Interview with Owen Sypher, Author of The Song of Solomon Revealed

Owen L. Sypher is a devoted servant of the Lord. At eleven years old, he started a spiritual journey to discover and understand God and his word. In 1979, he received the baptism of the Holy Ghost. Since then, he has had fellowships with the same group. Song of Solomon is his first book.

You can visit his website at http://www.sypherbooks.com.   

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in the wonderful city of Nampa Idaho.

When did you begin writing?

I started writing seriously about 3 years ago, before that it was just notes and things like that.

What is this book about?

This book is about the Love relationship between Jesus and his bride. The bride is the 144,000 people found in Revelations 14:1-5.

What inspired you to write it?

I felt inspired of God to do some lessons on the subject of the Song of Solomon for our local church services. One person told me they wanted to only hear things that was preached from a former pastor who had passed on so I wasn’t going to teach it anymore but I felt like God had given me so much understanding on this book that I wanted to record this information for myself in case I wanted to use it in the future.

There was so much information that I started to joke about how it was becoming a small book and after a couple of months I decide why not make a book with this information.

How is it similar to other books in its genre? How is it different?

I am not sure how it is similar to other books except that it is based on the Bible.

How is it different?

For one thing I wrote it like I would like to read a book. I put the whole chapter in first and then I used whole verses to explain what I was talking about. I hate it when I read a book and they used just a piece of the scripture and then you have to find a Bible to get the context of what is being said.

The second thing is I approached this more from a spiritual aspect instead of a natural aspect.

The third thing is that I explain the meaning of this book by using the scriptures to explain types and shadows and spiritual applications.

What is the most important thing readers can learn from your book?

This is a very good question. I think the most important thing a person can take away from my book is that not only is Jesus going to have a bride but we can learn some of the things we need to know in order to qualify to be a part of that bride, and that God will also help us with the supplying of those things that we need to qualify.

Where can readers purchase a copy?

www.sypherbooks.com also Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Litfire press.

What is up next for you?

Next I am thinking about writing a book about the wisdom of Solomon which will be dealing with the books of Ecclesiastes, Proverbs, and some of the Song of Solomon. I have also thought about writing a book on explaining what the bride is and what scriptures we use to show the bride.

Is there anything you would like to add?

I believe this is a very good book and will inspire the reader to seek more of God and his word and hopefully would cause them to have a desire to be a part of Jesus bride.

Book Spotlight: The Black Sheep Shadow by Ashley Terrell

The city lights blind your amazement. The sound of the traffic challenges you to be alive. Families ask bystanders to make magic and capture the moment with photographs. Newly engaged couples seal their union by kissing under shooting stars while loving by crossing their hearts.

But what if your heart was under arrest, wouldn’t want to embrace something to feel something like others?

Go inside the world of one courageous sheep as she discovers that her heart was under attack by darkness. As she travels on a spiritual journey to understanding her purpose, overcoming the understanding her purpose, self-acceptance, and the importance of inspiration, she rose against the odds with forgiveness and strengthening her faith.

Purchase here!

Ashley Terrell is the founder of Stella Bistro Foods and Black Sheep Inc. Terrell is the host and co-director of Cooking with Stella (2016) and Unaverage Ash (2016).  She resides on the East Coast where she enjoys blissful sunsets and sounds of ocean waves.
For More Information

• Visit Ashley Terrell’s website.
• Connect with Ashley on Facebook and Twitter.

The Wounds Have Healed...The Scars Are Bleeding! by Lindon King

I was supposed to be reviewing The Wounds Have Healed...the Scars Are Bleeding! by Lindon King today, but the book never arrived. I hope it will, as it sounds interesting.



The Wounds Have Healed…The Scars Are Bleeding! is an insightful work of non-fiction from author Lindon J. King. This work is designed to provoke thought as well as educate the reader about the aftermath of slavery in America and the West Indies. Set out as a tribute to the forefathers who had been able to survive the brutal Middle Passage only to be sold as slaves in America and the West Indies. Slavery not only physically affected the lives of those who were captured but also mentally affected them for generations to come.

The Wounds Have Healed…The Scars Are Bleeding! is a compelling work that blends history with social commentary. Given its timely message, Lindon J. King’s work may appeal to a wide variety of readers. Have you struggled with weight, wellness, addictions, relationships or work? This spiritually based book is set up with the idea that when you begin reading it, it will lull you comfortably into motivation and creating changes “now”. Essentially, when you open the book you are on a journey and as you read you have opportunities to “drive” or apply these ideas into your life. The book is set up as a no-excuses approach; if you say you believe in scripture you can’t pick and choose when to apply scripture to your life; it’s immediate connection which also, helps take immediate action. You may be comfortably motivated but it may bring upheaval and some hard truth to swallow, so be prepared for no-excuses scripture to change your life.

