wasn’t sure where to go or what to do. Where was Ryker? Duncan? Mike?
She had no weapon of any sort. Not that she’d know what to do with one anyway. There was a bathroom within the suite, so she went inside, locked the door and glanced around, her thoughts whirling.
The Blake-Moore Group must have found her. Again. She wanted to cry, to rant and scream in frustration, but forced herself to swallow the cries burning the back of her throat.
Think. Think! Her gaze landed on the toilet. The motel hadn’t been updated in years, and the toilet tank was similar to the one she had at home, with a heavy ceramic cover on it.
“Mommy?” Aaron raised his head, rubbing at his eyes. “Shh. We have to be quiet.” Olivia set him down in the bathtub, the safest place she could think of. “Stay here, okay?”
“I don’t wanna.” His lower lip trembled and she was very much afraid that he’d begin wailing at any moment.
She lifted her heart in prayer. God, please protect us! “Mommy?” Her son lifted his arms toward her, his gaze begging.
“Shh. Please, Aaron. I need you to be quiet. We don’t want the bad guys to find us.” She hated scaring him but was more worried about what would happen if he cried loud enough to draw attention. She quickly lifted the heavy porcelain cover off the tank and held it over her head, positioning herself behind the door.
If anyone came inside, she’d whack him over the head, hopefully with enough force to knock him unconscious.
Time passed in slow motion. The noises coming from the main suite area concerned her. What if something happened to Mike and Duncan?
To Ryker?
Her heart squeezed painfully in her chest and her arm muscles quivered beneath the weight of the toilet tank lid. She blinked back tears, trying to convince herself that Ryker would survive.
That they would all survive.
“Olivia? Are you in there?” Ryker’s familiar voice made her knees go weak.
Thank You, God!
“Yes, we’re in the bathroom.” She lowered the lid of the toilet tank and moved out from behind the door. After getting the tank cover back in place, she opened the door, grateful beyond belief to see Ryker standing there. “What happened? Is everyone all right?”
“Yeah, but we need to hit the road.” His face was drawn into tight lines, his gaze grim. “Now.”
“They found us?” Silly question, since she knew they must have. “How?”
Ryker slowly shook his head. “They must have followed us. I didn’t see them, but they must have had a line on our vehicle. Get your things together.”
“Okay.” She didn’t need to be told twice. She quickly used the bathroom, then carried Aaron back into the bed-room. Her zebra bag was in the main living space, and she only had the one set of clothes, so there wasn’t any-thing to grab other than Aaron’s plastic lion and toy plane.
When she stepped into the suite, she stopped abruptly, her gaze landing on the two men dressed in black lying on the floor. One of them was bleeding badly; the other didn’t show any signs of blood.
Strategy to Influence the Current Culture
This information is from Dr. Denison’s article today.
A five-fold strategy for changing culture
Evangelical Christians are not the only losers here.
If we delegate cultural authority to an “enlightened few” who reject biblical morality, the culture is the loser. People deserve to know what God says about the issues we face. In fact, the more they ignore or reject biblical truth, the more they need to hear it.
As a result, rather than accepting the “new consensus,” we need to redouble our efforts to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). To this end, let’s adopt the five-fold strategy employed by the Apostle Paul, the most effective cultural missionary in history:
- He wrote letters that were read across much of the Roman Empire (cf. 2 Peter 3:15–16). How can you use email, social media, media platforms, and websites to write biblical truth?
- He spoke in synagogues (cf. Acts 13:5) and the lecture hall of Tyrannus in Ephesus (Acts 19:9). He addressed the Areopagus in Athens (Acts 17:19–34), kings in Caesarea (Acts 26), and Christian elders in Miletus (Acts 20:17–35). How can you use YouTube and other means to speak biblical truth?
- He engaged personally with Athenians (Acts 17:16–18) and Pharisees (Acts 23:6), Gentiles (Acts 28:28–31) and Jews (Acts 18:1–5). How can you use your personal relationships to share biblical truth?
- He prayed fervently for those to whom he ministered (cf. Acts 20:36; Colossians 1:9–12). How can you intercede for people to follow biblical truth?
- He modeled his message by living out his faith in ways others could emulate (cf. 1 Corinthians 10:31–11:1). How can you live for Jesus so fully that others will see the relevance of biblical truth for their lives?
You can read the entire article here: Dr. Denison July 17, 2020
Good lessons for those of us who believe in the truth of the Bible and want to continue to stand for it. God bless you with wisdom and influence that is God-centered!
www.bible.com/111/psa.86.9-10.nivBreaks My Heart
What breaks your heart? Is it the death of a loved one? Of course! How about the death of a stranger that the news reports in a thirty second segment? Maybe. How about the death of a stranger that is never reported on the news but is part of a list of statistics, not to be named, but dead nevertheless. Probably not. The answers to the questions that I provided are the answers that I found in my own heart. But, I want to have the heart of God. I want all of those who have died to have a relationship with the Lord so that they will spend eternity with Him. So, each loss of a person on earth who may or may not have died without the Lord is heartbreaking.
You know what just broke my heart this morning? First, I read the headlines in the local paper that two local schools are changing their names form Lee-Davis High School and Stonewall Jackson MIddle School. Why? Because the Cancel Culture wants to get rid of history. Then even worse. A lot worse! I read that churches are being set on fire throughout the United States. One church was over 200 years old. What is the meaning of this? This, folks, is the picture of a divided society and one that is breaking down. Instead of being united around one goal, to survive this pandemic and celebrate our freedom as Americans, we have become a divided nation. People march and chant, “Black Lives Matter.” Of course, they do, but don’t all lives matter to God? Isn’t all injustice the same in the eyes of our Creator? But if I dare to mention that on social media, that all lives matter or even that Blue Lives Matter, I am attacked in two minutes flat. Maybe even less. A young lady whose father was a policeman was killed and she posted online that Blue Lives Matter. That was her father, people! Her father! And she was attacked viciously with some of the foulest language possible. Now, I’m not saying racism doesn’t exist. I’m just saying that we live in a great nation in which we are all free today. Can’t we celebrate that instead of deliberately trying to create division? My heart breaks over the one year old who was shot and killed. And the community won’t even talk about who shot him. They are hiding the killer. The grandmother even said that BLM doesn’t care about his little life. Well, enough about my rant. Here is the article from Dr. Denison about fires in the churches.
You may read this article and think to yourself that these are only buildings or only statues so it’s not a big thing. After all, the real church is its people. That is true. But don’t you think that God’s heart is hurt by this destruction? Just as His heart was broken when Babylon and other invaders destroyed and carried off the treasures of the Temple in Jerusalem, the place that He said He would dwell with His people. God allowed the destruction because of the sin of His people, but I can still imagine His heart breaking over it, and the senseless killing of His people Israel by the marauders.
Here is the song mentioned at the end of Denison’s article.
Here are the lyrics of the song:
I hope that each of you has a blessed day and that in your prayer time today, you take the time to pray for the things breaking God’s heart today: for the loss of life, for the divided nation and for the lawlessness that is never a part of God’s plan. Be blessed, my friends, because God sent His Son to make us free indeed!
Review of DON’T KEEP SILENT by Elizabeth Goddard
Although this is a part of a series, I did not feel that I had to read the other books in order to enjoy this one. I loved this suspense-filled thriller that is my favorite kind of book to read! This is actually my first book by this author, but now I definitely want to go back and find her other books to read them. I devoured the story of investigative reported Rae Burke and former DEA agent Liam McCade. Rea is doggedly determined to find her missing sister-in-law when she shows up in Wyoming asking for Liam’s help. He agrees to help, and I could feel the sparks coming off the page any time these two were together. The romance took a back seat to the suspense though because apparently Zoey is in grave danger and now that Rae is hunting her, so is Rae. Drugs and human trafficking are involved, so the villains were not easy to uncover. The setting was wonderful! Wyoming in the winter and with a blizzard coming! The descriptions of the setting added to the taut suspense in the book as I waited for the next big reveal. They just kept coming! Fans of thriller and romantic suspense are encouraged to grab this book and read it.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell as part of their Revell Reads Blogger Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”
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Scripture Verses for Today
I seem to be all over the place with my devotionals lately. I’m reading about the sinful kings and then I’m reading about Paul’s preaching in Rome and then I move on to the book of Jonah and his reluctance to preach a salvation message to the Ninevites. What I got out of all of my reading today comes down to a few verses that I will share with you here.
A promise that I am clinging to
Singing praise songs is helping me during these days of isolation.
And finally, as I pray for the Lord to act on our behalf and to get rid of this plague and the unrest in the U.S., this verse was how he answered me. Nothing is ever too hard for Him, but then, I also have to wait for His timing.
So, that was my devotional for today. I hope that in some way these verses have spoken to your heart. Have a blessed and God-centered day!
“Ask the Lord to put a Don Lemon on you heart today.”
This title is based on the CNN new anchor who said this week that Jesus was not perfect. He was raised in a church and left it when its truth did not meet his standard of sin. He is gay and the truth in the Bible turned him away from God and towards his own truth. Isn’t that what the Bible says will happen in the last days?
So, how do we share the Gospel with those who will not darken the doors of a church because they don’t want to be told that they are sinning. Do we allow them to live in their “ignorance is bliss” kind of life and face God’s wrath on Judgment Day? Of course not! We can’t do everything, but we can do something. That was the theme of Dr. Denison’s article today.
The world doesn’t want to know the truth because it convicts them and doesn’t allow them to just do as they please. But, we are the church, and as the church, we represent the Light of Jesus to the world. We can SHOW people what Jesus was like. We can SHOW them His truth and His message of love and forgiveness. Dr. Denison makes a good point in his article that I had not thought about. The unsaved like Don Lemon don’t want to hear Bible verses because they don’t want to believe in the Bible. But they can see our lives lived before them, every day, choosing to do the right thing in spite of how we are treated or ignored. Let me repeat that we are the Church. Not the building that we worship in. God lives in our hearts and it’s up to us to put Him out there to people like Lemon who are determined to run away. So, I repeat from my title, “Ask the Lord to put a Don Lemon on your heart today.” And I will add, then obey what the Lord tells you to do for that person. It may be a phone call, a cup of coffee or bake some cookies. Just be the Church and make a difference in the world of darkness. Be the light!
Blessings today from me to you, that you may find a way to reach the lost who want to stay lost because they don’t really understand what salvation has to offer them.
Vickie's Book Nook and Meditation Corner 