R. Frederick Riddle's Blog, page 69
January 22, 2015
Review of The Edge of Darkness
Author: Tim LaHaye & Bob Phillips
Series: Babylon Rising, Book 4
Publisher: Bantam Books
Rating: 4.5 stars
When I reviewed the Europa Conspiracy, I began with the following: "Anyone who really knows me knows that I love both historical and Biblical fiction. This series of books satisfies both as it is dealing with history prewritten (prophecy) and upon the Bible." The Edge of Darkness continues to satisfy my love for such books.
In The Edge of Darkness we find Michael Murphy engaged in plenty of action, intrigue, adventure, and romance. All of this wrapped around Biblical events; in this case, events surrounding the capture of the Ark of the Covenant by the Philistines and what happened in the temple of Dagon.
As with the previous books the characters of Murphy, Methuselah, and Talon dominate. It all leads up to a final confrontation between Murphy and Talon that has the reader on the edge of his or her seat.
Behind the scenes the mysterious group known only as the Seven continue to plot for world domination and the introduction of De La Rosa (the False Prophet?) with the 'boy' (Anti-Christ?) waiting in the wings . People with Biblical knowledge quickly recognize the signs preceding the coming Tribulation.
Finally, there is the conclusion to the story and possibly the series. We are left with questions regarding Murphy and Isis, Talon's replacement, the introduction of the Anti-Christ, and more. A Book 5 could easily be added, but I have seen no evidence that such a novel has yet been written.
It is a story well worth 4.5 stars and could have easily received a 5 star review which I try to refrain from giving.
I recommend The Edge of Darkness as a book to read.
Series: Babylon Rising, Book 4
Publisher: Bantam Books
Rating: 4.5 stars
When I reviewed the Europa Conspiracy, I began with the following: "Anyone who really knows me knows that I love both historical and Biblical fiction. This series of books satisfies both as it is dealing with history prewritten (prophecy) and upon the Bible." The Edge of Darkness continues to satisfy my love for such books.
In The Edge of Darkness we find Michael Murphy engaged in plenty of action, intrigue, adventure, and romance. All of this wrapped around Biblical events; in this case, events surrounding the capture of the Ark of the Covenant by the Philistines and what happened in the temple of Dagon.
As with the previous books the characters of Murphy, Methuselah, and Talon dominate. It all leads up to a final confrontation between Murphy and Talon that has the reader on the edge of his or her seat.
Behind the scenes the mysterious group known only as the Seven continue to plot for world domination and the introduction of De La Rosa (the False Prophet?) with the 'boy' (Anti-Christ?) waiting in the wings . People with Biblical knowledge quickly recognize the signs preceding the coming Tribulation.
Finally, there is the conclusion to the story and possibly the series. We are left with questions regarding Murphy and Isis, Talon's replacement, the introduction of the Anti-Christ, and more. A Book 5 could easily be added, but I have seen no evidence that such a novel has yet been written.
It is a story well worth 4.5 stars and could have easily received a 5 star review which I try to refrain from giving.
I recommend The Edge of Darkness as a book to read.
January 17, 2015
Did You Know About Tents in Bible?
When reading the Bible we often see people living in tents. Have you ever wondered what they were like and how they were made?
Let's take a look.
Most nomadic tents had two sections:
Section One - Quarters for Men
This is the front section of the tent. It had multiple purposes: 1) this is where the men lived and slept, 2) it was used for public area where visitors could come, 3) it served as the eating place for the family, and 4) it was here that business was conducted.
Section Two - Private Quarters
This rear section of the tent was divided from the front by a curtain. Here the women and children lived and slept. Among wealthier nomads, such as Abraham, the Private Section may have been divided into smaller rooms divided by curtains. These rooms were for the wives and servants, such as Sarah and Hagar.
What about construction?
Tents were made from goats' hair or dark sheep's wool, woven in rectangular strips on large looms. Women wove the fabric for the tents, stitched them together, and kept them in good repair. In effect, they were the craftspeople who produced the housing.
