The Tehran Initiative.. a Tyndale Review

Ripped from the headlines... another thriller from Joel C. Rosenberg!

The world is on the brink of disaster and the clock is ticking. 

Iran has just conducted its first atomic weapons test. 

Millions of Muslims around the world are convinced their messiah—

known as “the Twelfth Imam”—has just arrived on earth. 

Israeli leaders fear Tehran, under the Twelfth Imam’s spell, 

will soon launch a nuclear attack that could bring about a second holocaust 

and the annihilation of Israel. The White House fears Jerusalem will strike first, launching a preemptive attack against Iran’s nuclear facilities that could cause the entire Middle East to go up in flames, oil prices to skyrocket,

 and the global economy to collapse. With the stakes high and few viable 

options left, the president of the United States orders CIA operative David Shirazi and his team to track down and sabotage Iran’s nuclear warheads 

before Iran or Israel can launch a devastating first strike.

The Tehran Initiative is Rosenberg's second book in his second thriller series.  As many are asking... is it fiction or fact?  Rosenberg weaves a tale of counter intelligence and espionage that rivals Tom Clancy.  However, Rosenberg has an amazing grasp and ability to write about the mindset of Islam and the very immediate threat that Islam is to Christianity.  

Through my affiliation with the Tyndale Blogging Network, I was sent a copy of The Tehran Initiative to read and to review.  It was a great read!  Very engaging and gripping. I only wish I had realized that it was the second book in a series.  If I had known, I would have read the books in order.

I do recommend The Tehran Initiative and if you find it as enjoyable as I have, please check out all of Rosenberg's works.  

**Disclaimer...I was sent a copy of The Tehran Initiative for my honest review, I received no other compensation.

Peril in the Palace...a Tyndale Review

Over the years, we've listened to countless hours of Adventures in Odyssey.  It seems as if Whit, Connie, Eugene and Tom Riley have accompanied us on every road trip we have ever taken.  We've loved listening to the adventures and misadventures of gang at Whit's End... especially the experiences taken in the Imagination Station.  


Needless to say, when the offer, from the Tyndale Blog Network, came to review a couple of Adventures in Odyssey books came up, I gladly agreed.  And, when those books came in the mail, Emily intercepted them before I could even peruse them.  She read them in an evening and passed them on to her best friend before I could say "hey!  I need to review those!"  

The Imagination Station Series of books, written by Marianne Hering and Paul McCusker, tell the story of two 8 year old cousins, Patrick and Beth, and the adventures they go on through Mr. Whitacre's invention... The Imagination Station.  


Each book takes the cousins to a particular time in history.  In book 3, Peril in the Palace, Patrick and Beth find themselves in China in 1271 where they meet up with Marco Polo, share their faith with Kublai Khan and end up in a spiritual showdown with Mongol magicians.  

Beth and Patrick's adventures do not end in China.  In book 4, Revenge of the Red Knight, the Imagination Station takes them to 15th century England and Lord Darkthorn's castle.  The cousins find themselves accused of theft, in jail and in a jousting contest.


The Imagination Station Series of books are written for ages 7 and up.  The books include short chapters, great action and fun illustrations to make them fun to read... even for a 12 year old who has grown up listening to Adventures in Odyssey!


**disclaimer... I was given these 2 books for my honest review through my affiliation with Tyndale Blog Network.  I received no other compensation.

Uncommon... a Tyndale review

It's no secret that I love football... especially the National Football League.  Even in the midst of a HUGE labor dispute and the very good probability that there will not be a season opener at the beginning of September, I still love NFL football... the Indianapolis Colts... and this man... former Indy coach Tony Dungy.


Tony Dungy is a man who chooses to be different.  He chooses to be a man of honesty, integrity and morality.  He chooses to talk about those things.  He chooses to be Uncommon.  And, in choosing to be uncommon, Coach Dungy encourages others to live an uncommon life.

Uncommon... finding your path to significance is more than a how-to-live-a-great-life book.  It's more than a coach's memoir.  This book is even more than a great read.  


Instead, Tony Dungy honestly deals with the struggles and pitfalls of life.  He shares real life examples of victory and defeat... joy and sorrow... life and death.  He neither minces words nor sugar coats tough issues but with patience, humor and wisdom, he tackles life choices that face all of us.  Throughout its pages, Coach Dungy writes this book in the spirit of Apostle Paul who said, "Follow my example as I follow the example of Christ." (1 Corinthians 11:1 NIV)


Tyndale House Publishers has just released an update edition of Uncommon for $14.99.  The update version includes a bonus chapter on the "Dare to Be Uncommon" movement that is sweeping schools across the nation as well as updated information on Coach Dungy since his retirement from the Indianapolis Colts in 2009.


Though written primarily for men, I thoroughly enjoyed Coach Dungy's no-nonsense approach and sage words of wisdom in Uncommon.  


...and, as of today, my 14 year old son's summer reading list just got one book longer.


**disclaimer... I reviewed this book as part of my affiliation with Tyndale Summer Reading Program.  I received no other compensation.

Craving Grace... a Tyndale Review

For Lisa Velthouse’s whole life, Christianity had been about getting things right. Obeying her parents. Not drinking. Not cursing. Not having premarital sex. Vowing to save her first kiss until she got engaged, even writing a book called . . . well, Saving My First Kiss. (This, it turns out, does not actually help a girl get a date.) Yet after two decades of trying to earn God’s okay, she found her faith was lonely, empty, and unsatisfying. So she turned to more discipline, of course: fasting! By giving up her favorite foods—sweets—Lisa hoped to somehow discover true sweetness and meaning in her relationship with God. Until, one night at a wedding, she denied herself the cake but failed in such a different, unexpected, and world-rocking way that it challenged everything she thought she knew about God and herself. Craving Grace is the true story of a faith dramatically changed: how in one woman’s life God used a bitter heart, a broken promise, and the sweetness of honey to reveal the stunning wonder that is grace. (from the cover jacket)


Lisa Velthouse's book Craving Grace is a memoir and reads as such.  She shares her struggles, shortcomings and heartache as she journey's through life as a 20-something searching for God's favor.  And, for Lisa, it is in the search that she finds what it was she was craving... grace.  God's grace.


It's seems as if discovering grace is one of the buzz words in Christian bookstores these days.  Seemingly endless titles exist written by one who discovered, sometimes by accident, the depth of God's grace in their own life and have written their story for others to read.  It also seems that most of these works have been written by women who have always been "good" but find themselves missing a loving relationship with their Savior.  


Lisa Velthouse's Craving Grace is raw.  It is honest.  In fact, some may say there is way too much TMI (too much information) revealed in the pages of her book.   Honestly, I might agree with that.  While this isn't my favorite book on grace, Lisa does share a short, sweet story in her second chapter that, in my opinion, sets her book apart.   


Lisa shares of a rabbi in a Jewish classroom who, on the very first day of school, passes out brand-new copies of the Torah to his 5-year old students.  As the students watch, the rabbi places a small square of wax paper on top of each copy of the Torah.  After he finishes covering each copy of the Torah, he drops a small amount of honey on top of the wax paper.  When all the students have a copy of the Torah in front of them topped with wax paper and honey, he tells them to taste the honey and says, "Never! Forget! What God! Tastes Like!" (paraphrased  from Craving Grace pages 13-18). 


It is this sweet story that becomes the backbone of Velthouse's book and her journey to taste grace... to taste God.   She finds that keeping rules and being a good girl are unsatisfying without the sweet taste of God in her everyday.  And, that in tasting God, she sees that He is good and loving in her life.


Tyndale House Publishers will release Lisa Velthouse's book Craving Grace in May 2011.  Craving Grace will be available in both hardcover and ebook form.


Lisa Velthouse also blogs at www.lisavelthouse.com.


**disclaimer... I was sent a copy of this book because of my affiliation with Tyndale Blog Network.  I received no other compensation.

Gray Matter... a Tyndale review

Often, as Christians, we say that we want God to be a part of every aspect of our lives. But, do we really mean it?  What would happen if we were to go so far as allowing God to be part of our daily routine in our careers by publicly praying with others and sharing our faith openly and willingly?  Neurosurgeon Dr. David Levy did just that.


Gray Matter, written by Dr. David Levy and Joel Kilpatrick, chronicles Dr. Levy's journey as he began asking patients "May I pray with you?"  Some patients were receptive, some were put off and some were skeptical.  With compassion and kindness, Dr. Levy began making a spiritual difference in his patient's lives sharing prayer, forgiveness and Jesus Christ with them.  


In his book, Gray Matter, Dr. Levy takes his readers into surgery with him.  While respecting his patients' privacy, he gives fascinating glimpses into the world of neurosurgery.  He also gives raw and sometimes painful glances into his own heart as a surgeon striving to do his best for his patients.  Interwoven throughout his book is the common thread of the power of prayer and healing through forgiveness.


Typically, I am not a medical person.  I usually leave the reading of anything remotely medical to my man or my sister... both of whom are nurses.  However, I found Dr. Levy's book to be incredibly fascinating and easy to read.  The descriptions of his surgical procedures were neither dry nor gory but rather captivating and gripping.  I also appreciated Dr. Levy's honesty in his own spiritual journey as he came to the place where he could say with utmost certainty "God is good."


What would happen if we all invited God to be part of our daily routine?  We could all make a difference the way Dr. David Levy has as he asks each of his patients, "May I pray with you?"


Gray Matter will be released in March 2011 through Tyndale Publishing.  


**disclaimer... I was given a copy of Gray Matter through my affiliation with the Tyndale Blog Network for my honest review.  I received no other compensation.