BLOOD TALLY by Brian Mclellan #Review #Kickstarter #Reading #JustBeingHere

  I was able to procure an advanced copy of Blood Tally by Brian Mclellan, who wrote the amazing Power Mage series which I very much enjoy. When Brian sent me the review copy of Blood Tally he was also amazing enough to also send me a copy of the first book, Uncanny Collateral, which - if you are quick enough you can get it for free on Kindle.      Here is my quick review of Uncanny Collateral: 
A quick and enjoyable read. A slick urban fantasy that brings me back to the days first reading Dresden books. While it has a similar feel it has it's own flair. Language can be rough at times, but it's not too overbearing. Characters are good and I'm extremely interested in more of the story, as well as, what they will do as more comes their way.    If you are a fan of this type of urban fantasy you may want to check out the Kickstarter for Blood Tally. It has already reached it's primary goal, but Brian has been adding other goals to it to make the book even nicer. So check it out and feel free to support how you can.  
Now here is my quick review of Blood Tally:
A nice continuation of this series. I feel that the ante was upped and a new character or two brought themselves into my heart. Still very reminiscent of Dresden files, and it can be hard not to expect Harry to pop up around the corner ready to help Alek out. I still say this has its own flair, but my enjoyment of Jim Butcher's series is certainly helping my enjoyment of this one along. This is such a different feel from Brian's Powder Mage series, which make sense as the magic is different and the setting and technology. I can't help but say I enjoy it. I also like how it does not take extra time to tell a story that can be told in the pages this does... And without really sacrificing too much on character development.
Go ahead and pre-order Bloody Tally from Amazon if you like!

Finally the third book to the second trilogy of the Power Mage series is releasing soon (Dec. 3rd as I'm writing this) - so pre-order Blood of Empire as well!   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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Book Review: A Brush with the Beast by Richard Sones #Review

  The physical book:

I like this type of print and cover. It feels nice in your hands and the book itself is a good size. Not too heavy and certainly not so small that it feels like you are holding nothing.

The story:

On a whole the story is good. It had what it needs to pull through plot and push certain things forward, but it really does not give a whole lot of rhyme or reason for these things at times.

The Characters :

What you read on the back cover is pretty much the same you get from the book, so I recommend not reading that back cover until you are halfway through the book as it does help with some charater progression that really is not translated well in the prose. I honestly felt like too much character progressing was happening between chapters instead of where the reader could understand and enjoy it. This is my favorite part of stories and I felt this very much lacked in that area.

The Encouragement :

I found the encouragement between believers was the best parts of the book. The lifting up with scriptures and stories from the Bible was fantastic.

The Left Behind issue :

This is a book that very much deals with end times but no where near to the scale that it was done in left behind. If you enjoyed those books... This one will fall flat. Which is sad as this seems to have some cool points and characters that could have had some awesome moments. They just don't really show up.

The ending :

Not satisfying at all. Only one story is kind of wrapped up. If there was plan for more books..okay..but it was very lacking. Especially if you know much about end times and all that is in revelation.

Content rating :

I was suprised when this book opened itself to cursing. Most of the book does not have it and the character that does it... Well that makes sensebthst they would talk in such a way.. But it could have been more cleanly done, I think.

Disclaimer : I was provided this book for an honest review.    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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Is the WOOL blinding you from the NOISE? #JustBeingHere #Sin

How often do you take things for granted?

 

Maybe it is something you enjoy, like having a cell phone keeping you on track with just about everything in your life.

It could be your spouse who takes care of 100 things you may never even notice.

Your vehicle, your job, your home, your massive collection of Funko Pop! Characters ... No matter what it is we can become blind, deaf and dumb to it.

What about tradition, or habit? Is this taken for granted?

I think so... We get so used to a certain order of 'noise' in our lives and without it happening we may believe there is something wrong.

A book I read a while back deals with this kind of thing in various degrees and one of the more engrossing ones really stuck with me. It had to do with the mechanics of a post-apocalyptic silo.  The book is called "Wool" and the name is quite intentional as in the expression, "Pull the wool over one's eyes". 

You are going to need a little back story and I will do what I can to keep from spoiling anything as this series is quite an enjoyable read.

