It is definitely a recommended read for all Christians.
Everyone yearns for a perfect life devoid of sorrows and failures, a life filled with grace and abundance but life, with its uncertainties rarely gives us all that or even how we envision life to be is denied us. For some people, life ends after a single disappointment. However, for God’s children, there is a light at the end of the tunnel, one only needs to respond to failures/disappointment as Christ will. John 16:33 captures this beautifully, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world”.
“Always before Me” therefore is a short fast-paced book deep, rooted in biblical principles and catholic doctrines. It captures trials, disappointments, resilience and redemption. The author wrote a suggestive guide on how we could handle life uncertainties through prayer, confession, believing and relying on Christ etc. He tried to cover almost every aspect of life we might have questions and provided answers for them through one of the main characters sermons – “Turn back to Him with all your heart, and rely on His great mercy if you will only repent. Through the mass, the Rosary, the scapular, the way of the cross and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, He will save you.”
The book had three main characters; the saint, the sinner and the man. Each of them created and crafted to relate to us based on our moral conscience. Just like every human, these men had their flaws and encounter their own share of life’s tragedy but at the end lessons were learnt and they were all victorious.
Though the book is quite a short read, it is definitely a recommended read for all Christians especially Catholics and anyone who wants fast-paced moral based book.
*****
REVIEWED BY
Christ A Poet Team
Loved it! 😍
Always Before Me is a recommended read for all Christians especially Catholics and anyone who wants a fast-paced moral based book.
Synopsis
Always Before Me, is a story about what to do if your failures are always before you and how to snatch victory and your dreams from unjust tragedy. It is the story of three men, a saint, a sinner and a man, like many men, trying to find his way despite his disappointments in life. It is a story about how each of these men finds his way back and finds redemption.
Each man endures many trials and much suffering that bring out the flaws and strengths in each of their characters. In the end, each of the men succeeds in his journey but only after facing much conflict and ultimately an elaborate intrigue involving a gang leader in the prison which leads to a shocking event that will affect these men and change their destiny forever.
Everyone yearns for a perfect life devoid of sorrows and failures, a life filled with grace and abundance but life, with its uncertainties rarely gives us all that or even how we envision life to be is denied us. For some people, life ends after a single disappointment. However, for God’s children, there is a light at the end of the tunnel, one only needs to respond to failures/disappointment as Christ will. John 16:33 captures this beautifully, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world”.
“Always before Me” therefore is a short fast-paced book deep, rooted in biblical principles and catholic doctrines. It captures trials, disappointments, resilience and redemption. The author wrote a suggestive guide on how we could handle life uncertainties through prayer, confession, believing and relying on Christ etc. He tried to cover almost every aspect of life we might have questions and provided answers for them through one of the main characters sermons – “Turn back to Him with all your heart, and rely on His great mercy if you will only repent. Through the mass, the Rosary, the scapular, the way of the cross and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, He will save you.”
The book had three main characters; the saint, the sinner and the man. Each of them created and crafted to relate to us based on our moral conscience. Just like every human, these men had their flaws and encounter their own share of life’s tragedy but at the end lessons were learnt and they were all victorious.
Though the book is quite a short read, it is definitely a recommended read for all Christians especially Catholics and anyone who wants fast-paced moral based book.
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Official Review: Always Before Me by John Servant
Post by That Reviewer » 24 Apr 2020, 09:28
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of “Always Before Me” by John Servant.]
How far can you go to stand for what you believe? When push comes to shove, will you be able to stand with your values regardless of the cost? These are the kinds of questions that Always Before Me by John Servant raises.
It was the wake of Father Anthony, who died of lung cancer. Father Richard had come to pay his final respects to a holy man. Sitting there alone, he was reminiscing on the life of the priest whose remains lay in the casket before him. While the thoughts were going through his head, another priest, Father Paul, came to mind. Father Anthony and Father Paul both died in prison, albeit for different reasons.
While Father Richard was lost in thought, a young man walked into the small room where the wake was going on. The young man was John Daly, the late Father Anthony’s nephew. John came because he was informed of his uncle’s death, and the possessions his uncle left for him. The only thing John knew about his uncle was the accusation of molesting a young girl leveled against him. There was something about Father Anthony that John didn’t know. What could this be?
Always Before Me is one of the three Catholic novels written by John Servant. The book is deeply rooted in Catholicism and all the beliefs associated with it. Both the major and minor characters in this book have a connection to the Catholic Church. The practices, prayers, and setting all project Catholicism in its fullest expression. You have to have a Catholic foundation or an idea of their beliefs and practices to follow most parts of the story in this book. The author shows his deep roots and vast knowledge of the Catholic Church.
I applaud the author’s writing skills. I have read a couple of religious novels in recent times and have been utterly disappointed. For most of these books, it was more about projecting the religion than building on a story. I usually have difficulty understanding the plot. But, John showed me in this book that a religious novel could also appeal to everyone. He did well to cater to the reading needs of religious and non-religious readers alike. He showed the utmost respect when talking about people of a different faith. Most importantly, there was a story to follow and lessons to learn from the book.
What I liked most was the way the author infused different writing styles to make the book fun and engaging. He used flashbacks to narrate the backstory effectively. He seamlessly connected it to the beginning of the book. It made the book more interesting than it was at the beginning. The author also used suspense to keep me anticipating. I fell for the temptation of predicting specific outcomes only for the author to shatter them with the twists and turns. This book also elicited different emotions at different points for me. I was excited, sad, angry, surprised, and encouraged while reading this book. I thoroughly enjoyed the story.
I only found one error in the book, but it wasn’t enough to take away any point. There was nothing I disliked about this book as it was well-written and professionally edited. I rate it four out of four stars. I recommend it specifically to anyone who enjoys religious novels. People who are opposed to religion can also read it as there wasn’t any prejudice in the narrative.
Review by GoodLuck ES — Always Before Me by John Servant
[Following is a volunteer review of “Always Before Me” by John Servant.]
The book Always Before Me: (A Story of Mercy and Salvation) is a Christian fiction written by John Servant. The story centred on faith, hope, sin, and absolution. It also touched on the theme of betrayal. The book told the story of catholic priests who had dreams they set out to achieve. However, they found themselves stuck in negative situations they never envisaged.
The dreams of Father Anthony were hindered by an accusation of sexual abuse. The accusation confined him to the role of prison chaplain against his wish to work as a teacher.
Father Paul’s aspiration of spreading the gospel was hampered by the oath of the priesthood to which he was sworn. He lost the good faith of the cops because of his firm resolve to uphold the tenets of his calling. He refused to disclose the content of a confession that would have aided criminal investigation and prosecution. Thereafter he encountered many troubles.
What troubles did he encounter? How did these men react to the ugly turn of events they had no control over? Find out by reading this interesting story.
The book has a lot of positive aspects. Firstly, the writer’s style is brilliant. I loved that the story started in a very simple manner. In the beginning, the reader could not immediately decipher where the story was headed. This attribute sustained the interest of the reader till he began to grasp the direction of the story. The progression of the story was even more interesting. Events in the story were connected well. The book took the reader on a totally enjoyable journey. The writer also shared a lot of information on the ideal attitude to adopt when faced with life’s many daunting challenges.
I also loved that the author shared information on the criminal justice system of the state in which the story was set. The book contains a lot of data on criminal investigation and the great role forensics play.
I loved that the book contained Christian teachings backed up by the scriptures. The author referred to Bible verses to establish the truth spoken by the characters.
The book had one negative aspect. I did not like that some sentences in the book were unnecessarily long. This affected the comprehension of some parts of the story.
The book was professionally edited. I found few punctuation errors in the book. However, they were not enough to discredit the professionalism of the editor. Consequently, I rate the book 4 out of 4 stars. I did not give the book a lower rating because the errors did not remove from my overall pleasure while reading the book.
The book is inclined to the Christian religion. It made a lot of reference to concepts known to Christianity alone. Concepts such as: Confession, absolution, blessed sacrament, rosary, scapular, chaplet of divine mercy. Readers with other religious backgrounds may find it difficult to comprehend these concepts.
I strongly recommend the book to Christian readers, especially Catholics, and to non-christian readers interested in understanding the workings of the Christian religion. Lovers of crime fiction will also enjoy some parts of this book.
Review by ShahrinR — Always Before Me by John Servant
[Following is a volunteer review of “Always Before Me” by John Servant.]
When you make a mistake, you try to correct the error and improve yourself. But when your mistakes repeatedly prevent you from growing, what will you do then? Will you give up? These questions raised in my mind while reading Always Before Me.
Always Before Me is a Christian fiction book written by John Servant. The story started with the wake of Father Anthony. Father Richard, who was the only person in the wake, was sitting in front of Father Anthony’s casket. He remembered the memories of Father Anthony and Father Paul. Father Paul was a friend of Father Anthony. They both suffered in jail for fault accusations. Then entered John Daly, who was Father Anthony’s nephew and was also in possession of Father Anthony’s belongings. John knew nothing about his uncle. So, Father Richard felt the need to tell him about this amazing man. From here, the story flashed back to the past. Father Paul was accused of not revealing a criminal’s confession. He couldn’t break the confession seal. So, Father Paul said nothing to the police. But to save the church’s reputation, he willingly went to jail. Father Paul already suffered a lot in his early life, yet he had to endure this suffering. He was hopeless. But Father Paul believed in God. On the other hand, Father Anthony was falsely accused of sexual harassment and went to jail. He, too, was hopeless. Why did they have to suffer so much? Will they give up?
People always try to make a perfect life. They try to perfect themselves. But when they fail, they give up. But this book teaches us how we can overcome our miseries and win our goals. This book is a perfect example of how to turn failure into success. The characters of this story endured many sufferings. But they fought for themselves. During this fight, they found their flaws and strengths. This aspect helps us judge ourselves, find our flaws and strengths, and improve ourselves to better humans. They suffered unbelievable miseries. They still had faith in God and themselves. They did not deviate from their paths. You don’t need to be a purely religious person for reading this book. If you are not religious, you can still understand the power of self-trust.
I loved this book very much. The author gave a brief introduction to every character. They all had their own story. This point helped me to understand their point of view. The author has shown some scenes of the past and its connection with the present, which is very appreciable. This story is a perfect example for those people who think one mistake will end their lives. The characters and the story are so realistic, and that’s why I’m in love with this story.
There is nothing that I didn’t like about this book. So, I’m rating this book 4 out of 4 stars. The book seems professionally edited. I recommend this book to those readers who are suffering a sense of guilt for their mistakes. This book is a path for those people who committed sins but want to get over them. I hope readers will enjoy this book.
Spiritual and Inspirational Catholic Novels and Blogs
Official Review: The Arrow That Flies By Day
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of “The Arrow That Flies By Day” by John Servant.]
The Arrow That Flies by Day is a deep and inspiring story that cannot leave anyone who reads it unchanged. The challenges that John Thaddeus, the protagonist, faces are a multitude, but through his faith and the support he got from his loved ones, he somehow manages to overcome. This work of fiction by John Servant got me so absorbed and entangled to the story that I refused to put the book down. This could be because it covered a wide range of themes I was inclined to, which involved loyalty, love, persistence, determination, faith, and authenticity.
The story is set in Paterson, United States of America. John had been a trouble child when growing up. When his father passed away due to heart-attack, him and Joan, his mother, were left to fend for themselves, and it was not easy. The principal of John’s school, Sister Francis, stepped in to assist the family and later on, became like a parent to John when his mom died due to cancer. After graduating from high school, he served as a Marine, and learnt tough skills that shaped his tough character, and built up an unrelenting attitude of a fighter within him. Before he was discharged from the Marines in Afghanistan, he had incurred a gun wound in his lower abdomen that changed his whole life forever.
After leaving the Marines, he did not know what was next for him in life. He wanted to find a purpose for himself. He wanted to matter, and he wanted more in life that what he was getting. He prayed long to God asking for guidance and direction. His prayers eventually got answered, and he discovered he is supposed to be a kicker in football. Without any hesitations, he followed his calling with determination and became not just a highly esteemed NFL kicker, but also a good neighbor and friend to the many he met on his journey. He was also very humble and loving. When he was slapped on his left cheek, he turned the other cheek as well.
I loved everything about the book. The author made the book short, just 74 pages, yet profound and insightful. However, I must say that the book took a turn I was not expecting in the end. While enjoying reading about John’s consistent achievements, something terrible happened to him. Everything was going well in his life – he just won for his team, and was ready to tell Susan, his high school classmate, how he fell about her. I must say that Susan and I did not see the author’s surprise coming. We even cried over John. He was such a good, handsome, tough gentleman, and he did not deserve what he suffered.
Other than the surprise hit by the author, there was nothing I disliked about the book. I only noticed just one grammatical error, where the pronoun “she” was used instead of “he”. The flow of the book was smooth, and not deterred by any editorial errors such as misplaced punctuation marks. Due to this, reading the story not only made it easy for me to visualize effectively as though I was watching a movie, but it also made me felt like I was being featured in the movie itself because the story felt so real and tangible!
I enjoyed how the author described the football matches. He captured and emphasized every detail of John’s actions on the field, from the angle at which he kicked the ball, to the kilometers the ball reached, and even more. If ever the author’s writing career does not become successful later on for some reason, (though I doubt it might ever happen because he is a great writer) he would fit just fine as a football commentator! I even watched a few videos online to see what this American Football was all about, because it clearly was not the same as ours here in South Africa – based on the thorough description given by Servant. That was how fascinating and enthralling Servant got me into this sport.
I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. I picked up a lot of life lessons from this book, and everything in the is worth reading. I would recommend the book to anyone who wants to build up on their faith in God, because John was a believer, and he quoted the Bible verses every once in the while. However, a non-believer alike would benefit from reading the book since it does not just focus on religion entirely, but on the meaning of loving and caring for others, being motivated, and following your dreams through fire and storm. My favorite line from the book was John’s response when asked why he thought he could play pro ball. He answered, “Because no one ever told me I couldn’t.”
[Following is a volunteer review of “The Arrow That Flies By Day” by John Servant.]
The Arrow That Flies by Day by John Servant is an inspirational Christian novel that recounts a young man’s journey and how his faith impacts the people around him. John Servant recounts the journey of John Thaddeus, a young marine with a rough past who is determined to become an NFL kicker in the New Jersey Raptor’s team. His determination pays off and he makes the team despite his shortcomings. He gradually becomes a great asset to the team and helps them win game after game as the team’s kicker.
As his fame grows, John Thaddeus’s faith also becomes stronger. His kind heart and faith makes him clash with the team leader, Harvey Brown, who does not appreciate his strong Christian faith and practices. John is, however, not deterred and goes on to inspire more people through his life both as a football player as well as outside the football field by living a life of faith and trust in God.
This book is character oriented as John Servant brings to life different characters who are quite intriguing. From John the star of the novel to his mentor, one headstrong and benevolent Sister Francis who is more than like a mother to John Thaddeus, as well as, John’s nemesis, Harvey Brown. All the characters are intertwined beautifully to bring out the inspiring story that is The Arrow That Flies by Day.
I enjoyed reading the book, and what I loved most about the book was the fact that it was thought provoking and the characters are so real and relatable from a Christian point of view; John’s life is the epitome of true Christianity and faith with actions. He is a committed Christian who is willing to put God above everything else in his life. There are several verses quoted in the book that add to the whole inspirational aspect of the book. I would gladly recommend this book to people who enjoy reading Christian literature and religious books. I would not recommend it to atheists or people who do not believe in God, though.
As much as I loved reading the book, there were a lot of football scenes outlined in the book that were a bit boring to me. The book is clearly a sports-oriented book and it would be a great read for people who love and enjoy football or books that are sports-oriented.
All these considered, I give The Arrow That Flies by Day, 4 out of 4 stars. I believe the book was professionally edited despite a few errors I found in it. It is an amazing and inspiring read that will provoke one’s thoughts and faith.
[Following is a volunteer review of “The Arrow That Flies By Day” by John Servant.]
The Arrow that flies by day by John Servant is a great novel that helps boost the morale of anyone struggling with grief or loss. I just could not put the book down until the very last few pages. With the main character, John Thaddeus, facing so many struggles and yet keeping his focus on God, inspired me to keep the faith. I have taken a couple of lessons from this book and implemented it in my everyday live.
John Thaddeus had grown up in with a difficult set up and had struggled with his beliefs after breaking his leg. His leg had caused him to form a unique bond with his father who had passed away due to a heart attack. He lost his mother, Joan, to cancer. This inspired him to work even harder.
Sister Francis was the Principal at John’s school. After hearing John’s sobs about his broken right leg, prayed the rosary for John and for guidance as she also knew about John’s family problems. She was a leukemia sufferer herself and knew firsthand about the struggles that bring negativity across your life.
John was a Marine stationed in Afghanistan before being discharged due to suffering an injury, that would have a negative effect on him in the future. John kept his focus. He knew what he wanted in life and placed his faith fully on God to turn each negative setting into a positive.
After years of training and being discharged from the Marines, John had gone to try-outs for the NFL teams and left everyone shocked. He had made friends in the team, met the perfect girl and made the perfect player.
The author had shocked me, closer to the end of the book with the Big Surprise, but I’ll leave that to you to find out, potential reader.
I loved the book because it reminded me that when God closes a door, he always opens a window. Reading about the misfortunes and disappointments in John’s life and then realizing how God has turned the tables and made these situations positive, was an eye-opener for me about our everyday life and our faith.
John was depicted as a handsome, humble young man with notable skills as an NFL kicker. With little experience and a lot of faith, he had gone farther than any of his teammates could’ve hoped. By helping his teammates through their difficulties, he had made everyone around him gain faith in God. John with the help of Sister Francis and her rosaries, has made a change everywhere he went.
I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. This book is an intense read for when you’re down and in need of a faith booster. I believe that each and every reader learnt at least 1 lesson from this book.
Review by murriwritter — The Arrow That Flies By Day
[Following is a volunteer review of “The Arrow That Flies By Day” by John Servant.]
The Arrow That Flies By Day written by John Servant is a Christian novella that tells the story of John, a Christian marine who went back home after his final tour in Afghanistan. The book starts up with John walking into the training camp of The Raptors. He goes to the field where tryouts for the new football season were being held and requests to be given a chance to try for the team. This is a man who didn’t go to college and didn’t have much experience playing football. In the face of the glaring disadvantages that he has, will he be able to make the team? Will his confidence in God be enough to help him scale through the many challenges that he will face as the story progresses?
The Arrow That Flies By Day is a novella that teaches the important lesson that all things are possible with Jehovah in the picture. Our faith in Him should never waver, even when it seems like the world is working against us. Our bad experiences should draw us closer to Jehovah as it is in Him that we will find everlasting peace and answers to all our questions. John never gave up on God when he lost both his parents. The experience makes him even more determined to put his trust in Him because he knew that although his parents were no more, God would never leave him.
Another important lesson to be learned is that you should let unfortunate happenings in your life to dim your shine. There is a popular saying that when life gives you lemons, you should make lemonade. In the story, John had a terrible experience when he was but a little boy. He believed that this experience spelled the end of a dream of his. How could he not when even the doctors warned him to give up on that dream if he didn’t want things to get worse? Instead of giving up, with the help of his father and the good Sister Francis, he worked on himself and grew up to the best player on the field years after. Remember, when life gives you lemons, do well to make lemonade.
My favorite part of the book is the author’s narration of the happenings on the field in chapter 3. The narration was done in a manner that will compete anyway with a professional sports commentary. In that chapter, the author was transformed into a sports commentator and I was able to get a vivid mental picture of the events described in my mind -it was like I was there, on the sideline witnessing the game for myself. I am not much of an American football fan, so most of the words used to describe events on the field were lost on me, but this didn’t stop me from enjoying the read.
My least favorite thing about the book is how the author narrated it. The narration of the events had little to no emotion in it. Even when tragedy struck, the description of the events that happened afterward was kind of bland and without feelings. The author wrote things as they were, forgetting that a good book isn’t about just a narration of the things that happened. A good book shines a bright light on the emotions of the characters. Doing this will help the reader connect on a deeper level with those characters, but this isn’t the case in [The Arrow That Flies By Day[/i]. I finished the book without feeling attached to any of the characters. Even John, the protagonist, was quickly forgotten by me a little while after I read the last words.
I award The Arrow That Flies By Night a rating of 3 out of 4 stars because I didn’t see any grammatical errors in it. The rationale behind my refusal to give the book a full rating is the lack of emotion in the narration mentioned above. In conclusion, I believe that this book is best suited for Christians and people who have no problem with religion as a whole. As a Christian, you will find out that your faith in God will be strengthened after reading this piece because it exposes the truth that with God all things are possible.
[Following is a volunteer review of “The Arrow That Flies By Day” by John Servant.]
The arrow that flies by day is a fiction book by John Servant. It is a story about a tall well- built young man John Thaddeus. John was an orphan being taken care of by sister Frances a very prayerful nun from Paterson, who was his high school principal. He joined the marine in Afghanistan after high school. Football was everything he dreamed of since high school so he went for NFL try outs to make football his new family. Did his dream come true? Grab a copy of The arrow that flies by day to find out.
At the try out John amazed the coach, he becomes the best kicker, he was tough, accurate and had the strength. Despite being harassed by Harvey he continues with his mission without distruction. Training was winding up and John had made 90% of his field goals, but he was cut because he had not gone to college . He starts working in a grocery but things turned well for him as during the third game of the season the place kicker sprained his ankle and John was called for try out to fill his place.
John meets Phil and they became friends, he also contacted sister to help with phils son as he was in a bad crowd and drugs was found in his room which turned out well as sister knew exactly what to do. John meets Susan a highschool friend, they started going out but on the day john was to pick her for dinner death caught up with him as he was trying to save a woman whose car was being carjacked. I was not expecting that direction to this story but johns death affected everyone, but atleast he died a hero having given his team a win and trying to save a woman’s car from a man trying to carjack her car.
I loved how the author introduces his characters, he was very detailed that could create an imagination of how the character realy looked like. He also gives details of the matches that makes one understand what is really happening in the field. I would definitely like to read more of John Servants books because this kind of art got my attention.
The arrow that flies by day has a very unique and interesting storyline,as a book that the main character dies and turn out just perfect is amaizing. Their is nothing bad to say about this book it was well edited.The arrow that flies by day doesn’t contain any kind of sexual nature and no vulgar language used, with that i would give a 4 out of 4 stars rating. Teen readers will enjoy this book.
