‘Amish Prayers’ compiled by Beverly Lewis – Book Review

One of my favorite topics/areas of interest since I have been a young person has been the Amish Community. I have been fascinated by them since I was about ten years old. When I was given the opportunity to review ‘Amish Prayers,’ compiled by Beverly Lewis, I knew I had to seize that opportunity!

Here is the synopsis of this sweet book:

A One-Of-A-Kind Collection of Inspiring Prayers Used by Amish and Mennonites For Over 300 Years!

The Amish and other Anabaptist groups have treasured the same book of prayers for centuries, turning to it for inspiration during times of peace as well as persecution. Now a selection of prayers from Die Ernsthafte Christenpflicht is readily available in English. This exclusive, authentic translation from the original German – with an introduction by best-selling author Beverly Lewis – pairs each prayer with a Scripture passage and offers insights into the rich spiritual foundations of the Plain people. Whether used for personal devotions or in a group setting, this beautifully illustrated collection will help draw you closer to God.

Here is the biography of Ms. Lewis:

Beverly Lewis, born in the heart of the Pennsylvania Dutch country, has more than fourteen million books in print. While Lewis’ own family heritage is Old Order Mennonite, she has many dear friends among Amish communities in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana. Her award-winning stories have been published in eleven languages and have regularly appeared on numerous bestseller lists, including The New York Times and USA Today.

In the Foreword, Beverly Lewis explains what her hope is for this book:

It is my hope that divine comfort and inspiration might spring from these remarkable Christian prayers, perhaps as a tool for confessing sin, offering thanksgiving, or guiding one’s worship. Most of all, I pray that you, the reader, might grasp some measure of the original writers’ desire for peace and protection in the midst of shared danger, as well as a fervent longing to embrace the grace and mercy of God while living in obedience to God’s teachings. (p. 11)

This book is separated by categories, including Prayers for Divine Guidance, Prayers of Gratitude, Prayers of Praise, Prayers for Strength, and Prayers of Unity.

Here is an example of one of the Prayers for Divine Guidance:

We ask You with our whole hearts, O holy, loving triune God in heaven, to build us up and establish us according to your hold will. Transform us and draw us mercifully to you. Aid us, that we may follow your commandments and serve you cheerfully and willfully.

Be our gracious bridge and way. Ever set our hearts and minds on the path of your holy and divine peace so that we may willingly cling to you and serve you as your dear children. Amen.

I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress; My God; in Him will I trust. Psalm 91:2 (p. 31)

This book includes beautiful pencil illustrations which enhance the simplicity and beauty of these prayers. This is a fairly small book which would easily fit into a purse or a laptop bag. It would make a terrific gift to give a dad or a grad, or anyone in between. The Amish have such wisdom, and couldn’t we all use more wisdom?! I thank Ms. Lewis for compiling these prayers, and making them more accessible to the masses, and to keep these prayers alive in our hearts after being available for so many centuries.

You can order this book here.

This book was published by Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

‘Hatteras Girl’ by Alice J. Wisler – Book Review

I love it when I am introduced to authors on Facebook. Such is the case with Alice J. Wisler. I am a friend of hers on Facebook. I am also a friend of her boxer, Levi, who has his own page on Facebook. After reading her posts – and his! – I knew I had to read her latest novel, ‘Hatteras Girl’!

Here is the synopsis of this novel:

Fall in love with Alice J. Wisler’s charming characters in this delightful story set in the beach communities of North Carolina’s Outer Banks.

Jackie Donovan prays for two things: an honest, wonderful man to marry and to own a bed-and-breakfast on the beautiful Outer Banks of North Carolina. In the meantime, she works for Lighthouse Views, writing articles about local business owners, and intrepidly goes on the blind dates set up by her well-meaning but oh-so-clueless relatives.

There’s one specific property Jackie dreams of purchasing: The Bailey Home, a fabulous old home located right next to the ocean, a place where Jackie spent many happy childhood afternoons. But the Bailey House has strange stories and secrets surrounding it – not to mention its outrageous price tag.

When Jackie meets handsome Davis Erickson, who holds the keys to the Bailey property, she believes God has answered both her prayers. But as Jackie learns some disturbing details about Davis’s past, she begins to wonder if her heart has lead her astray. Will she risk her long-held dreams to find out the truth?  

