ICON by Georgia Briggs Christian Book Review

ICON by George Briggs

ICON
Georgia Briggs, author
Chesterton IN: Ancient Faith Publishing, 2017
205 pages

ISBN: 978-1-944967-19-2
List price: 14.95
Formats: Paperback, E-book, Kindle, Nook and i-book.
LINK to Buy: Store.AncientFaith.com

A review by Mary Katherine May of QualityMusicandBooks.com.

Summary from the Book Cover
In a post-Christian America, where going to church, praying, or owning holy things means death, a twelve-year-old girl searches for the truth.  Finding it may cost her everything.

The Story
The End Times have begun and the year is 0000 ET.  Euphrosyne and her family live their lives in the Orthodox Christian tradition.  One horrible night everything changes for Euphrosyne when the Matthews' house is broken into and all but her are shot to death.  Even the family dog is killed. 

Christians are being murdered in the United States of America for their intolerance by enforcers of the new tolerant secular society.  When Euphrosyne is found, after being miraculously being saved from death by an icon of St. Nicholas while running for her life in the woods, her name is changed to Hillary and she is sent to live with her grandparents.  

In the End Times people are watched for any sign of not complying with tolerant rules.  There is a children's wing in the Department of Religious Tolerance where non-compliant juveniles are brought to be starved, tortured

ICON by Georgia Briggs
Store.AncientFaith.com

and brainwashed into right thought.  Euphrosyne prays the Jesus Prayer when like other children there she is left in complete darkness in a little glass-enclosed cell with a hole in the floor for a toilet.  Hillary, however, remains firm in her faith.

Thoughts of the Reviewer
This is a violent, scary book.  Written for young adults, I recommend to parents and leaders to exercise real caution when recommending and having young people read it.  

ICON has the potential putting fear in the minds and hearts of readers who do not believe that ultimately good will triumph. 

In a good sense, it may encourage readers to stand firm in their faith as Euphrosyne did, believe their relationship with Jesus Christ is worth the cost.

Lastly, there is a plausible correlation between this story and the attitudes and behaviors of many who are being are driven by evil forces to hate Christianity and do whatever it takes to turn the God of Love into a tyrant to be destroyed and removed from American society.

Orthodox Christians do not teach or promote what is called the Rapture.  Here is an End Times book from the Eastern Orthodox perspective.  Icon is a fast read.  Unless the reader intends to share the book and/or doesn't mind reading from the computer I recommend buying the e-book. 

The Prayer of Protection Joseph Prince Christian Book Review

The Prayer of Protection
by Joseph Prince

The Prayer of Protection

Living Fearlessly in Dangerous Times

Joseph Prince, author

Nashville: FaithWords (Hachette Book Group)
List price: $14.99 (paperback)

Formats: Paperback, Kindle
Also available: Prayer of Protection Study Guide and Prayer of Protection Devotional.

Release date: September 12, 2017

208 pages

ISBN: 978-1-4555-6913-7

Amazon.com ranking (as of Oct. 2, 2017): 54,211

A book review by Mary Katherine May of QualityMusicandBooks.com

Goal: Purpose of Book

What did Joseph Prince want to accomplish by writing The Prayer of Protection?  

     The book cover states:

The Prayer of Protection
Joseph Prince, Author

Discover a God of love who has an impenetrable shield that covers everything that concerns you.  Through a compelling study of Psalm 91, you will learn truths that will cause your heart to burn within you as you discover just how completely loved and protected you are by your loving Savior. Be encouraged as you learn how you and your family can:

> Find refuge and safety in the secret place of the 

   Most High God.

> Be found at the right place at the right time far from 

   danger.

> Activate God’s mighty angels to watch over you and 

   your loved ones.

> Go on the offense against the enemy with the 

   Sword of the Spirit.

> Walk in God’s wisdom to stay safe and experience 

   his promise of preservation and long life.

Content: What Author Writes

Through commentary on Psalm 91 and first-hand examples taken from letters he has received, Joseph Prince explains in detail and through implication how the reader by claiming God’s protection by praying over people and themselves can be saved from violent acts of others, natural disasters, terminal and debilitating illness, and mental distress.  That is, God protects those who pray and meditate on Psalm 91.  Prince claims this is no magic device but rather a reward for claiming God’s promises.

The Reviewer’s Final Remarks

     I believe in claiming and naming Jesus Christ, Savior and Lord, in combating forces of evil in life, and I believe that doing this has great power in the spiritual realm. I also believe that sometimes God will enter into a Christian's life and heal or keep them out of harm's way, but reality shows us that this is often not what happens.  There is ample room to disagree, however, with... 

   (1) placing all responsibility for protection on what a person does to activate spiritual power; and, 

   (2) claiming that physical healing, long life, and being saved from physical harm is there for the taking by using biblical text. 

If this were true, there would be a plethora of people flocking to live the Christian life and most certainly there would be no martyrs who gave their lives rather than denounce their Savior, Jesus Christ. 

   Lastly, (3) what happens to some, but not all, believers who put their faith in this protective text when it fails? Answer: They are disillusioned, or they work and try even harder to be a good Christian, and that is completely off the mark on what being a Christian is all about.