Review by OonnaRessy — The Arrow That Flies By Day
[Following is a volunteer review of “The Arrow That Flies By Day” by John Servant.]
The book The Arrow That Flies By Day by John Servant narrates the story of John Thaddeus, a young veteran from Afghanistan. It tells a story of a young man out to prove himself to the world, how he takes the best kick of his life and how he touched the life of others and brought them closer to God.
Going into the details of the review, I would like to start with the first part of the book.
The GOOD:
The author did a good job in introducing the main character while keeping the reader interested in the story by having a nice sense of mystery. It aroused my curiosity and the desire to know more about the main character. I usually judge a book to be worth buying if the first few pages of the book captured my interest. This is the reason, for me, the beginning of the book should be interesting enough to make me want to continue reading.
In that regard, the first few pages of The Arrow That Flies By Day made me want to buy the book. Without the knowledge of secular interest of the book, based solely on what I read in the first few chapters, I will definitely buy the book with the intention of knowing more about the life of John Thaddeus as well as his character development. I also think that the secular interest as the core component of John’s life adds to his character. The choice of words used does not tarry or bet around the bushes. That kept me hooked to the story.
The BAD:
As with any other books, there are aspects in the storytelling that one finds boring. For this book, it’s the lack of adjectives and that there are not enough dialogues. The author preferred narration to dialogues and the transition for scenes are awkward. The downside of straight forwardness of the phrases used and the lack of adjectives added to the awkwardness of the transitional scenes. As a reader who is used to world building, I find that forwardness strange.
At the part where John is making progress in his relationship with Susan, I felt that it was hasty and something that I, as a reader, was not used to. The writer made no intention to give John and Susan a good and satisfying love story. It was a straight forward “I like you — You like me” kind of narrative.
At the part where John died and Sister Francis was told about his death, it was over very quickly. Because of its quick progression, it came out as heartless. The reader was not given a chance to mourn his death as well as the people that matters to John. Another point of dislike is that there was not enough world building to set up why Susan did not know Sister Francis. John and Susan went to the same High School and Sister Francis is the principal of a High School that John went to. There was no mentioned that John went to another high school prior to the school where Sister Francis was the principal. It made me wonder if this is missed in the editing and proofreading. Readers don’t like things that do not make sense.
Lastly, the last kick of his life was not elaborated. It was supposed to be the kick that will leave a mark on people’s mind. It was his greatest kick. I felt that the author should’ve depicted that scene in a glorious way. There was nothing glorious about how that scene was written in the book.
Conclusion:
In general, I have a favorable impression of the book that’s why I am giving it a score of 3 out of 4 stars. I would recommend this to my friends if it comes out in the market because of the lesson to be learned from the book and also of the style it was written. It’s not a four because I think that the book needs to expound some of its scenes and do more world building. I did not notice spelling error but it doesn’t mean that the book is exceptionally well-edited. I also felt that at the part where John died, if not handled properly, will leave the reader with heavy heart.
Reviewer’s note: Thank you for the chance to review this book. This is the first book I ever reviewed in this site.
[Following is a volunteer review of “The Arrow That Flies By Day” by John Servant.]
How much persistence do you have in you? With all the odds stacked against you, how far would you be able to go to achieve your goals? The Arrow That Flies by Day is a motivational book, in a story form, about relentlessness, persistence, determination and faith. John Thaddeus had an accident while in the 7th grade that left his right leg badly damaged. The doctors said it would not be possible for him to play football again. With the help of his father and Sister Francis, his high school principal, he started doing regular exercises to strengthen his legs.
He joined the Marines after the death of his father but had to leave after being shot in the right leg. When he heard that the New Jersey Raptors were holding a training camp he decided to walk the distance and try out as a kicker. He had never played football and had never even been to college. Will he find what he had in the Marines – a sense of clear purpose? Will he adapt and overcome the new obstacles? He was a Marine who had faith and that to him would be an unbeatable combination.
I really like the way John Servant allows the story-line to flow seamlessly. From the very moment you start reading you are met with vividly described details. The way in which the characters’ emotions, the football games and practices were being described made me feel like I was living in the story. I also like how the author uses suspense which kept my interest alive. The Arrow That Flies by Day is able to inculcate a number of values and moral lessons through other people’s viewpoints in less than 80 pages. Talk of short and sweet. Brief but long-lasting.
Just as the story was picking up and I was feeling the joy of the circumstances the story-line throws in a twist that left me re-examining everything. This was slightly disheartening, but it was a breath of fresh air from the often used ‘lived happily ever after.’. There was no single case of profane language or any erotic scenes.
The only thing I disliked about the book was that to be in the best position to allow the story to flow perfectly one has to have at least a basic understanding of football (not soccer) which I struggled with.
I would rate this book a 3 out of 4 stars. This is mainly due to the extensive football terminologies which was challenging since I am not well conversant with the sport. Otherwise, I would recommend it to everyone especially Christians, young readers who are still finding their footing in the world, those who are looking to find a purpose in life and even for others who are able to look beyond their religious inclinations into the general values that governs us all.
[Following is a volunteer review of “The Arrow That Flies By Day” by John Servant.]
We all face adversity,obstacles,suffering and even death of a loved one. What can we do when we are faced with life challenges?
The Arrow That Flies By Day written by John Servant shows us what we can do through the story of a young man called John Thaddeus who despite having no family, pushes through the challenges of life with the help of Sister Francis who teaches him the importance of prayer,having faith in God,love for others and never giving up.
John Thaddeus, being a marine who served in Afghanistan,joins a football team having never played professionally before and rises through the ranks by daily practice,commitment and keeping his head on the game. He learns that his problems can be a blessing or a curse if he learns the valuable lesson of overcoming obstacles. He later finds a girl he likes called Susan and takes her on a date despite having some insecurities.
The story ends tragically when he is stabbed to death trying to defend a lady on the street. His compassion and life was worth emulation as we see the Assistant coach Eugene who had fallen away from church after his brother was killed begin to repent and attend church.
I found the book to be inspiring,short and easy to read as it draws its inspiration from Psalms 91:5. I would rate it 3 out of 4 stars as I did not find any errors. I however did not like that the author killed the main character. I would recommend it to believers of the Christian faith and any person who feels they have lost direction in life.
Review by Barbara_Waweru — The Arrow That Flies By Day
[Following is a volunteer review of “The Arrow That Flies By Day” by John Servant.]
John Thaddeus wandered on the New Jersey Raptors’ practice field on the first day of training camp. He was approaching the head coach for a chance to try out for the team when suddenly, the assistant coach intercepted him. “This is football practice. It is closed to the public.” In his opinion, there was nothing in this young man that recommended him as a great athlete. Also, he had no prior experience playing football in college. John knew the odds were against him, but he had to give it a try. He lived by the words Sister Francis wrote to him when he was serving in the marine. “You shall not fear the terror of the night nor the arrow that flies by day.” Instead of fearing, he was going to use this as a chance to overcome an obstacle. John went on to become a star despite being hit by so many blows in his short life.
The Arrow That Flies by Day by John Servant is a motivating fiction story about John Thaddeus. The author does a fantastic job influencing the reader to think positively always, especially when they face challenges. He also brings out the importance of prayer, and to be more specific, the importance of praying the rosary.
Sister Francis was my favorite character in the book. When John had any issue, she was always the first person to contact. The good sister never lacked a solution. The author uses her character to show us the importance of God in our lives. With God and the right attitude, we can achieve things beyond human imagination. From the book, I have also realized that the needs of others should come before mine. The author’s writing style is simple. He describes the characters in detail, making it easy to picture them in real life. He also uses dialogue. Therefore, the reader develops a vivid image of what is happening in the story. The story flows from start to end. It is possible to finish reading the book in a single seating.
In my opinion, there is nothing to dislike about the book. It appears professionally edited, and there is no use of profane language. Nevertheless, what I liked the most was the message. It encourages the reader to view suffering as a blessing in disguise. I would recommend it to Christian readers, more specifically, catholic readers.
In conclusion, I will rate the book 4 out of 4 stars. I gave it a perfect score because it is very inspiring and well-edited.
Review by Caroline2021 — The Arrow That Flies By Day
[Following is a volunteer review of “The Arrow That Flies By Day” by John Servant.]
John Thaddeus was a former marine man who did not have any family members. Sister Francis, who was a nun, looked after him and she was the only close person he was left with. Although John had experienced all the hardships in his life he did not give up on his dreams of being a member of one of the biggest football teams in his area, and he felt that will give him so much joy. He persuaded his dreams and trusted God to open doors for him, even if he did not professionally qualify to be the team member, John made it to be one the best kickers for the Raptors team.
Not all people were excited about his victory, but John did not return bad with bad to people like Harvey who was of the kickers as well John had found in the team. He reconnected with one of his high school classmates that he fell in love with and the feeling was mutual. John always wanted to help people he lived to help people until his death where he died helping someone who was carjacked. His death left many with sorrow because of his kind heart including Sister Francis, Susan a lady who fell in love with John.
The arrow that flies by day a book by John Servant. This is an interesting book. The book is about a man of faith who had to hold on to the scripture “You shall not fear the terror of the night nor the arrow that flies by day.” Psalm 91:5 NABRE. Regardless of all the trials, John Thaddeus faced he trusted God and believed that even though he was going through the hard times, good times will come. I like the close relationship that John had with Sister Francis it reflects on how important is to have the people who support and guide you in life for one to get through this life.
I like how the author demonstrated the works of faith through John in the book. Doors were opening because John believed and had faith in God. He was also a good servant in helping and praying for other people. The title of the book is very relevant to what the book talks about. The author did a very good job of introducing characters and their personalities in the book. The book introduction to the conclusion was properly laid out, in this regard the book was flawless. The book cover is not that revealing or rather eye-catchy, if there was a picture on the cover book that depicts the story in the book it will be more revealing and nicer.
What I did not like about the book is that it has long paragraphs sometimes this feels like dragging when you read a book. Though the author gives a brief description of the surroundings and areas in the book, I feel like more detailed descriptions would have given a more feel to picture and relate, what do the places look like. The first pages of the book included a lot of third person writing which made it a little bit difficult to read. What I liked about the book is that the font of the book is easy to read and the book is engaging with the reader, while reading the book you feel like you the part of the story. I am rating the book 4 out of 4 stars, the book was exceptionally well edited. I did not find any spelling or grammar errors. I will highly recommend the book to people who believe in Christ.
[Following is a volunteer review of “The Arrow That Flies By Day” by John Servant.]
The book is titled The Arrow That Flies by Day written by John Servant. Follow the journey of a young man named John Thaddeus, an orphan who just come back from his duties as a Marine veteran in Afghanistan, pursuing his dream of becoming a professional American football player. Read this book to know whether John can overcome the obstacles of life that keep coming striving to hinder his path to success. Follow on how John tries to achieve all this with the support of Sister Francis and his faith in God. This book will highlight the importance of faith in God, the alienation of religion brought by secularism, the fate of veterans in the society, the discrimination of not having a certificate of higher education, and so on.
This story will give you positive vibes that will inspire and motivate you. It will show you the importance of faith in achieving anything in this life. It will show you the kindness of humanities, and how good can beget good. The book focuses on high virtue, and how virtuous people will get the blessing of God. This book has good story development and character designs while the writing quality is impeachable.
While there are many good things about this book, nothing is perfect. Firstly, the watermarks make it a bit annoying for me to read the book. The book is too short for my taste. The author did not have much world-building as the setting is the same as the real world.
I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars . The reason for this rating is that the book got a good story development, good character design, and good writing quality. The lack of world-building also did not lower the immersion of the reader as the reader will automatically presume the setting as the modern world. This book is exceptionally well-edited. I do not find any spelling or grammar errors.
I recommend this book to everyone. I find this book suitable for everyone in general. This book did not use any profane language or show any sexual content. However, this book is rich in religious content that makes it highly suitable for Christianity believers, faithful or not. However, this book might not be that suitable for an atheist, who hates religion and that any mention of religious practice will make them mad, except for tolerance atheists, who can tolerate other’s faith. Other than that, I also recommend that American football fans read this book as you will enjoy it.
[Following is a volunteer review of “The Arrow That Flies By Day” by John Servant.]
The Arrow That Flies By Day by John Servant is a story of tenacity, determination, and the good outcomes that come with them.
In one hundred and four pages, the author paints a picture of the life and experiences of John Thaddeus, a man who had a staunch belief in himself and God.
The story begins with John showing up at a football camp to apply as a kicker when they already had kickers in place. The coaches were hesitant to give him a trial because he had no college education or experience, but his tenacity and background as a Marine in Afghanistan convinced them to give him a chance.
Due to years of practice and training, he came out as the best of all the kickers, but the fact that he had no college education was still an obstacle that affected the decisions of the coaches. This decision will be changed when an unforeseen situation creeps up and the need for a replacement arises.
John, having been prepared for this all his life, coupled with his background, would put all his efforts into performing excellently in his team, but certain challenges would rear their heads. Would he be able to overcome it? Read this book to find out.
The storyline was very engaging. John Servant wrote the story in a way that makes one engrossed and expectant of the next events. For example, when John was having issues with Harvey, you would wonder what he was going to do next. Was he going to retaliate? Get angry? Or stay cool as usual. The use of elements like this amps up the quality of any story because the ability to make people invested is a top-tier one. The Arrow That Flies By Day is also written in a way that makes you feel every emotion, be it victory, love, appreciation, or sadness. The author makes you feel deeply.
The storyline was quite fast and some situations in the story were not well explained. For example, the author highlighted John’s injury but did not give a backstory or flashback, which could have been useful. The book also ended abruptly, as if the author was in a hurry to wrap up.
I would recommend this book to an audience interested in books about Christianity as it contains Bible passages and elements peculiar to this religion. I would rate this book 4 out of 4 stars.
Review by NdegwaSalome– The Arrow That Flies By Day
[Following is a volunteer review of “The Arrow That Flies By Day” by John Servant.]
Human beings wrestle with suffering and afflictions throughout their lives. This can either ruin or redeem them, depending on how they choose to perceive it. The Arrow That Flies By Day by John Servant revolves around John Thaddeus, a veteran who served in the Marine and was discharged due to a disability. Its focus is on his life, and the trials and tribulations that he faces, both as a child and an adult. His dream has always been to play football, but a minor accident in his childhood made it impossible. After the death of his alcoholic father, his mother, Joan and Sister Francis decide to enrol him in the marines, so that he could get away to quell his anger. This also gave him discipline and purpose. Being a witness to so much death in Afghanistan, his spirituality and confidence are deepened and all fear dissipates him. His faith and trust in God increase owing to the numerous letters Sister Francis sends him.
After his discharge, John decides to fulfil his lifelong dream, but the question is, will anyone take a chance on him? In his new quest, he makes new friends and foes, is tested by adversity and celebrates uplifting moments and gets a chance to rewrite his story. He never focuses on the hardships, but deeply trusts in God and believes that some events that cause him to suffer are evil, but God intends them for good. Ultimately, his faith is so great that even his nemesis ends up loving him. His life has such a positive impact on all those around him. He even gets a chance at love, but will he get to enjoy all of it?
This story is captivating, and the author deserves applause for his work. I love the fact that he quotes various scriptures which encourage self-reflection in the reader for example Psalms 130:1-2. All the high and low moments are captured so provocatively that it inspires similar feelings as you read. From a Christian point of view, it challenges oneself. The book is easy to comprehend and diffuses the importance of patience, focus, courage and hope.
I did not dislike anything about this book, there were no grammatical errors. It had undergone professional editing, with no profanities.
With a primary reference point which is the Bible, I would recommend it to Christians or people who have a keen interest in religious matters. I, therefore, rate it 4 out of 4.
Review by Michelle Mutinda– The Arrow That Flies By Day
[Following is a volunteer review of “The Arrow That Flies By Day” by John Servant.]
What do I want to be? How would I be evaluated on my deathbed and what do I want to accomplish before then? John Thaddeus, a former marine veteran in Afghanistan decides to follow his childhood dream of playing football. After he reads in a newspaper about the NFL training camp, he walks to the area to try his luck even with no track experience. His experience in marine helps him navigate through the hard and unpredictable life experiences. Just as in everyone’s walk in life, with dedication his life didn’t lack obstacles, from within himself (following a wound he had sustained while serving in marine) and from without (his teammates). However, this did not deter his focus on his mission.
The Arrow That Flies by Day by John Servant is a contemporary Christian fiction story that describes the journey of determination, discipline, and purpose. Although the book is short with just five chapters the author narrates it in such a way that it would be fitting to create a movie from it. He describes the football matches so vividly that any football fan could easily follow. I was also impressed by John’s commitment not just to football but to God constantly seeking Him before and after any engagement. Having no living relative this young man walks closely with a catholic nun (sister Francis) who is a true definition of commitment and dedication. I liked the way Bible verses are quoted and applied. The book is also inspirational, with reflections from the scriptures both by John and sister Francis.
I must admit that the twist of the story in the last chapter caused me uneasiness as I was reading. Again, when John meets his high school classmate Susan later in the book a love story that I felt was so short-lived and could have been there just from the beginning of the narration. Although the book focuses more on the Christian faith, I had an issue with the great focus on the rosary and praying to the mother of God which showed a great dependence on the rosary rather than on God.
Apart from these three issues, the book is professionally edited, and I did not find any outstanding spelling or grammatical errors. I am rating the book 4 out of 4 stars.
I would recommend the book to any Christian who is seeking to stand out in a secular and rational society. Football lovers also could benefit from reading this book.
Review by Dahlia McLean– The Arrow That Flies By Day
[Following is a volunteer review of “The Arrow That Flies By Day” by John Servant.]
The book The Arrow That Flies by Day by John Servant, is well written and allows the reader to visualize exactly what happened. The descriptions captured the different parts of speech and as such, made reading easier and painted a clear picture of exactly how the author describes each scene. It teaches us to also prepare for any mishaps that may happen as life is filled with uncertainties, therefore we should prepare our mind for both the good and bad and deal with it and move on, although it is not always easy.
There were so many positive aspects to the book in that it allows the reader to focus on the optimistic side of things, even when the reality is the opposite. The book is encouraging and emphasizes the importance of prayer even in the darkest of situations when one cannot see their way through. It also encourages us to persevere even when we don’t see the answer. As the saying goes “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” Being kind one to another gives much satisfaction just to see the joy on the face of the receiver. Note however, it is not necessarily the quantity that matters, but what comes ‘from the heart’. Assisting someone can lead to your demise as can be seen in the book where John tries to assist the lady whose car was being hijacked, and even though such sad things happen to good people, at the end of the day, the good Lord will see your motive and deals with it justly.
On the other hand, there were not many negative aspects within the book. Ignoring the criticisms of others might be difficult and resisting the temptations to fight back is not always easy, especially when persons know they are in the right. It might give the impression that the Offendee is simple / naïve when they don’t retaliate.
I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. The Editor did an excellent job and has an eye for grammar and a good use of the English Language. Only two minor errors were noted.
This book should be recommended for persons who feel there is no hope, those who struggle with unforgiveness, or persons who experienced lack of belonging and don’t know what it is like to experience love. It should be a positive influence to those who have given up on life and believe that they are at their wits end. There are so many lessons to be learnt throughout this book: keep speaking positive words into your situation as life and death are in the power of the tongue; keep doing good even when no one is watching and the good will come back to you some day; forgive each other, just as Jesus forgave us and do not render evil for evil.
Review by Jordan Basimanebotlhe– The Arrow That Flies By Day
[Following is a volunteer review of “The Arrow That Flies By Day” by John Servant.]
If your life has been full of endless obstacles and you fail to understand your purpose or make sense of anything happening around you then “The Arrow That Flies By Day” is a book that can help you. A book that will inspire you to do the best you can when given the chance to do so. A book that can help you find your purpose and gather strength in the face of calamities that may befall you and those yet to come. The author writes about a man who life has taken so much from except his faith and will,two things that he used to turn his life around, to prosper at work and help him build strong relationships. The Book is about a journey of a young man who rose up from humble beginnings and used his talent to make a living and a name for himself. A man who was jolly,helped people whenever he had the chance and impacted the lives of those around him greatly.
To read this book was a very boundless experience that I would be glad to freely share with other people. It has given me a different perspective about life and how you should not let fear stop you from doing good no matter the cost because that is a life worth living. I appreciate the author’s ability to use different characters who are entirely in different situations to show that just one opportunity is enough to change someone’s life and used that to highlight how the world would be a better place if everyone held that belief.
This books is about overcoming obstacles that might be standing inbetween you and your goals. John Servant uses faith and conviction to show that if you put your mind to something and consistently work to get it,it shall be yours. The author tries to prove that regardless of anything that happens to you or whatever someone says to you that should not change who you are and what you stand for and that really resonated within me.
The plot of the book is praiseworthy,the flow of events and placement of every character was well executed. I can relate to the book as I am sure many would; the reason being that we all face adversaries of all sorts in life and some have people they could turn to for assistance while others remain destitute but do not let that hold them back.
This is a great book,there is nothing I dislike about it and I enjoyed reading it. I rate the book 4 out of 4 because it was well edited,interesting,well thought and educational.
I recommend this book to anyone trying to discover their purpose and those already focused on theirs and need words of encouragement,clarity and evidence of works of wisdom and faith.
Review by Etini Willie– The Arrow That Flies By Day
[Following is a volunteer review of “The Arrow That Flies By Day” by John Servant.]
The book, The Arrow That Flies By Day, tells a story of a young man who is at a crossroads on the path to take in life and is desperately in need of directions. The protagonist, John Thaddeus is an American marine who had just returned from serving in Afghanistan. After his return, he intends to pursue a career in Football. Without prior professional experience in the sport, he walks into the training camp of the New Jersey Raptors football team. He asks to be given a spot in the team as a kicker. The coaching crew thought of turning him down but decided to take a wild gamble with this amateur. Turned out he impressed the coaches and was offered a trial spot where he massively impressed. By some twist of fate, he got a spot as the lead kicker for the team in the new season. He plays a major part in putting his team in contention for the championship title. Then the real test comes in the last weeks of the season where John and the Raptors would need brevity and a little bit of luck if they are to cross the hurdle and win the title.
