Springtime of the Spirit by Maureen Lang
390 pages, 28 of 31 reviews are 4 or 5-star, Lending Enabled
204 pages, 7 of 7 reviews are 4 or 5-star, Lending Enabled
Does an infinite and all-powerful God really care about the everyday concerns of people? Jim Samra answers with an unequivocal and enthusiastic “Yes!” in this guide to hearing God’s direction in everything. From the trivial and mundane to the life-changing, God cares about it all because it concerns his creatures, his creation, and his kingdom.
In this unique book, Samra unpacks biblical passages and shares fascinating and surprising true stories about God’s guidance, encouraging readers to keep up a running conversation with their creator, to search for guidance in Scripture, and to pay attention to apparent coincidences. Readers who want to make godly decisions about the big things (where to live, where to go to school, where to work, who to marry) and the seemingly little things (which car to buy, which song to sing in church, who to talk to, what to say) will find a gifted and encouraging guide in Samra.
366 pages, 12 of 14 reviews are 5-star, Lending Enabled
To escape the Civil War, Jessica Hale heads to the Nevada Territory with her family, only to lose them in a fire set by Unionists. Can Jess forgive her “kidnapper,” cattleman Jake Bennett, for failing to save them?
Tammy Barley’s roots run deep and wide across the United States. With Cherokee heritage and such ancestors as James Butler “Wild Bill” Hickok, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Henry David Thoreau, she essentially inherited her literary vocation and her preferred setting: the Wild West. An avid equestrian, Tammy has ridden horseback over western mountains and rugged trails in Arizona.
An Uncertain Age by Ulrica Hume
422 pages, 7 of 9 reviews are 4 or 5-star
Drawn inexplicably to each other, their relationship is tested when Miles invites Justine to join him on a Santiago de Compostela pilgrimage. But before she can answer, Miles goes missing. Desperate to find him, and nudged by the French police, Justine slips into a dark night of the soul. As her radical search turns inward, she begins to explore her faith (or lack of). The love letters of Abélard and Héloïse play a part—as do fractals, the physics of color, and Saint Teresa of Ávila’s excruciating visions. Also a rare, gnostic book, Secrets of the Epinoia, which is as elusive as its owner.
Helping Justine unravel the mystery of Miles are two women: Gwynneth, a lapsed Anglican, and Dara, a devout Hindu housekeeper (whose intentions Justine prays are good). Their cloistered world is turned upside-down when a charismatic visitor appears with the keys to Miles’s past. Haunted by questions of truth, betrayal, and loss, it seems they are all connected in an unlikely, even mystical way—whether in France or Spain, England, or far-off places around the globe.
An Uncertain Age by Ulrica Hume is a quirky, interfaith novel about astonishing grace, and longing in all its forms.
314 pages, 18 of 20 reviews are 5-star
This book is centered around the relationship between ethnic Israel and biblical eschatology. For at the heart of biblical eschatology is what Isaiah referred to as “the controversy of Zion” (Isaiah 34:8) and what Jeremiah termed “the time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jeremiah 30:7). The “controversy of Zion” refers to the historical continuum of spiritual and natural conflict over the city of Jerusalem; the past, present and future Land of Israel; and the Jewish people whose ancient history and prophetic destiny are inextricably connected. The “time of Jacob’s trouble” refers to the Age-ending suffering of the Jewish people and the glorious restoration that follows. It is this time of “trouble” that lays the ancient contention and controversy to rest through the “restoration of the Kingdom to Israel” and the decisive once-and-for-all “judgment of the nations” who take part in the “final” assault on the people and the Land of Israel.
Raising Hell: Christianity’s Most Controversial Doctrine Put Under Fire by Julie Ferwerda
304 pages, of reviews are 4 or 5-star, Lending Enabled
Have you ever wondered…do earthly parents love their children more than God loves us? Does God ask you to forgive your enemies—as many times as necessary— when He is not willing to do the same? Is being punished forever for sins committed in a short lifetime really a demonstration of justice? Does everybody get the same fair chance to believe in Jesus before they die? Most of all, if hell is mankind’s worst possible fate, and if God is truly loving, then…
- Why does He fail to mention hell in Genesis as the price for sin?
- Why doesn’t the Old Testament ever speak of hell?
- Why does Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles, never once mention hell?
- Why was hell not part of early Church established doctrine?
Dare to question. What have you got to lose? If you’ve ever had doubts or questions about the justification for eternal torment, Raising Hell will open your eyes to a radical new look at God’s love for all mankind—and what the Good News is really about. Picking up where Rob Bell and others leave off, Julie Ferwerda offers compelling evidence as to why she now believes the doctrine of eternal torment is the biggest deception of the modern Church.
