Two Memoirs dealing with the Middle East ~ Part 2

Last week: March 29 - April 2:

These are two very different books, except that they both touch on the Middle East. And both stories tell what happened when the author walked the path of obedience to God. They both describe a life that is transformed by the presence and power of Christ. 

(Read Part One here)

STORM TOSSED

How a U.S. Serviceman Won the Battle of Sex Addiction

by Jake Porter

Foreword by Jerry Praetzel

Ordering Info :
172 pages
Price: $12.99
Available through Amazon.com
other online retailers
or through bookstores anywhere.
Memoir / Men's Issues
Trade Paperback

Book Description :
By the time Jake was nineteen he was feeding an insatiable lust that was looking for opportunities to act out. He found those opportunities in Mediterranean ports while serving as an aviation ordnanceman aboard the Naval aircraft carrier, USS America. At a time when the Gulf War was unfolding, Jake should have been totally committed to God and country. However, the seedy world of pornography and prostitution sabotaged his Christian life and made his commitment to the Navy a low priority. Even later, as a church-going civilian, his sins came back to haunt him. The author doesn't pull any punches in this hard-hitting story that takes the reader from the Persian Gulf War zone and the gritty underworld of prostitution to the glorious rapture of God's saving, delivering grace.

The Amazon Kindle version is FREE March 29 - April 2 here .

Learn more information about this book here
Read comments and review about this book here
Read a excerpt here

About the Author:
The life experiences of Jake Porter include being shot at a bank ATM, while working as an armored-vehicle driver; serving in the U.S. Navy during Desert Storm; and living in California, Montana, and Arizona, where he now resides with his wife. They have two young adult children, just leaving the nest.

Interview with Jake Porter:

STORM TOSSED deals with a sensitive topic. Why is your story and message needed today?
The content of this book is an honest account of my personal struggle with pornography and sexual addiction. Lust is a sin most Christian men battle against, but it is the one area in our lives we don't want to discuss. For the most part, the church and its leaders are silent on the topic. It's too dirty and too uncomfortable to address for most of us; but shying away from it isn't going to help us defeat this powerful weapon of Satan. STORM TOSSED doesn't pull any punches by tiptoeing around the subject matter.

Help us understand how a "Christian" who has grown up in the church might become a "sex addict."
Addictions are used to fill a void in our lives. Instead of turning to Christ, we may fill that hole by turning to drugs, alcohol, gambling, or overeating. In my case, I soothed my loneliness and feelings of failure with pornography and prostitutes. It didn't take long for me to be consumed with those activities. Even after I was aware of the problem, I couldn't stop. I felt ashamed, and thought I was the only one in the world who struggled with it. The problem only worsened and it began to eat away at my sanity.
My book will show readers that the roots of sexual sin are similar to idolatry and witchcraft. There is no distinction between obsessively looking at pornographic photos and kneeling before a graven image. The pornographers of the world are out to hook men and boys - and increasingly women - with their product just like a drug dealer does. One taste and they're hooked. Today, the Internet has made sex/porn addiction even more widespread.
(As a side note: The Bush Administration got some laws passed that forbid U.S. military personnel and civilians from engaging in activities overseas that would be illegal in the States. This includes visiting places that deal in human trafficking and child prostitution.) How well it is enforced, I don't know.

What hope is there?
When I cried out to God for help, He answered me. My story offers no guarantee of how to overcome sexual addiction, but it does candidly discuss what worked for me. Unless we men are free from this disabling sin, we can never be the husbands and fathers God has called us to be.

(Read Part One here)

Two Memoirs dealing with the Middle East ~ Part 1

Last week: March 29 - April 2:

These are two very different books, except that they both touch on the Middle East. And both stories tell what happened when the author walked the path of obedience to God. They both describe a life that is transformed by the presence and power of Christ. 

(Note:  so this post won't get to long I'm going to break it up into 2 posts.  Visit Part 2 here.  Thanks~ Abi) 
 

Ordering Info :
176 pages
Price: $14.99
Available through Amazon.com
other online retailers
or through bookstores anywhere.

  

Book Description:
Come with John and Judy Pex as they hike the 600-mile Israel National Trail from the Egyptian to the Lebanese borders. During 42 days of trekking through spectacular scenery, Arab towns and villages, past Jewish, Muslim, Druze, and Christian holy sites, they discover: + Sights seldom seen by tourists + Physical challenges and spiritual tests + Cultural encounters and historical insights + Lessons about peace, faith, and endurance. This book will appeal to: 1) Students of the Bible 2) Middle-agers who want vigorous role models and new challenges 3) Christian believers seeking creative ways to test and share their faith 4) Young adults pursuing the great hiking trails of the world 5) Readers interested in Israel. Illustrated with (color) photos of scenes and people from the Trail.



