Kirjahaku

Things are going about as well for the Berkemeier family as they ever have, and Eli finds himself growing bored with life, remembering the excitement of past years. He does not miss the bad times, but he misses the excitement of horseracing. But alas, those days are now gone forever. Or are they? What began as a restless night on the Berkemeier homestead turns into a brutal nightmare for Eli as he ventures out into a snowstorm to fetch Molly, the only doctor within reach who might be able to save Doc Wilson from the illness that has overcome him. But even as Eli ventures out into the snowstorm, he is captured by Indians who have come to reclaim their women and children whom they had expelled from their reservation the year before. To make matters worse, Eli takes a violent blow to the head in his ride north to warn Molly and Chitto of the impending danger, and is left grasping for reality as amnesia sets in. Follow along as Eli finds himself in a world he cannot comprehend, trying to stay alive long enough to remember who he is, and figure out how to rescue himself and his loved ones from the Indians. The question is, will Eli turn to his old ways, fighting evil with evil, now that he has forgotten his faith in God, or will the Spirit of God restrain him during this difficult time, compelling him to live in such a way he doesn't understand in the moment. Only time will tell. And in the end, will Lightning come through for Eli when he needs him the most, or is Lightning too old and washed-up to settle old scores the peaceful way, stopping the bloodshed that would occur otherwise?

Set in the 1500's, The Flight From Bartertown is a tale of four civilizations that came together, thus forming an industrial center called Bartertown. It was here where the Aristocrats, the Separatists, The Celibates, and the Nephilim came together to barter for wares with one another. The story centers around a girl named Isabel who is from the land of the Aristocrats. While on their journey to transport Isabel's niece to the land of the Celibates because the Aristocrats could have only two daughters per family, Isabel and the Fontaine family's most trusted slave, Solomon, are caught in the middle of a war that breaks out between the Nephilim and the Aristocrats. Unable to return to her home, Isabel finds herself with a group of people, including a giant and his seven midget sons, running for her life. But alas, the only place they can escape to is over a mountain that is teeming with wild animals, not to mention winter is now upon them. Follow along as Isabel is caught up into this epic tale where she first hears of the Christian faith, and then wrestles with tough questions when she sees that despite her newfound faith, life is still a struggle, and there is no guarantee any of them will make it through alive.

Five years have passed since Billy Cassola wrestled away the Berkemeier homestead from Eli. But life for Billy didn't go as planned, and he finds himself fighting for his life, as his health deteriorates rapidly, thanks to his hard life, the only life he has ever known. The Berkemeier family stayed on at Doc Wilson's place after Molly's accident, and soon Eli had the Wilson farm thriving under his Protestant work ethic. But the past year brought dry weather, and everything they had accumulated the past few years was used up just to survive. The Berkemeier family was going to be okay, but when Eli bumps into Billy, and learns of his ailing health, and his need for financial support to go east to a doctor who could potentially help him, Eli once again finds himself in a predicament. Given the circumstances, this was the only way to save Billy's life, but the church forbade professional horseracing. Moreover, Billy was his enemy. Follow along as Eli wrestles with his thoughts, trying to decide if and how to help Billy, while Billy is left holding a losing hand, imminent death reaching for his life. To make matters worse, Eli is presented with an opportunity to go up against Billy and get his homestead back. Will Eli go against the church and help a dying enemy? Or will he turn his back on Billy, and leave him to his fate? Or will he betray Billy to get his homestead back? Only time will tell.

As America is thrust into utter chaos with no apparent end in sight from all the destruction brought about by its angry and uncontrollable youth, Jacob Berkemeier reflects on his Amish upbringing, and how it helped shape him the way it did. It wasn't a picnic by any stretch of the imagination, but it had its benefits through the rigid structure it provided. Follow along as Jacob recounts tales of his childhood, and how his brothers would stop at nothing to win. Whether it was horse racing, playing pranks on dad, or competing on the ice, it was in the Berkemeier blood to win. As winter comes to an end, there is a rivalry on the ice that hasn't yet been settled, and the Berkemeier brothers find themselves on thin ice for one last game to decide who the winner is. Will it be the west, the side of the hot-blooded Berkemeiers, or the east, the side of those pesky Frys? And will the ice be strong enough to hold them for one last hoorah? Only time will tell.

America is one of the greatest experiments to have ever been attempted. Despite her flaws, no other country has given such a diverse group of people the greatest liberties and opportunities as that of the great American dream. But what made America so great? And who were the people behind the ideas that founded America on a structure that would make America the greatest world power ever conceived? Although Aristotle and Shakespeare did not directly influence how America would be structured, the literature preserving their thoughts had a tremendous effect on the Western world, and particularly on Americans. But as valuable as their thoughts were to the Western world, and America in particular, we must still put their thoughts under the scope of Scripture, for Scripture alone can be trusted as the source by which we measure all that is said, compelling us to hold fast to all that is true, and demanding from us to reject all that is false.

On May 2, 2015, I was miraculously born again. And as I continued my journey through life with a new heart and a new mindset, I set to writing poetry to describe what the Christian journey is like. In this book you will find a variety of styles, with poems spanning from worship, to ballads, to thoughtful reflection on relevant topics. If you enjoy poetry, especially Christian poetry, then this book is for you. My hope is that it will encourage and strengthen you to press onward to the heavenly prize that awaits the faithful who are in Christ Jesus.