Like this, but bigger and deep in the ground

Imagine a post-Apocalyptic world where people are living in what is basically a massive bunker/fallout shelter called a 'Silo'.  Only a portion of the structure breaches the surface of the ground and deep within the depths there is machinery generating the power for all the people living in it.  The gears have been turning for an unknown amount of years, the people working in the area have long worn ear protection because of the constant noise of the machinery churning and turning. 

One of the maintenance workers sees an opportunity to do a little fixing up and pulls a few strings to have everything shut down for a short time so they can clean up and reset the gears.  The fix takes a while, keeping many people in the Silo with less or no power for a time.  They get the work done and the moment finally comes to have the system turned back on.

Everyone is holding their breath as the key is about to be turned to get the machines churning again.

 The key is turned and the tell tale signs of grinding and gears turning is not present what-so-ever.  

There is silence.  

They wait a moment ... but still nothing is heard, and just like if we had turned the key to our vehicles and received no response they move to turn the key again, but are stopped when someone comes running and telling everyone the machine IS running.
 

Come to find out, all the maintenance and resetting made the machine run so much better it was running completely silent.  They were amazed, they were proud, they were victims of 'taking things for granted' in such a way as to create a 'tradition', a noisy one to be sure, but it made them comfortable.
 

After reading this I knew it held a wonderful truth. No matter how much this 'noise' may seem to give you comfort by being in your life, it is actually a symptom of a root problem in the maintenance of your life.   

It is a cry, a grinding of the gears of your life - and that ... is NOT a good thing!
 

We always seem to bring up things which are actually beneficial to us as things 'taken for granted' but seldom try to root out the things we do that we shouldn't or are just unnecessary.

While lost in sin we are just like these people living in this silo, with worldly wool over our eyes ... or ears in their case, unaware of the impending destruction the choices we are making will have in our life, or afterlife more matter of fact.
 

There is a hope though, an assurance through the Holy Spirit.

 

--

Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.

Romans 8:12-13 (NIV)

--

A change occurs within us - your desires begin to shift, your ears hear differently, your eyes see differently, but the old desires die hard.
 

--

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Romans 12:2 (NIV)

--
 

The flesh will battle, it will do what it can to create dissonance.

--

We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

Romans 7:14-20 (NIV)

--
 

The sides at war?
 

The dissonant noise in one corner?
 

--

The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Galatians 5:19-21 (NIV)

--

And the soothing sounds of proper gearing in the other?
 

--

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Philippians 4:8 (NIV)

--
 

TiN RiP LA - is how it was taught to me when I was in youth group years ago and has stuck with me ever since.

The NOISE of sin in our lives CAN be beaten back!  The tuning fork of the word of God in conjunction with the Holy Spirit can be used to determine the sounds which should be produced in your life: Physical, Mental, and Spiritual.

Every step in the direction of Jesus reorders the gears to properly produce an orchestra of wonderful music, which is God's will for your life.

Seriously take a moment to ensure your life is properly geared!  Do not let the noise be your comfort, but take it as the warning it truly is and move towards the CHANGE which is needed!
 

There are not many people who begin to hear a change in their vehicle's engine and do nothing about it, but yet we do it in our own lives.
 

There must have been people in the Silo as the gears started to groan but they never stood up and made the changes to ensure the continual proper working of the system.
 

Do not let this happen to you!
 

You may feel like everything is fine, but be sure to be honest with yourself and look seriously within your spirit for these signs.  Are the things in Galatians 5 more prevalent, or are they the ones in Philippians 4?

 If it is the things mentioned in Galatians I urge you accept Christ, accept His sacrifice for your sins and let the WOOL from the Lamb of God cover you from the noise of "sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions  and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like."

If it is the things mentioned in Philippians I urge you to keep up your guard, to keep your life in tune with God's word.  As soon as you begin to hear the interference of sin move to reinstate the statutes of TiN RiP LA!
 

Is the WOOL blinding you from the NOISE? ... I hope so!

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Right Place, Right Time, and COMICS (Blurb)

This past Saturday I took another one of my classes for certification in the Assemblies of God. Relationships and Ethics in ministry... This one really kicked me in the rear and I will elaborate on our more in a post I have planned for Congruent Culture.

The class went a bit longer than they normally do, which may have been pay back for the class before which lasted a surprisingly short time, but was obviously perfect timing as it caused an interesting chain reaction.

