Review of Lydia's Song: A Child Lost A Woman Found

 . ...I did not want to read this book. I cringed at the subject matter. But I am so glad I overcame my initial reluctance and read it anyway. Katherine Blessan does not pull any punches. She dealt with the horror and tragedy of child sex trafficking head-on, yet somehow managed to craft a compelling story, that is ultimately a redemptive story of hope.

I loved it.

The book is about a tiny girl named "Song," who was kidnapped from her adoptive mother, Lydia, and sold into the sex trade at age ten.The story is told from both Song's point of view and Lydia's. It is a well written and sensitive depiction of a dark underbelly that exists in most societies, what is being done to little girls like Song, and also about the people who risk and dedicate their lives to rescuing these precious children, and, after that, spend years helping them to recover from their experiences and reintegrate back into society.

The novel is a bit graphic in places, but I believe no more than necessary, and my hat is off to Blessan for having the courage to write faithfully. I strongly recommend this book. Everyone needs to read it. I pray Lydia's Song will be read and shared and read and shared and read and...

And that eyes and hearts will be opened to the plight of girls who desperately need us to care enough to step out of our comfort zones and at least read about them. And after that, to hopefully become voices against their enslavement and for their rescue. 

Sky Torah: Zechariah's Flying Scroll

Then I turned and lifted up mine eyes and looked and behold a flying scroll --Zechariah 5:1

Today is the 13th Anniversary of prophecy fulfilled. The Flying Scroll of Zechariah five!

  VALLEY STREAM, N.Y., Dec. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Israir Airlines will soon become the first airline to maintain an authentic Torah Scroll on board its aircraft. The "Sky-Torah," handwritten according to Jewish custom by a professional Jewish Scribe especially for the airline, is the first of its kind. The Torah will enhance the prayers of those who are in the skies,  praying in the closest place to God in the world.

   Keeping a traditional Torah Scroll*, on an aircraft is the idea of
 Rabbi Shlomo Elharar, Chief Rabbi of Colombia, South America. After years of hard work towards this dream, the Torah is finally ready to be installed  permanently on board one of Israir's aircrafts.

   The Torah will be completed December 27 in Aventura, Florida, and will be escorted to JFK Airport in New York for a welcome celebration, and then  to Israel.

   The Torah will be welcomed on its way to Israel with a grand
 celebration in JFK Airport, Terminal 4, December 28, 12:00 pm. The Torah  will be carried under a traditional "chuppah," with singing, dancing, live  music, children and important Rabbis and dignitaries in attendance.
     The Torah is dedicated to the Chief Rabbi of Colombia and to the fallen  soldiers of Israel, and those still in captivity.

     The event will take place December 28, 2006, at 12:00pm at JFK Airport.  For more information or to RSVP: Yossi Soffer -- 917-428-6317

    * About the Torah Scroll
      A Torah Scroll is the holiest book within Judaism, made up of the five books of Moses. It must be written by a specially trained scribe called a sofer. A sofer must know more than 4,000 Judaic laws before writing a Torah, which takes about a year. A single missing or misshapen letter invalidates the entire Torah. The Torah we use today is written exactly the same way the Torah was written the first time by Moses 3,300 years ago.

     About Israir Airlines: Established in 1996, Israir Airlines is the second largest airline in  Israel. Its elite fleet of Boeing 767-300 and 757-200 aircraft offers international flights between Israel and New York, the Mediterranean and Europe, as well as domestic flights between Ben Gurion and Eilat.



SOURCE Israir Airlines

Who Says Women Can't Teach Men?

    If it is true, that scripture forbids women to teach men, then men should never read an unredacted Bible. 

   All words spoken by women should be stricken from Bibles intended for men to read. 

   Ridiculous idea isn't it? 

   Almost as ludicrous as the idea that women are forbidden by God to publicly speak words that might teach and lead men in paths of righteousness. 

   Remember the ancient rabbi who said he would rather the Torah be burned than taught by a woman? He said this despite the fact that the scriptures he taught, are filled with the inspired and authoritative words of women speaking the Word of God, and unless those words are stricken from the record, men who read them cannot help but be taught (whether they learn or not is another question altogether).  
   What happy news it is, that when rightly discerned, the Word of God is clear, that our Creator has always used his daughters as well as his sons to teach and preach his awesome WORD?

Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy

 Joel 2:28

Your sons and your daughters shall preach

Acts 2:17

And on my male servants and on my female servants I will pour out in those days of my Spirit and they shall prophesy

Acts 2:18

5 Stars for "Melissa's Fate" Awesome Story Concept! Riveting Plot!

Shattered expectations and tragic mistakes drag a couple through the trial of their lives. 

When Beth discovers that Phil, the man she loves, is not who he says he is, she flees New York without telling him she’s pregnant. 

A year after their daughter, Melissa, is born and given up for adoption, Beth learns an awful truth that forces her to return to New York and face the father of her child. 

Phil is moving on with his life, striving to forget his love for Beth, when she suddenly reappears with shocking news. He will do anything to rescue the daughter he did not know existed, but can he ever forgive Beth for what she’s done? 

Can Beth and Phil rediscover the love they once shared, while Melissa’s Fate hangs in the balance?

Awesome story concept!

Riveting plot!

I was thrilled and privileged to be given an advance review copy of Melissa's Fate as a beta reader. I loved the well rounded characters with strong clear voices, so realistic I could see and hear them. I was intensely interested in how things turned out for Beth, Phil, and Melissa, so much so, that I read the book in one day. I literally could not put it down!

I whole-heartedly recommend this exciting read by Diane Yates.  It is an edgy, gritty but wholesome, contemporary and inspirational romance that will satisfy both plot driven and character driven book lovers. 

 Diane Yates, a Christian-Fiction writer, is the author of two biography/memoirs, Pathways of the Heart and All That Matters. She has served two terms as President of Ozarks Writers League and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and the Columbia Chapter of the Missouri Writer's Guild. She and her husband, Rick, work in youth and adult ministries in their church, where she writes plays and skits as well as Sunday School curriculum and Bible studies. She has three children and eight grandchildren who are the crown of her life.

Israeli Election 2019 Round Three: The Main Issue -Vs- the REAL Issue

Netanyahu is committed to rebuilding the Temple

Israel has reached a prophetic tipping point, with the main issue in the 2019 Israeli elections being the great divide between the secular -Vs- religious. 

“This time the agenda was different,” he said. “Israelis voted more on religion and state..."

Times of Israel (Sept 21, 2019)

But those who know their Bibles understand the real issue is about building the Third Temple in Jerusalem [Ezekiel's Temple -Ezekiel 43:1-4, 10-12, Revelation 11:1-3], the temple THE LORD will enter when He comes as Lord of Lords and King of Kings to establish His Kingdom on earth. 

Prime Minister  Benjamin Netanyahu is committed to rebuilding that Temple. He has also made no secret about where it will be built. 

“The fact is,” the Israeli PM told world leaders at the United Nations, “a Jewish Temple used to stand right where the Al Aqsa mosque plaza now sits"

The Mideast Beast 

Netanyahu declares it will be built on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.

Ezekiel 43:10-12, Revelation 11:1-3

Since the biblical prophets are batting a thousand, we know the temple will be built. They said it will. And if I was a betting woman [which I'm not], regarding Israel's third round of elections in 2019, my money would be on the Temple advocate, Netanyahu, to win. 

Details HERE

Christian Book Reviews

No bad reviews. How great is that!? I maintain my commitment to promoting good Christian books rather than criticizing the creative efforts of authors as they hone their crafts. 

That being said, I will read every book I receive but will only review those I can give stellar reviews for (the only exception to this being books received from Book Crash. They require a fair review for every book received--good, bad, or ugly). 

When I receive a book, I assume the above conditions have been read and agreed to before the book was mailed, so I ask that authors refrain from contacting me to ask if/when a review is forthcoming.

I will only respond to inquiries as to whether or not a book was received. If I post a review, I will contact the author or publisher with a link to the review[s]. 

Both Fiction and Non-Fiction will be accepted for review. No review does not mean a book is poorly written or a bad book, it simply means I was likely the wrong audience for the book.

Inspirational/Christian fiction books considered for review, include, but are not limited to: Mainstream fiction (both historical and contemporary), dystopian, mystery, suspense, thrillers, romantic suspense, and historical romance. Regardless of genre, I am interested in reading/reviewing character or plot-driven stories with strong clearly defined characters who challenge stereotypes.  

If a novel is well-written from a Christian world view, I want to read and review it!
 

I do not accept e-books for review. If you have a book you would like me to read and review, mail a paper back copy to:

One Way Press
Christian Book Review
113 Cotton Ct., Auburndale, FL 33823

Happy writing!

Come Thou Almighty King (1757)

Come thou Almighty King (Jesus!)
Help us thy name to sing (Name above all names)
Help us to praise (without ME you can do nothing)
Father all glorious (His name shall be called EVERLASTING FATHER)
O'er all victorious (...  and triumphed over them...)
Ancient of Days (Jesus!)

Come Thou Almighty King (1757)