Deuteronomy: a book of looking back and moving forward

Deuteronomy is Moses given the people of Israel his last instructions before they enter the Promised Land. He goes over the law that were put forth in Leviticus and Numbers. There are many people who don’t read Deuteronomy because it is a boring old book that reiterates the Laws of Moses. It is true that many of the verses in Deuteronomy are reflected elsewhere in the law. There are three verses which stood out to me as significant given our societal climate. Verses about devotion to God, our relationships with others, and our roles in our lives and in our society.

First, in Deuteronomy 6:5 “Love the Lord your God will all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” This verse is the same one that Jesus told the Sadducees and the Pharisees when they tried to test him in the law. They had asked him what was the greatest commandment in the Law. (Matthew 22:36). In Matthew 22:37-38, Jesus replied, “’Love the Lord your God will all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.” First, I noticed that in Deuteronomy, it is commanded to love God with all one’s heart, soul and strength and in Matthew, Jesus says with all one’s heart, soul and mind. The changing of the word could be a mistranslation but I feel the message is still there. We are to love God with everything we have. Every ounce of who we are should be used to love God. Many believers’ devotions are split between God, family, friends and their personal desires. It is hard to devote everything you are to God and it is a constant struggle for me. It is one of the main reasons I’m reading and blogging about the books of the Bible as I am. We live in a society in which we are being pulled in so many different directions that we often lose our way.

Second, Deuteronomy 13:6-8 caught my eye for a particular reason. Last month, Kirk Cameron came out and said that “Wives are to honor and respect and follow their husband's lead, not to tell their husband how he ought to be a better husband. When each person gets their part right, regardless of how their spouse is treating them, there is hope for real change in their marriage." Of course this statement caused an uproar. While I’m not going to argue his statement, Deuteronomy 13:6-8 stuck out as I read with Mr. Cameron’s statement in my mind. The verse says “If your very own brother, or your son or your daughter, or the wife [or husband] you love, or your closet friend secretly entices you, saying ‘Let us go and worship other gods,’ do not yield to him or listen to him. Show him no pity. Do not spare him or shield him.” Mr. Cameron’s statement makes it seems that wives are to follow their husbands blindly because “he said so” mentality. I don’t know if this statement as been taken out of context and I don’t agree with many of his statements. Deuteronomy 13:6-8 clearly states that anyone who tries to lure you away from your relationship with God, you are not to follow. Do not let the love of your family and friends tear you away from your devotion to God.

Third, Deuteronomy 22:5 stuck out at me during my reading as it reflects recent events in our society. The verse states “A woman must not wear men’s clothing, nor a man wear women’s clothing, for the Lord your God detests anyone who does this.” Does this mean that women can’t wear pants or men wear skirts? As some churches do interpret the verse this way, it may not be necessarily the case. It is not a statement on the actually clothing. It is a statement about women wanting to be men and vice versa. It has been interpreting as women should not be in battle or be in a position of authority which is ridiculous as anyone who has read Judges knows that Deborah, one of the greatest judges, lead the Israelites into battle. I will discuss Deborah at length later. I think this verse is more as a guide to make sure everyone has a role to fulfill or a job to do. I have seen this verse being used as a reason to hate transgender individuals. As I have my own opinions and thoughts about transgender individuals, I think using this verse as a reason to hate an individual is extremely wrong. I’m still reminding of Matthew 22:39 after Jesus has said what the greatest commandment was. He said the second greatest commandment is “love your neighbor as yourself.” I am commanded to love everyone as I love myself. I am not commended to hate or condemn. I am commanded to treat others as I want to be treated, everything else is between the individual and God.

In conclusion, Deuteronomy is a book of looking back while the Israelites were moving forward to the Promise Land. It is Moses’ last message to the people as he neared the end of his life and someone was ready to become their new leader. It is a book of remembrance and reminders of God’s law. The three verses I discussed stood out to me as devotion to God should always be a main priority for any believer. And beware if anyone, regardless of who they are, tries to stir you away from your devotion. Lastly, using a single verse as a reason to hate is wrong. We seem to forget that Christ came to fulfill the law and when he did so, these verses are more a lesson rather a rule. Whenever someone tries to apply a verse as a reason for anything, think long and hard about the verse and what it is trying to tell us. Take in the cultural significance of the time. Always ask God for guidance.

Broken Angels: a story of sacrifice during a time of great danger

Broken Angels by Gemma Liviero is a story about the horrors of the Holocaust during World War II. Told from the perspective of three individuals: a Nazi doctor, a Jewish woman and a young girl, the events during the war and the programs of the Nazis are told in vivid detail.

The story opens in 1996 with the funeral of a mother. Time is transported back to 1942 as a young Jewish woman, Elsi, helps her mother see the Nazi doctor assigned to the Lodz Ghetto. Willem Gerhardt is a doctor who is the son of one of Himmler’s top researchers. Matilda is a part-German child who is taken from her family and placed in a home in the hopes of molding her into the perfect Aryan child for a German family. As events unfold. Willem is confronted with the horrors and atrocities that the Nazis are doing to the Jewish people. He is sent to oversee the children’s program and he enters Matilda’s life. One night after a tragic loss, he sees Elsi, ill and being loaded onto a truck and decides to save her. He takes her in and treats her illness. He soon learns that the children who deemed unfit for adoption are being sent to the camps. He begins to falsify documents and save these children’s lives. Will he able to save these children’s lives? Will he be caught?

Broken Angels is a beautiful and heartbreaking story of Germany during the war. The atrocities of the Nazis, the indoctrination, the experimentation and the blatant disregard of human life. But it also a story of the unsung heroes who did their best to save lives despite the horrors around them and the dangers to their lives. There were moments in the story when the horrific events were just too much and I had to stop reading and process. I recommend Broken Angels as a deep look into events of World War II that many do not read about or don’t want to know about. Keeping the memories of the men and women who lost their lives simply because they were Jewish alive is important. We cannot forget them and Broken Angels will ensure that you never do.

Broken Angels

is available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.com

in paperback $14.95

Kindle Unlimited for free

and Audiobook $14.99

Great new stories by Carole P. Roman: adventures and inspiration!

Today, I have two wonderful children’s books. Both books are told in beautiful prose and teach important lessons of dreams and adventures. Both books are written by Carol P. Roman, author of the If you were me and lived in… series as well as the Captain No Beard series. Both books are also beautifully illustrated by Mateya Arkova.

First, Rocket-Bye is an adventure of a rocket ship as it travels through the stars, the Milky Way, the constellations and past the planets. During the trip, the different plants are mentioned as well as their position in the solar system. The constellations are named with clues to the legends for which they are named.

Second, Can a Princess be a Firefighter? is a parent talking to his little girls about how she can be anything she wants to be. Any job she wants or even two as well as she does what she loves and enjoys. And no matter what job she does, she will always be a princess to her parent. So, yes, a princess can be a firefighter.

I loved both this books. The great adventure in Rocket-Bye and the wonderful lesson in Can a Princess be a Fighter? as well as the beautiful illustrations inspire children to dream and dream big. I highly recommend these books for any family or school library. 

The Accidental life of Greg Millar: loving someone with a mental illness

The Accidental Life of Greg Millar by Aimee Alexander is a story about love and life with a mental illness.

Lucy Arigho meets Greg Millar with the worst possible first impression. Soon his charming smile wears her down and she begins to date him. He is a writer, a widower with two small children and he begins to help her recover from her own tragic loss. The two become inseparable and Greg soon proposes marriage. After much consideration, Lucy accepts and begins to enter other areas of his life. She is met with opposition. Greg’s daughter, Rachel, doesn’t like her while his son, Toby, is slowly warming up. The long-time nanny, Hilary, treats her with open opposition. Lucy joins the family on their vacation to the south of France, where Greg’s behavior is increasing erratic and seemingly on a roller coaster of ups and downs. Lucy is soon in the middle of taking care of the children while trying to figure out what is wrong with Greg. On the advice of her sister, Lucy convinces Greg to seek help. The answer throws them for a loop. Will Greg be able to beat the demons in his life? Will Lucy be able to help him hold his family together? Will their love survive such a test?

The Accidental Life of Greg Millar is a wonderful story with heart wrenching moments. Moments I cried. Moments I seethed with anger at the events unfolding. There were moments I wanted Lucy to run and save herself from the madness that Greg seemed to be falling into. Then I begged her to stay because the children were left with no idea what was going on. In the end, I cried as family must deal with the stigma that exists in our world about mental illness. I feel Ms. Alexander portrayed Greg’s illness in a realistic light without sugarcoating it or making light of life with a mental illness. I highly recommend The Accidental Life of Greg Millar!

The Accidental Life of Greg Millar

is available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.com

in paperback for $14.96

Kindle Unlimited for free

and Audiobook for $9.99

The Frog that lost his croak: a lesson in being a part of the world around you

The Frog that lost His Croak by Anne Toole is a lesson in the difference of a part of the world and trying to be the world. “A little frog that loved his croak night and day/Was very sad when his croak suddenly went away./While waiting and hope for his croak to return/What valuable lessons did the little frog learn?”

A frog loved his croak. He thought it was the best croak around and he boasted about it. The other frogs were mad. Until one day, his croak was gone. He talks to his parents who tell him to rest and his croak would be back. The other frogs now made fun of him for losing his croak. As he waits for his croak to return, he finally is able to hear the other sounds around the pond: the birds, the insects. He realized that it’s not all about his. There are a lot of beautiful songs in the world and his croak is simply one of them. The book is told in prose and I love poetry. It’s a great lesson about being a part of the beautiful world instead of trying to be its center. Written for children between the ages of 4-7, the story presents such an important way that captures their imagination. I highly recommend this book for family and school libraries. 

The Frog that lost his croak

is available on Amazon

in hardback for $18.95

and

in paperback for $15.95

Hold Your Breath: a romance with a mystery twist

Hold Your Breath by Katie Ruggle is book 1 in the Search and Rescue Series. It is a story of mystery, romance and one woman’s struggle to leave her old life behind.

Louise “Lou” Sparks has left the comfortable life in Connecticut to live in the Colorado Rockies as a member of the Field County Rescue Dive Team. She is taking part in ice-rescue training when she hits something in the water and causing a headless corpse to rise to the surface. With Team leader Callum, Lou begins to investigate who this person might be and how he ended up in the lake. As they do, the two became close. Are those sparks falling between them? Meanwhile, Lou has the strange feeling she’s being followed and watched. Does she have a stalker? Who is the body they pulled from the lake? Are her stalker and the body connected?

Hold Your Breath is a typical romantic mystery with one little twist. The murder isn’t solved by the end of the book. In a way, I like that. It’s new and it certainly carries my interest to future books in the series. But then I wanted to know who killed this person!!!! Overall, I enjoyed the romance between Callum and Lou. I liked their chemistry and their capability. If you enjoy romance novels, you will enjoy Hold Your Breath.

Hold Your Breath

is available on Amazon

and Barnes and Noble.com

in Mass Market Paperback for $5.99

on the Kindle for $3.82

or on the NookBook for $4.99

The Reluctant Soldier: letters from war

The Reluctant Solider by Marine Mellblom is a memoir of the Korean War, the Forgotten War. It is told through the letters from her husband, Neil Mellblom.

The book starts as Neil is shipping out. Through his words, Neil describes an Army which was not prepared for the action which were taking place in Korea. Neil becomes a writer for the Pacific Stars and Stripes in which he was writing stories about the front lines. Although he was writing it from the wire report and not from the thick of battle. Throughout the book, the reader sees Neil’s disappointment with the Army as well as himself. He wants to be a better solider. He struggles that he is not on the frontlines but at the same time he is glad that he isn’t. He is frustrated with the extra treatment the officers get over the non-officers, even in acknowledgement of heroism in battle.

I enjoyed reading this book although I had anticipated a different type of book. However, as I read Neil’s own words as he writes about his experiences during the Korea War opened the war in a new light. To the quick paced but ultimately unpreparedness of the Army, to the worry about his friends who are throughout his country, to his struggles with his own role in the war. The book is also the love story between Neil and Marnie as their letters are exchanged across the miles. Sadly, her letters do not survive today due to a flood that destroyed Neil’s barracks before he came home. The Reluctant Soldier is a great look into the personal side of war rather than the political/strategic side. 

The Reluctant Soldier

is available on Amazon

in paperback for $16.95