The Seeds Of Salvation

U.S.S. Enterprise’s Number One and Nurse Chapel are bored and wants some excitement as do other members of the crew.

They crave excitement. Soon they discover that getting what your desire coming true is not necessarily a good thing.

When Nurse Chapel decides to visit a dear friend on a frozen planet she arrives at her friend’s science research facility and no one is there.

Concerned she reports the incident and she, along with other members of the away team, track down a signal coming from under the ice.

When they arrive at an underwater complex Chapel finds her friend along with other members of the research facility. They’re alive but ‘not’ themselves.

Soon the away team meets the planet’s inhabitants and find themselves in a rather precarious situation. How do they respond and what is the secret behind the underwater civilization?

Things are far more than they first appear. It’s best to be bored.

The Seeds Of Salvation starring the members of the Enterprise from Strange New Worlds comes from the multi-talented creative team of Robbie Thompson, Travis Mercer, Serg Acuna and JP Jordan and published by IDW Publishing.

It’s an exciting tale that deserves to be a live-action episode from the TV series. The art captures the likenesses of the Enterprise crew, the writing is fast-paced, perfectly portrays the individual personalities of each crew member and is beautifully colored with high print quality all wrapped in a square-bound graphic novel. Look for cover recreations from the original mini-series.

Proverbs 30:5Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.

Come, Thou Fount Of Every Blessing

Over the past couple of months my wife has struggled with some serious health issues. Without going into specifics it has been a long and difficult process. It has curtailed her daily routine and her physical and mental endurance has been tested.

It’s not been easy, draining and a little scary. We are not sure if it is a genetic condition or if it will escalate and cause even more problems in the future.

We’re both in our 70s and we realize that it is inevitable that certain health issues are sure to occur. Nevertheless for a woman who is physically active, mentally sharp and alert and has a real heart for others (especially for family) it has been a rough road.

That being said as hard as it has been it has drawn us closer together, sparked within us the urge to help others and brought us closer to God.

In author Jonathan Gibson’s book: Come, Thou Fount Of Every Blessing, published by Crossway, a liturgy for daily worship with the Psalms, is a welcome daily reminder and source of comfort.

The hardbound book with gold decoration and a sturdy slipcase reminds me of how blessed we are, how much we owe God, his kindness, forgiveness, provision, patience and unconditional love.

Although I am a Baptist by choice I appreciate the commonality with the book written by a Minister of the Tenth Presbyterian Church.

It proves that God is not interested in or impressed by denominations only the heart of his people. There may be slight differences between denominations but if the core of their worship is the same we truly are fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.

Isaiah 40:28Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.

 

 

Shredder Volume One

He is the ultimate nemesis of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and he’s out for revenge. He’s Shredder and he’s back, alone, furious and possibly insane.

But, revenge will have to wait, he has other problems on his hands. One of his former Food Clan flunkies has formed their own gang and Shredder must deal with them if he ever hopes to regain his power.

This is Shredder like you’ve never seen him before: alone, without his armor, challenged and changed.

Once a killing machine Shredder has become more reflective on his life and choices. He begins to see things from a different point of view. Although still determined to rule he begins to examine his own motivation, choices and life.

Challenged he must try to gather his forces, face down new adversaries and confront his past.

I always pictured Shredder as pretty much a one-dimensional character. After reading Shredder Volume One by Dan Watters, Michelle Bandini and Sid Kotian and released by IDW Publishing, I have a whole new respect for the character.

This trade paperback reveals his inner demons, weaknesses and surprisingly-his humanity. Even the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are surprised by his return. Is he now more deadly than ever?

Ephesians 4:29Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

Kiki's Magic Emporium

Magic-is it real? Maybe, maybe not. Either way it’s a fascinating subject.

Magic elixirs, potions, spells, ancient tomes, strange creatures, white and black magic, locations that exude strange and special magical emanations, dark, steeped in shadows rooms and niches and other mystical items and locations are strangely compelling.

Who wouldn’t want to do amazing feats by uttering a phrase or reading a few words? If life was only that simple.

Mankind has always been fascinated by the supernatural-the strange, the occult and the possibility of possessing powers that are powerful but controllable.

Where does all the magic items come from? Where can they be obtained? Are there locations where someone could purchase potions and the like? Where are they and how do we find them?

