Local Authors Featured: Get Hooked on Christian Books

The southern Hillsborough County is bursting with local Christian writers publishing books. Many of these books range from Christian fiction, children’s books, self-help books, and autobiographies. Below is a compilation of some of the books available for purchase on-line, in local bookstores, or through the authors’ personal Websites.

Lord, Disciple Me by Richard Mull of Seffner

Jesus commanded all of his disciples to “go and make disciples of all nations.” This book dares you to examine how Jesus Himself made disciples
Mull’s honest account of his personal journey toward biblical discipleship presents a dilemma for twenty-first-century believers: Will you adopt a system of belief that explains why we disciple differently than Jesus did, or admit that in spite of our education and experience, we may not be making disciples according to Jesus’ teaching?
God desires to take you on a journey much like that of Jesus’ first disciples, who learned to do what Jesus was doing by observing Him in action and obeying what He taught. Lord, Disciple Me will challenge you to develop a Biblical foundation for your life journey. For more information on Mull’s ministry, Operation Lightforce, visit www.operationlightforce.com. This book can be purchased through www.amazon.com.

Heal The Sick by Junior and Marilyn Ellis of Brandon
Authors and self-described healing ministers, Junior and Marilyn Ellis, believe many Christians are missing a fundamental command of the Gospels, as written in Matthew 10:8 to heal the sick. Heal the Sick explains this command found in the Bible to not only spread the gospel and pray for the sick, but to actually heal the sick. The authors provide readers with inspiring, firsthand accounts of the many miraculous healings they’ve experienced and witnessed over the years. The book can be purchased at www.amazon.com.

Soul Reunion by Laura Day of Apollo Beach
Soul Reunion is a fresh look at the truths of the Old Testament and how we can discover our significance as we reflect upon how God worked in the past. Day tells the never-ending story of faith and family.  The book leads readers to discover how the spiritual and physical lineage of mankind has been undeniably woven together since the beginning of creation. Through personal stories and scripture application, readers can confidently embrace their special place in God’s family. Soul Reunion can be purchased at Barnes and Noble and other bookstores.

Can We Be Friends? by Paula M. Parlor of Riverview
 Can We Be Friends is a book geared towards older children and young teens and tells the story about a young girl named Sarah who is thrilled that a new girl has moved into her neighborhood. The new friend, Laurie, is in a wheelchair and not all students at school are welcoming her. Sarah is determined to help Laurie fit in. Sarah never imagined that Laurie would be faced with so many obstacles. This book is available at www.e-booktime.com

 Marriage: What’s the Point? by Jesse Birkey of Riverview
Sandra Bullock,  Ashlee Simpson, Tiger Woods, Charlie Sheen, Eva Longoria, LeAnn Rimes – the list goes on and on. What do all these people have in common? The end of a relationship due to infidelity. We are all aware of these celebrity breakups. And nearly everyone has watched it happen to family and friends. As a society, this causes us to believe that infidelity always leads to the end of a relationship. Author Jesse Birkey disagrees and offers real answers in his new book, Marriage: What’s The Point?
Marriage What’s The Point?’ is the story of a powerful transformation of relationships, initiated by an instance of infidelity. Jesse Birkey married his school sweetheart, made a career as a firefighter/paramedic and had two beautiful children.
His life was enviable and he found security in what he had until God allowed his most treasured relationship, his marriage, to be tested.
 It was this event that caused him to realize he needed a relationship with God. God restored his marriage, but even more importantly started him on a journey of understanding, true love and intimacy. He hopes Marriage What’s The Point can serve as an outreach for the hurting and broken and can serve as a message of hope in a world seemingly filled with divorce, failed relationships, broken dreams and broken hearts.
“Marital tragedy,” stated Birkey, “with total transparency isn’t something that is talked about very much.  There is an overwhelming amount of hurt and devastation out there in so many marriages.  I believe that there is power in a testimony.”
 “But if the tragedy isn’t talked about with transparency then there can’t be a testimony.
 I wrote this book because of the power in my wife and I’s testimony.  We believe that this book can bring hope to those who have none and healing to the broken.  This book was written while walking a path marked by tragedy, despair, hopelessness, desperation, transformation, reconciliation, and complete Holy Spirit saturation. This is a story of restoration.”
For more information contact Jesse and Kara Birkey at 405-7592 or visit Reflect Ministry at www.marriagewhatsthepoint.com. The book is also available on www.amazon.com.