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It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old…or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!

and the book:

The Chic Shall Inherit the Earth (All About Us #6)

FaithWords; 1 edition (January 7, 2010)

***Special thanks to Miriam Parker of the Hachette Book Group for sending me a review copy.***

CONTEST! For a chance to win one of two prizes: a Tiffany’s Bracelet OR an All About Us T-shirt, go to Camy Tang’s Blog

Shelley Adina is a world traveler and pop culture junkie with an incurable addiction to designer handbags. She knows the value of a relationship with a gracious God and loving Christian friends, and she’s inviting today’s teenage girls to join her in these refreshingly honest books about real life as a Christian teen–with a little extra glitz thrown in for fun! In between books, Adina loves traveling, listening to and making music, and watching all kinds of movies.

Visit the author’s website.

Product Details:

List Price: $9.99
Reading level: Young Adult
Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: FaithWords; 1 edition (January 7, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0446179647
ISBN-13: 978-0446179645

ISLAND BREEZES

And now we have Lissa’s story set in her last high school term.  Lissa and her friends have more money and more exposure to the world of fashion and travel than the average Jane, but they still have similar problems.

Growing pains?  Confusion?  Mistakes?  Yes, Lissa has all those.  She also has God in her life to direct her as she interacts with her friends and not so friendly acquaintances.

Some of the problems and burdens are big ones.  How does she work her way through them?  Grab a book and find out.

Now that Ms Adina has taken us through the lives of these Spencer Academy friends, I hope it won’t end with graduation.  I can still see a lot of stories here.

AND NOW…THE FIRST CHAPTER:

© 2010 by Shelley Adina

Chapter 1

LET ME PUT it right out there: I’m no sports fan—unless you count surfing, which is more of an attitude to life than a sport. I used to think that there were some things you just knew. But if God were a major league pitcher, He’d be the kind of guy who threw curveballs just to keep you on your toes. To catch you off guard. To prove you wrong about everything you thought.

Which is essentially what happened to us all during the last term of our senior year at Spencer Academy.

My name is Lissa Evelyn Mansfield—yes, I’m back again. Did you miss me? Because, seriously, this last term of high school before my friends and I graduated was so crazed, so unpredictable, that I had to write it all down to try and make sense of it.

But, hey, let’s take a moment here. The words last term of senior year need some respect, not to mention celebration. They need to be paused over and savored. Excuse me.

Okay, I’m back.

The term began in April, and by the time our first set of midterms (or thirdterms, as my roommate Gillian Chang calls them, since we get three sets of exams every term) rolled around at the beginning of May, it was just beginning to sink in that there were only seven weeks of high school left. Seven weeks until freedom. Adulthood. Summer vacation. Adulthood. Home.

Adulthood.

Eek.

“Sarah Lawrence is stalking me,” Gillian moaned from where she sat on her bed in our dorm room. “Here’s another letter.” She fished an envelope out of the pile of mail in her lap and waved it.

I looked up from my MacBook Air, where I was checking e-mail. “Don’t let Emily Overton hear you. She got turned down and her roommate has had to keep her away from open windows for the last month.”

“But I already told them no twice. What’s it going to take?”

“You could fail some exams.” I’m always willing to offer a helpful suggestion. “They can’t help it if they covet your fearsome brain.”

“So does Harvard. And Princeton. Not to mention Stanford and Columbia and Juilliard.” She threw her hands in the air so that the letter flew over her shoulder and bounced off the headboard. “How am I supposed to pick just one? Can I spend a year at each school? I could be a career transfer student.”

“I’m glad I don’t have your decisions to make,” I told her with absolute honesty. “If all those schools were after me, I’d run away and hide.”

“I’ve got to figure out what I’m doing with my life.” She glanced at me. “Or maybe I should say, what God wants me to do with my life.”

“There’s the kicker.” I nodded sagely. “I understand about waiting on the Lord, but . . . He knows about registration deadlines, doesn’t He?”

“Oh, yeah. He knows. I keep asking Him, and He keeps thinking about it. Maybe He wants me to figure out what I want, first. But that’s the impossible part.”

Poor Gillian. She has the kind of brain schools fight over for their research programs. But she’s also a music prodigy—hence the acceptance from Juilliard. Then, to complicate things even more, she also has quite the talent for drawing, and ever since she met my friend Kaz Griffin, her dream has been to create a graphic novel starring a kick-butt Asian girl with a secret identity. Kaz, in case you haven’t met him, is my best friend from my old high school in Santa Barbara. He’s been trying to get his graphic novel published for, like, years, with no success. But I have to hand it to him. He never gives up.

Anyway. Gillian.

“You could always do pre-med at Harvard and minor in art or music,” I suggested. “You know you’re going to need a release valve from all that scientific pressure. It would be good to have the right-brain kind of classes to turn to.”

Gillian pushed the stack of mail off her lap and leaned back against the mound of colorful silk pillows. The letter from Sarah Lawrence crumpled somewhere underneath. “But then how will I know if I’m any good?”

“Um, your grades? Not to mention, if you got an acceptance from Juilliard, you’re good. Full stop, as Mac would say.”

Lady Lindsay MacPhail, aka Mac, was a student here at Spencer for two terms, and she’s one of our little group of friends. She’s gone back to live in London until the end of term, when she’ll return to her family’s castle in Scotland, and she has none of these questions about her life. She knows exactly what degree she’s going to get, when she’ll get it, and what she’ll be doing after that: making the Strathcairn Hotel and Corporate Retreat Center the go-to place for world-class events in the UK.

I envy people who have their future in a laser sight. I’m still trying to figure out what to wear tomorrow.

“What do teachers know?” Gillian asked. I don’t think she was looking for the answer to that one. “If I’m going to find out whether I’m really any good, I have to try to get into an art program and give it everything I’ve got. Try to get an exhibition. Or a publisher. Live in a garret and try to make it as an artist.”

“That sounds scary.”

“I know.” She sighed. “Medical school is the easy path, grasshopper.”

Only Gillian Chang would say something like that.

I turned back to my notebook and saw that while we’d been talking, a message from Kaz had popped up in my inbox.

*

To: lmansfield@spenceracad.edu

From: kazg@hotmail.com

Date: May 4, 2010

Re: Ow

I am so regretting pushing off physics until senior year. My brain hurts. What was I thinking? Instead of grabbing my board and heading for the beach, I’m stuck down here in my room writing equations I don’t know the answers to.

Does the Jumping Loon tutor over the phone? Can you ask her? I’ll give her anything she wants, including full use of my studly body, if she’ll just say the magic words that will unveil the meaning of x and y, not to mention z.

Life, I’ve got a handle on. X is a mystery.

Kaz

I looked over my shoulder. “Kaz wants to know if you do physics tutoring over the phone. He says you can do what you want with his body if you help him.” I paused when she didn’t look up from a Neiman Marcus catalog. “I didn’t know you were interested in his body. Does Jeremy know about this?”

“That sounds like a jealous remark.” She flipped a page. “Ooh, nice dress. Chloé does summer so well. Which reminds me, if we’re going on a Senior Cotillion dress safari, we’d better start soon.”

I was not to be sidetracked, no matter how tempting the bait. “Is something going on with you and Kaz?”

She put the catalog down and rolled her eyes to the ceiling. “Yes. Yes, there is.”

I sat there as stunned as if someone had upended a bucket of seawater over me.

Kaz and Gillian? What? How is that possible? When did—

What is the matter with you? Kaz is your friend. You aren’t . . . like that. If he’s interested in Gillian, it’s none of your business.

Poor Jeremy.

“Lissa. Lissa, come back to me.” I blinked at her. My face felt frozen. “For crying out loud, get a grip.” She was trying not to laugh and not succeeding very well. “He’s teasing you. He’s helping me with a plaster mold of his hand for my art project, okay? That’s all.”

“A mold. Of his hand. And you don’t have guys’ hands any closer than Santa Barbara?”

“He has interesting hands, which you’d know if you ever paid any attention.”

Of course he did. And of course I did. Pay attention to him, I mean. He was my best friend. We e-mailed each other, like, twenty times a week.

“And Jeremy’s hands aren’t interesting?”

She picked up the catalog and flipped another page. “Write him back and tell him of course I’ll tutor him. We can start tonight if he’s desperate.”

Hm. Poor Jeremy, indeed. What was going on here? “He wants to know the meaning of x.”

“Don’t we all. Some of us wait for the universe to reveal it to us. And some of us wouldn’t know it if the universe dropped it on our heads.”

“What’s your point?”

But my friend, who usually has all the answers, didn’t reply.

 

 

 

 

 

 

With my whole heart I cry; answer me, O Lord.  I will keep your statutes.

I cry to you; save me, that I may observe your decrees.

I rise before dawn and cry for help; I put my hope in your words.

My eyes are awake before each watch of the night, that I may meditate on your promise.

In your steadfast love hear my voice; O Lord, in your justice preserve my life.

