Sarah Sundin's Blog, page 187
March 13, 2019
Christian Fiction Scavenger Hunt Stop #18
THIS HUNT IS NOT LIVE. PLEASE RETURN ON MARCH 14 AFTER NOON MOUNTAIN TIME TO BEGIN. WE’RE STILL PROOFING/WORKING OUT ISSUES ON THE LOOP. THANK YOU!
Welcome to the Christian Fiction Scavenger Hunt! If you’ve just discovered the hunt, be sure to start at Stop #1, and collect the clues through all 27 stops, in order, so you can enter to win one of our top 5 grand prizes!
The hunt BEGINS on March 14, 2019 at noon MST with Stop #1 at LisaTawnBergren.com .
Hunt through our loop using Chrome or Firefox as your browser (not Explorer).
There is NO RUSH to complete the hunt—you have all weekend (until Sunday, March 17, 2019 at midnight MST)! So take your time, reading the unique posts along the way; our hope is that you discover new authors and new books and learn new things about them.
Submit your entry for the grand prizes by collecting the CLUE on each author’s scavenger hunt post and submitting your answer in the Rafflecopter form at Stop #27. Many authors are offering additional prizes along the way!
It’s such a joy for me to host Mesu Andrews, a woman with a heart as big as her stories—and her stories are BIG! In her latest novel, Of Fire and Lions, Mesu takes the well-known story of Daniel, including the 70-year exile of the Jews to Babylon and Daniel’s time in the lion’s den, and imagines it through the eyes of his lifelong love, Belili. Doesn’t that sound fascinating? Mesu is sharing some amazing research from her novel!
Of Fire and Lions by Mesu Andrews
7 Wonders of Daniel’s World
When I started researching Of Fire and Lions, I was so excited to learn more about the favorite childhood stories of Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Little did I know that the historical wonders of Daniel’s world would be almost as amazing as God’s miracles! The phrase Seven Wonders of the World was first coined by Philo of Byzantium in 225 A.D.. Daniel and his friends witnessed one of those wonders and so much more.
Wonder #1
Ishtar Gate
Many believe King Nebuchadnezzar built the Hanging Gardens of Babylon for his wife, Amyitis, who was homesick for her lovely Zagros Mountains.
The six “wonders” below didn’t make the official ancient list, but I found them equally wonder-full.
Wonder #2
Nebuchadnezzar restored the Tower of Babel and called it the Etemenanki. Some believed it was the only place on earth where a rope could stretch from earth to heaven (didn’t work out so well for the folks in Genesis 11).
Wonder #3
The Ishtar Gate was the mammoth entrance to Babylon, nearly fifty feet high and wide enough to turn a chariot around atop it.
Wonder #4
Daniel 4:33 describes Nebuchadnezzar’s transformation into a beast. Did you know Boanthropy is the current-day medical term for this condition?
Wonder #5
Cyrus the Great—the king who ultimately conquered the Medes and Babylonians—may have been Nebuchadnezzar’s nephew—by marriage (his wife’s sister’s son). Gotta watch those in-laws!
Wonder #6
Washington Monument
The “fiery furnace” in Daniel 3:19-23 was likely fashioned similar to 19th-century lime kilns. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego literally fell into it.
Wonder #7
Nebuchadnezzar’s image in Daniel 3:1 is built in 10:1 ratio (90 ft x 9 ft) just like the Washington Monument (555.5 ft x 55.5 ft).
I hope you’re as amazed by the wonders as I was!
Mesu Andrews
MESU ANDREWS is the Christy Award-winning author of Isaiah’s Daughter whose deep understanding of and love for God’s Word brings the biblical world alive for readers. Andrews lives in North Carolina with her husband Roy and enjoys spending time with her growing tribe of grandchildren. Please visit Mesu’s website or visit her on Facebook or Twitter.
Here’s the Stop #18 Skinny:
You can order Mesu’s book on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, CBD or at your local bookstore!
Clue to Write Down: lives.
Link to Stop #19, the Next Stop on the Loop: Mesu Andrews’s own site!
The Sky Above Us key chain!
But wait! Before you go, I’m offering an extra giveaway of my novel The Sky Above Us, plus a darling The Sky Above Us key chain! All you have to do is sign up to get my email newsletter (top right corner above in a brown box) or already be a subscriber. (US mailing addresses only, please). Enter through the Rafflecopter below.
