Come to the Table by Neta Jackson

This is the second in the SouledOut Sisters series, following Stand by Me. (See my review of Stand by Me here.) In that first book in the series, students at CCU took the Urban Experience class together, got involved in SouledOut Church, and decided to room together for the summer.

Nick, Kat and Bree are in the apartment they found, and with then are Rochelle and her son Conny.

Nick is working in a mail room for the summer as he anticipates finishing up his divinity degree in January. He is also serving his internship at SouledOut Community Church, a requirement for becoming a pastor.

Kat is helping at a summer school for elementary kids and working a half shift at a coffee shop. She has her resume out to the Chicago School District and looks forward to teaching in the fall – if she gets a teaching job.

Bree is working the other half of the shift at the coffee shop and will be going back to CCU in the fall.

In this continuation of the story, we see Kat begin to mature. She is a new Christian, getting saved just a few years ago at a music fest. Remember, she is the dumpster diver and is so concerned about people eating healthy food. She is challenged with the possibility of God having put in her the desire to see people fed and visits a food bank. Perhaps, she thinks, God wants her to start one at SouledOut Church.

Nick has become a father figure to little Conny and Rochelle thinks Nick would make a great husband. Nick is pretty oblivious to Rochelle's thoughts. He has eyes only for Kat, but he has never told her about his feelings.

Rochelle is looking for a job, any job. But it is hard as she has HIV, acquired from her abusive and wandering ex-husband.

The first part of this novel takes a while to get going, but then I was hooked. I really appreciated watching Kat mature into the faith. Nick is becoming a member of SouledOut and asks Kat to consider becoming a member as well. But baptism is a requirement and Kat struggles with that decision. Kat is jealous of Rochelle too. It's all the time and affection Nick shows to Conny. When Kat finds a way to channel her passion for healthy eating, she struggles with her motives. She turns to the Bible and finds what she needs.

This is a character driven novel, so don't expect lots of action. The tension in the plot is character development and maturing in the faith. It is a rewarding read and the end leaves you hanging just enough to look forward to a sequel.

Neta Jackson is the author of the award-wining Yada books. She and her husband, Dave, are also the authors of the award-wining Trailblazer series, historical novels for youth. She and her husband live in the Chicago area where the Yada stories are set. Find out more about them at www.DaveNeta.com.

Thomas Nelson Publishers, 392 pages.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of this review.

Writing the Christian Nonfiction Book: Concept to Contract by David E. Fessenden

Having been a Christian bookseller for over thirty years, I've sold thousands of books. I've probably read thousands of books. And like most avid readers, I've even thought about writing a book. But writing a nonfiction book is a daunting task.

And I know the chances of getting a book published by a recognized publisher (not self publishing it) is practically nil, even if the manuscript is very good. Many people are doing the self-published ebook thing, just because of the book publishing difficulty.

Fessenden has written this book to help people like me in the process of research, writing, and publishing. This book is an overall survey of writing and getting that writing published.

He gives the eight step process from brainstorming to getting the contract. While he gives a suggested order of doing these tasks, he does note that they can be done in any order and that they frequently overlap.

An example of the good advice Fessenden gives is that on “The Dreaded Outline.” He writes, “I'm here to tell you that our English teachers were just plain wrong.” (48) He suggests a three-fold process, a writing plan, instead: create a purpose statement, identify your genre, establish chapter divisions.

Here is another tip. I would have thought that writing the book was done before writing the query letter. “It sounds logical,” Fessenden writes, “but it's a process doomed to failure.” (73)

Here's another. Before you write your first book, hone your skills on magazine articles. He shows you how that helps you break into the publishing market.

He has practical information in the book too, such as giving proper credit to quoted authors, when you need to ask permission to quote, etc. He even advises you on how to write the query letter. He tells you what to do and what to expect at a writers' conference, and all about agents.

Do you want to write a book and get it published? I mean published by a company that actually prints books and sends them to booksellers?

All the information you need to get your book published is in this book.

Get this book and get to work. Let me know when your book is in print. I'd be happy to blog a review!

So, who is David E. Fessenden that he can write a book about getting your manuscript published? He is the senior editor/acquisitions for CLC Publications. He has a B.A. In journalism and an M.A. In religion. He has over twenty five years of experience in writing and editing. He was on the staff of Christian Publications, Inc., for twelve years, the majority of the time as managing editor. Prior to that he was on the communications staff at Elim Bible Institute and was editor of a regional edition of the largest Protestant weekly newspaper in the country.