The Amazon Kindle version is FREE March 29 - April 2 here .

About the Author:
In their fifties, Judith and John Pex, who run a hostel in Israel, felt the need for renewal and decided to walk the 600-mile Israel National Trail. In WALK THE LAND, Judith shares what they discovered about God, themselves, and the history and people of Israel, and how their love for the land opened doors to share their faith in Yeshuah (Jesus).


Review Quotes:
"I wholeheartedly recommend this book for its glimpses of the people, history, and beauty of the land, and for the author's spiritual insights." - Jeremiah Greenberg, The Messianic Times, Jan/Feb 2008

"For thirty years I have had the incredible experience of traveling the land given to Israel by God -- from Dan to Beersheba to Eilat. However, 'walking the land' with my friends Judy and John [by reading this book] has brought a whole new dimension and depth to my understanding of Israel and its people. I know you'll be enriched spiritually through Judy's story of the insights given her by her God on this journey of a lifetime." - Kay Arthur, Precept Ministries International

Interview with Judith Galblum Pex:

You have traveled much of the world. What are your favorite cities/places to visit?
Usually the latest place I've been becomes my favorite, though I prefer the more remote locations over large cities. One incredible experience was going with Galit, who is like an adopted daughter for us, back to the village in Gondar, Ethiopia where she was born. She had left there with her mother twenty years previously as a young girl and walked to Sudan from where they were air-lifted to Israel with Operation Moses.

For people who have not yet read your book: What drew you to Israel?
I was traveling around the world, searching for a purpose in life. After hitchhiking alone through Europe for a year, my goal was to reach India, where I thought I would find a guru. I decided to stop in Israel on the way. I'm Jewish and have relatives here, so I thought it would be a comfortable place to rest before the big trip East. I never dreamed that Israel would become my home.

What were the biggest challenges and rewards in raising four children in Israel?
Our oldest son was born our first year in this country, and I had no family and no fellowship of believers in Eilat. I think that raising children in a different culture than the one you grew up in is always a challenge. But, on the other hand, raising children anywhere isn't easy. All four of our children served in the Israeli Defense Forces which also presented challenges. I am thankful to have raised them in an international, multi-cultural environment. They feel very Israeli, but have three passports and are citizens of the world. The best part is seeing them develop into independent adults whom I enjoy being with.

How did you and John get started running a hostel?
There are several reasons. Both of us had traveled a lot and felt that we understood what kind of place backpackers were looking for. At the time, no such hostel existed in Eilat. When we started the Shelter we had three children and couldn't travel as we used to, so a hostel enabled us to keep meeting people without leaving home. Furthermore, we have always opened up our home to guests and we really needed a hostel just to accomodate all the folks who were staying with us!

Did you know you wanted to write a book about your journey on the Israel Trail before you hiked it, or was it a decision you made afterward?
Before we walked the Israel Trail I had started a book about our experience in running the Shelter Hostel. So writing a book was on my mind. I thought that our journey on the Trail would be a good subject for a book, so I kept a diary of our walk for that purpose.

You find many parallels between your walk on the Shvil Israel (the Israel Trail) and your spiritual walk.
I love maps and when I'm hiking I enjoy checking the map often. That way, even if I get off the path, I can't stray too far. I make sure I read my Bible every day also to keep me on the right path for my life. Another lesson I thought of is that sometimes on a hike we come to a crossroads and have to make a decision about which way to go. Once we've chosen a particular trail, I try to be satisfied and appreciate it. Even if it isn't what I'd thought, I can always enjoy and learn something from it.

Which languages do you speak?
Besides English, I speak Hebrew and Dutch (John is from Holland), fluently, and some French, which I studied in school.

Do you have a favorite Bible verse?
I have many favorites, but there's one special chapter -- Isaiah 53. In verse 6 is the key: "We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all." It is amazing how clearly Isaiah speaks about the Messiah here, 700 years before Yeshua, Jesus, was born. Many Israelis, when they read this chapter for the first time, think they are reading a portion of the New Testament.

What would readers be surprised to know about you?
When people meet me today they are often surprised to hear I was a hippy/traveler and that I lived for three years in Alaska in an Eskimo village above the Arctic Circle.


A copy of this book was provided in exchange for this post by....

Hostage in Taipei by McGill Alexander

Welcome back to Memoirs in March!

This week we are featuring Hostage in Taipei: A True Story of Forgiveness and Hope by McGill Alexander.

