I Books

My grandfather served with the Devils Brigade, and since knowing that I wanted to learn more about this extraordinary elite unit of WWII. What I found was perhaps one of the best oral recount's of one of the finest units to ever exist. Having grown up in East Helena (3 miles east of Helena, Montana) and working at one point out at Ft. William Henry Harrison, this book gave me a new found respect for my grandfather and the great men who served in the First Special Service Force. Having finished the book I passed it on to my grandfather and he couldn't let it go. Driving by Memorial Park in Helena and watching the American and Canadian Flags both flying next to the First Special Service Force memorial, day and night, 365 days a year, I can't help but utter a simple, "thank you" everytime I go past it to those that are still living and those that perished for the freedom they helped provide for both countries.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants a greater depth of knowledge of this elite unit, or for the military buffs who wish to learn about or learn more of this outstanding unit!

My grandpa happened to pass away about 6 years ago, and he happened to be a part of the Black Devil Brigade. His accounts are in this book, his name is Fred Hubbard, and throughout the book he moves from a 2nd LT to a Captain. The funny thing is, I married a man who just commissioned into the army as a 2nd LT. and will soon be deploying. It is amazing to hear the story of what my grandfather when through captured in a book. The things these men endured for our freedom will always amaze me. I will always wish that I spent more time picking my grandpas brain while he was alive, but I am thankful to have this book to remember these things. This book really captures the essence of what these men went through, and what began what is the special forces today.

Hats off to Joe Springer....! He did the men of 5-2 and the FSSF an honor. My father was a Lieutenant in 5-2 FSSF and one of the main characters of the book, and Joe's Uncle was one of my father's NCO's who was KIA on Anzio. The personal accounts in the book may sound far fetched and exaggerated. However, this is far from the truth. The exploits of the men of the FSSF are a matter of record. Every man who served in the FSSF is a very unique individual. I got to know many of these gentlemen over the years by attending the annual FSSF reunions. And yes, what an honor and a privilege to just meet and speak with them about WWII and life in general. Every man in the FSSF willingly, and knowingly volunteered to join a unit where the odds of being accepted in the unit is less than 20%, and your chances for survival were even less. Thank You Joe for getting my father to open up regarding his experiences during WWII for your book. It also meant so much to him to honor the men in his command who were taken, that were not only soldiers/warriors, but true friends forever.

TAKE ABOUT FIFTY AMERICAN AND CANADIAN WORLD WAR TWO COMBAT VETERANS THAT WILLINGLY VOLUNTEER FOR A WINTER SUICIDE MISSION BEHIND GERMAN LINES. THEY ALL HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF EXPLOSIVES, THEY ARE SKIERS, PARATROOPERS, AND ARE EXPERT SHOOTERS. THEY BECOME THE BEST TRAINED AND HIGHLY MOTIVATED AND FIERCEST SOLDIERS THAT THERE GENERATION AND NATIONS PRODUCED. SEND THEM TO CENTRAL ITALY, ANZIOBEACH, AND SOUTHERN FRANCE WHERE THEY SLAUGHTER FIFTEEN TO TWENTY THOUSAND GERMANS. MORE THAN SIXTY YEARS PASS BY AND THEN THESE SAME FIFTY COMMANDOS INVITE YOU INTO THERE HOMES AND TELL YOU ABOUT THE FUNNY, SAD, AND ASTOUNDING THINGS THAT HAPPENED TO THEM IN COMBAT. THAT IS WHAT THIS BOOK IS ALL ABOUT.

Mr. Springer may have been initially motivated by the desire to honor his uncle (killed serving with the First Special Service Force) but his work honors all who served in that unit. One seldom sees an oral history which tells the story of a unit so well. All the contributions by unit members tell the story without the distractions often found in other compilations. Always engaging, you just don't want to put the book down. Not only does one learn about the unit and individuals who made up that unit but one also learns about the equipment used, how it was acquired, and the soldiers' opinions of its performance. An amazing amount of information presented in a way that also entertains and honors the men who served.

Recommend: Yes

Genre: Evangelism

Introduction:

There is no doubt that in my mind -- from both personal experience and observation of those around me -- that there seems to be a tension with the thought of God being completely sovereign in the affairs of man, namely salvation in this context, and the thought of God requiring us to share the truth that we have with those who don't know it. "If God is truly sovereign over who gets saved and how they get saved," so the argument goes, "then there is really no point in me going out of my way in witnessing the gospel of Christ to unbelievers. God is in charge . . . and if they're going get saved with or without me then there is really no point in investing my time in evangelism."