He has published four books, produced study guides for two of A. W. Tozer's books, written hundreds of newspaper and magazine articles, and edited numerous books. He was a regular columnist for Cross & Quill, a Christian writer's newsletter, and a frequent speaker at writer's conferences.

He and his wife live in the Philadelphia area.

Visit his blog: fromconcepttocontract.com.

Sonfire Media, 188 pages.

Buy this book at Amazon.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of this review.

Fire of the Raging Dragon by Don Brown

There is plenty of action in this novel, the second in the Pacific Rim Series.

It is sometime in the near future and China is on the loose. The new President of China is a man named Tang. He is called the Raging Dragon.

China attacks and takes a small island in the South China Sea. The island, Itu Aba, has vast amounts of much needed natural gas deposits below it. It had been under the control of the Taiwanese and they are determined to get it back.

The Taiwanese capture a Chinese freighter bound for Itu Aba. It is carrying arms but also has a hold full of what are called “medical supplies.” When the Taiwanese discover the crates of “medical supplies” actually contain evidence of horrible crimes against humanity, they turn to the Americans for help.

What ensues is a potentially world war causing confrontation between the Chinese and Americans. And the Chinese Raging Dragon is crazy enough to target America's west coast with nuclear missiles.

I found this to be a satisfying novel of military suspense. In addition to the military aspect, the daughter of the U. S. President is on a Navy ship right in the middle of the action. She is a newly commissioned ensign and the President must weight the safety of his daughter against the needs of the nation and the world. The President and his family are Christians and his faith plays a part in his decisions.

I don't know enough about the military aspects of the book to judge the author's accuracy but it is certainly an enjoyable read. I did wonder about not using spy satellite information. The Chinese note that the U. S. satellites photograph Chinese bases every two hours, yet much of the action in the book is based on the U. S. not knowing where ships are in the South China Sea.

The book is very informative on the background material leading up to the altercation. It seemed to me that it could represent a possible scene in the near future.

Don Brown is the author of several novels about the U. S. military. He served five years in the U. S. Navy as an officer in the Judge Advocate General's Corps. He left active duty in 1992 nut remained on inactive status through 1999, rising to the rank of lieutenant commander. He and his family live in North Carolina.

Zondervan, 381 pages.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of this review.

The God Box by Mary Lou Quinlan

They found it after their mother died. Her God Box. In it she had stowed dozens of handwritten notes to God on behalf of her husband, her son, and daughter.

Mary Lou, by reading the notes, came to understand her mother's unspoken pain, the depth of her devotion to her family, and the breadth of her empathy.

Mary Lou would find ten boxes in all – each one stuffed with notes to God. As she went through the boxes it was like reading a diary of their family life.

Mary Lou's mom was a people person, listening to everyone's stories. Before she started the God Box, her mom would try to make sense of others' pain. “When Mom adopted the God Box, she seemed more at ease giving the problem over to stronger hands. I really believe it gave Mom true contentment and peace of mind,” Mary Lou writes. (60)

Interspersed with photos of her mother's prayer notes, Mary Lou reveals the persistent faith of her mother. She kept up the ritual for twenty years. “Mom's faith never flagged. She never stopped hoping for a cure or a miracle.” (90) Yet her mother understood the results were up to God. He was the One in control.

Mary Lou lost her mom first, then her dad. As her dad was dying, Mary Lou placed her first prayer note in one of her mother's God Boxes, passing on the discipline to another generation.

Mary Lou hopes that the story of her mother's God Box ritual might inspire others to begin the practice themselves. Though it was not her mother's intent, her prayer notes left a legacy of her belief and devotion. Perhaps a God Box will help you leave a legacy for those you love too.

You can find out more about this book and the God Box at theGodBoxproject.com. You can also find The God Box Project on Facebook and Twitter (@GodBoxProject).

Mary Lou Quinlan has written inspirational features for several magazines and is the author of three previous books. She is the nation's leading expert on female consumer behavior and is the founder and CEO of a marketing consultancy business. She is a popular speaker at conferences and has appeared on many television programs. She and her husband live in New York City and Bucks County, Pennsylvania. You can find out more about her at http://www.marylouq.com/.

Greenleaf Book Group Press, 122 pages.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from The DeMoss Group for the purpose of this review.

The Air We Breathe by Christa Parrish

I love when an author grabs my attention and I just have to read one more chapter before I turn out the light. That's what happened with The Air We Breathe.