Today in World War II History—Mar. 13, 1944
German Tiger I tank in front of the Altare della Patria, Rome, 1944 (German Federal Archives: Bild 101I-310-0880-38)
75 Years Ago—Mar. 13, 1944: To eliminate Rome as an Allied air raid target, Germans order removal of all military installations except medical, quartermaster, butcher, and bakery, and place Vatican City off limits to soldiers.
In the Ukraine, Soviets cross the lower Dnieper at Kherson and take Kherson.
March 12, 2019
Today in World War II History—Mar. 12, 1944
Edvard Beneš, president of Czechoslovakian government-in-exile, 1942 (US Library of Congress)
75 Years Ago—Mar. 12, 1944: Czechoslovakian government-in-exile urges uprising against the Nazis to meet the approaching Soviet army.
Neutral Eire (Ireland) refuses to expel German diplomats and is isolated by the Allies.
March 11, 2019
Today in World War II History—Mar. 11, 1944
Patch of the US Fifth Air Force
75 Years Ago—Mar. 11, 1944: US Fifth Air Force begins neutralizing Japanese airfields at Wewak, New Guinea in preparation for April landings at Hollandia.
US Fifteenth Air Force (based in Italy) bombs Toulon, France, sinking German U-boats U-380 and U-410 and several French warships that had been raised by the Germans.
Patch of the US Fifteenth Air Force, WWII
March 10, 2019
Today in World War II History—Mar. 10, 1944
Poster for US Navy Construction Battalions (Seabees), WWII
75 Years Ago—Mar. 10, 1944: Countdown to D-day: Supreme Headquarters of the Allied Expeditionary Force issues Operation Overlord directive to ground, air, and naval forces for D-day.
National movie premiere of The Fighting Seabees starring John Wayne.
March 9, 2019
Today in World War II History—Mar. 9, 1944
Allied construction of the Ledo Road in Burma (US Army Center of Military History)
75 Years Ago—Mar. 9, 1944: Chinese take Walawbum, Burma, opening Hukawng Valley for Ledo Road construction (will connect to Burma Road to supply China).
March 8, 2019
Today in World War II History—Mar. 8, 1944
Gen. Douglas MacArthur decorates Lt. Marvin J. Henshaw, with the Distinguished Service Cross, for his actions on Los Negros, 29 February 1944 (US Army Center of Military History)
75 Years Ago—Mar. 8, 1944: Japanese launch offensive in Burma toward major British base at Imphal, India.
US Sixth Army secures Los Negros in the Admiralty Islands in the Pacific.
March 7, 2019
Today in World War II History—Mar. 7, 1944
Nazi German poster, 1940s, stating “Mothers! Fight for your children!”
75 Years Ago—Mar. 7, 1944: Nazis make house-to-house calls to recruit women ages 17-45 for war work.
March 6, 2019
Within These Lines by Stephanie Morrill
It’s difficult enough for Evalina Cassano and Taichi Hamasaki. Their interracial romance is frowned upon in 1942, and they haven’t told their families. With anti-Japanese sentiment rising in Northern California after Pearl Harbor, Taichi and his family face growing discrimination.
Then the US government evacuates the Hamasakis to the War Relocation Center at Manzanar. Taichi struggles to adjust to the difficult conditions in the camp and to his separation from Evalina. Meanwhile, Evalina is incensed by how Taichi, as a US citizen, is treated by his own country.
At Manzanar, Taichi is caught up in the rising tensions between those who stand for America and those who stand for the Japanese empire, and he doubts whether he should drag Evalina into the mess of his life. And in San Francisco, Evalina has ethical struggles – what does it mean to love your country while you hate what it’s doing? When should you be silent, and when should you speak up?
Thought provoking and timely, Within These Lines highlights a dark period in history. Through compelling characters, we see the injustice and feel the fears and doubts and dilemmas. But mostly, we see the shimmering ribbon of hope through Evalina and Taichi’s unrelenting love. Stephanie Morrill has written a novel to ponder, a novel to cherish.
Today in World War II History—Mar. 6, 1944
US Eighth Air Force B-17s bombing Berlin, 1944 (USAF photo)
75 Years Ago—Mar. 6, 1944: US Eighth Air Force loses 69 out of 730 bombers in mission to Berlin—its costliest raid ever.
Countdown to D-day: US Navy’s Force U established under Rear Adm. Don Moon for support off Utah Beach on D-day.
