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Introducing J Bennett Easterling, MSI Press Author

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Bennett earned a journalism degree from University of Southern Mississippi and an MS in Business Administration. He worked as a Management Intern by the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission (TN), U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (MD), and as a staff advisor to then Congressman Trent Lott (with whom he is shown here), helping develop a national policy for nuclear waste disposal. The last ten years of his career was spent searching for a safe disposal site for high-level radioactive waste—much of this time was spent speaking to State and local governments, American Indian Tribes, and the public. He edited the  Jones County Junior College  newspaper, wrote for the University of Southern Mississippi  Student Printz  newspaper, and taught a freshman journalism course at USM. He served as sports copy editor for the  Bristol Herald Courier  (VA/TN). His professional career included writing speeches for Presidential appointees, congressional testimony, and public relations. He and his wife lead

The Story behind the Book: God Speaks into Darkness (Easterling)

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  Today's book back story is about Bennettt Easterling's book,   God Speaks into Darkness . From the publisher --  This book was one of 12 produced during the pandemic in answer to a call from the publisher to authors to produce a series of books to provide support to readers during the pandemic. They were to be very reasonably priced and also available in e-book versions to make them accessible to as many readers as possible. Each author who accepted the call was asked to write a pandemic-oriented book in their own specialty/genre. Easterling had written two award-winning spiritual books,  Of God, Rattlesnakes, and Okra  and  Jesus Is Still Passing By . Bennett's paperback book can also be purchased at the  MSI Press webstore  at discount. (Use FF25 for 25% discount.) Pinnacle Book Achievement Award American Book Fest Best Books FinalistA For more posts about Bennett and his book, click  HERE . Sign up for the MSI Press LLC newsletter Follow MSI Press on  Twitter ,  Face B

Recently Released: God Speaks into Darkness (Easterling)

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Proudly announcing the release of  God Speaks into Darkness , the third book in our pandemic series -- a set of books dedicated to helping people make it safely (mentally and physically) through the pandemic. These books are written by experts in their fields, who are also authors by their own right of other MSI Press books, and  information about new books to be released in this series can be found on the  MSI Press home page . In God Speaks into Darkness,  brief devotionals speak to the enormous challenges facing our world today. So many of you are grieving loss of loved ones, or risking your life daily to help others, or facing  loss of your livelihood, financial ruin or uncertainty. The  Psalms and teachings of Jesus offer treasures of hope for today and promises us a brighter tomorrow. You will find in  these meditations that God wants to comfort his own and then use us to help and bless one another. Bennett Easterling has authored two other popular and award-winning book

The Story behind the Book: God Speaks into Darkness (Easterling)

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  Today's book back story is about Bennettt Easterling's book,   God Speaks into Darkness . From the publisher --  This book was one of 12 produced during the pandemic in answer to a call from the publisher to authors to produce a series of books to provide support to readers during the pandemic. They were to be very reasonably priced and also available in e-book versions to make them accessible to as many readers as possible. Each author who accepted the call was asked to write a pandemic-oriented book in their own specialty/genre. Easterling had written two award-winning spiritual books, Of God, Rattlesnakes, and Okra and Jesus Is Still Passing By . Bennett's paperback book can also be purchased at the  MSI Press webstore  at discount. (Use FF25 for 25% discount.) Pinnacle Book Achievement Award American Book Fest Best Books FinalistA For more posts about Bennett and his book, click HERE . Sign up for the MSI Press LLC newsletter Follow MSI Press on  Twitter ,  Face Book

Excerpt from God Speaks into Darkness (Easterling): Are You Lonely Tonight?

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Excerpt from the award-winning book, God Speaks into Darkness , by Bennett Easterling, MSI Press author, winner of many book awards.  Are You Lonely Tonight? Inspired by Psalm 120 If you’re a believer sincerely trying to follow the Lord, you’re going to feel pretty lonely at times. Hello? Listen to the Psalmist crying on God’s shoulder: “Deliver me, O Lord, from this world of liars. They have lied so much it’s become a way of life. O lying tongue, what shall become of you? You will be pierced with sharp arrows and burned with red-hot coals. My troubles multiply among these God-haters; these scoundrels, scalawags, and scammers! I am weary of their talk of plots and revenge; they love wars and hate peace. My voice for peace is drowned out in their councils, by those clamoring for war. In my lonely troubles, I pled with God to help me. I opened my heart to him, crying out for him to intervene. And, once again, he heard my plea and came to my aid. Thank you Abba!” Have you noticed that ly

Guest Post from J Bennett Easterling: Making Christmas Personal

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                                                   MAKING CHRISTMAS PERSONAL   A teenager in our little country church many years ago had a self-image problem. So convinced was he of his “unworthiness” he refused to take Holy Communion. Nothing we or the minister said could convince him otherwise. I shall never forget the sadness of seeing him sitting alone and forlorn in one of the rear pews as the rest of us joined together in joyful Christmas communion. Sadly, many still struggle with the idea that we are not “good enough” to please God. Maybe that’s why the Holy Spirit gave the prophet Isaiah this all-inclusive vision some 700 years before the birth of Jesus:                “Unto us a child is born. Unto us a son is given. And the government will be on his shoulders.                And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. “                                                                                                  

A Family Game for Easter (guest post by J. Bennett Easterling)