The author, John Servant has put in immense creativity in writing this book. I absolutely love the character of John Thaddeus in this book. He is a highly spiritual, focused and brave personality. His brevity is evident when he went to the Raptors training camp to ask for a spot on their team. The odds were glaringly against him. He was a complete amateur, and he lacked the physique for the sport. John never let these limitations hinder him from pursuing his dream. I also love the character of Sister Francis. The nun in this story exemplifies the life of Jesus Christ and the truest essence of Christianity. The nun spends her life meeting the needs of the vulnerable and downtrodden in the society. He takes up John as her own son after he had lost both parents. She encouraged him to depend on God and pray fervently in his pursuit of the NFL dream while always praying for him. I also admire the character of Susan. She falls in love with John and provides a strong outlet for him to voice his fears while being his unofficial cheerleader.
This book doesn’t have any down vote for me. The book is written in simple and direct language which makes for easy comprehension. The book has themes like faith in God, courage, determination and selflessness.
The book is professionally edited as I could not find any typos or grammatical errors in the course of reading it. I rate the book 4 out of 4 stars. I give this rating because the didactic in nature. I personally learnt to develop a positive mental attitude towards criticisms and negativities. We should only respond with results. This was the attitude of John to the tantrums of Harvey who hated John so much.
I specially recommend this book for young adults. As they are preparing to take up leadership positions, there is need to inculcate the characters of selflessness, self-belief and strength of character as portrayed in this book. Note that this book is suitable for all audiences including very young people like teenagers.
Review by Nadia Munsamy– The Arrow That Flies By Day
[Following is a volunteer review of “The Arrow That Flies By Day” by John Servant.]
REVIEW
4/4 EXCELLENT AMAZING
This book has been such a pleasure to read. If you are religious and believe in God this book is for you. Its about a troubled guy who becomes a marine to change his life and is injured and then released to go back home. He is taken in by a nun who shows him teachings from the bible and teaches him that what ever you go through always rely on God because he never leaves us and never forsakes us. The main characters name is John. He always wanted to play football and through all his trials he manages to make the team. He plays brilliantly. Within the team another guy named Harvey starts to pick on him because of Johns faith and continuously praying instead of focusing on the game. John always kept his cool and prayed for Harvey to change.
The more he prayed for him the more Harvey disliked him but John was faithful in his prayer. Eventually John meets a woman Susan whom he has fallen in love with but its short lived. John put other peoples cares before his own like Jesus. In the end John was killed for helping a stranger. The moral of this book was so touching. It reignites your faith in God and shows you that nothing in this world is yours its just temporary but Gods love is forever. Please read this Book it was awesome. The writer wrote from the heart you could feel the connection between writer and story.
[Following is a volunteer review of “The Arrow That Flies By Day” by John Servant.]
John Thaddeus, the main character in the book is a true depiction of resilience through all storms in life. Upholding faith in Christ and putting God first in all his endeavors, John faced major obstacles in life after losing both parents at a young age. He goes for training as a marine, life hardens him but leaves because of an injury. Sister Francis introduces John to prayer life as she comes through for him since she is like family. Through his persistence, gets an opportunity to play as a kicker for the Raptors as an NFL player and leads the team to the divisions; meanwhile, he starts to date an old schoolmate, Susan. Would be interesting to read the book and get to find out his fate.
I like The Arrow That Flies By Day because it is based on a strong religious aspect as the author John Servant brings out the reliance on prayer in overcoming challenges in life. The book is very encouraging, especially for those who believe in the existence of God, God is aware of our daily struggles, we ought to have faith in Him even when trials and temptations come in our way for He will surely come through answered prayers. By trusting in God and persistence in Prayer, John was accepted to play for the Raptors, excelled, and became the most known player on his team.
I have nothing negative about the book since myself I have been encouraged and challenged by the main character. I would love to live up to having unwavering faith and my life to be centered on sincere and earnest prayers.
I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars because the author can capture the attention of the reader in the way in which the chapters are systemic and it is professionally edited.
I would recommend this book to those people going through various struggles in life but still having hope for light at the end of the tunnel.
Review by Miracle Adedeji — The Arrow That Flies By Day
[Following is a volunteer review of “The Arrow That Flies By Day” by John Servant.]
The main character, John, is one who faced so many challenges as a teenager and was beginning to get swallowed up in the challenges like most people. It was at such a time that his school principal stepped in, and he was able to gain a very intriguing perspective about obstacles and pain that will forever define his life and affect the lives of those around him.
John Servant in his novel; the arrow that flies by day, gives us a rather intriguing perspective about challenges, pain, and suffering and how we are supposed to respond to them. Deep values, sports, and coping with obstacles were all intertwined in an exciting way to produce this fascinating yet inspiring novel. Can challenges be a blessing in disguise? Is it possible to affect people around you even without even saying much? Is it possible to overcome all obstacles? How important exactly are the opinions of others concerning us, especially when it comes to our values? Will the main character be able to stand by his values to the end?
I enjoyed the simple yet captivating way the book was written. The book was written in such a fascinating way that even though I am not a football freak, I absorbed each word line by line. Also, I enjoyed the fact that it contains so many truths and principles for living that we are almost forgetting in our generation. The author was able to inspire, motivate, and challenge his readers while also captivating and fascinating their imaginations. The book didn’t end the way I expected, there was an unexpected turn of the event, but there was also much to learn even from that turn of events.
Apart from the fact that the belief of the writer is different from mine, which I respect, I find absolutely nothing to dislike about the book, especially since his belief did nothing to change the quality of the message he was passing through the story.
I will rate this book 4 out of 4. I found no typographical error which shows that the book was professionally edited. I also found nothing to dislike about the book.
I will recommend this book to anyone who wants to know how to help a teenager overcome challenges. Such a person would learn a lot from the principal’s selfless ways. I will also recommend this book to anyone who loves sport and anyone who has challenges that seem difficult to overcome. The book was written from a Christian’s point of view, so Christians will be able to learn so much from it. However, the lessons to be learned from the book aren’t only for Christians, so I will encourage anyone open-minded enough to read it.
[Following is a volunteer review of “The Arrow That Flies By Day” by John Servant.]
The Arrow That Flies By Day is a book about John Thaddeus, a man who had a very challenging and troubling past. He had one dream but it unfortunately seems farfetched after he suffers from a medical condition. This tragedy occurred while he was attending Old Lady of Lourdes Catholic High School. His principal, an old nun made it her mission to get John on God’s path and achieve his dream. He later encounters a more challenges but continues to stay in faith. Along his journey of redemption of his childhood dream, he continues to help others like he was helped by his principal.
The book has a number of positive aspects that we can allude to our reality. John Thaddeus went through a tough but inspiring journey. He grew up in a tough situation with his father being an alcoholic. He suffered an injury which could have seen his dream parish right before his eyes. He became a marine and lost his mother while he was away. He got bullied by one of his teammates but continued to extend a helping hand towards him. He faced countless challenges but still kept his focus on his ultimate goal. John reached his dream in the ultimate end.
The book does not have a number of negative aspects. The most notable one is John’s tragic death. He was murdered because of marine mindset of helping all those in need. John Thaddeus got murdered whilst helping a woman who was getting carjacked. The same night of his death he was supposed to attend a celebration dinner with his teammates. He had also found new love with his former high schoolmate. Unfortunately he couldn’t spend enough time with her as he passed away too soon.
My rating for this book would be 3 out of 4. It is an outstanding book to read and offers a lot of knowledge. The book has teachings of faith and endurance that one can carry on to their everyday life. The main character John Thaddeus faced countless challenges and carried on being faithful. His endurance and adaptive nature is encouraging to those facing challenges. The help he received and gave also teach us that no man can do it all alone. The book also offers a sense of unity amongst the characters which is a quality that is very necessary in the modern world.
I would recommend this book to those that are facing challenges and need strength. Everyone can learn a thing or two from the book regardless of their situation. Christian believers can most definitely love this book. It is referrable when one feels like their faith is being tested. The book can also be essential to teenagers to prepare them for the journey ahead in adulthood. Those in good and bad times can read this book. I recommend this book to all those that are eager to learn and gain self confidence.
******
Review by Rose Houwer — The Arrow That Flies By Day
[Following is a volunteer review of “The Arrow That Flies By Day” by John Servant.]
The Arrow that flies by day by John Servant is a heart-warming story about John Thaddeus. He is a young Marine veteran who suffered greatly at the hands of war. After a traumatic injury, he is discharged from his service in Afghanistan. He goes out on a whim and pursues football with no prior credible experience. He walks all the way from Paterson to the Raptors’ practice field in New Jersey. He puts his faith first as navigates through a secular society which creates quite a stir among his new teammates. John draws his motivation and strength from a Nun who has been like a mother to him. With the sister rooting for him, he makes his mark on the road to redemption.
Even though this book was only about roughly 86 pages in length, it conveyed such a strong message. I cried while reading the end of this book. Despite John having faced many hardships in his life, he remains such a pure-hearted man with the very best intentions. John’s character has so much depth. He has such a quiet strength about him that you can’t help but adore him. He goes against all odds and relies solely on his faith to guide him through. The author did an amazing job of detailing all the matches, so it gave you a play-by-play as what was happening on the field.
I only wish that this book was lengthier, this story was so compelling that I just wanted more from it. I would have loved to see more surrounding the romance aspect as well. The author was very bold in creating such a plot twist towards the end. It took me a few minutes to comprehend what had just transpired. In those moments I was ready to throw in the towel, however, that just added so much more depth to the book.
I give this book 4 out of 4 stars. The editing of this book was impeccable, I didn’t find any editorial flaws. This book was beautifully written. I was pleasantly surprised by this book and didn’t think that I would be so invested in such a short read going in.
I would highly recommend this book, even to those not of the Christian faith. It would also be appreciated by those who follow Christianity and Roman Catholicism. I would even recommend it to those who of not of those religions or even religious at all because this is just such an inspirational read and I think anyone would be able to take something away from having read this book.
[Following is a volunteer review of “The Arrow That Flies By Day” by John Servant.]
Living a fulfilling life is hard yet possible. You do not know what to expect, but you have to keep hoping and do your best, despite the challenges that come your way. You have to discover what you want and, most importantly, your purpose in life.
The story of John is sad yet heartwarming. John is from a humble background, and his parents struggle financially. His father dies, and his mother fails to pay his tuition. Sister Francis decides to pay for his tuition, but he is soon sent to be a Marine to learn self-discipline and avoid getting into trouble. He returns from the Marine truly reformed, and he decides to try out for football. John has not played football in a while, but the coaches decide to give him a chance since he shows a lot of passion. He also works hard to get to the pitch. His being a Marine is another added advantage. He is given a ball to kick, and the results are surprising. Journey into the life of John and discover more about him in the book, The Arrow That Flies By Day, written by John Servant
The book contains only seventy-seven pages. It is divided into five chapters. Each chapter has a subheading that hints at what that chapter entails. The book is told from the third-person point of view.
There are several things I like about the fictional book. Firstly, I like the emotions of the characters. From the start of the book, I felt emotionally attached to the book and was intensely drawn. The first chapter begins with John asking to try out for football. John’s and the assistant coaches’ emotions are all over the place, and they are well described. The author continues to narrate emotions deeply until the very last chapter.
Secondly, I love the storyline of the book. The book’s storyline is sad and, at the same time, really heartwarming. I felt eager to know what would happen next, and the events were not predictable. No details are left out despite the few pages, and all events collaborated well.
Thirdly, the author’s narration was so explicit and interesting, most especially during the football matches. I felt the pressure and cheered when John scored his last and final goal. I felt that I was a part of the crowd watching him make those long kicks.
There is nothing I disliked about the book since it was emotionally appealing, and the turnout of the events blew me off. I, therefore, rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. The book seems to have been professionally edited since I did not encounter any errors. I recommend this book to lovers of inspirational books since the life of John is inspiring.
[Following is a volunteer review of “The Arrow That Flies By Day” by John Servant.]
When John Thaddeus, a football fan, fractures his leg in his freshman year, the doctors tell him that he will never be able to play football again. John, on the other hand, strengthens his legs through frequent exercises with the support of his father and Sister Francis (an elderly nun who is John’s high school administrator). Then, at the start of his senior year, disaster strikes: his father dies of a heart attack, leaving John distraught. John is unable to pay his school fees as a result of his father’s death. Sister Francis offers to pay his expenses out of her modest funds so that John can continue his education.
John grows enraged and engages in fights at school as a result of his father’s death and financial difficulties. Soon after, his mother and sister Francis enlist him in the Marine Corps, where he finds purpose and discipline. He is dispatched to Afghanistan, where he develops his character and faith in God. He loses his mother to cancer while serving in Afghanistan. After suffering an injury, John gets released from the army. Upon his return, he makes an attempt to join the NFL in order to fulfill his ambition of becoming a professional football player. Will John be able to achieve his goals despite his injuries? Will he be able to have the required impact despite adversity?
The Arrow That Flies By Day is a contemporary Christian novel written by John Servant that explores themes of unwavering faith in God, resilience, unconditional love, determination, tragedy, and victory. This novel is short, with only five chapters; each chapter’s title gives the reader a hint as to what to expect. The author tells his story from the perspective of a third-person narrative.
I wasn’t expecting what happened in the fifth chapter, despite the fact that the story was written in a plain manner. I hoped for a twist to reverse the situation because it was unexpected and unbelievable. This story is powerful, thought-provoking, and instructive, which I appreciate. This book reminds me that life is fleeting, and it highlights the importance of living consciously and making the most of the opportunities that come my way. It also inspires me to rely on God and pursue my goals with dedication and focus, regardless of the obstacles, as John did.
The use of American football terms was my sole criticism of this book. Because I am unfamiliar with the game’s rules and terminology, I struggled to understand some of the book’s sections, particularly chapter three. Despite this, I was able to follow along with the story.
This novel was professionally edited as I was unable to find any errors.I would recommend John Servant’s The Arrow That Flies By Day to Christian literary fans, particularly Catholics. This is due to the fact that it contains biblical verses as well as several references to the “Mother of God” and Catholic theology (such as the mysteries of the rosary). I feel this book will also appeal to fans of American football. The foregoing flaw had no bearing on my appreciation of the book. As a result, it receives a 4 out of 4 stars rating from me.
Review by little_reminders — The Arrow That Flies By Day
[Following is a volunteer review of “The Arrow That Flies By Day” by John Servant.]
After his father, who had taught him how to kick and play ball, died, the protagonist, John Thaddeus, joined the Marines. He had learned survival techniques in Afghanistan during the war, but he had come home after his years of service. He saw an advertisement in the newspaper for a pro-ball tryout with the New Jersey Raptors and decided to give it a shot. He also tells the coach how far he walked to get to the practice field, which takes them by surprise. He eventually proves to them during the tryout that he is capable of playing due to his unequalled skills, but he is not selected for the squad. As the novel progresses, circumstances emerge that lead to him being called back to the squad to play kicker.
The Arrow that Flies by Day, a novel by John Servant, takes the reader on a journey of a man’s faith, which has a significant impact on how he interacts with everyone he meets. It’s an interesting read about this man, John, who through time learned to put God first in everything he did while in service, as well as gaining discipline. The plot is engrossing and motivating. What fascinates me about the book is how the author manages to pack so much information into just 77 pages. Only the primary characters are properly examined and developed due to the book’s brevity. John Servant made it a point to develop John’s character to the point where all of the events centred around him, making the plot easy to follow. The plot is incredibly well-thought-out and to-the-point. This was a novel that piqued my interest. Another thing that drew my attention was the excellent description of professional football matches, which allows the reader to visualize how the game is played. Even merely reading about the games might create a sense of pressure and expectations.
My attention is also drawn to Johns’ constant and essential public expression of his faith, which challenges me as a human. Sister Francis’s function as John’s mother figure is both relevant and crucial. From the jealous Harvey to the coaches Eugene, Frank, and Jeff who were constantly impressed with Johns’ performance, the players who admired him, and a love subsequently found as the story progressed, every other character was brilliantly written and in tune with the scenario. The plot was well-thought-out, and the book was well edited. There were no errors in the book, either.
Although the story’s turn of events was unexpected, what decent book is complete without a narrative twist? I have no complaints regarding the book. I am a Christian, but not of Catholic ancestry; yet, I am familiar with most of the phrases and references utilized, thus I would suggest this book to Christians and persons of the Christian faith. Anyone with a catholic background or knowledge, as well as fans of sports, particularly professional football, will like the book. I would also recommend it to anyone looking for an excellent story about the value of faith. Because of the great features of the book, which I mentioned previously, I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars.
Review by Rina Martini — The Arrow That Flies By Day
[Following is a volunteer review of “The Arrow That Flies By Day” by John Servant.]
The Arrow That Flies By Dayis a tender Catholic story with lots of inspiration to readers who need to be reminded of how important God’s blessings are and how many blessings come through daily prayer. One very important character we meet, is Sister Francis. She had a difficult childhood with frail health, contracting leukemia and realized that God is her rock and source of constant strength in her life. She became a nun that helped many people, specially children, whom she showed the way of the Lord and emphasized that to do good to others is far better than to think about yourself. John was one such a person. She was his principal at school where he attended. When he was in grade seven, he played and managed to break his right leg so badly that doctors told him that he would never be able to play football. Sister Francis remembered how her legs developed while participating for long distance running. She helped John do just that and his father helped him strengthen his leg by teaching him to kick a ball. His father passed away and he became rebellious and vindictive. Sister Francis and this mother decided to enrol him into the marines to learn self control, gain stamina and courage. While he was there and on patrol one day he was trapped in a firefight and he was wounded so severely that he was dismissed from the marines. He thought of playing football, for a big team, once, and that would be the ultimate experience of his life. He came to know about the start of season practice for New Jersey Raptors Club in Madison, and headed there to try out. He met a lot of resistance from the coaches as he was unknown to everybody and he has never played professional football. All he wanted to do is to show the coaches what he was capable of. With his faith, confidence and endurance he proved to the coaches that he deserved a chance. He was exceptionally good and some of the players were jealous of his skills. Instantly John and Harvey did not see eye to eye and eventually when the team was chosen, John did not make it. John was very disappointed in himself. After the second match of the season, Harvey injured himself so badly that he was out for the rest of the season. This gave John a chance to join the team and he played for the rest of the season. When building relationships you also learn about other people’s personal problems and in this way John helped his team players and their families a lot. He also started to visit a girl that he knew from high school. John went to see Sister Francis straight after the last game to ask her to help him with a personal problem that he struggled with for a long time. As always she gave him a good answer but this time she also gave him a new Rosario from Lourdes. John was exceptionally happy about the present. On the way back, John stopped in a big parking lot to buy some mints. On his way out, he saw a man wrestling with a woman in between the parked cars, and as his nature was, he ran to help this woman. As he spun the man around, the man stabbed John in the chest. John died on the scene. The police arrived who brought the news to Sister Francis. She was the bearer of this bad news to the team and the coaches. John was buried on a Monday.
There are a lot of positive aspects one reads about in The Arrow That Flies By Day. Sister Francis who was a frail and sickly child and became a strong adult through her unfailing faith and determination. John also had bad luck with injuries and we grow with this character to see how courage and continuous hard work delivers the success that he so badly wanted. We see how the team punter struggled with his rebellious teenager and John and Sister Francis guide him to change and be a gem to his family. We have the homeless man that suffered and begged and his fortune changed after love, attention and a new set of clothes helped him find shelter and a new job. There was also the rough and self centred jerk in the team, Harvey, who hated John so much. John never stopped to pray for him and to do good to him and even his attitude changed in the long run.
I did not encounter any negative aspects in the story. The few negative things that were present, changed to positives as described in the previous paragraph.
I rate this book 4 out of 4 because of the interesting storyline and the ease with which it reads. I could not put the book down until the last page.
I recommend readers to this book specially if you are a sport lover and if you don’t mind to be introduced to some faith. I have not encountered any errors.
Review by CHINYERE ANYIAM — The Arrow That Flies By Day
[Following is a volunteer review of “The Arrow That Flies By Day” by John Servant.]
The Arrows that Flies by Day is a work of fiction written by John Servant.
The protagonist is a Marine veteran called John Thaddeus. He was discharged from the Marines after he was wounded while serving in Afghanistan. Without any college education, no job, no home nor family to come back to, he had to rely on his faith in God and the love and commitment of his former high school principal and nun, Sister Francis, to face the challenges of survival.
Fresh from a tour of duty in Afghanistan, Sister Francis helped him get one of his teachers to let him stay in his basement for few days. So, he needed money for food and permanent shelter, and that means getting a job. However, it would not be enough to acquire wealth, he has to find focus and purpose. He knew that money would only be a test of whether he was a true servant.
It was therefore natural that John would go back to his childhood dream of playing football. Although as a child, he broke his leg in a fall and the doctors told him that he would never play football. Sister Francis, however, taught him to overcome every obstacle in his path and trust in God who is able to make all things possible. He had survived many obstacles in the past, after all, he is marine! And in Marine, he was trained to survive.
Will the discipline he got from his training, and his deepened spirituality and confidence help him find his purpose in life? What does he want to work and live for now that he is discharged from the Marines with a wound? What price was he willing to pay to get a spot in the New Jersey Raptor’s club?
My favorite part of the book is the way the writer transformed the protagonist from an insignificant, out of place, discharged marine officer, to a man of strong character who is not ashamed of his faith and believe; a warrior who did all he could to become successful. Despite the obstacles John faced even amongst his team mates, yet, again, with the commitment, guidance and love of Sister Francis, he became a good placekicker, fell in love with his high school mate, Susan, impacted in the lives of others and ultimately won an NFL trophy.
The great thing about this book is not just the fact that John rose from being wounded and lost, to becoming a hero, but that he touched many lives in so little ways, yet with so great an impact. The genuine love, friendship and trust that existed between John and Sister Francis is also heart-warming.
I love the simplicity of the words used. I love how the author developed the story. I could feel the love, dedication and commitment of Sister Francis to, not only John, but her duties, God and mankind. I could also connect with John’s burdens and fears, and his commitment to his faith and God.
However, I did not particularly like the way the protagonist died. I was already looking forward to him marrying Susan and both of them living happily ever after. There was nothing that prepared me for his death! Then again, I believe the author used it to further portray the strength of character of the protagonist as a man willing to always help people, even if it means paying with his life.
The book is written in a simple language, devoid of any profanity or sensitivity. I recommend it to people who love books on Christian faith because Bible stories and Bible quotations were mentioned severally. Nevertheless, I do not think that anyone of other faith or non-religion would not enjoy the lessons learned in this book.
I did not see any other error apart from just a word omitted and one typo, which is highly insignificant. This shows the great work put in editing it. In view of this; I will give the book a 4 out of 4 star rating.
