#Dick Brogden

[craigtowens]

Book Reviews From 2023

Looking for something good to read? Here are the books I read and reviewed in 2023.

I love reading, and I love sharing my love of good books with others! Here is a list of the books I read and reviewed in 2023. Click on a title to be taken to that review. A Hobbit, A Wardrobe, And A Great War Opportunity Leadership Proverbs: Amplified and Applied Sage Advice Here are my book reviews for 2011. Here are my book reviews for 2012. Here are my book reviews for 2013. Here are my book…

[1five1two]

God’s great mercy and fierce wrath are both solid realities that stretch like railroad tracks to a point beyond our comprehension.

Dick Brogden

[tabernacleheart]

A muted Christianity is a starving Christianity—and it will eventually die.

Dick Brogden

[the-darkling-writes]

Book Review: Short Story Anthology--Cursed

This book caught my attention for several reasons. It's a short story anthology, and because I've been focusing on short story writing lately, I picked it up to see what I could glean from its pages. Also, Neil Gaiman's name is on the cover, a prolific and shadowy writer and someone I greatly admire. Finally, the cover itself was just beautiful. Very gothic and spooky, which if you can't tell is something I'm very into.

As I said, the book is an anthology, containing twenty short stories and poems revolving around the idea of curses. Curses of fairy tale malignancy, werewolf infection, horrible cries of the dead, and more. The authors sought to explore some aspects of curses, retelling fairy tale hexes and brewing their own in black cauldrons.

Most of the stories were enjoyable, having the atmospheres of dark fantasy, horror, the gothic, and more. Definitely not a book you want people of a younger generation to read given its themes and some of its suggestive content. These are not the fairy tales that you tell Dick and Jane as you tuck them in after some milk and cookies. This is a book for when the sky is dark and when the spooky sounds of the forest reach your ear while you're sitting in your comfy chair sipping a cup of tea. Some of my favorite stories included "Troll Bridge" by Neil Gaiman, "Skin" by James Brogden, "Faith & Fred" by Maura McHugh, and "Wendy, Darling" by Christopher Golden. There were some outlandish and humorous stories such as "Henry and the Snakewood Box" by M.R. Carey and "Fairy Werewolf vs Vampire Zombie" by Charlie Jane Anders, the latter which I thought was a little out of place but it was something new to read.  

I enjoyed most of the stories, but I have discovered with short story anthologies there are always a handful of stories that fail to meet my expectations, such as "The Black Fairy's Curse" by Karen Joy Fowler, which I did not understand, and "Haza and Ghani" by Lilith Saintcrow, which I found to be boring. Even some of the stories I enjoyed had flaws, the most common of them being that the endings occurred way too quickly. However, just as some tracks on an album don't compare very well to its better songs, I will not judge an entire book as a whole based on those not quite rotten, but rather dull-tasting eggs.

Cursed gets four out of five stars, for teaching me more about the short story form and for satisfying some of my longings for dark literature. If you are in the mood for a spooky, suspenseful, and shocking read, I definitely recommend this book!

[breathingzoe]

Extended daily time in the Word and in the presence of Jesus through prayer are the basic building blocks of abiding

Dick Brogden

[txjessy]

My Blue Angel

Happy Sunday,  I hope everyone is doing great! I was trying to stay away from my blog until my next book review, but, I have been blessed today and wanted to share a little praise report.

Today we had missionary Dick Brogden, from Egypt as a guest speaker at my church. This was the first time I had heard of him and I was touched by the way God used him. I literally cried through most of the…

[globalcastresources]

Via @cag.bowie Abide in Jesus. Spend a lot of time in the presence of the living God under the authority of His Word, and that will give you divine unction and divine power to change the world. - Dick Brogden @livedeadspeak

[craigtowens]

Links & Quotes

Some links and quotes that caught my eye this week.

God made you uniquely YOU! You have been made on purpose and for a purpose. I have lots of new content every week, which you can check out on my YouTube channel. This is an exciting archeological discovery: the first Koine Greek rendering of a psalm ever discovered inscribed on stone rather than on parchment or papyrus. “The wise recognize before the fight that adversity will come and therefore…

[craigtowens]

Shepherds Individualize Their Care

Shepherd leaders need to be in the pastures where God has placed them, faithfully caring for the sheep under their care, and individualizing that care for each and every sheep.

Listen to the podcast of this post by clicking on the player below, and you can also subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or Audible.  https://craigtowens.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/shepherds-individualize-their-care.mp3 Karl Vaters and I share the same passionate belief that pastors—shepherd leaders—need to be in the pastures where God has placed them, faithfully caring for the sheep under their…

[craigtowens]

Critics Can Be Gifts To Us

Critics and their biting words may seem to serve no purpose except to bring you down. But I have two questions you should consider before you dismiss your critic.

Listen to the podcast of this post by clicking on the player below, and you can also subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or Audible. https://craigtowens.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/critics-can-be-gifts-to-us.mp3 I’m going to guess that I’m not alone in this: I don’t like when people criticize me.  Especially when I’m in a leadership position, trying my best to make good decision for the entire…

[craigtowens]

Links & Quotes

Some links and quotes that caught my eye this week.

We have added a lot of “stuff” to our prayer language, almost like God wouldn’t know that we were praying to Him unless we used these special words! Jesus made it simple by giving us two words: “Our Father.” I have lots of new content every week, which you can check out on my YouTube channel. “Immersing ourselves in the Psalms and turning them into prayers teaches our hearts the ‘grammar’ of…

[craigtowens]

Links & Quotes

Some links and quotes that caught my eye this week.

King Solomon has two phrases that help us keep a biblical perspective. If we miss this, Solomon says, we are going to experience a lot of frustration. I have lots of new content every week, which you can check out on my YouTube channel. The angel told Joseph what he needed to do, and Joseph responded immediately. This is how we should live too—No complaints, no excuses, just obedience.  “If we…

[craigtowens]

Links & Quotes

Some links and quotes that caught my eye this week.

On the latest episode of The Craig And Greg Show, Greg and I talked about Christmas traditions. I have lots of new content every week, which you can check out on my YouTube channel. “Always be sure of your ground and be sure that you are honoring God. If there is anything about the situation that will make you special, it will bring you sorrow. Your whole ministry has to be along the lines of…

[craigtowens]

Links & Quotes

Some links and quotes that caught my eye this week.

Are you looking for a Christmas gift for your pastor? Check out my book Shepherd Leadership. I have lots of new content every week, which you can check out on my YouTube channel. “We rise no higher when we pull others down, yet when we stoop to serve, we conquer.” —Dick Brogden, in Proverbs: Amplified and Applied  “Truth is incontrovertible. Panic may resent it. Ignorance may deride it. Malice…

[craigtowens]

Links & Quotes

Some links and quotes that caught my eye this week.

On Veterans Day, Greg and I wanted to encourage you to ask a veteran to tell you their stories. Their stories are a vital link to our stories too! Watch this full conversation on The Craig and Greg Show. I have lots of new content every week, which you can check out on my YouTube channel. “When we are foolish and young, we need more rules. As we mature, we can be trusted with extended…

[craigtowens]

Links & Quotes

Some links and quotes that caught my eye this week.

Put the good stuff from the Bible in your heart and mind regularly. When you do, the Holy Spirit can remind you of what you’ve studied and help you apply it to your daily situations. I have lots of new content every week, which you can check out on my YouTube channel. “It pays to know the enemy—not least because at some time you may have the opportunity to turn him into a friend.” —Margaret…