Book Reviews

Why I wrote God’s Creatures, A Biblical View of Animals

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by Susan Bulanda

Many people are passionate about animals. It could be a pet, a wild animal, or someone who works at a rescue organization. I am no different in my passion and as a young teen I started training dogs. I had a business established by the time I entered High School. I progressed to become a certified animal behavior consultant specializing in dogs and cats.

In some cases I would mention to my clients that I was a Christian to help explain my beliefs about animals. This would always result in several questions. As a result I compiled all the questions and put them into my book God’s Creatures. The book has been very successful and has been used in churches as a Bible study.

The Bible has many things to say about animals and how God has used them. There are also miracles that involve animals. For example, when Jesus was about to enter Jerusalem, he told his disciples to get an unbroken donkey colt for him to ride into Jerusalem. Many people today do not realize that no one rides an untrained equine of any kind into a city with hundreds of people waving palm leaves and throwing cloaks in front of the donkey. The donkey went where Jesus wanted him to go and did not panic. That was a miracle and illustrated how Jesus communicated to the donkey who understood and obeyed. There are many more miracles that involve animals. If you would like an autographed copy of my book, you can order one from my website at www.sbulanda.com The book is also available on Amazon and from the publisher, Cladach Publishing at http://www.cladach.com

The chapters are:

Created Wild and Domestic

Adam & The Animals

God Cares for Animals

Killing and the Eating of Animals

The Ownership and Use of Animals

Do Animals Have the Same Rights and Rules as Humans

Can Animals Think

Understanding and Communicating with Animals

God Communicates with Animals

Animals as Agents of God’s Judgement

Can Animals Be Evil

Animals Minister to Humans

Is The Bible Uncomplimentary to Animals

Will Animals Be in Heaven

Conclusion: Lessons From the Animals

A Curious Kind of Love

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A Curious Kind of Love by J.K. Findle, $9.99, 40 pgs, 8/12 x 11, available on Amazon.

One day a beautiful cross-eyed lynx point Siamese cat showed up on J.K. Findle’s driveway. The author saw the cat, but when the author went out to see the cat, he ran away. Over the next few weeks the cat came to trust Findle, who left food outside for him. One day the cat, whom the author named Phantom, walked into the trap to eat food.

Once caught J.K. Findle took the cat to the veterinarian where he was examined and given a clean bill of health. It turns out that lynx point Siamese cats often have crossed eyes, so it was not a medical issue.

This delightful book is suitable for children, tells the heartwarming story about Phantom, which Findle adopted. With many photos and a detailed account of Phantom’s life, the author shows us how a very special bond developed between them.

I purchased this book for my grandson’s, 8 and 10, who have three cats of their own. I can’t wait to give it to them. The size of the book makes it easy for children to hold and allowed the author to include larger photos. It is written so that a youngster who is at reading age can read the book on their own.

I highly recommend this book for both adults and children. It illustrates how an adopted cat can be a very special companion. It also illustrates how cats can be very special pets.

Dragon’s Dust: Part 2 – Prisoner of the Dark Fortress

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Dragon’s Dust: Part Two: Prisoner of the Dark Fortress by Alfred Wohlmuth

284 pgs. $13.99

This book picks up where the first book, The Book of Seregon leaves off. In their search for the Book of Seregon the heroes must free a prisoner from the dungeon of a castle fortress because this is the only person who knows where the book is hidden. As is typical of this author, the book is well written with edge of your seat drama and adventures. The heroes must wade through the Marshes of Guglic, rescue the prisoner and escape from flooded caves. On top of that they are caught up in a battle. I highly recommend all five books in the series and I hope the author will continue the series, after reading book five I wanted it to continue.

Dragon’s Dust: Part I – The Book of Seregon

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Dragon’s Dust: Part I- The Book of Seregon by Alfred Wohlmuth

262 pages, $13.99

The heroes must find the Book of Seregon and the only man who knows its location is being held in the dungeon of a castle fortress by an evil warlord. The book gives the secrets of a great wizard that will give the person who owns it special power. If that person is evil, then they can destroy all the kingdoms and put the world into darkness. Our two heroes, decide to find the book but their journey takes them through dense forests where they must find a way to survive monsters and strange people.

This is a spell binding book that will have you turning pages as fast as you can read. There are many twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat. I highly recommend this book for all readers. I also recommend the entire series of 5 books.

Dragon’s Dust: Book II-Part Two, The Black Castle

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Dragon’s Dust: Book II-Part Two, The Black Castle, by Alfred Wohlmuth,

179 pgs. $14.95 on Amazon

This book is well crafted and the author’s skill in keeping the reader riveted is amazing. You might as well purchase all five books because you will want to see what happens next even though each book can be a stand-alone story.

I have read all the five books and cannot say enough about them. The authors skill in storytelling and creating a fantasy world is unmatched. In this book the main characters, Gyank and his friends have uncovered a devious plot to take over their country by the Red Lord. The last free castle is about to be surrounded with enemy ships. The castle had sent for help, but the ship was taken prisoner. It was up to the heroes to go for help, but the only way to get to the only country who could help was to go down a forbidden river called the Dead Branch from which everyone who has gone down it has disappeared never to be heard from again. The Dead Branch goes past the black castle.

Dragon’s Dust: Book II-Part Three, The Vulpine Warrior

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Dragon’s Dust: Book II – Part Three, The Vulpine Warrior, by Alfred Wohlmuth,

265 pgs. $14.95 on Amazon

I cannot say enough about the author’s writing skill. The details and plot are amazing. I hope that the author is planning to continue the series because I want to read more. This book continues the adventure of the main characters and tells how they shrewdly fight the enemies who want to take over their country even though they are outnumbered. The tactics are mind boggling and I give the author the highest praise to be able to envision such action. The series, (all five books) are suitable for young adults as well as us older folks. It was a fun book to read, and I found it difficult to put down. I highly recommend all of this author’s books.

Dragon’s Dust: Book II – Part One. The Secret Hunters

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Dragon’s Dust:  Book II Part One, The Secret Hunters, by Alfred Wohlmuth

194 pgs. $14.95 on Amazon

This book is well crafted and the author’s skill in keeping the reader riveted is amazing. You might as well purchase all five books because you will want to see what happens next even though each book can be a stand-alone story.

I have read all the five books and cannot say enough about them. The authors skill in storytelling and creating a fantasy world is unmatched. In this book the main characters, Gyank and his friends have uncovered a devious plot to take over their country by the Red Lord. The last free castle is about to be surrounded with enemy ships. The castle had sent for help, but the ship was taken prisoner. It was up to the heroes to go for help, but the only way to get to the only country who could help was to go down a forbidden river called the Dead Branch from which everyone who has gone down it has disappeared never to be heard from again. The Dead Branch goes past the black castle.

Where All Things Meet, Mirror & Mingle

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A book of poems by Catherine Lawton, 110 pgs., Cladach Publishing, $14.00

Sometimes poetry can stir the heart in a special way, and this book does that. Ms. Lawton reveals her feelings in a beautiful way. It illustrates nature and God’s work in beautiful prose without openly preaching. The book has five chapters with numerous poems in each chapter. The chapters are: Seen & Unseen; Cycles & Seasons; Been & Becoming; Time & Space; Inside & Outside. What makes this book special are the notes at the end of the book. Ms. Lawton explains the inspiration for each chapter, which gives the poems deeper meaning. In addition the illustrations throughout the book help set the mood for the chapters. The book is a timeless work of art, one that a reader can cozy up to in the dead of winter or enjoy on a patio with the fresh breath of spring or a summer breeze. The book is excellent for all ages.

My Heart Yearns For You, Companion and Guide Through Tough Times

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This wonderful book helps the reader deal with loss, is written by Jeannette Laube, a Christian counselor. The dedication reads, “Dedicated to those who cross the painful road of loss, betrayal and broken dreams. You are not alone, you taught me that grief can lead to new graces.”

No matter if you lost a loved one, a pet or have experienced disappointment, this is the book that will help you confront your grief. The book is based on TEARS which stand for Turn to face the reality of our losses; Experience the pain; Adjust to our new reality; Remembering the past is essential; Search for bringing new meanings to life.

Loss is not just the loss of a loved one, but can also be the loss of a job, or other meaningful thing in your life. It can be an accumulation of events that overwhelm a person or family. This book is equally important for teens who do not have the life experiences or perhaps the support to deal with their circumstances which may seem overwhelming.

Since we never know when we may face a loss, I highly recommend that everyone keep a copy handy to either use or give to someone who may need it.

The book is available on Amazon for $19.99

Book Review: Uplift: The Way of the Heart is Love

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Uplift: The Way of the Heart is Love by Daniel M. Sponenburg, 164 pgs, Available on Amazon, $10. Gentle Slope Publishing.

Mr. Sponenburg has written a unique collection inspirational readings that consist of five chapters, 1. Uplift, 2. Spirit, 3. Friendship, 4. People, and 5. Heart. He has a conclusion, Healthy Spiritual Exercises, Author’s Notes, Resources and Abbreviations and an Index.

Mr. Sponenburg states: “We live The Abundant Life by interacting with others in Christ where we are planted, not alone, but with the Holy Spirit dwelling in us.” He goes on to say, “Your life will change because you are alive. The decision of how you will change is mostly in your hands. . .”

Each chapter is loaded with topics such as Integrity and Truth with important thoughts, such as “Honesty is being Truthful to others, Integrity is being Truthful to Yourself.” Each topic is written in a manner that is easy to read and understand, even a child in 6th grade can read and learn from this book, and each section is short enough to read in a few minutes.

There is so much packed into this book that it is difficult to cover all the topics. It is a great book to mediate about the Bible, to gain insight to everyday life and focus your thoughts on the positive.

Some topics are:

Language of Love

The Next Battleground

Hidden Leaven

Everyday Matters

Angry With God

Each topic has a number of Bible references to support what the author points out. I strongly recommend this book as one to guide you through life.