Those who persecute me with evil purpose draw near; they are far from your law.

Yet you are near, O Lord, and all your commandments are true.

Long ago I learned from your decrees that you have established them forever.

Psalm 119:145-152

  Don’t try to kid me.  If you sew, do any kind of needlework or crafts, you have a stash.  Some how, it always happens.  We don’t start out intentionally building that stash.  It just happens.

You start with a little left over yarn, fabric or craft supplies.  Gee, it’s a crime to just toss it.  So into a box, a drawer or onto a closet shelf it goes.  You leave it alone for a little while and it multiplies.  A few months later you look at it in wonder. 

Just wait.  As the months turn into years, you don’t just have leftovers.  You’ve seen that fabric, trim or exotic skein of yarn that you just can’t resist.  Of course, you’ll think of some way to use it.  Eventually.  Then there are the sales. 

Have you ever been to a fabric shop that’s going out of business?  If you haven’t, then don’t go there.  Not even once.  Not even to just look and not buy.  You’re just deluding yourself.  You go the first time and find lots of wonderful buys.  Then the next week you go back.  You have to.  Every week they slash the prices even more. 

Then you’re addicted.  You go every week until it’s down to almost bare walls and yet you manage to find some bargain to buy.  You even buy more of the fabric you already bought.  Why?  Are you going to make an entire wardrobe out of that fabric?  Don’t ask me.  I still have it.  All of it.

Then there’s the yarn trying to escape from multiple bins and baskets.  And craft supplies.  And art supplies.  And UFOs.  And mending.  And the many projects we have down on paper and in our heads.  Oh, yes.  There’s the drawers and boxes overflowing with patterns and the bookcases crammed with books, project booklets, videos, CDs.

How about all those stacks of organizing drawers and bins on wheels.  They’re filled with tools of the trade, interfacings, stabilizers, laces and trims, ribbons and buttons.  Then there’s that other three drawer thing filled with threads and needles (both hand and machine).  There’s a drawer for regular thread, one for embroidery thread and the third for serger thread.  Never mind the fact that my serger still intimidates me and I seldom use the embroidery attachment for my machine.

There’s the confession.  Now for the follow up to last year’s goals, which basically means just more confessions.  Here they are.

1. I will reduce my stash of fabric, notions and yarn by not buying anything new during 2009 unless it’s to complete a work in progress.  I did a pretty good job of sticking to this one.  Keep reading and you’ll find out why it was so easy.
2. I will reduce my stash by completing one UFO (UnFinished Object) or one USO (UnStarted Object) for which I have already purchased the components each month. I managed to finish only one UFO.  Yes, that’s it.  Yes, I’m ashamed.
3. I will reduce my stash by making at least one Christmas ornament each month.  Did I say that?  I didn’t make any.  I got so crunched that I paid a friend to make some for me to give for an ornament swap. That was technically within the rules as long as they were handmade. 
4. I will declutter and reorganize my sewing room by Valentine’s Day in order to more efficiently complete the above goals.  Valentine’s Day of what year?  I did manage to get a lot of decluttering done, but it still has a long way to go.  It’s in good enough shape that I could manage the above goals if I just jumped in there and did something.  I just keep feeling like I have to have the room “perfect” in order to sew.  Isn’t that an ugly word?

Okay, same goals this year except for the Valentine’s Day deadline.  All I really need to do is clean off the sewing table again and I’m good to go.

Solutions to getting rid of stash 

• Don’t buy anything unless it’s to finish a project in the works or one for which  you’ve already purchased the makings.
• Sell some of it.
• Give it away.  I gave a lot of my craft supplies and some of my fabric and sewing supplies to friends. 
• Freecycle it.  I gave away four bags of fabric through Freecycle.  I can see a small dent on a couple shelves.  (Consumer Man wouldn’t be able to tell anything was missing.)
• Donate it to charity.  I’m sure you can find local charities which could use your help.  If you want to put it in a box and send it, you can do a world of good by sending it to the Billy Mills Center on the Cheyenne River Reservation.  I’ve sent my heart there in every box I’ve sent.
• Best of all – Use It!  Sew, knit, crochet, craft, whatever your heart desires to make.  Make things for your home.  Make things for your family.  Make things for charity. Make things for yourself.  Start making gifts for birthdays, weddings, new babies, housewarmings and of course, next Christmas.

We can do it!  Let’s work at reducing our stash in 2010.  Life is so much more pleasant without all that’s involved in trying to organize and corral stash.  It’s also a lot more pleasant if you don’t have to try to hide it from your spouse, children, friends and others who just don’t understand about stashes.

I don’t make resolutions, but I do have goals.  I tried to find a post about my 2009 goals, but couldn’t.  Maybe I didn’t let you all in on those goals. 

I’ve met two of my big financial goals.  I’ve paid off two whoppers. A credit card and a loan.  My goal for this year is to pay off my personal line of credit by the end of the year.  That’s $9,915 and then I’m debt free. 

I also plan to increase my emergency fund along the way.  I will soon have two months living expenses covered.  I want to see that increased to at least three months by the end of the year.

One thing that has helped was my change from working a two week Baylor plan to working five nights a week.  That has been good for both my finances and my health. 

My one regret is that I no longer have much me time.  I only have Saturday and Sunday off and anyone who works nights knows that it is the equivalent to only one day off.  The first day off is wasted because you’ve worked all night and are too tired to do much of anything.  Then you have to go to bed and sleep.  The next day is your day off.  The following day?  Not much except going back to bed early afternoon so you can get up and go back to work.

That leaves little time to spend with my friends out in cyberspace.  I’m still working on getting that one figured out.    Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Now it’s time to confess.  I didn’t do nearly as well with my fitness goals.  I didn’t regress, but I haven’t made much more than snail-like movements towards those goals.  I’ve been treading water and the end of the pool looks so far away.

Next Friday we’ll go into my fitness goals for 2010.  The motivation is there, boys and girls.  I’ve something in the works that will keep me on task.  Maybe I’ll be able to share that by next Friday.  See you then.

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old…or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!

and the book:

Dinosaurs for Kids

Master Books (October 15, 2009)

***Special thanks to Robert Parrish of New Leaf Press for sending me a review copy.***

Ken Ham is the founder and executive director of Answers in Genesis in the USA and one of the most sought-after Christian speakers in North America. He is the author or co-author of many books and is heard daily on the radio program, “Answers…with Ken Ham,” on more than 300 stations worldwide. Ken is also featured in various videos including the series, “Answers in Genesis with Dr. Gary Parker,” and the 12-part series of 28-minute videos, “Answers…with Ken Ham.” Ken’s teaching is clear, true to the Bible, engaging, and challenging. Many have found salvation and others have been encouraged and equipped to reach others with the gospel through Ken’s ministry.

Visit the author’s website.

Product Details:

Price: $14.99
Reading level: Ages 9-12
Hardcover: 64 pages
Publisher: Master Books (October 15, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0890515557
ISBN-13: 978-0890515556

ISLAND BREEZES

This is an excellent book about the history of dinosaurs.  It is very child friendly, having lots of pictures as well as being written in an easy to read manner.  Mr.  Ham brings together the Bible and science to give us a true history of these mighty creatures.

This educational book taught me more about the timeline of the dinosaurs, as well as the fact that not all dinosaurs were large.  I was surprised to learn about the chicken sized one.

I truly enjoyed this book and am looking forward to sending it to my grandson.

AND NOW…THE FIRST CHAPTER:

by

Ken Ham, illustrated by Bill Looney

Dinosaurs can provide a great way to learn about history. You may already be familiar with some of these dinosaurs. These drawings show you what we think they may have looked like. Now, we don’t know for sure, of course, as we usually only find their bones as fossils (and most times, only a few of their bones). Artists use what bones have been found, knowledge about living animals, and some imagination to come up with drawings like these. See if you can pronounce these dinosaur names:

Dilophosaurus (die-LOF-o-SWAR-us), meaning “two-crested lizard.”
Styracosaurus (sty-RAK-o-SAWR-us), meaning “spiked lizard.”
Triceratops (tri-SER-a-tops), meaning “three-horned face.”
Megalosaurus (MEG-a-lo-SAWR-us), meaning “big lizard.”
Iguanodon (i-GWAHN-o-don), meaning “iguana tooth.”
Ceratosaurus (ser-ah-toe-SAWR-us), meaning “horned lizard.”
Deinonychus (die-NON-i-kus), meaning “terrible claws.”
Velociraptor (vee-LOHS-i-RAP-tor), meaning “swift robber.”
Ultrasaurus (UHL-tra-SAWR-us), was so nicknamed because of its enormous size.
Seismosaurus (SEIS-mo-SAWR-us), meaning “earthquake lizard.”

Did you know there are hundreds of dinosaur names? However, there were not hundreds of types of dinosaurs. There were a number of similar ones that should be grouped into categories known by what the Bible describes as “kinds.” Does that sound a little confusing? Well, this book will help to explain this and a lot of other things about dinosaurs you may not know.

