The Advent Season

This year our church is advocating the celebration of Advent. I’ve always been curious about the season of Advent, but never paid much attention to it since it wasn’t something my family had ever participated in. The strange coincidence is that I have been researching Advent for the book I’m currently writing. So this year it is my plan to participate in the Advent season with my family.

Advent literally means, “coming,” or “initiation,” or “arrival.” The purpose of Advent is to prepare for the Second Coming of Christ while celebrating His first appearance on earth at Christmastime.

The fourth Sunday before Christmas, or the Sunday closest to November 30, is the first day of Advent. The celebration consists of the following activities, reading of scriptures, prayer, singing of Christmas carols and lighting of candle(s). How is Advent celebrated? The first thing to do is to gather the needed supplies.

The Advent wreath is used nowadays to hold the five candles that will be lit each week. The wreath is usually round with four candle holders around the edge in the shape of a cross with one single candle holder in the middle of the four outer candles. The wreath has special significance as to its shape, etc, but not feeling crafty at this particular point in time I don’t plan on making a wreath. Instead I am collecting five candle holders from around my house and arranging them in a circle (unless, of course, I find one on clearance at the craft store) I’m sure Jesus won’t mind.

The five candles are significant as well with three purple, one pink and one white representing Christ. The three purple candles that will be lit on the first, second and fourth weeks represent Christ’s royalty. The pink candle represents God’s love in giving His only begotten Son. The white candle represents the purity of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Over the next few weeks I will write about how each week of Advent is celebrated. So for now, take this time to gather your supplies and if you desire to make an Advent wreath you can Google the instructions. Remember…the first Sunday of Advent this year is on November, 27, 2011 so get ready!!

Thanksgiving Writing Project For Kids

The coming week brings my favorite day of the holiday season…Thanksgiving! I consider myself an extremely thankful person. Why? Because I know what it’s like to be a sinner saved by grace and I know that someone had to die to save me from my sins. Who died? Jesus died; and for that I am thankful.


For many years as I decorate for the Thanksgiving holiday, I display a piece of writing in my kitchen that was done by my daughter when she was in the second (?) grade. (My daughter, by the way, is turning 19 this month. Happy birthday Casey!) I love the writing so much because it’s a treasured memory of course, but also because she has a special way with words. Here is what she wrote:

So many of us stay-at-home moms will have our children home from school this entire next week. What on earth can I do to keep the little darlings busy? Why not have them do this simple and easy writing exercise! Here’s what you do. Think of a topic and that will be the title of the work; such as autumn, Thanksgiving, Christmas…let them be creative. Then have them write what they think about, concerning that topic, using the five senses; sight, smell, touch, taste, sound. Let them decorate their work and viola, you have a memorable keepsake and you’ve given the kids a writing lesson all at the same time…easy as pumpkin pie!

I can’t wait to do this exercise with my youngest son. If you have a chance to do this with your own children I would love for you to share their work in the comments section!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! “Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.” Psalm 118:1

MEET THE CHRISTIAN AUTHORS 2011

The Chair

Christian Author, James L. Rubart’s third release has earned him kind words from heavy hitters in the Christian writing world such as, Tracie Peterson, best-selling author of the Striking a Match series, Bill Myers, best-selling author of Eli and The God Hater, and even Terri Blackstock!  Here’s what the back cover copy says about the book.

If you were given an ancient-looking chair and told Jesus Christ made it, would you believe it? When an elderly lady shows up in Corin Roscoe’s antiques store and gives him a chair she claims was built by Christ he scoffs. But when a young boy is miraculously healed after sitting in the chair, he stops laughing and starts to wonder: Could this chair heal the person whose life I destroyed twelve years ago?

As word spreads of the boy’s healing, a mega-church pastor is determined to manipulate Corin into turning over the chair. But the mysterious woman who gave him the piece insinuates it is Corin’s destiny to guard the chair above everything else. Buy who? Desperate, he turns to the one person he can trust, a college history professor who knows more about he legend of the chair than he reveals.

Searching for truth about the artifact and the unexplained phenomena surrounding it, Corin soon realizes he isn’t the only one willing to do almost anything to possess the power that seems to surround the chair.

Sounds interesting doesn’t it? Well believe me when I say that it is! Rubart hits another homerun with his most recent installment entitled, The Chair. Having loved Rubart’s first two books, Rooms and Book of Days, I highly recommend this book as well.  Happy reading!

Summer Dream By Martha Rogers

Book one in the Seasons of the Heart series is set in Briar Ridge, Connecticut in 1888 the year of what historians call “The White Hurricane.” Summer Dream tells the story of Rachel Winston, the daughter of a small town minister. Rachel believes her only hope of finding a husband depends on a trip to visit her aunt in Boston. Before she has a chance to leave, Nathan Reed, a young lawyer comes to town. There is an instant attraction between Rachel and Nathan until he finds out that her father is a minister. Nathan wants nothing to do with any woman who is a Christian because of a terrible experience in his past. When Nathan finds himself caught in the blizzard he turns his life over to God and vows to take care of his past and plan for his future.

Mrs. Rogers hits another homerun with the maiden offering in this series. The glimpse into 1880s Boston social society alone makes this a must read. But the history portrayed concerning the blizzard of 1888 is what really kept me interested. I have to admit though, the sweet innocence of the main character and her best friend was a true delight. I wanted them to be friends with my own daughter who is of their age.

Summer Dream really hits home when Rachel Winston continues to pray for the man she truly loves and never gives up on him even when it seems hopeless. It’s a good lesson for all of us who have situations or people they are praying for where there seems to be no good solution. But the Bible says “nothing is impossible with God.”

Thank you Mrs. Rogers for once again managing to hook me on another of your heartwarming romance series. Suppose I’ll have to keep my eye out for the next offering in the series, Autumn Song, releasing in October 2011!

Cowboys And Aliens…I think so!

How on earth did this great summer movie receive an average rating of 3 out of 5 stars? Here’s a short blurb describing the movie.

“1873. Arizona Territory. A stranger with no memory of his past stumbles into the hard desert town of Absolution.The only hint to his history is a mysterious shackle that encircles one wrist. What he discovers is that the people of Absolution don't welcome strangers, and nobody makes a move on its streets unless ordered to do so by the iron-fisted Colonel Dolarhyde. It's a town that lives in fear. But Absolution is about to experience fear it can scarcely comprehend as the desolate city is attacked by marauders from the sky. Now, the stranger they rejected is their only hope for salvation. United against a common enemy, they will prepare for an epic showdown for survival.”

One prominent reviewer wrote, “Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford’s steampunk western piles cliché upon cliché—and just ends up being irritating.”

I don’t know what kind of person this reviewer is, cough, cough…old, grizzled dude, who hasn’t found pleasure in any movie since “Yentl” or perhaps “Burlesque” cough, cough. But seriously, I can’t imagine the person wouldn’t like a movie that offers the aspects of a great western, a great sci-fi thriller and acting genius out the wazoo?

Actors…ever heard of a couple guys by the names of Daniel Craig or Harrison Ford? Thought you might have. And one of my all-time favorites, Clancy Brown! What…don’t know who Clancy Brown is? You don’t know the name of the actor who played perhaps the most barbaric nemesis in cinematic history…the Kurgan…from the original Highlander movie staring Christopher Lambert? Well perhaps you might know him as the voice of Mr. Krabs from the SpongeBob SquarePants series.

Kind of have to hand to Jon Favreou who insisted that westerns should only be shot on film and not in 3d. Love 3d films—hate wearing the glasses over my specs.

Overall I give the movie three thumbs up, or 10 out of 5 stars! Okay, I gotta admit there are a few bad words said, but you need to go see this movie. You won’t regret it!

I Can Only Imagine…

I’ve always been in awe of my two younger children’s imaginations. I sometimes think they weren’t too impressed by the world they were born into and therefore proceeded to create their own imaginary world. We never worried about entertaining them. There was plenty going on in their own minds to entertain the masses.

My daughter for instance decided around age four that any four inanimate objects were a ‘family’. Waiting for food at a fancy restaurant…no problem, salt shaker…mommy, pepper…daddy, fork, spoon…you’re the kids. And viola, she was entertained for hours.

My son, on the other hand, has his own brand of imagination. He doesn’t need common table items to keep himself entertained. All he needs is players for the ‘game’ going on in his mind. At any hour of the day I might find myself on a spy mission in some remote part of the world wielding an imaginary gun that shoots plasma beams. If the boy could learn how to put his imagination into a video game he’d be a millionaire.

I’ve often wondered how they come up with these ideas. Then I thought about my own childhood. Mother bought my brother and me a box of modeling clay and shortly thereafter, the “Flunkies” were born. Flunkies were bean-shaped clay figures that decided they would form a rock and roll band, complete with guitars, microphones, drums, amps, the whole works. Then there was the “Funky-Four” a group of four kids whose mission was to protect Devil’s Island from the kids down the street. Devil’s Island was a heavily wooded lot across the street from our house. My best friend from next door and I created duct tape purses long before they became hip. Barbie and GI Joe got dumped in the closet…imagination was king!

I would like to think that my love of imagination sparked my interest in writing fiction. Imagination is the forerunner to invention…creation. And that leads me to believe that our God must have an outrageous imagination!

Yes, imagination, like a mind, is a terrible thing to waste. So go out and buy a box of modeling clay and exercise your imagination. You might be surprised at what you come up with.

Picture provided by Paul M. McRae - 2010 Houston Art Car Parade

1992 The Year In Review

President George H.W. Bush is defeated by Governor Bill Clinton

Hurricane Andrew becomes the costliest natural disaster in US history.

Jay Leno replaces Johnny Carson on the Tonight Show.

Washington Redskins defeat Buffalo in the Superbowl

Cost of a first class stamp is twenty-nine cents

Toronto Blue Jays defeat Atlanta Braves in the World Series

The top grossing film is Aladdin

The Space Shuttle Endeavour takes her maiden voyage

Sinead O’Connor destroys a picture of the Pope on Saturday Night Live

Prince Charles and Princess Diana publicly announce their separation

Deaths of some prominent people in 92:

Alex Haley

Isaac Asimov

Marlene Dietrich

Lawrence Welk

Sterling Holloway

Roy Acuff

Most importantly, many from the graduating class of 2011 were born!

Congratulations Casey O’Hare, Graduate Extraordinaire!

Nevermind!!

EMILY: What’s all this I hear about baby seals killing Osama Bin Laden?


Well I say it’s about time! For years I’ve heard about the senseless killing of baby seals. You’ve seen the pictures. Poor little things, laying on the ice, minding their own business when some crazy lummox decides to club them to death for their fur coats. Well now the tables have turned and the seals are fighting back!

From this day forward, Osama Bin Laden will never club another poor baby seal to death! And furthermore…

ANCHOR: Miss Litella, I’m afraid you didn’t hear the story correctly.

EMILY: What?

ANCHOR: Yes, well the story says that Navy Seals killed Osama Bin Laden, not baby seals.

EMILY: So it was Navy Seals that killed Bin Laden and not baby seals?

ANCHOR: That’s right.

EMILY: Ohhhhhh well that’s different.

NEVERMIND!

Houston We Have A Problem!

Houston, Texas was snubbed for one of the four retired space shuttles…really? Are we to believe that the home of mission control; the place that first heard the words “one giant leap for mankind”; the place many astronauts have made their home will not receive an orbiter?

The city of Houston is deeply rooted in the institution that is the space program. Anyone ever heard of the Astrodome; the eighth wonder of the world? Houston even named their sports teams in accordance with the space program…the Astros, the Rockets, the Comets. One of the nicknames for our town is Space City! Not to mention we are the home of the NASA - Johnson Space Center which houses mission control and the astronaut training facility and Space Center Houston.

City of Houston mayor, Annise Parker was quoted as saying, “This is certainly disappointing, but not entirely unexpected as the Administration has been hinting that Houston would not be a winner in this political competition. I am disappointed for Houston, the JSC family and the survivors of the Columbia and Challenger missions who paid the ultimate price for the advancement of space exploration. There was no other city with our history of human space flight or more deserving of a retiring orbiter. It is unfortunate that political calculations have prevailed in the final decision."

The Administration Ms. Parker refers to are currently residing in Washington, DC, which brings up another interesting point. The number one criteria for receiving an orbiter was that the city must have significant ties to the space program. Houston and Florida should have been tied in that category. I’m not the only one who finds it funny that the other three states receiving shuttles are “blue” states…apparently Ms. Parker does too. Why President O…you knew there was no way you would ever win Texas so you decided to screw Houston? Hmmm

The biggest crusher of all is that New York City is the recipient of one of the orbiters. A city that has absolutely NO ties to the space program whatsoever.

Representative Jason Chaffetz of Utah has introduced the bill “Space Shuttle Retirement Act” of 2011. The bill orders that the shuttles be sent to Florida, California, Washington…and Houston. In response to Rep. Chaffetz bill, Senator Charles Shumer, Dem., New York said, “I say to the people in Houston: When people all around the world - in London and Tokyo and Paris and Buenos Aires - say 'Gee I can't wait for my trip to Houston,' then (they) can have a shuttle. Until then, it's staying in New York because New York is where it belongs." Shumer went on to bastardize a famous Texas saying, coining the term, “Don’t mess with New York.”