The Very Best Gift by Connie Neal
48 pages, 17 of 17 reviews are 4 or 5-star, Lending Enabled
A new collection of heartwarming and miraculous Christmas stories for adults or children. Guaranteed to lift your spirits and brighten the holiday season — whether you dread this time of year or celebrate it in all its glory. A great small gift or stocking stuffer for that Scrooge on your list or Mrs. Claus herself. Includes a recipe for Christmas Cocoa! Perfect if you need to give a GREAT inexpensive gift to a large group of people.
What is the best gift you have ever received? That one question set off a family competition that may reveal the very best gift of all. So, curl up for a few minutes to enjoy these stories yourself on a cold winter’s night or read The Very Best Gift to someone you love. Then make some Christmas Cocoa and reflect on the gifts you have given and received, and what the very best gift might mean to you and yours. Then spread the Christmas cheer by sharing The Very Best Gift with everyone on your list.
The Poison of Thorns by Robert Dennis Wilson
308 pages, 9 of 11 reviews are 4 or 5-star, Lending Enabled
Ten long years after the mysterious murder of their parents, two brothers have just been freed from incarceration in a prison-like orphanage. Against their wills they are torn apart and launched into separate quests against conflicting and dangerous forces. Independently they struggle to learn the truth and to resolve the unanswered cries for vengeance that have long consumed their lives with the poisoned thorns of unresolved bitterness. Finding themselves pitted against a strange and hostile world, overwhelmed with many questions; it becomes their individual obsessions to find the hidden answers and rescue each other.
Why were they locked away in that out-of-the way orphanage for ten long years, when they had living kin who would gladly have claimed them? Who are the sinister black-robed “Dragonmen” and what is their hidden agenda. And why are these blackrobes so interested in the two teenaged brothers that they would mobilize all of their considerable resources to possess them?
What is the significance of the shape of their isolated continent? Is it true that it appears to be a gigantic Dragon floating above the endless depths? What about the rumors that man-sized, almost invisible dragons are stalking their nights?
And finally, who are the mysterious followers of the mythical Gryphon? Why do they alone, of all the diverse peoples of Dragonsback, have the ability to swim in the dark bottomless waters that surround their land? And most importantly, who and where is that mysterious Swimmer; the man they both witnessed taking part in the drowning deaths of their parents? Is he still available… for retribution?
The Ark of Humanity by Scott Toney
313 pages, 9 of 10 reviews are 4 or 5-star, Lending Enabled
God flooded the earth to annihilate humanity’s sins. What if that sinful race didn’t die when floodwaters covered them but instead adapted to breathe water?
Under the depths of the ocean one boy has raised himself, until the day when he meets a dark-skinned man with news that will change the lives of his civilization forever.
Now he must save his people from another empire of water dwellers bent on enslaving the oceans and torturing his peaceful realm.
Yet another question is posed as he learns that his people are descended from humans that lived on the land above the ocean; a people that were destroyed by floods made by the rage of God.
If they have to, in order to escape, will they be able to breathe air and join whatever is left of the world above the waters?
What would they find there? Is the mythological Noah still alive?
269 pages, 7 of 7 reviews are 4 or 5-star, Lending Enabled
109 pages, 2 of 2 reviews are 5-star, Lending Enabled
This is the story of Lazarus of Bethany, told through tale and tribulation.
*
Darkness.
Nothing.
There was a void in the world around him, without light or sound.
A heaviness weighed on Lazarus’ soul as he grasped for being. He sensed in the darkness there had been light only moments before but he could not grasp what that light was.
Suddenly he felt a pulse in his chest. Something heavy held his body firm. Memories flooded through his mind of heat, cattle… family. Where are my sisters? What has happened to me?
Special Dispensations by SI Wells
2 of 2 reviews are 5-star, Lending Enabled
Religion and Politics – Chicago-style. When the Chicago Daily News accuses State’s Attorney Victor Pulaski of favoring the rich by disregarding the real story about the suicide of a society teenager, Chicago’s prosecutor unleashes his chief pit bull to dig up the dirt. “Fire Plug” O’Neill, the Senior Assistant State’s Attorney and a defense attorneys’ nightmare is ordered to track down the facts and apply the law in the finest Chicago tradition. Wielding the Grand Jury like a sledgehammer at a demolition party, O’Neill raises the ante on all of the suspects, including the Cardinal of Chicago and a prominent Bishop, until everyone reaches the boiling point in this high-stakes pursuit of the “truth.” Fans of television shows like “Law & Order,” “Criminal Minds” and “Suits” will feel right at home with SPECIAL DISPENSATIONS’ fast-paced action, fascinating cast of characters and finely-tuned twists and turns where Canon Law meets Common Law.
Red Leaves and the Living Token by Benjamin David Burrell
62 pages, 2 of 2 reviews are 4 or 5-star, Lending Enabled
Doctors tell Raj that his son Emret won’t survive his illness. As Raj struggles to prepare himself and Emret for the inevitable, he’s confronted by Moslin, his son’s nurse, who’s been filling Emret’s head with fairytales about heroic quests and powerful disease curing miracles. Emret now thinks that all he has to do is find the mythical Red Tree from the nurse’s stories, and he’ll live.