(Pictures with names):

Dilophosaurus
Styracosaurus
Triceratops
Iguanodon
Ceratosaurus
Velociraptor
Ultrasaurus
Seismosaurus

Before we begin, I don’t want you to miss out on knowing what my very favorite dinosaur is! In fact, I think he deserves this whole page to himself! It is the mighty Tyrannosaurus rex (ti-RAN-oh-SAWR-us-rex), meaning “tyrant lizard king.” I’ll let you in on a secret – I love T-rex because I like his teeth! I use teeth to teach kids and parents some very interesting things about dinosaurs – things that you may not have heard or really understood before. But it is very important to understand the truth about dinosaurs!

FOUR FAST FACTS

T-rex fossils are found in Canada and the western United States.
The first documented T-rex fossil was discovered in 1902 by Barnum Brown.
Scientists think T-rex skeletons were made up of close to 200 bones.
T-rex had around 60 teeth, which ranged in size based on their placement in the jaw of the skull.

With a strong tail extended for balance, an adult T-rex could be a little over 40 feet in length, 12-13 feet tall at the hips, and weigh between 5 and 7 tons. T-rex’s jagged teeth could be up to 9 inches long, and like sharks, the T-rex was able to replace teeth when one was lost.

What’s in a name? Remember that the T-rex name means “tyrant lizard king.” But secular scientists are still wondering whether T-rexes were active hunters or clever scavengers, or a combination of both. However, creation scientists are able to explain the evidence in a different way using the biblical account of history, as we will soon learn.

FOUR FAST FACTS

The word “fossil” is from the Latin word meaning “dug up.” Scientists often make assumptions about dinosaurs based on a few fossilized bones, bone fragments, or other fossil remains, impressions, etc.
Only a few thousand dinosaur skeletons have been discovered.
The vast majority of fossils discovered are marine invertebrates (creatures that don’t have backbones like clams).

I’m sure you have lots of questions about dinosaurs. I believe I can answer many of those questions for you because dinosaurs are not a mystery at all. I know someone who was there when dinosaurs came into existence, and was also there when they seemed to disappear from the earth. In fact, this “someone” has written a book for us that gives a detailed account of the history of the universe. He tells us when the earth began, as well as when all the living creatures and the first humans appeared.

Now, you may be asking “Who is this someone you say was there to see the dinosaurs?” He is the Creator of all things. He knows everything because He is all powerful and has always been around. And this Creator had a book written for us to give us the details of how time began, and how the universe and all life came into existence. This book also tells us who we are, where we came from, and why we exist. It also gives us information on what is going to happen in the future! There is no other book like this on earth. It is unique, and it is called…the Bible.

When you understand the Bible, you will understand more about dinosaurs. The Bible helps us to answer questions about dinosaurs and about the world around us today.

Bigger. Among the most widely known type of dinosaurs, the sauropods (“lizard foot”) are some of the largest creatures to ever walk the earth. Many of these dinosaurs are known by only a few pieces of bone fragments, and debate continues on just which dinosaur was the largest ever. As discoveries continue, more will be known about these massive giants. Sauroposeidon (“earthquake god lizard”) was considered the largest dinosaur ever to live, until the discovery of Argentinosaurus (“silver lizard”). Though only a few bones of each creature have been found, many scientists estimate that Argentinosaurus was larger, though Sauroposeidon may have been taller.

Smaller. Compsognathus (“elegant jaw”) is among the smallest dinosaurs discovered. A little bigger than a chicken, this dinosaur weighed around 6 pounds. Some scientists have found smaller creatures, like Microraptors, which they try to use to prove dinosaurs were the evolutionary ancestor of birds – real science and the Bible disprove this idea. Archaeopteryx (“ancient wing”) is another example of a creature once thought to prove this link, but that idea has now been proven false.

Did you know that the Bible is really a collection of books written by people specially inspired by God, the Creator, to write down exactly what God wanted us to know? The Bible tells us more about who God is and why we can always trust Him to tell us the truth:

The God of the Bible is the true God: “But the LORD [is] the true God; He is the living God and the everlasting King…” (Jeremiah 10:10).
The God of the Bible is infinite – He is all knowing, all powerful: “Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding is infinite.” (Psalm 147:5).
The God of the Bible lives forever – He lives in eternity – He had no beginning and has no end: “Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever…” (1 Timothy 1:17).
The God of the Bible is the only true God – other gods people claim to have are false gods: “Therefore You are great, O LORD GOD. For there is none like You, nor is there any God besides…” (2 Samuel 7:22).
The God of the Bible is all wise and all knowing: “…in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” (Colossians 2:3).
Wow! What an awesome God.

The Only One.

Only God is a witness to the entire history of the world, including the history of dinosaurs. During the creation week, God created dinosaurs and flying reptiles. Pterosaur (“winged lizard”) like this one, could have wing spans of 30 feet. Stegosaurus (“roof lizard”) is easy to recognize with two rows of large plates running along its arched back, and its multi-spiked tail. Corythosaurus (“helmet lizard”) is a great example of dinosaurs with bony crests on their heads. Scientists think these crests were used in making sounds.

Does any human being (including any scientist) know everything? Has any human being always existed? The answer to both questions is, of course, NO. However, who is the only one who knows everything? Who is the only one who has always been there? The answer to both of these questions is, “the Creator God of the Bible.”

True History!

I call the Bible “The History Book of the Universe.” This is because it is a book that tells us how time and the universe began. And in the very first book of the Bible, the Book of Genesis, we are given a detailed account of not only how God created everything to begin with, but also major events of history that happened after creation.

You might be saying, “Wait a minute, haven’t scientists already found out lots of things about dinosaurs – that they lived millions of years before people and that they lived during the dinosaur age 200 million to 65 million years ago, and then they became extinct?”

Well, not all scientists say that! And though the majority of people today might believe that dinosaurs lived millions of years ago, the majority are wrong on this. And more and more people are now finding out the truth because they listen to and understand God’s Word!

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old…or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!

and the book:

Sydney’s DC Discovery (Camp Club Girls #2)

Barbour Books (January 1, 2010)

***Special thanks to Angie Brillhart of Barbour Books for sending me a review copy.***

Jean Fischer has been writing for children for nearly three decades, and has served as an editor with Golden Books. She has written with Thomas Kinkade, John MacArthur, and “Adventures in Odyssey,” and is one of the authors for Barbour’s Camp Club Girls series. A nature lover, Jean lives in Racine, Wisconsin.

Visit the author’s website.
Visit the Camp Club Girl’s website.

Product Details:

List Price: $5.97
Reading level: Ages 9-12
Paperback: 160 pages
Publisher: Barbour Books (January 1, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1602602689
ISBN-13: 978-1602602687

ISLAND BREEZES

This is the second in the Camp Club Girls series.  This one will not disappoint you.  It’s just as good as the first one.

Elizabeth, who lives in Texas, gets to spend time visiting Sydney in D.C. when her uncle brings her along when he goes to a reunion. 

While visiting the Vietnam memorial, the girls stumble onto a mystery.  Is someone near and dear to one of the girls involved in an evil plot?  It certainly looks like it.

As the girls get deeper into this mystery, they may be putting their lives in danger.  Help from the rest of the Camp Club Girls comes via technology. 

Find out more when you pick up this book to read.  I was so engrossed in it that I read it all in one sitting.

AND NOW…THE FIRST CHAPTER:

Splaaaashhh! Whoosh!

“Watch out!” someone called near Sydney’s ear.

But it was too late. The pent up explosion of the water landed square against Sydney’s back, knocking her to the ground.

Dazed, she rolled onto her back and looked up into the hot summer sky. The water swirled around her whole body. From a distance she heard happy shouting and water gushing onto the street.

A fireman’s face appeared above her. “Are you okay, little girl?”

Little girl? Little girl! I’m twelve years old! I’m not a little girl, Mister.

The indignation snapped Sydney out of her dazed condition. She looked up and saw that two firemen were now looking at her anxiously. Carefully they helped her to her feet.

“Are you okay, little girl?” She looked in the fireman’s face. He seemed so worried that her irritation melted.

Sydney looked down at her soaking gray tank top and shorts. “Yes, sir, I’m fine,” she said. “Thank you,” she added, remembering her manners.

Sydney Lincoln had been talking to one of her neighborhood friends. She hadn’t even noticed the firemen at the fire hydrant behind her. And she sure hadn’t realized she was in the direct line of the nozzle the men were releasing.

Still out of breath from the shock of the water, Sydney dropped onto the curb in front of her house. She tore off her running shoes and socks, and stuck her bare feet into the gutter. She watched as the water from the hydrant down the street shot into the air and out the nozzle. The neighborhood kids laughed and splashed in its flow.

As Sydney’s clothes began to dry in the torrid sun, the water rushed along the curb like a river. It streamed between Sydney’s toes and sent goose bumps creeping up to her knees.