For 5 days, starting today, we are offering a (free) download of the Kindle edition: http://amzn.com/B007B6QRYY

Mac Alexander was serving as South Africa's military attaché in Taipei, Taiwan in 1997, when he and his family were taken hostage in their home by the most feared and dangerous criminal on the island: Chen Chin-hsing. Using Mac and his oldest daughter as human shields in shoot-outs with the police, Chen brought them to the brink of death, as both were shot in the crossfire. But the family responded with love and forgiveness by leading Chen to Christ – and everlasting life – before his execution.

Watch the National Geographic video reenactment of this family’s hostage takeover, read an interview with Anne Alexander, Mac’s wife, visit the blogs listed on the blog tour and find other tidbits offered during Memoirs in March at http://cladach.com/Hostage-In-Taipei.html.

"You did a good deal of justice to the most fascinating news story Taiwan had seen in a decade or more.

I also appreciate your honest, even-handed criticisms of both the police and the media, and straightforwardness

in proclaiming your faith to God." ~ David Frazier, features editor, The Taipei Times

Read this amazing testimony and get "carried away" with us. Anyone interested in current events, true-experience thrillers, and God's amazing deliverance will enjoy this book!

two WWII books set in Europe

For the week of March 15 - 21:

PAPER POPPIES : A Memoir

by Marianna Vekhova

&

FAITHFUL FRIENDS : Holocaust Survivors' Stories of the Pets who Gave Them Comfort, Suffered Alongside Them and Waited for Their Return

by Susan Bulanda

 

These two books give gripping accounts of children torn from the safety and comfort of their homes and families in World War II Europe. We, the readers, can gain inspiration, wisdom and empathy from reading their eloquent memoirs.

The child in Paper Poppies was a crippled orphan with TB whose body was strapped to a hospital bed in Siberia, but whose mind and heart were on an amazing and memorable quest for Truth. Marianna sifted through the myriad of beliefs that filled empty souls during the Communist years in Russia: Soviet atheism, old folklore and superstitions, and empty religious traditions. When, in her pain and loneliness, one Christian dared to share her Christian faith with Marianna, a seed was planted that later led her to Christ.

The stories in Faithful Friends are by Holocaust survivors who were children during the Holocaust in several European countries. They tell of separation, betrayal and terror, and the comfort and hope God provided through the companionship and loyalty of their pets.




Paper Poppies

Ordering Info:
176 pages
Price: $12.99
Available through Amazon.com and other online retailers, or through bookstores anywhere.
The Amazon Kindle version is FREE March 15 - 19 here

Read Excerpt:

Review Quote:
"The story of a spiritual journey. This book will allow you to enter the struggle of the Russian soul like no other." ~ Pamela Brunson, World Witness

About the Author:


Marianna Vekhova is a graduate of Moscow State University, School of Journalism. She worked as an editor for a children's publishing house, then wrote scripts for children's radio and television. She has published children's books in Russian. She also has volunteered at a Moscow mission evangelizing street children.


 Faithful Friends

Ordering Info:
144 pages
Price: $12.99
Available through Amazon.com and other online retailers, or through bookstores anywhere.
The Amazon Kindle version is FREE March 15 - 19 here

Read Excerpt:

Review Quote:
"Each riveting chapter, headed by a brief explainer of Germany's occupation of a specific European country (seven total), segues into an emotional, detailed memoir of a writer's bond with his/her pet and the never-ending angst associated with leaving it behind to an uncertain fate. Each narrative connects powerfully to the reader, detailing a glacial, soberly reflective journey that taxes the human-animal bond to the ultimate." ~ Renny Green, SeattleKennelClub.org

About the Author:

Susan Bulanda is a recognized and accomplished dog trainer and animal behaviorist. She holds a B.A. in Psychology and a M.A. in Education, and is an adjunct professor at Kutztown University. She is the author of many published books, including God's Creatures: A Biblical View of Animals. Sue and her husband reside in Pennsylvania.

Interview with Susan Bulanda:
1. How did Faithful Friends come to be? What made you think of compiling stories such as these? How did you connect with the families who told their stories? How long did it take?
I thought of doing this book because in the movie The Diary of Anne Frank, they risked their lives to hide a cat with them. I wondered how many other people had stories to tell. I ran ads in magazines, both hard copies and on line to find people. The fact gathering took me quite a few years because the stories came in very slowly.

2. What did you, both as a Christian and as an animal behaviorist, hope to achieve by compiling stories about the pets during the holocaust of WWII?
My main objective for writing the book was to teach people in general – and specifically today's youth – about the Holocaust and counter some of the rumors that the Holocaust did not exist.

