Double Blind by Brandilyn Collins

Are you ready for suspense? Do you want a novel that will keep you awake at night – not because it is so scary (although it is intense), but because it is such a page turner you don't want to put it down? Pick up this latest book by Collins.

A miracle cure for people suffering from depression is ready for clinical trial. A new chip that, when inserted in the brain, sends out signals destroying the intense thoughts of depression. And Lisa is accepted into the program. Lisa who has suffered miscarriages, who suffered through her husband being killed, who was almost strangled to death by a mugger.

Lisa is a Christian but the struggle in her mind is so great she feels God has left her. The memories and the terror are just too much for her. The chip, the chip will let her have her life back.

And it seems like it is working...until the nightmares begin. Lisa sees visions of a murder. Over and over, the stabbing, the blood, the body, and the hands of the man who did it. She can't get rid of the visions.

Her life turns into a nightmare.

That sets the scene for Collins' latest thriller. And it is a good thriller. I read way too late into the night. The action is tight. The character development is superb. And the plot is the possible science of tomorrow. Researchers are already testing brain implants in patients who suffer from depression. A brain chip like the one Lisa got is not far off.

There are discussion questions at the end of the book. This would make a very good book for reading groups. There are twenty million Americans who suffer from depression so the subject is very timely.

If you are ready for a few late nights of suspenseful reading, grab this book!

Brandilyn Collins is a best-selling author known for her suspenseful novels. She is a three-time American Christian Fiction Writers Carol Award winner and has received Inspirational Reader's Choice and Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice honors. Brandilyn and her family have homes in California and Idaho. See more at http://www.brandilyncollins.com/

B & H Publishing Group, 328 pages. Publisher's product page.

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

As One Devil to Another by Richard Platt

I knew someone, sooner or later, would imitate C. S. Lewis and his classic Screwtape Letters. I remember reading Screwtape Letters (a couple of times). I then listened to a recording of the book by John Cleese. I was amazed! The voice inflection, the snarls, etc. The book came alive to me.

It was with that prior experience I listened to a recording of As One Devil to Another. What a disappointment. There was not that clever use of voice I expected. Listening to it was a little boring in places.

And that brings up the content of the book. The letters are from the senior devil to his nephew, a junior devil, just getting into the temptation game, so to speak. So we get only one side of the interaction. To make that work, the senior devil painstakingly recounts the events in which the junior devil participates.

As I recall, Lewis did this in a clever way. He did not have the senior devil merely retell the event. By clever use of statements, the actions of the event were implied, while not flat out retold. Unfortunately, Platt did not use that clever way of communicating. He just had the senior devil retell each event, and that was rather boring.

Another issue I had with the book was the temptations involved. As I recall, Lewis was clever at identifying pride, avarice, sloth, etc. as areas to which temptation should be aimed. This made Lewis' book timeless. It can be read by any generation.

This book seemed to address more current, cultural areas of temptation. Television is addressed, as is homosexuality. Rather than concentrating on timeless temptations, Platt seems to have limited himself to current considerations.

I am not going to take the time to go into the theology of the book. But I did find it rather odd that devils eat each other. But then, after all, this is fiction.

If you have not read (or listened to) Screwtape Letters, you might be totally satisfied with this book and really enjoy it. If you are a real fan of C. S. Lewis, you might be disappointed.

Go here to watch a video and see the publisher's product page.

Tyndale House Publishers, 208 pages.

Glorious Ruin by Tullian Tchividjian

What do you do when suffering comes your way? Rather than run from it, Tullian would have us learn from it. Suffering is going to happen. He wants us to be able to respond rightly to God in the midst of suffering.

Tullian preached a series of sermons on Job following a painful time in his life (the divorce of his parents after 41 years of marriage). Those sermons became the most listened to sermons he'd preached and this book is loosely based on them.

Suffering will happen. It forces us to confront the deeper questions of life and points to a deeper reality. Tullian desires that we would begin to comprehend the height, depth, and length of the love of Jesus in the midst of suffering.

He asks us to be honest about our suffering, not moralize or minimize it, hide it, or expect other to do so.