Here is the biography of this author:

Alice J. Wisler was born and raised in Japan as a missionary kid. She majored in social work After graduating from Canadian Academy, an international high school in Kobe, Japan, she got her BS in Social Work from Eastern Mennonite University in Virginia and has worked across the U.S. in that field.  She taught ESL (English as a Second Language) in Japan and at a refugee camp in the Philippines.  She also studied Spanish at a language institute in San Jose, Costa Rica.  She’s enjoyed staying at a number of bed and breakfasts in the South, in Japan, and in England, and would secretly like to run one if it just wasn’t so much work. The Outer Banks is one of her favorite vacation destinations. Currently, she lives in Durham, North Carolina, with her husband, Carl, and three children, Rachel, Benjamin, and Elizabeth plus dogs. In memory of her son Daniel, she gives online grief-writing courses, designs remembrance cards, and speaks across the country in Writing the Heartache. She is also the author of Rain Song and How Sweet It Is.

Alice’s next book, ‘A Wedding Invitation,’ is coming in October, 2011.

I really love the title character, Jackie Donovan. She is fun and lively! Here she is musing about why things are the way they are:

When Betty Lynn leaves, my mind wanders to wondering why we label folks with money as successful. I think about how God must rate our success and decide it has to be on much different terms. Jesus chose twelve disciples to hang out with, and had they lived today. I don’t think any of their names would appear in Fortune 500 magazine. (p. 11)

Good point!

She views the world from her spiritual and God-loving perspective. Here she wonders about how God sees us:

There are those who say God can do anything, and I believe it. I’ve never doubted that He hears our prayers, even the selfish and lame ones. Ever since I was little I’ve held awe for God. “He made the sea and all that’s in it,” my Sunday school teacher told our first-grade class.

But today I do not understand how God can stand all the chaos and confusion in this world and not be overwhelmed that He could just want to weep, and then step down here to gather his people and cradle us all the way home to heaven. (p. 104)

I love the deep friendship between Jackie and her housemate, Minnie. Here is a neat memory:

I remember Minnie telling me about her ideal wedding gown while we sat next to a mermaid in the back garden. She wanted a white satin dress trimmed in dolphin sequins and pink rosebuds. Years later, when she married at age twenty-one, she opted for a satin dress trimmed in lace, laughing at her childish dream.

We all gave her glass dolphins and pink roses anyway. (p. 194)

Another favorite character is Jackie’s brother’s friend, Buck. Here he is reflecting on how our heart’s desires change over time:

“….I really wanted to get into this art school about two years ago before I started working at the Grille. I applied and waited. But when the acceptance letter arrived, my heart had done some changing so that being molded by God was far more exciting than the acceptance.” He reached for his drink.

“Okay….” I’m not sure where Buck is going with this topic.

He takes a sip of his chai as I wait for what he has to say. “I changed in the meantime. The thing that was so important to me when I first wanted it wasn’t as vital when it happened. God had changed my heart in the process.”

I wonder if that’s how it’ll be with the Bailey House and me.

“I liked the art classes,” he said. “I can see how I needed them to make me a better artist. But when it turned out that what I asked God for over and over wasn’t the right thing for me after all.” (pp. 211-212)

I would have to say that Jackie Donovan is one of my favorite fictional characters of late. She did exasperate me at times with her choices, but she had to learn for herself, and she ultimately did see things for how they really were. I loved the conclusion of this novel, and do hope that Ms. Wisler does reprise these characters in future novels. I also think the recipes at the end of the book – for The Bailey House Lemon Cookies, L.J.’s Cornbread with Bacon, and Sheerly’s Tomato Pie – all sound yummy, and I am sure there will be delectable smells in our kitchen in the near future!

I really LOVED this book! I read it while I was in Nashville, Tennessee for a half marathon there. It was great to read while on vacation; it would have been ideal to have read it on a beach! I love Alice’s writing style – as I knew I would – and I look forward to reading other titles in her catalog. I highly recommend this book; it is a terrific and fun read!

You can order this book here.

This book was published by Bethany House Publishers and generously provided by the author.

‘The Damascus Way’ by Davis Bunn and Janette Oke – Book Review and Giveaway

One of my favorite books of 2010 was ‘The Hidden Flame’ by Davis Bunn and Janette Oke, the second book in the ‘Acts of Faith’ series, which focused on the Early Years of the Church when followers of the Way were interacting with the Disciples, etc... So when the third book in the series, ‘The Damascus Way,’ was released, I knew I wanted to continue following the story line as seen through the creative minds of Davis Bunn and Janette Oke. 