The narrative alternates between events in 2002 and nearly seven years later. Parrish weaves together the story of two characters.

Hannah was a young girl when she went on Saturday errands with her father, including to the bank. There they witnessed a robbery. Her father was shot and Hannah abducted. While Hannah manages to eventually escape her captivity, she becomes silent.

Claire is a woman who has lost nearly all that was meaningful to her. Her husband has left her. Her children are dead and she knows it was her action that killed them. She battles her thoughts by doing crossword puzzles.

The lives of Claire and Hannah intersect in a neighborhood park and Claire reaches out to the silent girl, thinking perhaps to help. Yet Hannah senses it is Claire who needs the help.

Parrish has created a wonderful novel of pain and healing. She deftly intertwines the lives of Claire and Hannah, even after losing touch for six years. It is amazing how the healing flows from each to the other, even when the process is not always peaceful.

This is a well written book. The character development is superb. Hannah learns about Jesus from Claire while Claire herself struggles with her faith.

A captivating and rewarding novel. Make sure you have a few hours because you won't want to put it down.

Christa Parrish is the award winning author of two previous novels. Her second novel won the ECPA Fiction Book of the Year. The Air We Breathe has already been named a finalist for the 2013 Christianity Today Book Award. Christ is creative director of the modern contemporary worship service at her church and co-director of the youth group. She and her husband, author and pastor Chris Coppernoll, have three children in their blended family. Find out more at www.christaparrish.com/.

Bethany House, a Division of Baker Publishing Group, 352 pages.

Publisher's product page.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from Bethany House for the purpose of this review.

Paul and Union With Christ by Constantine R. Campbell

Paul's theme of union with Christ is prevalent in his writings but nowhere does he actually define it. This book covers two topics – what union with Christ really is and what role it performs in Paul's theology. Campbell's approach is exegetical and theological.

The book is in three parts: introduction and survey of developments to the present, exegesis of the relevant texts, an attempt to integrate the results of the exegetical studies into the broad sphere of Paul's thought.

Campbell's task is not easy. He notes, “...a majority of scholars have recognized that Paul's 'in Christ' language serves more than one purpose and enjoys a wide range of use.” (60)

In the exegetical section, Campbell looks at all 73 appearance of “in Christ.” He then investigates all the variations of “in Christ,” “with Christ,” and “through Christ.” He also explores the metaphors Paul uses to express his thoughts, such as “body of Christ,” marriage, a building, and new clothing.

In the theological study, Campbell shows that every work of salvation is related to union with Christ. “The ways in which the various elements of Christ's work relate to union with Christ differ according to the nature of the work and the language employed.” (332) In some cases Christ performs the will of God toward the people. In others a participation with Christ in various elements of his work is indicated. “As Christ performs his works, he represents believers while in some spiritual sense they partake in the events that he undergoes.” (332) The use of metaphors indicate a “static” union where believers are in a state of benefiting from work Christ has done. Campbell spends some time on “dying” and “rising” with Christ, reviewing other authors.

In his review of the first two parts of the book, he reminds us, “It is apparently necessary, therefore, to acknowledge that union with Christ does not merely address believers' union with him; it also addresses Christ's union with his Father and with the Spirit.” (356) He investigates all the issues within the topic of the Trinity in connection with union with Christ, including theosis.

He investigates what union with Christ means with respect to Christian living. The activities of Christians are conditioned by their union with Christ. “...[T]he very terminology Paul uses to call someone a Christian is taken directly from the vocabulary of union with Christ since the reality of their connection to Christ is of such significance that it summarizes their entire Christian existence.” (374)

He then turns to union with Christ, justification and imputed righteousness.

He reviews his definition of “union with Christ” showing it is a result of the exegetical and theological studies. He uses union, participation, identification, and incorporation to give justice to the widespread variety and nuance of Paul's language theology, and ethical thought. (420)

He ends with a chapter on the implications of the study and suggestions for further thought. He proposes and uses a web-shaped model for Paul's thought, “union with Christ” being the “webbing” holding it all together.

Campbell hopes that the conclusions of this study “will shape subsequent discussions of Paul in general and union with Christ in particular.” (443)

As Campbell notes, there has not been before such an ambitious study of union with Christ in scope, nor in the attempt to integrate exegesis with theology.