In an attempt to protect his son from further emotional damage, Raj asks Moslin to stay away from Emret. He returns hours later to find them both missing.
He searches the fairytales for clues to where they may have gone and stumbles upon stories that, strangely, he already knows. He saw them in a vision just before his son disappeared.
Sarah Jane: Liberty’s Torch by Eleanor Clark and Janice Thompson
188 pages, no reviews, Lending Enabled
Set in 1886 when the Statue of Liberty was dedicated.
Ten-year-old Kimberly Dawn is trying to figure out what it means to “be a good witness,” but is quickly discovering it’s not as easy as she’d hoped. Her grandmother shares the story of Sarah Jane, a youngster from their family who traveled from Pennsylvania to New York to see the Statue of Liberty in the late 1800′s. Through the life of this remarkable little girl, Kimberly learns what it means to “let your light shine.”
From Misery to Mystery by Lydia Istomina
346 pages, no reviews, Lending Enabled
“From Misery to Mystery” weaves together comedy, romance, adventure, intrigue, tragedy and spiritual revelation into a rich tapestry. From KGB interrogations in Soviet Russia to speed dating in downtown Kansas City, each chapter builds upon complex themes of enduring love, self-discovery, and spiritual fulfillment. This single-mother, immigrant, musician, preacher, daughter, story-teller guides struggles through betrayal, personal tragedy and social injustice without ever losing hope and child-like wonder. With just the clothes on her back and limitless determination, she builds a foundation of faith, love and happiness to sustain herself, her children and the man she loves.
Athanasius and the Nicene Creed by William Stephens
411 pages, no reviews, Lending Enabled
From the arid deserts of Egypt to Germany’s lush and mountainous Mosel River, the exiled Athanasius fought for the Nicene Creed. Through the reigns of seven emperors from Constantine to Valens, his fight took him from favored bishop to enemy of the state, from honored friend to the death sentence. Exiled or in flight five times, he took whatever life dealt him, whether the comfortable life in Treves (Trier) or constant narrow escapes in Alexandria and the burning sands of Egypt’s desert.
Throughout the war over the nature of Christ, emperors fought wars to gain and retain the throne, so the clash of sword was heard along with the bishops’ warfare. Mighty armies besieged cities, and legionnaires fought sword to shield in the blood and gore of the battlefield. Persians on the eastern front, barbarians invading from the north, and civil war between brothers went hand in hand with the theological warfare. Prison, torture, exile, abominable atrocities were not limited to the secular government; they were part and parcel of angry bishops fighting for what they believed.
Christians believed the persecution of Diocletian, the Great Tribulation prophesied in Revelation, ended with the conversion of Constantine. Now the millennium would begin, with a God-directed union of Christianity and the Roman empire. Instead, they were plunged into another Great Tribulation, and a union of church and state was welded so firmly that the Christian religion was changed forever.
Athanasius and the Nicene Creed is a novel depicting with historical accuracy the most important era of the Christian faith. The results remain with us today.
211 pages, no reviews, Lending Enabled
Christ lived a life of poverty, of suffering, and in a way that gave of Himself far more than anyone could ever give back. He lived according to God’s word, and did so flawlessly. Christ lived in such a way that when people looked at Him they saw God. When people questioned Him, and examined His life thoroughly they saw a reflection of the one true holy God. His life brought people into conviction, and into repentance because they were faced with their own rebellion against God. No one had to ask Christ, “Where is God,” because when they looked at Him they saw God.
How can we, imperfect sinners, live so powerfully? How can we, who struggle daily with temptation to go against God, live in such a way that the world around us sees God reflected through our lives? Is it possible to even give an answer to the world, when they look at our lives and ask, “Where is God?”
On the Inside by Jeanneniah Olmstead
145 pages, no reviews, Lending Enabled
Kaylah Roberts is tired of hearing about Taylor Johnson from her friends and family. She doesn’t like the way he lives, or the way he acts.
Kaylah is days away from her 18th birthday and is upset when she learns that her mother’s childhood neighbour’s son, Tyler, was giving permission to spend the summer with them.
She quickly finds out that Tyler isn’t so bad after all. He’s fun to hang around with and he’s a born-again Christian. He quickly turns into her best-friend, and she turns into his first best-friend.
When old friend’s of Kaylah’s show up, what will happen to Tyler? Will he be the odd one out like he used to be?
Kaylah realizes throughout the summer, that, not everyone remembers who they are and where they’ve come from. And sometimes you have to get to know someone before judging them.
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I have not read any of these books, so they may not be any good. Some of the books from previous Free Book posts or previous Kindle Deal posts are still available. If you want to see all free books as they come out you should follow Books on the Knob on their RSS or Twitter Feed. Or Ireaderreview or the many free book threads on Amazon’s Message Boards.
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