In Rolife’s Kiki’s Magic Emporium you’ll find everything you need to practice magic-at least in miniature

The little cubby hole is decorated with several bookshelves, cabinets, display counters, shelves, wall drawers, signs, an overhead light, a skylight, cream colored walls and a wooden plank floor with brick steps.

Potions, elixirs, manuscripts, books, magic enriched items, a peaked wizard’s hat, herbs, enchantments, a wooden chair, a glass front cabinet filled with magic compounds, an archaic symbol rug, a side window, wall plaques and signs, a feather quill pen and ink bottle, charms and other magic brick-a-brac fill the room. There’s even a globe shaped lantern on the floor and a large six-pointed star hanging from the ceiling.

For such a small shop it is really cluttered just as you would expect with a Magic Emporium. Who needs empty shelves?

This kit had a lot of small 3D pieces-some of which like to roll. More than once I had a few roll off my kit assembly table. Good thing the wooden floor is light in color. It made it easy to find and retrieve the parts.

This particular kit required a lot of tweezers use as there are so many small parts, stickers and items. My big hands makes it difficult to pick-up tiny pieces.

Assembling the floor and wall, doors, windows were easy. Furniture was a little challenging but I persevered and managed not to break anything. All the pieces fit snugly together courtesy of tabs.

I always like to have a few extra tools around as the photo shows. Tweezers and a Phillips-head screwdriver are included in the kit. Be sure to work in a well-lit area and follow the instructions page-by-page and never taken out more parts than necessary.

Look for 3D object bags, flats, stickers, folded paper containers, wiring and a light (no batteries included) and plenty of other cool stuff.

Rolife’s Kiki's Magic Emporium box has some cool photos and information on it including age suggest, materials used and important instructions to adults about assisting kids with the build. Kiki's Magic Emporium has a Level two and one half star rating.

Put a little magic into your life and buy Kiki's Magic Emporium.

For a little more magical miniature merriment be sure to check out Rolife’s site, move on over to the Kiki's Magic Emporium page and check out the photos and video and for even more enchanted fun don’t forget to visit Robotime.

Psalms 34:4I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.

Buzz Me In

For over a decade the recording studio Record Plant Studios produced some of most legendary albums of all time featuring a huge pool of talent.

In Martin Porter’s and David Goggin’s oversize hardbound book Buzz Me In Inside The Record Plant Studios, published by Thames & Hudson, the incredible musical history of the studio is revealed.

Take a moment to look at the back of book’s dust cover to set the list of the musical artists that used the studio-incredible.

Filled with archival photos of inside and outside the studio, the book examines the talent the studio helped used over the years to create their Rock & Roll masterpieces.

If you are a lover of Rock & Roll this it is the book to own. More than a gallery of photos the book examines the meat and bones of producing and recording music using the most sophisticated equipment at the time. It’s real page-turner that uncovers the studio secrets most music lovers have never known before.

I absolutely love the photos, the intimate and revealing text and the history of one the greatest music studios that ever existed.

Matthew 11:28Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Great American Cowboy Stories

Like any young boy growing up in the 1950s and 1960s in the United States I was a big cowboy fan-especially TV shows about cowboys.

Granted TV could not really capture the life of a cowboy totally realistically the shows did manage to bring the romanticism associated with cowboys to a huge audience.

Working the range, corralling horses and cattle, surviving primitive conditions and making a living in the Old West was not an easy task.

The work days were long, dusty, dirty, lacking the simplest of conveniences and fraught with danger. Rustlers, Indians, swindlers and loneliness confronted cowboys.

Lyons Press Classics’ Great American Cowboy Stories, edited by Michael McCoy, both fictional and true tales of cowboys are included.

Eighteen stories tell of cowpokes, cattle drives, caballeros of all genders and races as chronicled by such literary luminaries as Zane Grey, Theodore Roosevelt, Bill Nye, Frank Benton and several more.

So partner, saddle up, check your chaps, spurs, saddle bag and supplies and get ready to head out to the plains and mountains and face off against storms, renegades and the untamed wilderness.

Head ‘em up! Move ‘em out!

Psalms 34:4I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.

Sonic The Hedgehog Knuckles Anniversary Special

At first a deadly adversary of Sonic, Knuckles would eventually prove to be a strong and courageous ally to Sonic and his friends.

He’s tough, fast and strong (and very stubborn).

Knuckles The Echidna is the Guardian of the Master Emerald. He’s headstrong, independent and a little bit full of himself. He’s the last of his kind-until he meets a young, somewhat timid, cautious would-be Guardian.

Reluctantly he becomes her mentor which turns out to be a bit of a challenge. Eventually the two hit it off. Along the way Knuckles confronts his past, reevaluates what it means to be a Guardian and that being a Mentor is more about fists and fighting-it’s what type of person you are.

The Sonic The Hedgehog Knuckles Anniversary Special story is written by Ian Flynn with art by Aaron Hammerstrom and published by https://idwpublishing.com/IDW Publishing.

Included with the Knuckles story is the an unusual tale about Dr. Eggman’s birthday. After reading the story one cannot help but wonder if Dr. Eggman is as tough and cold as he appears.   Art is provided by Thomas Rothlisberger with words by Gale Galligan.

The art on both stories captures the characters perfectly and the stories are true to each.

It’s a thin, hardback graphic novel that packs quite a punch.

Romans 12:12Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

Iron Maiden: Infinite Dreams

I consider the band Iron Maiden a combination Rock and Roll, Heavy Metal, Horror Opera, Stygian and steeped in darkness kind of band.

Just slightly over 50 years ago the band started and already had a partially formed vision as to what the band, its music and it message would be.

It has stayed pretty much true to its origin and to its fans spanning the decades. You’ll see 70 year olds swaying to the band’s music right next to teenagers. That’s quite an achievement.

In the Thames & Hudson’s new oversize and thick hardbound book: Iron Maiden: Infinitive Dream The Official History, with a foreword by band member Steve Harris, delves into the impressive history of the band.

Filled with archival photos from concerts, behind-the-scenes, recording sessions and more the book also contains song lists, lyrics, personal accounts, key moments in the band’s history, triumphs, downfalls and everything associated with a band that has lasted over 50 years.

I never listened to Iron Maiden that much growing up but I did know some people who were big fans.

Looking over the book I can see how the band predated Grunge, Punk and even some Heavy Metal bands. Iron Maiden opened the door to a diverse repertoire.

It’s stage shows were unique, often disturbing, never boring and full of energy. The band's mascot Eddy the psychopathic, monster killer and horror icon has became a well-known symbol of the band.

Eddy has changed over the years taking on various personas yet always retaining his horror/blood lust identity.

The book is fascinating look into the working of a band, its longevity and place in popular music.

2 Timothy 1:7For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Petrified Forest Tree House

There was a forest not far from where I lived in Milford, Michigan when I was a kid. It was dark, foreboding and scary.

Imagine that deep in that woods there is a tree house. But, not just any tree house-a tree house frequented by ghosts and other Halloween denizens of the night.

Lemax taps into that fear with its deluxe kit: Petrified Forest Tree House. My daughter (who is a big Halloween fan) saw this set-up and immediately claimed it as her own. Her family loves Halloween and the tree house will make a fine addition on that spooky night.

Before I get into the kit itself I’d like to talk about the packaging. The tree house comes in a long vertical box decorated with color photos on all side. Inside the box is the main body of the tree house protected by two form-fitted cardboard section and held together with Velcro. The other box contains several small boxes holding the various accessorizes separate from the tree house.

They include a full moon on a long black pole (that lights up when the power is turned on), a pumpkin scarecrow, a skeleton in a rocking chair and holding a guitar, a cow skull sits at its feet, a Keep Out sign with pumpkins and a crow, Twin tree trunks both with green lit up eyes and pumpkins perched on stone bases, a grinning pumpkin patch, a large tree with orange foliage and a bare tree with no leaves.

All are highly detailed, colorful and a little bit creepy. Such an awesome and spooky set-up! the entire tree house lights up when the poser is turned on. It’s really creepy in the dark.

The base of the tree house sits on a brown dirt platform with green grass with various snakes, skulls, rocks and critters around the base of the tree.

The tree is huge, so huge that it has a set of stone steps, with rails and ladders all the way up to the tree house perched at its summit.

Large gnarly roots seems to twist and turn almost like its sentient. A single pole light is on the left just above a tire swing.. Skulls are embedded in the tree.

The lower level of the house has an open wooden door with a skeleton peeking out and the boarded up window cracks has green eyes peering out of it. A ghoul in overalls climbs the steps to the next level. His head is just about even with the grass roof of the lower level. The roof is made of green grass with a cow skull on the front.

The upper most level of the house has a large brown wooden slat door with a small balcony where a black clad, grinning skull reaper stands with his sickle. A green and purple light highlights the upper level. A single window is just below the eve of the gray shingle roof. A Keep Out sign with a skull and crossbones warns visitors away.

The patched roof with its brick chimney also has a separate metal chimney with cap and a scraggly pine tree at its peak. Another side light is on the upper left. Behind the tree house is a large deep tree.

The roof has patches with wood boards. The small building enclosure has barricaded windows, moss trimming and just below it a rickety balcony with a red and brown railing. Part of the tree’s foliage integrated itself into the tree house.

On the opposite side of the tree house are steps coming down the second story that abruptly end several feet off the ground. At the top of the stairs is a barricaded door with a skeleton peering between the wooden slats. The roof has several metal chimneys, the top of the tree pops through the roof and the tree’s limbs and tendrils wrap the tree house.

Look for hidden skeletons, a rope swing with a tire decorated with spikes, red railing and plenty of Keep Out! signs.

Once assembled all the interconnecting parts light up. It’s easy to assemble, is beautifully deigned, sculpted and colored and is a real showcase for the artisans at Lemax.

Matthew 10:28And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

The Official U.S. Army Combat Skills Handbook

Being a soldier in the United States Army involves more than dressing in camo, carrying a rifle and fighting-much more.

It takes a special set of skills to survive in combat. It’s no walk in the park.

It takes tenacity, hard work and discipline.

The Official U.S. Army Combat Skills Handbook, revised and updated by Sergeant First Class Matt Larsen and published by Lyons Press, is absolutely packed with information, instructions, visual aids and guides.

In its pages learn about Army values and culture, individual readiness, combat medicine, environments, fighting techniques, security procedures, marksmanship, communications, survival, explosives, and much much more.

If you’re preparing for a military career or just want to hone up on your survival, defense, weapons and medical and covert skills this is the book to own and read.

Hebrews 4:12For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Event Horizon Dark Descent

The movie Event Horizon is an absolutely terrifying horror film set in space.

In the not too distant future the ship, along with its crew, disappeared. It was discovered floating in space and what it contained was a gateway to Hell.

What happened to the original crew?

This is the story how the crew of the Event Horizon made a horrifying discovery: the dead live, the denizens of Hell exist and reality can be twisted and altered.

What is a nightmare and what is a dream? Are they the same? Can they be trusted? Does hope exist? Crew member after crew member discovers there is no escape and that Hell awaits them with open arms.

Wow! What a scary tale. The writing grabs you, the art (especially the predominance of red) is unsettling and the quality of the paper, printing and design of the trade paperback is topnotch.

Add to it all with cover reproductions from the mini-series and you have a terrifying, repulsive yet compelling tale that is best read in the daytime.

High marks to creative team of Christian Ward, Tristan Jones and publisher IDW on Event Horizon Dark Descent.

Don’t turn off the light because nightmare populate the Event Horizon.

Psalms 28:7The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him

Amazon To Zodiac

I love mysteries, I have a curious nature-especially when it comes to strange, unexplained and odd things or events. Throw in time and space and you immediately have my attention.

Author Barry Evans book: Amazon To Zodiac 101 Curiosities Across Time And Space, published by Prometheus Books, drew me in like a magnet.

Science and history-often we take both for granted and accept statistics and long-held assumptions as fact.

But, are scientific discoveries and historical ‘facts’ actually as true or do as we assume that they are because we were told or taught so?

For example, was Columbus really the one who discovered America first? Were there others that who predated Darwin and his Theory of Evolution?

What does a certain type of tree have to do with evolution? Are some literary works that are assumed to be fiction actually based on real characters? Where do myths originate? Who was Dracula-really?

So many questions-so many assumptions.

If you have a curious mind and question traditional thinking about science, history and the like then this book is the perfect fodder to feed your skeptical hunger.