I certainly look forward to someone following his suggestion to explore the pastoral and devotional implications of union with Christ. As he suggests, this would be on a more popular, rather than academic, level. “It ought to be clear that union with Christ offers a wealth of pastoral and devotional potential and should be extolled from every pulpit and basic to every believer.” (444)

Campbell stated early on that this work “is not for academia alone. It is also for the church.” (28) A pastor will certainly find a wealth of information here.

However, this book is quite academic. A layperson would be overwhelmed with this work, I think, without a background in Greek studies.

Constantine R. Campbell is a senior lecturer in Greek and New Testament at Moore Theological College in Sydney, Australia. He is the author of several books on the Greek language.

Zondervan, 480 pages. Publisher's product page.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher for the purpose of this review.

Godwink Stories by SQuire Rushnell & Louise DuArt

SQuire coined the word “godwink.” “A word to fill a vacancy in the language for so-called coincidences that you are certain could not be coincidence.” (6) You are sure God is at work.

Then he came up with Godwink Link, the person who delivers the godwink – the one who makes the phone call at the right time with the right message, or otherwise “happens” to intersect another's life.

People have written SQuire heartfelt letters in response to his previous godwink books. They show the person-to-person connections from God happening to each of us. Many of those letters have been included in this book.

SQuire and Louise have found that every hurt and worry you encounter has been addressed in the Bible. They have paralleled the letters received with the wisdom from God's Word. They also add insight from their own lives as well as the appropriate Scripture verses.

The book is designed so that it can be read cover to cover (as I did), or read a chapter a week for fifty-two weeks. You can also just read the chapter that fits your need as a cross references is included at the back of the book.

Some of the stories are very touching, like a lost screw on a bicycle leading to an elderly man knowing he is forgiven.

Some of the stories yield profound lessons, such as this one about an autographed 45 rpm record. “You cannot see all God has planned for you. But you can trust that He holds your future in His hands and that He has a plan to guide your steps and light your path.” (51)

Some of the stories include humor, such as Bonnie seeing a church marquee saying “This too shall pass,” when her son was in emergency with kidney stones.

“Every day, God showers you with an abundance of gifts. … Only when you condition yourself to accept God's gifts and to thank Him for them accordingly...will you begin to see the massive evidence of God's love for you.” (153)

Each of the stories emphasize how an extraordinary God uses people like you and me to touch the lives of others. These stories are full of encouragement. They also inspire you to be a blessing to others.

SQuire Rushnell, a former television president and CEO, was for twenty years an executive with the ABC television network. He is the author of When God Winks. He lives in Martha's Vineyard with his wife, Louise DuArt.

Louise DuArt is one of the world's top comedic impressionists and costarred with Tim Conway in a national touring show for fifteen years. She has had starring roles on Broadway as well as an eight season talk show on ABC Family. She has toured as a speaker with Women of Faith, and performs with her husband in Three Couples. She coauthored Couples Who Pray with her husband, SQuire.

You can find out more about the authors and their books at http://www.whengodwinks.com/ and the publisher's product page.

Howard Books, a division of Simon & Schuster, 246 pages.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of this review.

A Christmas Homecoming by MaryAnn Diorio

The plot is as old as the Bible. But the setting is today.

Sonia Pettit feels the ache in her heart as she prepares to celebrate the seventh Christmas without her daughter Jody. Thinking she knew best how to live her life, the teenager had run away, leaving only a terse note. The pain had been too much for Sonia's husband. And her son has turned bitter and rebellious.

Sonia struggles with her own bitterness. She so wants to forgive her daughter and be able to welcome her back. But will she ever have the chance?

Jody has created a life for herself in Australia, as far away from her family as she could get. But her world is falling apart. Her marriage has crumbled and she has just lost her job. How can she possibly support her twins?

Is it possible, dare she hope that her family would take her back?

During the holidays you might be pressed for time to read. This little book is a quick read and would be a great choice for a novella you can read in an evening.

It is a heartwarming story of the return of a prodigal. Just the right message for the Christmas season.

MaryAnn Diorio won several awards for her novel The Madonna of Pisano. She is Adjunct Online Professor of Fiction Writing for regent University and coaches writers on their journey to publication. She and her husband have two wonderful daughters and a fantastic son-in-law. Find out more about her at http://maryanndiorio.com/.

Harbourlight Books, a division of Pelican Ventures, LLC, 53 pages (approx.).

Buy the book from Amazon or ChristianBook.com

I am taking part in a blog tour of this book. You can find other reviews and watch a promotional video here.

I received a complimentary digital file of this book from a publicist for the purpose of this review.