You know who can’t wait for their trip to Houston, the 160,000 patients that visit the Texas Medical Center from all over the world every single day, that’s who. Mr. Shumer probably isn’t familiar with the largest medical facility in the world. In his eyes we probably all ride horses and raise cattle. Another group of people that can’t wait for their trip to Houston are the ones looking for jobs. I assume Mr. Shumer also doesn’t know that Houston is the oil capital of the world. And who else would love to see that space shuttle in it’s real home of Houston, Texas, the more than four million people who live here!

The saddest thing of all is the slap in the face this decision gives to the widows and widowers of the Challenger and Columbia disasters. Here’s what they had to say about it.

We are heartbroken to learn of the decision that the Space Shuttle will not be allowed to return home to Houston. Home is where the heart is, and Houston has served as the heart of the space shuttle program since its inception nearly four decades ago. All the astronauts lost were Houston's residents. We again share a collective loss as a result of the political decision to send the space shuttle elsewhere. We had prayed that the incredible sacrifices this community has endured would have allowed the shuttle's legacy to continue here. Although we disagree with this decision, we will persevere in our support of space exploration, just as we have done in the past.

Evelyn Husband Thompson
Jonathan Clark
Sandy Anderson
Lorna Onizuka
Cheryl McNair

On Houston being snubbed on receiving an orbiter, Apollo astronaut, Gene Cernan said it is an example of "politics over history."

New York, you definitely have a problem.

Interview With Annette O’Hare

Today we will be interviewing an up and coming author who I know you will want to read, well as soon as she’s published that is! Her name is Annette O’Hare. Annette hail’s from Deep South Texas, just north of Houston.

Interviewer: So tell me Annette, what are you working on right now?

Annette: Oh, so glad you asked! I’m currently working on a historical romance novel set during the Civil War.

Interviewer: Can you tell us a little bit about the book?

Annette: Of course. Main character, Margaret Logan’s fiancé is killed in the war. And to add to her misery she’s been uprooted from the magnificent city of New Orleans and moved to desolate Bolivar Point, Texas. Her father, a lighthouse keeper, is re-commissioned to man the Bolivar light only to find upon their arrival that the lighthouse has been completely dismantled because of the war.

Interviewer: Interesting. So where does the real conflict come in?

Annette: Well, the action starts when Margaret comes across a severely wounded Union soldier washed up at the bay. Because her fiancé died at the hands of the North, Margaret instantly hates this man. Much to her surprise, her parents insist on bringing him to their home to nurse him back to health.

Interviewer: Sounds Interesting! Did the book require much research?

Annette: Most people have no idea how much work goes into researching a historical novel. Fortunately I really love this part of the novel writing experience. I happen to have a connection to the lighthouse at Bolivar Point, a real place that’s featured in the book. You see, my great aunt was married to the man who bought the lighthouse at auction in 1947. One of the two houses adjacent to the lighthouse bears the name “Maxwell” which is my grandmother’s maiden name. I understand that a Maxwell currently lives in the house with his young wife. I would love to meet them.

Interviewer: Wow! That would be wonderful.

Annette: Yes, especially if I could hand them a signed copy of my book! Hi I’m your cousin. We’ve never met, but I would like to give you a copy of the novel I wrote about this lighthouse.

Interviewer: Hilarious! Well, Annette I’ve enjoyed our interview and thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to talk with me.

Annette:  And I thank you. I hope we can talk again soon so I can tell the readers about another book I have in the works for young adult readers called Puppy Ciao!

24 Hours On The Monitor



Murphy’s Law: Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong.

“Mrs. O’Hare, I need you to wear a heart monitor, get a heart echo and undergo a stress test. Just as a precaution of course.”

Completely ignoring his last two recommendations I consider what he’d said. A heart monitor, that doesn’t sound so bad. “Okay, where do I get one?”

“Just go up front and the nurse will take care of everything.”

“Thank you doctor.” I approach the checkout desk where I’m unacknowledged. “Excuse me, I’m Mrs. O’Hare and I need to pick up my heart monitor.”