“The appropriate response to life in this world is grief and pain,” Tullian writes. “In fact, nowhere in the Bible do we find God sanctioning a 'suck it up and deal with it' posture toward pain.” (88) Suffering liberates us. “Only when we come to the end of ourselves do we come to the beginning of God.” (153)

Will we ever understand why? He quotes Larry Crabb's comment to him: “If you don't go to your grave confused, you don't go to your grave trusting.” (157) It is not the why but the Who that is important, Tullian says.

Tullian reminds us that the good news of the gospel is that God is there suffering with us, hanging on to us.

Watch a video about the book here.

Tullian Tchividjian is senior pastor of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, and visiting professor of theology at Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando.  You can find out more at www.liberatenet.org, www.crpc.org, or @PastorTullian.

David C. Cook, 208 pages.

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

Guest Post: 10 TIPS FOR FINDING CALM IN YOUR CHAOS by Tracie Miles

Exodus 33:14 says "My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.

Stress is a universal epidemic which has created desperation for peace in the hearts, minds, and souls of people everywhere. The problems of today’s world have created a sense of secret panic in the heart of every American, regarding jobs, homes, marriage, child rearing, financial security, and the future.

As a result, millions of people are forced to wake up every morning and face these stressors in their lives, feeling hopeless that life will improve, and inadequate and unequipped to make that happen. Although people have tried everything from massages to vacations and everything in between, many are overlooking the only real cure for stress – Jesus.

The inner peace that comes from the miracle of a changed heart, a renewed perspective on life, and a re-energized faith is the only kind of permanent peace available. Below you will find 10 tips for helping you tap into the peace-filled stress relief you have been searching for.

1. Recognize what is causing you the most stress and ask God to help you in those areas. Change the things you can change, but what you can’t change, turn over to God.

2. Reflect on what your definition of peace is. Is it based on your circumstances or your relationship with God? Ask God to help you relax because of who He is, not because life is conflict free.

3. Reclaim your identity. Make sure that the opinion you have of yourself lines up with what God’s Word says about you, and not the opinions of others or the trappings of comparison. Forgive those who have hurt you and embrace your worth and value in Christ.

4. Redirect your thoughts. Focus on becoming an optimist, putting pessimism behind you.

5. Rearrange your priorities and control your busyness. Ask God for guidance about what your priorities should be right now, and for the courage to make changes as He sees fit.

6. Refresh yourself by getting a portion of God’s Word every day, so that His peace can fill your heart. Also make time for yourself and do something that you enjoy.

7. Release your fears and worries to God, instead of letting them suffocate your joy and peace. Ask God for the strength to trust that He has it all under control.

8. Refocus on what’s really important in life. Don’t become consumed with sweating the small stuff.

9. Reinforce your faith by spending time in prayer, studying scripture, and fellowshipping with other believers. Equip yourself with spiritual armor so you will be prepared to stand strong when adversity strikes.

10. Recharge your life by humbling yourself before God, acknowledging your stress, and embracing the true rest that He offers.

To dig deeper into each of these 10 tips and learn how to apply them to your life, and to receive a daily challenge activity for each tip, sign up for Tracie’s free 10 DAY STRESS DETOX on her blog at www.traciewmiles.com.

The Trouble With Cowboys by Denise Hunter

Annie Wilkerson is a talented young woman – when it comes to horses. When it comes to people, well, she has problems. She doesn't trust cowboys (her mother went through a number of them) and she is surrounded by them.

She brings in some extra money by writing a column about horses, a column her grandfather used to write. She needs the money because she is helping her younger sister, Sierra, through college and providing for Sierra's son.

When the horse column is canceled, Annie desperately agrees to write a “Dear Annie” love column. In return for working with the horse of the town flirt, he agrees to help her with her advice column. Only he has as many problems with love as she does. The result is disaster.

This is a romance, pure and simple. The plot is very shallow. Girl meets boy. Girl and boy both experience tingling. Girl and boy have so many issues it seems as if they will never get together. You know the rest.

