Fantastic Novel {Rule of Law Book Review}

My favorite book I've read this year...and I have read MANY!! How I haven't read a Randy Singer novel before I'm not sure, but this one will not be my last! Perfect blend of murder, mystery, political suspense, and legal tensions. The main characters are quite complex, and the minor characters add depth and interest to the novel. Kudos to Singer for providing a list of the characters at the front of the book; there were a few times I referred back to it to make sure I had the characters straight.

I think what makes the novel so riveting is the fact this fictional storyline is actually quite plausible. At the very least, I'm sure that some areas of the plot have and will continue to take place within the US political system. Rule of Law is a fantastic "Law and Order meets James Michener" work of art (without taking away whatsoever that Singer is an accomplished and gifted author in his own right). I look forward to reading more of his novels!

*I received a copy of this book from the publisher, but was under no obligation to write a review. My honest opinion has been provided without any requirement to write a positive review.*

Rule of Law (Tyndale, September 2017)

What did the president know? And when did she know it?

For the members of SEAL Team Six, it was a rare mission ordered by the president, monitored in real time from the Situation Room. The Houthi rebels in Yemen had captured an American journalist and a member of the Saudi royal family. Their executions were scheduled for Easter Sunday. The SEAL team would break them out.

But when the mission results in spectacular failure, the finger-pointing goes all the way to the top.

Did the president play political games with the lives of U.S. service members?

Paige Chambers, a determined young lawyer, has a very personal reason for wanting to know the answer. The case she files will polarize the nation and test the resiliency of the Constitution. The stakes are huge, the alliances shaky, and she will be left to wonder if the saying on the Supreme Court building still holds true.

Equal justice under law.

It makes a nice motto. But will it work when one of the most powerful people on the planet is also a defendant?

Learn more and purchase a copy.

Randy Singer is a critically acclaimed author and veteran trial attorney. He has penned more than ten legal thrillers, including his award-winning debut novel "Directed Verdict." In addition to his law practice and writing, he serves as a teaching pastor for Trinity Church in Virginia Beach, Virginia. He also teaches classes in advocacy and ethics at Regent Law School and serves on the school's Board of Visitors.

Mercy Triumphs {Book Review. Excellent finale to a great contemporary novel series}

I really, truly wish this third book was not the final one in the series. The substance, storylines, tension, and conflict make Mercy Triumphs a book you will want to finish in one day; I know, because that is exactly what I did.

While this book can be read as a stand-alone work, I highly recommend reading the first two books before reading Mercy Triumphs. The power of witnessing an American family living in Sudan, sharing about Christ, seeing the persecution taking place in Africa, and watching various characters within the book seeking out God's plan for their lives is quite incredible. What we believe God has planned for our lives is often not what He has planned for us... but when we trust Him and look beyond ourselves, we get to see that 'God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose' (Romans 8:28). Mercy Triumphs displays this beautifully, and for that reason I cannot recommend it enough.

*I received a copy of this book from the publisher, but was under no obligation to write a review. My honest opinion has been provided without any requirement to write a positive review.*

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Mercy Triumphs (New Hope Publishers, September 2017)

Three women. Three impossible circumstances. One merciful God.

Mia, an American Christian, has lived in Sudan so long that persecution, harassment, and danger have become commonplace for her. Her tough outer shell threatens to harden her heart while her newly Christian friends, Halimah and Rania, former Muslims, are forced to live in exile outside Sudan. All three quickly discover that escaping danger in one place only means facing even greater challenges elsewhere. As God’s mercy becomes evident in their lives, they must choose whether or not to offer mercy to those who don’t deserve it.

Third in a trilogy, Mercy Triumphs opens the reader’s eyes to modern-day persecution and the life of Muslims in Sudan. Based on real-life events, Mercy Triumphs reveals some of the struggles Christians face when living under Islamic law. The reader will be inspired to pray for new believers, those who are persecuted for their faith, and even for the salvation of the persecutors.

Learn more and purchase a copy.