1. We got out later:

This made me not be able to get back until Montgomery to meet my wife and kids for lunch which honestly would have been delightful to experience.

2. I had to eat on my own:

This caused me to take moment to look around the area to choose what I wanted, which caused me to notice an antique/flea market I also decided to enter.

3. I found a place of dusty gold:

I have been in the market for all the comics from "The Death and Life of Superman" and this includes, of course, the death.. The additional 'placeholders' who came to 'fill his shoes' and as well the actual return.

This full set is around 40 comics and I am as of now lacking 11, which is pretty good except for the fact I have pretty much exhausted the local sources.

If you are curious to my obsession with getting these I point you via link to my extensive blogs inspired by this arc.  Enjoy!

Meanwhile I have entered this store and begun to scan the place for any telltale signs of comics.

Luckily it did not take me long to find some piled on a table. (I still needed to eat lunch and had home)  The top comic... A Superman Vol.2 #78...which I check my list in my Evernote to find I already own it.

As I am setting my phone back down I hear a voice behind me, "Oh, all those comics... I am going to be lowering prices on them today."

I am thinking Cool! What luck!

I look through the stacks, finding a few from the arc, but all ones I already own. As I finish the last few the lady who apparently runs this booth points out the new stack of comics she is adding, and I decide to simplify this by asking if there are any Superman ones.

She goes through them and finds one, but not from my small market of needs. She explains how she used to own a sports cards and comics store in the past with her ex husband.  When they divorced they split the stores wares and now she has a room full of stuff from this store.  Then... she blows me away by asking, "What do you need?" and pulls out a pen and paper.

I begin to rattle off the list and she takes down every comic I am looking for and promises to look through the room full of stuff from her past to see if she has them.

Is it possible I could end up with a good chunk of what I am looking for just by this chance meeting almost an hour from home?

I am not sure, but I will let you know what comes of it.

There are a good few instances in the bible having to do with people just being right where they needed to be at just the right moment.

Could this moment for me be the same?

If so, I either failed because I never proclaimed Jesus or I better keep my eyes open for the moments God wants me to speak on His behalf...these chance moments are for His glory, even if comics are involved.

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Book Review: Shift Omnibus Edition (Silo, #2) by Hugh Howey #scifi

Shift Omnibus Edition (Silo, #2) by Hugh Howey
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

While I cannot say that this is better than the Wool series, it is good - and I GREATLY recommend reading Wool.. all five. If you do read those... you will want to read these. They are set in the timeline as before but really MUST be read after.

If you were to read these out of publication order you would NOT get the most out of Wool.

The synopsis on these books is really enough to tell you what is up in them. This one may not have been as nail biting as Wool, but is information that I, and likely, any fan wants to know as they read Wool. This is some cool background information and is quite enlightening to the situation of the world and why it is in the state it is.

After reading this I am very excited about the upcoming Dust. It really seems like Hugh has a great ending planned and I do not want to miss it.

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I paid my daughter $100 dollars to read a chapter book (Blurb)

   

 It is all in the title.  I paid my daughter $100 dollars to read a chapter book.  Wanna know a few kickers?  

I offered it a month or so before she actually did it

She actually did it

She by now has read over ten

I very much enjoy reading, and as Kyley was growing up I was seeing a great desire in her for stories.  I would read to her at night and she LOVED every bit of it.  I was certain she would quickly pick up reading and be ten miles deep into books before I could blink, but I was wrong. 

It was a beast teaching her how to read. 

While I was not the main one at the reins of such beast (my wife was) I did try it out a few times to find I only ended up with a frustrated and angry little girl and likely only three or four words read.

I was getting fed up because I KNEW she would enjoy it if she would just get into it.  

She got to the point where she could read small children's books and would read them to her brothers when they asked, so we thought it was time for a chapter book.  

Boy were we wrong... as soon as she saw the mountain of words on the page.. she ran high tell as far away as she could.  

I think one of the funniest moments was when she was being used in a video for my brothers friends and she was suppose to show her ability to read.  The girl working with my daughter opens a sponge bob book and asks if she can read the two pages out.  Kyley looks at it, looks back and the girl and says, "No".  

I knew she could likely read it, but it was more than 5 words between the two pages, obviously enough that she could fail at any moment... and on camera at that.  She ended up reading one of the pages, which actually meant she could have read both because it was mostly the same words.  