It was also women who erected and took down the tents. It was considered women's work. Before you raise your eyebrows remember that these weren't city folk, they were sturdy and skilled in such work.
Let's take a look.
Most nomadic tents had two sections:
Section One - Quarters for Men
This is the front section of the tent. It had multiple purposes: 1) this is where the men lived and slept, 2) it was used for public area where visitors could come, 3) it served as the eating place for the family, and 4) it was here that business was conducted.
Section Two - Private Quarters
This rear section of the tent was divided from the front by a curtain. Here the women and children lived and slept. Among wealthier nomads, such as Abraham, the Private Section may have been divided into smaller rooms divided by curtains. These rooms were for the wives and servants, such as Sarah and Hagar.
What about construction?
Tents were made from goats' hair or dark sheep's wool, woven in rectangular strips on large looms. Women wove the fabric for the tents, stitched them together, and kept them in good repair. In effect, they were the craftspeople who produced the housing.
It was also women who erected and took down the tents. It was considered women's work. Before you raise your eyebrows remember that these weren't city folk, they were sturdy and skilled in such work.
January 6, 2015
Update on Book Give-a-Way
As you may recall I did a book giveaway last year. Well over three hundred readers requested the copy. Ultimately Goodreads selected 20 winners. Each of these winners have already received an autographed copy of Perished: The World That Was.
As previously reported I was greatly pleased by the response to my very first giveaway. I came away very impressed. But as pleased as I was, I had greater pleasure when I recently received my first review - a 5 Star review as a result!
Many of the winners have listed the book on their 'books-to-read' and 'currently reading' shelves. No doubt I will be receiving more results in the near future.
I would be dishonest to say I don't really care about reviews when I actually do. Why? Because it verifies my own opinion and encourages me to continue writing. Great reviews with or without explanatory text are tremendously gratifying.
For those of you who were unaware of the book giveaway I offered 20 autographed copies of Perished. Because of the success of the project (I'm not counting reviews in the success formula) I will probably use book giveaways in the future, especially for my newest novel Abraham Called the Friend of God.
I must admit that when I first learned of book giveaways I was a little intimidated and confused. How can giving away your book help sales? But I now believe that all it takes is one reader with a lot of followers to give you a high rating and it can go viral. If that happens I will probably kick myself and ask, "Why didn't you do that sooner?"
Autographed copies of this book are available at T&R Independent Books.
As previously reported I was greatly pleased by the response to my very first giveaway. I came away very impressed. But as pleased as I was, I had greater pleasure when I recently received my first review - a 5 Star review as a result!
Many of the winners have listed the book on their 'books-to-read' and 'currently reading' shelves. No doubt I will be receiving more results in the near future.
I would be dishonest to say I don't really care about reviews when I actually do. Why? Because it verifies my own opinion and encourages me to continue writing. Great reviews with or without explanatory text are tremendously gratifying.
For those of you who were unaware of the book giveaway I offered 20 autographed copies of Perished. Because of the success of the project (I'm not counting reviews in the success formula) I will probably use book giveaways in the future, especially for my newest novel Abraham Called the Friend of God.
I must admit that when I first learned of book giveaways I was a little intimidated and confused. How can giving away your book help sales? But I now believe that all it takes is one reader with a lot of followers to give you a high rating and it can go viral. If that happens I will probably kick myself and ask, "Why didn't you do that sooner?"
Autographed copies of this book are available at T&R Independent Books.
January 2, 2015
Review of The Europa Conspiracy
Author: Tim LaHave & Bob Phillips
Series: Babylon Rising, Book 3
Publisher: Bantam Books
Rating: 4.5 stars
Anyone who really knows me knows that I love both historical and Biblical fiction. This series of books satisfies both as it is dealing with history prewritten (prophecy) and upon the Bible. The Europa Conspiracy takes us back to the Book of Daniel and the handwriting on the Wall. At the same time it includes references to the future, to the rise of the anti-Christ.
This book receives a 4.5 because although a fictional story it is believable. Moreover, this novel fits all these parts into the modern world like a hand in a glove. No matter which writer Tim LaHave teams up with he seems to come up with a well conceived and well written story.