Here is the synopsis of this book:

The fledgling church is being scattered by persecution spearheaded by a fanatical young Pharisee who does not realize he is helping to spread the truth “unto the ends of the earth.”

Young Julia has everything money can buy, yet she and her Hebrew mother are less than second-class citizens. When Julia discovers the secret her Greek father has kept all these years, she is devastated. Her future is clouded with uncertainty.

Jacob, Abigail’s brother, is attempting to find his own place among the believers. Does it mean trading away the exhilaration and adventure of his current profession as a caravan guard? Hired to protect a wealthy merchant’s caravans on the secretive “Frankincense Trail,” Jacob also reluctantly takes on the perilous responsibility of passing messages between communities of believers dispersed across the land. He is alarmed to discover that Julia is also a courier. Can they put their initial mistrust aside to accomplish their mission?

An Earthshaking Encounter on the Way to Damascus Has Repercussion Far Beyond the Lives of Julia and Jacob.

This book was written by a dynamic duo who have had a great deal of success both individually and together. 

Here is the biography for Davis Bunn:

Davis Bunn has been a professional novelist for twenty years.  His books have sold in excess of six million copies in sixteen languages, appearing on numerous national bestseller lists.

Davis is known for the diversity of his writing talent, from gentle gift books like The Quilt to high-powered thrillers like The Great Divide.  He has also enjoyed great success in his collaborations with Janette Oke, with whom he has co-authored a series of groundbreaking historical novels.

In developing his work, Davis draws on a rich background of international experience. Raised in North Carolina, he completed his undergraduate studies at Wake Forest University. He then traveled to London to earn a master’s degree in international economics and finance before embarking ona distinguished career that took him to more than thirty countries in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.

Davis has received numerous literary accolades, including three Christy Awards for excellence in fiction.  He currently serves as Writer-in-Residence at Regent’s Park College, Oxford University, and is a sought-after lecturer on the craft of writing.

(Photo courtesy of Chris Kidler, Florida Today)

Here is the biography for Janette Oke:

Janette Oke was born in Champion, Alberta, to a Canadian prairie farmer and his wife, and she grew up in a large family full of laughter and love.  She is a graduate of Mountain View Bible College in Alberta, where she met her husband, Edward, and they were married in May of 1957.  After pasturing churches in Indiana and Canada, the Okes spent some years in Calgary, where Edward served in several positions on college faculties. She has written forty-eight novels for adults and another sixteen for children, and her book sales total nearly thirty million copies.

The Okes have three sons and one daughter, all married, and are enjoying their fifteen grandchildren.  Edward and Janette are active in their local church and make their home near Didsbury, Alberta.

As in ‘The Hidden Flame,' the main character in ‘The Damascus Way’ is Abigail; also prominently featured are other early followers of the Way, including Peter, Ananias,  Martha, and the Samaritan woman at the well, whose name in this novel is Helzebah. 

I loved both of the parallel storylines following Julia and Jacob, and Jacob’s sister, Abigail. I was particularly struck by the faithfulness and love for their Lord and others of the followers of Christ. They all were changed by their relationship with Him and by the guidance of the Holy Spirit. There were major character improvements in all of the new followers; it was inspirational! Here is an example of one character, Linux, a Roman soldier, explaining his transformation:

The drover cackled once more. “And you are as strange a Roman as ever I have had occasion to meet.”

“I am a man remade by Jesus, the risen Christ.”

The elder studied him. “If this Jesus of your can turn two Romans into guardians of poor Judeans, then he is powerful indeed.”

“I stand as testimony to the truth of your words,” Linux said. “And I shall pray to Him tonight for the salvation of your soul, you and all your clan.” (p. 105)

This book is packed with valuable information pertaining to life in that era and area. For instance, I was interested in learning more about frankincense:

Jacob knew that perhaps the most valuable item in the world was frankincense. It formed the core component of virtually every perfume and was used as incense in Greek, Roman, and Judean religious rites. Frankincense was a key ingredient in embalming and burials. And, perhaps most important, for those who could afford it, frankincense was considered to have powerful healing qualities. It was used for the treatment of breathing difficulties, joint ailments, and chest inflammations.