Sydney lived in the middle of a row of brick houses. The two-story tall houses were connected so they looked like one long building. The only windows were in the front and the back. The houses were close to the street, and each had a narrow front porch with three steps leading to a tiny front yard and the sidewalk.

The screen door on Sydney’s house swung open, and her mom stepped outside. “Sydney, have you seen your Aunt Dee yet?” Her curly, black hair was pulled back with a blue band to keep it off of her face.

“No, Mom,” Sydney answered. “I ran past the Metro station looking for her, but she wasn’t there.”

“Well, when she gets here, you two come inside. Dinner’s ready.”

Sydney dipped her fingers into the water and splashed some onto her long, thin arms.

“Don’t you want to come in by the air conditioning?” Her mother fanned herself with a magazine. “Aren’t you hot in the sunshine?”

“No, mom,” Sydney answered. She didn’t think it was necessary to tell her mom about her little brush with the explosion of water.

The cell phone in the pocket of her pink shorts buzzed. Sydney took it out and found a text message from one of her best friends, Elizabeth Anderson. It said: Almost packed.

Sydney tapped a reply on her keypad: Can’t w8 til u get here.

Sydney and Elizabeth had met at Discovery Lake Camp, and although Elizabeth lived in Texas, they talked every day. Four other girls had been with Sydney and Elizabeth in Cabin 12B. They were Bailey Chang, Alexis Howell, McKenzie Phillips, and Kate Oliver. When camp ended, Kate set up a web site so the girls could stay in touch. It was password protected, so it was like their own secret cabin in cyberspace. They’d all bought web cams with baby-sitting money, chore payments, and allowances so they could see each other and talk online. The Camp Club Girls—as they liked to be called—made web cam calls, sent IMs, and frequently met in their own private chat rooms.

Sydney continued typing her message: Will pic u up @ d aport @ 4 2MORO.

“Sydney, I really wish you’d come inside.” Sydney’s mother crossed her arms.

“Okay, in a few minutes, Mother!” Sydney said, without looking up.

The screen door slammed shut.

This was the worst heat wave Washington D.C. had seen in twenty-five years. Everyone had air conditioners blasting. The energy load was way too much, and the night before, the power had gone out. Sydney hated being in total darkness. She was relieved that today seemed normal.

Pack shorts, she typed. Really hot here!

While she sat texting, Sydney heard the thump thump thump of music getting closer and closer. A green jeep raced around the corner, and the booming bass from its stereo echoed inside Sydney’s chest. In the passenger seat, Aunt Dee held on to her tan park ranger hat to keep it from flying off of her head. The jeep screeched to a halt in front of Sydney’s house, and her aunt hopped out.

“Thanks for the ride, Ben,” she yelled over the music. “See you tomorrow.”

The young driver waved and drove off.

Gotta go, Liz, Sydney wrote. Ant D’s home.

Sydney stood and wiped her feet on the grass. “You’re late again,” she said. “Mom’s mad.”

“I know,” Aunt Dee apologized. “There was trouble at the Wall.” She took off her ranger hat and perched it on Sydney’s head. Aunt Dee always blamed her lateness on her job at the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial. Sydney didn’t understand how she could be so enthusiastic about a long, black wall with a bunch of names carved onto it.

“So what was the trouble?” Sydney wondered.

“I’ll tell you at dinner,” said Aunt Dee. She linked her arm through Sydney’s. “It’s hot out here, girlfriend. Let’s go inside.”

By the time Sydney washed and sat at her place at the table, Mom and Aunt Dee were already eating. Sydney had learned at camp to pray before every meal. So, she bowed her head and said out loud, “Dear Lord, Make us truly grateful for this meal and for all the blessings of this day.” She noticed that her mom and Aunt Dee stopped eating and bowed their heads, too. “And please keep Dad safe,” she said. Sydney always added a blessing for her dad who was serving in the military overseas.

“Amen!” Mom and Aunt Dee chimed.

Sydney poured iced tea into her tall glass and scooped pasta salad onto her plate. “So, what happened at the Wall?” she asked, reaching for a piece of French bread.

“Someone spray painted the sidewalk last night,” Aunt Dee replied. “Graffiti.”

Sydney’s mom got that look on her face—the one where her forehead turned into wrinkled plastic wrap. “You mean vandalism,” she said. “I think it’s just terrible what kids do these days—”

“How do you know it was kids?” Sydney interrupted. Her mouth was full of creamy macaroni. “Kids aren’t the only ones who do bad stuff.”

“Don’t talk with your mouth full,” said Aunt Dee.

“Most times it is,” her mom argued. “Just look around our neighborhood,” She waved her hand toward the kitchen window. “Vandalism everywhere! Who do you think did all that? Not the adults. The kids don’t care about our community. Do they care that this neighborhood used to be a military camp to help slaves that escaped from the South? No! They just want to mess up the nice things that good folks worked so hard to build.” Sydney’s mother sighed and took a long drink of her iced tea.

Mrs. Lincoln worked at the local historical society, and she was very protective of the neighborhood and its landmarks. She liked to talk about how, in the old days, kids had manners and didn’t do anything wrong. Sydney hated it that her mom blamed everything on the kids in the neighborhood.

“There are good kids, too,” Sydney argued. “You don’t see my friends and me running around spray painting everything. Give us some credit!” She looked at her plate and pushed the rest of her pasta salad into a neat little pile. “We care what happens.”

“We don’t know who did it,” said Aunt Dee, trying to stop the argument. “Someone painted GO 64 in front of panel 30W—in orange paint. Ben and some other volunteers scrubbed it this morning. They’ll work on it again tonight when the air cools off some. They’re having a hard time cleaning it. Pass the bread, please.”

“What does GO 64 mean?” Sydney asked, handing her the basket of bread.

“That’s what we’re trying to figure out,” Aunt Dee answered. “We’re wondering if the number 64 is a clue to who did it. Ben said that in some rap music, 64 means a 1964 Chevrolet Impala. Another volunteer plays chess and said 64 is the number of squares on a chessboard. We don’t know what it means.”

“Maybe it’s Interstate 64,” Sydney’s mom suggested. “There’s construction on that freeway and plenty of orange construction cones. Maybe the orange paint is to protest all that.”

“But if it’s about the freeway, or a car, or a chessboard, why would they complain by painting graffiti at the Vietnam Wall? Besides, Interstate 64 is in Virginia,” Aunt Dee said.

“Yes, but there’s some military bases out that way,” Mother said. Then she added, “It’s probably just kids.”

The air conditioning kicked in again, and a cool draft shot from the air vent making the kitchen curtains flutter.

“The Wall’s lighted at night,” Sydney said. “And the Park Police keep an eye on all the monuments. So, why didn’t anyone see who did it?”

“The lights were out,” Aunt Dee reminded her. “The whole city went dark for a while, and the Park Police were busy with that. That’s when it happened, I’m sure. Anyway, it’s a mess, and we have to clean it up fast. The TV stations are already making a big deal out of it.” She dipped her knife into the butter container and slathered butter onto her French bread. “I had such an awful day at work. Everybody blamed everyone else for letting it happen. Like we would let it happen! People don’t know how hard the Park Service works—“

“May I be excused,” Sydney asked, swallowing her last bite of pasta.

“You may,” her mother answered.

Sydney put her dishes into the dishwasher. Then she went upstairs to her room.

The computer on Sydney’s desk was on, and her screensaver cast an eerie blue glow on her yellow bedroom walls. Syd’s bedroom had no windows, so it was always dark. That was the trouble with living in a row house. If your room was in the middle of the house, you had no windows. She flipped the switch on her desk light and tapped the spacebar on the computer. The monitor lit up, and Sydney noticed that McKenzie Phillips was online. She sent her an IM: Talk to me?

The phone icon on the computer screen jiggled back and forth. Sydney clicked on it, and McKenzie’s freckled face appeared. She was sitting at the work island in her family’s kitchen. “What’s up?” she asked.

Sydney turned on her web cam. “Not much,” she said. “I just finished dinner.”

“Me, too,” McKenzie replied. “Well, almost.” She held a slice of cheese pizza in front of her face so Sydney could see it. “We ate early because Dad and Evan have to drive some cattle to pasture. Then they want to practice for the rodeo this weekend.” She pointed to the blue baseball cap on her head. Its yellow letters said: Sulfur Springs Rodeo.

“I didn’t want to hang out downstairs,” Sydney told her. “Someone spray painted graffiti by the Vietnam Wall last night, and Mom blamed it on kids again.”

McKenzie took a bite out of her pizza. “I saw it on the news. Why did she blame it on kids? I mean, anyone could have done it.”

“She blames everything on kids,” Sydney answered. “I think it’s because a lot of the kids around here get into trouble. I try to tell her that we’re not all like that, but she doesn’t listen. Lately she doesn’t listen to anything I say.”

“My mom’s like that, too,” McKenzie said. “Nothing I do is ever right.” Her face lit up. “Hey, the news said it was orange paint, right?”