In this story we find Michael Murphy in another venture involving a mysterious man called Methuselah who liked to put Murphy through life or death tests. All of this to the end of sending Murphy upon an even more dangerous journey into the past.
Behind the scenes is a mysterious group known only as the Seven. People with Biblical knowledge quickly recognize that this group is trying to put in place all the tools that the anti-Christ would use. In this particular story we learn that they have a hand in his coming birth.
One of their weapons is a cruel, vicious man named Talon. This is the same man who was responsible for the death of Murphy's wife and is ever shadowing Murphy. In this story Talon seems more dangerous than ever.
All in all this is a story filled with adventure, danger, and love in the midst of a world moving ever closer to Armageddon. It is a story well worth 4.5 stars and could have easily received a 5 star review.
I recommend The Europa Conspiracy as a book to read.
Series: Babylon Rising, Book 3
Publisher: Bantam Books
Rating: 4.5 stars
Anyone who really knows me knows that I love both historical and Biblical fiction. This series of books satisfies both as it is dealing with history prewritten (prophecy) and upon the Bible. The Europa Conspiracy takes us back to the Book of Daniel and the handwriting on the Wall. At the same time it includes references to the future, to the rise of the anti-Christ.
This book receives a 4.5 because although a fictional story it is believable. Moreover, this novel fits all these parts into the modern world like a hand in a glove. No matter which writer Tim LaHave teams up with he seems to come up with a well conceived and well written story.
In this story we find Michael Murphy in another venture involving a mysterious man called Methuselah who liked to put Murphy through life or death tests. All of this to the end of sending Murphy upon an even more dangerous journey into the past.
Behind the scenes is a mysterious group known only as the Seven. People with Biblical knowledge quickly recognize that this group is trying to put in place all the tools that the anti-Christ would use. In this particular story we learn that they have a hand in his coming birth.
One of their weapons is a cruel, vicious man named Talon. This is the same man who was responsible for the death of Murphy's wife and is ever shadowing Murphy. In this story Talon seems more dangerous than ever.
All in all this is a story filled with adventure, danger, and love in the midst of a world moving ever closer to Armageddon. It is a story well worth 4.5 stars and could have easily received a 5 star review.
I recommend The Europa Conspiracy as a book to read.
December 29, 2014
A Review of Silver's Odyssey: Wilderness Survival from the 1622 Atocha Shipwreck
Author: Henry C. Duggan, III
Rating: 4 stars
This ebook has been a very good read and would have gotten a higher rating except for a few items discussed below. The author obviously did the necessary research to write a gripping story drawn from historical facts. I recommend it to you to read.
One of the things that kept the novel from getting a higher rating is the lack of a map. This story takes place largely in Florida (La Florida to the Spanish) but back in the 1600s. Many of the rivers, islands, and other landmarks now have different names than existed back then.
As I read the story I would Google a place name and try to locate it in Florida. This was not easy and sometimes fruitless. It took some work but I was able to develop a general idea where the hero was located at particular times in the story. A map would have been very helpful and would have added to the overall pleasure of the story.
At the back of the ebook is an epilog that I wish I had read before reading the novel. Here the author included facts and a glossary that if the reader reads first he or she will easily be able to map out Luis's journey. I still think a map would have helped, but this epilog does provide valuable information!
One more fact about this issue is that in the opening Contents it did list a map dated 1597 but I never found it either in the listed position or elsewhere. Whether this was a problem with my version or mistakenly left out I don't know. But if it is in your version, use it.
Another factor I considered was that there was evidence of a lack of proofing. The errors I found may have been publisher or printing errors, but some seemed to be the author's. For example, dialog was sometimes confusing as to who was doing the talking. The author is encouraged to make sure the reader knows who is talking in future books.
When it comes to "thinking" I believe that authors should put all thinking in italics, for example, This is a good book, I thought. Without the italics sometimes the thoughts didn't register as a person's thoughts and forced me to reread the passage to understand what was happening.
Punctuation, especially the quotes "", was a recurring problem. These may have been the publisher, but again impacted the smoothness of reading. Watch those quotes.