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Are you interested in moving beyond the traditional egg hunt and chocolate bunnies, finding ways to engage the children of your family in the Easter story? We’ve discovered a delightful game that both adults and kids enjoy. It’s as simple as finding some colored plastic Easter eggs—the kind that open up--and stuffing them with questions or clues surrounding the trial, crucifixion, and resurrection story. Find an Easter basket, fill it with fake grass and place the eggs inside the basket.   When everyone is seated for dinner, someone passes the basket around the table. Each person takes an egg, then take turns opening their egg and reading the scripture verse or showing the clue and telling what it has to do with Easter.\ You can be quite imaginative in stuffing the eggs, using small nails, bits of fabric, thorns, spices and other items as well as scripture verses. If the one opening the egg cannot explain how it relates to Easter, the other children are invited to answ

Author in the News: Bennett Easterling's Book, God Speaks into Darkness, Selected for Pinnacle Books Achievement Award

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  Congratulations to Bennett Easterling, whose book, God Speaks into Darkness, was selected as the winner of the Best Religion Book of 2020 by Pinnacle Book Achievement Awards. This book is one of the books in the pandemic series.  Amazing....Bennett's books have all been winners in the Pinnacle Book Achievement Award competition, organized by the National Association of Book Exhibitors. To read more about Bennett and his books, including this one, click HERE . To see the list of pandemic books, click HERE .

Author in the News: Bennett Easterling's Book, God Speaks into Darkness, Selected as Finalist in American Book Fest Best Books Award Competition

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  MSI Press is proud to announce that J Bennett Easterling's book, God Speaks into Darkness , has been selected as a 2020 finalist in the American Book Fest Best Books Awards competition. Way to go, Bennett!  To read more about Bennett and his other award-winning books, click  HERE .

Book Alert: Jesus Is Still Passing By

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Sent to the printer today: Jesus Is Still Passing By by award-winning author J. Bennett Easterling. Look for pre-orders on Amazon and Barnes & Noble as early as next week. This is a great book for individual devotions and for group study. From the Bible: 36 miracles, each explicated by Easterling in a background information section. Every miracle of Jesus in days of yore finds three (!) parallels in real life stories from today.Reflection questions that cause pondering and self-development accompany each of these life applications -- in all, well more than 100 study, reflection, and discussion questions. A rich resource for all Christians and those wanting to know more about the Christian religion.

The Story behind the Book: Jesus Is Still Passing By (Easterling)

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  Today's book back story is about the book, Jesus Is Still Passing By ,  by J Bennett Easterling. From the publisher: This is one of my favorite books. Usually, I pass along books for copyediting to one of or our copyeditors, and if a book is in need of actual editing, I recommend that the author take on external editor. This book was different. It was well written, but the miracles reached out to me.  In this book, the author provided a modern-day miracle for each Bible miracle. Thanks to the author's willingness to let a publisher have input, I found some interesting, dramatic examples of miracles that we were able to sew into the text.  Beyond that, we shared something that publisher and author rarely do: faith and discussion of faith. Needless to say, publishing this book was an unusually rewarding spiritual experience on a number of levels. For more posts about Bennett and his books, click HERE . Award This book won a Pinnacle Book Achievement Award for religion Paperback

Review of GodSway (Keithley) by Bennett Easterling

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  Review of GodSway from J Bennett Easterling (author of award-winning books, Of God, Rattlesnakes, and Okra , God Speaks into Darkness , and  Jesus Is still Passy By ): GODSWAY , My Anecdotes with God , by Diana Skidmore Keathley This is a vivid and inspiring journey into the spiritual life of a charming lady. Diane’s memoir is filled with heart-warming stories of kindness, sacrifices, and an ever-growing faith in the goodness of God. It is a story you will long remember, as she takes baby steps in faith because he keeps dong strange and wonderful things in her life, proving beyond all doubt that he loves us personally and passionately. You will thrill as she tells of so many “co-incidences” happening to her—prayers answered even when she dared to pray in great detail for specific provisions. She began to realize that God is involved in every detail of our lives, willing and able to bless and guide us, providing for our every need. What surprised her even more were the many ways God

Daily Excerpt: Of God, Rattlesnakes, and Okra (Easterling): Momma, Do Something!

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  Excerpt from Of God, Rattlesnakes, and Okra   MOMMA, DO SOMETHING! That would be my sisters complaining about me. They started dating when I was barely a school-age urchin. When their suitors called, Momma sent me out on the front porch to entertain them while the girls finished primping. Taking this duty seriously, I poured my heart into it. Sadly, my efforts were not always appreciated. One of Edith’s beaus was plagued with teenage acne, which left ugly pockmarks. Trying to make conversation, I asked if someone had shot him in the neck with buckshot. Sister Iris fell for a fellow whose notable feature was big tobacco-stained front teeth. As we sat on our porch swing making small talk, my beloved hound dog Ole Pup joined our waiting party. I noticed his teeth looked a lot like Pup’s. “Do you know that your teeth look like Ole Pup’s?” I asked him. He must’ve thought it funny because he laughed nervously. Iris failed to enjoy the joke. Geraldine’s first boyfriend was a lanky

Daily Book Excerpt: God Speaks into Darkness - Hemmed In and Locked Out?

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    excerpt from God Speaks into Darknes s (Easterling) Hemmed in and Locked Out? Inspired by Psalm 88 Today, as this is being written, the world is still losing to COVID-19, which has claimed thousands of lives and infected millions. Twenty-two million Americans have filed for unemployment—and the toll is mushrooming every day.  The United States is facing the worst economic collapse since the Great Depression. What began in China has locked down, isolated, or quarantined the lives, health, and economy of every nation. Psychiatrists tell us prisoners locked in total isolation for long periods never fully recover. Courts are being asked to decide if this is such cruel and inhumane punishment that it violates our constitution and should be banned. Have you ever found yourself locked into a perplexing predicament that seems irresolvable, a situation so desperate it seemed unbearable? A pit can be so dark and deep it drains one of hope, slams you up against the border of depression or th