Booksneeze Review: Be the People by Carol M. Swain

From the Cover:
Without a doubt, America's foundation is shifting. Over time our nation has adopted policies that have broken our founders' vows of faith. We have educated a generation that does not understand it unique destiny. We have banished the virtues we no longer find relevant. But it is time to think clearly. Who have we been historically, and what kind of nation are we becoming?


Be the People sounds a rallying cry for "We the People of the United States" to stand up and reclaim the life, liberty, and justice envisioned by our forefathers.  Drawing on her training  in political science and law, author Carol M. Swain, PhD, examines the religious significance of today's most pressing issues and courageously exposes the cultural forces that threaten our cherished values and principles.


"Publishing this book is a risk well worth taking," Dr. Swain writes, " Because America is a nation well worth restoring." With expert analysis, action points, and an appendix that includes essential documents such as the US Constitution and Bill of Rights, this landmark book empowers We the People to Be the People who fight for the values and principles that helped make our nation one of the greatest the world has known.


Andrea's Take: ****4 Stars
In Be the People, Dr. Swain explores how the American government has moved slowly but surely away from the ideals of our founders so that they likely wouldn't recognize modern America as the same country they intended when they signed the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. "America's foundation is shifting. It is time to think clearly. Who have we been historically, and what kind of nation are we becoming?" (17).  She explores hot-button social issues (abortion, same-sex marriage, separation of church and state, racism, and illegal immigration) from a biblical perspective and a Constitutional perspective. As she overlaps these two perspective, the reader sees remarkable similarities between them that modern cultural elites would have us overlook - and have gone to great lengths to see that we do.


Dr. Swain discusses each topic in depth, giving details about our government's practices.Then she applies the Bible and the writings of America's founders to the issue to show how we've gone wrong and where we should be headed. I like that she included the appendices of the Ten Commandments, The Declaration of Independence, The Bill of Rights, and The Constitution of the United States. While I own several Bibles in various versions, making the Ten Commandments readily available, I did not have copies of the other documents, and I really think every American household should have them handy.


The only negative I found in Be the People is that the academic style often slowed me down.  I found myself digging through academic speech to get to the nuggets of wisdom buried within it. This was enough to count off a star on my 5-star scale. However, those nuggets were pure gold, certainly worth the dig. This book earned every one of it's four stars.


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Lovely Readers,


Don't forget to comment on Thursday's post for a chance to win Darlene Franklin's three books. And tune in next week for the third and final review on that trilogy.

What I Read Thursday (Again): Plainsong by Darlene Franklin

 From the Cover:

It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in human beings. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes.

~Psalm 118:8-9

Michelle longs for a storybook romance. Homeless and jobless, Michelle Morris visits her friend Carrie in Denver to find a new job. She quickly envies Carrie's married life and wishes she could have a happily-ever-after of her own.  What she doesn't Realize is her knight in shining armor is about to sweep her off her feet--and love is much more complicated than she imagined.

Joe Knight lives by a code of chivalry and honor. As he spends more time with Michelle, he wants to protect her, fight her battles for her.  He wants to be her strong knight, but feels more like a bungling squire. Does he have what it takes to be the man Michelle needs?

As their picture-perfect romance starts to hit reality, can Michelle and Joe overcome life's obstacles and find a love that truly ends in happily ever after?

Andrea's Take: ****4 stars
The heroine in Plainsong is the character of note I mentioned in last week's review of Romanian Rhapsody.  I must apologize. I called her Michelle Miller. In fact, as you may have noticed her name is Michelle Morris.

Michelle is at an uncertain place in her life, and is listening for God's will. When her relationship with Joe grows serious, she wisely refuses to act on impulse. She waits and God opens--and closes--doors to show her His perfect plan. Joe, the impulsive one in the relationship, doesn't act quite so wisely, but he makes up for it in his dedication to chivalry. He struggles when circumstances move beyond his control, but Michelle, his family and friends are there to remind him of the truth of the verses quoted above.

I enjoyed this sweet story. I generally like to know more about the characters' pasts than we learn of Michelle's in this book, but I understand the need to use words wisely in the short format offered by Heartsong Presents. As in the previous book, Darlene Franklin does this beautifully, using her words for the more important purpose of moving the story forward.

I love how Joe's hometown of Ulysses, Colorado celebrates their namesake (who happens to be one of my favorite Greek heroes) with their Odyssey Days Festival.

Characters to Watch:
Nel Knight - An eccentric Anglo-phile, Joe's mother heads her family with grace and love that comes from her deep faith in God. She is a joy to read.

Sonia Oliveira - a close friend of Joe's who helps him come to terms with some issues he hasn't given over to God.

The comment section is open starting now.  Leave a comment to be entered in the drawing for all three books in this series, Romanian Rhapsody, Plainsong, and Knight Music (which I will review next week).

You get one extra entry for following my blog through GFC or on email. US addresses only please.

