'Til We Meet Again - Book Review

Everyone loves a great Love Story. But I love it when there's that extra dimension of the Ultimate Love Story. One of God's saving love.

Ray and Betty Whipps have written their beautiful story down in the book, 'Til We Meet Again'. Ray was a staff sergeant in the US Army and Betty was a nurse working in France during World War II. They met due to an injury inflicted on Ray out in the fields and foxholes of war. But were separated after only a month as he needed to go back to the war zone. After a time of separation, which included being taken prisoner at the notorious POW camp, Stalag VII-A, they were reunited and were married. They are now a beautiful elderly couple having raised seven children, along with grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Betty walks two miles every day at 94 years old. God has blessed them indeed.

 As I read this book, I was awestruck by a couple of things. First of all, we are losing the generation that Ray group up in, very quickly. There was a fortitude in these young men as they went off to war at a very early age that we have forgotten and have not passed down to the next generation. But, it was also very evident Ray had a strong faith in the Lord, who saw him through many life and death situations. Betty shares that strong faith from the get-go as well. Secondly, God's providence and sovereignty are seen so clearly! And it was particularly stunning to read about the truth I have so often heard, "There are no atheists in foxholes."

My gratitude to men like Ray Whipps is overwhelming. Men like these have fought courageously for the freedoms we enjoy today. I say, "Thank you, Mr. and Mrs. Whipps. For your testimony. For your faith and perseverance in all the hard times you went through. Your light shone brightly."

America needs to continue to thank men and women like these two as well. I am trying to make an effort when I see someone in uniform to offer verbal thanks to their service.

(As a part of the Tyndale Blogging Network, I received a free copy of this book.)

Book Review - The Printer and the Preacher

I love history! I love reading about history! I love learning about history!

So my most recent book to review was chosen mostly because of this fact. The Printer and the Preacher, written by Randy Petersen, is a beautifully woven work of the physical, spiritual and emotional lives of George Whitefield and Benjamin Franklin, two men of whom I have longed to know more. I have always loved studying the historical period of the colonial times. My husband and I just finished visiting Savannah, Georgia, where there was quite a lot history concerning Whitefield.  Mr. Petersen does an amazing job of relaying in much detail the childhood and conversion experience of Whitefield and the formative years of Franklin. This information greatly helps you understand the men they were, and why they stood for what they did.  As Mr. Petersen discusses the history of each of these men's lives, he incorporates much of the English culture from social dimensions to dramatizations to moral aspects. It was extremely informative.

I've read many historical books that lulled me to sleep. This was not one of those. It engaged me in a very thought provoking way.

Reading this book helped me immensely to examine my own relationships with those unsaved people around me and how I can develop a personal friendship despite the fact they don't embrace the Gospel. They may one day.

Reading this beautiful story also helped me to better understand the times of England and America during those first formative years. When you understand the culture, it puts peoples' lives into perspective, and we gain a better grasp on how they achieved what they did.

P.S. As part of the blogging network at Booksneeze, I received a free copy of this book.

What a History!

As the 2012 Presidential Election comes close, I have just finished reading, American Patriots, by Rick Santorum.  

What a great book that includes age old stories of some of the first Americans fighting for our freedom and liberty and justice for all. 

Mr. Santorum has chosen to help us understand the history of the United States of America and those who served to make us free by relaying these small biographies of known and not-so-well known Americans. Alongside these stories, the author details why and what his view is concerning the moral issues that are in crisis in our country right now. I appreciate his stand for life especially.

From the sacrifices made by Peter Francisco to the religious endeavors of Lemuel Haynes, the lives of these ordinary people should bring gratitude and thankfulness to our hearts. The reason I chose to read this as part of my blog book reviews was satisfied. I am thankful for America. I am thankful for all those who made this land possible.

As a part of the Tyndale Blogging network, I received a free copy of this book.

Book Review - Grant

I love history. I love learning how God works out all things in history. Because it is really His story. 


Grant, Savior of the Union, written by Mitchell Yockelson, reminds me of the sovereignty of God behind the scenes of life and history. The Civil War was a horrible part of America's history. There were strong believer's on each side. However, Grant was not one of them.



Grant was a rebel and counter cultural young man. But, many of these negative features is what drove him to excellence in the Civil War.  


Mr. Yockelson does a great job laying out, in an easy to read manner, the life of Grant, from young boy to American President. Grant was a go-getter who pushed his way through to victory even against the most famous Confederate General. Robert E. Lee. On the home front, he had four children with Mrs. Julia Grant, but due to his military career, he wasn't home much. His presidency came to be just by popular vote of his military accomplishments, but was not much of a success.


I am grateful for the Lord using U.S. Grant to bring the civil war to an end. I am grateful to Mr. Yockelson for helping me to understand the life of this important person in history.


I received a free copy of this book as part of the Booksneeze Blogging Network.