The Future of the Middle East?

Epicenter: Why the Current Rumblings in the Middle East Will Change Your Future by Joel C. Rosenberg
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I love Joel C. Rosenberg's fiction books. So, I decided to read this nonfiction book about his opinion on the Middle East. I was pleasantly surprised that in this book he also explains why he used some of the story lines for his books. The book centers on the prophecy of Ezekiel found in chapters 38 and 39. He uses reasoning and sources to arrive at the conclusion that Iran and Russia will form a military alliance against Israel and Israel will stand alone. Although I cannot argue against his logic and especially against his advice to prepare for such events, I still find it hard to fully accept his premise. As I read, I kept wondering if President Thomas S. Monson or any of the other prophets, seers, and revelators that I sustain would agree with him.

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A Novel of Socialism

Philip Dru Administrator : a Story of Tomorrow 1920 - 1935 by Edward Mandell House
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Several months ago, I heard Glenn Beck refer to this book. He said it was Woodrow Wilson's favorite book. First, a little bit of the plot line from the book.

The story is about a man, Philip Dru, who leads a revolt against the United States government because it had become too corrupt. After the revolution, he scraps the Constitution and makes himself "Administrator." He then changes every concept of national and state governments to reflect his view of governance.

I had a hard time believing the premise of this book. When Philip Dru set himself up as dictator, the author made it seem the American people would welcome such a thing. All I could think was "If any such thing took place here, I would be either fighting in an underground organization or in a government prison as a subversive."

The book goes into great detail of how the federal and state governments would be set up under this new government. It is a complete socialistic government ruling every aspect of each individual's life. No mention of pursuit of happiness or individual responsibility. As Glenn Beck says, this is a blueprint for socialism.

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Rush Limbaugh

Rush Limbaugh: An Army of One by Zev Chafets
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In 1992, I moved home to be with Mom to help her with Dad's cancer. Approximately a month after moving home, Dad died and I decided to stay in Swan Lake. A few months after settling into Swan Lake, my brother Brad told me about a talk show on the radio by a guy named Rush Limbaugh. He told me I should listen because I would like him. So I did. I remember thinking the first few times that I listened to Rush that this was not normal. He was attacking the normal way of thinking (at least what I perceived to be normal). However, the more I listened to him, the more he made sense, and I realized that Rush Limbaugh was indeed the "truth detector." I began to doubt the main stream media and began to realize the agenda behind the media to promote liberalism and that is what the rest of America believed. Since my first time that I listened to Rush, I have been a fan.

I had heard Rush Limbaugh tell his radio audience about a book written about him by Zev Chafets. He said it was a worthy biography of him. I was released in 2010. I finally got around to reading it. And I thoroughly enjoyed it. The author gives us a wonderful glimpse into Rush's childhood (Rush was known as Rusty as a child), his early radio career, and his emergence as a national figure. He explores some of his missteps and his highlights.

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Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy by Eric Metaxas
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book was recommended reading by Glenn Beck. It is the biography of a German pastor during the Nazi era. His story is one of resistance to the prevailing national socialism brought to Germany by Hitler. He was a well educated man who explicitly knew that the Nazi regime, and specifically Hitler, were evil. He fought against them in a way a pastor could fight against the Nazis. As I read the book, and specifically the chapters relating to the resistance, I wondered if I could stand by my principles in the face of death. This is a man that I could use as a role model. As he faced his death (two weeks prior to the Allies freeing the camp he was imprisoned), he said that he was "on the road to freedom." He looked forward to meeting his maker, knowing that he had fought the good fight.

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Do You Believe in God and Angels?

Watch the two videos below, then read about this young man after watching the videos:





Bed Breedlove is 18 years old when he made this video.  As the video explains, he has a dangerous heart condition.  Then, on Christmas Day of last year (2011), he had a heart attack and died.  He was spared long enough to share his message to a world that is cold-hearted and does not believe in God.  What a powerful message.

A Tale of Two Cities

A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


It was the best of books; it was the worst of books.  OK, that is really corny, but it does sum up how this book felt to me.  Reading Charles Dickens is very difficult for me.  At times, I would get lost in what he was trying to say.  In fact, I had to resort to Cliff notes on the Internet to fully understand some of the passages--especially when he would write using the dialect that the English would use, and when he would try to translate French idioms into an English equivalent.  They story is very tragic yet is encouraging. 



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Where Are You Christmas?

I have always loved Jon Schmidt. He is incredibly talented (I wish I had a millionth percent of his talent!) and his music is very moving and entertaining. Here is his latest: