A Modern Woman's Perspective On The Kingdom of God on Earth


Showing posts with label Recommendations. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Recommendations. Show all posts

January 31, 2015

Recommended Book: A Failure of Civility

     Back in 2013, Matthew Bracken, a retired Navy Seal, recommended a book titled A Failure of Civility, by authors Mike Garand and Jack Lawson.  PLW worked with Mr. Bracken on a cover of one of his books, and sets great store by his advice and expertise.  So two years ago, we purchased this book.  It is one of the best "Prepper" or "Survivalist" books on the market, and quickly became a sought after item among those who wished to increase their knowledge on how to defend their families, neighborhoods, and communities in the event of a national crisis.
     It was so popular that it quickly went out of print, and your only option was to pay $200 on Amazon.  Now, I'm happy to inform those of you who were unaware of it, or missed out on the first opportunity to purchase it, that it is once again available on the authors' website for $29.95!   But I warn you ... it won't be available for long!
     The book was written by veteran combat Special Ops soldiers, and is advertised as "the Ulitmate A-to-Z Survival Book", and as "A primer for the untrained and knowledge for the trained in survival."  But perhaps the best endorsement is the review from Navy Seal Matt Bracken, himself:

     The authors’ combined life experiences, military and law enforcement, span 80 years. [They claim that] "With this book, we give you the tools of knowledge to enable you to teach you and others how to defend yourselves, your family and neighbors. We want you to help save lives and to keep America strong."
     Wow, what a tall order! As a long-ago Navy frogman, I wondered if they could truly match that claim in their book. They do, and much more. I read the book cover to cover—twice!—in the first week. In fact, I am so impressed with it that I have been hauling it around for the last few months, trying to encourage my friends and relatives to buy it. It’s not cheap – it costs $30....
     The book is big; it’s eight by eleven inches and 394 pages long. It’s printed in oversize 14 point font. Why? Because when you really need this book, you might be in a cold, dark place, huddled by a fire. They could have printed it in a smaller format and put it out at a lower price, but they decided not to. I completely understand why, and it makes total sense to me, having read it, and understanding the conditions it is intended for. 
     ... This is not just another handbook on how to build a remote fortress on a mountaintop, beginning with a fantasy budget. It takes a completely different tack, namely, how to survive in place, where you are, on your current budget. How to “bug in,” not bug out. It postulates, and I agree with this, that no single family can survive alone, hidden in a remote fortress or bunker, no matter how large their pre-SHTF budget. It assumes that you will stay in your house and in your neighborhood. And it theorizes that no single house can be fortified to hold out against hordes of criminal bandits once the SHTF. You cannot get through TEOTWAWKI on your own.
     ... Every word I have written, in all of my novels and essays, has been meant as a warning to the reachable to get ready for the heavy weather that many of us see coming. Please, buy this book. It’s not cheap, it’s $30 and it’s not on Amazon. The authors are not book pros, they are just some guys with invaluable knowledge to share who are producing the book on their own. Get it now, while you can. I have zero connection to the authors, other than I believe the contents are important beyond measure. If there are other books as valuable as this one for surviving the coming storm, I haven’t seen them yet. I’m not saying they are not out there, but I have missed them so far.
     My fondest hope is that in five years, the few people who remember me will laugh and say, “Matt Bracken, what a paranoid jerk he was.” A hack writer of cheap alarmist fiction, the author of a few quickly forgotten novels and essays. I hope and pray that in five years, America will be as strong, prosperous and free as it ever was. 
     But if not, and if you find yourself at some point cold, hungry, sick and very, very afraid, hiding in a blacked-out basement while you are rereading your dog-eared copy of this book by lamplight, you will be thanking me over and over again for encouraging you to buy it. My cheap and unimportant works of fiction won’t matter a damn at that point, but you will be damn glad that you have a copy of “A Failure of Civility.” You, your family, and your entire neighborhood might pull through the coming storm just because of this one book. 
     Please buy the book. And buy an extra copy or two to send to “reachable” family members. Tell them to wrap it in plastic, and save it for a time that we hope will never come."

