Warning of War, A Novel of The North China Marines by James Brady; 2002; Thomas Dunne Books, New York; 341 pages; Fiction Brady/0-312-28018-1; 6/22-6/28

In late of November of 1941 Captain Billy Port, USMC, is stationed in Shanghai, China. The United States Department of War issues a warning of war with Japan. Most Marines are shipped out, but Capt. Port is tasked to trek through China and Mongolia, seeking out small Marine garrisons and collecting them and finding there way to an allied country. Capt. Port and his collection of Marines and hangers on are well drawn and very realistic, fully rounded characters. James Brady is an exceptional author with first hand experience, having been a company commander in Korea. Semper Fidelis. RRRr

On Deck; Sacred Influence by Gary Thomas

Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas; 2000; Zondervan, Grand Rapids, MI; 274 pages; 24804 T456sm/0-310-22796-8; 6/14-6/22

I once heard a comedian say that a man had to hear or read something 3 times before it stuck in his mind. This is the third time that I have read Sacred Marriage, once in July 2001 and August 2004. Things are definitely starting to stick to me. Hopefully Ruth Ann will be able to tell soon. Gary Thomas admits that there isn’t a whole lot new here.

My mission has been and continues to be, to integrate Scripture, church history, and the Christian classics, and then to apply that wisdom to today. I am not as interested in breaking new ground as I am in recapturing the contemporary relevance of old ground that has been forgotten.

For not breaking new ground there is a lot of wisdom here. My relationships will be good or bad depending on my relationship with God. I need to treat my wife as the daughter of God that she is and view every interaction as an spiritual interaction. I need to not compartmentalize my life, every part of my life is spiritual. I am looking forward to reading this again, because now things are really beginning to stick. I will buy this for newlyweds and give it to them as a valuable wedding present. I would strongly urge everyone who doesn’t have a perfect marriage to read this, guys read it repeatedly so it will stick. RRRR

On Deck; Warning of War by James Brady

Promise Me by Harlan Coben; 2006; Dutton, New York; 370 pages; Fiction Coben/0-525-94949-6; 6/13-6/14

Myron Bolitar is back! It has been six years since Harlan has written an adventure with Myron and friends, he had always said that he would write an adventure with Myron when the story fit.
I believe that Harlan should be a roller coaster designer, something like Space Mountain. You know that he will have twist and turns but you can’t always figure out where they are.
Harlan makes a couple of teenage girls promise him to call if they ever need a ride and things go south from there. He gives one of the girls a ride and she disappears. Harlan then makes a promise to one of the girls mothers and has to follow through on that even when everyone wants to stop the investigation.
The only problem with a book like this is that now I have to wait a whole year to read the next book from Harlan. RRR

On Deck; Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas

Pure Desire by Ted Roberts;1999; Regal, Ventura, CA; 300 pages; 241.66 R647p/0-8307-2335-8; 6/7-6/13

“One of the major differences between a man and a boy is that a man is willing to live a life of delayed gratification, because he has committed himself to a higher calling.”

Ted Roberts, Senior Pastor at Easthill Church in Gresham, OR, writes a manual for other pastors and churches about how to deal with people who are in some type of sexual bondage. He rejects the notion that if we just have enough faith, or read the Word more will be free from sin. He also rejects the notion that it isn’t really our fault, that it is only because of some trauma in our life. He falls squarely in the middle of these two ideas. I would encourage everyone to read this book, because I know no one reading this has this problem, but you might have a friend who does. This is another of the books that I try to read annually to remind me what I need to know. RRRR

On Deck; Promise Me by Harlan Coben

Holding Fire, A Love Story by Elissa Wald; 2001; Context Books, New York; 275 pages; Fiction Wald/1-833956-14-8; 6/5-6/7

This was a very profound, very moving love story which realistically portrayed several relationships. This story is extremely well written. It is the story of three fireman and their relationships. Jonah Malone is the thread which connects the stories, he is from a very dysfunctional family, who then goes to Vietnam, then returns home and becomes a fireman who has several heroic rescues. The story is not told in a straight line fashion, but several flashbacks. Ms. Wald manges to tie it all together very well. I will be looking for more from her. Her portrayal of people is very real and she ends the story on a realistic note. RRR

On Deck; Pure Desire by Ted Roberts