“Yeah,” Sydney said, fidgeting with her cornrows. “Orange graffiti that said GO 64. So what?”

“So, maybe it’s some crazy nutcase with Agent Orange.”

“Agent who?” Sydney asked.

“Agent Orange!” said McKenzie. “Agent Orange was a chemical they used in Vietnam. I read about it in school. It made some Vietnam soldiers really sick and some even died. So maybe it wasn’t a kid who wrote it. Maybe it’s a guy who got Agent Orange, who’s mad at the government, and wants to get even. By the way, I can’t see you well.”

“You think too much,” Sydney answered. She pulled her desk light closer to her computer and bent it toward her face. “They’re trying to figure out what GO 64 means. My aunt and mom think it could be about some sort of car, or highway, or maybe even a chessboard—“

“A chessboard!” McKenzie screeched. “A person who plays chess won’t spray paint a national monument.”

“I know,” Sydney said. “Some gang member probably wrote it. Anyhow, I don’t care. I don’t want to talk about it anymore.”

“I can see you fine now,” McKenzie said, changing the subject. “So, when is Elizabeth coming?”

“She and her Uncle Dan are flying in from Texas tomorrow,” Sydney answered. “Aunt Dee and I are going pick them up at the airport at four. We’ll take her uncle to his hotel, and then Elizabeth will come here to stay with us.”

“Can Elizabeth’s Uncle Dan get around all by himself?” McKenzie asked. She twisted a strand of her shoulder-length hair around her fingers. “I mean, he’s in a wheelchair and everything.”

“As far as I know, he can,” Sydney answered. “Elizabeth said he plays wheelchair basketball and competes in wheelchair races, so I suppose he gets around just fine by himself. I’m sure once he gets to the hotel, his Vietnam buddies will help him out if he needs help.”

McKenzie reached for a gallon milk container on the kitchen counter. She poured herself a glass. “Well, at least you and Elizabeth don’t have to hang around with him the whole time. He’ll be busy with his reunion stuff, right?”

“Right,” Sydney agreed. “We’ll see him Monday at the Vietnam Wall. Aunt Dee wants to give him the tour, and she thinks that Elizabeth and I should be there. Otherwise, we’re on our own.” Sydney heard strange sounds coming from her computer speakers. “Is that mooing?” she asked.

“Can you hear it?” said McKenzie. “That’s Olivia, our old milk cow. About this time every day, she wanders up to the kitchen window and talks to us. I’ll move the camera, and you can see her.”

McKenzie’s face disappeared from the screen. Sydney watched her friend’s bare feet move across the kitchen floor as she carried the web cam to the window. Then a big, black-and-white cow head appeared. Olivia stood chewing her cud and looking at Sydney with huge, brown eyes.

“Earth to Mac! Earth to Mac!” Sydney called into her computer’s microphone. “Come back Mac!”

Sydney watched McKenzie’s bare feet walk back to the computer. Then her face showed up on the screen.

“Isn’t Olivia awesome?” she said. “You really should come to Montana, Syd. We have tons of animals. I know you’d love it, and we could ride horses and hike, just like we did at camp.”

“Maybe I will some day,” Sydney replied. “But, right now, I’m signing off. I want to clean up my room before Elizabeth gets here from Texas. All of my junk is piled on the other bed. If I don’t move it she won’t have a place to sleep.”

“Okay then,” McKenzie said. “I’ll sign off, too—and eat more pizza.” She picked up the gooey slice from her plate and took another bite. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

“See ya,” Sydney answered, switching off her web cam.

Everything in her room looked neat except for the other twin bed. It was hardly ever used, so that was where Sydney stored most of her stuff. It held boxes filled with colorful papers and art materials, magazines, piles of clothes, posters she planned to put up in her room. Sydney had so much stuff stored there that she didn’t know what to do with it all. Under my bed, I guess, she thought.

Before long, the bed was cleaned. Sydney changed the sheets. Then she went to her closet and pulled out a new black and tan bedspread that matched her own. She threw it on top of the bed and tucked it neatly around the pillow.

“Sydney?” Aunt Dee stood in the doorway. She held a long, white envelope. “This came for you.”

The letter was from Elizabeth. Sydney tore open the flap and found a note taped to an information sheet.

Uncle Dan wanted me to send you this so your mom can keep track of him. Just in case of an emergency. It’s his reunion schedule.

Sydney Lincoln read the heading on the sheet of paper. It said, “Annual Reunion—64th Transportation Company, Vietnam.”

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old…or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!

and the book:

Camp Club Girls & the Mystery at Discovery Lake

Barbour Books (January 1, 2010)

***Special thanks to Angie Brillhart of Barbour Books for sending me a review copy.***

Renae Brumbaugh lives in Texas with her pastor husband, two noisy children, and two dogs. She’s authored four books in Barbour’s Camp Club Girls’ series, and Morning Coffee with James (Chalice Press), and has contributed to several anthologies. Her humor column and articles have appeared in publications across the country.

Visit the Camp Club Girl’s website.
Visit the author’s website.

Product Details:

List Price: $5.97
Reading level: Ages 9-12
Paperback: 160 pages
Publisher: Barbour Books (January 1, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1602602670
ISBN-13: 978-1602602670

ISLAND BREEZES

This new series for girls is fun.  I think I’m going to love every one of these books.  I’ve always enjoyed mysteries.  When I was young I read every Nancy Drew book I could get my hands on.  I wanted to be Nancy Drew. 

These mysteries are for modern girls who use modern technology.  With six members of the Camp Club Girls, there will be someone with whom every girl can identify.

Discovery Lake is the location of the camp where these girls meet.  It’s also a place of discoveries.  Talents, mysteries and friendships.

The girls help bring new light on an old mystery as they try to elude the villian, the counselors and other girls.  In the process, they smuggle, trespass and outsmart bullies. 

Grab a book and find out what happens at Camp Discovery. 

AND NOW…THE FIRST CHAPTER:

“Shhhhhhh!” Sydney told Bailey. “What was that noise?”

“What noise?” asked Bailey.

“Shhhhhhhhhhhhhh!” commanded her new friend.

The two listened with all their focused energy. Then, there it was. Footsteps. Large, heavy footsteps.

The girls stood in terrified uncertainty.

Aaaaaaaaarrrrrrrkkkkk!

Sydney gasped as the eerie shriek filled the air.

Yahahoho ho ho!

Bailey trembled uncontrollably as the crazy, unworldly laugh followed.

“Run!” Sydney screamed. The two dashed as fast as their legs could carry them, back toward the camp. Sydney stopped twice, waiting for Bailey’s shorter legs to catch up.

#

Fourteen-year-old Elizabeth sat in the middle of the dusty road, trying to cram her underwear back into her suitcase before anyone saw. I thought wheels were supposed to make a suitcase easier, she thought. Instead, the rolling blue luggage had tipped over three times before it finally popped open, leaving her belongings strewn in the street.

Suddenly, she was nearly barreled over by two girls running frantically. “Run for your life!” the smaller one cried. “It’s after us!”

“Whoa, calm down,” Elizabeth focused on the terrified girls.

The taller one panted. “Something’s back there!”

Elizabeth looked toward the golf course but saw nothing. She noticed that the smaller girl seemed to struggle for air, and her protective instincts took over. “Calm down. You’ll be okay.”

“Need. . .inhaler,” gasped the girl.

Elizabeth sprang into action, digging through the girl’s backpack until she found a small blue inhaler. Then she helped hold it steady while the slight girl gasped in the medication. The taller girl kept looking toward the miniature golf course they’d just left. “Sorry,” the small girl whispered. “I’m supposed to keep that in my pocket, but I got so excited I forgot.”

“I’m Elizabeth. Why don’t you tell me what happened.”

“I’m Bailey,” said the short, dark-haired girl. “Bailey Chang.”

“And I’m Sydney Lincoln,” said the tall, dark-skinned girl with beaded braids. “We were at the golf course, and. . .and. . .”

“And something came after us!” exclaimed Bailey.

Elizabeth looked skeptical as she tucked a strand of long blond hair into the clip at the base of her neck.

“Is this your first year here? This is my third year here, and the most dangerous thing I’ve seen is a skunk.”

The girls giggled but didn’t look convinced. “Come with us. We’ll show you.” Bailey pulled Elizabeth back toward the golf course.

“I thought you were afraid of whatever it was! Why do you want to go back there?” Elizabeth asked.

The young girl stood to her full height. “Because I am going to be a professional golfer. And I’m not going to let whatever that was bully me. I plan to practice my golf strokes while I’m here.”

“Will you tell me exactly what happened?” Elizabeth asked Sydney.

Sydney looked each girl in the eye and spoke slowly. “Something or someone is in the woods by the golf course. And it wasn’t a friendly.” She paused for dramatic effect. “And. . .it came after us.”