Though sad to admit, this has become the pervasive thought of many Christians today. One of the many charges leveled against Calvinism and its emphasis on the sovereignty of God in salvation is that which I just brought up. "It doesn't make sense," they say.

Despite the arguments and the critiques, Scripture clearly presents both of these truths -- the sovereignty of God in saving sinners and the duty of Christians to evangelize (to share the gospel message of Christ and His saving work accomplished on the cross, received on the basis of faith). It is natural for the human mind to want to smooth out all the rough edges, as it were, to make it more comprehensible. Wanting to do this many err on either side. On the one hand you have those who emphasize the duty and responsibility of man to evangelize and they tend to leave God out of the equation in the process of salvation, as if salvation if all about man picking himself up by the bootstraps and gathering all the willpower to be saved. That of course has some real problems when you stop and ponder the biblical picture of man -- man without God -- and how utterly unable and unwilling they are to choose Christ in and of himself (e.g., Eph. 2:1-3; Tit. 3:3; Jer. 17:9, etc.).

But then we have those who overemphasize the sovereignty of God; so much so that we end up with a fatalistic system where man is seen simply as a robot, with no self-desire -- a mere puppet in the hands of a puppeteer. This, again, has some serious Bible to deal with. Passages are replete which emphasize the call to repent of sins, to turn to Christ, to come and choose life (e.g., Acts 17:30-31; Matt. 11:28-30, etc.). But within the context of evangelism, no passage is more clearer than Matthew 28:19-20 (NASB), which has been commonly referred to as the "Great Commission":

"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

With such a controversial subject, J.I. Packer seeks to deal with it head-on, using the Bible as his guide and source. Though a short treatment of the subject, it doesn't lack in content. Packer has a way with words unlike many men whom I have read, which makes his ability to communicate effective and winsome.

Book Structure:

The book follows a simple outline. Packer first deals with the issue of divine sovereignty and how both Arminians and Calvinists find common ground on this issue. "On our feet we may have arguments about it, but on our knees we are all agreed" (p. 17).

In chapter two the core issue is dealt with, divine sovereignty and human responsibility. He admits the apparent contradiction -- which Packer defines as an antinomy (def. "an antinomy . . . is an observed relation between two statements of fact. It is not deliberately manufactured; it is forced upon us by the facts themselves . . . We do not invent it, and we cannot explain it. Not is there any way to get rid of it, save by falsifying the very facts that led us to it" [p. 21]) -- and concludes that there is a certain mystery to this subject, but the Bible nonetheless teaches these two truths. Far it be from us to cast aside any of these truths which the Bible makes so clear.

Packer then addresses evangelism in chapter three with four questions which he answers throughout the chapter: 1. What is evangelism?; 2. What is the evangelistic message?; What is the motive for evangelizing?; 4. By what means and methods should evangelism be practised? This is a meaty chapter which is very enlightening.

And finally in chapter four, Packer goes back once more and talks about divine sovereignty and evangelism. Suffice it to say that Packer does a superb job in dealing with such a intricate and mysterious subject, such as this one, simply and effectively. In his final lines, Packer sums up the effects of the sovereignty of God in our evangelistic efforts:

"Not only does it undergird evangelism, and uphold the evangelist, by creating a hope of success that could not otherwise be entertained; it also teaches us to bind together preaching and prayer; and as it makes us bold and confident before men, so it makes us humble and importunate before God" (p. 125).

Notable Quotes:

* "While we must always remember that it is our responsibility to proclaim salvation, we must never forget that it is God who saves. It is God who brings men and women under the sound of the gospel, and it is God who brings them to faith in Christ. Our evangelistic work is the instrument that He uses for this purpose, but the power that saves in not in the instrument: it is in the hand of the One who uses the instrument" (p. 27).
* "Evangelism is man's work, but the giving of faith is God's" (p. 40).
* "...It was the news about Jesus of Nazareth. It was the news of the incarnation, the atonement, and the kingdom-the cradle, the cross, and the crown-of the Son of God. It was the news of how God `glorified his servant Jesus' by making Him Christ, the world's long-awaited `Prince and . . . Savior'. It was the news of how God made His Son Man; and how, as Man, God made Him Priest, and Prophet, and King; and how, as Priest, God also made Him a sacrifice for sins; and how, as Prophet, God also made Him a Lawgiver to His people; and how, as King, God has also made Him Judge of all the world, and given Him prerogatives which in the Old Testament are exclusively Jehovah's own-namely, to reign till every knee bows before Him, and to save all who call on His name. In short, the good news was just this: that God has executed His eternal intention of glorifying Hos Son by exalting Him as a great Saviour for great sinners" (p. 47).
* "Regarded as a human enterprise, evangelism is a hopeless task. It cannot in principle produce the desired effect. We can preach, and preach clearly and fluently and attractively; we can talk to individuals in the most pointed and challenging way; we can organize special services, and distribute tracts, and put up posters, and flood the country with publicity-and there is not the slightest prospect that all this outlay of effort will bring a single soul home to God. Unless there is some other factor in the situation, over and above our own endeavours, all evangelistic actions foredoomed to failure. This is the fact, the brute, rock-bottom fact, that we have to face" (p. 109).
* "We may not trust in our methods of personal dealing or running evangelistic services, however excellent we may think them. There is no magic in methods, not even in theologically impeccable methods. When we evangelize, our trust must be in God who raises the dead. He is the almighty Lord who turns men's hearts, and He will give conversions in His own time. Meanwhile, our part is to be faithful in making the gospel known, sure that such labour will never be in vain. This is how the truth of the sovereignty of God's grace bears upon evangelism" (p. 117-8).

Conclusion:

Conclusion is that Packer has given a great gift to the church is dealing with this issue and presenting a biblical (and logical, though mysterious) answer a question which often plagues the believer.

A great blessing is in store of the man that picks up this book. Need I add more?

When we as Christians try to reach out to others to share the good news of the Gospel, it's so easy to fall into a trap of relying on our abilities and techniques (our own or those we learn from others). In this book, J.I. Packer lays out a clear case for why all such efforts are doomed to fail, unless we recognized that it's fruitless without God also moving in the life of a new believer.

So what does that mean? That we need not bother? Far from it! Further, if only the elect are saved, does God really need us? He does, and we need to understand why. It's all in the Bible, but just as good commentaries help us to understand the context of a passage, and relate it to systematic themes throughout the Bible, so too does Packer's book do the same to explain Evangelism and our role in it.

The book is divided neatly into 4 parts: Divine Sovereignty, Divine Sovereignty & Human Responsibility, Evangelism, and Divine Sovereignty & Evangelism. Though I was listening to an unabridged audiobook version, the presenter spoke the clear breakdown of the book's sections into numbered sections and subsections (often a few levels deep). This is a very clear, well-organized, and cogent work. Call it, "The Case for Evangelism". :-)

Of course, along the way, we're washed with lots of other essential truths that bear repeating. It's a classic, timeless, valuable book, and with the audio format I look forward to listening to it again and again, just as I have with Mere Christianity and other foundational books. Just like good sermons that press key points over and over in our lives, we can never hear enough of such expository truth. I recommend it for all.

Packer has written an excellent text on evangelism alone in this book. That he deals with the intersection of the practice of evangelism with the concept of a completely sovereign God is a bonus.

Though he's not a C.S. Lewis, Packer does write very well and is very readable, though sometimes his notations and quotations seem more along the style of a half-century ago. But the issues and mindsets which he is addressing are active and attractive to many in this day, and thusly this work is very relevant.

I recommend this to all Christians, but especially pastors and those who have any questions about evangelism. This isn't a 'how to' book, and it doesn't really have a practical application section - but what Packer is dealing with here is more theological than anything else.

And it is a great encouragement and challenge to spread the Gospel. It's not too long and the reading isn't too heavy, so it is accessible and understandable by most anyone.