Lindon J. King was born in Jamaica and is a former student of Fair Prospect Primary and Fair Prospect Junior High schools. Lindon is a graduate of Prospect College and in 1992 he migrated to Toronto Canada where he did further studies at Ryerson University.

Lindon and his beautiful wife Lorna and their adorable kids Loralin, Lindon Jr. and Lornella reside in Toronto, Canada. Lindon is a proud father of four and loves The Lord. They are of the Apostolic Faith and are active members of their local church.

Lindon is currently employed as a Financial Services Manager and is also pursuing further studies in the field of commercial aviation. He is working on his next book titled, What’s In Your Barn? This book is expected to be in bookstores in the fall of 2010.

You can read a guest post by the author here.

Lindon King’s THE WOUNDS HAVE HEALED…THE SCARS ARE BLEEDING! virtual book tour will officially begin on March 1 and end on April 30. You can visit Lindon’s blog stops at www.virtualbooktours.wordpress.com during the months of March and April to find out more about this great book and talented author!

How Can I Run a Tight Ship When I'm Surrounded By Loose Cannons? by Kathi Macias--Book Review

Have you struggled to live up to the expectations of the good woman described in Proverbs 31? You're certainly not alone. That's why every Christian woman who desires to follow the example of the good woman must read How Can I Run a Tight Ship When I'm Surrounded By Loose Cannons? - Proverbs 31 Discoveries for Yielding to the Master of the Seas by Kathi Macias.

Follow Kathi's journey and struggle with Proverbs 31 as she discusses the natural progression of growing in grace. From our Christian infancy, through our toddling years, learning to run, and then finally knowing the comfort and peace of being back on our knees and totally dependent upon and surrendered to God, and knowing He will bring us safely home; Kathi shares her personal stories with humor and genuine compassion for her fellow Christians.

I willingly admit that I love Kathi's work. When I read Beyond Me: Living a You-First Life in a Me-First World--which I reviewed here--I knew I would be a fan of Kathi Macias for life. And when I heard that she had a new book coming out, I didn't waste any time in letting Kathi know that I wanted to review it.

While very different in tone and style than Beyond Me, Kathi has perfectly captured the many struggles Christian women deal with when they consider and try to follow the example of the good woman from Proverbs 31; how overwhelming it can be and how often we try to take control when God is truly steering the ship. By choosing to tell this story in a funny and lighthearted way, the reader is eager to journey along with Kathi to see what she learned next and how to apply it to her own life.

At the end of most of the chapters is a section called "Making it Personal", which asks the reader questions that relate to the point Kathi has just discussed. She had something similiar in Beyond Me; but while I found them to very helpful in Beyond Me, they were distracting to me in this book because I wanted to keep going with this funny and lighthearted story that was subtlety teaching me what I needed to know. I ended up skipping them until I completed the book and then went back to review them once I was done.

Also included at the end of most chapters were Bible verses that referred back to the lesson, including one of my favorites: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."--Philippians 4:13.

The cover art for this book is wonderful. The side of a ship with a woman--who could be any Christian woman--looking out through the porthole--is a brilliant idea. The humorous Foreward is provided by Martha Bolton, Emmy-nominated songwriter and author of Didn't My Skin Used to Fit and Cooking With Hot Flashes, and a touching Afterword is written by Rhonda Rhea, author of High Heels in High Places, Purse-suit of Holiness, and Whatever Blings Are Lovely.

One last thing that truly made this a special book is the chapter that Kathi dedicates to her father, Hans. The reader finds a tribute to a beloved father from the daughter who prayed for him to accept Christ as his Savior; and who in his final moments, as he sang a song from his childhood, taught her so much about "resting and trusting in God's goodness for His children." Even as I type this, I can feel the tightening in my throat and the tears swimming in my eyes.

How Can I Run A Tight Ship When I'm Surrounded By Loose Cannons? will make the perfect Mother's Day or birthday gift for the Christian woman in your life. For every Christian woman who has aspired to be the Proverbs 31 good woman, Kathi Macias has brought hope.


Title: How Can I Run a Tight Ship When I'm Surrounded By Loose Cannons? - Proverbs 31 Discoveries for Yielding to the Master of the Seas
Author: Kathi Macias
Publisher: New Hope Publishers
ISBN-10: 1-59669-204-9
ISBN-13: 978-1-59669-204-6
SRP: $13.99 (U.S.)