#

Kate Oliver leaned back on her bed and smiled. Yes! I got the bed by the window! she thought. Hopefully, I’ll be able to get good reception for my laptop and cell phone. She tucked a strand of blond hair behind her ear. It was too short to stay there, and just long enough to drive her crazy.

Bam! The cabin’s outer door slammed, and Kate heard voices. Pushing her black-framed glasses up on her nose, she sat up. Two girls entered the room, giggling and talking.

“I can’t believe I’m finally here! This is so cool. And look at this cute little dorm room! It’s just like the cabin in The Parent Trap! Oh, hello!” The fun-looking brunette with piercing blue eyes greeted Kate. “I’m Alex Howell. Alexis, really, but nobody calls me that except my mother. I am so excited! This will be the best two weeks ever!”

Kate smiled and reached to shake the girl’s hand. “Kate Oliver,” she said. “Welcome to cabin 12B.” She looked at the other girl.

The girl’s freckles matched her curly auburn hair, and she offered a friendly smile. “Hi there. I’m McKenzie Phillips.”

#

The two girls looked at Elizabeth stubbornly, as if needing to prove their story to her. Hearing another bus pull up, Elizabeth remembered her belongings, which were still lying in the middle of the road.

“I’ll tell you what. You help me get this awful suitcase to cabin 12B, and then I’ll walk to the golf course with you. Deal?”

Bailey’s mouth dropped open, and Sydney’s eyes widened.

“You’re in cabin 12B?” asked Sydney.

“That’s our cabin!” exclaimed Bailey.

Now it was Elizabeth’s turn to be surprised. “You’re kidding! Wow. It is a small world. Okay, roomies, help me hide my underwear before the entire camp sees, and we’ll be on our way.”

The girls gathered the strewn articles of clothing. Bailey held up one particular article of clothing and giggled. “Tinkerbell? Seriously, you have Tinkerbell on your . . .”

Elizabeth snatched the unmentionables from Bailey, crammed them in her suitcase, and snapped it shut. “Not another word, shorty!” Elizabeth scolded, but with a twinkle in her eye. The three girls chattered all the way to cabin 12B. As they approached the cabin, the two younger girls pulled their luggage out from behind some bushes.

“We sat together on the bus from the airport, and we both wanted to see the golf course before we did anything else. So we stowed our suitcases here until we got back,” explained Sydney.

Elizabeth laughed. With these two as roommates, this year’s camp experience would be far from dull.

The girls entered the cabin and located room B to the right. Three girls were already there, smiling and laughing.

“Hello, I’m Elizabeth. I guess we’ll be roommates!” She tossed her things on the lower bunk closest to the door, and Sydney placed her things on the bunk above that. Bailey took the top bunk next to Sydney. After an awkward pause, McKenzie stepped forward.

“I’m McKenzie Phillips,” she said. “I’m thirteen, and I’m from White Sulphur Springs, Montana.”

Alex bounced forward. “I’m Alexis Howell, Alex for short. I’m twelve, and I’m from Sacramento.”

“Sydney. Twelve. Washington, D.C.”

“Oh, that is so cool. Do you know the president?” asked Bailey, and everyone laughed. “I’m Bailey Chang. I’m nine, and I’m from Peoria, Illinois. And just so you’ll all know, I plan to be the next Tiger Woods. I’ll be glad to sign autographs, if you want. They’ll be worth money some day.”

Elizabeth stepped forward. “I’ll take one, Bailey. I’ll sell it and use the money for college. I’m Elizabeth Anderson, fourteen, from Amarillo, Texas.”

“Well, I guess that leaves me,” said Kate. “Kate Oliver, eleven, Philadelphia.”

Alexis jumped up and down. “Oh, this will be so much fun! Kate brought her laptop with her. I have the coolest roommates ever!”

Everyone’s attention turned to Kate’s bed, which was covered with a laptop and several small gadgets. “What is all that stuff?” asked Sydney. The girls gathered around Kate’s bed and watched her pull items out of a black backpack.

“It’s like a magician’s bag. It has no bottom,” mused McKenzie.

Kate laughed. “My dad teaches robotics at Penn State, so he’s always bringing home little devices to test out. Some of them are really helpful. Some of them are just fun to play with.”

One by one, she pulled the oddly shaped gadgets out of her bag, describing the functions of each.

“This is my cell phone. It can take pictures and short video clips, has a GPS tracker, a satellite map, Internet access, a motion sensor, a voice recorder, and about a zillion other things!” Aiming it at the others, she said, “Say cheese!”

The other girls leaned together and smiled. “Cheeeeeeeeeeeeese!”

Kate saved the picture, then passed the phone to the others and dug through her backpack again. “This digital recorder can record conversations up to thirty feet away.”

Sydney squinted her eyes. “You’re kidding! That thing is the size of a contact lens! Let me see!” Kate handed her the recorder and kept digging.

“This is a reader,” she continued, holding up a small penlike device.

“A what?” asked McKenzie.

“A reader. You run it across words on a page, and it records them to memory. Like a small scanner.”

“That is so cool! I had no idea stuff like this existed!” McKenzie examined the reader.

“Here, I have my Bible. Will you show us how the reader works?” Elizabeth grabbed a worn Bible from her bag and handed it to Kate.

“Sure. You turn it on by pressing this button, and. . .” She ran the pen over a page in Psalms.

Elizabeth giggled. “I’ve heard of hiding God’s Word in your heart, but never in your pen!”

The gadget girl suddenly stopped her display to announce, “Hey, I’m starved. Is anybody else hungry?”

“It’s almost dinnertime,” announced Elizabeth. “But first, we have some business to take care of at the golf course.”

The girls listened as Sydney and Bailey described their experience.

“Whoa, cool!” exclaimed Alex. “We have a mystery on our hands! Why don’t we go right now and check it out?”

“Why don’t we eat first?” called out Kate. “Starving girl here, remember?” The others laughed at the petite girl whose stomach was growling loudly.

Since it was almost dinnertime, the group decided to head to the dining hall first. Bailey led the way, taking over as tour guide.

“Wait for me,” called Alex. “I need to grab my lip gloss!” She shoved strawberry Lip Smackers into her pocket.

The group wandered through the camp, with Bailey pointing out different sites. Suddenly, she stopped. “Well, guys, I hate to tell you this. . .but I have no idea how to get to the dining hall from here.”

“It’s this way,” stated Elizabeth. “You’ll get your bearings. My first year here, it took me the whole time before I could find my way around. But I get lost in a closet.”

McKenzie spoke up. “Come on, girls, let’s go. Remember, Kate’s about to starve. We wouldn’t want her to waste away to nothing.”

Everyone laughed at Kate, who pretended to be nearly fainting. “I need sustenance, and I need it now!”

The group arrived at the dining hall with seven minutes to spare. They stood near the front of the line, and Elizabeth said, “Get ready for a long meal. The camp director will explain all the camp rules, introduce the counselors, and tell us more than we want to know about Camp Discovery Lake.”

“Terrific.” Bailey sighed. “I wanted to visit the golf course before dark.”

“Don’t worry,” said Alex. “After the story you and Sydney told, I think we all want to find out what’s down there.”

“Really?” Bailey said. “You’ll all come?”

“You bet!” said McKenzie. “The girls of cabin 12B stick together!”

#

The sun was dipping behind the horizon by the time the girls left the dining hall.

“Hooray! We can finally go to the golf course!” Bailey called.

“We’d better hurry. It’s getting dark,” said Elizabeth.

“Yeah, and after the story you and Sydney told, I certainly don’t want to be there after dark,” added Kate.

The girls scurried while chattering about the different camp activities they wanted to try. Before they knew it, the sun was gone and they could barely see the road. “Why is the golf course so far away from the main camp?” asked Alex nervously.

Sydney laughed. “So nobody will get hit on the head with a stray golf ball!”

Suddenly, a voice called out from the woods.

“Who? Who? Who?”

“What was that?” whispered Bailey.

“Who?” came the voice again.

McKenzie giggled. “You city girls don’t know much about the country, do you? That was an owl!”

The others burst into laughter as the voice called again, “Who?”

“I’m Sydney! Who are you?” Sydney shouted, and the laughter continued.

“It sure does get dark here, doesn’t it?” said Kate. “It never gets this dark in the city.”

“Are we close to the golf course?” asked Alex.

“It doesn’t seem nearly as far in the daytime,” Elizabeth told her.

They continued, each trying to seem brave. The trees that had seemed friendly and protecting in the daytime now loomed like angry giants. The girls’ steps became slower and slower as they struggled to see where they were stepping.

Finally, Kate stopped and looked at the sky through the trees. “Look, everybody! It’s the Big Dipper!” The other five girls looked to where she pointed.

“Wow, the sky is beautiful. It’s so dark, and the stars are so bright,” whispered Sydney.

“The stars are never this bright in Sacramento,” Alex commented. “The city lights are brighter. Hey, this reminds me of an episode of Charlie’s Angels, where the Angels’ car broke down in the middle of nowhere, and they had to use the stars to find their way home.”

