It seems I am not making much headway on my backlog. I finish one and get offered three more, and they all sound so good that I find it difficult to say no. So, I am just going to have to stop accepting submissions for a while so I can catch up. Thanks for your assistance in helping this book addict get his habit back under control.
An addition to my policy: I am a retired/disabled psychotherapist. I worked for many years in the psych and social services field. I have worked with just about any population you can name. I have seen firsthand the pain and suffering mental illness causes in the lives of those suffering from the illness, and those who love them. I loved the work I did and have seen many inspirational turnarounds in peoples lives. But I don't accept books in the "psychological" realm. Fiction can never match the reality I've seen, so it just doesn't work for me. I see the value of these kind of books for others, and they deserve to be written and read. So, there you have it.
I will honestly review any book I read. I try to read them in the order I get them. I usually write my review the day after I finish the book because I like to sort out my thoughts and reactions to the story. This is not set in stone as I have had such strong reactions to some books that I have written my review within hours.
Since I have a lot of time on my hands, it usually doesn't take me long to read the average book, Usually just a few days. Longer books of course take longer to read. I have bought a kindle so it won't take as long as it did to read ebooks.
I try my best to give constructive criticism. I do not trash anyone's work! I don't respect mean spirited reviews, so I don't do them.
I will share my reactions to the stories I read, positive or negative.
If an author requests a review from me they need to tell me where their submitted work is in the publishing process. Is it an early draft still subject to revision/correction? Is it the finished product available as is to the general public?
These questions are important to me because I do see typos, misplaced words and other general mistakes and will point them out if the version I am reading is at the appropriate stage. I do not let such errors influence what I think of the actual story, but I will comment if they are so prevalent as to effect my reading experience.
Like the old saying: "I don't know art, but I know what I like". I am not an author, but I am an avid reader. My reviews are written that way, by a reader for readers.
I attended college for 13.5 years, I have Masters Degrees in Counseling Psychology and Business Administration. I have read my share of technical books. I now read for pleasure only!
I like most genres but favor Scifi Fantasy, Humor, Adventure, Action, Horror, Historical Fiction, Parodies, Dystopian, Intrigue, and Espionage. I like Romance as a part of any of these genres, but I don't particularly care for "Bodice Ripper" type romance. Sex is okay, again as part of a greater story line. Politics also as a part of the greater story but not the main theme, Not a fan of poetry so I don't review that.
If anyone is interested in having me review their work, I encourage them to contact me at librarymikes@gmail.com.
Mike
Messianic Prophecy - The Challenge
ReplyDeleteMessianic prophecy is phenomenal evidence that sets the Bible apart from the other "holy books." We strongly encourage you to read the Old Testament prophecies and the New Testament fulfillments on the previous page. Better yet, get a Jewish Tanakh (the Hebrew scripture read in the Jewish synagogues) and read the Messianic prophecies from there. It is dramatic, eye-opening and potentially life-changing!
WHAT DO YOU THINK? - We have all sinned and deserve God's judgment. God, the Father, sent His only Son to satisfy that judgment for those who believe in Him. Jesus, the creator and eternal Son of God, who lived a sinless life, loves us so much that He died for our sins, taking the punishment that we deserve, was buried, and rose from the dead according to the Bible. If you truly believe and trust this in your heart, receiving Jesus alone as your Savior, declaring, "Jesus is Lord," you will be saved from judgment and spend eternity with God in heaven.
What is your response?
Yes, today I am deciding to follow Jesus
Yes, I am already a follower of Jesus
I still have questions
Visit website: www.allabouttheoccult.org
The Men Who Followed a Star
ReplyDelete“When they saw the star, they were filled with joy!”
—Matthew 2:10
Who were the wise men? In the original language, the term that Matthew used for wise men comes from the Greek word magi. Our English words magic and magicians have their roots in this word. Thus, the wise men who came searching for Jesus were into astronomy, astrology, and occult practices, including sorcery.
In the Medo-Persian and Babylonian Empires, so-called wise men were summoned during times of emergency. The king would call in the various occult experts who could supposedly interpret what was happening. This was the position that these men held.
When they arrived in Jerusalem, they would have been the equivalent foreign dignitaries. They were men of great importance and highly educated.