What does a Christian believe about evangelism if one adheres to Reformed doctrine of God's sovereignty? Dr. Packer answers this question fully and concisely in this work, and his points are well made and are scripturally based. The book brings up many fine points regarding how we need to and are ordered to evangelize but on the firm foundation that God is Supreme. Dr. Packer begins by speaking of the antinomy of God's complete sovereignty over all creation and our responsibility to obey Him. Dr. Packer is well aware that his readers will be non Calvinists and from the onset of the book, seeks to bridge the gap between those with opposing viewpoints. He cites the historical dialogue between to preachers, Charles Simeon and Charles Wesley to portray the areas of common ground that we share rather than the differences the two groups face. From the Reformed theological base, he addresses a number of topics, such as how the Christian should boldly and accurately present Christ as Lord and Savior bearing in mind the importance of not mis-representing the Gospel. Another responsibility that is presented is the responsibility of the hearer of the Gospel, who must also turn from sin, receive forgiveness, and surrender to Christ.

Packer criticizes those who hold confidence in evangelistic techniques and methods rather in the Lord of the Harvest. He promotes that long term relationships where the Christian shares the Word of God and seeks to genuinely love others as a more costly, but also a more effective form of ministering to others. Furthermore, the truism that God calls us to pray for this world and those who are lost is written as the most essential element in succeeding in evangelism. Thereby, whether one is reformed in their doctrine or Arminian, Dr. Packer proclaims that without us trusting in the sovereignty of God that our best efforts will fall short since apart from Him we can do nothing.

This is a good book that can be a great source of encouragement for those who seek to share Christ with others.

This is a remarkable and thought-provoking volume. Prof. Packer develops the view that there is an antinomy between human responsibility and the sovereignty of God. These understandings do not contradict each other and in fact exist alongside each other. We need to hold both ideas in our minds as we consider Holy Scripture and reflect on the truths of God's reality.
The work also discusses evangelism in light of this "double" understanding. The sovereignty of God in no way detracts from the need for evangelism. In fact, he makes a beautiful point in noting that were in not for God's sovereignty (and limited atonement) our evangelistic efforts would always fail. No one would come to God if it were just up to the evangelist's human zeal to win souls. A heavenly intervention is needed for souls to be saved. Because we know that Almighty God through His Son Jesus Christ is effectually calling souls to Him, we can have no crisis of doubt that our efforts are in vain.
While he does not wish to discount the modern semi-Pelagian or Pelagian approach to evangelism as being totally unworthy, at the same time, he is clearly pointing to the reformed understanding as the better of the two evangelistic understandings. Thus, I would have wished for a little less diplomatic language when expositing the two views of evangelism. He clearly does not like evangelistic services that pump up people to answer an altar call or charismatic approaches that are even more emotional, even feverish. Yet, he doesn't come out and say so. I wish he had.
Also, I very much doubt if most readers will be able to hold the ideas of God's sovereignty and unconditional election in their minds alongside the equally true and cogent thought of moral responsibility. Ultimately, one side of the antinomy or the other will be weighted more heavily. Yet, at the theoretical or conceptual level, Prof. Packer's attempt is true and even noble.
His reticence notwithstanding the book is a marvelous reflection on the issues of responsibility, God's sovereignty, and the need for evangelism. I recommend that all Christians read it, and believe everyone will be wiser for the time spent.

This is a great book and makes the real costs of our prescription drug epidemic understandable to everyone. It is a must read for all Americans. We must educate the public that the prescription drug epidemic is going to ruin generations of our people unless we take action. We can no longer tolerate drug companies pushing legal "heroin" to our people and turning the other head when it causes the devastation pointed out by Sheryl McGinnis.

Steve Hayes
Medical Director
Novus Medical Detox Center

I Am Your Disease is not written by professional writers, its not scripted, its real stories, of real children, young adults, sons, daughters, written by people who loved them.

I have seen my own friends struggle with addictions and I saw it nightly at the hospital ER I worked in before Connor was born. I think some people like to believe that drug addictions come from broken homes, bad childhoods, homeless broken people who have no reason to live. I only wish this was true as the problem would be SO much easier to fix if this was really the case.

Drug addictions many times are born in perfectly happy, perfectly healthy people, that for some reason get involved with something that they just cannot control. Professionals, high school students, mothers, fathers, many many times people who otherwise have perfectly normal.. perfectly happy lives. Who knows why... a moment of weakness, a genetic predisposition, depression, boredom, peer pressure, I could go over a thousand reasons why... but thats really not important. What is important is as we look at our beautiful happy healthy babies, don't be blind to the fact that every child at some point in their life is given the choice at least once... and in my case many many many times have drugs passed in front of me and I had to make the conscious and sometimes difficult choice to say no.

