NOW READING: BY REASON OF INSANITY ~ RANDY SINGER

Following a series of murders in Virginia Beach, newspaper reporter Catherine O'Rourke experiences disturbing dreams that detail each crime.  To aid the investigation, she shares them with a detective working the case.  But her plan backfires when she's arrested as the main suspect.  Catherine turns to Las Vegas lawyer Quinn Newberg, a high-priced specialist in the insanity defence who believes in justice.  He also believes in his client.  But he does not believe Catherine's dreams are anything other than the result of a fractured personality disorder, triggered by a traumatic event from her past.  Though he knows that insanity cases are unpredictable, nothing has prepared Quinn for this.  To win, or even survive, he'll need more than his famed legal maneuvering.  On this case, he'll need a miracle.

REVIEW: PEARL IN THE SAND ~ TESSA AFSHAR

We all know the story of Rahab: A Canaanite prostitute who saved the lives of two Hebrews in Jericho and secured, for her family, exemption from the annihilation of Jericho.  The Bible then tells us that Rahab married Salmone, the Hebrew leader of the tribe of Judah, and had a son named Boaz.  Through their line, Jesus Christ was ultimately born.  Though a Canaanite prostitute, Rahab is described in the Bible as a woman of faith.

We read this story, take note of the content, but never quite imagine how it all must have come together.  Why would a Canaanite woman betray her country, her people, her gods, for the God of the Hebrews?  Why did the Hebrews agree to spare a woman of the enemy they were instructed to destroy?  How did she then come to marry a Hebrew? The leader of Judah, no less.  Didn’t he care about her past or how it could affect his position?  How was Rahab, a zonah, treated by the Hebrews?  Pearl in the Sand by Tessa Afshar, provides us with a beautiful possibility of how Rahab’s story might have gone.  Though fictional, this story is built on a foundation of Biblical facts.

Rahab, a Canaanite, turns her back on the gods of her people at a young age, disgusted with the rituals surrounding them.  Fornication at the temples, sacrificing human lives, Rahab can’t stand the practices of her people.  

A severe drought causes her family to suffer.  They have no food, and no means to obtain money.  That is when Rahab is betrayed by the man she loves and depends on most: Her father.  At the age of fifteen Rahab is sold into prostitution in order to provide for her family.  Though she has no choice, Rahab does put her foot down and makes it clear that if she must do this, she will do it on her own terms.  She refuses to become a temple prostitute to be used by any man who walks by her, and chooses her own customers.  Hating what she has to do, Rahab tries to minimize her disgrace by only being with one man at a time, for a period of time she determines.  She guards her heart, refusing to ever hand it over to any man, and chooses carefully to whom she will give her body.  Rahab becomes wealthy and runs her own inn – not a brothel. Even though Rahab has all the fine material things she could want, her soul remains empty.  She can never fill the hole in her innermost being… until she hears of the God of the Hebrews.

Having been freed of the slavery in Egypt, having wandered the desert for forty years, the Israelites are finally entering the promised land and conquering Canaan.  The biggest cities are defeated to the absolute bafflement of all in Jericho.  

Desperate for something to cling to, Rahab absorbs every piece of information she learns of the God of the Hebrews.  He is powerful, and by all accounts a compassionate and loving God.  What makes Him even more intriguing is that he forbids the practices the Canaanites’ gods encourage, the practices Rahab herself abhors.  Even though she knows that according to the law of the God of the Hebrews someone like her (a prostitute) must be stoned, so severe is her sin, she cannot help but thirst for Him.  Alone on her roof, Rahab instinctively prays to the God of the Hebrews, and gives herself to His service if He will have her.  She promises to, never again, sell her body.  Peace unlike any she has ever known settles over Rahab, and a woman of faith is born.