The girls were so focused on the sky that they didn’t notice the image moving toward them. Kate was the first to lower her eyes, and she blinked in confusion. Adjusting her eyeglasses, she whispered, “Uh, guys?”

The girls continued pointing out the brightest stars.

Kate tried to make her voice louder, but terror kept it to a soft squeak. “G–g–guys?” The image moved closer, but still, no one heard her. Finally, Kate grabbed Sydney’s sleeve. “Wh–wh–what is that?” she squeaked.

Sydney looked. “Oh, my word! What in the world is that?”

The girls saw a white stripe in the road, moving slowly, steadily toward them. They were frozen, until Elizabeth yelled, “Skunk!”

Camp Discovery Lake resounded with shrieks and squeals as the girls ran back toward the cabins. McKenzie led the way with Alex close on her heels.

The girls didn’t slow down until they had burst through the door of cabin 12B. Falling onto the beds, they panted, then soon began giggling.

“Can you believe it? A skunk! We were scared of a little bitty skunk!” howled McKenzie.

“I don’t know about you, McKenzie, but I wasn’t about to smell like Pepe Le Pew out there!” retorted Alex, and the girls laughed even harder.

“Hey, Sydney, is that what scared you today? Some forest creature?”

Sydney and Bailey stopped giggling and looked at one another. “No,” they replied.

“Whatever we heard was not small,” said Bailey. “And it wasn’t friendly.”

“And it definitely came after us,” added Sydney.

How do you describe faith?  By the end of the ninth week, this study guide will help you see faith as more than a nebulous term.

How often do you read the book of James?  There’s only five chapters in it, so it’s easy to kind of forget this little book.

I’m sure you’ve heard the expression, “small but mighty.”  That’s James.  This book takes you through James wit a daily focus.

It also asks some tough questions along the way.  Questions that make you examine your own life.  Questions that teach you the reality of faith.  Questions that can deepen your faith.  Pick up Faith That Works and work your faith.

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old…or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!

and the book:

Faith that Works: A Topical Study on the Book of James

Hannibal Books (July 7, 2009)

***Special thanks to Jennifer Nelson at Hannibal Books PR for sending me a review copy.***

Anne Fortenberry was born in the southern U.S. and lived in Gulfport, MS, during her childhood. She has served for the past 10 years as a Southern Baptist missionary. She has also been a university lecturer and division chair, a health-care consultant, and registered nurse. She holds a doctor of nursing science degree from the Louisiana State University Medical Center School of Nursing, a master of science from the University of Southern Mississippi, and a bachelor of science from Mississippi College. She and her husband, Archie, are parents of three grown children.

Listen to her interview HERE.

Product Details:

List Price: $15.95
Paperback: 224 pages
Publisher: Hannibal Books (July 7, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1934749494
ISBN-13: 978-1934749494

AND NOW…THE FIRST CHAPTER:

By Anne Fortenberry

WEEK 1: TESTS OF FAITH

Day 1– When Troubles Come

Day 2 — A Doubtful Mind

Day 3 — Responding to Temptations

Day 4 — Listen Twice, Speak Once

Day 5 — CHARACTERISTICS OF FAITH, Characteristic 1: Faith Obeys the Word

This week initiates the beginning of our daily Bible Study on the Book of James. We are in for some pretty heavy material even this first week, so make sure you are prayed up, have God’s Word open, and are ready to proceed with some real introspection. As you see, chapter one covers a wide variety of topics; however, some topics will be discussed in more detail as we progress through the chapters. Just looking over the topics makes me either cringe or laugh because I have ‘been there and done that.’ As believers, we know that our Heavenly Father walks with us wherever we go and we have the assurance that things always work out for our good as painful as some things might be. By the way, a sense of humor really helps to get us through most anything. Reckon I’ve rambled enough. So pour yourself a cup of coffee or tea, get into your favorite study chair, and let’s begin. I am so happy that you are in this study with me as we explore His truths together.

Day 1 — When Troubles Come

Today’s Focus: James 1:2-4, 12; Matthew 8:25-27; 9:35-38;

1 Peter 1:6-7; 4:12-16; 5:10; Psalms 3:3-5; 56:3: 66:10-12

In our introductory session together we established that James was the half brother of Jesus and that this book was one of the earliest letters written, possibly even preceding the four gospels. We also know that after Stephen was martyred, persecution increased scattering the Jewish believers throughout the Roman World. Consequently, because these believers did not have the support of the established church, they were besieged with problems testing their faith; evidently they had succumbed to impatience, bitterness, materialism, disunity and spiritual apathy. Hmmm, sounds like today, doesn’t it? Anyway, James, a prominent leader of the early church, felt the responsibility to warn as well as encourage these believers in their faith struggles. Wow…don’t we need the same warnings and encouragement today? I know I do!

James does not waste any time and immediately after his greeting in verse one, he delves into the topic of experiencing trials. The Greek word for trials is peirasmos pronounced pi-ras-mos and means adversity, troubles, experiences of evil, and putting to proof by experiment. It is interesting to me that trials can be viewed as an experiment which in actuality is an assessment of who we are and how we hold up under the stress of troubles. Hmmm, does that mean trials build our character? Of course it does. Let’s see what God’s Word says…

? Read Psalms 66:10-12. In reflecting back over some trials or troubles you have experienced, how did you feel when it was all over and you moved on? _____________

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According to Psalms, when we experience trials, we are purified like silver melted in a crucible. Trials test our faith, build our character, and give us an opportunity for growth. Maybe we should consider trials to be a gift from God because after the experience we are better people. But, sometimes when we go through trials, we feel really abandoned. You know dear friend, so did King David. However, when David felt abandoned he always told God about it. What do you have in common with King David? How do you differ? Do you tell God what you really think and feel? Do you truly recognize who is listening to your prayers? If you open your heart and are totally honest with your Heavenly Father, your understanding of Him will grow. Read further…

? Read Psalms 3:3-5. What assurance can you gain from these verses? ___________

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David firmly believed God protected him when he slept and when he was awake. He had the assurance when everything went wrong, God was there for him. David knew God was his shield, and he could overcome all fears by trusting in God for protection. What about you? When troubles come, can you trust God for protection? Can you say, “What time I am afraid I will trust in thee” (Psalms 56:3)? If not, why not? Let’s see what Jesus does…

? Read Matthew 8:25-27. What did the disciples witness in these verses? __________

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Wow…Jesus even controls the forces of nature. Folks, do you realize who Jesus really is? Do you comprehend who God really is? Do you realize that He can control the storms that you encounter in your life? Whether your storms are from nature or from the troubles you face, He has the power to control them. Jesus is willing to help, but first we must ask! That means we must pray first for His help. Hope and confidence in our Heavenly Father far outweigh our fears and troubles. Believe it or not, trials will make us stronger and prepare us for the future. What makes the difference? Do I really have to be joyful in my troubles?

? Read James 1:2. When you read this verse, how did you respond?______________ ______________________________________________________________________

Note that James does not say ‘if’ trials or troubles come, instead he says, ‘when’ trials or troubles come to let them be an opportunity for joy. Also, notice that he uses the plural not the singular form for troubles which is an indication that we will experience not just one trial but perhaps several as we walk through our life. Now I have to admit, I did not always understand what it meant to be joyful when troubles come. Through the years, I have come to realize that it is not necessary for me to pretend to be happy about facing pain. However, it is important to have a positive outlook when trials come and to consider it an opportunity for joy because of what can be produced in my life.

? Let’s compare James 1:2-4 with 1 Peter 1:6-7. As you read these verses, what major similarities and differences can you identify in these verses?

________________________________ ___________________________________

________________________________ ___________________________________

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Both James and Peter tell us that our faith will be tested and to consider it joy when that happens as it will make us strong. However, James says it is for our endurance to have a chance to grow which will make our character strong and ready for anything. The Greek word for endurance is hupomone pronounced hoop-om-on-ay and means cheerful waiting, patience, withstanding, and persevering. Peter says trials will make us strong and purify us like gold which will bring us praise, glory, and honor when Jesus comes. In the refining process of gold the impurities are burned away making the gold beautiful and shiny. So whether it is for endurance or purification, trials will definitely affect our lives.

As you know, we will face trials when we let our light shine into the darkness. Thus we should accept troubles as part of the refining process that burns away our impurities and prepares us to meet Jesus. Trials teach us patience and help us grow into the kind of people God wants to use for His glory. However, we have a choice, don’t we? We can turn tough times or trials into opportunities for learning perseverance and that will help us grow into godly people; or we can grumble, criticize, and feel sorry for ourselves. Whatever our choice, trials will come. If you think about it, they are a lot easier to handle if we turn them over to our Heavenly Father and allow Him to walk with us through them. What is your choice?

