No comments about Boundless Faith: Early American Women's Captivity Narratives (Christian Classics).

2 comments about The Real Duke of Hazzard: The Jerry Rushing Story.

1. Jerry Rushing is definately the real Duke of Hazzard. He explains his life story growing up as a moonshiner, and us Dukes fans, see many parallels with his life story and the tv series. He actually inspired the low budjet film, Moonrunners, which then was changed with a Smokey and the Bandit flare, to a tv series the Dukes of Hazzard. His stories are action packed told from the perspective of a man reflecting on the good old days. So I do beleive some of these stories are exaggerated, but it is still fun to read about them. This book is written by a Minister, which you would think it would be less exciting, but he doesn't really hold back with Jerry's stories. One or two chapters he tends to go on about Jerry's sins, but he talks about him reforming his lifestyle. Other than that, I love this book. Jerry had an exciting life which helped create our beloved Dukes of Hazzard.



2. "Dukes of Hazzard" fans have been meeting Jerry Rushing at events such as DukesFest for years, and they're very familiar with the fact that he was Gy Waldron's inspiration for the TV series, as well as the pre-series movie "Moonrunners." What Michael Barnes does here, though, in "The Real Duke of Hazzard," is illuminate the real story -- the good, the bad and the quite ugly -- of Rushing's actual moonshining days in North Carolina.
   
   Jerry Elijah Rushing was born into the 'shine business; his daddy made the stuff, and his granddaddy before him. It was perfectly logical -- even expected -- that Jerry would follow in their footsteps. The way the moonshiners saw it, the government gave itself the right to make and market whiskey, so why couldn't the average citizen do it, too? It seemed entirely hypocritical that it was against the law! So Rushing got into the family biz, and he dreamed of being an outlaw in the spirit of Jesse James. He made the stuff, he ran the stuff, and he broke any law he had to as he provided for his family.
   
   Barnes very well illustrates the factors that made Rushing who he is, both before and after he got saved. It's especially interesting to read how instrumental Rushing's terribly abusive father was in (inadvertently) forming a tough shell around his son. Rushing has found it difficult to express emotion, even to his own dearly loved wife and daughter, all of his life because of this. And Barnes does well to show the anger building in Rushing over the years -- anger that no doubt sprouted from his upbringing but continued to boil toward the revenuers who were always hot on his tail. Rushing hated lawmen in any form, and he would vent that intense anger on the occasional friend or acquaintance, as well. He was just a tough man, from the tip of his big black felt hat to his toes.
   
   We know where this story is going -- to Rushing's salvation in the late 1980s and to his modern message for those who've not yet trusted Jesus. Barnes illustrates that no one is beyond saving, not even the darkest sinner. (And indeed, that's what I've always appreciated about the story of Johnny Cash, as well.) God planted the seeds of salvation in Rushing over the course of many years, from his very childhood, and despite the hypocrisy of the Christians this moonshiner saw around him (who largely kept him from even the IDEA of attending church), God was more than able to make those seeds grow. A fine story, with the best of endings.

1 comments about The Lives and Liberation of Princess Mandarava: The Indian Consort of Padmasambhava.

1. This book is an excellent insight into the life and times of both Princess Mandharava and the great Guru Padmasambhava, as told by Padmasambhava himself and recorded by his Tibetan consort Yeshe Tsogyal. This book is a terma (a teaching which was written down and then hidden for this present time). Also, it has a blessing prophecy attatched to it, making it very beneficial to read or even be near a copy of this text. The terma itself is very easy to read and follows Mandharava's extrordinary life, in a most interesting progression. It's a very inspiring story!

5 comments about Priest: Portraits of Ten Good Men Serving the Church Today.

1. "Be not afraid"
   
   "Witnesses to Hope."
   
   "Do not abandon yourselves to despair. We are the Easter people and hallelujah is our song."
   
   "The future starts today, not tomorrow."
   
   "The vow of celibacy is a matter of keeping one's word to Christ and the Church. a duty and a proof of the priest's inner maturity; it is the expression of his personal dignity."



2. This well-researched and thoughtful book is a real booster for people who were discouraged during scandals and the Long Lent of 2002.
   
   Michael Rose presents the stories of ten men living their vocations -- replete with that great holiness of the everyday, and the trials that shadow such devotion. I'm familiar with one of the profiled priests, and while he is a wonderful priest, he's also a reminder that everyday sanctity is possible to everyone who is true to his or her calling, whether that vocation is a religious one or not.
   
   Recommended book for Catholics -- or anyone else -- who needs a reminder that there are priests who live their vocations with humility and faithfulness.



3. Rose writes an inspiring book, so much better than his "Goodbye, Good Men" about ten good priests today. The stories range from an army chaplain, a Russian missionary, and more. These priests are all good men, who are faithful and caring. These stories make one want to be a priest. A must read for all Catholics.



4. Fr. Timothy Vaverek, one of the priests mentioned in this book is the pastor at my church. He really is as great as they say he is, but he is a very humble guy. Not many people at our parish know how amazing he really is. A lot of the things mentioned about him are not common knowledge around St. Joseph's, like I said he is very humble. I learned a lot about him by reading this book.



5. They are there in every just about every community across the land. Most do not bring attention to themselves. They are 25, 40 or 70 years old. Typically they work 12-18 hour days and are always on call. And due to a combination of factors they have been asked to take on more responsibilities than ever before. They are educators, preachers, chaplains and pastors. They are Catholic priests and in his latest book Michael S. Rose introduces us to 10 of these good men.
   With all of the infuriating and heart-breaking stories of sexual abuse by priests dominating the headlines these days, Michael Rose saw a need to step back, take a deep breath, and talk about the good that the overwhelming majority of our Catholic priests are doing on a daily basis. The other side of the story needs to be told! He portrays ten of these men and gives us insight on the daily lives of each of them. They hail from varied backgrounds and each brings a unique set of talents, abilities and insights to their ministries. Many serve in inner city parishes, schools, hospitals and prisons--wherever they are needed. Others serve in remote places overseas. Admittedly, a vocation to the priesthood in these troubled times is going to be challenging to say the least. One of the subjects of this book, Fr. Timothy Vaverek said it best when he observed that the priesthood is not for "the faint of heart". And Fr. John McCloskey, who spent many years as a chaplain at liberal Ivy League universities believes that priests are "the Navy Seals, the Army Rangers, the Green Berets of the Catholic Church." To a man, the 10 priests featured in this book believe that the key to solving many of the Church's problems is a return to orthodoxy by both the clergy and the laity.
   If you are a young man discerning a vocation to the priesthood this is essential reading. Read about the lives these men lead and see if you might have what it takes to be a priest. You will see that what each of these men have in common is a commitment to prayer, hard work, generosity and sacrifice. Do you have the right stuff?

1 comments about Gaspar!: A Spanish Poet/Priest in the Nicaraguan Revolution.

1. When I left Nicaragua as a 14 year old after the 1979 revolution I heard Gaspar's name in many of the sandinistas songs I was curious about this man. When I finish with the book many questions were answer about the man and the backgroung of the Nicaragua revolution. I recomend this book to other Nicaraguan's who are in search of answer to why the Revolution needed to happend.

No comments about The Simple Life of René Guénon.

5 comments about Love Can Build a Bridge.

1. This book was an inspiration in so many ways! I read the paperback, and now I want to own it in hardcover! It is uplifting and even if you are not a huge Judd fan, it is still a story that will touch your heart and encourage you as a woman to help you through adversity of many different kinds. There is FAITH, HOPE and LOVE in these pages!



2. After hearing that Naomi went to Eastern Kentucky University- where I graduated from with a degree in nursing, I wanted to buy her book. I was touched at all the obstacles that she had to overcome. Like being a non-traditional student. I was a Resident Assistant at a dorm for non-traditional students. I admire her courage to stand up to the plate and go for her dream. This courage and drive has been transmitted to Ashley and Wynonna too. They are all very powerful and inspirational women of faith!
   I have included her book in my listmania, "Books That Have A Bang!"



3. Drama Queens!!! Wow!!! A fascinating story, but maybe more "story" than "truth", eh? In any case, a good read. Fast, compelling, and lively. A plot twist on every page. The television mini-series didn't live up to the book. Would have been better as a Big Screen Movie. Two thumbs up!!



4. After reading this book twice, what I have to offer is this: EVERY AUTOBIOGRAPHY IS A WORK OF FICTION, AND EVERY WORK OF FICTION IS AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL. Ditto for this book.