Review by Luckykingstar — The Arrow That Flies By Day
[Following is a volunteer review of “The Arrow That Flies By Day” by John Servant.]
John Thaddeus arrives at the New Jersey Raptors’ practice field with no football training from any college. He meets with the assistant coach, Eugene Eckley, who tells him that there are no openings for a kicker position on the team. However, John is determined, and Eugene lets him try out for the team after speaking with the head coach. His decision to let John try out is influenced by the fact that his brother had died in Afghanistan, where John had attended college.
John surprisingly impresses both the head coach and assistant coach during his tryouts, and he is accepted into the team. Sister Francis’ note constantly leads John, and he is as determined to succeed in any path he sees himself. What does fate have in store for John? Does he succeed in the team? What do the other players say about a newcomer with no college training joining their team?
The Arrow That Flies by Day is a Christian book with so many virtues. John Servant has masterfully crafted a short book filled with so many lessons and positive aspects. What is there to dislike? Well, just one thing. I wouldn’t say I liked how the book ended. I wouldn’t say that I liked how it triggered many tearful emotions in me, but then a good book needs an element of surprise.
John describes his main character, John, in an exquisite manner. I was eager to know more about John after reading just the first few sentences. I wanted to know whether he was going to be a rogue student, a terrible son, or just a plain boring character. I applaud the ability of the author to make me so curious about the character. The book taught me so much. It encompasses a range of themes that would prove helpful.
A Bible quote which I feel the book was coined from, and which I think will forever remain dear to me is “You shall not fear the terror of the night nor the arrow that flies by day … Though a thousand fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, near you it shall not come… For he commands his angels with regard to you, to guard you wherever you go.” I learned from this book that there would be hurdles in life, but our ability to stay determined and focused will go a long way in helping us succeed.
I found a few errors in this book; hence, it was professionally edited. I rate this book four out of four stars because it was an amazing read, and the author left no room for negative aspects.
I recommend this book to lovers of fiction and anyone looking for a short inspiring read. It would also appeal to lovers of Christian books.
Review by josline_chep — The Arrow That Flies By Day
[Following is a volunteer review of “The Arrow That Flies By Day” by John Servant.]
The Arrow That Flies By Day by John Servant is a story about the life of a Marine called John.He arrives one day at the Raptors training in order to try his luck in football though he had no college experience. One, Eugene, a coach, is moved by his story and wants to help him. He is lucky to be given a chance to train with the team. His performance is impressive as he can kick the ball from a far distance. The team’s captain, Harvey, does not like him and he harasses John. John is dismissed when the coaches notice this rivalry. He is, however, called back when the placekicker gets injured.John gives his best and the team recovers the glory it had lost.
John is one person who has a heart to help. He forms a camaraderie with a punter who informs him that his son is hanging around with bad company and he doesn’t know what to do. John links him with one Sister Francis, who had been like a mother to John, and the boy begins to straighten up again.
John gets himself a girlfriend but isn’t sure how she will take the news of his inability to have children normally since he had been injured in the groins. He confides in Sister Francis who tells him to ask for God’s guidance. This is after John scored a goal for the Raptors which gave the team victory in a very competitive match. On his way home, he tries to help a lady who was being carjacked but he is stabbed and dies on the spot.
One thing I like about this book is the fact that it is emotion grabbing. I literally cried when Harvey, who had made John’s life hard, cried after hearing of John’s death. The author has also made use of vivid description,giving the reader a clear image of what happened. He describes the football match so vividly.
The Arrow That Flies By Day is professionally edited as I found only one grammatical error. I would rate this book four out of four stars because it has a good flow of events and one can clearly form an image of what is happening in the book.
I would recommend this book to those who have lost faith in God and in life because, in one way or another, things did not turn as they planned. They ought to always remember that all things work for the good to those who trust in God and therefore, they should not fear the terrors of the night not the arrow that flies by day.
Review by Deshna Singh — The Arrow That Flies By Day
[Following is a volunteer review of “The Arrow That Flies By Day” by John Servant.]
The arrows that flies by day,by John Servant is an inspiring story of a young boy named John Thaddeus who faced many difficulties throughout each phase of life
John was a young troubled man ,a marine and an athlete who suffered a lot of physical challenges.his parents were dead ,his high school principal and an old nun were the only one to help him.they were the one who who suggested him to go to the marines. Even though he had broken his leg in school his father and the old nun always taught him to never give up. Despite his physical and emotional wounds he decided to go for an NFL tryout to be a kicker. John never let his wounds,whether they were physical or emotional stop him from following his path
After reading this book,I really wanted to give it to my niece who was fighting physical disabilities,she wanted to be a classical dancer but due to her disability she could never. After she finished reading it she called me and told me how much this book gave her courage,faith and sparked hope
I must say the author did a great job in highlighting the message that no matter what challenges come in life we must not let them stop us and we should have the strength to face them. John also follows his path and preaches Christianity.so one should always keep going and trust God
To sum up everything that has been stated so far,I really like this book Nad there’s nothing I didn’t like about it. The language is simple ans so easy to read. The story is interesting,moving and according to me sparks hope in the hopeless. It’s excellently edited due to which I didn’t find any error in it.the book honestly deserves a 4 out of 4 stars and I would highly recommend it to the youngsters,it would definitely fascinate them
Review by IniOluwa N — The Arrow That Flies By Day
[Following is a volunteer review of “The Arrow That Flies By Day” by John Servant.]
John Thaddeus is an ex-marine who was discharged because of a terrible injury sustained while in the line of duty. He lost his father in high school. This took its toll on him as he exhibited terrible behaviour. An ‘angel’ came to his aid and helped him in whatever way she could. One such way was by asking him to enrol in the marines. He experienced a lot while in service to his country, and he learned to adapt to whatever life threw at him, which was a symbol of the growth and faith that his ‘angel’ wanted to see. All his life, he has faced difficulties and obstacles that threatened to limit him. However, his faith in God, nurtured by this ‘angel’, weathered the storms and unfavourable conditions and eventually matured into a gigantic tree that was unmovable, even in the direst situations. He loved football, but he could not play because of a health problem. After his discharge, he felt God was leading him to play football. He found love, and everything was going on perfectly. There was, however, an unexpected twist in the story that changed everything. Was he qualified to play? What made him think he would succeed, given the odds that were immensely stacked against him?
John Servant’s book, The Arrow That Flies By Day, is one of total trust in God and encouragement for believers.
One thing I liked was that I understood the point that the author was trying to drive home. His story was short, direct, and clear, and so was his message. I resonated with his thoughts on life and one’s relationship with God. I agree with him on every level. He regulated his characters, and they were quite easy to relate to. He did not make them unnecessarily complicated. For a short story, the character development was good. The backstory of the main character was adequate and contained the information. The characters grew into the story and were memorable. His manner of narration also drew me in. It was clear and not complicated. He emphasized the importance of trusting and relying on God, no matter the situation. The title captures the essence of the story and the message being passed by the author, which is trusting in God. There is no need to be afraid of any arrow if you believe in God and His ability to save. Even if he does not, have confidence that whatever he allows is for your benefit.
There was nothing to dislike about the book. I loved everything about it. Although there was one minute error, it has not reduced the book’s quality.
I give it 4 out of 4 stars because it was brief and to the point. It was thought-provoking and engaging. He also used some Bible references, though not as much as I would have liked, he satisfied me with the ones he included.
This book is for Christians who are going through a difficult time and believe the world is against them. It will aid in reminding such people that God has not forgotten them and that he has wonderful plans for them. It’s also for those who want to see a different take on Psalm 91:5.
Review by Chimereucheya O — The Arrow That Flies By Day
[Following is a volunteer review of “The Arrow That Flies By Day” by John Servant.]
Life is full of tragedies, hopes, and faith, but the only thing that matters is what we make of it. The Arrow That Flies By Day is a book about the life of John Thaddeus and his dream of becoming a memorable kicker in the history of American football. John is a Marine and a Catholic who loses his dad to alcoholism and loses his mom to breast cancer. He has seen a lot of pain and sadness in his life, and he would have fallen if he did not have Sister Francis, a Catholic nun who has been there for him for almost all his life and taught him the way of Christ, stating that God is always with those who cherish him.
John’s life is a journey of moral and spiritual lessons. John has a gift that allows him to outshine his teammates. He has a gift that makes people love him and confide in him. And although challenges seem to come in his way from time to time, he never forgets his Savior and asks him to help him solve his problems. What special gift does John possess that allows him to shine so brightly? How does the story of John end? The Arrow That Flies By Day can come from any direction and at any time. How prepared are we when that time comes?
I must confess that The Arrow That Flies By Day made me somewhat emotional. John Thaddeus’s life captivated me, from the point of his sorrows to his joys. I understood the language of this book without issues or controversy. The story is relatable, educating, and proper for everyone. On the note of errors, The Arrow That Flies By Day is professionally edited. There are no punctuation errors and very few grammatical errors, but they do not affect the beauty of the story.
Another thing I am happy about is the use of complex words such as opprobrium and tirade. I learned some unfamiliar words from this book, and I have certainly updated my vocabulary.
For things that I may dislike about the book, I am speechless. This book is brief, having just five well-written chapters. The characters are well-developed and appreciated. I have a lot to say about this book, but that would only lead to me commending it repeatedly. Honestly, there is nothing to hate.
With all sincerity and clarity, I am giving The Arrow That Flies By Day four out of four stars. John Servant, who shares a first name with his character in this book, took his time to make John Thaddeus so lovable, and it is indisputable.
I would love to recommend this book to every human who exists. I believe everyone will learn something from this book, even though the protagonist is a Christian. We do not have to be religious to be good to each other.
Review by Sopiko Chikhradze — The Arrow That Flies By Day
[Following is a volunteer review of “The Arrow That Flies By Day” by John Servant.]
The book The Arrow That Flies By Day by John Servant follows a story about an ex-Marine, John, entering life after deployment. John, the main character, is a survivor, dreamer and man of faith. He overcame many troubles in life. After losing his family at a young age he joined the Marines.
The story starts with us finding him on the football field, trying to get in the team and pursue his dream as a football player. He is trying to find the purpose of his life. Even though he has no experience he proves himself in the eyes of the coach and gets the spot on the team. He is given the opportunity and tries his best to succeed. Teammates are sceptical about his abilities to play well, but he proves to them that he has the skill. John relies on his faith through games. Another main character of the book, Sister Fransis, is referred to as John’s guardian angel through life. She plays a major role in his childhood and still continues to encourage him.
The novel is short and beautifully written by the author. The book has only 5 chapters. The story is about finding strength to continue life with faith. Text was so simple to follow, I read it in one sitting, it was like watching a movie. The football games are described really well. Characters are really relatable, problems that resonate with everyone. We meet issues like rivalry and jealousy of teammates, crisis of faith and finding ways to believe, mother-son like relationship, redemption of characters, and helping people in need. I found it very inspiring and deep. I think it will inspire everyone who is looking to regain faith in God and humanity. Self-less ex-marine trying to help everyone he can with his faith, kindness and strength. For non-believers, I would also recommend reading this book. It does not just focus on religion entirely, but also on love, finding yourself, family, being motivated, and following your dreams.
The plot twist was so unexpected, it left me speechless. Not what I expected at all.
I would recommend this book to adults, even teens, because it feels like anyone can find a life lesson in these words. The author really spoke to me, can’t say one bad thing.
To the best of my knowledge, the book was without errors, and the editing was also good. Author presented a really good story with great characters and storyline.
I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. It was really worth reading.
Review by Nobert Orucho — The Arrow That Flies By Day
[Following is a volunteer review of “The Arrow That Flies By Day” by John Servant.]
The book The Arrow That Flies By Day by John Servant follows a story about an ex-Marine, John, entering life after deployment. John, the main character, is a survivor, dreamer and man of faith. He overcame many troubles in life. After losing his family at a young age he joined the Marines.
The story starts with us finding him on the football field, trying to get in the team and pursue his dream as a football player. He is trying to find the purpose of his life. Even though he has no experience he proves himself in the eyes of the coach and gets the spot on the team. He is given the opportunity and tries his best to succeed. Teammates are sceptical about his abilities to play well, but he proves to them that he has the skill. John relies on his faith through games. Another main character of the book, Sister Fransis, is referred to as John’s guardian angel through life. She plays a major role in his childhood and still continues to encourage him.
The novel is short and beautifully written by the author. The book has only 5 chapters. The story is about finding strength to continue life with faith. Text was so simple to follow, I read it in one sitting, it was like watching a movie. The football games are described really well. Characters are really relatable, problems that resonate with everyone. We meet issues like rivalry and jealousy of teammates, crisis of faith and finding ways to believe, mother-son like relationship, redemption of characters, and helping people in need. I found it very inspiring and deep. I think it will inspire everyone who is looking to regain faith in God and humanity. Self-less ex-marine trying to help everyone he can with his faith, kindness and strength. For non-believers, I would also recommend reading this book. It does not just focus on religion entirely, but also on love, finding yourself, family, being motivated, and following your dreams.
The plot twist was so unexpected, it left me speechless. Not what I expected at all.
I would recommend this book to adults, even teens, because it feels like anyone can find a life lesson in these words. The author really spoke to me, can’t say one bad thing.
To the best of my knowledge, the book was without errors, and the editing was also good. Author presented a really good story with great characters and storyline.
I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. It was really worth reading.
Review by Nwadinso Michael — The Arrow That Flies By Day
[Following is a volunteer review of “The Arrow That Flies By Day” by John Servant.]
The Arrow That Flies By Day by John Servant is a fascinating book that delves into the life and ordeals of John Thaddeus. The book contains 86 pages, and it is divided into five chapters with unique headings. The book starts with the encounter between Eugene Eckley and John Thaddeus who wants to be a kicker in the football team. When he was younger, his favorite sport was football, and he wanted to be a soccer player when he grew up. At some point, he had a leg injury that made it impossible for him to join the school soccer team, but he did not give up. His dad did not stop training him, and it helped him to push through the limits. After his father had died, his character changed, and he started getting into fights with fellow students. He had anger issues caused by his family’s financial situation, and in the end, Sister Francis and his mother decided to take to him to the Marine recruiting area, and he enlisted. Enlisting was one of the best things that happened to him. It helped him in a lot of ways, and it gave him purpose and discipline. In time he was assigned to the Force Recon platoon and was sent to Afghanistan. During his Marine training, his mother died of breast cancer, and it was necessary for him to return. Upon his return, he decided to join a soccer team. Will the soccer team accept him? What is so special about John Thaddeus?
The Arrow That Flies By Day by John Servant is an intriguing work of fiction that was written with a third-person narrative. The book explores and paints the picture of a human that is faithful to his way of life. Christianity is a way of life. It is a lifestyle, and its central model is Jesus Christ. I love the storyline, and I do not think the plot is bad. The author did a good job of using understandable words to convey his ideas in this book.
In my opinion, the author did a good job of characterizing this story concisely, and I am grateful that I got the chance to read it.
I enjoyed every aspect of this book. I did not notice any negative aspects while reading this book. I learned a lot of lessons while reading this book. It is necessary to live an impactful life. As humans, we do not have control over certain things, and it is necessary to live a productive life no matter how short it will be.
This book was well written. In my opinion, this book was exceptionally edited. I did not notice any grammatical or spelling errors while reading this book.
I love John’s dependence on God’s sovereignty. The sovereignty of God explains and proves a lot of things in the universe. John lived an exemplary life, and I admire how he carried himself. In my opinion, this book is recommendable to Christians, and I believe that it can also be read and enjoyed by lovers of fiction. Therefore, I recommend this book to lovers of fiction and Christians who need a picture of what dependence on God looks like. I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars due to the few points mentioned above and because of its amazing storyline.
Review by Gabija Ticho — The Arrow That Flies By Day
[Following is a volunteer review of “The Arrow That Flies By Day” by John Servant.]
Faith adds tremendous value to a person’s life. It is one of the main fundamentals in developing the best personality traits of a human. The author John Servant reveals this idea deeply in his book, The Arrow That Flies By Day. It is clear that any person should believe in something that keeps him moving in difficult times of life. The author wrote about God and the verses of the Bible as the main objects of faith in the novel as the title of this book represents.
The main character of the book also has the name John. He is a person who has had many tough times in his life but luckily, he has a deep relationship with a caring old nun Sister Francis. She is a person who has been like a parent to him after he became quite lonely in his life when he lost his mother and father. I enjoyed reading about such a beautiful connection between two people, I was learning from it while reading. It is quite rare for people to be so helping and dedicated to leaving a good impact on people these days as the character Sister Francis is, so a reader can get some good insights about strong honest lifelong relationships and how they work.
Even though John had become a rebellious boy in his school years, he was later able to develop into a real gentleman with the help of Sister Francis and God. The nun Francis and John are doing fantastic works with people in this book, for example, lending a hand to a homeless man and changing his life.
In this novel, it is shown how God can change anyone‘s life. One night John had a dream of becoming a kicker on a football team. He trusts in God so much that he successfully pushes through the difficulties of becoming one. The lessons of this book literally touched my soul many times while reading the novel. For example, it‘s best to not focus on hardships in life. Instead of it, we should focus on good things like God and our goals. Another amazing lesson of the book is that it‘s never too late to make a change in your life.
I enjoyed reading The Arrow That Flies By Day novel more than I expected so I don’t have any negative comments about it. The value it gave me is so huge that I am sure I will remember this book for a long time, so I rate this novel 4 out of 4 stars. This book is also well edited, there were no mistakes I found while reading it. I highly recommend this book not only for Christians but also for people who want to gain great wisdom about goals, kindness, and faith for their everyday life.
[Following is a volunteer review of “The Arrow That Flies By Day” by John Servant.]
From his days as a youth, John harbors a dream of playing professional football with one of the big teams. Memories of his father teaching him the basics behind the game remain evergreen in his mind. With Sister Francis, a Catholic nun, serving as his anchor and role model, he formulates a plan that will make his dream a reality. However, with the rigorous selection process that awaits him in the cut-throat world of collegiate football, only time will tell if he has what it takes to succeed.
The Arrow That Flies by Day is a feel-good novel that extols the virtues of staying focused on your goals and holding firm to your faith in the face of extreme adversity. John Servant uses verses from the Christian Bible to buttress this point in a story best described as intriguing.
I like that the storyline is simplistic in language. The big words and verbose analogies have been completely done away with, and what is left is a story that any reader can identify with, irrespective of their given faith or way of life. I was initially skeptical that this could be achieved with an inspirational book, but the more I read this book, the more my doubts were dispelled.
The character development is impressive. The author takes his time to explain the adversities that the principal character has been able to overcome, to reach that stage in his life, as well as his relationship with each of the individuals he comes into contact with. An apt example would be the way Sister Francis shows up for John’s practice sessions and makes herself a permanent fixture in the stands, despite the obvious discomfort of his team’s coach.
I did not find anything in particular that stood out enough for me to dislike about this book, and I give kudos to the author for this.
If you are searching for some inspiration to help you achieve any objectives, I would strongly recommend you read this book. There are several instances within the book to give you that pick-up you need. Fiction genre readers will find the storyline interesting to read and definitely worth the time taken to do so.
Credit must be given to John Servant for the effort he put into this book. The storyline is captivating; the moral of the story appeals to a wide swath of society, and the editing involved in the book is quite professional, as I could detect only one error in it. It is because of these reasons, I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars.
[Following is a volunteer review of “The Arrow That Flies By Day” by John Servant.]
The Arrow That Flies by Day by John Servant focuses on a particular John Thaddeus, a wounded Marine. His quest to play in NFL, overcome spiritual and emotional wounds, and win the ultimate game drives the reader through the daily ups and downs. John joins the military and emerges both physically and emotionally scarred. His father’s death due to a heart attack leaves him and his mother to fend for themselves, and it wasn’t easy. In the wake of John’s mother’s death from cancer, his school’s principal, Sister Francis, took on the role of parent figure, providing support and guidance. He served in The Marines after high school, which shaped his tough character, and he developed an unyielding attitude of a fighter. Because of a wound, he sustained from a gunshot, which rendered him impotent, he can no longer play any position other than a kicker, as he did in high school. But his father and the old nun taught him never to give up. On one particular day, John arrives at a training camp with all his belongings. No college or football team ever had him. Still, the aggression he developed in the military and his sense of duty from his father and a close family friend in the nun has helped spur him on to greatness while also causing friction with some of his teammates.
I liked most in this book most because of John Servant’s depiction of the protagonist’s thoughts and reflections on the events. John Servant has a lot of wisdom to impart, and he does so through the thoughts and words of Thaddeus in the book. The way Servant describes football games is also fascinating. He captured and emphasised every nuance of John’s kicking style, including the way the ball travelled from one mark to the next on the field. That’s how Servant drew me into the sport in the first place. Another thriller is the story’s length. Servant has managed to keep the book short enough to keep the reader eagerly awaiting its next chapter.
There’s nothing about this book that I don’t like. It appears to have been edited by a professional, and there is no profanity. The author’s use of descriptive language enhances my enjoyment of the novel. Nonetheless, I found the message to be more appealing. As an inspirational read, it encourages the reader to see their hardships as a blessing disguised as a challenge to overcome.
I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. This book taught me a lot about life, and I highly recommend it. Anyone looking to deepen their relationship with God should read this book. John Servant’s portrayal of a wounded marine as the NFL’s best kicker conveys a message of inspiration to those feeling low in life.
In some way or another, Christians who have fallen short of God’s glory should read The Arrow That Flies by Day. To achieve your goals, become a true hero, and find atonement and redemption, you must use the power of prayer. It’s a tale of rebirth and renewal.
[Following is a volunteer review of “The Arrow That Flies By Day” by John Servant.]
When John Thaddeus a football fan, fractures his leg in his freshman year, the doctors tell him that he will never be able to play football again. John, on the other hand, strengthens his legs through frequent exercises with the support of his father and Sister Francis (an elderly nun who is John’s high school administrator). Then, at the start of his senior year, disaster strikes: his father dies of a heart attack, leaving John distraught. John is unable to pay his school fees as a result of his father’s death. Most kind and overly caring Sister Francis offers to pay his expenses out of her modest funds so that John can continue his education.
John grows enraged and engages in fights and disputes at school as a result of his father’s death and financial difficulties. Soon after, his mother and sister Francis enlist him in the Marine Corps, where he finds purpose and discipline. He is dispatched to Afghanistan, where he develops his character and faith in God. He loses his mother to breast cancer while serving in Afghanistan.