? Think of a situation where you have been unpleasant and complained about your troubles? What was the result? ___________________________________________

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? Now think of a time when you have been joyful in your troubles? What was the result? _____________________________________________________________

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? Did you notice any difference in the way you responded in the above situations? ____ ? What made you results different? _________________________________________

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Sometimes we do not know the depth of our character until we see how we react under pressure. Can we still be kind to folks that mistreat us? What about people who are prejudiced against us, or lie about us, or treat us unjustly? I believe with all my heart that God wants to mature each of us. So, instead of complaining about our struggles, let’s see them as opportunities for growth. Let’s thank Him for His promise to walk with us and carry us in His arms through the rough times. Let’s ask Him to help solve our problems and to give us the strength to endure them. Then, wait, be patient, and believe He will help.

? Read James 1:12. What does God promise to do if people patiently endure testing? ______________________________________________________________________

God promises not only to bless us but to give us the crown of life, our reward of eternal life…WOW, we will be there in heaven with the living God forever! Peter tells us not to be surprised at the trials we are going through. Instead, be happy because these trials make us partners with Jesus in His suffering. Just think, afterward we will have the joy of sharing His glory when it is displayed to the entire world. Peter further tells us to be happy when we are insulted for being Christians as there is NO shame involved in His name. He also tells us the Holy Spirit will come upon us (1Peter 4:12-16 NLT).

One of my favorite verses is 1 Peter 5:10 which reads, “And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen, and establish you” (NAS). Now what do these four words mean?

? Think about it…how would you define the following words?

Perfect _______________________________________________________________

Confirm_______________________________________________________________

Strengthen_____________________________________________________________

Establish______________________________________________________________

To me this verse is God’s promise to us when we suffer trials or troubles. The God of all creation, our Heavenly Father, promises to restore us completely, to support us unconditionally, to give us His power, and to place us on a permanent foundation. WOW! Isn’t that awesome? Keep in mind and be encouraged because our greatest lessons in life come out of the pain we experience. Why? Rick Warren has said that troubles make us focus more on God, build our character, draw us closer to others in fellowship, provide us with a ministry, and give us a testimony to share. But, as believers, we have a greater responsibility…

? Read Matthew 9:35-38. What did Jesus encounter in every place he went? ________

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Every where Jesus traveled He encountered people with problems so great they did not know where to go for help. Thus, He told His disciples He needed workers who would know how to deal with the problems of other people. Folks, that’s you and me! Do you realize that every trial you endure will help you to comfort another person who is dealing with a similar problem? As believers, we are commissioned to help others with their troubles, to comfort them, show them the way, encourage them, and give them hope.

When troubles come, how have you decided to react? A faith that works considers it all joy when trials are encountered because we know the testing of our faith produces endurance. We may not be ‘happy’ that a trial has occurred, but we can certainly be joyful in knowing that Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, will be with us through all of our trials and troubles. We have a choice. What’s your choice? Let’s count it all joy!

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Your Thoughts:

Questions

Comments

Prayer Requests

Prayer Answers

Day 2 — A Doubtful Mind

Today’s Focus: James 1:5-8; Mark 11:23-24; Genesis 3:1-6;

Matthew 11:4-6; 14:28-31; 21:21-22

What does it mean to have a doubtful mind? The Greek work for

doubting is diakrino pronounced dee-ak-ree-no and means to

withdraw from, to hesitate, or to separate thoroughly. In today’s

language it may mean to be ‘wishy washy’ or to have a lack of faith. So what does faith mean? The Greek word for faith is pistis pronounced pis’-tis and means assurance, belief, persuasion, and/or system of religious truth. Obviously, these two words form a dichotomy and have opposite meanings. With these definitions in mind, let’s see what James says to the scattered Jewish believers.

? Read James 1:5-8. After reading these verses, can you relate to the analogy used to describe a doubtful mind? Please give an example.____________________________

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In verse six, James uses the analogy that a doubtful mind is as unsettled as the waves of the sea driven and tossed about by the wind. Can you picture that in your mind? Close your eyes for a moment and try to picture yourself standing in the water on a beach and waves from the sea are splashing against your body. How are you feeling? Are you rocking to and fro from the force? Are you loosing your balance? Are you feeling any apprehension? What do the waves look like to you? Are they gigantic or small in nature? Well, if you have as vivid of an imagination as I do, I’m not getting into that water if the waves are really big…in fact, I prefer to stand on the shore and watch instead of being in the middle of them. Ouch! If we are believers, are we supposed to watch from a distance and not get our feet wet? Hmmm, is that what a doubtful mind is like?

A doubtful mind is not completely convinced that God’s way is the best way. This type of mind treats God’s Word like any ordinary piece of advice. Instead of obeying all of God’s Word, this type of mind retains the option to disobey if it doesn’t agree. It vacillates between following God’s way and the desires of their own heart. Doubt has left this person as unsettled as the waves of the sea. James says that this type of person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord because they waver back and forth in everything they do. Who or what causes doubt?

? Read Genesis 3:1-6. Who or what caused Eve’s doubt? ______________________

? In what way can you relate to Eve? ________________________________________

From these verses we know it was Satan that caused Eve to have doubts about God’s goodness. He made Eve forget all that God had given her; instead, he made her focus on the one thing she was not supposed to have. Isn’t that how we also get into trouble? Rather than counting God’s blessings, we focus on what we do not have. Read further…

? Read Matthew 11:4-6. How did Jesus handle John’s doubt? ___________________

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As John sat in prison doubts began to plague him as to whether Jesus was really the Messiah. Jesus answered John’s doubts by pointing to the evidence… His miracles, healings, and preaching. Folks, sometimes we can only see and understand from our own human perspective rather than God’s perspective. If our doubts lead to questions and those questions lead to answers, then doubt has done some good. Questioning can help sort out our beliefs and strengthen our faith. However, questioning can make us vulnerable as doubt can cause us to sin; which harms faith. Satan knows that once we begin to question, it is easier to make us do what he wants. Actually we can let doubt deepen our faith or divide it. But, be careful my friend, as a divided mind only causes problems. We cannot be self-centered and God-centered at the same time.

? Read Mark 11:23-24. What two things are required if we have faith? ________________________________ ________________________________

Several times in scripture we hear Jesus say, “O you of little faith.” Those words make me feel so sad because we know that all things are possible with God. Dear precious folks, if we have the faith He requires of us, then we must really believe and not doubt in our hearts. WOW…He says we can pray for anything, and if we believe, we will have it. I could go on and on about prayer, but James covers it at length during our last week of study. Just know prayer is truly one of my favorite topics as my life is a testimony to the power of prayer.

You probably have read the story many times of Jesus walking on the water, but let’s focus for a minute on Peter (Matthew 14:22-33). Remember Peter’s reaction when he saw Jesus coming…Let’s discuss what happened:

? Read Matthew 14:28-31 and answer the following questions:

? What did Peter desire to do?_____________________________________________

? What happened to Peter when he was able to carry out his desire? ______________

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? What did Jesus say to Peter in this situation? ______________________________

? Think about these verses, have you ever gotten ‘out of the boat’ to take a step of faith? Explain.__________________________________________________________

Bible scholars have often criticized Peter and given him a hard time because he doubted. But we must give Peter credit for the fact that he was the only disciple who actually got out of the boat. Oh, we can speculate as to why Peter wanted to walk on the water in the first place. We can also see that when Peter allowed fear to overcome him, he began to sink and Jesus rebuked him for doubting Him…but, who did Peter call on when he began to sink? And who immediately reached out and grabbed him? Think about it!

How decisive are you? Do you rely on God? Do you totally trust Him? Or, are you straddling the fence? Do your actions reflect your words? Are you letting doubt deepen your faith or destroy it? Are you depending on the Holy Spirit for guidance? Are you seeking mature Christian companions? Are you reading and studying God’s Word? To have a faith that works and removes doubts, we must do these things!

At one time or the other, we will all have doubts, especially if we focus on the waves that difficult circumstances produce around us, and then we too may sink. However, if we maintain our faith when situations are difficult and focus on the power of Jesus instead of our own inadequacies, we may soar like the eagle. Jesus said “I assure you, if you have faith and don’t doubt, you can do things like this and much more. You can even say to this mountain, ‘May God lift you up and throw you into the sea,’ and it will happen” (Matthew 21:21-22). WOW… Go away doubt, I want faith! What about you?

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Through his devices of doubt, distrust, discouragement, and deception, Satan tries at every turn to prevent or steal your harvest and keep you from reaching greater fruitfulness. Bruce Wilkinson

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Your Thoughts:

Questions

Comments

Prayer Requests

Prayer Answers

You are righteous, O Lord, and your judgments are right.

You have appointed your decrees in righteousness and in all faithfulness.

My zeal consumes me because my foes forget your words.

Your promise is well tried, and your servant loves it.

I am small and despised, yet I do not forget your precepts.

Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and your law is the truth.

Trouble and anguish have come upon me, but your commandments are my delight.

Your decrees are righteous forever; give me understanding that I may live.

Psalm 119:137-144