Randall Murphree
AFA Journal editor
January-February 2018 – I confess: I may sometimes be too eager to tell others about my favorite books. Forgive me, but here are a few of the best on my 2017 bookshelf. Find these titles online or at bookstores. And there’s a bonus – two stirring documentary films.
Two films tell stories of PTSD among veterans
These two gripping documentaries expose the emotional impact of PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) among the nation’s military veterans.
Produced by Crosswinds Foundation, Invisible Scars: Hope for Warriors with Hidden Wounds and Honoring the Code move the viewer to realize that the problem is both long-standing and far-reaching.
The films accomplish their goal – bringing awareness to the issue – through countless interviews with PTSD victims and with military, medical, and social science professionals. Subsequently, both films pack an emotional wallop as veterans tell their own stories of suffering for years without knowing where to find help.
At the same time, they communicate understanding among the general audience, and resources and treatment options for PTSD victims.
For veterans, military, and their families, the videos are available free at crosswindsfoundation.org. Crosswinds is a Birmingham, Alabama, nonprofit ministry.
Rule of Law
Randy Singer agreed to a brief interview with AFA Journal in 2002, just after his first novel, Directed Verdict, had released. The legal thriller became one of my all-time favorite novels, and it was soon named best suspense novel in that year’s Christy Awards for excellence in Christian fiction. No surprise to me.
Yes, this author/pastor/lawyer came out of the gate leading the pack. Some 12 novels and numerous awards later, Singer has honed his craft and reached a John Grisham level. His 2017 entry in the genre is Rule of Law, a compelling mix of legal and political intrigue.
In Rule of Law, a Seal Team mission ordered by the president ends up in a catastrophic failure. Its fast paced, heart-moving, finger-pointing plot promises edge-of-your-seat reading.
For me, the bonus of a Singer novel is that he avoids foul language and offensive sexual innuendo that too often fill the work of secular novelists.
“A great story without a spiritual truth is nothing but an escape to nowhere,” Singer said. “But if it’s a spiritual message and it’s not an entertaining story, then it’s just a sermon.”
Rule of Law is another Singer masterpiece.
Quest for the Nail Prints
This intriguing thriller features three unlikely 21st century travelers in Israel – at the time of Christ’s crucifixion. Not only has author Don Furr crafted a riveting time-travel adventure; he has also painted a powerful picture of the impact of Christ on a life that’s open to His Lordship. Quest for the Nail Prints is an engaging and entertaining read.
Up From Slavery
To read Booker T. Washington’s autobiography is an emotional experience. From the life of a slave to the pinnacle of respect for his contributions to society, he is a sterling example of how one person can, with faith and perseverance, achieve great things. Up From Slavery chronicles his incredible story in his own inimitable moving words.
An Anchor for the Soul
In this small volume, Ray Pritchard provides a clear and cogent look at what it means to accept and follow Christ. With fitting anecdotes and illustrations, he defines the pertinent words and concepts – sin, grace, salvation, repentance, and more. He answers the hard questions, e.g. why Jesus had to die. An Anchor for the Soul is a perfect guidebook for one who seeks to know more about how to find faith in God. 