One point I want to make to everyone out there... When I say drug addictions I do not just mean (street drugs), heroin, cocaine, meth, but some of the worst addictions I saw come through the ER on a nightly basis were prescribed that includes Valium.

I Am Your Disease, is a worthy read for every mom, dad, grandmother, out there.. these kids deserve to have their stories shared.

Though this book is not a self help book or a book that covers the recovery process it is a great source of support through stories from families dealing with the loss of a loved one through a drug addiction or an inspiration for those of you dealing with a drug addiction as to why its so important to find help.

Sheryl has done a magnificent work by telling her story and the stories of other parents who have lost their children to addiction as well. Every story is the personal feelings of a parent that has gone through addiction with their child, going hand to hand combat with the monster and in the end slipping through their fingers and leaving pieces of a mother, father, sisters and brothers behind to somehow pick up their lives and and keep going. Every story is gripping and you can actually feel what they are feeling. I purchased 2 of these and sent them to my daughter Anna who is presently in prison for possession of Cocaine, and the other I donated to the Prison Library. I bought one from Sherry which she personally autographed to Anna, and I hope and pray I can actually present her with that copy one day. This book is a "must have" for every parent who deals with a child on addiction and especially for those who don't.

Author Sheryl Letzgus McGinnis lost her son Scott to a drug overdose. She says she wrote this book as therapy for herself but also to warn others as to the dangers of addiction to drugs. This book is a compilation of many grieving parents who write the stories of their children's addictions. They come from all walks of life, social, and economic groups, but they have one thing in common--they have lost a child to addiction and subsequent death. They all tried to stop their child's downward spiral but none of them were successful. The book also contains poetry from grieving parents and an eye-opening look at a group of eighth graders' view of peer pressure. This is a sobering book which serves as a warning to any teenager or parent of a teenager. There is a list of support groups and there are some suggestions for heading off a serious addiction, but mostly the problem is presented in the stark reality of hopelessness. The only answer is not to start taking drugs in the first place and it is this point of view that the book is promoting.

Most people live under the axiom 'where there is life there is hope", this book starts the process of finding hope when life is gone as we know it. It isn't only about dying, but about grief and the very act of living - no matter what. It profoundly demonstates that those affected by someone else's disease are not crazy and not alone. Noone is more or less important and noone has more or less of a right to be heard. In fact they are the very essence of 'witnessing' why we are here, no longer operating in real time but dealing with the randomness of the universe and how our spiritual paths unfold. I found great courage here as well as much comfort.

Vince writes straight out of his own personal life. His raw and authentic approach is full of personal struggles, questions, and triumphs. The book is littered with funny stories and jokes and some not so funny. You won't regret reading this book.

Changed my outlook on a faith that I had lost faith in...:)

Completely agree with the other reviewer comparing it to a B-12 Shot for the soul. I feel that God has used this book to jump start the healing of my own brokenness from the church and from God, who i believe now more than I ever have, wants to be apart of and repair the messy sides of our lives. I became a Christian's Author truly showed (or reminded us) Christ's call for his followers to be compassionate and loving to the broken. Something I think we all need to practice and preach.

I bought the book on a Saturday and finshed reading it on Monday. It was like a shot of B-12 for the soul! Vince takes the simple gospel of Jesus Christ and actually keeps it simple. He really helps the reader understand the challenge to "follow" Jesus. I am buying more copies to give to friends and family.

Thank you, Vince. I think that everyone can relate to this book. I personally like Vince's life mixed in with his message. It made it very meaningful to me. I look forward to his next book and wish he lived closer!

I have read a few books by famous christian authors. At the end I was disappointed because they went on and on and never seemed to get to the point. The only disappointment I had with this book was that it was over. I hope the author is working on another!

A charming book with lively illustrations and an unexpected ending! Children will love the animals and rhyming text and will instantly relate to the young girl and her beloved friends.

Wonderful book. My daughter loves it. We read it almost everyday. The illustrations are great as well.

The central character is a spunky imaginative girl with diverse interests ranging from playing in the mud, dancing, and playing doctor to having tea-parties and playing dress-up. She wears comfy jeans and other non-pink clothes throughout most of it, and even her pajamas are not pink. My daughter really enjoyed the rhyming, lyrical text, and the bedtime theme makes it perfect for pre-bed reading. We started reading it at about 12 months I think and it is only recently (she's now 2.5 yo) that it seems to be losing ground as one of her "must-read every night" books.

We have had this for almost 2 years now, and it is definitely a favorite. Our son is now 2 1/2 and still loves it. It is such a cute book! The illustrations are great, and the text is very rhythmic and flows well. When we go to the zoo, we recite the different rhymes when we see the appropriate animal ("I know a hippo and when she's not busy, we spin round and round until we get dizzy."). We have given it as a gift and I recommend it to everyone. Get this book!

This was liked by my son but my 2 year old daughter absolutely LOVES it. She has memorized all the rhymes and I hear her "reading" it to her animals after lights out. Any kid with a crib full of animal friends can relate to this charming story. And like all GOOD toddler books, it ends with SLEEP.

Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R2MUJO4VDU1KKJ Just to refresh your memory, a Haiku is a form of Japanese poetry. The Americanized form consists of three lines. The first line contains five syllables; the second line seven syllables; the third line five again.

I hope you enjoy watching this Haiku Review. After writing reviews with hundreds of words, it can be challenging to sum up a book with a mere seventeen syllables.

Brian Douthit
Author Of Perfectly Said: when words become art

When I thought there were not any more sex "techniques" or "tips" about love I could learn from a book, this book just amazed me.
This book literally blew me away with its freshness, compassion,expert solutions and clarity. This is the relationships book I Love You. Now What?: Falling in Love is a Mystery, Keeping It Isn'tI had been waiting for a long time. From the first page I could put it down
This book just transformed my relationship and it is never going to be better than after reading it.

This book is full of eroticism, joy, tips about sex and love. This book is a manual comprising great knowledge for a wonderful relationship with your partner and, most fundamentally, with yourself. In the first part, the book offers solutions in the form of techniques, testimonies and advice to help people to grow spiritually and psychologically, and feel loved. It will also help you understand, change and transform the negative feelings you have about yourself and your partner, for the sake of harmony. The second part of the book is dedicated to different very creative sex techniques that can contribute to improve a relationship, be it a new flame or a well-settled relationship.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants insight into building a better relationship. It helped me understand a lot of things. So many examples and facts, gave me so much insight. I recommend this book to any & every woman and man out there. I wish I would have read this book 5 years ago! It can help you raise your sexual awareness and become a true sexual being, not someone who just acts it out and makes all the right moves. You can learn to really connect with yourself and your partner on a sexual and spiritual level. I Love You. Now What?: Falling in Love is a Mystery, Keeping It Isn'tThis is a book about eroticism and love and how to become an erotic lover on the purest level.
This is a perfect example of what a book on sex and love should be. Thank you to the author for taking the time to write this, it was the most useful book I have ever read.

I really think it is worth your money, and more. This is a book that works. Try putting any of the suggested
techniques into practice... they do work, and wonders at that too. Everything's clearly explained with step by step guidelines. Iam makes you aware of things I'm sure you've never even imagined were relevant. It's a real epiphany, mindblowing. Guaranteed to make you change. And the approach is just so great I was going through a stage in my life when sex had become boring and routine and my relationship was on the rocks. This book is one of the reasons I got myself going again. Simply, it makes you want to try things out, which is something that cannot be said of many of the books of this type.

the whole family loves the I spy books.. I sat amazed as I realized the four of us were there piling over each other to find the bear.

The I Spy books are fun books to read and do with your children. This book is no exception. It's not too hard for the younger children or too easy for the older ones (adults included).

Sit cozy in your recliner under an afghan and explore this gorgeous book with the little person in your life. So much to look at and search for. The I Spy books are all fun and this one is particularly well done. Children get so excited when they spot the items listed to search for...and find so many more interesting things along the way! All these books hold their attention, stimulate minds, and promote conversation! No batteries required, does not make electronic sounds, does not plug in.

My, almost three, twin grandsons and I, spend many fun times looking for the objects in this book. They get so excited when they find something asked for! My 5 older grandchildren always loved all of the I Spy books too.

This is your classic yet up to date version of "find it" on a picture page. Items are listed on the bottom of the page that must be found by the reader. Some are very challenging! It's great for parents as much as it is for kids! Enjoy!

There is so much wisdom and love and crammed into this tiny book that it's simply incredible. When I read this book just about every night (and yes it is definitely worth a second, third and fourth read) it kind of feels like it is your Higher Self or an Angel talking to you and guiding you in the most insightful and loving way possible.

The book itself is not written like a novel, but a series of mini essays (each one about a page) and that better express the quote presented on the left page. The quotes themselves are wonderfully positive affirmations that can be used in and of themselves but it is the writing that is truly captivating.

I love that this book does not present itself as presumptuous and arrogant in saying it has all the answers. Instead, the author uses a guidance system to guide the reader to their own personal truth and this is nothing short of empowering.

I don't think that this may be the book for those who are loyal to a particular religion, as many things may be considered blasphemous by that person. I do however, highly recommend it to anyone on any level of their spiritual path who is more accepting of the art of channeling and/or has a liking for New Age thinking.

The Messiah Seed, as read by the author Story Waters, is the most amazingly beautiful thing I have ever heard. I have been a student of A Course In Miracles for 24 years, and these CDs are the cherry that tops the beautiful sundae of ACIM. Story's voice is beautiful, and his presentation is magnificent. Listening to these CDs actually stuns me and lifts me to a greater realization of my own power. Story's truth reverberates inside my heart and echoes my own truth. It deserves far more than 5 stars.

My copy of the book, even though it is only six months old, is now about the most worn book in my library. I loved Story's voice on the Love Is Awake CD so I thought it would be great to be able to listen to The Messiah Seed in the car. What I got instead was a whole new level to the book. Its not that the audio version is better than the book but even though the words are the same there is something different. I'm sure a lot of it is to do with the way Story conveys it with his voice. Or perhaps rather than sitting and reading you can just lay back and fall into it. Whatever the case this is a great way to experience it. Each seed has a pause between it with the sound of waves allowing you to absorb what you have just heard before you are given more. If you haven't read the book its a must-read for anyone into free-thinking spirituality as opposed to religion. If you have the book then this is a great way to experience even more that is beyond the words. One of the book reviews I read talks of the writing being full of YES energy, well add Story's voice to that and you've got YES energy overload! Where ever you are this will lift you up through the ceiling.

I'm not entirely comfortable with the idea of channeling, and I approached this book with a little bit of bias. Taking each of the Messiah Seed entries into consideration apart from that factor, however, I was really quite impressed. It's almost as if the most uplifting parts of various religions were brought together in a synthesis of wondrous thought. This is a book that you can read straight through, or open at random for a quick bite of food for thought. This book can help you to open up your own tremendous potential in a constructive way. Although brief, it contains a lifetime's worth of wisdom.

This is truly an amazing book! It's written in such a way that it can actually touch your soul - and I haven't come across many books that have the ability to do that...

"The Messiah Seed" is broken down into 70 different chapters, or "seeds", each about 1 page in length (so it's quite easy to read a little at a time if you're too busy to read an entire book in one sitting).

Each of these chapters brings forth powerful spiritual wisdom re: just how powerful each & every one of us is, and how to best use this power to live the life we truly want to live. In other words, each chapter plants a seed in your soul - where it will grow when you are ready.

These "seeds" are definitely worth reflecting/pondering on, and because of this, I think "The Messiah Seed" is a book to be read & re-read many times over.

I would highly recommend this book to those who are just starting on their spiritual journey, as well as those who've been on this journey for some time. Although, I must say that it may be easier to grasp its' insights if you have some sort of spiritual foundation already laid. However, regardless of your background, these insights can profoundly impact your life IF they are approached with an open mind.

This book greatly exceeded my expectations. I had read a 'similar' book by Sharon Kay Penman, which was excellent also by the way, and had hoped to find books of similar quality by other authors. Nigel Tranter met my hopes and I thoroughly enjoyed the read.

The Bruce Triology is an oustanding work detailing the life and times of Robert the Bruce. Fictionalized or not, it creates for the reader a real place in time and the reader shares the atmosphere of time and place. The terrain, the battles, the people, all come alive in this book. A great book that leaves several of the other books by Tranter lacking. If this book is truly based on historical facts and events, then the movie Braveheart is an interesting tool to compare and contrast for they have little in common.

This book is an in-depth, detailed dramatization of the life of Robert the Bruce. No stone is left unturned. You will need to be REALLY interested in the subject, because the book is long. However, it is well-written. Robert strikes you as a real man of flesh and blood; not just a name from history books. His wife, Elizabeth de Burgh, is a feisty match for him and their love story adds spice to the tale.

Containing three books originally published under separate titles, this trilogy tells the story of Robert the Bruce, who became King Robert I of Scotland. It begins with THE STEPS TO THE EMPTY THRONE, which portrays an impetuous strong-willed young man who agrees to co-govern the country with his personal enemy in an attempt to win its independence from England. The effort soon fails and Bruce steps down, but then he makes a separate move to unite Scotland under his sole leadership. Amongst much internal fighting, he makes great strides.

The second book, THE PATH OF THE HERO KING, reveals a passionate, courageous leader who has learned to win over some of those who would oppose him through a mix of diplomacy and cunning. The winning doesn't come easily, though. Bruce is excommunicated as well as harassed by Edward I's efforts to keep Scotland under England's control. This story culminates in the Battle of Bannockburn, which was an amazing win for the Scots.

THE PRICE OF THE KING'S PEACE, the third book, tells of the years of struggle to obtain a peace treaty from England after Bannockburn. During this time, Bruce's brother takes Scotland's fight into Ireland in a blatant ploy for power. Bruce's dealings in this treachery reveal a savvy leader, whose goals ever are to strengthen Scotland's independence. The story ends with his death.

All told, the trilogy covers about 1296 to 1328. Tranter is at his best when describing the history while the interaction between characters is sometimes stilted. Nonetheless, lovers of historical fiction will enjoy the action and adventure as well as a story that sticks close to the facts. I enjoyed books 2 and 3 the most.

The Bruce Trilogy is actually a set of three separate novels written by Tranter about Robert the Bruce of Scotland, and I think enough previous reviewers have stated the basic outline of the novels that I don't need to restate it again. This was a fascinating story of an honorable, courageous man and an incredible military tactician, and his battle for freedom and peace for Scotland from the English, and most especially Edward I and II. The author did a marvelous job bringing not only Robert to life, but the secondary characters as well. I did find the third book, The Price of the King's Peace to be a bit slower than the first two, but in the end culminating into a spectacular finish as Scotland and Robert find peace at last.

Well worth taking the time to read this for anyone interested in this period in history, I found it both fascinating and educational at the same time, and isn't that what historical fiction is for after all? And I loved the epilogue with James Douglas as he made his final battle cry, "Lead on Brave Heart". Although I am probably the only person on the face of the planet who hasn't seen the movie. Highly recommended.

This book is truly inspirational.... I discovered that I haven't put this book away after I read it. When I get overwhelmed, I pick it up and read random pages and there is always something there that helps put my life back in perspective. I have had this book for a year and I ordered it for my sister.

This book is excellent.....better than I anticipated. I only wish it had been written 20 years earlier.

I got this book from a friend and I loved every minute of it. It is totally inspirational and a MUST read by all women.

This book was very inspiring to me in so many ways. I gave it to a flight attendant having a rough time in life after I met her on a plane, and had to go get myself another copy. As she told me her struggles at that time, I knew she needed to read this book. I have recommended it over and over to friends who have just become widows or other people I know. I have had more moments of "I can handle this and I will get through this" while reading this book than any other book I have read on dealing with loss (and I have read a lot). You will not be sorry if you get this book for yourself or give it away to a friend in need. Wonderful, inspiring, easy to read, and full of quotes I have used on a Christmas card, in presentations, and many that I have repeated over and over to friends. I loved this book.

This is Not the Life I Ordered. I think at some point in each of our lives we all say or think some version of this phrase. It may be that something traumatic has occurred in our lives (a death, infidelity, the end of a marriage, the loss of a job, a major illness, etc) or simply that the daily chaos of life has suddenly become overwhelming. In any case, life happens to us all and every so often we all need a little pep talk.

This is Not the Life I Ordered is a multifunctional book. The sections connect together with quotes and thoughts about various aspects of the process of living. A good number of these entries, I wrote down in my journal to remind me of the possibilities, the practical, and my own potential.

The main portion of the book contains real life stories. In these excerpts, the four authors illustrate that they have seen their share of life challenges, changes, reevaluations, and growth. I really appreciated the openness and honesty of these narratives.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, each major section of the book included information and exercises to build a WIT Kit. WIT stands for Women in Transition. Essentially, it is a group of women who are willing to support each other through the good and the bad. It is a place where you are expected to be completely honest and willing to grow. The kind of support we could all use.