Review by Julia Martin – NZ Christian Writers

Phil Strong had it all it seemed. He was an ambitious, highly successful businessman with a lovely family; but when his world crumbled, he was left a broken man.

Prompted by a ‘seed-thought’, he decided to embark on an ‘adventure’ overseas to rebuild a strong and stable family. While few of us can replicate such a journey, his practical, faithbased advice and wisdom are suitable for families everywhere.

Written ten years later and with hindsight, Phil’s book contains family stories and experiences which he uses to show the strategies, principles
and core values he and Kathy learned and put into practice with their two children.

Phil outlines five keys – intentionality, diligence, integrity, faithfulness and commitment as the foundation stones for success. At the end of each
chapter, he gives a wise summary statement such as: ‘Allow your family to learn the consequences of choice’.

Inevitably the journey wasn’t all plain sailing, but I commend Phil and his family for their honesty, transparency and humour.

I thoroughly recommend this practical, down-toearth guidebook. I particularly liked the challenge of his final statement: ‘A legacy is more powerful when who you leave behind trumps what you leave behind’.

Review by Julia Martin – NZ Christian Writers

RADICAL LIVES Volume 1

Many of these stories bring hope that many of us can come out of the underworld or gang affiliations, and come out of darkness into the light and have a changed life. This book of true stories inspires change.” Owen Pomana

Radical Lives is a compilation of 15 dramatic true-life stories Janet originally wrote as articles for Christian Life News Magazine. From her own experience of a life without God, she can understand the miraculous and radical transformation that takes place when a person surrenders to God and is freed by the saving grace and power of Jesus Christ.

The stories profile former criminals, drug addicts, dealers, alcoholics, terrorists, gang members, social outcasts, and church dropouts. For some, their conversion was immediate, for others it was gradual.

The exciting part for me was not only reading about lives radically transformed by God, but the evidence given to show that most of these people have since put their faith into action by establishing or being involved in Christian ministries. In some cases they’ve written books to share their testimonies and reach out to others lost in spiritual darkness. Contact details are listed at the end of each profile.

This book is ideal to pass onto people who are struggling with life. Janet suggests concerned Christians could sponsor her book and make copies available free in strategic places such as rehabilitation centres and prisons.

With many more stories to tell, Radical Lives Vol 2 is on its way.

NOTE: Volume 2 is also available from Wild Side Publishing and Amazon/Kindle

Review by Julia Martin – NZ Christian Writers

Inspired by true events, A Skylark Flies is the story of two fictitious individuals from totally different worlds. Rose, a single Kiwi on her OE in the UK, travels to Scotland to trace her family roots. On a deserted track outside the village of Lesmahagow, she meets Tommy, a local dropout with multiple problems, who brutally attacks and almost kills her. From this horrific encounter, both Rose and Tommy become victims and the trauma of this incident dogs them for the next 10 years.

The novel is a poignant story concerning the power of true forgiveness. When the two finally meet again in fortuitous circumstances, Rose is prepared to forgive Tommy, and with that act, both are freed from their overwhelming fear, guilt and shame of the past. Like skylarks, they are no longer weighed down by anything and are free to move on.

As Rose concludes: ‘Each life is a story, and we’re constantly colliding and bouncing off others, for good and for bad. These encounters can change the course of our lives, but we can control how we respond to them.’

This novel is well written and researched and the author has dedicated it to those who have experienced terror at the hands of another. I believe its message is capable of inspiring courage, determination and forgiveness in anyone struggling with fear and guilt from circumstances in the past. An excellent first novel and we look forward to another.

Review by Julia Martin – NZ Christian Writers

The author was only three months old in 1942 when her Dutch parents and four older siblings were rounded up by the Japanese in Dutch East Indies (Indonesia today) and incarcerated in prison-of-war camps. Ingrid gives a harrowing account of their three years of brutality, starvation, disease and appalling living conditions at the hands of their cruel captors.

Her father, aged 43, died in a prison camp and her disabled little brother died en route to Holland when the rest of the family was evacuated during the Indonesian War of Independence. Back in the Netherlands, the family sought to pick up the pieces of their lives in a different and often unwelcoming environment. They all suffered physically and psychologically from the horrors of the war, especially the mother, and this added a huge burden of care on her children.

Ingrid’s honest but gruelling autobiography gives valuable insights into the enormous disruption and suffering war causes on the lives of innocent people. It also shows their courage and fortitude to battle on and overcome the deprivation and traumas of the past.

In 1958 at age 16, Ingrid immigrated to New Zealand alone to train as a nurse. There she made a new life for herself. With a strong faith in God she testifies: “It seems hard to do, but for our own good and with God’s help, we can rid ourselves of hate and forgive those who treated us badly.”

It’s a captivating and unforgettable story and I recommend it to all readers.

Review by Julia Martin – NZ Christian Writers

Garry started out on a Waikato farm as a typical young Kiwi bloke involved in rugby, fast cars and drinking. At seventeen, he committed his life to Jesus Christ and that decision set him on a new pathway. With farming in his DNA, he and his wife Margie felt called by God to set up a farming ministry to help the poor. What followed was a journey lasting forty years which involved numerous job changes, family fallouts and
painful emotional setbacks.

As Garry reflects: ‘…We have a choice—we can wallow in our losses or go forward with energy and celebrate future wins.’ The couple kept their faith and their focus, and in 2015 their ‘enduring dream’ was finally coming to fruition.

Garry claims he’s written his autobiography to encourage those people who seem to be doing things right but find life full of disappointments and setbacks; and for those who feel God has called them into a ministry but it has not yet eventuated. In a helpful epilogue called ‘Willsy’s Wisdom’ he outlines lessons learned from his life experiences. This book has wide appeal and I recommend it especially to Christians who need encouragement in their struggles.