5. After reading this book twice, what I have to offer is this: EVERY AUTOBIOGRAPHY IS A WORK OF FICTION, AND EVERY WORK OF FICTION IS AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL. Ditto for this book.

5 comments about This House Is On Fire: The Life of Shri Dhyanyogi.

1. My picture is in this book (Page 337), and I am very happy it is there. You see, I met this saint in the early seventies, both in India and America. He is very compassionate, and is concerned about the welfare of all. And there are few saints of his stature around. The book is well written, and tells the story of one of the few masters of Shaktipat and meditation. Even those I am very familiar with this saint, and his wonderful successors, I couldn't put it down - as it contained much information I didn't know. I know the successors well, and highly endorse this book. It is in the cavalier of Divine Play by Thomas Palotas, Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda, and Play of Consciousness by Swami Munktananda.
   Randy Kemp
   www.randykempcopywriting.com



2. My salutations to all Great Spirtual Teachers who are the very essence of Pure Unconditioned Consciousness! Who out of compasion for humanity take on a human form to lead us from darkness to light, ignorance to bliss and from death to imortality!
   
   The book is truly magical. It is Un-Put-Downable.
   
   Shri Dhyan Yogi was and is one of India's best kept secrets.
   
   This book will magically transport you into the Presence of one of one of India's Greatest Siddha Purusha's! A true Kundalini Siddha( Siddha = Perfect Being )
   
   The book brought back a thousand vivid pictures and sent me back in time to the day when I went over to 383 Baheshwar Vihar, Swami Vivekananada Road, Mumbai, some forty years ago; where as a teenager, I first had the exceptional good fortune of sitting at the feet of Dhyan Yogi, Sri Madusudandasji Maharaj and imploring the Siddha to awaken my Kundalini.
   
   This review is offered in appreciation and homage to my first Indian Guru.
   
   I therefore thank you Anandi Ma, Deelipji and all those who took great pains to bring this much needed biography of Shri Dhyan Yogi, Madhusudhandasji Maharaj and share it with the world!
   
   Tasmai Shri Gurave Namaha,
   Russell Monsurate
   [...]
   North Vancouver BC Canada



3. These were the words Dhyanyogi often said. As an American MD trained and boarded in Internal Medicine, I see time and time again, diseases of the body which are borne from mental anguish and spiritual strain.
   
   Dhyanyogi's life is a true blessing to this world and a treasure trove of miracles which continue to happen, every day, if you speak to any of his followers.
   
   At the age of 9 years, I had the incredible fortune of Dhyanyogi living in my parent's house for about a week. We would arise early and he would teach us yoga and laugh and smile. The energy is INCREDIBLE!
   
   Countless times, as I read this book, I felt that same INCREDIBLE energy as palpable now as 25 years ago.
   
   I invite you to feel this and watch the spiritual healing, mental peace and physical improvement in your lives!!!



4. Beautiful stories about a beautiful saint whose love continues to flow freely to humanity on the subtle level. "This House Is On Fire" brings tears to my eyes ... the sweetness of Shri Dhyanyogi Madhusudandas shines from every page.



5. I can only think of two books that generated a feeling of power when I held them in my hands and This House Is On Fire is one of them. Fortunately for me I did not stop at osmosis but read this amazing book from cover to cover, and I'm reading it again.
   
   Shri Dhyanyogi's life is more than inspiring, his journey more than adventure. This House Is On Fire energizes the spirit and, for me, increases my desire for Self-realization. The world is a fortunate place to have had Shri Dhyanyogi in it, and this excellent and eminently readable book is a gift to those of us who did not have the opportunity to know Dhyanyogi-ji when he was in the body.
   
   If I were to give one gift to everyone I know, it would be a copy of This House Is On Fire!

No comments about In The Footsteps of Saint Nicholas.

2 comments about Faustina: Apostle of Divine Mercy.

1. This book is simply written for people of all ages to enjoy. This book shows the life of St. Faustina and devotion to the Divine Mercy in a very spirited way. A must read for any one interested in the lives of the Saints or the Divine Mercy.



2. This book is simply written for people of all ages to enjoy. This book shows the life of St. Faustina and devotion to the Divine Mercy in a very spirited way. A must read for any one interested in the lives of the Saints or the Divine Mercy.