The nurse looks down her long pointed nose through half glasses at her computer, then at me and then back at the computer. “Let me see here. Mrs. O’Hare, yes…well it seems we just gave away the last monitor a few minutes ago. We can schedule you to come in and pick one up on Monday.”

“But it’s Wednesday! Don’t you have one coming in tomorrow, or even Friday?” Pointy nose glares at me over the half glasses and sets my appointment for Monday morning.

Monday morning rolls around and I shower before leaving to pick up the monitor. The phone rings. “Hello, Mrs. O’Hare, this is *Tina from *Dr. Spock’s office. I’m sorry, but we accidentally gave the last monitor away this morning.”

“What? I’ve been waiting since last Wednesday! Why wasn’t one set aside for me?”

“Like I said, I’m very sorry and there is no excuse. I can get you in tomorrow at 2:00.”

I was beginning to wonder if this was the stress test the doctor mentioned. The next day I was fitted with the monitor and told to push a button whenever I had any symptoms and record it on the journal I was given. Oh and by the way Tina, thanks for leaving the lead wires in a bird’s nest knot. I’ve always wanted to look like I have an alien under my shirt!

It annoyed me that I had to park at least three-quarter miles away from the doctor’s office, but it never occurred to me that I would be walking back the distance wearing a heart monitor. The jog back to my car left me huffing and puffing and my heart racing a bit. I push the button and record it in the journal.

Arriving home I let Max the beast-dog out to play. His new favorite toy is an old chewed up Frisbee. His favorite game to play with the Frisbee is to put it in the flowerbed upside down and then dig it out. I went outside to check on him to find that he’d dug up the entire bed…onto the front porch. As I swept away the loads of soil from my front stoop let’s just say I had another cardiac episode. I push the button and record it in the journal.

Later that day I picked my son up from school…all is good…nothing to push or record. Until, that is, we decided to go outside and enjoy the gorgeous southeast Texas weather we’ve been blessed with over the past few weeks. As the kids and I stroll around to the backyard, Max the beast-dog hones in on a small woodland creature with the gall to traipse into his yard. Like a round shot from a small caliber weapon, Max takes out after the trespasser. Halfway to his destination, Max falls to the ground and yelps as if he’s suffered a mortal wound. My son would later liken it to the sound of an elk during the rut. As a result my daughter and I take off in a full out run to check on the smallest member of the family. My mind goes straight to a compound fracture and my heart goes into another cardiac episode. I push the button and record it in the journal.

Did I mention my husband has been out of town for two weeks and my two children have taken up residence in my bedroom? Later that night, while sleeping with my daughter in my bed and my son on the floor at the foot of the bed, I find myself with no covers, hmmm. The chills set in as the subsequent nightmares ensue. I don’t quite remember the dream, but it had something to do with a dog and two children holding the strings of a redheaded, middle-aged marionette. I woke up shivering, my heart racing and pounding out of my chest. I push the button and record it in the journal.

At six o’clock…a.m. my daughter woke me to say that we didn’t have any water. I had forgotten to turn on the pump. When we run out of water the pipes start gurgling and burgling until they fill back up with water. After my daughter’s shower I went into the bathroom to get cleaned up. I turned to get a towel from the cabinet when the toilet decided to BURP, sending water flying through the air. I have to admit my heart jumped inside my throat. I pushed the button…but I refuse to record in the journal that my toilet scared me so bad that I had a cardiac episode!

And that concluded my 24 hours on the monitor. I can hardly wait to see how the stress test goes!

*Names changed to protect the innocent

A Letter To A Friend

My Dear Friend,

I don’t know why it sometimes takes a tragedy to express what needs to be said. But unfortunately that’s the way it is. What hampers us from conveying the most important thing anyone ever needs to hear? Are we selfish? Is it such a hard subject to share? So what is our excuse? There is none…so here goes.

The truth is, my friend, you’re dying and quickly on your way to hell. Not because of the terrible thing that has crept into your life, but because everyone who lives is at some stage of death. I’m dying, you’re dying, we are all dying and there’s nothing we can do about it.

Yes, death is inevitable. But does a soul really die? No, a soul continues to live throughout all eternity. The question is…where will your soul spend eternity, heaven or hell? Is the choice really that hard?

So you think you’re already going to heaven. What if you died today and met God face to face and He asked you, “Why should I let you into my heaven?” What would your answer be? I’m a good person. I help people. I go to church and I don’t really sin that much.

A recent survey shows over 94 percent of people believe in God and 89 percent of people believe in heaven, and 75 percent of those people think they will get to heaven. Few people, however, actually know how to get to heaven.

How do I get to heaven, you ask? Well I’m glad you asked, my friend, because I’m going to show you what the Bible says. It’s all a matter of FAITH. Each letter in the word FAITH stands for a different word.

F is for FORGIVENESS – Everyone needs God’s forgiveness. Why?

Romans 3:23 says “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

We must realize that we are sinners and that we need forgiveness. We aren’t worthy of God’s grace.

A is for AVAILABLE – God’s forgiveness is available for all. How?

John 3:16 says “God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.”

Yes, God’s forgiveness is available to all, but it’s not automatic. Why?

Matthew 7:21 says “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord!’ will enter the kingdom of heaven.”  So why isn’t forgiveness automatic?

I is for IMPOSSIBLE – The Bible says it is impossible to get to heaven on our own. Why?

Ephesians 2:8 says “By GRACE you are saved through FAITH, and this is not from yourselves; it is the (free) GIFT from God.” So how can a sinful person have eternal life and enter heaven?

T is for TURN – Turn means to repent-change directions. Turn away from what; sin and self. Why?

Luke 13:3 says “Unless you repent, you will all perish as well!”

So when you turn AWAY from sin and self, you must turn TO Jesus Christ.

John 14:6 Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” So…how do we do this thing?

Romans 10:9-10 says “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. With the heart one believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth one confesses, resulting in salvation.”

What happens if a person repents of their sins and confesses Jesus Christ?

H is for HEAVEN – A place where we can live forever with God. How?

John 14:3 Jesus says “If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come back and receive you to Myself, so that where I am you can be also.” Eternal life begins with Jesus.

How can this be possible? How can I have God’s forgiveness, eternal life, and go to heaven? It starts with a simple prayer like this one.

Father, I know that I’m a sinner and that my sins have separated me from You. I ask You to forgive me of my sins. I want to turn away from my past life and turn toward You. Please help me to avoid sinning again. I believe that Your Son, Jesus Christ died for my sins, was raised from the dead, is alive and hears my prayer. I invite Jesus to become the Lord of my life from this day forward. Please send your Holy Spirit to help me to obey You. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Friend, if you do this easy thing you can have assurance of an abundant life here on earth with Jesus in charge of your life and the guarantee that you have a place saved for you in heaven. If you prayed the prayer, then welcome, you are a new member of Christ’s family. Then go tell somebody about it. They will be happy you did. I know I am.

Your friend,

Annette O’Hare

Rooms by James L. Rubart

Author, James L. Rubart weaves a tale of self-discovery and reconnection with God in his best selling novel, Rooms. Here’s how Rubart introduces the book on his website.

On a rainy spring day in Seattle, young software tycoon Micah Taylor receives a cryptic, twenty-five-year-old letter from a great uncle he never knew. It claims a home awaits him on the Oregon coast that will turn his world inside out.

Suspecting a prank, Micah arrives at Cannon Beach to discover a stunning brand new nine-thousand square foot house. And after meeting Sarah Sabin at a nearby ice cream shop, he has two reasons to visit the beach every weekend.

When bizarre things start happening in the rooms of the home, Micah suspects they have some connection to his enigmatic new friend, Rick, the town mechanic. But Rick will only say the house is spiritual. This unnerves Micah because his faith slipped away like
the tide years ago, and he wants to keep it that way.

But as he slowly discovers, the home isn't just spiritual, it's a physical manifestation of his soul, which God uses to heal Micah's darkest wounds and lead him into an astonishing new destiny.

I first heard about Rooms from my mother-in-law who downloaded a free copy of the book on her Kindle. She raved about it so much that I decided it would be my first purchase when I received by nookcolor for Christmas. I had high expectations for the book and I was pleasantly surprised.

Rooms’ cover reminded me of another book I’d read, House by Ted Deckker and Frank Peretti. I admit I was afraid Rubart’s book would be a creepy House clone, but thankfully it was nothing like it. If you couldn’t tell I was extremely creped out by House and felt a little like I needed therapy after I read it. Just kidding, but it was creepy!

I highly recommend you download a copy of Rooms to your Kindle, nook or iPad…you won’t regret it. Or if you have not been blessed with an e-reader then get in your car, burn some fossil fuel and kill a couple trees so you can purchase a hardcopy of the book—at a distinctly higher price I might add. You won’t be sorry you did. By the way…just kidding about the tree-hugger shtick.