Review and GIVEAWAY: The Glimpse by Grant Carroll...

A few months back I was given an awesome opportunity and blessing by an author. Grant Carroll wrote me an email and asked if I would be interested in reviewing his book, The Glimpse.  I had never heard of it and I’m not sure if I would have come across it if he didn’t write me. This book was incredible and I don’t say that lightly.

About the book:
Author: Grant Carroll

Book: The Glimpse

Page Range: 211

Genre: Christian Fiction

Age Range: youth, young adults, parents, church leaders and the Christian Church at large. Its message is for you.

The Dream
In 2007, God gave Grant Carroll a critical end times message for the American church through a chilling dream his wife had. Not long after, he began to notice uncanny similarities between the dream and real world events happening to Christians in the news. Grant felt led to turn the dream into a piece of Christian fiction that would grab people's attention, so they would understand the dire warning of coming persecution, before it's too late. That story is called The Glimpse, and it's for youth, young adults, parents, church leaders and the Christian Church at large. Its message is for you.

Story Synopsis
Austin Kelly is about to learn a lesson: Be careful when you pray for God to change you, because He answers prayer. Even though he's a Sunday School teacher, Austin's faith in Jesus Christ is no match for his fear of rejection from others. Lizzie Kelly has more courage than her husband, but struggles to find fulfillment and meaning in her job at their church. The couple's friends aren't faring much better. Computer tech Daniel Cabrera fights disappointment with the direction his career has taken, and even more frustration with the church youth he teaches. His wife, Jackie, strives to maintain a sense of control over her life, but it's quickly faltering. Faced with churches dying across New York City, the four Christian teachers have a cry in their hearts for their lives to make a difference. God answers their cry by throwing them into a world that looks like a nightmare version of the United States. Everything is so similar, yet totally different, starting with the fact that Christians are nearly extinct after decades of persecution. They soon discover it is a fascist nation, where anyone who professes faith in Christ risks their life. The four travelers encounter a group of teenagers that turn out to be one of the last surviving churches, led by their high school teacher, Eric Peterson. With no visible way to get home, Austin, Lizzie and their friends join the underground church in their fight to spread the Gospel while avoiding the National Police. Their task is made even more difficult when revival breaks out in the local high school and draws unwanted attention, but they know they can't stop until their work is complete and the Lord makes a way for them to go home...if there is one.

  



From the Author
Growing up, I never saw myself writing Christian books, much less Christian fiction, but I've learned that sometimes God gives us dreams we never could have imagined ourselves. For most authors, a book starts off as an idea that grows over time into a storyline. For me, it was quite different. Early one morning, my wife woke me up saying she had just experienced the most vivid dream in her life, and she went on to tell me every detail. Her dream went on to become the outline for The Glimpse. I feel that I am just as much a scribe as a writer in this instance. While this story is not intended to give predictions of the future, the Lord has shown me several reasons why this story is so important and relevant to the American church right now.

•70-80% of Christian youth leave the Church once they reach college age. The result is that the American Church body is slowly dying out.

•For those in the Millennial generation  (born from 1982 to 2002) fewer than 1% hold to a biblical worldview. God's Word is no longer seen as absolute truth.

•There have been several instances in recent news where Christians in America were persecuted for publicly preaching the Gospel.

My prayer is that this book will make an impact on Christianity in America, and around the world for the sake of Christ's Kingdom. It's a big goal, but with God all things are possible.

Biography
I am a husband to my vivacious wife Nikki, proud father of four gorgeous children and owner of 3 vicious Chihuahuas. I love to write. I grew up in a little town called Claude, Texas and began writing poetry when I was a preteen. My poetry was published when I was 14. I began writing professionally in 2005. I wrote website content and believe me, it was nothing special.

In 2007, God placed a burden for the next generation on my heart. I began writing Christian plays to minster to the youth. Late in 2007, my wife and I started Child Refuge (www.childrefuge.org) to fight sexual abuse through awareness, prevention and empowerment.

We are currently launching a movement called Wear Christ on Your Sleeve (www.WearChristOnYourSleeve.com) to empower Christian youth and young adults to proudly wear the name of Jesus and live a Christ-like life.

 I'm excited to see where God is taking me and vigorously writing the words He tells me to. I never imagined that God would use my writing for His glory. I'm on an exciting journey with God. It takes trust and endurance, but I'm humbled to be in this race.

 My Review
This book had me intrigued from page one to the very end. The Glimpse is not a read that will leave you when the last words are done… it will move you and shape your faith into something greater.

This book had a lot of topics I’ve been thinking hard on this year. America is changing and not for the better. Christians are failing by not stepping out in faith and standing for the truth. Churches are dying… not just here, but everywhere. There are things in this book that are happening right now and things that might just come to be. It gave me goose bumps, but also made me want to rise up.

The Glimpse is a wakeup call to all us Christians and we really need to wake up. The church is just one generation from dying… one generation! I recently heard that the ages of 18 to 31 are known as the dead age. Meaning that is the biggest age group for having no faith and no God. Where did we fail?

The ending was bittersweet, you might just shed a few tears; I sure did. I was not expecting some of the shockers that were exposed at the end, but it truly tied the book together. Very well written Mr. Carroll.

We need to shine that Light that has been given to us and use every day as an opportunity to minister to others. Time is short, souls are being lost, and people are hungry.

I can honestly say I’m not the same after reading this. This book lit a fire in me and it won’t be blown out!

Because I like this book so much and I mean SO much, I’m doing a giveaway. One of you can win a free paperback copy.  Just enter the Rafflecopter below for chances to win and please tell your family and friends.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

For those of you that would like to purchase The Glimpse please go to

http://www.amazon.com/The-Glimpse-Grant-Austin-Carroll/dp/0615644783/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1375931344&sr=8-1&keywords=the+glimpse

Or

http://www.amazon.com/Glimpse-Vision-Americas-Future-ebook/dp/B0084QSNE2/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=8-1&qid=1375933102

The price is quite a steal for both e-book and paperback.

For more information on the author and The Glimpse please follow these links…

www.facebook.com/theglimpsebook

www.ChildRefuge.org

www.youtube.com/user/childrefuge

 I received a copy of this book from the author. I was not entitled to share a positive review. Thank you Grant Carroll for blessing me with an incredible tale! Your kindness will never be forgotten.