After sustaining a very deep injury which led to him being sad every time he thinks about it, John gets released from the army. Upon his return, he makes an attempt to join the NFL in order to fulfill his ambition of becoming a professional football player.
The Arrow That Flies By Day is a contemporary Christian novel written by John Servant that explores themes of unwavering faith in God, resilience, unconditional love, determination, tragedy, and victory. This is an incredibly uplifting narrative that will leave no one unmoved. The protagonist, John Thaddeus, of course confronts numerous problems, but he overcomes them all because to his deep believe and faith in God and also with the support he receives from his love ones.
This story is short, with only five chapters; each chapter’s title gives the reader a hint as to what to expect which is something remarkable.
Even though the story is very plain. I honestly hoped for some kind of twist to reverse the situation in chapter 5. But aside that, This story is highly motivating and powerful, I got so inspired and the energy I got from this book is unbelievably huge, John’s faith was incredible and the way he fought through with his faith is a part of this book which I appreciate. This book reminds me that life is fleeting, and it highlights the importance of living consciously and making the most of the opportunities that come my way. It also inspires me to rely and believe in God and pursue my goals with dedication and focus, regardless of the obstacles, hate, injuries, hurt and doubt just like John did.
The only thing I couldn’t really understand in this book is the use of American football jargon. Because I am unfamiliar with the game’s rules and terminology, I struggled to understand some of the book’s sections, most especially the parts that has to do with the football jargons but Despite this, I was able to follow along with the story.
This book was really nice especially since it was professionally edited. I would honestly recommend John Servant’s The Arrow That Flies By Day to everyone especially those who enjoys Christian literature, especially Catholics. This is because it contains biblical verses and numerous references to the ‘Mother of God’ and Catholic theology. Also I recommend this book to people who don’t mind a book that is religious but also highly encouraging and motivational. I also believe that fans of American football will be interested.
I will also like to state that the aforementioned flaw of me not understanding anything about footballs has no bearing on my appreciation of the book. As a result, I give it a 4 out of 4 rating.
[Following is a volunteer review of “The Arrow That Flies By Day” by John Servant.]
The book “The Arrow That Flies By Day” by John Servant depicts the motivating and inspiring journey of John Thaddeus, who faced many challenges since childhood but never gave up and also never backed off from helping the people who needed help.
John was a problem child in his childhood, after his father passed away due to a heart attack he and his mother faced many difficulties. And after John’s mother died due to cancer he was left alone but his school principal sister Francis helped John and guided him in every step of his life.
After that sister, Francis was the only person with whom John felt connected and felt like he had someone on whom he can rely. Someone who’ll not leave him in the times of difficulties and will also celebrate the joyous moments with him. After finishing his graduation as per sister Francis’s guidance John joined the Marines. But he had to leave it because of a severe injury.
But John was a worshiper, and he never lost his faith in God even after facing so many challenges and difficulties. So, he thought of using that opportunity to chase his dream of becoming a professional football player.
He also got injured in his childhood and broke his leg because of that but his dad and his friend trained him to be better at football again. But that injury proved to be an advantage rather than a problem, and he made it to the football team.
He also met her high school friend Susan whom he liked since then. He also started making friends on the team.
Everything was going well, he was the best kicker on his team, he was ready to tell Susan how he felt about her but there was a twist, which no one had ever expected and it changed the whole story.
One thing that inspired me a lot was John’s determination and his faith in God. He never begged anyone to like him instead he gave his best in every relationship. John was a very optimistic and inspiring character that will live forever in my heart and also inspire me whenever I’ll feel like giving up.
The only thing that I didn’t like about the book was the unimaginable twist that the author gave to the story at the end which changed the whole story and my views.
Even though the book was only 74 pages and very short but the story was amazing.
I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars and would recommend this book to all the people who are finding it very hard to stay focused on their goals or are struggling and trying their best. This book will help them look at things from a different perspective.
[Following is a volunteer review of “The Arrow That Flies By Day” by John Servant.]
The Arrow That Flies by Day by John Servant is a thought-provoking book that will change your attitude towards many issues. The book tells the story of John, whose fate sometimes smiles and sometimes turns his back on him, but he always has an unshakable faith that helps him make the right decisions. This novel will inspire everyone, regardless of their values and beliefs. The author is also a narrator and manages to make the reader a part of this story as well.
Although the book is small and fairly easy to read, I think John Servant was perfectly able to convey the message. Running from the dark shadows of the past, the protagonist tries to start a life from a clean slate. The first thing I liked about this book was its size. It is not stretched nor boring, and the reader can fully enjoy the reading process. I think a good writer knows how to convey the message artistically and succinctly so that the reader does not get bored.
This book deals with the most pressing issues of all time. Belief has always existed in different forms in human life. We can never predict the future, but faith lights the way when we need it most. I agree with the author when he says that we cannot explain why bad things happen to good people, but we should not lose faith. Honestly, the end of the book was initially frustrating for me, though thought-provoking. Now I think the author has completed this work perfectly, and life is full of surprises; however, that does not mean we should stop fighting for our dreams.
The only thing I did not like was the title of the book and the identity of the author written on every page. Perhaps this is only a matter of taste. I can say this is an exceptionally well-edited book since I did not find any errors while reading.
I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. I decided to give it a perfect rating because this is a well-written book with an important message. The human potentials are endless. The protagonist is unstoppable and a good person who constantly pursues his dreams and uses the Bible and faith as a guide. The reader becomes sympathetic to John’s feelings, his happiness or misfortune, and these feelings will forever remain in our memory. I recommend The Arrow That Flies by Day to those who love books with deep content and life lessons. Also, a special recommendation for Christians, though I think any person will benefit from this book.
[Following is a volunteer review of “The Arrow That Flies By Day” by John Servant.]
The Arrow That flies By Day by John Servant is an other fiction book that gives insights on the life of young ex-marine named John whose life is full of challenges from an early age. John has had his dreams of playing football ever since he was a boy but life was not so kind to him and his dreams. Even with the help from his principal it seems like life just won’t give him a break. Instead the challenges this young man face tests all his virtues; courage, honesty, patience, both physical and mental strength, righteousness and most importantly his faith. Would this young man be able to overcome his challenges, the fear they bring alongside the doubt? would he realize his dreams but most importantly will he be able to hold on to his faith and all that he believes in?
The good thing about this book is that it gives the reader perspective on how to overcome challenges in life especially when it feels like all is lost or when it feels like there is nothing to live for in this world. The message in the book is clear enough to give one hope that life is worth living and that in this life we are not alone no matter how alone one feels. Furthermore it addresses scenarios and challenges that happen in our everyday lives, the loss we feel, the doubt, the fear that often cripple our lives as well our decisions. It is also good that many people can relate to the challenges and problems faced by the main character because that on it’s own serves as an anchor for those with the same problems to hold on to and learn how to overcome theirs.
The book has no negative aspects despite it being full of football terminology that may be a problem for those who do not follow football but overall it’s a very enjoyable read. The author did a good job with the motivation especially to the main character when he was down.
I have not seen any grammar mistake or even misspelled words while reading the entire book therefore I would commend the good editing of the book and that deserves a rating of 4 out of 4 stars.
In conclusion I would recommend this book to all those who are in need of spiritual uplifting as well as those who need to restore their faith. I believe that the book will give someone somewhere hope and the will to carry on.
[Following is a volunteer review of “The Arrow That Flies By Day” by John Servant.]
People are molded by their past experiences. Many people let the happenings of the past dictate their futures. The Arrow That Flies By Day by John Servant tells the story of a young man who persevered in his faith in God. He was determined to become a person of influence.
John Thaddeus was a mariner who had always loved football. Having lost his parents, he joined the “Marines” at the prompting of Sister Francis, a nun whose mission was to win souls for God. After sustaining an injury in Afghanistan, he returned home and decided to find another worthwhile purpose. Even without attending college or formal training in football, he decided to try a kicker position during an NFL training camp in New Jersey. He was allowed to participate in the “Raptors Football Team.” This was an opportunity that seemed too good to be true. But will John overcome the odds and fulfill his purpose?
The book is nothing short of inspirational. Despite the book’s conciseness, the author could tell a didactic story sprinkled with thoughtful lessons. The author writes in a conversational style that makes understanding seamless. The simple language and Bible verses added to the beauty of the book. The characters were very realistic, and readers could relate to their experiences.
John was a very admirable character who impacted the lives of everyone he met. He was a man who always resorted to God for everything. He attributed his success and failure to God’s will. He would say the rosary at the sidelines during games despite the criticisms from the secular world. His resilience could be seen in the way he always practiced football, not minding the comments of the other football players. I also admired the relationship between Sister Francis and John. She was an angel on the Earth. I don’t want to imagine how John would have turned out had she given up on him. Such a relationship is not easy to come by.
In every situation, we should thank God and never lose hope. I almost wished the story didn’t end. I found some grammatical errors that did not hinder my reading flow. There were no vulgar words or erotic scenes. Overall, I rate the book 4 out of 4 stars. There were no negative aspects found in the book.
The book will appeal to Catholics who want to renew their faith. Atheists or non-Catholics may not appreciate some principles in the book. Either way, anyone who takes the time to read the book will not be disappointed, as there are a lot of lessons and fresh perspectives on life.
[Following is a volunteer review of “The Arrow That Flies By Day” by John Servant.]
Did you ever believe God to perform the impossible?Have you ever come face to face with adversaries who would tempt you to lose hope in the promise of God?The-Arrow-That-Flies-By-Day by John Servant is a Christian fiction novel about John Thaddeus who is destitute after serving as a Marine having no resuremay to support his ambition of being an NFL player but his faith in God.He desides to enlist as a place kicker for the Raptors. Is he the place kicker the Raptors have been looking for or does he get overlooked for a more worthy opponent? Read The-Arrow-That-Flies-By-Day to find out!
John Thaddeus always had a passion for football but having a disability as a youth was not able to play for any team. Sister Francis his Christian teacher who irrevocably believes in love has compassion towards him because of his misfortune and does everything in her power to inspire him to trust God and never lose sight of his goodness towards him.
I love the way John Servant structured each paragraph in this book, I clearly understood the message in which he was conveying to his readers, he does an excellent job of creating visiual imagery at his choice of diction, I was intrigued at how simple yet in detail he narrates each football match of the NFL Raptors.There is a saying the author narrates: “How often will people follow thier leader, whether or not it makes sense!”.This is quite true, I have seen people abused and mislead by people in power yet continue to believe in thier oppressors.
There are many moral lessons a person can learn from this book,firstly, I learnt never to complain when bad things happen in life because there is always a person who is worse off than me, John Thaddeus having lost both his parents also having a disability possessed the fortitude to believe God despite his negative circumstances.Secondly, I learnt that there people that are willing to help us, people which we need to support us in making our dreams become a reality.However, there are also cruel,cynical people who desire the worse for us and would do everything in thier power to try cause us to give up on our dreams.
Though being difficult to locate, I did find one negative aspect of the story, the belief that Sister Fancis and John Thaddeus had in believing that the rosary had the power to protect them and grant them life. I personally believe that a person recieves life and divine protection through faith in Jesus Christ.
Dispite this minor flaw which I previously stated, I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. I could not find a basis to deduct a star,there were no spelling,typographic or punctuation errors in this book, it was professionally edited.
I recommend this book to Christians,lovers of football and any person who has a desire to persue a career is sports.
[Following is a volunteer review of “The Arrow That Flies By Day” by John Servant.]
When I found out that this book is a Christian book, I wanted to avoid reading it. I was going through tough times, but as an avid reader, I kept reading.
John Thaddeus is an inspiring character. Plus, the author, John Servant, did a wonderful job with touching lives with this story.
John Thaddeus, the main character, had all the reasons to give up on God, and on life generally, but he didn’t. The death of his father makes life difficult for him and his mum, and he is always getting into fights because of the anger.
His sweet mother; Joan, and the kind old nun; Sister Francis, decide to enlist him into the Marine in Afghanistan. There he learns how to focus on God and his purpose, he never stops praying and receiving encouragement from Sister Francis. After losing his mum to cancer, he is back to the loving arms of the sister. She really plays the part of the mother so well to John and all she encounters. Her prayers and encouragement strengths John’s faith and purpose. John attempts to join the NFL to pursue his dream of becoming a top footballer, and a renowned kicker. But Will he be allowed to play with his broken leg? Will he be able to achieve his dreams despite the obstacles on his way?
The arrows that flies by day by John Servant is one book I have come to love. It has taught me about the unconditional love portrayed by Sister Francis and John, it gave me hope, strength and motivation in the right dose. This is a short story with five chapters, but each of them is captivating, and they touched me in ways too beautiful to describe.
While reading the arrows that flies by day I didn’t encounter any error, this goes to prove that the book is proofread by a professional. But I struggled with the football terminologies used in the book because I am not a football fan. They were strange, and almost made reading the book difficult for me.
I rate this book 4 out of 4, and I recommend it to anyone in need of a reason and strength to move on. My life was changed just like Harvey and the homeless man; the characters of this book. This small, but wonderful package isn’t for believers alone, unbelievers will find it interesting because of the thought provoking lessons and motivations in it. I won’t forget this encouraging quote I got from the book, ” you shall not fear the terror of the night nor the arrow that flies by day”. ( Psalm 91:5).
[Following is a volunteer review of “The Arrow That Flies By Day” by John Servant.]
“Sir…if I am willing to take chances, then I will have chances.”-was the strong belief of John, when the coach of the pro football team told him he had no chance with all the setbacks he presented himself with. He was a war veteran and to try out for the team was the last thing expected of him. But he was relentless and seeing his determination, the coach allowed him to try out for the team.
John, the protagonist of the novel, An arrow that flies by day, is not the quintessential hero, that we find in most of the novels. John is a believer and he leaves everything in the hands of the Lord along with making the maximum efforts he is capable of.
He had lost his father at a young age and both he and his mother were left to fend for themselves in the tough world. Eventually his mother too left the world leaving him in the care of Sister who was by his side as a reliable guardian through all his ups and downs. In the guidance of Sister he had learnt never to give up and always to have faith in the Lord. And thus despite being in an accident that barred him from playing his favorite game to not being able to attend college, John never gave up on his dream of being a pro footballer.
The narrative opens softly and gradually it glides smoothly over the life, the past, the incidents that built up to the present scenario, the resolve of the protagonist of not giving up on his dreams and aspirations along with the presence of the light hearted loving Sister, who was a tender but strong pillar for the protagonist to lean on.
Sliding over the basic introduction the readers will find themselves on the field, running along with the players, worrying along with them and praying along with John for his team. The picturesque description of the football game had me hooked to the pages and along with the players and John, I also found myself being immersed in the happenings.
Amidst all the hurdles and troubles and flying arrows in John’s life, a budding romance bloomed innocently and it was pretty sweet to read their romance.
Stealthily captivating the attention through team work, coaches, captains and the forever evolving relationships of the characters, the author does not give the reader a chance to check how many pages got turned until it reaches the climax and the reader is left groping for the foothold unable to accept the sudden change of events. With each line and each word, along with Sister and Susan and the coach and the team players, I too found it hard to accept the fact that was laid bare in front of us by the author.
It is not only a narrative about John alone but about the John-Sister duo who reached out to anyone in need whether it was a wayward teenager or a war veteran suffering from PTSD–they helped anyone and everyone. John’s dependency on Sister is so infectious and her presence has been so reassuring that in the middle of the narrative whenever any trouble came up, I found myself asking, where is Sister?
The novel has pairs of opposites–the toughest guy who loves to rule, meeting another tough guy who is just focused on doing good and being good or the bully meeting the bullied.
I would recommend the book to anyone and would rate the book 4 out of 4. But I might ask the ones who are looking for a thrilling adventure to not expect too much from the novel. This book does not hold the reader with an enthralling grip but it has a soft mellow hold onto the mind that makes one calmly read through the story and get up only after turning the last page. Despite everything and apart from the big blow that comes in the end, I enjoyed reading the novel. I loved the narrative and it has actually worked as a consolation in my hard times. It is uplifting and even though it is a Christian story with the overtone of religion and faith, it is a good read for everyone.
The message is clear, never give up on your dreams, work hard and keep moving forward with grit and clear ambition. There is someone watching over all of us from above and that Superpower will give us the chances we need and open up the path we need to tread. All we need to do is work hard and be kind. John and Sister has always been kind; though Sister is tough like a drill-master, the sweet tough old lady has became more of my favorite than the protagonist.
With his experiences and knowledge, John Servant presented the readers with a book that shows us the journey of a normal boy growing up with failures and heart breaks to a strong man with an unrelenting faith.
[Following is a volunteer review of “The Arrow That Flies By Day” by John Servant.]
The Arrow That Flies By Day by John Servant is a book that focuses on the importance of Christian values and how to apply them in various areas of our lives.
John Thaddeus is a budding footballer. He was on the football team in his high school. In the seventh grade, he had an accident in which he broke his leg while running in the park. The doctor advised against playing football due to the extent of the damage. His leg muscles got weak because they took a long time to heal. The exercises he was subjected to by his father and his high school principal, Sister Francis, helped him to strengthen his legs again. John’s father died at the beginning of his senior year. He died of a heart attack. He was highly devastated by the loss of his father and the financial constraints placed on them after his death. He hates seeing his mother work herself to the bones to provide for the family. He engaged in fights in school which caused his mother to worry. His mother and Sister Francis, his high school principal, convinced him to opt for the marines. His life and mindset changed for good after he had joined the Marines. John went to Afghanistan on a mission. He encountered near-death situations which got him closer to God, and he learned to place everything in God’s hands.
The story is an inspirational Christian novel that teaches faith, patience, resilience, and love toward God and man. The author demonstrated our relationship with God using special characters like John Thaddeus. Servant’s story gave us an insight into how to react when confronted with numerous trials in life. The author highlighted a few circumstances that might cause us to lose hope in God as Christians. He made us understand the faithfulness of God and his ever-present help to us in times of trouble. The book taught me that no condition was permanent. Prayer remains the weapon of a Christian in any situation. I also learned the fact that no one is irredeemable. When we see a friend doing the wrong things, we are to bring them back to the right path in the most pleasant way. John demonstrated this when a colleague was having a hard time because of his son.
The book also taught me to be selfless. Selflessness means to care more for others than you do for yourself. Naturally, when humans find themselves in a bad situation, we tend to care more about ourselves. I learnt we can afford to look out for someone too. Giving isn’t valuable only when you have in excess but rewarding when you give without expecting anything in return. The author did a great job enlightening us on ways to fulfill our lives. The positive aspect of this book involves all these lessons highlighted above.
I had a little problem understanding the American football terminologies used in the story. Nevertheless, I was able to comprehend the storyline. The use of football terms didn’t alter the flow of the text. I believe it made the book more interesting, especially for those interested in American football.
I couldn’t find any errors in this book. The book was exceptionally proofread. I give this book 4 out of 4 stars because I can’t note any negative side. It is error-free and educative. I would recommend The Arrow That Flies By Day by John Servant to lovers of Christian literature especially Catholics, because of the references made to the Mother of God, doctrines of the Catholic faith, and the rosary. I also believe lovers of American football will enjoy this book.
[Following is a volunteer review of “The Arrow That Flies By Day” by John Servant.]
The Arrow That Flies By Day by John Servant is a book about an ex-Marine, John Thaddeus. The story takes place in the United States of America. The book focuses on the life of the main character. It describes the events and the obstacles that he had to overcome. The plot revolves around John’s efforts to conquer his physical wound in order to live his dream of playing football. At the same time, it concerns with emotional and spiritual wounds of the protagonist and the efforts to heal them.
In my opinion, this is an extremely universal story. It discusses various humane subjects, things all people have to go through and struggle with. Searching for purpose in one’s life, struggling to find one’s place in the world, persistence, trying to overcome physical and emotional problems, and the importance and difficulty of relationships and love being just some portion of what the book deals with.
Apart from that, the book is inspiring. After reading it I felt motivated and stimulated. Despite of the fact that it has only 74 pages, the book made a prominent impression on me. It was captivating and definitely memorable. It left me contemplating the most significant aspects of life. I specifically enjoyed the parts where the author focused on football. Being a sports fan I was able to appreciate the way he captured every detail.
An important aspect of the book is faith. Bible verses are quite quoted in the book from time to time. However, I think this only adds to the merit of the story. It’s a great position for those who want to develop their faith. However, what makes this book exquisite is the fact that people who are non-believers can read it without feeling overwhelmed. The main topic of the book is not religion so they won’t feel uncomfortable while reading it. Moreover, they absolutely can still profit from reading this book.
I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. I don’t have anything negative to say about it. I think this book is a phenomenal and meaningful life lesson. People will only benefit from reading it, therefore, I think it is a must-read for everyone. It is inspirational and uplifting which are traits that nearly everyone is looking for in a book. The universality of the story makes sure that the reader can effortlessly relate to the book and associate with it
[Following is a volunteer review of “The Arrow That Flies By Day” by John Servant.]
First things first, the arrow that flies by the day by John Servant is odd, fabulous, and extremely classy, but then don’t judge a book by its cover because the book is even better. The themes of the book are suspense, tragedy, faith, love, loss, and murder. It is a story about a boy named John Thaddeus who developed an interest in becoming an NFL player. His father was an alcoholic but once a semipro kicker in NFL games. John’s father trained him how to kick a ball. John’s father had a heart attack and died. John’s life was shattered, and he started getting into fights at school. The money to sponsor John in his academics became a challenge for the mother. His mother sent him to the Marine Corps to work out his disciplinary issues. While he was serving in the marines, his mother became sick and was taken care of by a nun named Sister Francis. She was John’s principal in a Catholic school. She gave her time to the children, especially those with moral issues. Her aim was nothing other than to bring out the best in her students. John’s mother was taken care of by Sister Francis before her mother kicked the bucket. Sister Francis put it upon herself to pay John’s intuition fee, even though it was too high for her to afford. When John was shot during a firefight, the bullet pierced his groin, and the doctor told him that he would be unable to impregnate a woman.