Odd what we shy away from in ignorance...

A month or so after this I was so irritated I decided to do something about it.  Mel was driving, Ky was in the back of the van with her brothers, and without discussing it at all with my wife I turned to Kyley and said, "Kyley, if you read a chapter book - I will pay you $100 dollars."  I turned back and went on with my business.

Over the next few weeks I put stipulations on it, especially because she still had not done it, even though she had plenty to read from.  She was proud of the proposal enough to tell her friends, but still she did not read a chapter book, to my knowledge she had not even really picked one up.

This was about the time we packed everything up and moved into my inlaws, and for some reason Kyley did not really pack any chapter books.  The deal was brought up over and over, by her mostly - I would remind her of the stipulations and tease her I would take away the deal soon.

We were in the store one day and for some reason Ky had a wild hard to buy a chapter book... a ten dollar chapter book and was arguing with her mother about getting it.  Long story short we all agreed she could get it, but it was coming out of her $100 dollars.. therefore the payout was $90 for reading the chapter book she had just purchased. 

A new stipulation was added as well.  She MUST read a chapter a day.  If she did not read a chapter on a day she would loose $10 from the payout.  This may see harsh, but honestly.. it is a simple chapter book and ultimately it had the desired effect.  

She asked if she could read more than one chapter a day, and I was fine with it, but made it understood she still needed to read a chapter a day, so while reading more than one chapter a day did bring the finish of the book closer, faster, it did not roll over into the next day... a new chapter would need to be read on the new day. 

She finished the book in three days - the entire book.. done.. and she got another one.. and finished it in a few days.  

While driving in the car later she told us she was fine with not getting paid anymore for reading, because the reading was fun enough on it's own.  She has since been to the library.. gotten books.. read them all.. and going to get more soon.

My daughter is a reader.. and all I had to do was pay her $100 dollars... hmmm seems reasonable to me! 

Never let the fear of the unknown.. of what seems to be 'too much' or 'too hard' keep you away from something that may bless you, that may open your 'world' to great possibilities.. imaginings... and gaining of knowledge! 

 

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Book Review : "The Death and Life of Superman" by Roger Stern

The Death and Life of Superman by Roger Stern
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Certainly one of my most favorite comic story arc! This novelization was pretty good. Maybe not the most 100% top notch epic type novel I really enjoy to read, but very well done for a comic to prose transition!

If you would like to know more of my thoughts on this story arc take a look at my blog posts (There will be 14 when they are all posted)

http://congruentculture.wordpress.com...

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John Bunyan - The Pilgrim's Progress : Retold (Free Music, Review) @christianaudio @Noisetrade #audiobook

^^Widget Above^^

For Fans of :    C.S. Lewis, Jonathan Swift, Corrie ten Boom

Honestly.. I have been a fan of this book since I was in college (unless the 'retold' is something I do not know of) 

I am glad to have it in audio format and hope to listen to it soon! 

take a listen ... get a download.. and TIP!!! 

@christianaudio on twitter 

Noisetrade

http://www.noisetrade.com/johnbunyan/pilgrims-progress-retold-audiobook 

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/christianaudio

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Review: DragonSpell by Donita K. Paul (Books)

DragonSpell by Donita K. Paul
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was a good book... A fairly common story.. No real huge plot twists or anything. Straight forward fantasy with heavy Christian themes.

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dErK - Just Being Here Vol. 1 (Free #Audiobook, It is Mine) @noisetrade #christianity #blurbs

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For Fans of :     Jon Acuff, Matthew Paul Turner, Donald Miller, Blogging

12 Tracks

This is MY 'Audiobook' where I took 12 of my first Blurbs and recorded me reading them, edited them myself and put them together in this neat little package.  

I plan on continuing this with all of my Blurbs.  So if you have never read them, you will likely get an easier chance as I create these albums.  I also am slowly adding them to my Soundcloud.  I am not certain about space and account limitations so I am not certain how that will go, but keep watch there as well if you are interested.

take a listen ... get a download.. and TIP!!! 

@openedeyes02 on twitter

Noisetrade

http://www.noisetrade.com/derk/just-being-here-vol-1 

Blog (you are here now ... )

http://derkopenedeyes.blogspot.com/

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/dErKsblog

Soundcloud

https://soundcloud.com/derek-john-jordan 

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