After reading “The Cat of Bubastes”, we decided to try and organize our study of Europe by country – at least to some extent. We decided to let the first country be Scotland. That being the case, I immediately commenced reading a book series entitled the “Crown and Covenant Series” by Douglas Bond, to my sisters. I had bought it a year or two ago with money from my grandmother. The first book in the series was “Duncan’s War”.

Douglass Bond is a contemporary author living in Washington State (as far as I know). He lives with his wife and five children. He has traveled many times to Scotland and his books are the product of extensive research. Besides the Crown and Covenant series, he is also the author of the “Mr. Pipes” series for children.

“Duncan’s War” was published by P & R Publishing in 2002. The book is 35 chapters long and 270 pages. Besides the story, the book also contains “A Word About the Characters” (telling you who in the book was a real figure in history), a “Glossary of Scottish Terms” (this is really helpful) and a “Timeline of Scottish Covenanting History” in the back. “Duncan’s War is a part of a three book series. The other books include: “King’s Arrow” and “Rebels Keep”.

“Duncan’s War” centers around fourteen year old Duncan M’Kethe and his family who live in Scotland, near Dalry in 1666. Charles II of England has been oppressing the keepers of the Covenant, for six years. He has been trying to make the Scottish Christians to worship his way and to acknowledge him as head of the church. Those faithful to the covenant refuse to do so. They acknowledge King Charles as head of the commonwealth but King Jesus as head of the head of  the church – and they must now suffer the terrible consequences. The M’Kethe family are among those faithful to the covenant. While Sir James Turner, plunders the country ands begins taking the possessions and even the lives of the innocent under King Charles’ orders thereby provoking war, Duncan is fighting a battle of his own: he is trying to love his enemies when all he wants to do is hate them…

I enjoyed this book immensely! The M’Kethe family always try to view everything from such a biblical perspective – Duncan’s father especially is so godly and wise! I would very highly recommend this book!

To the KING be all the glory!

This summer our family is going through a study of Europe. It includes studying the land and history of the countries, making special European meals, watching some European movies and reading a lot of literature. The latter I am mostly reading aloud to my three sisters. (Joshua is often present but he just likes the rhythm of my voice so far I think! :) The first book we read was “The Cat of Bubastes – A Tale of Ancient Egypt” by G. A. Henty.

George Alfred Henty was an Englishman who lived from December 8, 1832 – November 16, 1902. He was a married man with children. Mr. Henty was the author of at least 144 books, many of which, if not all, are written to impart real history to the reader. His works include “In Freedom’s Cause”, “Beric the Briton” and “True to the Old Flag”. For reasons best known to himself, Mr. Henty chose to use his first initials and his last name for a pen name thus becoming known as “G. A. Henty”.

Blackie and Son, London originally published “The Cat of Bubastes” in 1888. The book I read was published more recently by Preston/Speed Publications is Pennsylvania. The entire book is 20 chapters in length. “The Cat of Bubastes – A Tale of Ancient Egypt” first centers on a lad of about fifteen years of age, a noble of the Rebu people, named Amuba. Tragic circumstances bring him into slavery in the ancient land of Egypt. There he encounters Chebron, a lad of about the same age as himself and the two become close friends. Mystery and intrigue slowly begin to surround the lads and their friends, when the plot suddenly thickens: Chebron accidentally kills the sacred animal of the “goddess” Baste called the Cat of Bubastes, thereby incurring the death penalty to himself and Amuba. Will they run away from Egypt or will they be executed? If they do run away, will the “gods” of Egypt be forever angry and unforgiving or is it true as the Israelite told them that there is only one true God and the “Cat of Bubastes” may not be so sacred after all?

I really enjoyed reading this book. It is very well written. My sisters enjoyed it as well. I found the historical content, relating to Egypt, to be very accurate and informative. “The Cat of Bubastes – A Tale of Ancient Egypt” is definitely on my list of “favorite books”.

I would very highly recommend this book.

To the KING be all the glory!

Several months ago I read The Lie: Evolution by Ken Ham. It had been on my book-wish list for a long time.

Ken Ham was born and raised in Australia. He was raised by parents who were devoutly Christian. Mr. Ham came to the United States of America in 1987. In 1993 he founded Answers in Genesis with Mike Zovath and Mark Looy under the name of "Creation Science Ministries. In 1994 the board of Creation Science Ministries changed the name to Answers in Genesis. Answers in Genesis is a ministry that seeks to show the reliability of the Bible from Genesis 1:1 to Revelations 21:21. He and his wife Mally have five children and four grandchildren.

The first printing of this book was in July of 1987. In January of 2006 the book had its 27th printing. The Lie: Evolution is published by Master Books. It contains 11 chapters along with 2 appendices.

The Lie: Evolution “deals with the relevance of a literal Genesis.” (Introduction, page 16) In the book Mr. Ham seeks to point out the many fallacies of the Evolutionary Theory. (Scientifically it is really a hypothesis!) Mr. Ham shows how a national belief in evolution has undermined our society. It has eaten away our foundations. The compromise of the church with evolution has been especially fatal. Instead of upholding Gods infallible word we (His church) have made people distrust the first chapters of Genesis. When that happened, people started to distrust the rest of God‘s Word. After all, if you cannot trust the beginning, how can you trust the end?

I really enjoyed the conversational style of this book. It is written as though Mr. Ham were just having a friendly chat with the reader.

This book is excellent and a real eye opener. I would very highly recommend it.

Rebekah ~ The Lord’s Daughter

Several months ago I read “The Lie: Evolution” by Ken Ham. It had been on my book-wish list for a long time.

Ken Ham was born and raised in Australia. He was raised by parents who were devoutly Christian. Mr. Ham came to the United States of America in 1987. In 1993 he founded Answers in Genesis with Mike Zovath and Mark Looy under the name of “Creation Science Ministries”. In 1994 the board of Creation Science Ministries changed the name to Answers in Genesis. Answers in Genesis is a ministry that seeks to show the reliability of the Bible from Genesis 1:1 to Revelations 21:21. He and his wife Mally have five children and four grandchildren.

The first printing of this book was in July of 1987. In January of 2006 the book had its 27th printing. The Lie: Evolution is published by Master Books. It contains 11 chapters along with 2 appendices.

The Lie: Evolution “deals with the relevance of a literal Genesis.” (Introduction, page 16) In the book Mr. Ham seeks to point out the many fallacies of the Evolutionary Theory. (Scientifically it is really a hypothesis!) Mr. Ham shows how a national belief in evolution has undermined our society. It has eaten away our foundations. The compromise of the church with evolution has been especially fatal. Instead of upholding Gods infallible word we (His church) have made people distrust the first chapters of Genesis. When that happened, people started to distrust the rest of God‘s Word. After all, if you cannot trust the beginning, how can you trust the end?

I really enjoyed the conversational style of this book. It is written as though Mr. Ham were just having a friendly chat with the reader.
This book is excellent and a real eye opener. I would very highly recommend it.

To the KING be all the glory!

I recently finished reading “The Sinking of the Titanic and Great Sea Disasters” for our study of England.

The real authors of this book are the survivors of the Titanic, but the book was edited by Logan Marshall.

The book was first published in 1912, just months after the Titanic sank. After a while the book went out of print. It is now published by Vision Forum. The book is divided into 29 chapters which are further divided into individually titled sections.

The Sinking of the Titanic and Great Sea Disasters is a detailed description of the building, launching, voyage and destruction of the R.M.S. Titanic. The book records many accounts of survivors both men and women. Individuals relate of the bravery portrayed by many, especially the men. The survivors told of clinging to any floating device that was available. One man relates his experience of going down into the water with the Titanic. He only survived because as the Titanic sank, it had three explosions. These explosions shot him back up to the surface. The relief of the survivors is also related when they at last saw and boarded the Carpathia, the only ship to pick up survivors. The joyous of reunions with family and friends are recounted. Also, touched upon are other great disaster’s at sea, that had occurred prior to the Titanic’s sailing.

My favorite part of the book was the account of the band playing their instruments to the end. The ship went down to the strains of “Autumn” or “Nearer my God to Thee”. The two hymns are similar it seems and it was not determined which was played. I was very much impressed by the account of a young lady of 25, a Miss Elizabeth Evans, who allowed another woman take to her place in a lifeboat because “Your need is greater than mine… You have children who need you and I have none.“ The girl died on the ship. I wondered if I would have the courage and trust in God to do the same. I also enjoyed the rather sad modern poem in the back of the book written by Mr. Douglas Phillips entitled “Women and Children First: In Memoriam to the Gallant Men of the Titanic”.

I would very highly recommend this book.

Rebekah ~ The Lord’s Daughter