The one theme that comes through in the novel is control. Annie wants control. She wants to control her life and her sister's life. It is not until she relinquishes control to God that He can work things out.

There is a Reading Group Guide included at the end of the book.

If you like a simple Christian romance set in Moose Creek, Montana, this is for you. If you want complex issues the characters must grapple with, you won't find them here.

This is the last in The Big Sky series. Even if you have not read the earlier ones, you can still enjoy this one.

Denise Hunter has won The Holt Medallion Award, The Reader's Choice Award, The Forward Book of the Year Award, and was a RITA finalist.

See more about Denise Hunter at www.DeniseHunterBooks.com or join her Facebook group.

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

Show Me How to Share Christ in the Workplace by R. Larry Moyer

Moyer believes, “Every committed Christian needs to recognize that he or she is in full-time ministry.” (9) Whether you are a pastor or a plumber, all “who see Christ as their employer – all are in full-time ministry.” (10)

This doesn't mean that you are slacking in your job. Your time is used in a God honoring way. The Bible is the place to find out how this is done.

Moyer turns to Colossians 4:2-6. He uses that passage to investigate evangelizing effectively in the workplace.

He explains how to turn conversations to spiritual things (plow and pursue) and present the gospel with clarity and simplicity. It begins with prayer, living in an atmosphere of prayer. He notes key points to pray for in the workplace. He shows how to explain sin to a non-Christian. He explains the gospel, what it means to believe, and where repentance fits in.

He covers how to help new believers grow, explaining how to turn believers into disciples.

Finally, he shows how all of this can be transferred to public speaking opportunities. He explains how to write your own testimony, giving you a method you can master. He gives ideas on how to feel more comfortable at public speaking and outlines what kinds of evangelistic messages leaders can give. He includes a sample message. (It's funny!)

Moyer reminds us that for us to share our faith, we must live as we should. Our life should be one of wisdom toward those who are unbelievers. “Live in such a way that you draw non-Christians closer to Jesus instead of turning them away from Him.” (43) He describes what this looks like in the workplace.

This little book contains a wealth of information for any Christian in the workplace. The workplace is not merely a job; it's your ministry. If you want to lead another to Christ before you die but don't know how, this book makes it very clear.

Larry Moyer is the president, CEO and visionary of Dallas based EvanTell, one of the most innovative evangelistic organizations in the world. Moyer has been sharing the gospel simply and clearly and equipping believers to do the same for thirty-nine years. He has written three other books in the “Show Me How” series.

See more about this amazing ministry at www.EvanTell.org.

Kregel Publications, 176 pages.  Publisher's product page.

Please visit your local Christian bookstore to buy this book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the B&B Media Group, Inc., for the purpose of this review.

Stressed-Less Living by Tracie Miles

Are you feeling fatigued, frazzled, overworked, overloaded, overwhelmed, or over committed?

In this book, you'll learn how to recognize the signs of burnout, the symptoms of chronic stress and the consequences of ignoring stress.

Tracie had come to the point where stress was the norm for her life. She longed for her old life. God led her to a place that required her to step out in humility and swallow her pride. Stress overshadowed her faith. She realized she was the one who had to make the decision to change.

She found she was trying to control circumstances she had no control over. She was trying to fix things she had no resources to fix. She was worrying over problems she had no power to remedy.

Tracie helps us through a stress assessment. She encourages us to ask God to reveal the root cause for the stress. We are to pray for strength, courage and the desire to look deep into our soul, to see the problem for what it really is.

She reminds us that it will take time. “Real strength results from persistent communication and fellowship with him and allowing his words to guide us through each day.” (178)

Tracie's prayer: “...that you now have a heart that recognizes that Jesus is the answer to peace and serenity in a world characterized by chaos and stress.” (227)

Tracie has provided Bible verses with each chapter that are an encouragement to place our trust in Jesus. There are also questions at the end of each chapter that can be used for personal reflection or for a group setting. The questions are not about Scripture but ask for personal responses to the issues in the chapter.