But the above problems did not keep me from enjoying the story. I found myself anticipating the eventual reunion of Luis and Isabela. I found the ebook hard to put down. I quickly identified with the hero and wondered how he would get out of each situation he found himself experiencing.
Occasionally the author would allow me to see what was happening in Isabela's life. Just enough to add my expectations to Luis's. As mentioned earlier I recommend you get this ebook as it is well-written, easy reading, and excellent historical fiction.
In spite of the problems I believe this book is a definite four stars and if you overlook the issues mentioned then a 4.5.
Rating: 4 stars
This ebook has been a very good read and would have gotten a higher rating except for a few items discussed below. The author obviously did the necessary research to write a gripping story drawn from historical facts. I recommend it to you to read.
One of the things that kept the novel from getting a higher rating is the lack of a map. This story takes place largely in Florida (La Florida to the Spanish) but back in the 1600s. Many of the rivers, islands, and other landmarks now have different names than existed back then.
As I read the story I would Google a place name and try to locate it in Florida. This was not easy and sometimes fruitless. It took some work but I was able to develop a general idea where the hero was located at particular times in the story. A map would have been very helpful and would have added to the overall pleasure of the story.
At the back of the ebook is an epilog that I wish I had read before reading the novel. Here the author included facts and a glossary that if the reader reads first he or she will easily be able to map out Luis's journey. I still think a map would have helped, but this epilog does provide valuable information!
One more fact about this issue is that in the opening Contents it did list a map dated 1597 but I never found it either in the listed position or elsewhere. Whether this was a problem with my version or mistakenly left out I don't know. But if it is in your version, use it.
Another factor I considered was that there was evidence of a lack of proofing. The errors I found may have been publisher or printing errors, but some seemed to be the author's. For example, dialog was sometimes confusing as to who was doing the talking. The author is encouraged to make sure the reader knows who is talking in future books.
When it comes to "thinking" I believe that authors should put all thinking in italics, for example, This is a good book, I thought. Without the italics sometimes the thoughts didn't register as a person's thoughts and forced me to reread the passage to understand what was happening.
Punctuation, especially the quotes "", was a recurring problem. These may have been the publisher, but again impacted the smoothness of reading. Watch those quotes.
But the above problems did not keep me from enjoying the story. I found myself anticipating the eventual reunion of Luis and Isabela. I found the ebook hard to put down. I quickly identified with the hero and wondered how he would get out of each situation he found himself experiencing.
Occasionally the author would allow me to see what was happening in Isabela's life. Just enough to add my expectations to Luis's. As mentioned earlier I recommend you get this ebook as it is well-written, easy reading, and excellent historical fiction.
In spite of the problems I believe this book is a definite four stars and if you overlook the issues mentioned then a 4.5.
December 20, 2014
Did You Know About Christmas?
The day we now celebrate as Christmas is often criticized for its pagan roots. For example, the month of December was chosen by the Catholic Church so that it could compete with rival pagan rituals held in December.
In addition, December was chosen for its closeness to the winter solstice in the Northern hemisphere, a traditional time of celebration among many ancient cultures.
The truth is that we don't know when Christ was born. One belief, supported by both Biblical and secular history is that He was born sometime in the September/October period of time. One supporting fact is that such a time would agree with the shepherds being in the fields not too far from Bethlehem.
But the best we can do is speculate as to the actual date. It would be nice to know the date, but God has withheld that information. Probably because we would turn the date into some idolatrous thing. In any case, we simply don't know the right date.
The date of Christ's birth is not the only item of speculation and pagan influences. The Christmas tree is also widely believed to have pagan roots.
Many Pagan cultures used to cut branches of evergreen trees in December, moving them into their home or temple. Afterward they would decorate the trees. The purpose of this practice was to recognize the winter solstice -- the time of the year that had the shortest daylight hours, and longest night of the year.
This occurs annually sometime between December 20 to December 23, but most often it is December 21. Pagans had a real fear that the sun would disappear forever, their reasoning based on the shorting of the days. If the sun disappeared then everyone would freeze in the dark.
The evergreen trees were chosen because they remained green during winter suggesting they had magical powers. Over time the tree became acceptable and even entered church celebrations.
Mistletoes, Poinsettias, and Santa Claus all have pagan influences which of course brings condemnation on the practices. A more recent tradition though comes out right here in America: the commercialization of Christmas.
The commercialization of Christmas impacts our economy, our leisure, and our worship. It is perhaps the most dangerous of all because it emphasizes greed rather than Christ.
But in spite of all these pagan influences Christmas remains a Christian holiday. It is a time when Christians are reminded of their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
As mentioned in a recent blog I wrote, My favorite nativity scene is the Babe in the manger with the shadow of the cross stretching across the manger. Here you see His birth into the world and His willingly taking our sins upon Himself on the cross.
So take time this Christmas to pause among your celebration and remember Whose birthday we are celebrating. We owe all to Him, so take time to worship and honor Him!
In addition, December was chosen for its closeness to the winter solstice in the Northern hemisphere, a traditional time of celebration among many ancient cultures.
The truth is that we don't know when Christ was born. One belief, supported by both Biblical and secular history is that He was born sometime in the September/October period of time. One supporting fact is that such a time would agree with the shepherds being in the fields not too far from Bethlehem.
But the best we can do is speculate as to the actual date. It would be nice to know the date, but God has withheld that information. Probably because we would turn the date into some idolatrous thing. In any case, we simply don't know the right date.
The date of Christ's birth is not the only item of speculation and pagan influences. The Christmas tree is also widely believed to have pagan roots.
Many Pagan cultures used to cut branches of evergreen trees in December, moving them into their home or temple. Afterward they would decorate the trees. The purpose of this practice was to recognize the winter solstice -- the time of the year that had the shortest daylight hours, and longest night of the year.
This occurs annually sometime between December 20 to December 23, but most often it is December 21. Pagans had a real fear that the sun would disappear forever, their reasoning based on the shorting of the days. If the sun disappeared then everyone would freeze in the dark.
The evergreen trees were chosen because they remained green during winter suggesting they had magical powers. Over time the tree became acceptable and even entered church celebrations.
Mistletoes, Poinsettias, and Santa Claus all have pagan influences which of course brings condemnation on the practices. A more recent tradition though comes out right here in America: the commercialization of Christmas.
The commercialization of Christmas impacts our economy, our leisure, and our worship. It is perhaps the most dangerous of all because it emphasizes greed rather than Christ.
But in spite of all these pagan influences Christmas remains a Christian holiday. It is a time when Christians are reminded of their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
As mentioned in a recent blog I wrote, My favorite nativity scene is the Babe in the manger with the shadow of the cross stretching across the manger. Here you see His birth into the world and His willingly taking our sins upon Himself on the cross.
So take time this Christmas to pause among your celebration and remember Whose birthday we are celebrating. We owe all to Him, so take time to worship and honor Him!
December 16, 2014
Christmas Under Attack
These days Christmas is under attack. First, you are not allowed to have Christmas decorations at government buildings (you might offend others). Second, now the very word Christmas is considered politically incorrect. Today, we are told to say "holiday" and keep your mouth shut about Christ.
There is a backlash to all this political correctness. More and more people are taking a stand insisting on saying Merry Christmas. Count me in as one of them. I recently watched an entertaining video where we are encouraged not to shop where the stores use holiday instead of Christmas.
While I sympathize with this reaction, it is in my opinion not enough. The day we call Christmas originated to commemorate the birth of Christ Who shed His blood on the cross for you and I. It had nothing to do with the commercialization that now dominates. And 'holiday' meant 'holy day.'
Many of those who want to keep the word Christmas are focused on the Christmas tree, tinkling decorations, Santa Claus and partying. But Christmas is so much more than that!
As stated before it commemorates Christ's birth. To me the best picture of this is the Nativity Scene with the Cross in the background. Perhaps the shadow of the cross lays across the manger. Jesus was born of a virgin into this world with the express purpose of shedding His blood and dying on the cross for our sins.