The Hebrew word for frankincense was levonah, also the unofficial name of the ancient Phoenician kingdom to the north of Judea. Phoenician traders had held a virtual monopoly on its trade for over a thousand years. (p. 120)

I also loved the fact that this book was written by two excellent authors. I am not sure how Mr. Bunn and Mrs. Oke split up the writing, but it is seamless and incredible! I am naturally interested in this era of Church history, but I am particularly interested when the writing is so incredibly well done!

Another interesting aspect of this book is the fact that it looked at Paul’s conversion on the Road to Damascus. I am so inspired by the fact that God took this Pharisee that was so damaging to the Church, and converted him to such an extent that he became one of the most important Christ followers who ever lived! That turnaround gives hope to all of us who have made mistakes in life (and none of us are exempt in that category). I was hoping to see more of Saul of Tarsus in ‘The Hidden Flame,’ but am grateful that he was included in this last book in the series.

I really loved this book! As noted, I did read the second book in this ‘Acts of Faith’ series, ‘The Hidden Flame’ (you can read my review here). I have not read the first book, ‘The Centurion’s Wife;’ it is definitely on my Wish List!

You can order this book here.

This book was published by Bethany House and provided by the Blogging Bistro for review purposes.

____________________________________________________

I have one copy of this book to give along; many thanks to Laura at Blogging Bistro for generously providing the copy!  You will WANT to read this excellent book!

There are several ways to gain entry:           

1) Leave a comment here on the blog, telling me what is most intriguing to you about this novel. Please make sure to leave your email address in this format – sample[at]gmail[dot]com. 

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Win a copy of ‘The Damascus Way’ by @davisbunn and @bethany_house from @andrealschultz. http://bit.ly/kSuHj6 Please RT!

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So there are many, many chances to enter and therefore win! Please limit one entry per option (except for the Twitter option), and don’t forget to include your email address, or, sad to say, the Random Number Generator will have to choose a different winner.

This giveaway is for U.S. residents only. The deadline for entry is Wednesday, May 11, 2011 at 11:59 p.m. EST. One winner will be chosen via the Random Number Generator on Thursday, May 12, 2011 and will be contacted via email. The best to all of you!

Interview with Davis Bunn, author of 'The Damascus Way'

Tomorrow, I will be posting my book review (plus a giveaway!) of 'The Damascus Way,' the latest release from the Dynamic Duo of Davis Bunn and Janette Oke. Today, we have some biographical information on Mr. Bunn, as well as a Question and Answer session.

The Damascus Way is the finale to the best-selling Acts of Faith trilogy co-authored by Davis Bunn and Janette Oke.
Book 1 is The Centurion's Wife
Book 2 is The Hidden Flame

About Davis Bunn

“Wise teacher.”

“Gentleman Adventurer.”

“Consummate writer.”

“Renaissance Man.”

Reviewers, readers and friends use those phrases to describe Davis Bunn. An internationally-acclaimed author who has sold more than six million books in sixteen languages, Davis is equal parts writer, scholar, teacher, and sportsman.


Born and raised in North Carolina, Davis left for Europe at age twenty. There he first completed graduate studies in economics and finance, then began a business career that took him to over forty countries in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia.


Davis came to faith at age 28, while living in Germany and running an international business advisory group. He started writing two weeks later. Since that moment, writing has remained both a passion and a calling.


Davis wrote for nine years and completed seven books before his first was accepted for publication. During that time, he continued to work full-time in his business career, travelling to two and sometimes three countries every week. His first published book, The Presence, was released in 1990 and became a national bestseller.


Honored with three Christy Awards for excellence in historical and suspense fiction, his bestsellers include The Great Divide, Winner Take All, The Meeting Place, The Warning, The Book of Hours, and The Quilt.


A sought-after speaker in the art of writing, Davis serves as Writer In Residence at Regent’s Park College, Oxford University.

Christy Awards

• The Meeting Place (co-authored with Janette Oke)
  Best North American Historical fiction, 2000
• The Great Divide – Best Suspense Novel, 2001
• Drummer in the Dark – Best Suspense Novel, 2002

Q & A with Davis Bunn

How did you and Janette Oke originally establish your writing relationship?

Janette had read several of my early works and liked my sense of drama. I had read a number of hers, and was just amazed at her ability to weave in the fragile and beautiful emotions of a woman’s heart. We were at the annual gathering of Christian publishers when we first talked about writing together. Six months later, we met in Canada and began work on our first book. That was fourteen years ago.