When John was discharged from the Marine Corps, he thought of becoming what he had always dreamt of all his life, which was an NFL player. While he was going through the newspaper, he found a link about an NFL game and the location where the game would take place. He moved to New Jersey to give it a try. On getting to the training ground, he approached one of the coaches, but the coach turned down his offer due to his issues with Afghanistan soldiers. After a few considerations with the coaches, they decided to give him a try. John’s performance made the coach give him the opportunity he sought because he was the only kicker whose highest kick reached the end zone. John faced several trials from his teammates. As the main game approached, the coach had to disqualify him due to his inability to attend college. John had no other option but to take up a job around town while thinking of how to go about his next plan. As the game began, his club was doing perfectly fine until their kicker had an accident which made the coach call back John to play the big game. He took the opportunity. The first game he played was a success, and he did not stop there. He kept on winning. John had a different perception of life. While the game was going on, he was praying the rosary, which made one of his teammates and other people take offense to his attitude and criticize him for it. The success of John in the NFL grew, and he became the talk of the day. He visited a restaurant unbeknownst to him that his female classmate was working there. They met and exchanged numbers. Their interest in one another grew and they fell in love. John was confronted with his greatest fear: would he win the big game he had hoped for his entire life, or would his faith be strong enough to marry the love of his life despite his inability to impregnate a woman?
The book was hard to put down until the last page of the book. The book has a lot of lessons and encouragement for those finding it difficult to fit into society. After going through the book. I was left with a question, “What if today is my last day,” “What changes will I make that will change the whole world for good?” I love the author’s writing style; he made his work interactive, making me see the characters like myself.
There is nothing to dislike about the book. Every chapter of the book was super interesting and life-changing. The book was short and straight to the point. There were no errors in the book, which proves that the book was well edited. While reading the book, there was no boredom.
I will rate the book 4 out of 4 stars. I recommend the book to those who wish to grow in their Christian faith.
[Following is a volunteer review of “The Arrow That Flies By Day” by John Servant.]
The Arrow That Flies By The Day is a story of Christian literary fiction. A wounded warrior from Afghanistan, who had served as a marine, traveled on foot from Paterson to New Jersey Raptor’s field to try out for the team in NFL as a kicker. The coach, Jeff Schindler, asked, “What makes you think you can play pro ball?” John replied, “No one told me I couldn’t, sir.” This veteran did not play football in college and did not have a long track record of his accomplishments as a kicker. How would he hold up under pressure with the game on the line? But what Sister Francis, an old nun he knew, wrote him when he was in the service did not make him lose hope. “You shall not fear the terror of the night nor the arrow that flies by day.” Psalm 91:5 NABRE. He made five out of six forty-yard kicks right through the uprights of the goal post when asked by the special teams’ coach, Frank Purcell. John Thaddeus had some workouts the next day on the field, where he made a sixty-five yards field goal but missed the seventy yards. Everyone was amazed and congratulated him in the dorms, but few people were jealous of him. Among those people was the team captain, Harvey Brown. He was four times all-pro in his six years. So this story is about John Thaddeus struggling for his team, suffering criticism, impressing everyone, trying to have his love, praying rosaries, being a marine, expressing his abilities and qualities, facing his fears, and a lot more than that. But this is not just a story. It is a story from which you should be able to pick up some valuable moral lessons.
My views are that I pick up a lot of moral lessons by the end of this book. One should be able to do so. This book has a basis in Christian literature, so it not only engages us spiritually and emotionally but leaves a permanent effect. John Thaddeus, the main character, is endowed with impressive spiritual as well as physical qualities. His right leg got broken during his junior year, yet he tries to make it in NFL. So this story provides us with hope, courage, and faith, which is most likely the most positive aspect of this story.
There seems to be no negative aspect in this story. However, during the NFL matches that happen in the story, “It had become John’s practice to pray the rosary on the sidelines while the game progressed.” So this seems to be unusual. This public display of religion, later on, brings criticism not only from his rival but from the media reporters too. I mean, in my view, these lines should not be in the book. I see some criticism from my side because I am not a Christian. But it must be okay as this is a Christian literary fiction story. So collectively, no negative aspect was noted.
John Servant must have written this book to leave no empty space behind when the reader finishes this book. This book seems to be perfect for Christian literary fiction. So, my rating for this book is 4 out of 4 stars. I have never given such a rating to any other book but this book seems to be on my favorite list. So perfect rating, done.
I would highly recommend this book to a person whose very near and dear have died and now has lost his hope in the life, or God. After reading this book, I would say that you will have the will to live happily. I hope I haven’t spoiled anything right now but mentioning it was serious. Plus reading this book increases faith in God. So as a parent or a caring person, one should recommend this book to one’s child or a friend who has started to disbelieve in God or something like that.
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of “The Narrow Gate” by John Servant.]
As the story begins, John Kelly, once an award-winning newspaper reporter, is assigned to write an article on an ex-senator, Joe Jay. The newspaper’s editor has learned that Jay is hospitalized and likely dying. Since Senator Jay rose to fame quickly and was later forced into retirement, due to scandal, the editor suspects that a good story is lurking there. (This is not a spoiler, as the reader will learn this information in the first few pages of the novel).
When Kelly enters the senator’s hospital room, he sees an old man who appears to be near death. Next, he notices a nun, dressed in full habit, kneeling on the tile floor and praying her rosary. Writer’s intuition convinces Kelly that there is definitely an intriguing story here.
At this point, the story flashes back to Senator Joe Jay’s earlier life. Ambitious to a fault, Jay is lured into the seedy world of politics. He soon learns that each decision he makes carries an unforeseen, and often dangerous, consequence. As this captivating plot unfolds, both the senator and the nun (Sister Francis) will intersect one another’s lives on numerous occasions. However, it is what occurs between these encounters that will captivate the reader.
The Narrow Gate by John Servant captured my interest from the beginning and held it until the last page. Since this is a short read, I easily read it in one day. Servant does a masterful job of developing the main characters. Jay is the ambitious, arrogant and confident (yet often naïve) politician. Sister Francis is the steady, caring and nurturing nun. She is steadfast in her principles and will not be swayed into compromising them.
Servant keeps the tone of the book teetering between hope and despair. Since the characters are so relatable, readers will identify with both of these emotions, throughout the book. Also, the major themes of the book are greed (for money and power), atonement and service to God. The author is skilled in evoking the reader’s senses. At times, the reader may shudder at the arrogance of Jay, as he nonchalantly makes some of his life-altering decisions. Yet, at other times, the reader will sympathize with Jay’s fear, and utter despair, as the consequences hit him head on.
For all of the reasons noted above, I am pleased to award The Narrow Gate4 out of 4 stars. I could find nothing to dislike about this novel. Additionally, the book appears to have been professionally edited. Readers may also be interested to learn that Servant was a lawyer. Having witnessed individuals overcome huge hurdles to achieve their dreams, he has also observed as they fell from grace. His experience and knowledge lend another layer of authenticity to this novel.
This intriguing story will appeal to those who have made mistakes in the past, even life-altering ones, and wondered if true forgiveness was possible. Those with an eye toward politics would certainly benefit from reading this novel. There are no explicit scenes or strong language to offend readers. However, there are a few hints of sexual liaisons, crime, and death that may not be suitable for young adults. I highly recommend this captivating novel and would love to see it adapted as a movie.
Review by onduru_one — The Narrow Gate by John Servant
[Following is a volunteer review of “The Narrow Gate” by John Servant.]
The Narrow Gate by John Servant is an intriguing story that opens with newspaper editor Frank Barry summoning John Kelly, an award-winning reporter to his office for an assignment. Frank requests John to do a piece on Joe J., a man who served as a senator a decade ago and is now hospitalized and nearing his death. The editor is convinced that owing to Joe’s scandalous past and current deteriorating health condition, John can pen a great article for next Sunday edition of the newspaper.
John heeded to his Frank’s command, packed, and took a train to the facility where Joe was receiving treatment. Once in the room, John’s attention is drawn to a nun kneeling behind Joe while reciting the rosary in a soft voice. After asking the nun and a nurse a few questions, John is convinced that there is a lot more to Joe’s story. Initially, John thought that Joe’s story is not worthy of his time and effort. When John gets back to his hotel room to piece up the story, the author takes the reader back to the ex-senator’s early life, and the story gets even more fascinating to the end.
The author skillfully explores two main themes, including religiousness and greed. Joe had such a strong desire for status and power that he even despised the truth that Sister Francis shared. Character development is excellent, particularly the main characters Joe, John, Frank, and Sister Francis, making all of them so relatable. I found myself switching between optimism and hopelessness for each character throughout the book.
The book is a masterpiece. The author weaved together two different themes and used his excellent literary skills to piece up this captivating story. I strongly believe everyone can somehow relate to the story since we have all made mistakes in the past and desire forgiveness. The book is an absorbing read, and I did not find anything to dislike about the book.
I am glad to rate John Servant’s The Narrow Gatefour out of four stars. I enjoyed reading the book right from page one to the last. The book seems to be professionally edited since I did not find any errors which made my reading smooth and fun from start to end. The book is a short read, just 124 pages, and would recommend it to anyone since it features no explicit scenes or offensive language. However, there are some slight mentions of sexual relations, but these are mild may not influence young adults’ reading; instead, the few lines greatly enrich the story.
Review by Meraki_99 — The Narrow Gate by John Servant
[Following is a volunteer review of “The Narrow Gate” by John Servant.]
The Narrow Gate by John Servant is a piece of fiction only compromising 124 pages. The book deals with human desires marinated in political extravagance and thirst for fame and wealth. It is unambiguous that a person manifests and form into what they set to destroy or eliminate. This book touches upon several crucial nature of human desire and greed for power.
The book introduces a renowned newspaper reporter who won the Pulitzer Prize dozens of times, John Kelly. He is intellectual, quiet, introverted, and introspective and often publishes nail-biting articles on civil rights. His boss commands John to write a report on an ex-senator, Joe Jay. The ex-senator went through a big scandal and had to resign, and now people view him as a hero. John was reluctant at first, but eventually gives in and leaves to pay a visit to Joe in the hospital. When he arrives, something crucial caught his keen eyes. An old nun, in a black habit, was kneeling in the corner of the room prayed in her soft voice. This sight convinces Kelly that there was more to the story than he anticipated and dug into the ex-senators life.
Joe Jay is a Harvard graduate and is a lawyer by profession. He starts with his political journey with the district attorney. As Joe climbed the ladder of success, his hunger for power and fame devoured him. He tried to justify his immoral behavior and actions in the shadow of the greater good.
Sister Francis was spiritual and only believed in His doings. She was an opinionated and strong-headed woman and followed her principles with all her heart and entrusted such thoughts and optimism to her students. As the story progresses, the author emphasizes the swamp of politics and evil spirited people who drag others in it. The repercussions of one’s actions cause serious harm in the lives of people.
The author depicts the thin line between light and dark in a person’s subconscious. A person has to atone for his wrongdoings and sins with dire consequences. The book, without a doubt, is remarkable in every aspect. It is insightful how a person dwells oneself into greed and thinks to atone for his sins later. What I liked most about the book is how it teaches that every small, little thing can teach us a big lesson if only we were attuned to grasp them.
It got out of control when Joe ignored his sons’ drinking problem and justified it for providing for his family. Personally, it was very tragic but was needed in the plot to make it insightful and enriching.
Hence, I would rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. The book is well-edited and does not contain any profane language. The book is a constant joyride. People who have made mistakes should give it a read, to know forgiveness is always given only if you’re willing to cross that narrow gate.
Interesting. I am curious about what Joe Jay’s secret is and how he finds forgiveness. This sounds like a fabulously well-written novel. As long as there is nothing explicit, the hints of various liaisons, etc. don’t bother me. I might have to try this one. Thanks for the great review.
“There is no friend as loyal as a book.”
― Ernest Hemingway
Ooooh, this one sounds right up my ally. Joe Jay sounds like a super interesting character – all the better!
Very cool premise, and on my to-read list.
Thank you for the great review. You can find magic wherever you look. Sit back and relax, all you need is a book.
– Dr. Seuss Latest Review:Every Ghost Has Its Story by Lynda Marie Austin
Courage, determination, faith, hope, trust, final perseverance, and the mercy contained in the Divine Plan of God, are but a few superlatives that one can use to describe the masterful message of JohnServant’s “ The Arrow that Flies by Day”. The author has written a short novel describing a modern day hero cast in the shadow of St. Augustine. Like this great Doctor of the Catholic Church, John, the main character of this inspiring story, is revealed as a soul with a checkered past who, through determination, courage, and rekindled faith, is able to overcome many obstacles in life, stemming from a deprived childhood and the injuries sustained from the ravages of war. He strives and accomplishes impossible feats of greatness, heroism,and charity witnessed by many, in life, on the athletic field, and in the spiritual realm.
The inspiration for greatness was born from the love and caring of a consecrated soul in the personage of one Sister Francis, who stepped in as a living guardian angel when all family had been taken from him.
One of the most penetrating themes that “Arrow “ presents is the frailty of our human earthly existence, reminding the reader that one can be on top of the world, achieve impossible dreams of heroism, bask in the moments of greatness, and then in the breath of a moment, lose it all by circumstance of the unpredictable end of earthly life.
The message of living with an ongoing communication with God is the paramount theme of this novel. This is demonstrated by our heroes commitment to the unquestioned and continuous charity in the love shown to others, even at the cost of his own life.
His dedication to Our Blessed Mother is witnessed to all observers by his ongoing recitation of the Holy Rosary. As a visible practice of faith to all onlookers, he kept his beads in hand in every visible situation and performed many and countless acts of heroism fueled from his military training as a Marine.
The characters within this text may be fictitious, the names may be derived from the imagination of the author, but the message is real. Without God in our constant mindset we have nothing. He reaffirms that no human achievement can truly satisfy the heart, make us feel secure as a total love of God. And who is it that shows us the way of perfection in the Eyes of God is none other than the Mother of God, the Blessed Virgin Mary. Through her Holy Rosary and the contemplation of its mysteries of the life of Jesus Christ and Our Lady, faithful and penitent souls can attain a living relationship with Heaven while still here on earth. By traversing life with one foot on earth and the other in Heaven, the faithful soul is elevated to a new reality of supernatural bliss that few attempt to achieve. This is the gem of faith found in the inner self of John that all should strive to emulate. The loss of life or that time of our passing, that we all fear, becomes of secondary concern, when the wise and holy soul realizes that the departure of the soul from the body is coming ever closer with each day, with each breath, as we countdown the span of our first and earthly life.
There is an implied message which all of us need to digest that our lives are to be continued for all of eternity in our glorified bodies, when the soul and the body are reunited at the time of the Second Coming of Our Lord, Jesus Christ and the Final Judgement.
“Arrow “, in novel form, is a catechetical reminder to the conscience of where our true attentions and futures should be directed. And that is to the attainment of happiness and peace that only the Lord can satisfy in our eternal destines., hopefully in Heaven with God, and not in that other place occupied by the selfish and self seeking.
I love the theme of the main character, an underdog by many circumstances, finding a human guardian angel, if you will, in the figure of a Sister Francis, who mentors him is what really matters in life, being one with the spirit of Jesus Christ, through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and her Rosary coupled with the Brown Scapular. These are the messages of Our Lady of Fatima that Catholics and all need to focus upon. Through the narrative of a struggling football career and the achievements of what was considered impossible, the injured soul comes closer to finding earthly happiness and spousal love, only to have all of his expectations snatched away by a single human act of violence.We are assured that his redemption appears to be secured by his Marian devotion, by his martyrdom, evidenced by his earthly acts of charity that were continuously pleasing to God, specifically by his heroism in the sacrifice of his life to accommodate another, much like Our Lord, Jesus Christ, freely laid down His life for all of humanity to secure our eternal wellbeing.
The novel ends with the message of hope for eternal happiness for all those who remain in the shadow of Gods love and the example given by practicing the faith and trusting in the Divine Mercy of God, in the face of any human tragedy, characterize by the message of Our Lord, given to St. Faustina, “Jesus, I Trust in You”.
Lloyd Gerard Greenberg
Review of “The Narrow Gate” by John Servant
Much of the culture in which we live has fallen into a cataclysm of deceit and betrayal for the common good of others motivated by greed, lust, the procurement of power, wealth and public recognition. We see this witnessed by the scandalous behaviors of many public officials when opportunities of illicit advancement present themselves. Evil desires and selfish enterprise are the devices of maliciousness found among those striving to attaint the highest levels of financial success, through the procurement of power, fame and notoriety, has motivated many to abandon moral ethics as they proceed to conquer the world in order to procure many of its riches and enticements. Many are willing to shed the gifts of the Godly virtues of the Holy Spirit to conquer ungodly goals. This entails a willingness to distance themselves from any relationship with God and place in jeopardy their eternal futures. Such is the case in the onset of John Servants,”The Narrow Gate”.
The setting of this saga begins with a third party, a journalist, being assigned a literary project to uncover the real truths trailing the life of a corrupt politician, a US Senator, a man of notorious repute who somehow turns his life around to become a humanitarian with saintly qualities in later life. The challenge is to uncover the facts. What were the real truths? Was this guy a sinner or a saint or hoax?
The main story’s theme evolves into an instructional study of evil verses good, one of truthfulness and honesty with one’s conscience, namely, does the end ever justify the means? Specifically, does one who sells one’s soul to the devil ever make good on the motives of reconciling to do good that can come out of evil, justifications and the promises to turn evil into good when the struggle to achieve greatness has been accomplished. Can one of good moral upbringing ever completely turn ones back to God before their entire world collapses.
Let’s for a moment reflect on two of the greatest snares of the devil. The first is the promise of time. He convinces the inner soul that no matter what one has to do to get head, they will have time in the future to make things right with God, to achieve a greater good, and perhaps come clean with the Mercy of God sometime, later on. This is the justification that our main character, Senator Joe Jay keeps hidden in the back of his mind. Later on, these noble intents however seem to fade away as he languishes in the comfort of his own achievements.
The second snare, and most subtle is to convince man that he, the devil does not exist; this removes the sin in sin, or sin no longer exists. There is no consequence for sin and the thoughts of conditions for final damnation are never ever entered into. Therefore, one can easily lose one’s moral compass and live in moral darkness, separated from God. This again is a symptom of the character of ill-gotten success. What at first seemed immoral was real nothing less than the stretching of truths, besides everyone was doing it or getting away with doing it, right?
Such was the case with Senator Joe Jay in The Narrow Gate. His appetite for power, wealth, position, and greed left the moral teachings of his childhood and adolescent years under the tutelage age of Sister Francis is the rubble of his past, as he took no prisoners in his ascension up the ladder of world power and fame. Every immoral action was either OK or understood as culturally acceptable. With the aid of corrupt politicians, mob connections, the death of acquaintances and his son, in which he had sensed some culpability, peppered with some very seedy dealings, the main character leaves a trail of victims as he accumulates more and more power, only leading to one misstep that would knock him off his pedestal of grandeur and cause him to hit the skids of total ruin.
Down and out, abandoned by his wife for his unfaithfulness, and the memories of his sons suicide, owing to our characters antics of family separation and fragmentation, all seems lost, except for the intervention of our wonderful Sister Francis who is able to upright the sinking ship of the former Senators life.
Sister Francis turns the shipwreck of Joe’s public life into one of total separation from the secular world that he had believed was so significant and which was so desired by him, into one of earthly citizenship of Heaven. Through Sister Francis’s recommendation of the Holy Rosary, the devotion of the Divine Mercy, a rekindled dependence on the Mother of God and Jesus Christ, Joe’s life is turned around. Sister starts this transition of the heart by encouraging Joe to perform acts of charity, to help others in need, which develops into a selfless emptying of all of his former evil designs. Joe slowly desires to imitate Christ by his actions and deeds of charity and mercy. This former dark soul is transformed into one of saintly stature.
The example given by the new selflessness of Joe and the prayers of the good sister offered at his death bed, inspires the investigative journalist to question his own former life, having witnessed the transforming influence of Sister Francis and the conversion of Senator Joe.
The messages of Divine Mercy given to St. Faustina by Jesus, the devotion to Our Lady of the Holy Rosary and the Brown Scapular to regain our friendship with God, and God’s longing and desire to forgive are the overpowering themes contained in this story of redemption. Nobody, no matter what they have done or what they think is unforgivable, is beyond the scope of God’s forgiveness. God, like the father of the Prodigal Son in scripture, is ever watching for our return and eager to forgive the penitent soul. There is but one condition; we have to ask for it.
The fitting title of “The Narrow Gate” reminds the reader that the highway to Hell is grand or paved by good intentions, but the path to Heaven is narrow and at the end of this narrow path is that Narrow Gate that only those who Love God and Neighbor will be allowed to unlock its Heavenly Treasures.
Lloyd Gerard Greenberg, author of “If It All Ends Today.”
This book captured my interest from the first page and held me spellbound until the end. In fact, I read it in one day! Servant did a masterful job of developing the characters, especially Joe and Sister Francis. The tone of the book teeters between hope and despair, and readers will identify with both of these emotions throughout the book. Major themes of this book include greed ( for power and money), atonement and service to God. Also, the author excels in evoking the readers’ senses. You may shudder as you read of Joe’s arrogance, as he nonchalantly makes his life-altering decisions. At other times, you will sympathize with his fear and utter despair as he is forced to accept the consequences of these decisions. Additionally, the author’s experience as a lawyer lends another layer of authenticity to this novel. This story will appeal to readers who have made mistakes in their pasts (even life-altering ones) and questioned if true forgiveness is possible. Anyone with an eye toward politics would certainly benefit from this read. The absence of strong language and explicit sex scenes will also broaden the audience for this book. I highly recommend this exceptional novel!
As the story begins, John Kelly, once an award-winning newspaper reporter, is assigned to write an article on an ex-senator, Joe Jay. The newspaper’s editor has learned that Jay is hospitalized and likely dying. Since Senator Jay rose to fame quickly and was later forced into retirement, due to scandal, the editor suspects that a good story is lurking there. (This is not a spoiler, as the reader will learn this information in the first few pages of the novel).
When Kelly enters the senator’s hospital room, he sees an old man who appears to be near death. Next, he notices a nun, dressed in full habit, kneeling on the tile floor and praying her rosary. Writer’s intuition convinces Kelly that there is definitely an intriguing story here.
At this point, the story flashes back to Senator Joe Jay’s earlier life. Ambitious to a fault, Jay is lured into the seedy world of politics. He soon learns that each decision he makes carries an unforeseen, and often dangerous, consequence. As this captivating plot unfolds, both the senator and the nun (Sister Francis) will intersect one another’s lives on numerous occasions. However, it is what occurs between these encounters that will captivate the reader.
