Finding Virginia follows David's search to regain solid ground after being hit by the same economic woes that have shaken America's middle class -- the dot.com bust, real estate crash, college debt -- problems suddenly compounded by his father's failing health during the summer of 2011. A true story, his journey takes an unlikely and compelling path that includes romance, humor, jeeps, and reflections on a coming-of-age summer working at an island resort in 1986. His stories weave into an entertaining and satisfying whole, a bumpy ride cushioned by an underlying optimism that characterizes the American spirit. "Finding Virginia is a fun read, an interesting yarn about a guy whose life has followed the Jeep trail less traveled. Arches Magazine, Spring 2012 "Just finished your book. It was an excellent piece of literature. It had just the right amount of love story, jeeps, and life in general. A+. I'll recommend it to all my friends." William Dabney "Dave, you hit a home run. It is Not Zen and the art of Motorcycle maintenance....Your book is much more readable than that was . . . This is a book that you CAN give your wife to read....and she will enjoy it." Bill Reiss "I finished your book and, although I don't share your love of jeeps (but do now have more of an appreciation of them), your passion for jeeps, life, and food, your compassion for your parents, and your emotional honesty was most touching. Few autobiographies that I have read which were written by men have achieved this level emotional intimacy- entirely unvarnished by a layer of machismo." Leslie Guerci "David, I just have to tell you I loved your book. Your descriptive writing style is just wonderful and it kept me glued to the pages wanting to know more." Robert Christy "And the book is great I end up feeling like I just heard a story from a long lost friend. David, you are really good at painting a picture with your stories. I like that kind of writing. And I just love how you flow from family to jeeps to Virginia...it's all connected...but not. I just like it okay." Dana Foster Wilfert "Bought and read the book. You have a great style and should attack a good novel. In my life I have read many writers as they have written a number of books. I think you have started at a higher level than most. Keep it up. As for connections that can never be broken, you have and will find that they have an uncanny way of finding the right place which is of course the point of being so naturally connected. Too philosophical but when you write about such topics you are bound to open up the topic. Take care and good fortune to you. Once again good job on the book. I enjoyed it greatly. Keep writing " Wade Hall "Thanks for the new book. I started to read mine last Tuesday and I am already in Page 80; Wow , I have to say you did a great job. It is funny because I am learning so much about you that actually feels strange. You have had a very singular life, with some many different aspects. The plot is fascinating, it is really hard to stop reading." Sebastian Logo-Guerrero
? After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, America's fast carrier task forces, with their aircraft squadrons and powerful support warships, went on the offensive. Under orders from Fleet Admiral Ernest J. King, the newly appointed Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, as the Commander-in-Chief of the Pacific Fleet, took the fight to the Japanese, using island raids to slow their advance in the Pacific. Beginning in February 1942, a series of task force raids led by the carriers USS Enterprise, USS Yorktown, USS Lexington and USS Hornet were launched, beginning in the Marshall Islands and Gilbert Islands. An attempted raid on Rabaul was followed by successful attacks on Wake Island and Marcus Island. The Lae-Salamaua Raid countered Japanese invasions on New Guinea. The most dramatic was the unorthodox Tokyo (Doolittle) Raid, where 16 carrier-launched B-25 medium bombers demonstrated that the Japanese mainland was open to U.S. air attacks. The raids had a limited effect on halting the Japanese advance but kept the enemy away from Hawaii, the U.S. West coast and the Panama Canal, and kept open lines of communications to Australia.
Designed to locate and sink German U-boats in the Battle of the Atlantic, the escort carrier USS Bogue (CVE-9) became the most successful Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) carrier of World War II. This book covers the construction and commissioning of the Bogue, as well as the deployment of Naval Aviation composite squadrons that launched missions from the flight deck. Day-to-day operations are chronicled in comprehensive detail, along with developments in ASW tactics and the breaking of Germany's Enigma Naval Code, which enabled U.S. Navy forces in the Atlantic to take the offensive.
"Look Who God Let into the Church" is a practical and relevant guide for church leadership and membership alike to understand the multicultural church, and to sharpen its impact in the world. The foreword is written by Dr James E. Plueddemann, PhD, Professor of Missions and Intercultural Studies, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Deerfield, IL, and Former International Director of SIM (Serving in Mission). International and multicultural churches are increasing in number around the world, but this work is not new to God. The very first church was not a small country church of one ethnic group, but a large city church with a multicultural congregation. For the Church of today to succeed in its mission of witness and worship, and in forming strong-binding fellowships with one another, the values of God's kingdom must be primary, superior over all individual cultural values. This is the focus of this book: to affirm the biblical standards of church life and to paint a realistic picture of the multicultural challenges the international church presents. David Packer and his wife Lana served as senior pastor and wife of the International Baptist Church of Singapore from 1992-2004, during which time the church grew from 500 in attendance to over 1,500. They are experienced veterans of the challenges and issues of leading a multicultural church. David also holds a doctoral in World Missions from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, and has done further studies in culture with the Interchange Institute. This work helps guide the pastor of an international church through the different ways that various cultures can view the gospel, worship, church decisions, and the mission of the church. It is written largely from the background of experience of seeing the growth, development, and challenges of the International Baptist Church of Singapore, where the Packers served. Quotation from the book: "The Great Commission is to take the gospel into all nations and it can be fulfilled through the spread of mono-cultural churches as well as through ethnically diverse churches. It is the transforming presence of the Holy Spirit and the teaching of the word of God that bring about Christian maturity and not merely the experience of being in a multinational church... "Prejudices between ethnic groups are not broken down by segregation. The basic biblical doctrine is that humanity is one in God's eyes. There is one heaven and one hell. There is one Mediator between God and humanity. There is only one church universal and only one true work of God and one true people of God. Though to seek to bring people from different cultures together in one church is challenging and even hazardous on some levels, to leave this undone brings even more dangers. Is there no place on earth where the Prince of Peace is revealing Himself as the Prince of Peace? Is there no place on earth where the One to whom every knee shall bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth, is bowing together now? "The risks and challenges are real, but so are the dangers of inaction. The human race must realize its essential unity and learn to live together harmoniously. What better place to experience this than among the redeemed of the Lord? The song of redemption and of joy must be sung among the nations, and even if the cadences are expressed differently, the hearts of believers still must be united in thankful praise of our Redeemer. If peace on earth will be a reality before Christ returns, the local church should lead the way as they are enabled by the Spirit of Christ." Chapters: Why the International church?; The Challenge of Continuity; The Power of Experiencing God; The Challenges of Multiculturalism; The Gospel through Different Eyes; Dealing with the Discontent; What I Would Do Differently; Reclaiming the Future. And an appendix: Building A Common Narrative in an International Church.