What inspired you to write Acts of Faith, a series of three books set in the earliest days of the church?

Janette Oke and I have wanted to do a Bible-based series for years. Then health issues forced her to retire, and it looked like we would never have that opportunity. Three years ago, she came out of retirement, specifically so that we might do this final trio of books together. It has been an answer to a prayer for us both. We have so enjoyed this project.

How did you and Janette Oke flesh out people from the Bible and weave them into the Acts of Faith books?

The writing of The Hidden Flame carried a number of challenges, and building a character from the little we know about Stephen was one of them. There were several excellent commentaries that taught me a great deal, and it led to some truly beautiful discussions with Janette. That has been one of the unexpected gifts derived from this trilogy, how much I have learned from her own deep insights into the Scriptures.

As for Stephen’s fate, we started from the passage in Acts where the first martyr was named Stephen and worked back. There are very few such names given to those who sacrifice everything. We felt it happened here both because he was the first, and because he played such a vital role in this transforming moment in our church’s history. Stephen served as mediator between the congregation and the most vulnerable – outsiders who were also either widowed or orphaned. He was entrusted with their care and their provisions. And he sought to share his newfound faith with a group of outcasts – those who worshipped at the Freedman’s Synagogue.

Our biggest concern here was to have Stephen become married. First Corinthians names several of the apostles and church leaders who are wed. So we figured it would be okay, even if Stephen wasn’t – the Scriptures do not say. Thankfully, up to now we have not received any negative reaction to this.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

This is a huge question, and one we go through a lot with. In this series, we started with THREE lists of names – Judean, Roman, and Greek. In The Damascus Way, we added a fourth list, for early Christian names. We go back and forth and back and forth. It is like naming baby. Everybody gets involved. My wife, the editors, sometimes even the marketing people.

How much of yourself do you write into your characters?

The emotions are certainly mine. But the characters are themselves. Some of the things they experience, in the sense of growing through something, are very essential to me and Janette. But the characters are who they are, and the further along we go in the story, the further and further they grow away from us.

Were any of the stories in this series especially poignant for you?

Without question, it would have to be the third and final book in this series. The Damascus Way centers upon one of the most crucial components of the Book of Acts – the persecution of the early church and the miraculous confrontation between Jesus and Saul of Tarsus.

There is the beginning of signs and wonders within the growing church. The church expands at a rate that is astonishing and miraculous to everyone involved. The Judean Temple hierarchy and the Roman government grow hostile to the church. Stephen has become the first martyr.

It was a true growing experience to spend these days and weeks and months so deeply involved with the Followers of the Way.

For me, The Damascus Way is by far the richest book in the series. Other readers, especially women, have come in strong for book one or two, but Damascus for me holds the most powerful elements. Not just for this series, but for everything Janette and I have done together.

I heard a really nice thing yesterday. I happened to bump into a friend at the supermarket, and he told me how someone had stood up in the middle of the formal church service on Sunday – at a church on the other side of the county – and lifted Damascus over his head and said everyone in the church had to go out and read this book, that it was life-changing. What a huge gift.

What is the biggest personal lesson you have learned from writing the Acts of Faith series?

The greatest lesson I personally have gained from this series is how our world is reshaped through the vision of Jesus. This is a truth revealed time and again through the Book of Acts. We hope this same truth will shine within our pages. Our hope is that each of these stories will ignite in the reader a new hunger to enrich themselves through the treasures found in the Book of Acts.

Our first book, The Centurion’s Wife, dealt with the forty days between the resurrection of Jesus and the arrival of Pentecost.

The key component of our second book in the series, The Hidden Flame, was what I called the passing of the torch. Jesus left, and his disciples took over. They moved from the position of followers to leaders. What an enormous challenge that must have been, and yet how similar it is to the challenge any leader faces today.

In The Damascus Way, the third book of our trilogy, we create a story based upon outreach. We look at what it means to engage in evangelism, and seek a clearer understanding of the challenges and mysteries faced by those earliest believers. And we seek to enrich the glorious moment when Saul, the early church’s greatest enemy, was called to faith by our Lord.  

How can readers find you on the Internet?

My website, blog, and interactive discussion group are at www.davisbunn.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Davis-Bunn-author/134762129885578

Twitter: @davisbunn - http://twitter.com/davisbunn

The photo of Mr. Bunn is courtesy of Chris Kidler, Florida Today.