Finding Faith in a Skeptical World by Chet Galaska--Book Review

Some books about faith overwhelm you with complex theology and language. Some are so condescending that they turn you off. But that definitely isn't the case with Finding Faith in a Skeptical World by Chet Galaska.

Finding Faith is a guide to what faith in God truly means. For the believer, it provides answers to questions they often feel inadequate to discuss. And for others, Finding Faith can help explain some of the most difficult concepts surrounding putting your faith in an all-knowing, all-powerful, loving God.

* Why doesn't prayer always work?
* What is sin and why is it important?
* Why do bad things happen?
* How is the Bible relevant to me?
* Why are there so many different Christian churches?
* How are Christians expected to conduct themselves?
* Why doesn't science prove there's a God?

These and many more topics are discussed by a former atheist who became a Christian after several years of investigating the faith with an open mind. Christian churches should keep multiple copies on-hand and every Christian home will want to own a copy of a book that offers so much information in such an encouraging way.

An engaging and powerful book awaits you in Finding Faith in a Skeptical World by Chet Galaska.


Title: Finding Faith in a Skeptical World
Author: Chet Galaska
Publisher: Triad Press
ISBN: 978-0-9816767-0-8
SRP: $14.99

Win a Free Copy of Ray Comfort's latest book at Fish with Trish

Pop on over to Fish with Trish and enter to win a copy of Ray Comfort's latest book, You Can Lead An Atheist to Evidence, But You Can't Make Him Think.

“To be an atheist is to play Russian roulette with all the chambers loaded…

“An atheist just can’t win. Of course, he feels and acts like a big player, until the trigger is pulled. The issue isn’t the existence of God. If he is wrong and there is a Creator, then he was wrong. He gambled and he lost. No big deal. The real gamble is that there’s no Hell. That’s what makes the player sweat, just a little. “What if…?”

In this entertaining and enlightening new book, Ray Comfort, author of the million-selling The Atheist Test, “talks to the atheists” and reveals not just the weakness of their arguments but the solid foundation upon which the Christian stands.

Few books take the time to address the atheist’s conscience. This book not only gives empirical evidence for the existence of God, it shows atheists that they desperately need His forgiveness. Using a lively Q&A format, featuring actual questions from atheists sent to Comfort’s blog at Atheist Central, You Can Lead An Atheist to Evidence, But You Can’t Make Him Think shows that God’s existence can be proven, and that anyone can do it!

You can find Ray online at www.livingwaters.com

The Life and Times of The Lord Jesus Christ: A Harmony of the Gospels by Peter E J Smith--Book Review

If you are looking for an easy way to review or study the life of Jesus Christ then The Life and Times of the Lord Jesus Christ: A Harmony of the Gospels by Peter E J Smith may be just what you're looking for.

In this 155-page book, Smith has taken the events written about in the four Gospels and put them in chronological order so that the reader gets a full understanding of the events of Christ's life as they occurred. Hailed by the author as "...something of a fifth gospel" this book begins with John 1: 1-18, which says, "In the beginning was the Word [Jesus Christ], and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." Then moves quickly through the ancestry of Jesus from the Gospel of Matthew, the announcement to Zacharias of the upcoming birth of his son--who he is instructed to name, John [the Baptist], the annunciation to Mary, Mary's visit to her cousin Elizabeth, and John's birth--which are all found in the first chapter of Luke. We briefly hear of the announcement to Joseph and him taking Mary as his wife from the Gospel of Matthew, then return back to the the Gospel of Luke for the birth of Christ and other events that occurred within his infancy. The reader travels along through the various gospels from Christ's infancy up to his Resurrection and Ascension.

Meant to be a companion volume to Ellen Gould White's Christian classic, The Desire of Ages, The Life and Times of the Lord Jesus Christ can be helpful to new Christians who want to explore Christ's life easily. It would also work well for Bible study groups who are interested in studying the four Gospels as a unit rather than exploring them separately. It could be a helpful resource to writers whose fiction or non-fiction stories revolve around the life of Christ or the times in which He lived.

I did, however, have a couple of concerns regarding this book. Smith states that he has spent over 20 years as an avid student of the life of Jesus Christ, but provides few sources. I found the Comparison a bit confusing because it contains so many numbers, and perhaps the reader would have been better served if Smith only discussed the reasons for the size of his book as he did in the last few paragraphs of this section. And this is just a tiny nitpick, but the entire Preface is written with every word capitalized and it also contained a few typographical errors. This is a bit distracting.

I know I will find The Life and Times of the Lord Jesus Christ helpful in my research and I believe others will find this chronological telling of the life of Jesus Christ easier to understand than if they read all four Gospels one after the other.


