Any serious student of scripture knows that the tenants of Calvin's doctrine are heretical. From start to finish, his teaching has lead men and women into spiritual ruin for the last sixteen hundred odd years. Ask the Spanish physician, Michael Servetus, if Calvinism was a reflection of God's love and mercy for sinful mankind. Burned at the stake in Geneva on Oct27, 1553 by John Calvin himself, for 'doctrinal heresies', he suffered a most horrid death, as Calvin prolonged his execution by using 'green wood'. As an 'obstinate heretic' he also had all his property confiscated and was badly treated in prison until the date of his execution. This was common practice among the religious elite who held to 'Calvin's' Doctrines.

Was God's love evident in this episode? And why was it NOT included in this book as historical evidence that Calvin and his contemporaries were false teachers raised up by Satan himself to persecute the true church? Such is the manner of this grand deception that it has endured over such a long period of time. Until today we have men standing in pulpits across American proclaiming God's grace as license to sin! Telling people that NOTHING they so, including sexual immorality, murder, drunkenness or suicide will effect the final outcome of their salvation. What a travesty!

I would have hoped that the men who wrote this book would have used it more as a platform to expose these destructive teachers that are so pervasive in the church today. God help future generations if something isn't done soon to expose this false teaching. Millions already are in a Deep Spiritual sleep across this great nation, lulled into their numbness by 'reformed' Calvinist preachers who still cling to his awful doctrines.

Scripture says that God will send people Strong delusion because they will NOT receive a love of the truth, but have pleasure in unrighteousness. (1Thess2:10-12) Certainly this as does, 2Tim4:1-5, describe modern day Christianity to a Tee. What could be worse than telling people all future sins are forgiven in Christ 'before' they even commit them, so don't worry about the occasional act of adultery, drunkenness, or immorality? When scripture declares EXACTLY the opposite! 1Cor15:2 "By this Gospel you are saved, IF you hold the beginning of your confidence steadfast to the end!"

For a historical reference this book may be helpful, but for the complete story and a closer examination of the false doctrines of John Calvin, I recommend Dan Corner's book, "The Believers Conditional Security" Available through Amazon.

The final chapter of this wonderful book is a highly informative look at growing up in New Mexico in 1824. And, as always, Jean-Paul Tibbles' beautiful illustrations make a wonderful addition to the text.

This book certainly goes a long way towards maintaining the tradition of excellence that one associates with the American Girls books. My daughter loves the stories, while I like the lessons that the author gently weaves throughout the book. My daughter and I both highly recommend this book to you.

Ford is ever the energetic industrialist, yet his agriarian roots constantly play out. Wirling's style of writing this book fits so well this orientation of Mr. Ford. Delightful read which displays the many interests of this man who was so prominent in many disciplines besides the auto sector that so prominently bears his influence. Delightful work.

Adding to the story element of mystery and mysticism are some of the rituals utilized by the churchmen to help them in solving the crimes. A particularly engaging episode concerns their random selection of passages from the New Testament to guide them in their quest. Ms. Peters also makes colorful reference to blackthorn leaves in Brother Cadfael's efforts to resolve the mystery.

In the summer of 1144, Geoffrey de Mandeville - after more than a year of running the Fens as his own private robber kingdom - was shot almost by accident during a siege, and died from the infected wound. His lengthy death gave him no chance to receive absolution - only the Pope could have absolved one guilty of the seizure of the abbey of Ramsey - but Geoffrey's followers did what they could for him, restoring the despoiled abbey to its scattered monks. Thus the abbey of St. Peter and St. Paul receives two guests of their own order from Ramsey - grim subprior Herluin and his appealing assistant Tutilo - asking leave to preach. Ramsey needs money, materials, and labour to undo the damage left by Geoffrey's marauders.

Herluin guided their footsteps to Shrewsbury not only to request assistance, but to recall Sulien Blount of Longner, sometime novice of Ramsey, who was sent home to reconsider his vocation. (See _The Potter's Field_ for details.) Cadfael, therefore, accompanies Herluin and his young companion Tutilo to Longner to speak with Sulien - and appeal for the Blounts' generosity toward Ramsey. While Herluin pursues his errand, Cadfael introduces Tutilo to Sulien's dying mother, the formidable Donata, who is more than happy to welcome a bard, even if he's now a novice monk. (Their friendship, brief as it is, is touching.) Young Tutilo is what would now be called a renaissance man, and would be wasted as a monk - if he ever gets that far after meeting the Irish girl Daalny, slave to the Provencal troubadour staying at the abbey guesthouse. Daalny's voice is such as to attract any musician - part of the troubadour's stock in trade. Nevertheless, Tutilo seems passionate enough on Ramsey's behalf.