Some readers may have difficulty identifying with Tracie as she quite a high stress job as part of her journey to less stress. But Tracie also shares many events from her daily life that shows how she has grown in her trusting Jesus for peace and serenity.

Go to www.stressedlessliving.com to see a video and read the first chapter.
 

Tracie Miles is a Christian speaker and author and is a freelance corporate trainer for Fortune 500 companies, teaching stress management, leadership, and performance-improvement skills. Tracie and her husband live in Charlotte, North Carolina, with their three teenage children. You can find out more about her at www.traciemiles.com.

Leafwood Publishers, 224 pages.

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

Guest Post: When Stress is Our Biggest Giant by Tracie Miles

When Stress Is Our Biggest Giant  -or-  God Is Bigger Than You Think

Our problems and our stress can sometimes seem so much bigger than we can handle, especially when we are not only facing one giant problem, but many. You may be facing a major giant right now—being in a personal relationship that has suffered many blows, a marriage that is crumbling more and more every day, a spouse addicted to pornography, a friend or family member held hostage by substance abuse, an inability to find employment despite daily efforts for months, home foreclosure, difficult bosses, harassing credit and collection phone calls, tragic accidents, chronic or terminal illness, family problems, sexual abuse, or worse.

Sometimes even our greatest efforts to manage our stress can seem futile when our giants seem too huge to ever overcome. Instead of seeing progress, we feel like we are just beating our head against the wall, over and over, becoming more stressed-out as the reality sinks in that we cannot change the situations that are stressing us, no matter how badly we wish we could.

Ever been there? I know I have.

I used to wake up every morning and start thinking about all the stressful things that I had to face that day. I would try to give myself a pep talk to preempt negativity: Today I will not allow things, circumstances, or people to push me over the edge. No matter what, I commit to maintaining my temper, my poise, and my attitude. I will trust God to be my portion and walk in his ways.

However, within two hours that heart-felt commitment would become a distant memory as I jumped head first into the day and got sucked deeper and deeper into all of my problems. In fact, on some days, it actually seemed like life had a chokehold on me, and no matter what I did, I couldn’t pry its ugly fingers from around my weakened jugular.

By the grace of God alone, I feel so blessed to have discovered years ago that life does not have to be that way and that God never intended for it to be. He never intended for us to lead lives of despair, stress, and dread. He never meant for us to be so bogged down with worry and stress that we would dread getting up in the morning; although, this type of living became a reality when sin came into his perfect world. But God is still God. We cannot escape our life, but he is our escape from stress.

Overcoming your stress begins with recognizing the fact that no matter what problems are causing you stress and anxiety, God IS BIGGER. Yes, he is bigger than the issue you are thinking about right now. He is bigger than the hopelessness that seems to be engulfing your every breath. He is bigger than the greatest fears you hold in your heart. He is bigger than the unrelenting stress that plagues your heart as you try to juggle all the demands for your time and attention throughout the day. He is bigger than your biggest challenge, whatever it may be.

As we become more mature in faith, learning to trust that God is capable of all things, we will see God as bigger and bigger every time we encounter him. God is, and was, and always will be the same, but as we give him sovereignty over our hearts, our awe of him increases.

You see, each time he intervenes in our lives, we witness his power and our view of him grows. Once we allow ourselves to grasp how big God really is, we can learn to put aside worry and stress, and learn to rest in knowing that he can handle our problems - leaving no need for us to destroy ourselves stressing over them.   

 

One of the biggest mistakes that Christians make is seeing the giants in our lives as so huge that we lose sight of the fact that God is bigger. But God’s desire is that with every new circumstance we face, we see not only the giant, but an opportunity to discover what he is capable of handling, and just how big he really is. And to discover that in Him, we can be less stressed.

Tracie Miles is a national speaker with Proverbs 31 Ministries, and the author of Stressed-less Living: Finding God’s Peace In Your Chaotic World. She is a contributing author to the Proverbs 31 Encouragement For Today devotions, and the P31 Woman Magazine. She considers herself the poster child for stress recovery, and has a passion to help others discover the peace that God can infuse into our lives, even when our circumstances are less-than-peaceful. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and three children.