     Endorsements don't come any stronger than that!  So, if you don't want to take my word for it, then listen to a man who has the experience and knowledge to know if this is a must-have for your family's survival.  Sad to say, in the two years since Matt Bracken wrote this review, our chances of dodging the storm have not dwindled.  Like him, I hope and pray that this kind of knowledge will never need to be put into practice.  But the demand for this book should tell you that it could be an invaluable tool in the coming years.  If you missed out on it the first go-round, don't delay now!  And if you were alert enough to purchase it then, there must be a friend or family member that you can turn on to its knowledge.  This book is more valuable than ever!

Luke 22:36      He said to them, “But now let the one who has a moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one."




September 17, 2014

Announcing My New Book!

     When I began this blog nearly three years ago, I wasn't sure if anyone would find me, or be interested in my words.  All I knew was that I was receiving a strong prompting to reach out to others who might be feeling the deep and growing concern I had about my faith, my culture, my country, and the world.  Now, with over 1,000 posts logged, and nearly half a million views of this site, I have decided that maybe I had something worthwhile to say after all.  (Actually, it is the Lord who has something to say through me.  I guess you could say He decided He was able to use me).  So I am announcing the publication of my first book, titled Salvation and Survival: Defending My Faith, Freedom & Family.  
     In short, this book is 230 pages that reflect my personal opinion on the social, political and spiritual path America has taken in recent history.  It is a compilation of my essays, presented in chronological order to give you a picture of where we've been, and where we're going.
     You will see my thoughts and views on everything from the Economy, to the wars in the Middle East, to our culture and societal woes; to our Spiritual foreboding -- and everything in between.  Primarily, it is the perspective of an average American woman as we enter the second decade of the 21st Century.  In case you are wondering why anyone would care what I had to say ... It is my sincere hope that future generations might get an idea of what we were thinking; and the people, events and ideas that influenced this unsettling time.
     Since I am a lover of history, you will find discourses on the principles of the founding of this nation, as well as how we've changed; whether for the better or worse.  You will read of how world affairs are threatening the peace and laws of our country, and what I think our future looks like from this particular vantage point in time.  And you will hear my worries about preparing for an uncertain future and how to make sure that the truth of our children's heritage is protected.  In no way, do I expect people to agree with me on every subject; in fact, it is my hope that this book will encourage discussion between people of different ideologies, faiths, and social backgrounds.  After all, this is my opinion -- what is yours?
     If you have been a faithful reader of this blog, then this book will be a collection of the highlights of our common experience; a reminder of how far we've come.  If you are new to my ruminations, then I think you will find this book a refreshing departure from "talking points" prognostications; an "of-the-people" review of our times, so to speak.
     Needless to say, these essays of mine will not affect history, but they are a de facto record of history-in-the-making.  History may actually prove me wrong on any number of my opinions, but the passion for my faith, my freedom, and my family can never be called into question.
     So, I hope you will join me on this journey through our recent history and follow our path, as we tread these troubling times.  Share my thoughts of fear and anxiety, my shouts of triumph, and my ever-present hope in the mercy of God.  We're all in this together!

Romans 15:4   "For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope."