The drawing will be open until 11:59 pm, Thursday, January 5, 2012. I will announce the winner on January 6, during a week of posts devoted to that day - Epiphany. I hope to post an interview with the wonderful author of these books, Darlene Franklin, on that day as well.

If you don't know much about Epiphany, come back next week and we'll learn about it together

WooHoo!

I just looked at my Blogger Dashboard, that hub of helpful information, and it informed me my blog has reached 2000 pageviews!

Yay! Thanks to all my wonderful readers.

I'll have a book review and some more giveaway info later today.

Sunday Song Lyrics, Christmas Edition: Away In a Manger

This is  the cover art from a lovely book we have. Thomas Kinkade presents the Christmas story and this wonderful song in beautiful detail. I just love this picture. I imagine this is what it looked like before the shepherds came to see him and the wise men arrived with their wonderful gifts.

Mary holding Jesus in the starlight, memorizing his features and marveling--as all mothers do--at the little miracle in her arms.  Joseph doing his very best to make their meager quarters as comfortable as possible. 

The Lyrics:

Away in a manger, no crib for a bed

The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head

The stars in the sky look down where he lay

The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.

The cattle are lowing the baby awakes

But little Lord Jesus no crying he makes.

I love thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky,

And stay by my cradle till morning is nigh.

Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask thee to stay

Close by me forever and love me I pray.

Bless all the dear children in thy tender care,

And fit us for Heaven to live with thee there.

Andrea's Take:
The Bible tells us that Jesus's message is so easy a little child can understand.  This song is just that way. It's lyrics and music so simple and beautiful.  It's the first Christmas carol I ever learned. Now my daughter loves to sing it too.

The last line is often rendered, "And take us to Heaven to live with thee there."

I prefer "fit us for Heaven" because I think that's exactly what Jesus does with us while we're living on this earth.  He shapes us and molds us, making us fit to live with him in Heaven.

I hope you've all had a wonderful Christmas with many reminders of the baby in the manger...the man he became...and the Savior he is today.

What I Read Thursday: Romanian Rhapsody by Darlene Franklin

From the Cover:

"The Lord is good unto them that wait for him...It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord."

~Lamentations 3:25-26

Haunted by the orphans she met in Romania, Carrie Randolph returns to work in an orphanage. Soon she finds herself mothering five toddlers full-time and dreaming of adopting on of them when her two-year mission is finished.

Steve Romero's wife and son died in tragic circumstances in Romania, and he struggles to put the past behind him.  When he decides to adopt a child, he returns to Romania and the orphanage where Carrie works--breaking her heart when he chooses Viktor, her favorite.

Will Carrie trust God to fulfill her dreams in His time? Can Steve let go of grief and love again?

Andrea's Take: **** 4 Stars
Romanian Rhapsody is the story of two people whose lives change irrevocably after one shocking, tragic event.  It is the story of how their paths crossed, and parted time and again until the time--God's time--was full for them to join forever.

After grieving his losses for a time, Steve finds his heart once more open to give and receive love. He decides to adopt a child and proceeds prayerfully through the necessary channels.  Carrie finds her heart likewise open to love as she's surrounded by affection starved orphans.  Both Steve and Carrie set their hearts on the same little boy--Viktor. Apart, one of them is destined to suffer. Together, perhaps they can find happiness, and God's perfect will for all of their lives.

Romanian Rhapsody is a very good story, the characters and plot well-developed in the short format of Heartsong Presents. Though there is little room for extensive back story, the author uses her words wisely and gives the characters a close connection early on.  Carrie's youthful preference for action over prayerful consideration causes her some heartache, and she suffers loss akin to Steve's during her work in the orphanage. She learns to wait on God and trust Him with her plans and is blessed for it in the end.

Characters to watch are Viktor Groza, the little boy who captures both Steve and Carrie's hearts, and Michelle Miller, Carrie's friend and fellow mission worker.

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Well, that was the promised book review. And now for the announcement.

Romanian Rhapsody along with its two sequels Plainsong, and Knight Music will be the subject of a special giveaway on this blog after the first of the year. I will be featuring those two books, also by Darlene Franklin, in the next two editions of What I Read Wednesday. "Stay tuned" for more information on this giveaway next week.

Playing Catch-Up: The Winner Is...

It's amazing how a car wreck can throw a wrench into your plans! Yesterday was a crazy day indeed. But everyone is okay...except the car (or truck in this case).

Today, I'm away from my computer, but I've got a few minutes and a smart-phone, so...

The winner of Margaret Daley's novel From This Day Forward is...Jackie S!

Jackie, I'll hunt up your email address and send you something asking for your snail mail.

Today is What I Read Wednesday, but I'm short a review, so come back tomorrow for a book review and an announcment.

Fundraiser for Sandi Rog: Want to go to ACFW's premier writing conference fo...

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