A few weeks later Rahab notices two men trying to enter Jericho through the entrance to the wall in which her inn is situated.  Immediately realising that they are Hebrews, Rahab intercedes with the guards, drawing attention to herself, and gets Hanani and Ezra into her inn as fast as she can and hides them from the soldiers.  Later, while having dinner, Rahab asks them about their God.  By the time Ezra and Hanani secretly leave Jericho the following morning, Rahab has made two new friends, and has secured a promise that she and her family will be spared when the Israelites conquer Jericho – Rahab never doubts that God will give them the victory.

Salmone, the leader of the tribe of Judah, is outraged when he learns that his friends have promised to spare a Canaanite woman and her family – God clearly instructed the Israelites to destroy Canaan in its entirety.  Hanani and Ezra, however, are convinced that the Lord sent Rahab to them, and as such, God must have a plan for her as well.  Joshua, the leader of Israel, agrees, and it is decided that Rahab and her family will be spared.

After the fall of Jericho, Rahab makes another request of Ezra and Hanani.  She and her family wishes to join the Hebrews.  To proud Salmone’s dismay, Joshua agrees and puts Rahab and her family in the tribe of Judah, instructing Salmone himself to see to their integration into the ways of the Hebrews.  Despising Rahab’s former profession, Salmone can’t seem to forget her past, and even though Rahab appears to be humble and shy (impossible for a zonah!), and genuinely desperate to please his beloved Lord, Salmone continues to treat her and her family with a cold disdain.  It seems, however, that God intends transforming Salmone’s soul as much as he has transformed Rahab’s.  Can it be?  Can the leader of the tribe of Judah truly fall in love with a former zonah?  And more importantly, even though the only Rahab he has ever known is the kind of gentle, humble, God-fearing woman he has always yearned for, can he make peace with her past?

Pearl in the Sand is the most beautiful book I have read in years!  I rank it right up there with my absolute favourites, Francine Rivers’ Redeeming Love and Mark of the Lion, and as with these, Pearl in the Sand is one of those books I wish everybody I know would read. 

This fictional account of Rahab’s story is so beautifully written and touches on so many things that must have been issues for Rahab, that you can’t help but think that Rahab’s true circumstances must have been very close to what is described in this book.  I never considered something as simple as Rahab and her family having to first learn all the ways of the Hebrews before entering their camp, so as not to defile it in any way – the smallest thing done in ignorance could have meant the death penalty for any one of them. 

I love Afshar’s depiction of the characters.  I especially love the character of Joshua – though very respectfully done, Joshua is quite a humourous character (and by that I mean that while he is very much the wise, trusted and capable leader the Bible describes him to be, he has quite the sense of humour!) It’s sometimes hard to imagine Biblical characters being anything other than serious, but surely they couldn’t have been serious all the time?  This book does a beautiful job of giving all of the characters a lighter side, making them very relatable. 

I especially love the scene explaining the title of the book – a beautiful pearl-in-the-sand-analogy that you must discover for yourself.   

Words cannot effectively express how much I love this book.  Read it!

Product information:

Title: Pearl In The Sand

Author: Tessa Afshar

Number of pages: 320

Publisher: Moody Publishers

Year: 2010

ISBN-10: 0802458815

ISBN-13: 978-0802458810 

NOW READING: PEARL IN THE SAND ~ TESSA AFSHAR

Striking beauty comes at a price. Rahab paid it when at the age of fifteen she was sold into prostitution by the one man she loved and trusted - her father.  With her keen mind and careful planning she turned heartache into success, achieving independence while still young.  And she vowed never again to trust a man.  Any man.

God had other plans.

Into the emotional turmoil of her world walked Salmone, a prominent leader of Judah, held in high esteem by all Israel.  A man of faith, honor and pride.  An enemy.

What is a woman with a wrecked past to do when she wanted to be loved, yet no longer believes it possible? The walls of Jericho are only the beginning. The real battle for Rahab will be one of the heart.

Can a Canaanite harlot who has made her livelihood by looking desirable to men make a fitting wife for one of the leaders of Israel? Shockingly, the Bible’s answer is yes.  