The Narrow Gate by John Servant captured my interest from the beginning and held it until the last page. Since this is a short read, I easily read it in one day. Servant does a masterful job of developing the main characters. Jay is the ambitious, arrogant and confident (yet often naïve) politician. Sister Francis is the steady, caring and nurturing nun. She is steadfast in her principles and will not be swayed into compromising them.
Servant keeps the tone of the book teetering between hope and despair. Since the characters are so relatable, readers will identify with both of these emotions, throughout the book. Also, the major themes of the book are greed (for money and power), atonement and service to God. The author is skilled in evoking the reader’s senses. At times, the reader may shudder at the arrogance of Jay, as he nonchalantly makes some of his life-altering decisions. Yet, at other times, the reader will sympathize with Jay’s fear, and utter despair, as the consequences hit him head on.
For all of the reasons noted above, I am pleased to award The Narrow Gate4 out of 4 stars. I could find nothing to dislike about this novel. Additionally, the book appears to have been professionally edited. Readers may also be interested to learn that Servant was a lawyer. Having witnessed individuals overcome huge hurdles to achieve their dreams, he has also observed as they fell from grace. His experience and knowledge lend another layer of authenticity to this novel.
This intriguing story will appeal to those who have made mistakes in the past, even life-altering ones, and wondered if true forgiveness was possible. Those with an eye toward politics would certainly benefit from reading this novel. There are no explicit scenes or strong language to offend readers. However, there are a few hints of sexual liaisons, crime, and death that may not be suitable for young adults. I highly recommend this captivating novel and would love to see it adapted as a movie.
The Arrow That Flies by Day is a deep and inspiring story that cannot leave anyone who reads it unchanged. The challenges that John Thaddeus, the protagonist, faces are a multitude, but through his faith and the support he got from his loved ones, he somehow manages to overcome. This work of fiction by John Servant got me so absorbed and entangled to the story that I refused to put the book down. This could be because it covered a wide range of themes I was inclined to, which involved loyalty, love, persistence, determination, faith, and authenticity.
The story is set in Paterson, United States of America. John had been a trouble child when growing up. When his father passed away due to heart-attack, him and Joan, his mother, were left to mend for themselves, and it was not easy. The principal of John’s school, Sister Francis, stepped in to assist the family and later on, became like a parent to John when his mom died to cancer. After graduating from high school, he served as a Marine, and learnt tough skills that shaped his tough character, and built up an unrelenting attitude of a fighter within him. Before he was deployed from the Marines in Afghanistan, he had incurred a gun wound in his lower abdomen that changed his whole life forever.
After leaving the Marines, he did not know what was next for him in life. He wanted to find a purpose for himself. He wanted to matter, and he wanted more in life that what he was getting. He prayed long to God asking for guidance and direction. His prayers eventually got answered, and he discovered he is supposed to be a kicker in football. Without any hesitations, he followed his calling with determination and became not just a highly esteemed NFL kicker, but also a good neighbor and friend to the many he met on his journey. He was also very humble and loving. When he was slapped on his left cheek, he turned the other cheek as well.
I loved everything about the book. The author made the book short, just 74 pages, yet profound and insightful. However, I must say that the book took a turn I was not expecting in the end. While enjoying reading about John’s consistent achievements, something terrible happened to him. Everything was going well in his life – he just won for his team, and was ready to tell Susan, his high school classmate, how he felt about her. I must say that Susan and I did not see the author’s surprise coming. We even cried over John. He was such a good, handsome, tough gentleman, and he did not deserve what he suffered.
Other than the surprise hit by the author, there was nothing I disliked about the book. I only noticed just one grammatical error, where the pronoun “she” was used instead of “he”. The flow of the book was smooth, and not deterred by any editorial errors such as misplaced punctuation marks. Due to this, reading the story not only made it easy for me to visualize effectively as though I was watching a movie, but it also made me felt like I was being featured in the movie itself because the story felt so real and tangible!
I enjoyed how the author described the football matches. He captured and emphasized every details of John’s actions on the field, from the angle at which he kicked the ball at, to the kilometers the ball reached, and even more. If ever the author’s writing career does not become successful later on for some reason, (though I doubt it might ever happen because he is a great writer) he would fit just fine as a football commentator! I even watched a few videos online to see what this American Football was all about, because it clearly was not the same as ours here in South Africa – based on the thorough description given by Servant. That was how fascinating and enthralling Servant got me into this sport.
I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. I picked up a lot of life lessons from this book, and everything in the is worth reading. I would recommend the book to anyone who wants to build up on their faith in God, because John was a believer, and he quoted the Bible verses every once in the while. However, a non-believer alike would benefit from reading the book since it does not just focus on religion entirely, but on the meaning of loving and caring for others, being motivated, and following your dreams through fire and storm. My favorite line from the book was John’s response when asked why he thought he could play pro ball. He answered, “Because no one ever told me I couldn’t.”
It seems like John had a lot to overcome in his life. Still, I’m not sure this is a book for me. It’s not catching my attention the way I would like. I appreciate your review.
The Arrow That Flies by Day
Top reviews from the United States
dulcita schatanoff
5.0 out of 5 stars Moving story
Reviewed in the United States on April 9, 2020
Verified Purchase
I am grateful for “The Arrow that Flies by Day”by John Servant to come to me during a time that is so challenging in our world as we are fighting to find answers and grounding during the COVID -9 Virus outbreak . The story was beautifully written and an excellent example of keeping to one’s faith despite challenge after challenge . It tells of the experiences of John,a troubled youth ,marine wounded in combat ,and an athlete . John was tested by suffering many difficulties throughout each phase of his life but kept faith . Instead of letting it go ,losing his religion and trust in the Cross, feeling angry or spiteful towards God , John Turned to Him . He prayed the Rosary faithfully . He placed his fears of the future in GODS HANDS . He suffered silently and bravely . He did not let people who thought he was strange for praying the Rosary as he sat on the bench during football games deter him. He did not promote his suffering for others to admire him . He just endured and prayed for guidance and strength to face upcoming challenges. I can’t help but relate this to where we are at this time in our world . Especially as I read this going into Holy Week and knowing the suffering and sacrifice that Jesus made for us all to be saved . In this uncertain and terrifying time , we must be like John and keep faith . We must not “Fear the Terror of the night “ . We must be vigilant in our faith . This isn’t a time for apathy . We do not know when our time will come . Whether it be by this horrible unseen killer of a Virus or another part of God’s plan for us . We must hold true to our Lord . Trust in his goodness and his reasons for our challenges . Pray for the strength to endure . Thank you Mr. Servant for providing a wonderful story to send your readers these powerful messages !! May God our Father and Mary our Mother protect and guide us through any and every challenge we experience !
Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars God is good
Reviewed in the United States on February 24, 2020
Verified Purchase
This is a good book that every one should read to enhance there Christian Faith thanks George Dibble As a Christian
John J. Carraher
5.0 out of 5 stars Book Review The Arrow That Flies By Day
I gave this book a five star rating.
The reason for my rating is that although the book is a work of fiction it relates to everyday real life situations. I also felt that the author wove all the elements of life clearly together. The book demonstrates that faith, friendship and willpower can change the direction of a persons life in a positive way.
5.0 out of 5 stars This captivating story would make an excellent movie! Reviewed in the United States on May 15, 2019
This book captured my interest from the first page and held me spellbound until the end. In fact, I read it in one day! Servant did a masterful job of developing the characters, especially Joe and Sister Francis. The tone of the book teeters between hope and despair, and readers will identify with both of these emotions throughout the book. Major themes of this book include greed ( for power and money), atonement and service to God. Also, the author excels in evoking the readers’ senses. You may shudder as you read of Joe’s arrogance, as he nonchalantly makes his life-altering decisions. At other times, you will sympathize with his fear and utter despair as he is forced to accept the consequences of these decisions. Additionally, the author’s experience as a lawyer lends another layer of authenticity to this novel. This story will appeal to readers who have made mistakes in their pasts (even life-altering ones) and questioned if true forgiveness is possible. Anyone with an eye toward politics would certainly benefit from this read. The absence of strong language and explicit sex scenes will also broaden the audience for this book. I highly recommend this exceptional novel!
Barbara
5.0 out of 5 stars A powerful fiction about returning to grace
Reviewed in the United States on May 23, 2020
John Servant once again weaves an engrossing short fiction evidencing the strength of Christian faith and teachings. Servant develops his plot by creatively introducing us to a one time politician, a devote nun and an award winning reporter. The politician’s story is one of losing his moral compass to achieve his climb to success at all costs. Everyone can identify with failings and missteps in their lives. This story is about the decision to regain that moral compass and returning to your Christian faith and beliefs. The author delivers Christian teachings through the interaction of this failed politician and his steadfast mentoring nun. Servant creates a narrative that convinces us that God is merciful and always forgiving. The author’s faith flows throughout this well developed fiction. Yet it is appealing to everyone as we all recognize our failings and a desire to return to grace.
John J. Carraher
5.0 out of 5 stars A story of greed, deception, faith and redemption
Reviewed in the United States on June 19, 2020
This is the second book I have read by this author and I found it to be as good as the first and with a little more depth. The story weaves many of the aspects of life, greed, power, deception and faithlessness together in a very clear and concise way. I feel the story shows that no matter what mistakes or misdeeds a person makes in life it is never to late to repent and embrace the faith that can result in true redemption. I have downloaded the third book by this author and expect it do be as well written as the first two.
Always Before Me: (A Story of Mercy and Salvation)
Top reviews from the United States
Ibe Uche
5.0 out of 5 stars A Spiritual Book for Everyone
Reviewed in the United States on June 1, 2020
I’ve read tons of religious books and I would say that this book was written with no prejudice. It’s amazing the level of respect the author showed for other religions. Beyond that, this book shows how you can impact lives around you while maintaining your spiritual standing.
Mike
5.0 out of 5 stars A good story line, that is easy to follow
Reviewed in the United States on May 21, 2020
Not the usual story line for a religious book.
Review by Caroline2021 — The Arrow That Flies By Day
by Caroline2021 » 09 Dec 2020, 09:13
John Thaddeus was a former marine man who did not have any family members. Sister Francis, who was a nun, looked after him and she was the only close person he was left with. Although John had experienced all the hardships in his life he did not give up on his dreams of being a member of one of the biggest football teams in his area, and he felt that will give him so much joy. He persuaded his dreams and trusted God to open doors for him, even if he did not professionally qualify to be the team member, John made it to be one the best kickers for the Raptors team.
Not all people were excited about his victory, but John did not return bad with bad to people like Harvey who was of the kickers as well John had found in the team. He reconnected with one of his high school classmates that he fell in love with and the feeling was mutual. John always wanted to help people he lived to help people until his death where he died helping someone who was carjacked. His death left many with sorrow because of his kind heart including Sister Francis, Susan a lady who fell in love with John.
The arrow that flies by day a book by John Servant. This is an interesting book. The book is about a man of faith who had to hold on to the scripture “You shall not fear the terror of the night nor the arrow that flies by day.” Psalm 91:5 NABRE. Regardless of all the trials, John Thaddeus faced he trusted God and believed that even though he was going through the hard times, good times will come. I like the close relationship that John had with Sister Francis it reflects on how important is to have the people who support and guide you in life for one to get through this life.
I like how the author demonstrated the works of faith through John in the book. Doors were opening because John believed and had faith in God. He was also a good servant in helping and praying for other people. The title of the book is very relevant to what the book talks about. The author did a very good job of introducing characters and their personalities in the book. The book introduction to the conclusion was properly laid out, in this regard the book was flawless. The book cover is not that revealing or rather eye-catchy, if there was a picture on the cover book that depicts the story in the book it will be more revealing and nicer.
What I did not like about the book is that it has long paragraphs sometimes this feels like dragging when you read a book. Though the author gives a brief description of the surroundings and areas in the book, I feel like more detailed descriptions would have given a more feel to picture and relate, what do the places look like. The first pages of the book included a lot of third person writing which made it a little bit difficult to read. What I liked about the book is that the font of the book is easy to read and the book is engaging with the reader, while reading the book you feel like you the part of the story. I am rating the book 4 out of 4 stars, the book was exceptionally well edited. I did not find any spelling or grammar errors. I will highly recommend the book to people who believe in Christ.
Review by AtienoMagero — The Arrow That Flies By Day
by AtienoMagero » 07 Dec 2020, 05:15
The Arrow That Flies By Day is a Christian fiction book by John Servant. The story is about a man called John Thaddeus, who is a Marine veteran with hopes of becoming an NFL kicker. John Thaddeus decides to go and try out for the kicker position for the New Jersey Raptors. Initially, both the head and assistant coach are hesitant to give John a chance. However, they are amazed at his talent and skill when they decide to let him try out. We get to see John Thaddeus faced with several obstacles and hindrances in this book. Even when things get tough, he perseveres through his faith, hard work, and determination.
The Arrow That Flies By Day is truly an amazing book to read. There are so many important lessons Christians can learn from reading John Thaddeus’ story. I was profoundly motivated by lots of things in this book. For instance, it was inspiring to read how John Thaddeus overcame the injury in his right leg. By the grace of God, along with the help he received from both his father and Sister Francis, John was able to overcome his injury and play football.
Another thing I liked about this book was the fact that it felt realistic. Without giving too much of the plot away, I was not expecting the book to end the way it did in regards to what happened to John. I was deeply invested in John’s character development and what happened to him. However, I realized that it was supposed to be a lesson. The events that occurred were meant to serve a higher purpose. It is nice that the author created a character that many readers can relate with.
I loved reading The Arrow That Flies By Day. There was so much helpful information and motivation that I got from this story. The story is also wonderfully written and edited, as well. Throughout my reading process, I did not encounter any errors whatsoever while reading. I did not have any issues or dislikes to mention about the story as well. I will therefore be giving this book a rating of 4 out of 4 stars.
Since this book is Christian based, there was no use of profane language. I feel like this book would be perfect for Christian readers because they can find strength and motivation through reading the story. Non-religious readers may have a hard time connecting with elements of the story.
Review by Bomsia — The Narrow Gate by John Servant
by Bomsia » 28 Dec 2020, 12:45
The Narrow Gate is written by John Servant. It is an eight-chapter book that falls under the contemporary Christian genre. The book has a Christian background with a fictional story to bring home its idea.
The book begins when John Kelly, a reporter, is assigned to cover a story of Joe Jay, a sick senator that resigned out of shame and is now viewed as a saint. “Is this story good enough to be reported,” asked John Kelly? Joe Jay was an ordinary boy from a troubled home, which eventually led Sister Francis, the principal of Joe’s high school, to play a pivotal role in the upbringing of Joe and instill in him the traits of a true Catholic Christian.
However, Joe becomes a prosecutor in Buffalo after he is handed the opportunity by Kelvin Coley, the head of a local party, to become a district attorney. However, Joe would have to go against all prior morals and principles Sister Francis had inculcated in him.
Joe Jay became more ambitious, power-hungry, and cared less about anyone except his party. Joe’s worldly anxiety, greed, and the desire for power overcame his Christian beliefs. In no time, Joe Jay had grown to the position of a senator, and he was regarded as “easily manipulated” because of his immeasurable loyalty to his party. Amid these political quagmires, how did Joe Jay become a saint in the eyes of the people?
I think the writer intends to reach out to the Christian reader that has flair for the doctrine, politics, and naturalism in writing, and the author was able to actualize his goal using the third-person narrative. I liked that The Narrow Gate by John Servant was a good read; a short book with a simple story and no complications. Also, the fact that the storyline grew and wasn’t static makes it easy for its target audience to understand and relate it to the realities of life. I didn’t notice any errors throughout my reading, and that proves the text is professionally edited.
Despite the positive points, I didn’t like that the characters were introduced and left as stooge where there would have been a great connection to the storyline. For example, in the sick Sister Francis scene, the writer didn’t do justice in connecting it to the storyline and can discourage readers to continue reading. Apart from this, the book was intriguing and can capture readers because of its suspenseful attributes and unpredictable nature.
I rate the book 3 out of 4 stars. I have deducted one star because of the lack of continuity of the introduced characters as well as the failed scene connection throughout the book, which I have explained in the previous paragraph. There were mild sexual scenes and suicidal characteristics, making the novel unsuitable for children. The book is best suited for adult Christians that love intriguing fictional Christian stories.
Review by Vivdija — The Narrow Gate by John Servant
by Vivdija » 30 Dec 2020, 11:07
“Sister, do you think God can forgive me?” Joe asked. (page 100)
What happens when you choose to compromise your values and beliefs? Well, John Servant takes a stab at answering this question in his book The Narrow Gate.
The two main characters of this book are Joe Jay and Sister Francis. Joe is a Christian man and a reputed litigator. He had graduated from Harvard with a degree in political science and a law degree. He has a wife called Joan and a son called Joey. Joe is lured into the dirty game of politics and rises to fame quickly. He soon realises that to achieve his political goals, he has to accept ideologies that he does not believe in. Joe is portrayed as a gullible man whose greatest weakness is his ambition. It is good to be ambitious. However, what happens when your ambition makes you lose sight of your moral compass? How far will Joe go to achieve his political goals? How will his decisions affect him and his family members? What is the role of Sister Francis in this story? You will have to read the book to find the answers to these questions.
The main themes of this book are religion, politics and greed. Joe was greedy for power and did everything that he could to climb the political ladder, to the detriment of his personal life. There are different stylistic devices in the book like irony and biblical allusion. The writer has vividly described his characters. Consequently, I could picture all of them in my mind as I read the book. My favourite character was Sister Francis because she stands for what she believes in. I did not like Joan because she highly values wealth and her social status to the point that she cannot stand against what is wrong.
One of the things that I loved about this book is the clear depiction of reality. The characters of the book are relatable. Many people are like Joe. Joe compromised his values and deceived himself that this was for the greater good. The little things that we take for granted can negatively influence our life. Another thing that I loved about this book is how the writer concludes Joe’s storyline. I am glad that he learnt from his mistakes and changed.
There is nothing that I disliked about this book. This book has more than ten mistakes. Hence, I rate it three out of four stars. Have you lost hope? Do you feel that the mistakes that you have made are so grave that God cannot forgive you? If your answer is yes, this book is suitable for you. This book has an interesting plot. I finished reading it in less than twenty-four hours. I enjoyed reading this book.
The book is a work of fiction dealing with God’s forgiveness and the things in life that have true value. The story starts with an intriguing beginning. It actually starts at the end of former Senator Joe J’s life. John Kelley is asked by his boss, Frank, to write an article about the former senator for the Sunday news magazine of the newspaper. John goes to the hospital and visits Senator Joe’s hospital room. He meets an old nun, Sister Francis, praying near the Senator’s bedside. From this point time goes backwards and we learn more about the Senator. He graduates from Harvard and becomes a lawyer. He joins a prestigious law firm in New York City, but soon becomes dissatisfied. He moves to upstate New York and becomes a very efficient prosecutor. He marries and has a son and he is very happy. He is asked to go into politics and decides that he can do good things to benefit people, but it is at this point that he begins to make what he considers minimal compromises with the logic that he can fix the wrong things later. This takes him on a downward spiral that affects everything in his life, including his family. There are major events which cause him to rethink his life. Sister Francis stays in the background of his life and enters when needed.
I chose this book because it was categorized as a Christian book and when I read the description it peeked my interest. I am not Catholic but was brought up in a Christian home. The Narrow Gate reflects many of my personal beliefs. I enjoyed the fact that there was absolutely no profanity. John Servant also backed up his story with the Bible verse references. The verses and references are taken from the American Standard Bible, revised edition. When reading the book it was very easy to see where the main character of the book, Joe was headed. I left out a lot of the details in the plot description because I felt that I would give away some very important details that give the book its impact. The book shows what will happen when someone becomes consumed by money and power.
I found it very easy to see what was happening to the main character and that began to irritate me. I wanted to step into the story and rescue him from his mistakes. If I stop to think about it, maybe being irritated is not even a bad thing because it makes the reader pay attention. The book also shows God’s gracious forgiveness when we repent and allow God to gently change our thought process and the direction of our lives. When all of that happens the book also shows how a life can be blessed.
The book was not very long but it had a very powerful message. It did not preach but told its story through the plot. It keeps the reader involved, engaged and thinking. I would rate this book with three out of four stars. The reason for that is the double edged sword of feeling frustrated at watching the main character sink to his lowest point. The best and most uplifting part is when Senator Joe realizes where his life is headed. There is both sadness and a sense of peace and inspirational acceptance at the end of the book.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a book with positive messages that over shadow the necessary sad parts. The book ends with an appropriate ending for all of the characters. One of the things with which I could find satisfaction and truth in is that there is more joy in giving than receiving.
Review by Claire Vaal — The Arrow That Flies By Day
by Claire Vaal » 05 Jan 2021, 15:38
The Arrow That Flies By Day is a Christian novel about a guy named John Thaddeus. John is a former Marine who is looking for a way to distract him from the scary memories during war, preferably playing for the NFL. During his time serving in the Marines, he found out his mom had died. His father had passed before he left, so he didn’t have any family when he came home. He did have Sister Francis, a nun, who was his old principal. She had supported him through so much. John wanted to play football all the way through high school, but an injury kept him from doing that. When his dad was alive, he taught him how to be a kicker. John had worked on strengthening his leg all of his life. Now is his time to shine. Can a walk-in who hasn’t played college football really play for the NFL though? This inspiring, heart-wrenching, and touching book is one that no one should turn down.
There were many things about this book that I loved. The overall message, the plot, and how the author developed the main character were definitely some positive aspects to this book. The overall message really stood out to me. Determination, faith, and prayer were some things that were mentioned. It really went into depth with all of those, and I think the author, John Servant, really did a good job with that. The plot was also very intriguing. I don’t really like football books, but this wasn’t just about football. It was full of interesting stories about John Thaddeus, and I never wanted to put the book down. The main character and how he was developed was also very well done. It talked about many of his struggles, along with his successes and determination in becoming a football player. But more importantly, it talked about his faith in God.
I personally didn’t have many things I disliked about this book, but I do wish the book was longer. It is a very short book; it’s less than 100 pages. Because this was such an amazing book, I wish I had more to read. Other than that, I thought this book was almost perfect.
My rating for this book is 4 out of 4 stars. I really couldn’t find many things I disliked about this novel. I don’t want to rate it a three because if I can barely find 1 negative, I think it should get a perfect score. It was a very enjoyable book to read, and it made me want to read all the time. Also, it only had a couple of errors, and both were minor.