Title: The Life and Times of the Lord Jesus Christ: A Harmony of the Gospels
Author: Peter E J Smith
Publisher: Outskirts Press, Inc.
ISBN: 978-1-4327-0939-6
U.S. Price: $13.95

What's Wrong with Mormons by B. Jay Gladwell--Common Misconceptions

With a title like What's Wrong with Mormons? I paused for a moment when asked to host this tour. I was like, "Gee, is that a nice thing to say?" Then I read the subtitle, "a good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit", a Bible verse that our children will be learning more about at Vacation Bible School this year.

Today's guest blogger is B. Jay Gladwell, author of What's Wrong with Mormons? - a good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit. He'll discuss common misconceptions people have regarding Mormons and how people can find out the truth.

B.J.G.: What are three misconceptions about Mormons, what is the truth, and where can the truth be found?

When one considers the vast number of misconceptions about Mormons (members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints), attempting to select only three is a daunting task at best. The single greatest misconception about Mormons is we are not considered Christians.

Perhaps the grossest misconception argues that we are not Christians. Not one of these arguments have anything to do with whether or not we accept Jesus as the Christ (the Messiah—the Savior and Redeemer of all mankind). Nothing could further from the truth. Of course we do!

So the question must be asked, how does one define “Christian”? Webster’s Online Dictionary defines the term as: “one who professes belief in the teachings of Jesus Christ.” By definition, Mormons qualify as Christians.

Recently, I was interviewed on a talk-show radio program. During the course of that interview, the host (not a member of the LDS Church) asked, “Do you believe in Jesus Christ?” and “Do you believe He is the Son of God?” Both questions were answered in the affirmative. Then, much to his credit, he said, “All right, my Bible tells me that all I need to do to be saved is to repent of my sins and accept the Lord Jesus Christ as the Son of God. And this is where I have a problem with my evangelical brothers and sisters, who in the world are we to suggest that you, or anybody else, is wrong if you have met the requirements of salvation?”

Herein lays the heart of the matter. What the opponents of the Church have said, those who refuse to recognize Mormons as Christians, in so many words, is that the term “Christian” is only defined to mean “those who believe as I believe.” When a person claims Mormons aren’t Christians what he’s really saying is Mormons don’t embrace the traditional idea of the Trinity. “Their Jesus is different from our Jesus,” is the usual response.

In his book, Are Mormons Christians?, author Stephen E. Robinson states, “If the term Christian is used, as it is in standard English, to mean someone who accepts Jesus Christ as the divine Son of God and the Savior of the world, then the charge that we aren’t Christians is false. However, if the word Christian is given an overly narrow definition, then it is merely a way of saying LDS Christians differ in some degree from other Christians. No one ‘owns’ the term Christian or has the right to deny it to others who worship Jesus as the divine Son of God.”

This misunderstanding as to what Mormons believe about Jesus Christ has grown out of the unfortunate reality that non-Mormons go to other non-Mormons in an effort to figure out what is it Mormons believe. How absurd! Would you go to a Baptist to learn what the Catholics believe?

So this dilemma leads to the answer to the second half of the question posed above. To learn the truth about what Mormons believe, ask a practicing Mormon. It’s that simple!

About the book:

What’s Wrong Wrong With Mormons? was written as a result of the falsehoods and misinformation that continues to be perpetuated by those who are less than honest. The author, B. Jay Gladwell, invites the reader to come and reason together. Using a conversational style, he discusses the basic doctrines of the restored Gospel, based on the teachings found in the Holy Bible and latter-day scriptures.

About the author: B. Jay Gladwell is an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Having served in several leadership positions in the Church on the local level, he currently serves as the Gospel Doctrine teacher in his ward. He received and MFA from the University of Miami in screen writing and has taught various writing and cinema classes on the university level in South Florida.

He and his wife have four grown children and live in Miami, Florida.

You can visit his website at www.whatswrongwithmormons.com or his blog at www.whats-wrong-with-mormons.blogspot.com.


The WHAT'S WRONG WITH MORMONS? VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR '08 will officially begin on August 4, 2008 and continue all month long. You can visit B. Jay's tour stops at www.virtualbooktours.wordpress.com in August to find out more about him and his book!

As a special promotion for all our authors, Pump Up Your Book Promotion is giving away a FREE virtual book tour to a published author with a recent release or a $25 Amazon gift certificate to those not published who comments on our authors' blog stops. More prizes will be announced as they come available. One winner per author will be announced on our tour blog on August 31!

This virtual book tour has been brought to you by: