It's Almost Christmas. Are you holy?

It's almost Christmas. Are you holy?

Generosity and human goodness are not enough to make us holy.

Now that’s a statement to ponder. This is the time of year when we think that we are generous and good. If we put a few coins in the Salvation Army kettle we think we’ve done our part.

We are generous to our families. We pile on the Christmas presents if we can afford it and even if we can’t. We fill Christmas stockings with goodies and think that we are good.

Generosity and human goodness are not enough to make us holy.

Do we need to be holy? Isn’t holiness something reserved for God, for priests and preachers, for missionaries? Sure, but the rest of us need to be holy, too. And, if we belong to God then we are, by default, holy. Right? So it’s not the generosity or goodness that we show at Christmastime that sanctifies us, not at all. We are sanctified by our belief in Christ Jesus – the reason for the season. We are made holy by belonging to God.

What are your thoughts on holiness?

Updated & Improved with over 300 Puzzles

BRAIN POWER PUZZLES, VOLUME 1, 2nd Edition

NEW AND IMPROVED 2ND EDITION with over 300 puzzles. THE PERFECT GIFT FOR YOURSELF OR SOMEONE ELSE! Entertain yourself and power up your brain while solving a variety of easy, moderate, and difficult puzzles. This activity book includes * Word Searches * Anagrams * Crosswords * Cryptograms * 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 and over 80 bonus puzzles that weren’t in the first edition.

Click here to order in time for Christmas.

Prayer for America

This is Billy Graham’s prayer for our nation:

'Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask your forgiveness and to seek your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, 'Woe to those who call evil good,' but that is exactly what we have done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values. We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery. We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare. We have killed our unborn and called it choice. We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable. We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self esteem. We have abused power and called it politics. We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition. We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression. We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment. Search us, Oh God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from every sin and set us free. Amen!'

With the Lord's help, may this prayer sweep over our nation and wholeheartedly become our desire so that we again can be called 'One nation under God!'

These words are pretty strong. What do you think?

Can You Solve These?

The following are taken from a page in BRAIN POWER PUZZLES 10, Christmas Edition

If you want answers I guess you'll just have to get a copy on Amazon.

Only $9.99 on Amazon.

A great Secret Santa Gift or stocking stuffer.

Head Start on Stocking Stuffers and Secret Santa Gifts

Order a bunch of these. Great for family members, young and old, co-workers, friends, and yourself!

BRAIN POWER PUZZLES, VOLUME 10, CHRISTMAS EDITION

NEED A SECRET SANTA GIFT? HERE’S THE PERFECT GIFT FOR YOURSELF OR SOMEONE ELSE! This volume delivers hours and hours of fun. Entertain yourself and power up your brain while solving a variety of easy, moderate, and difficult puzzles. This Christmas themed activity book includes ● Word Searches ● Anagrams ● Word Fit Puzzles ● Scrambled Words ● Sudoku ● Math Puzzles ● Mazes ● Christmas Song Challenge ● Word Fit Puzzles ● Cryptograms ● Pictograms ● Christmas Movie Challenge ● Calcudoku ● Christmas Riddles ● Crossword Puzzles and more. Created by an educator and author (ME!) this book will satisfy young and old. Work alone or play with a friend. NEED A STOCKING STUFFER? There's something to satisfy everyone

$9.99

How Many Ways Are There to Get to Heaven?

Recently a dear friend of mine, active in our church, told me she didn't think God would refuse to let unbelievers into Heaven. Of course I recited the "one way" passage whereupon she said she knew that, but it was her opinion that there was more than one way. Well, her opinion is not Biblical fact.

Jesus says to Thomas, and to all of us, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).

And hasn't she read John 3: 16 -18?

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

Brain Power Puzzles 9 Just Released

Over 325 different puzzles

BRAIN POWER PUZZLES 9

THE PERFECT GIFT FOR YOURSELF OR SOMEONE ELSE! 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 ● Tatami ● Sudoku ● Kakuro ● Mazes ● Boggle Boards ● Word Fit Puzzles ● Cryptograms ● Pictograms ● Daisy Puzzles ● Rullo ● Hidden Word Puzzles ● and more.

HOURS AND HOURS OF FUN!

Have You Ever Seen a Demon-possessed Person?

I’ve never seen a demon-possessed person, nor seen the movie “The Exorcist,” and, though I was born on Friday the 13th, I am not the least bit superstitious.

I have an interest in the occult only so far as I have done research into the paranormal for one of my novels, SHELTERED. There is a wealth of information on the internet, of course, but my main source for this subject is the Bible. Everywhere that Jesus preached he cast out demons. It must have been a pretty prevalent phenomenon to be mentioned so often. I found a very good site HERE that gives a thorough covering of the behaviors of demons as presented in the Bible.

I have consolidated what I learned into 3 quick and easy steps on how not to get possessed (laugh if you want):

1) Stay away from the occult and paranormal. That includes astrology, tarot cards, magic, Ouija boards, hypnotism, yoga (yes, yoga), meditation, bio-feedback, and pornography.
2) Do not use recreational drugs, especially mind-altering drugs.
3) Pray and seek God’s will for your life.

Now, why would I, a devout Christian, write a book in this popular genre? Because the paranormal is a popular subject. Because demons are real. Because it gave me a venue to teach a bit about the Bible.

Talents, Money, and Teeth-gnashing

In Matthew 25: 14 – 30 Jesus is still talking to His disciples about the coming of the Kingdom of Heaven. He says it will be like a man who goes away and leaves his servants with various amounts of his wealth. He gives one servant 5 “talents,” to another he gives two talents and to the third only one. In the Greek what he gives is “talenton” which is a measure of money. A talent of silver in Israel weighed 100 pounds and a talent of gold weighed 200 pounds. It’s pretty obvious therefore that even the servant who received one talent was entrusted with great wealth.

How to Teach a Foreign Language

A PHENOMENAL GUIDE FOR FOREIGN LANGUAGE TEACHERS AND STUDENT-TEACHERS! 

I have over three decades of experience teaching Spanish in five different schools so who better to compile usable advice and tips for teachers of any foreign language?

This book covers the following:
● Lesson planning 
● Grading 
● Using TPR (total physical response) to get started 
● Finger TPR 
● Seat TPR 
● Manipulatives 
● Music 
● Cultural Experiences 
● Pair Work (with over 40 sample pair drills)
● plus tons of tips

Available only on Amazon right HERE. Please share.

Can You Solve These?

I love cryptograms, anagrams, pictograms, crosswords and just about any other kind of word or math puzzle. Here's a pictogram, the beginning of a Bible verse:

Or how about these anagrams of Bible characters?

1. ENHANCE BUZZARD _________________________________

2. TENTH ASH PIT JOB _______________________________

3. EMPTIER SON _____________________________________

Secret message, anyone? How about some word searches? Sudoku? Kakuro? Word ladders? You'll find hundreds of puzzles, entirely Bible-themed in BRAIN POWER PUZZLES 8, just released for $13.99 on Amazon.

BRAIN POWER PUZZLES 8, BIBLE THEME EDITION

Answers to above: the pictogram says "When you pray do not be like the hypocrites."

The anagrams are #1 Nebuchadnezzar #2 John the Baptist #3 Simon Peter

Volume 7 is Now Released

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

These activity books include a mix of the following:
● Word Searches
● Anagrams
● Zig Zag Puzzles
● Word Fit Puzzles
● Hidden Words
● Sudoku
● Sikaku
● Kendoku
● Fillomino
● Rullo
● Domino
● 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

Created by an educator and author these books will satisfy young and old. Work alone or play with a friend. Two player puzzles included in volumes 1 and 2. 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. Volume 5 is for Spanish level one students. Volume 6 is for math nerds.

Brain Power Puzzles, only on Amazon.
Volume 1 $13.99
Volume 2 $13.99
​Volume 3 $9.99
Volume 4 $12.99
Volume 5 (Spanish Student Edition) $11.99
Volume 6 (Math Edition) $7.95
Volume 7 $12. 99

Should A Christian Deny His Faith Under Duress?

Math Enthusiasts (aka nerds) This Book's for You

BRAIN POWER PUZZLES 6 - Math Edition

only $7.95

This activity book includes: 

•SUDOKU

•KILLER SUDOKU

•SIKAKU

•MINE SWEEPER

•KENDOKU

•KAKURO

•FILLOMINO

•DOMINO

•LAMPLIGHTER 

•TENTS & TREES

•CALCUDOKU 

•MAGIC SQUARES

•MATH CROSSWORDS

•NUMBER PYRAMIDS

•MATH SQUARES

•RULLO

•SECRET NUMBER TRAILS 

and more

This book will satisfy young and old. All puzzles are original and unique.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.

★★★★★ Yeah! The puzzles are large enough to easily work out.

★★★★★ Great for serious puzzlers.

★★★★★ Very enjoyable and satisfying challenges.

Get your copy only on Amazon

Is Your Kid Learning Spanish?

BRAIN POWER PUZZLES, Spanish Student Edition!

Here's something that will entertain your kid while sneakily keeping his or her Spanish skills sharp. This collection of brain-teasing word puzzles, word searches, crosswords, and other types of unique puzzles was created by ME, a 30+ year veteran Spanish teacher. During my career I also published ancillary Spanish materials for two major textbook companies.

In this Spanish Student edition you'll find word searches (BUSCAPALABRAS), crossword puzzles (CRUCIGRAMAS), and scrambled word puzzles (PALABRAS REVUELTAS). Also included are LABERINTOS, LATAS DE PALABRAS, CRUCIGRAMAS AVANZADAS, and CRIPTOGRAMAS. Kids can improve their Spanish by matching pictures and solving word-fit puzzles. They'll stretch their brain power with mazes, Sudoku, Spanish word Sudoku, and more.


All vocabulary, with a few challenging exceptions, is limited to first year level Spanish. This workbook is great for review, practice, and just plain fun. Get a copy on Amazon here.

★★★★★ Great review fun for beginners, intermediate, and even advanced Spanish students. 

★★★★★ A boost for struggling students. 

★★★★★ Fun for puzzlers who may or may not remember their high school Spanish lessons. 

★★★★★ A clever tool for reviewing and strengthening language learning. 

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.

Crossing the Scriptures, The Amazing Bible Study

Discovering old truths in a new way

Christians sometimes wonder if there is any value to studying the Old Testament, with its genealogies, strange laws, violence, and vengeance. This Bible study shows how the entire Bible ties together in a beautiful tapestry of God's truth.

If you know someone who has become a doubter, lost their faith, or just plain can't accept that every single word of the Holy Scriptures is believable then this is the book you should get for them.

I recommend the paperback over the Kindle version.

How to Blend Families (A Step Parent's Dilemma)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MP12FRL

Step families are quite common. 

Blending families after divorce and remarriage is a difficult process.

The secret to co-parenting is negotiating change

But change is hard.

This guide gives step by step advice from experienced educators and also provides several fill-in worksheets to help you resolve family relationships, deal with discipline, navigate the financials, and create a balanced family with happy parents and children.

Available only on Amazon in paperback and also for Kindle.