Pearl in the Sand tells Rahab’s untold story. Rahab lives in a wall; her house is built into the defensive walls of the City of Jericho. Other walls surround her as well - walls of fear, rejection, unworthiness.

A woman with a wrecked past; a man of success, of faith …of pride; a marriage only God would conceive! Through the heartaches of a stormy relationship, Rahab and Salmone learn the true source of one another’s worth and find healing in God ~ Tessa Afshar website.

FIFTY SHADES OF SCARLET

I have wanted to write something about the Fifty Shades trilogy for a while now, but as I haven’t read any of the books (nor do I intend reading them) I felt that should just ignore it.  Not much gets on my nerves quite so much as someone expressing an opinion about a book I’ve read when they haven’t read it themselves (like the Harry Potter series is satanic, or The Shack is blasphemous).  I even fleetingly considered reading the first book in order to validate having an opinion, but quite frankly I just don’t want this junk in my head.  In this case I think I can make an exception and write this post without actually having read the books.  I did have a look at some readings on Youtube, and while those of Ellen DeGeneres and Zack Galifianakis and Will Ferrell are pretty funny, as is the Jimmy Fallon Karaoke, some of them are just too much.  This is really not something I would read for entertainment.  Or for any other reason.

From the author’s website: When literature student Anastasia Steele goes to interview young entrepreneur Christian Grey, she encounters a man who is beautiful, brilliant, and intimidating. The unworldly, innocent Ana is startled to realize she wants this man and, despite his enigmatic reserve, finds she is desperate to get close to him. Unable to resist Ana’s quiet beauty, wit, and independent spirit, Grey admits he wants her, too—but on his own terms.  Shocked yet thrilled by Grey’s singular erotic tastes, Ana hesitates. For all the trappings of success—his multinational businesses, his vast wealth, his loving family—Grey is a man tormented by demons and consumed by the need to control. When the couple embarks on a daring, passionately physical affair, Ana discovers Christian Grey’s secrets and explores her own dark desires.  Erotic, amusing, and deeply moving, the Fifty Shades Trilogy is a tale that will obsess you, possess you, and stay with you forever.

So, the Fifty Shades Trilogy by E.L James is basically three books about BSDM: A combination of bondage/discipline, dominance/submission, sadism/masochism.  Now, I haven’t read the books, but I’ve read reviews and these books are strongly labelled as erotica.  The difference between a romance novel and an erotic novel, is that a romance novel is about the love story (may or may not feature a love scene, usually quite tasteful as these things go) and that an erotic novel is about the sex scenes (may or may not feature a romantic storyline, usually quite weak).  Fifty Shades of Grey is therefore erotica.  Several reviews have made mention of the fact that no less than 75% is about the sexual acts that Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele carry out.  Bottom line: It’s pornography. It’s no different than a man looking at dirty magazines or watching porn.  Men are stimulated visually, women are stimulated mentally.  If you wouldn’t want the man in your life to degrade women or cheapen your relationship by watching porn or reading dirty magazines, there is no way you can justify reading Fifty Shades. 

Women who have read the books have told me that while the sexual stuff is very graphic, that it’s a really nice story if you can get past all that.  I’m sorry, but I don’t get why you would want to assault your mind with graphic scenes of bondage, sadism and masochism, just so you can read a scant few paragraphs about “the beautiful story”.  Apparently these books are not even well written from a literary perspective – which means, it’s trashy, poorly written erotica.  I can’t see how anything good can come of reading these books.  Like Tamara Lowe says, “It’s all designed to fill your head and waste your space until you’re dead”. 

Now, I’m not saying that reading it makes you a bad person.  I know several women whom I like and respect who have read these books – it doesn’t make them bad people, and I'm not judging them in any way.  I am merely concerned over how popular this kind of material is becoming in this day and age.  I believe that in reading this kind of material you are walking a fine line and toying with sin; Sinful thoughts, at the very least, and that’s dangerous.  “Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death” (James 1:15). By repeatedly exposing yourselves to this kind of material, you also become desensitized to pornography.  You’re filling your head with garbage, and romanticising it.  The Bible clearly says “Therefore, putting away all filthiness and overflowing of wickedness, receive with humility the implanted word, which is able to save your souls" (James 1:21), and “Whatever things are true, whatever things are honest, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things” (Philippians 4:8) . 