August 14, 2014

Recommended Book: Survive The Coming Storm - Ebola Crisis

     It still dominates the headlines ... EBOLA.  Breitbart.com reports that a Spanish missionary priest died of the disease in Madrid this last Tuesday.  They are also reporting that China has quarantined 8 medical workers who had direct contact with ebola patients in Sierra Leone while helping to treat victims of the deadly virus.
     Breitbart is also reporting that there is grave concern in China over the spread of the virus, as it is estimated that 20,000 Chinese citizens are living and working in the three African countries most directly affected by Ebola.  If any of these health workers return to China carrying the virus, the potential spread of the disease among the crowded urban communities of China could potentially result in the deaths of thousands, if not millions.
     Then you have the changing position of the Center for Disease Control, who initially claimed that you had to come in contact with an Ebola patient to contract the disease.  Now, they have amended their statement to "being within 3 feet" of an infected person or "being in the same room" with an infected person can allow for transmission of the disease! They also admit a person who is infected, but not yet showing symptoms, is contagious!
     And finally, Bloomberg News is telling us that "The Ebola drug given to two Americans and a Spanish priest has been sent to treat infected doctors in two West African countries, and the supply of the medicine is now gone, its manufacturer said."  Which raises the serious ethical question ... with a shortage of any kind of medicine to combat the disease, who will receive the few available doses of life-saving drugs?  Will the poor Africans, or will it be dispensed to those with the resources and the money to demand it?
     That brings me to my recommendation .... Ray Gano, the Publisher and Executive Director of the web ministry  Prophezine, which provides a wide variety of spiritual and physical preparedness articles, has published a new book that offers some valuable information and advice on how to protect your family during an Ebola pandemic.
     None of  us wants to think about this happening, but if you are paying close attention, the indications are it is a very real possibility.
     Ray's book, titled Survive The Coming Storm - EBOLA CRISIS (Preparing Now... Before It Is Too Late) is a book you want to have in your possession, if the worst case scenario materializes.
     As Ray points out, the Ebola virus appears to be spreading faster than the efforts to contain it.  Therefore, we would be wise to develop a quarantine plan now, and stock up on the supplies you will need to prevent and/or treat the virus.  And he gives you a concise strategy for accomplishing this for your family.
     He gives you the products and the methods for sterilizing your home, and how to set up a quarantined patient room, if necessary.  He offers advice on how to keep the virus from spreading in your home, and how to safely handle the sanitation issues when caring for an Ebola patient.
     His book also offers valuable advice on supplements and over-the-counter products to boost your immune system and prepare your body to fight off the virus.  He tells you how to prevent, identify and treat dehydration, the primary cause of death in Ebola victims.  And, because it is necessary, there is even a chapter on how to deal with the death of a loved one.
     This book is not designed to frighten you or to cause you to panic ... it is written to help you be prepared to deal with a worldwide pandemic before it happens.  There have already been over 1000 Ebola deaths in Africa, and nearly 2,000 suspected cases, in just over a few short months.  Until this year, the world had recorded 1,640 deaths TOTAL from Ebola since the virus was discovered in 1976... you can see the potential for this to turn into a global disaster.
     That's why the time to add Ray Gano's book to your preparedness collection is NOW!  Don't wait until the epidemic spreads like wildfire to try to gain this information or gather together your supplies.  It will be too late!  You can listen to scientists and doctors, who tell you it is too early; there's no need to panic.  Maybe they're right.  Or you can rest easy at night, knowing that you have given your family a chance, should the worst happen.  This is a valuable resource to have.  Click on the provided link and check it out ... I highly recommend it!

Revelation 11:6    "They have the power to shut the sky, that no rain may fall during the days of their prophesying, and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague, as often as they desire."

   

March 7, 2014

The Perfect Book For Your Teenager

     World events are hard enough to comprehend and face for adults.  In fact, I would venture that many will find themselves uninformed and ill-prepared should any number of likely scenarios come to fruition.  So, if mature Americans are scared of facing their fears, think of what it is like for our younger generations; especially those in their teenage years who are on the cusp of reaching for their future goals.  How do we brace them for the possibility of disruption to their daily lives, and instruct them on getting through the coming chaos, without scaring the living daylights out of them?  The profusion of "Survival" books on the market have not been suitable for our younger populace ... until now.
     Author Julie L. Casey has provided not only an informative approach, but an educational and entertaining way to reach our kids and move them towards a prepper mindset.  She has written a book, entitled How I Became A Teenage Survivalist, in which she appeals to the teenage sense of adventure while subtly tutoring them in the fine art of survival.  The book is written from the viewpoint of sixteen-year-old Bracken, but has characters that will appeal to younger teenagers as well as the older ones about to enter adulthood.  
     Bracken begins his story after the advent of PF (Power Failure) Day.  He recounts how a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) from the sun changed his and his family's lives abruptly and permanently.  The author is able to weave survival situations into the plot that will make your teenagers think of the repercussions of such an event.  At the same time, she provides the solutions that the family and their neighbors develop so that your kids can see that they can adapt and thrive without modern conveniences.  I especially liked that the storyline was appealing and natural; it wasn't contrived in order to present a "how to" survival manual.  That would be a turnoff to teenage readers.
     Instead, the book is able to present events in a manner that will captivate the interest of this age group.  What would it be like to live in a world where there is no electricity?  Bracken and his brothers are resourceful in inventing ways to make pop bottle "lightbulbs", and homemade washing machines.  They learn the value of working the land for their food, how to conserve the gasoline they have, and enjoy riding horses into town to visit their friends.  Their mother introduces them to the many ways herbs can be used for medicinal purposes, and ... gasp! ... they even realize that they don't miss all the electronic gadgets and technological time-wasters they had before PF Day!
     The author also includes a touch of light romance in her story that is sure to appeal to both girls and boys as they begin to explore the concept of love in their teenage years.  But lest you think the book is all sunshine and lollipops, Julie Casey introduces her readers to the dark side of what an electro-magnetic pulse can bring.  She doesn't shy away from the violence that will inevitably come as those who live in the city begin roaming the countryside in search for food and shelter.  She introduces the concept of martial law (being careful to keep it more benign than it likely will be) and the right to defend one's self and property.  She also informs her readers that many people will die due to the lack of life-saving equipment and medical supplies.  She doesn't overly sentimentalize what our lives will be like, and she presents the information in an ever-widening awareness of the reality of life without electricity, without uniform law, and with only our ingenuity and our ability to care for each other to see us through.  
     If you are struggling with a way to approach your teenagers with the topic of survival training or prepping for The End of The World As We Know It (TEOTWAWKI), I suggest that you use this book as a conversation starter.  Your teenager will likely have lots of questions about your own personal situation and you can begin a dialogue about how he/she can take part in preparing your family for a possible breakdown of society.  In fact, this book stresses the importance of family.  Everyone, including grandparents and the youngest sibling, have value in protecting the family unit during turbulent times.  Think of I Was A Teenage Survivalist as a kinder, gentler strategy to introduce the younger members of your family to some scary concepts.  And to be honest, it's not too juvenile for the timid adults among us, either.  I give it 4 out of 5 stars!

This book is available on Amazon for under $10 in paperback, and 99 cents for the Kindle version. Not a bad investment to bring your kids into "the real world."  Click on the Title link in the post to go to Amazon and order today!

Colossians 4:6     "Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person." 

January 31, 2014

Recommended Survivalist Fiction

     There is a profusion of books flooding the Survivalist/Prepper genre, and I am occasionally asked to read a book or two and write a review.  This genre covers a wide range of situations including, but not limited to, disruptions in social or political order, natural disasters, nuclear or conventional war, oppressive governments, global pandemics, and general apocalyptic chaos.
     Make no mistake; these books are not written with Pulitzer Prizes in mind.  They serve a purpose:  to entertain while informing.  Protagonists in these fictional dramas are generally used to disseminate valuable information to readers (and would-be preppers) regarding emergency medical treatment, self-defense training, food storage, and mindset.  The increased awareness of the possibility of nuclear warfare and/or societal/economic collapse has made this genre explode since 2008.  And now that self-publishing can be done by any Tom, Dick or Harriette, everyone is ready to cash in on this popular and lucrative format.
     Which brings me to the two books I am featuring on today's blog post.  I was asked to read both books at about the same time, and while both suffer from my pet peeve of dropped words, misspellings, and the occasional character mix-up in the dialogue, the story line of each book is compelling enough to render an entertaining read.  Without the aid of a Publishing House Editor, I know it is hard to catch all the mistakes -- I know all too well how difficult it is to catch my own errors, so I cannot be too critical.  But, keeping that in mind, here are two of the better selections in the crowded category of Survivalist literature.

Brushfire Plague: Reckoning (Volume 2) 

     This is the second book by R.P. Ruggiero in The Brushfire Plague trilogy, and I found the storyline to be tighter, more captivating and cleaner than the first book.  The author picks right up where he left off in the first book, and we are taken along on a wild ride as his protagonist, Cooper Adams, deals with the after effects of a deadly pandemic that killed 1 billion people worldwide, including his late wife.  At the end of Book One, Adams ended the life of the progenitor of the plague; a deeply misguided man who deplored the unchecked consequences of global warming which he thought would be the inevitable end of civilization.  So in his madness, he decided to unleash a deadly virus upon the world and limit the destruction to the planet caused by over-population.
     At the beginning of Book Two, we find what happens in Cooper's world after he decides to reveal the truth about the origin of the Brushfire Plague.  The rest of the book chronicles how the world views America's role in this deadly calamity; the breakdown of society which results in increased violence and looting; and especially how Cooper mourns the loss of innocence in the life of his young son, Jake.
     The book allows the reader to share the uncertainties of being forced to flee from your home for a remote safe house, and all the danger that the hero and his loyal band of friends encounter along the way.  We can see how tyranny and oppression mount, as local bullies jockey for leadership positions; ruling by threats, force or outright violence.
     The cast of characters in this second book were more fully developed and interesting.  They played off each other's weaknesses and strengths, and I found myself rooting out loud for them more than once.  I applaud the book for allowing the personalities to ring true and appear human.  They were not super-heroes; and lapses in preparedness and decision-making made me identify with them all the more.
     In the end, I liked where this book took me.  It wasn't just a re-hash of the first book, but expanded on the aftermath of the pandemic into the societal collapse.  And I like what it promises in the final book of the trilogy;  the author has taken us from a worldwide plague, to the crises and trauma that accompany the disintegration of community, to a hint that foreign entities are involved, and it's been all about money and the U.S. debt.  I can't wait to see how this trilogy is wrapped up in Book Three, and how Cooper Adams and his faithful friends, by seeking the truth, try to reclaim a civilized world.

Through Many Fires: Strengthen What Remains
   
     I found the opening scenes and the plot of this book by Author Kyle Pratt quite compelling.  The author wastes no time in grabbing our attention with a nuclear bomb exploding in Washington D.C. during the State of the Union address.  Amidst all the chaos you would imagine, Caden Westmore, a veteran of the Army and a Congressional staffer, views the growing mushroom cloud from his vantage point in Bethesda, Maryland and plans his escape along with an ocean of desperate people.
     This book paints a convincing picture of what it would be like as swarms of people try to get back to their homes and loved ones; of the inhumanity of man as the strong prey on the weak; and the grab for power when this nation's seat of government is utterly destroyed.  There will be those who seek to honor and re-establish our Constitutional form of government, and there will be those who take advantage of the upheaval to push their own totalitarian agenda.  We are introduced to these fascinating characters, who promise to play major roles in the sequel.
     As the storyline progresses and more cities come under nuclear attack, we read of the natural tendencies for people to band together for protection and survival.  And while this is a common theme among books in this genre, this particular book really relied on its relationships to further the plot.  It was a nice change of pace to focus on people; their family ties, their moral values, and their growing alliances.  These types of books don't always have to be so lesson or information-driven to capture our attention.  Sometimes it's nice to have the apocalyptic event be the backdrop of the story.
     That being said, the reader is still introduced to survival concepts such as how will local law enforcement interact with the military and the civilian population?  Will the American military, if ordered, fight against civilian patriots defending their homes and towns?  How do you keep order and a sense of lawfulness when all of conventional society is in turmoil?  Food distribution among refugee camps; when is it permissible to take another's life; and what to do when foreign intervention seems a possiblity --- all these issues are broached with intelligence and practicability.
     I liked this book because it didn't follow the formula of the survival genre, and it hit controversial topics head-on.  I hope the sequel continues in this vein.

     I must admit that I have quite a collection of unsolicited books in which I could not get past the first chapter or two.  Sometimes it was the excess of typos or poor grammar that offended me; other times the dialogue didn't ring true, or the story didn't flow or stimulate my imagination.  None of these things apply to these two books.  If you are looking for an easy read that doesn't insult your intelligence and keeps your attention, you will find them both a cut above the rest and worthy of your time.