Ephesians 4:29Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

A Very Mechanoid Summer

In IDW Publishing's and Nickelodeon’s trade paperback Tales Of The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles A Very Mechanoid Summer Donatello makes a fighting robot called Metalhead.

Donnie is proud of his creation and its incredible martial artist skills.

Evidently someone else is impressed too because Donnie and Metalhead are invited to to a very exclusive robotics camp for young geniuses.

Things sail along smoothly at first and then things start to heat up, especially when Metalhead meets his competition.

That gets Donnie to thinking, “Is this some sort of trap? Exactly what is going on?”

It’s fast-paced, in-your-face, action and adventure tale that spotlights Metalhead’s fighting prowess.

When I first picked up the graphic novel and looked at it I was a little taken back. The art style threw me at first. It’s not like most TMNT art styles.

The figures are leaner, there’s a lot of motion and action lines, panel race along at a fast pace and the coloring and use of sporadic flashes and visual effects are abundant.

But, after looking it over I really like the style-it’s different-but in a good way. It all comes together to create a really fun TMNT story that almost takes your breath away.

Romans 5:2-5By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

A History Of The Sky

As a young boy growing up in the 1960s I was excited about the Space Race. I dreamed of being an astronaut and traveling to the stars.

Surprisingly I never really looked at the heavens themselves in any great degree. Sure I saw the stars at night, but as far as visualizing other worlds, regions of space and astrological phenomenon never really interested me.

Until--one late night when I was a young teenager and my friends and I decided to take in a drive-in movie. The drive-in theater was located several miles outside of my hometown in the middle of nowhere.

We went, saw the movie and then began our drive home. Along the way we decided to pull over and chat under the stars.

It was then and there that the heavens really opened up for me.

It was early November in Michigan on a country road that I looked, really looked up, and saw the heavens in all their glory. The Milky Way took up most of the night sky and coincidentally on that particular night something amazing happened that occurred every year about that same time.

A massive meteor shower lit up the night sky. There were dozens of fiery meteor tails streaking across the sky. I was mesmerized.

Ever since then almost every night I look up and wonder-what’s out there?

In authors Pierre Lena’s and Christian Grataloup’s new book, published by Thames & Hudson: A History Of the Night Sky, 300 infographics trace the global history of the sky and how societies through the ages, viewed them, studied and speculated about them and meshed them into their particular societies.

Ancient societies, pivotal moments, important individuals, discoveries, speculations and more are all examined in this small hardbound book packed with information.

Learn about the moon, the sun, the solar system, the universe, space exploration, astrophysics, distant galaxies, light, telescopes, types of suns and so much more. There’s a whole universe to explore and this book is great starting point.

Revelation 21:21-25And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.

13 Demons Dead

Imagine being 14 year old teenage girl. You’re a newbie in high school and are trying desperately to fit in and adjust. It doesn’t help that certain uppity students give you a hard time.

One day her favorite teacher is attacked by some invisible force. Turns out it’s a demon and the teenage girl: Everly “Ev” Espada accidentally kills it, saving her teacher’s life

As if being a teenage girl new to high school and killing an invisible demon isn’t bad enough she soon discovers she is the latest in a long line of holy demon hunter dating back 2,000 years.

From that point on her life changes-drastically. It stands to reason that the word about her demon killing has spread to other demons and they are none to happy about it.

There are 12 demons left of 13. They know that if she succeeds in destroying the crystals in their bodies they will die.

Killing the demons take them out of action for one year and then they are resurrected, but, if EV can defeat and kill all 13 demons at the same time their resurrection cycle is ended.

You can see why the demons will do anything and use anyone in order to stop her-permanently.

13 Demons Dead, by writer Adam Tierney with art by Saspy and IDW Publishing, is a high-octane, seat-of-your-pants, action-packed gore-fest that accelerates as the story progresses.

I am always amazed at the sheer talent of comic book/Manga writers and artist. How a writer and artist can work at as a team a produce stories takes a tremendous amount of talent.

When looking a the art of 13 Dead Demons I am struck at how complex it is-so many perspective shots, amazing character designs, emotion, action and the mastery of the human figure is impressive. It’s a fun read and yet another reason why there is more to comic books than superheroes.

Hebrews 4:12For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.