Unfortunately, someone appears to have been a little *too* enthusiastic for Ramsey's sake - while preparing for a flood, someone stole St. Winifred's relics, and the chief suspects are the brothers of Ramsey. How, after all, could anyone steal the reliquary if the saint didn't *want* to go elsewhere? To further complicate the ensuing dispute over the saint's wishes, the reliquary comes into the hands of Earl Robert "Bossu" Beaumont, a brilliant man with a sly sense of humor who decides to further complicate matters by pointing out that the saint came to rest in *his* care and seems content to stay there. (Robert - who was a real person, incidentally - here makes his debut in the series as a very impressive figure; the crooked back that gave him his nickname doesn't hinder him at all.) Only Brother Cadfael and his confidant Hugh Beringar know just how complicated this situation really is - before a man on the fringes of the quarrel is murdered on a dark night. But was he killed for himself - or because he was mistaken for one of the disputants?

Very nicely ties up some loose ends from _The Potter's Field_, while raking up the old problem of the reliquary very creatively. Robert Bossu alone would be worth the price of admission. :)

In "The Holy Thief," the 19th chronicle of Brother Cadfael, Peters continues her top-flight form of the medieval whodunnit and, as usual, her protagonist, the good Benedictine monk, rides to the rescue and solution.

The year is 1144--and still King Stephen and Empress Maud are struggling in an interminable civil war, with no solution in sight. However, that historical fact is mere backdrop--as it usually is--to a more local concern. A renowned earl (Essex) is killed by an arrow, but not before he tries to make amends with Heaven by restoring some of the properties he had earlier "gained." This includes the abbey of Ramsey, a run-down site badly in need of more worldly help. The abbey sends envoys out, and one such envoy arrives in Shrewsbury, at the abbey of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, Cadfael's domain. The envoy includes Brother Herluin and his young novice Tutilo, who possesses a great singing voice along with other musical skills. In Shrewsbury is also, as the plot would have it, a beautiful slave girl (also a singer) named Daalny.

Suffice it to say, Peters lays a solid romantic setting. But the rains come, so much so that much of the abbey's possessions, including the holy relics, must be moved to safety. But not so safely after all, as a theft is discovered. And this soon leads to--you have it--a murder.

And Cadfael takes over. Using not only his brilliance, but his skills as the abbey's herbalist, Cadfael wastes no time in carefully solving the crime. Of course, as in all the Cadfael adventures, the murder is solved. The solution rarely comes easily for this ex-crusader, nor should it. Peters does not rush into her novels, which are characterized by logic and sound research.

Peters' very successful series has been adapted to TV, and while the episodes are generally very good, the televised portrayal of both Cadfael and the story line leaves quite a bit to be desired, as good as they are. The books are the better choice. I have never been disappointed and "The Holy Thief" is no exception.

Missing are floorplans and dimensions of the offices shown in this book. Also missing are sketches depicting the relation of the office space to the rest of the home - something useful to those contemplating new construction. What species of wood comprises those cabinets, and how were they finished? How was that floor made? The reader must guess at these and dozens and dozens of other questions the photographs evoke.

Instead, the author chooses to annotate the photos with useless comments such as where a pillow was made... the owner's collection of inkwells... what artist drew the prints on the wall... you get the idea. One gets the notion Ms. Paul never once asked herself what information would be desired by someone buying her book. She seems more interesed in the interior decoration aspects of home offices than their design.

My personal experience with this book has been to be inspired to use what I already have in a creative (and inexpensive) way and to incorporate into my home office personal items and a personal touch that I would not have used in a downtown high rise office.

If I could only have one home/decorating book, whether or not specifically for a home office, this would be the one. It's great!

When was Marcks convinced that this was no diversion but the real invasion? And why did his words fall on deaf ears. Where was Rommel and von Rundstedt and why? There were three German tank divisions within striking distance of the coast and yet they remained in place. One Reg. sat with engines running, within 30 kilometers of the coast. Why did they not receive the orders to advance until it was too late? There was more than Hitler's madness at play, much more. As one reviewer previously noted, some of the maps were less than excellent but Carell's work belongs on the shelf of anyone with more than a passing interest in Normandy and the breakout.

Carell shows the incredible effect allied airpower has on the battle at all times. Most devasting, was probably the allied counter-espionage campaign, that had Hitler's HQ convinced that Normandy was merely a feint, the real invasion coming at Pas de Calais.

Numerous smaller combat actions show the incredible capabilities of the German Army, even at this stage of the war. I would agree with a previous review that the maps can be a bit confusing. Overall, for anyone really interested in knowing the full story of the Normandy campaign, I think this book is a "must have", definitely one of my all time favorites.