Romans 12:12    "Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer."
   


January 11, 2014

Recommendation: "Lone Survivor", The Movie

     I couldn't wait to see this movie.  After reading the book three times and shaking hands with Marcus Luttrell, himself, I so wanted this movie to honor the men of Operation Red Wings.  It did just that.
     In case you are one of the few who have not read the #1 Best-Seller and detailed account of the failed Navy Seal mission in the mountains of Afghanistan, then you have denied yourself one of the most mesmerizing reads of your life.  The four-man team, consisting of Michael Murphy, Matt Axelson, Danny Dietz, and Marcus Luttrell, were tasked with capturing or killing Taliban leader Ahmad Shah.
     The book is an eyewitness account of the team's engagement with a superior Taliban force after they were walked up on by an Afghani goat-herder and his sons.  The movie, as depicted in the book, reveals the outcome of the team's decision regarding the failed mission.
(left to right); actors portraying Axelson, Dietz and Luttrell 
     The ensuing fire fight and the deaths of his team-mates on that steep, rugged mountain (along with a rescue team of 16) are written with such poignancy by Luttrell, and movie director Peter Berg is able to translate that emotion to film.  I didn't think the movie could depict the injuries the men received, nor their commitment to each other, as well as my imagination could conceive them.  But I was wrong.  The battle scenes on the mountain are some of the most realistic and raw sequences in the movie.  If you want to "feel" the physical effects of war, it doesn't get any more intense than this.
     But it is the relationship between Marcus Luttrell and his teammates -- their professionalism, their duty to country, and their love for each other -- that is at the heart of the story.  It is obvious that each of the actors took their roles seriously.  These are real, bigger-than-life heroes they are playing, after all, and they needed to get it right.  I'm sure you know that I have an active imagination, and Marcus had done a good job in the book of fleshing out the personalities and character of each of his friends.  I was curious to see if I would be as moved by an actor's portrayal.  They did not disappoint.
    In director Berg's own words, "This story is about working together for something bigger than our ego, bigger than our individuality. It’s about coming together as a group—protecting each other, loving each other, looking out for each other—and finding a greater strength as a team than you could ever find as an individual. Marcus [Luttrell] wrote a book that, as much as it’s about 19 people being killed on a tragic day in Afghanistan, is about brotherhood, sacrifice and team commitment."
Marcus and Gulab
     If I have any criticism of the movie at all, it is this: I would have liked to see the movie expanded an additional 30 minutes or more in order to develop the relationship between Marcus and his Afghani rescuer Gulab.  The ancient ethical code of the Pashtun tribe (Pashtunwali) includes a principle of asylum called Nanawatai.  It was this principle that demanded that Gulab offer protection to Marcus against his enemies, the Taliban.  The tribal chief protected him, fending off the attackers until word was sent to nearby US forces, and the wounded Luttrell was ultimately rescued.
     It almost felt as if the movie worked hard to develop the camaraderie between the men, and accurately depict the ambush and battle scenes, and then realized the conventional two-hour limit had been reached.  Therefore, to me, the ending seemed rushed.
     I am also seeing comments that facts have been altered in the movie, such as Marcus's death scene, his capture and the number of Taliban assailants.  This is the way I see it... we know this is Hollywood, right?  It is the very nature of movies to change things to "translate better on film."  And, if Marcus Luttrell, the man who lived this story and served as consultant, approves of the alterations, then who are we to say the movie is "inaccurate."  It is called a "movie", after all; not a documentary.
     In the end, I left the theatre feeling that Lone Survivor, the movie, accurately portrayed the honor, courage and commitment of our military.  Having heard Marcus Luttrell, himself, speak several times of the events of those hours and days, this movie has nothing to be ashamed about.  You will be moved and inspired by the dignity with which these men's sacrifice was portrayed.  Go see it!

2 Timothy 1:7    "For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control."