3. What is the greatest impact you have seen come about from the publishing of these stories?
The most rewarding aspect of doing this book was that it gave the contributors closure after so many years. That meant the most to me

4. What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of in your life?
I have had such a blessed life because God has given me a number of gifts, so it is hard to pick one major accomplishment. Some people would consider a strong, lasting marriage an accomplishment, successfully raising a son who is proud to have served as a Marine, and helping so many people with their pet problems. I am very proud of all of the years my husband and I ran canine search and rescue units as volunteers.

5. Writers are usually lifelong readers. When you were a child what were your favorite books?
Without a shadow of a doubt, I was an Albert Payson Terhune fan.

6. What do you like to do in your down time?
I do not have down time so to speak. I am one of those people who is doing something most of the time. I sew, garden, bird watch, and I like to bake.

7. Where on the Internet can we find you?
At www.sbulanda.com


A copy of these books were provided in exchange for this post by....

SCANDALON by Susan Elaine Jenkins

Welcome back to MEMOIRS IN MARCH!

During March we are excited to be featuring Cladach's line of international Memoirs. These stories happened in China, Israel, Taiwan, Western Europe, Russia, Southeast Asia, Africa and America.

Each week you can download free Amazon Kindle e-books, enjoy updates from the authors, try new recipes from the countries where the stories are told, see slideshows and more!

Today, and for the next 4 days, we are offering a free download of the Kindle version of Scandalon by Susan Elaine Jenkins: http://amzn.com/B005HRT4L2.

Running from scandal -- in her family, church and community life -- Susan moves from California to China. At first, the adventure of experiencing an exotic culture brings the escape she craves. Gradually, as the layers of mystery and reserve fall away, she gets to know her new Chinese friends on deeper levels. At the same time the self-protective layers around her own heart peel back painfully, exposing her inner brokenness.

With vivid and transparent writing, Susan takes us on a fascinating journey into the streets and homes of modern China. The travel memoir is interspersed with Susan's personal story of emotional and spiritual sabotage, shame and shattered dreams. It all comes together as she opens her heart anew to God's love - the most "scandalous" love of all.

Watch a video of Susan talking about Scandalon and discover more tidbits offered during “Memoirs in March” at: www.cladach.com.
Read First Chapter here
Read interview with author here

Book giveaways:
A Mom after God's Own Heart
Misc Mayzee
Examiner
Redemption's Heart

"Susan Elaine Jenkins has a special sparkling style of writing.... A story of personal healing, positive spiritual growth, and renewed hope."  ~ Richard L. Marchal

"Thanks for the courage to share the story. And especially thanks for weaving your experiences in China into the other story. It made what could have been a tabloid shocker into an account of grace."  ~ Rev. Bill Doggett

Get “carried away” to China while reading this poignant memoir.

A People Tall and Smooth by by Judith Galblum Pex

Welcome to MEMOIRS IN MARCH!

March is coming in like a lion here in Colorado, with March winds blowing and snow on the forecast. It's not time to plant a garden yet. But it's a good time to read books that will "carry us away" to other places - and inspire us to live more fully and faithfully.

During March we are excited to be featuring Cladach's line of personal Memoirs. These stories happened in Africa, Israel, China, Taiwan, Western Europe, Russia, Southeast Asia and America.

Each week you can download free Amazon Kindle e-books, enjoy updates from the authors, try new recipes from the countries where the stories are told, see slideshows and more!

For 5 days, starting March 1st, we are offering a free download of the Kindle version of A People Tall and Smooth by Judith Galblum Pex: http://amzn.com/B0076RB9P0.

It is the story of Gabriel, Muna Maria, Yien, and Rose – all persecuted Christians from south Sudan – and Muna from Darfur, who tell their heart-wrenching but inspiring stories of how they escaped through Egypt and smuggled into Israel, the one country their Islamic government prohibited them entering. In desperation they fled across the border anyway, with nothing but the clothes on their backs. These are stories that the world – and the church – need to hear.

Why would Christians, from a war-torn Islamic-governed country risk everything to come to Israel, of all places? When a group of refugees entered The Shelter Hostel run by John and Judy Pex, these courageous peoples’ stories, both tragic and miraculous, began to unfold. In their hearts and minds they carried the prophecy of Isaiah: “At that time gifts will be brought to the Lord Almighty [to Mount Zion] from a people tall and smooth-skinned” (Isaiah 18:7). These people believe they are a fulfillment of that prophecy.

Read the first Chapter here
Find an author interview and cultural recipe here

Read more about the book and author, and find special tidbits offered during Memoirs in March at: www.cladach.com.

Throughout the book I was struck by the dignity and strength

of each person....You will be brought along on a journey that

will challenge and change you." ~ Mary Nakamura

Read memoirs in March and have fun getting "carried away" with us!