There is nothing wrong with a Christmas tree decorated with tinkling bells, etc., nor with the mistletoe or even Santa Claus (as long as children know it is fictitious). But amongst it all we should keep Christ (think Christ mas) as the focus for the day.
So, whether you are a Christian or not I hope you have a very merry Christmas and that you will consider what Christ did for you.
There is a backlash to all this political correctness. More and more people are taking a stand insisting on saying Merry Christmas. Count me in as one of them. I recently watched an entertaining video where we are encouraged not to shop where the stores use holiday instead of Christmas.
While I sympathize with this reaction, it is in my opinion not enough. The day we call Christmas originated to commemorate the birth of Christ Who shed His blood on the cross for you and I. It had nothing to do with the commercialization that now dominates. And 'holiday' meant 'holy day.'
Many of those who want to keep the word Christmas are focused on the Christmas tree, tinkling decorations, Santa Claus and partying. But Christmas is so much more than that!
As stated before it commemorates Christ's birth. To me the best picture of this is the Nativity Scene with the Cross in the background. Perhaps the shadow of the cross lays across the manger. Jesus was born of a virgin into this world with the express purpose of shedding His blood and dying on the cross for our sins.
There is nothing wrong with a Christmas tree decorated with tinkling bells, etc., nor with the mistletoe or even Santa Claus (as long as children know it is fictitious). But amongst it all we should keep Christ (think Christ mas) as the focus for the day.
So, whether you are a Christian or not I hope you have a very merry Christmas and that you will consider what Christ did for you.
December 10, 2014
Did You Know About Abraham's Faith?
I am currently writing a novel based on the life of Abraham. As I have researched his life I have found it to be a great study in how a man of faith grows spiritually.
In my novel The Rise of Shem I introduced Abram (Abraham) to the reader. The Bible doesn't tell us how Abram became a believer so I used my imagination. But we do know he became a believer and God called him to leave his family and follow Him.
We see immediately that Abram had to learn obedience. Like most believers he had to separate himself from family, friends, and the world so he could grow. His life is a study in the struggles that believers daily endure.
In the new novel not yet published, Abram becomes Abraham and we see his faith growing. His life is not a life of continuous victory, but a life of defeats and victories. He makes choices, sometimes wrong ones. From them he learns that first seeking God's guidance before making choices is always best and that partial obedience is disobedience!
Ultimately Abraham became known as a great man of faith. Not because he was superhuman, but because he chose to follow and obey God.
His life, therefore, is encouraging to the rest of us as we face our own walk with Christ. We have a tendency of almost worshiping the men and women of the Bible when their lives should actually be an encouragement. They were made of the same stuff we are, facing the basic problems we face, and struggling with the same inner fears.
One lesson that we can all learn from Abraham is obedience. The more we obey Him, the more we grow and achieve. The more we trust Him, the more we will obey Him. So the old song Trust and Obey is still right on the mark.
In my novel The Rise of Shem I introduced Abram (Abraham) to the reader. The Bible doesn't tell us how Abram became a believer so I used my imagination. But we do know he became a believer and God called him to leave his family and follow Him.
We see immediately that Abram had to learn obedience. Like most believers he had to separate himself from family, friends, and the world so he could grow. His life is a study in the struggles that believers daily endure.
In the new novel not yet published, Abram becomes Abraham and we see his faith growing. His life is not a life of continuous victory, but a life of defeats and victories. He makes choices, sometimes wrong ones. From them he learns that first seeking God's guidance before making choices is always best and that partial obedience is disobedience!
Ultimately Abraham became known as a great man of faith. Not because he was superhuman, but because he chose to follow and obey God.
His life, therefore, is encouraging to the rest of us as we face our own walk with Christ. We have a tendency of almost worshiping the men and women of the Bible when their lives should actually be an encouragement. They were made of the same stuff we are, facing the basic problems we face, and struggling with the same inner fears.
One lesson that we can all learn from Abraham is obedience. The more we obey Him, the more we grow and achieve. The more we trust Him, the more we will obey Him. So the old song Trust and Obey is still right on the mark.
December 5, 2014
BOOK GIVEAWAY RESULTS
I am pleased to announce that my giveaway of the novel Perished: The World That Was is now finished. This month long offering produced some unexpected results, such as: 379 people responded, wishing to receive a copy!
This was unexpected primarily because I have never done a giveaway before. If you are one of the 379 then I extend my thanks and invite you, if you weren't a winner, to purchase a copy through Amazon.com or at http://tr-indbkstore.com/.
In the coming week I will be shipping out the autographed books to the ten winners. If you are one of those winners, I thank you for your participation.
A note to all participants: According to Giveaway Rules your names and addresses will not be saved or used other than to ship the books out. Your information is private and protected.
That said, if any of you wish to contact me about Perished or any of my other books, I invite you to do so at information@rfrederickriddle.com.
Why did I do a giveaway?
Like everyone else I am learning. And one thing I have learned is that giveaways are an excellent way to get my books and name out there. It has its risks, but also its rewards.
I have already decided that giveaways are well worth the risk and I will use giveaways in the future. Further, as I love to read books, I am going to actively search for giveaways in my favorite genres (adventure, historical novels, and Biblical novels). It should be very beneficial in providing me interesting reading.
This was unexpected primarily because I have never done a giveaway before. If you are one of the 379 then I extend my thanks and invite you, if you weren't a winner, to purchase a copy through Amazon.com or at http://tr-indbkstore.com/.
In the coming week I will be shipping out the autographed books to the ten winners. If you are one of those winners, I thank you for your participation.
A note to all participants: According to Giveaway Rules your names and addresses will not be saved or used other than to ship the books out. Your information is private and protected.
That said, if any of you wish to contact me about Perished or any of my other books, I invite you to do so at information@rfrederickriddle.com.
Why did I do a giveaway?
Like everyone else I am learning. And one thing I have learned is that giveaways are an excellent way to get my books and name out there. It has its risks, but also its rewards.
I have already decided that giveaways are well worth the risk and I will use giveaways in the future. Further, as I love to read books, I am going to actively search for giveaways in my favorite genres (adventure, historical novels, and Biblical novels). It should be very beneficial in providing me interesting reading.
December 2, 2014
Did You Know About Job's Faith?
Much has been written and preached about Job, his trials, and his ultimate triumph. I am sure that someone has touched on this little tidbit before, but I found it interesting.
In the depth of despair, either at or near the lowest point of his life, Job broke forth with a resounding statement of faith. In Job 19, beginning at verse 25, we read: "For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:"
What a powerful statement. But wait, turn to 2 Timothy 1:12 where right in the middle you read: "for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day." This was written by Paul who was in prison for his faith.
Most of us never really suffer like that (although it may come soon), but we can all claim those words of faith. If you combined the beginnings of both statements you get: "For I know that my redeemer liveth and I know whom I have believed."
Job was looking forward to his Redeemer and Paul was talking about his Redeemer. In both cases the subject was Jesus Christ and both men were expressing a confidence in Him.
As we near Christmas it is well to remember that the cradle is only the beginning and should be seen with Easter in mind. Christ is our Redeemer and no matter our circumstances we can trust Him! And some day we shall be with Him!
In the depth of despair, either at or near the lowest point of his life, Job broke forth with a resounding statement of faith. In Job 19, beginning at verse 25, we read: "For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:"
What a powerful statement. But wait, turn to 2 Timothy 1:12 where right in the middle you read: "for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day." This was written by Paul who was in prison for his faith.
Most of us never really suffer like that (although it may come soon), but we can all claim those words of faith. If you combined the beginnings of both statements you get: "For I know that my redeemer liveth and I know whom I have believed."
Job was looking forward to his Redeemer and Paul was talking about his Redeemer. In both cases the subject was Jesus Christ and both men were expressing a confidence in Him.
As we near Christmas it is well to remember that the cradle is only the beginning and should be seen with Easter in mind. Christ is our Redeemer and no matter our circumstances we can trust Him! And some day we shall be with Him!