You need to listen to this podcast of The Mark Gungor Show (minute 24:00+).  Mark Gungor is an unconventional pastor in the best possible way, best known for his marriage seminars (Laugh Your Way To A Better Marriage).  In the above podcast he, Diane Brierley and Ross Skorzewski are discussing the Fifty Shades phenomenon. 

As Mark says, “The female culture has hit an all-time low; or an all-time high on the stupid scale”.  Harsh words, but worth considering.  This BSDM fantasy is being supported by women!  Fifty Shades is a bestseller in every single bookstore I walk into, and has become so popular that a movie version is in the works.  A movie version… you get that, right?  Porn.  Ladies, your defending of this “beautiful story” has led to the making of a film version – you can’t see this being a PG movie, can you?  Pornography.  Supported by women.   Some women might say they are “enlightened” or “liberated”… I don’t buy it.  What you are doing is cheapening yourself and trying to justify it.  What has become of women fighting to not be degraded or objectified?  We degrade and objectify women ourselves by supporting this garbage.

I'd like to conclude with a poem by  this young girl speaking out against today's pop culture.  So true.

Dear Pop Culture; Dear Pop Sensation,

I’m writing to you because your lies are so pervasive in this American generation. 

Because listening to your lies was once my brain’s fixation. 

But for years now, I have had the realization, 

that your lyrics are an utter fabrication. 

That you sing with the serpent’s tongue over this nation, 

like lullabies in a dream-world destination, 

contorting and distorting people’s imagination.

And with your control and manipulation, 

we take in the sound waves that come to our radio station. 

When you call us a superstar, we call it inspiration. 

When you sing tolerance, we feel liberation. 

When you dance and flaunt your body in a provocative presentation, 

we accept it as entertainment without hesitation. 

You take the human body in all it’s beauty and creation, 

and present it like scum with unreserved humiliation 

to a world obsessed with over-sexualization.

You say free-fall into temptation 

and act as if there is no harm in the sex-game fixation. 

You say get drunk at a party and stir up the flirtation, 

enjoy the lit-up party scene saturation. 

Be who you are and express your orientation. 

The world is about you and your instant gratification. 

You sing I’m on the edge of glory with your own glorification. 

You fire up the feeling of victimization, 

so that rebellion and revenge feel like the only justification, 

and you so conveniently offer every emotional accommodation.

While we sit back and allow your perverted narration over our lives, 

and let you control our destination, 

your lyrics are like cancer, in need of radiation. 

I have watched as the youth cry out and worship you in adoration, 

with a crazy, obsessive, unhealthy fascination. 

They look to you for confirmation and validation. 

Because in reality, they’re yearning for a serious revelation 

from the depths of despair, depression and frustration. 

But they are jumping and taking rest on a sandy foundation, 

because what you have to offer, is nothing with any legitimate explanation 

about how the world works, or true love clarification. 

What they need is an internal evaluation.

Because truly they search for a God who offers a heart-transformation. 

And while you can do nothing about their messed-up situation, 

my redeemer, named Jesus, offers redemption. 

So listen to me, this is a hurt-people-hurt people duplication.  

And you are only feeding them your puked-up desperation 

twisted into lyrics and rhymes in a Hollywood location.

Here is my battle cry and declaration. 

With God on my side, I will stand against the desensitization. 

I’ll stand in the gap and let irritation be my motivation. 

And though from where you're standing looks good from your calculations, 

my God uses different equations. 

He says, we’re all lost and in need of salvation. 

He’s the author of true love and there’s no other replication.

AUTHOR SARAH SUNDIN READ MY REVIEW!

My blog has had another visit by an author!  Sarah Sundin has read my review of her book A Memory Between US! :D