Author of the captivating novel "Side by Side," Jana Kelley is a Texan who hardly ever lives in Texas. Raised in Southeast Asia, Jana developed a love for cross-cultural living early in life. Her love for writing came soon after. Jana returned to Texas to attend East Texas Baptist University. She and her husband married a month after she graduated, and by their second anniversary, they were living in a remote African town. After 13 years living in Africa and the Middle East, Jana, her husband, and their three boys moved to Southeast Asia where they currently live.

The Child Safeguarding Policy Guide {Book Review}

I had several reasons for choosing to read this book: I'm the Nursery Coordinator at a church whose Sunday weekly attendance is just under 3,000; my husband is also on staff as the Small Groups Pastor; we lead a small group and I'm sometimes involved in Biblical counseling sessions; and, above all else, I'm a mother of six--with 3 of my children being adopted out of foster care. Because of these various roles, child safety as well as an awareness of how to help adults who suffered child abuse are quite important to me.

I feel this book is a great resource for the following people:

Children's Ministry Director for its emphasis on volunteer background checks, check-in check-out safety procedures, security measures when children are in the children's ministry classrooms, how to recognize abuse (that's occurring outside of church), and how to create appropriate adult/child interaction within the classrooms.

Pastor who oversees staff hiring process and the overall facilities (at my church this is the Associate Pastor). For him, the book is a good resource for not just the hiring of church staff, but also ideas for having great security measures in place when children are in the building. It provides info that will help recognize the desired environment of a child predator. Also, the book shares ways to put guidelines into place for people who need to limit their contact with children (via a written contract) and how to communicate with other local churches when a potential predator leaves one church and moves on to try and plug in to another church.

Biblical Counseling Pastor or Director of Biblical Counseling. The book provides good information on how to come alongside and help an adult who experienced abuse as a child. Anyone else who helps serve as an advocate to that person (someone in their small group, possibly another pastor at church) would also benefit from this section of the book.

Elder Board, Senior Pastor, or similar key decision team. If a church is wanting to get fully onboard and seek out how to become a GRACE (Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment) certified church, the leadership should review this book, seek out more info on GRACE itself, and then pursue the path that leads to the certification. Even if a church doesn't want a full certification, the leadership may still decide to put measures from the book into place in how they approach church policies and procedures.

My main complaint with the book is I feel the title omits that the book contains a section on how to come alongside adults who were abused as children. That section was a tremendous resource for me, yet the title makes you think the book is just about keeping kids safe at church. But other than that, I truly think this is an excellent book. 

*I received a copy of this book from the publisher, but was under no obligation to write a review. My honest opinion has been provided without any requirement to write a positive review.*

ABOUT THE BOOK

The Child Safeguarding Policy for Churches and Ministries (New Growth Press, August 2017)

Churches have always sought to be a safe haven for children and families, but many today are dealing with the tragic reality of child sexual abuse.

This handbook, authored and edited by a multidisciplinary team of child abuse experts, is designed for use by a group that will be formulating policies and procedures to protect children and deal with possible child abuse in their ministry, school, and/or church. Working through this book will assist churches and ministries to assess their current child abuse polices and then guide them through each step they need to take to address the safety of children under their care. It will cover vitally important topics including:

—Protecting the children in a Christian environment from child abuse
—The warning signs of child abuse
—Crafting and implement a child protection policy
—Responding to abuse allegations
—Caring for victims of child abuse
—The legal implications and requirements for churches and Christian ministries

Written by a GRACE team with multi-disciplinary knowledge, headed by Boz Tchividjian, a lawyer and former child abuse prosecutor, this handbook will be an invaluable resource to Christians who are seeking to educate themselves and others about child abuse and how to best protect the little ones under their care.

Learn more and purchase a copy.

Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment) is a nonprofit organization made up of highly trained, experienced multidisciplinary professionals who seek to educate and empower the Christian community to identify, confront, and respond to the sin of child abuse.

Find out more about GRACE at http://www.netgrace.org.