However, the Bible doesn’t tell us there were three wise men or that they rode camels. It doesn’t even give us their names. What we do know is they were not present at the birth of Christ, because by this time, Jesus, Joseph, and Mary were in a house—not a stable.
Matthew 2:11 says, “They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh” (NLT).
This event happened one to two years after the birth of Christ. There may have been six wise men, or there may have been nine. It doesn’t really matter. But they came and worshiped, and they brought their gifts to Jesus.
It seems strange that at this moment, these men seemed to have more spiritual insight than the religious leaders who had dedicated themselves to the Scriptures. Though the wise men were into occultism and astrology, it appears that deep down inside, they wanted to know the truth.
ReplyDeleteTherefore, God came to them in a way that they could understand. They were into stars, so God brought them a star that would lead them to the truth.
God clearly was not condoning astrology, occultism, and the rest of it, because Scripture clearly condemns these. But God came to them where they were and brought them to the truth. They left what they were doing and came to the true and living God.
Isn’t it wonderful how God reaches out to each of us as individuals? He manages to reach hardened gang members in their lives of violence and show them their need for Christ. But He also reaches successful business leaders and shows them their need for the Lord. And He reaches young children and shows them their need for Jesus too. He comes to each of us on an individual basis in a way that we can understand, and He unfolds His truth to us.
Speaking through the prophet Jeremiah, God said, “If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me” (Jeremiah 29:13 NLT).
If someone really wants to know God, they will find their way to Jesus. And if people don’t find their way to Jesus, do they really want to know God? God will reveal Himself to true seekers.
(By Pastor Greg Laurie)
Added Note:
Isaiah 47:13,14 - Babylon originated astrology. God promised to destroy Babylon, then asked what the astrologers, stargazers, and monthly prognosticators would do to stop Him. All these were involved in astrology, but they were powerless against God.
Deuteronomy 18:9-14,18-22 - Occult practices, including divination, are an abomination to God. V14 specifically forbids listening to diviners. "Divining" is attempting to predict the future by occult or mystical methods. But astrology is part of the occult and attempts to predict the future.
ReplyDeleteDaniel 4:7; (2:10,11; 5:7,8) - On three occasions astrologers and other occult experts were asked to predict the future. Each time they failed, but Daniel succeeded by God's power.
The Bible shows that astrologers cannot predict the future with certainty, and most astrologers will admit their predictions are often incorrect. What do we need astrology for? Bible writers reveal true wisdom to guide your life. Astrologers may occasionally guess right, but the Bible is always right.
The best way to prepare for the future is found in God's word, not in Occult appeals to other forces. The Bible tells everything we need to know. It is the only sure way to know what God plans for the future, especially life after death.
1 Thessalonians 5:22 - Let us abstain from every form (appearance) of evil. [Colossians 2:18,19; Acts 19:19]
Are you following God's true word or false spiritual guides? Have you become a true follower of Jesus? Are you serving Him faithfully?
Isaiah 7:14
“Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall
conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.”
(Immanuel translated: “God among us.”)
Isaiah 44:6
“Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, the Lord of
host: “I am the First and I am the Last; besides Me there is no God.’”
Revelation 1:7-8 says: Jesus is the Almighty
Genesis 17:1 says: The Almighty is God
Acts 4:12 says: Jesus is the One Savior
Isaiah 45:21 says: The One Savior is God
John 18:51 says: Jesus is the I Am
Exodus 3:14 says: The I Am is God
Did you know Jesus, as God, had a body? Refer to Philippians 2:5-8.
ReplyDeleteWe think of Jesus as primarily in the New Testament, but the fact is that Jesus, being a part of the Godhead, being eternal, has always existed. Are you aware that we find Christ in the Old Testament as well, making appearances in different places:?
For example: In Exodus 3:2; Exodus 14:19; Genesis 3:8-24; Genesis 18:1–2
Did you know that the book of John confirms that Jesus existed in a glorified state before becoming flesh?
In the brief life of Jesus alone we see over 300 fulfilled prophecies! Only Jesus as an all-knowing God could make and fulfill.
Did you know that discoveries in particle physics require that God exists in more than 10-Dimensions of space and time? (Yet we can experience and visualize only three)
Do you realize that the Bible clearly indicates that God is simultaneously singular and plural? (This is definitely possible in extra dimensions of space and time)
God has the power to do anything He wants, is there anything impossible for God?