I highly recommend you read this book. It is a Christian novel, so keep that in mind before you read it. If you like books that go into depth about faith, prayer, and makes you think, this book is for you. This book really puts things in perspective, and it has many lessons in it. Although I haven’t read many Christian novels, this one is for sure in my top two. If you’re not sure if you would like it, I would tell you to at least give it a chance!
The Arrow That Flies By Day written by John Servant is actually more of a short story, but a wonderful read nonetheless. The main character, John Thaddeus, is an ex-Marine. After he had many close calls on the battlefield, John decides to take his dreams to the field of an NFL football team as a kicker. In addition to his service and his dream of being a professional football player, John talks about how his faith saved him through his hard childhood, time in Afghanistan, and the new path he has chosen to follow.
There are many good things about this book, but I personally think that the best part of it was the characters; the characters are part of what makes the book so great. For starters, Servant did an excellent job making John out to be this person that so many people want to be friends with. Because of his service he learned a thing or two about what it’s like to have to work hard, but he also learned that many need to just let things roll off their back. That leads me to another character, Harvey. Harvey is the team captain of the team that John is hoping to join. Harvey is a very self-centered person who is not respectful to , but demands it from others. Between John and Harvey, a movie comes to mind about how they act and that movie oddly enough is “Mean Girls”. John and Harvey are characters that many people could see competing in high school. Because of this view, the book is opened up to many teen readers.
While there are many praises to this book, I have one complaint; the ending. I don’t want to spoil it, so I won’t go into it too much, but it just wasn’t the ending so many readers are hoping for. Servant did a fantastic job at getting readers excited about an ending that many readers suspect, yet that ending is not included. Quite frankly, the ending was pretty boring and I was somewhat disappointed in it. However, that is the only negative that has with the entire story.
My overall rating of the book is a 3 out of 4 stars. While there were no errors, vaugler language, or erotic scenes, I still did not give the book a perfect score. My reason for that is becasue as I said before, I was disappointed at the ending. The ending was not what was expected and that left me feeling a little sad about things. That being said, I felt that this deserved nothing less of three stars. I thought that the book was well written and I really enjoyed the story. It was very inspirational and allows everyone who reads it to think about their life and their choices and how we should all be living our lives to the fullest.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is wanting to become more acquainted with Catholic or Christian religion. The main character talks about how God saved his life and how he would love to give thanks to God. If you are someone who is not a religious person or does not belong to the religion talked about in the book, then I would probably steer clear of this read. However, if you are someone who wants to be inspired to be more in touch with their religion or who is already a big believer in God, then I would strongly suggest this book. In terms of age, I think that this book is a good read for anyone fourteen years or older. It really was a well written book that can be enjoyed by many.
Review by Zee_Zee — The Narrow Gate by John Servant
by Zee_Zee » 05 Jan 2021, 16:43
There’s a story in the Bible of a prodigal son who leaves his father’s house to squander his share of the family inheritance. It’s a story that illustrates the cycle of redemption. It speaks of God’s undying love for his people, which remains fervent regardless of what humans do.
In The Narrow Gate, John Servant tells a story that is similar to the biblical prodigal son’s tale. Joe Jay, a young and upright prosecutor, attracts a political party’s attention with his reputation as a hard-nosed litigator. They approach him with an offer to make him their political candidate. However, the proposal has several strings attached, which Joe doesn’t know.
In his quest for more political power, he disregards the advice of his former principal, Sister Francis, and begins to cheat on his wife. His promiscuity puts his marriage in jeopardy. Joe and his political party eventually loses, which causes him to take a little time away from politics. However, that didn’t stop him from fighting to climb higher on the political ladder. When he eventually becomes a senator, disaster strikes. What does fate hold for his political career? Will he ultimately find his way back to fix his life’s wreckage? Follow this highly emotional tale to find answers to these questions and more.
From the first page of the book, I got hooked. I anticipated that I’d love the story, and I was not disappointed! I loved the way the author began the story. He provided enough information that formed the building blocks for the things that unfolded. I liked that the story started from the end and rolled backward. It felt like I was watching a movie written and directed by Christopher Nolan.
The author did an excellent job with the book’s characterization. I loved that the author gave most of the characters a presence. For instance, Sister Francis wasn’t the main character, but I felt her presence throughout the book. I could tell when she was about to enter the scene. Joe Jay’s character was also relatable. Though the story revolved around him, other characters found expression throughout the story. The relationship between the characters was well defined and realistic. The book’s characterization was my favorite aspect of the book.
There are several lessons to learn from The Narrow Gate. It’s a story of love, loss, lust for power, salvation, and restitution. It illustrates the beauty of God’s love and truth. It also shows that every action has its consequences, whether good or bad.
I found only two errors in the entire book, so I reckon it was professionally edited. I enjoyed the story; I found nothing to dislike about the book. Therefore, I’d give it 4 out of 4 stars. It was indeed an exciting read, and I strongly recommend it to lovers of Christian literature.
John Thaddeus is a humble marine veteran who embarks on a journey to fulfill his purpose of being a football kicker for the Raptors after coming back from his service in Afghanistan. Tall, slender, somewhat mysterious but with a welcoming smile, it is hard to tell if this young veteran would have a chance to make the team. Showing much dedication and a remarkable set of skills, he unexpectedly impresses the coaches and gets his fellow potential players of the team on their toes. In The Arrow That Flies By Day, the author, John Servant, paints the picture of the young veteran’s journey as he overcomes challenges that he faces, choosing always to focus his energy on his personal, spiritual growth.
What I love in this short, easy-to-read book is that it packs in it a lot of encouragement and inspiration through the life and viewpoint of this young veteran. Obstacle after obstacle, he chooses to view challenges as opportunities to grow instead of letting them deter him from his God-given dream. He is bold in his faith and although he experiences doubt from time to time, he never lets go of his faith. The character’s reactions to his problems are written from a realistic point of view, which makes it easy for the reader to take it to heart and willingly apply those same principles in their own life. John Thaddeus can be seen as an example of how we should treat others, even when they are cruel to us, no matter how hard it may be.
The story at some parts, however, seemed a little rushed. The challenges that came with the young veteran’s love interest were short-lived and thus seemed somewhat unnecessary to mention, especially considering the point in the book in which the love interest started. The pace of this part of the story seemed fast, sudden, and almost out of the blue. On one hand, it would be understandable that the story of a young man on a journey would involve falling in love, but on the other, a part of it felt unrealistic and inharmonious to the rest of the story.
Overall, the principle of the story is beautifully articulated through this young man’s experiences and more importantly, how he responds to them. I therefore rate The Arrow That Flies By Day a solid 3 out of 4 stars. Amazingly well-edited, it is interesting and encouraging as the author captures the reader in the down-to-earth yet bold nature of his main character. Other than some parts feeling rushed and not needed, the climax is gripping and the unexpected plot twist definitely left me surprised and is truly a unique way of encouraging and inspiring readers.
This book would be greatly recommended for readers who need a light, inspirational and encouraging read as a lot of Bible verses are mentioned in a manner that can be applied to the reader’s own life. Even for those who are not avid Bible-readers, this book packs a lot of principles and encouragement for any individual who may be going through tribulations.
Senator Joe Jay went through a big scandal and had to resign. Joe Jay is hospitalized and near death. John Kelly, an award-winning reporter was given the task to write about Joe Jay. In his mind, Joe was a “has-been”, and his story didn’t have much to offer. However, upon entering the hospital room he saw an old nun in a black habit, kneeling on the floor, and praying to the rosary. His Irish intuition told him that there was more merit in the story than he anticipated.
“Every saint has a past, and every sinner has a future.” The Narrow Gates by John Servant expresses this message in the most impactful and emotionally engaging way. For most of the story, my feelings fluctuated from sadness to complete hopelessness. Towards the end, the cold, dark clouds of my feelings parted and brought in warm sunshine and satisfaction.
Sister Francis’ character is almost angel-like. She questions herself if she had somehow failed Joe as a teacher? This dilemma is quite valid. If a person does wrong, who is to blame? Is it only that person or do parents and teachers also share the blame? Additionally, she is the only one standing beside Joe during the scandal. She was also the one who guided Joe through the narrow gates. So who is the real saint – Joe who transforms and helps people, or Sister Francis who taught him how to be a better person.
There were some conversations between Sister Francis and John – which at times appeared preachy. These learnings were, however, amply demonstrated and reinforced through the life story of Joe.
I will rate this book a 4 out of 4 stars. It is a beautifully weaved story. It is short, only 124 pages, yet brought out a powerful message of atonement. Moreover, it was a clean read. The book did not feature any explicit sexual or offensive language. There were a few mentions of romantic interest and death, and these enriched the story.
I would encourage young adults to read this book. Using the medium of the story, the author has discussed the consequences of being too ambitious, and yet how every mistake can be forgiven if we start walking on the right path. It is an inspirational Christian and catholic contemporary literary fiction. I feel people inclined towards religion, especially Christianity, would deeply connect with the book.
Review by slowpoke123 — The Arrow That Flies By Day
by slowpoke123 » 16 Jan 2021, 05:59
The Arrow That Flies By Day by John Servant is a Christian fiction about a man named John Thaddeus. John was a Marine who had just came back from his last mission in Afghanistan where he saw and experience the horror of the battlefield. With his parents both dead, his old principal during high school, Sister Francis, had taken the responsibility as his new guardian. She is a nun who not only serves the church but also chose to dedicate her life to Christ and to saving young fellows who may get lost in their life.
During the first day of training camp for the selection of the New Jersey’s Raptors, John had casually wandered in the practice field. He approached the head coach and there he told the guy his interest in applying as a kicker for the team. Despite admitting he was not able to go to college to play football, John was given a chance to show what he can do and it did not disappoint the coaches. John was accepted but the journey is not easy and often times he will find himself with many obstacles, some of which in the form of self-doubt and certain individuals who often criticize his background and past. How will John be able to overcome the struggles as he reaches for his dream as an NFL player? This amazing and inspiring book will make us realize that nothing is impossible for a person with a will to keep going.
This book had a lot of things that I liked. The plot is very interesting and John’s character is simply amazing. Although I was never a football fan, the story just seems alright and great with the sport in it. I actually find it very relatable in terms of the struggles of John starting especially on the part of losing a family member that eventually affects your plan for the future. I admire his thinking and personality on not letting other people’s opinions define yourself. The story went into depth on how faith and prayers can help strengthen ourselves when facing a problem, and I think the author did great in emphasizing these.
There is really nothing I can find to dislike about this book apart from wishing the story to be longer. The words and beliefs of Christianity were conveyed and portrayed very well by the characters. Even the antagonists, Harvey, caught my attention as he seems to represent the people in real life who has nothing to believe in, which I personally have experience meeting a few before. His thoughts on how to live in this world seem to be the same as those people who do not look back to reflect on their past and only think of the present.
My rating for this book is 4 out of 4 stars. I can’t make myself rate it a three mainly because I find the ending as very fitting and satisfying. The book is also professionally edited, as I couldn’t find any errors. I would highly recommend every one of any age to read this book. It is Christian fiction, so be sure to keep that in mind before reading it. Readers who like in-depth about faith, prayer, and God, this book is the right one for you. It was a pleasure to read this book and I very much enjoyed it until the last page.
The Arrow That Flies By Day, by the author, John Servant, is the faith-based story of John Thaddeus. John Thaddeus is a former Marine who has faced multiple obstacles throughout his turbulent life. He endured a troubled childhood with an alcoholic father, active duty service as a Marine in Afghanistan, and the physical and mental repercussions of both. With the persistent strength that John has found from his faith, his unbreakable relationship with a spirited nun by the name of Sister Frances, and his adapt and overcome Marine training, he makes the decision to try out for the New Jersey Raptor NFL football team as a walk-on placekicker. The story follows John’s trials, tribulations, and triumphs, on and off the field as he navigates his life as a man of faith.
The character of Sister Frances is a breath of fresh air. From start to finish, she is the glue that holds the story together with a feisty determination forged from her religious beliefs and her refusal to accept no for an answer. The author does a great job of bringing her physical and spiritual presence to life. This allows the reader to picture her 5’4″ presence as a force to be reckoned with. I felt that the history of John and Sister Frances’s relationship was fully developed, poignant, and a testament to the difference that one person can make in another person’s life.
I would have liked to have seen the author delve more into the character of Susan LaCava, John’s romantic interest. I was not able to visualize Susan’s physical presence or personality, and therefore I could not form an emotional tie with her character. Also, I would have enjoyed more of a follow up story line with the characters of John’s teammates, the defensive end, Harvey Brown, and the punter, Phil Ryan. I feel that a conclusion to their stories would have made the story more fulfilling.
Overall, I considered The Arrow That Flies By Day a good read. At times, it felt as if the story was being rushed. More description may have drawn me in a little further and given me more of an emotional stake in the outcome. However, the inspirational message was a consistent thread that ran from end to end and made the reading enjoyable. I would rate this book 3 out of 4 stars.
I would recommend The Arrow That Flies By Day for readers looking for a quick, uplifting, faith-based way to pass an afternoon.
Review by Jeff Kanda — The Arrow That Flies By Day
by Jeff Kanda » 16 Jan 2021, 06:25
The Arrow That Flies By The Day by John Servant is a novel that describes the life of John Thaddeus. John was a marine who after being injured in war when he was in Afghanistan, decides to play for the NFL in New Jersey Raptor’s practice field as a kicker. He arrived at the practice field by walking from a very far place. This was the first notable sign that John was a very determined person.
The first person John meets is Eugene Eckley, the assistant coach. At first, Eugene was not willing to take John as a kicker for the team but after knowing that he had walked from a far place to reach New Jersey and be a player for the team, he thinks John should give it a try. With time, John prooves that he is worth playing for the team because he has strong legs and can kick accurately. His exemplary skills lead to the team winning in some matches. Gradually, some players and the coaches start loving John. Sister Francis, a nun, is the closest person to John since he has no immediate family.
Narrated from the third person’s point of view, the book is both interesting and inspiring. I liked the vivid description of events by the author. The inclusion of biblical verses in the book is worth mentioning. I loved the biblical verses because they were really inspiring. There were a few motivational quotes that I also liked in this great novel.
The book is short, it has only five chapters. However, the overall message in the few pages are very touching to the reader. I believe that after reading the book, a reader will greatly benefit because of the many teachings the book has. I was disappointed when the protagonist in the novel (John) died because I was not expecting his death at all. Perhaps if the story could end when John was a successful kicker after playing in several matches, the story could be better.
I did not find any typographical error in the book book and therefore, I believe the book was professionally edited. The novel lacks vulgar words and erotic scenes. Because of this, adults as well as children can read the book. I recommend it to anyone who want to get inspired and view life in a better perspective. I give the book a rate of four out of four stars, it is worth that rate!
Always Before Me by John Servant is an inspirational novel which elaborates about the challenges and even injustices a person may face in his or her lifetime, and the many ways they can affect a person’s life and faith in God. Even though it is a fictitious novel, it is based on the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the religious foundations and customs of the Catholic Church.
Always Before Me highlights the story of three men and the life changing events they have faced in a prison. The Author described them individually as a ‘saint’, a ‘sinner’ and a ‘man’. The ‘saint’ was a Priest who was wrongfully imprisoned due to a false accusation and act of betrayal. Even though initially he was greatly discouraged, he had become a great influence and inspiration to many in the prison despite the opposition he had faced.The ‘sinner’ was one of the employees in the prison who also had faced false accusations in his life and oftentimes doubted his faith thinking that it was too late for God to change his life.The ‘man’ was another employee at the prison who was the Chaplain after many failed attempts of finding employment after losing a teaching job due to a false accusation from a female student.
There were a couple things I liked about this book. Firstly, the Author stated that it was a story of three men. My first impression was that their stories would have been separate and distinct from one another. However, their life stories were all connected in many ways along with the stories of many separate secondary characters in the novel. Secondly, I love the Author’s use of unique phrasal verbs I never thought existed. One example was the term ‘curry favor’ which meant to get someone to like you. I know curry to be a delicious spice or a type of meal and I did not know that such a phrasal verb existed until I searched for that in the dictionary.
There was however one thing I did not like and it is that of the narrated story of the ‘sinner’. The novel mostly had the life stories of the ‘saint’ and the ‘man’, and not much of the ‘sinner’. The ‘sinner’s’ story was somewhat lost in the novel,putting his story alongside the many secondary characters whether briefly or moderately narrated. I think more should have been written in the novel about him in order for him to be recognised as one of the primary characters, that is, 1 of the 3 men.
I give this novel 3 out of 4 stars as it narrates the inspirational and connected lives of people, and their reactions and responses when faced with challenges. There were a few grammatical errors but they did not affect my enjoyment of reading this book.
I highly recommend this book to anyone as it is more or less a story of how life can put you in places and positions where it is least expected . We all face challenges in our lifetime and this is a good inspirational book to read about such things and ways to cope and live with them.
Review by CYSON DOROPH — The Narrow Gate by John Servant
by CYSON DOROPH » 27 Jan 2021, 05:22
Frank Barry, as an editor of a Sunday news magazine for a major metropolitan newspaper, has a job of assigning articles to reporters. And as such, he summoned John Kelly to his office. This particular article was about Senator Joe J. a big liberal back in the day, who had a lot of connections. He was an early pro-choice, pro-gay rights champion but resigned about ten years ago from the senate due to a big scandal he went through, but now people view him as a hero and saint. Unfortunately, he is now dying in an upstate hospital. As John is going on about his work, he discovers other facts about Joe. For example, the old politician was in a more critical condition than John had imagined, that is to say, Joe had lost much weight and was clearly close to death. But something else caught the corner of John’s eye. An old nun was kneeling in the corner of the room slowly praying in a soft voice.
Each of the events is not given a definite date, that is to say, the day, month and year in numbers or words being mentioned at the same time one after the other in the same paragraph or sentence, but in some instances a day or month is stated singly, for example, …to visit him on a Thursday afternoon in January…, et cetera. The author also talks to us about the length of time within which certain happenings took place, for example, …two years behind him thanks…, et cetera. The periods are mentioned as well such as morning, afternoon, et cetera. The physical setup of the environment where every scene took place is greatly emphasized by the author. The traits, physique and physiognomy, especially those of Frank and John, are well discussed. The plot is interesting but its sense of delight increases as one keeps on reading this story. Given the fact that I only noticed a few mistakes, I must say that a great deal of effort was geared towards editing. Hence, I rate the story of this book, The Narrow Gate by John Servant, 3 out of 4 stars.
The author is keen on letting us know why each character behaves in a particular way, for example, smoking and drinking by Frank are due to the fact that he seems to have found a sense of consolation in them. John not living up to the demands of his earlier achievement partly contributes to Frank’s behaviours towards him, I think. John, having won a prize, thinks that he should be treated in a certain way, or there are certain assignments he must or must not execute. Though in a vegetative state, and with doubts and questions about his reputation, Senator Joe had lived up to his expectations. This is partially explained by the presence of the old nun who is currently praying for him, while overlooking all of his mistakes and readily defending him. I did not like Frank’s smoking and drinking habits but I loved his character. Because of Frank’s character, John got himself a good article assignment. I also loved the nun’s words because they helped John understand that he was in no place to pass judgement on others. John’s calmness in handling aggravating situations and ready to learn character are a thing of beauty as well.
As I was reading the storyline of this book, I was also coming to a number of conclusions. This was in regard to every character, their traits and how each has been leading his or her life as per the information relayed to us by the author. Frank is a man who loves both his family and job but there maybe some inconsistencies going on in his personal life. These inconsistencies contribute to how he behaves. These are behaviours which he has just taken on recently. This showed me that everything taking place in any given person’s life has a root cause. John, a senior reporter, always puts all of his efforts into a news story when it is captivating, insightful and laced with a great deal of moral lessons. Henceforth I ought to be enthusiastic about everything I choose to do. Sister Francis, the old nun and a friend of the senator, seems to be Joe’s trusted confidant. Standing by those who need our help, especially when they are our close friends, while not passing judgement on them, is a trait that I learnt about the nun. The senator who turned from being an associate into a reputable prosecutor was a pawn used by the local political party in Buffalo to get to glory land. With that taken into consideration, I learnt that one should not always be too trusting in others, even though they seem to be inviting success to one’s life , because one is not always in the know of their true intentions. In my opinion, The Narrow Gate is a small opening that leads to what one yearns for despite the results, for example, that of Senator Joe was in becoming a prosecutor, the nun’s prayers bringing about the senator’s personal salvation, et cetera.
I recommend this tale to persons who love stories laced around journalism and law studies. This is because there are tips on how one can go about one’s life with the aim of avoiding a number of mishaps that may come one’s way, especially if one is pursuing a career in one of those fields, and those who love reading in general.
Review by Petruschka1 — Always Before Me by John Servant
by Petruschka1 » 03 Feb 2021, 10:42
The following review is about John Servant’s Always before me (A story of mercy and salvation). The book tells about two Catholic priests, who are sent to prison for crimes they have never committed. In prison they find their true calling by advising, teaching and preaching for and with the prison community. Father Paul is convicted for keeping his vow of obedience, instead of following common law. He adheres to the secrecy of the confessional, despite contrary advise, and spends many years in prison, administering to the prisoners. Father Anthony is also admitted to prison on wrong charges. He is supported by the older and more experienced Father Paul, and finally finds his true vocation of teaching in the prison service. Both priests not only rediscover God and are strengthened in their own faith, but they also help many others to return to God.
There are many positive aspects of Always before me. The most important one for me is, the discovery of one’s true vocation by obedience and perseverance. I also liked the inclusion of the many prayers given by Father Paul for the prison community. The book also includes quotations from the Bible, to support the audience in meeting Jesus. Other positive aspects are the description of the setting and the main characters. The reader is drawn into the prison setting. He gets to know the protagonists and antagonists, learns about their fears and hopes and partakes in their fate.
The only negative aspect of this publication are its punctuation errors. Many commas are missing in the text. This can make for difficult reading, and take credit from an otherwise informative and enjoyable read.
I rate Always before me by John Servant “3 out of 4 stars” . Normally I would give this book the highest rating, as I enjoyed reading it very much. But the punctuation errors did distract me, while I was reading. On the other hand, it is a very interesting story, which makes the reader reflect on and consider his own faith and path in life. The book also contains a lot of dialogue and sermons, which keep the story flowing.
As I am a Catholic myself, the book appealed to me. I would recommend it to any reader, wishing to learn more about religion and their own path and meaning in life. It certainly re-acquainted me with my own religion. