Why I left out the Apocrypha

I was recently asked why I did not include the 7 books of the Apocrypha in the study of Hebrew Letters as they relate to the books in the Bible. 

Here's my answer:

Those 7 books, generally called the Apocrypha, were added by the Roman Catholic Church at the Council of Trent (1545–1563). The fact that they were added at such a relatively recent date when Scripture clearly says not to add to it (Deuteronomy 4:2, 12:32, Proverbs 30: 5,6, Revelation 22:18) is troubling. But now including the 7 books has become a tradition in the Catholic Church—a tradition of men, to which Jesus said in Mark 7: “You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men. …Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that.” (New International Version)

Brain Power Puzzles 4 - Full of Fun Mind-stretching Entertainment

BRAIN POWER PUZZLES volume 4

Volume 4 in my series of family activity puzzle books.

Entertain yourself and power up your brain while solving a variety of easy, moderate, and difficult puzzles.

Each book is filled with a variety of puzzles. 

Volume 4 includes 

● Word Searches

● Anagrams

● Zig Zag Puzzles

● Word Pyramid Puzzles

● Math Puzzles

● Rullo & Calcudoku

● Musical Puzzles

● Cryptograms

● Mazes

● Word Play

● Math and Word Sudoku Squares

● Matching

● Trivia

● Boggle Boards

● Daisy Puzzles

● Tic Tac Toe

● Dots & Boxes

●Double Anagrams

● Word Ladders

● Hidden Word Puzzles

● and more

A Gender-Swapped Retelling of OTHELLO? Yes!

Several teenagers’ lives intertwine during one eventful week full of love, betrayal and murder in this futuristic, gender-swapped retelling of Shakespeare’s Othello. 

Olivia Moore leads one of the federal government’s youth hit-squads in the second half of the twenty-first century. After she secretly marries a Senator’s son, a mutinous offense in the year 2063, she’s sent to Los Angeles on a delicate assassination mission. Several states are seceding from the Union and California is next unless she can eliminate certain people. She takes along her multifarious teen team of cat-fighting, boyfriend-stealing girls and a couple of immigrant-chasing guys. 

Her rich, hot new husband, Devon (an innocent male version of Desdemona) tags along, but is fair game for a retaliation plot orchestrated by Cat (Iago with a Latina attitude). Olivia succumbs to Cat’s constant insinuations about Devon’s infidelity and hardens her heart to the truth. 

Will tragedy result as it did in Shakespeare’s plot? You'll have to read it to see. Available in paperback and Kindle.

A Third Puzzle Book with a Spectacular Variety of Entertainment

Entertain yourself and power up your brain while solving a variety of easy, moderate, and difficult puzzles. This is the 3rd in the series.

These activity books include a mix of the following:
● Word Searches
● Anagrams
● Zig Zag Puzzles
● Word Fit Puzzles
● Hidden Words
● Sudoku
● Math, Word, or Letter Sudoku Squares
● Riddles & Jokes
● Mazes
● Boggle Boards
● Daisy Puzzles
● Neuronyms
● Trivia
● Coloring pages
● Tic Tac Toe
● Dots & Boxes
● Scavenger Hunt● Pictograms
●Cryptograms
●Daisy Puzzles
●Secret Math Trails
●and more

 Great for travel fun. Take them to the beach. Keep one in your bag. Set one by the commode. Leave one on the nightstand. Put one in the car. There’s something to satisfy everyone in the family.

Brain Power Puzzles, only on Amazon.
Volume 1 $13.99
Volume 2 $13.99
​Volume 3 $9.99

What Do You Really Know about Angels?

ILLEGAL ALIENS: Angels All Around

This is a short read and well worth the time if you want to understand all about angels (and demons,too). The author has more than 40 years experience has a pastor and has written several other wonderful works. Here's the blurb from Amazon.

The purpose of THE CLEAR TRUTH series is to give a better understanding of the Bible’s teaching on subjects of great concern and current interest. In ILLEGAL ALIENS; ANGELS ALL AROUND the author gives the Biblical answers to dozens of questions about angels. Among them

What kinds of angels are there?

Do people turn into angels in heaven?     

What are the differences between angels and humans?

Are fallen angels demons?

Can a Christian be possessed by a demon?

Kindle Edition $3.99

Paperback $6.99

Brain Power Puzzles Activity Book - Volume 2!

Volume 2 of the Brain Power Puzzle series. Entertain yourself and power up your brain while solving a variety of easy, moderate, and difficult puzzles. 

This activity book includes 
● Word Searches
● Anagrams
● Word Fit Puzzles
● Hidden Words
● Sudoku
● Math, Word, or Letter Sudoku Squares
● Word Play
● Mazes
● Boggle Boards
● Word Fit Puzzles
● Matching
● Scrambled Words
● Coloring pages
● Tic Tac Toe
● Dots & Boxes
● and more.

Created by an educator and author this book will satisfy young and old. Work alone or play with a friend. Two player puzzles included. Great for travel fun. Take it to the beach. Keep it in your bag. Set it by the commode. Leave it on the nightstand. There’s something to satisfy everyone in the family.
Click here to view on Amazon.

Brain Power Puzzles

BRAIN POWER PUZZLES on Amazon

I am hooked on all kinds of games and puzzles. Learned some new ones in this book. I'd never heard of Daisy Puzzles before. Here's a list from the table of contents of what you'll find in this activity book. They're for all ages.

 ● Word Searches● Anagrams● Zig Zag Puzzles● Word Fit Puzzles● Hidden Words● Sudoku● Math, Word, or Letter Sudoku Squares● Riddles & Jokes● Mazes● Boggle Boards● Daisy Puzzles● Neuronyms● Trivia● Coloring pages● Tic Tac Toe● Dots & Boxes● Scavenger Hunt

It's over 200 pages and only $13.99. Great for trips, hospital stays, at the beach, de-stressing time, etc.

A Very Quick Survey of the Bible

Here’s a simple Bible 101 course: 

There are 66 books in the Bible; the Bible is comprised of 39 books in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament. 

The Old Testament books tell of mankind going back and forth between worshiping/obeying God and then turning away from Him and being idolatrous/immoral. 

Man’s behavior requires judgment. 

Throughout these books God’s plan unfolds.

300 Plus Teacher Hacks and Tips - new release - $7.25 on Kindle

300 Plus Teacher Hacks and Tips

This amazing compilation of advice, tips, hacks, and resources is the perfect gift for any teacher or soon-to-be teacher. The list of sites alone is worth the price. Buy it in paperback, too, but the Kindle version really is more useful as teachers can pull it up on phone, computer, or tablet and have it handy at all times. Click on the technology hacks. Check out the dollar store finds. Read what veteran teachers do for lessons, discipline, classroom management, organization and more.

Curated from hundreds of teachers, websites, and educational forums, only the most useful and tried-and-true tips are included. Over 300!

If you buy the Paperback for $9.99, you can download the digital copy for $2.99.

The better deal is the Kindle copy for $7.25.

EXODIA and OUT OF EXODIA now released as boxed set on Kindle

Both books now available as THE EXODIA LEDGERS 

$4.99

Based loosely on the ancient story of Moses, this two book dystopian journey (EXODIA and OUT OF EXODIA) crosses genres, combining young adult, new adult, sci-fi, magical realism, and speculative fiction for an adventure full of symbolism, hidden codes, and thematic imagery.

By 2093 American life is a strange mix of failing technologies, psychic predictions, and radiation induced abilities. Tattoos are mandatory to differentiate two classes, privileged and slave.

Dalton Battista fears that his fading tattoo is a deadly omen. He's either the heir of the brutal tyrant of the new capital city, Exodia or he's its prophesied redeemer. Shy, handsome, smart and in possession of powers he doesn't yet realize, he escapes an order for his execution by fleeing the city with the help of Lydia, who quickly captures his heart. But can he escape a destiny that will force him to marry another girl and return to Exodia as its liberator?

is 

THE TIME BENDER series is now sold as a Kindle box set of 4 books

A KINDLE DEAL

ALL FOUR TIME BENDER BOOKS FOR ONE LOW PRICE ON

AMAZON

A shy Earth girl, her brave friend, and a daring alien warrior tell their epic stories in this sci-fi fantasy. Only $6.95 for all four books.

How to Help Your Child Succeed in School - new release

HOW TO HELP YOUR CHILD SUCCEED IN SCHOOL

Written by veteran teachers with experience in several public schools teaching various subjects at all levels, this guide presents proven strategies and teacher tips to help your child succeed in school.

Your child is more likely to succeed with your support. You’ll find out how to handle concerns in the areas of homework, outside activities, teacher relationships, goals, testing, study habits, health, learning tricks, motivation, discipline, and more.

Learn the answers to questions like: How can parents make a difference in the education of their children? What are some of the tricks to learning? How can students and parents relate better to the teacher? How can parents help with homework? What can parents do to be more involved?

Filled with practical solutions, advice and tips to give your child an edge, this book gives parents insight from the teacher’s perspective.

Available in paperback and Kindle.

A Quick Look at Psalm 126

Psalms 120 through 134 are the 15 “songs of ascent” that were sung as the priests walked up the 15 steps to the temple, stopping on each step to sing the next psalm. Let's look at Psalm 126. Here is the passage:

1 When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dreamed.
2 Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.”
3 The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.
4 Restore our fortunes, LORD, like streams in the Negev.
5 Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy.
6 Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them.

Every time you see the word LORD in all capital letters it means that the original Hebrew text used the tetragrammaton, God's 4 letter name (you may know it as Yahweh or Jehovah, Jews will say Ha Shem or Adonai to avoid pronouncing it). God’s holy name is used 4 times in this short psalm. This is a wonderful song of praise alluding to the recognition of God’s work given even by the Gentiles/heathens. “The nations” in verse 2 refers to everyone other than the Israelites.

When the Israelites returned from 70 years of exile it must have seemed like a dream. Notice the laughter and the joy (4 times!) and the songs.

At Thanksgiving and Advent (Christmas) many churches include Psalm 126 in the pulpit readings because of its emphasis on rejoicing. The rejoicing comes as a result of the great things God has accomplished on behalf of His people.

I especially like the theme of going from weeping and tears to songs of joy. This is tremendously encouraging.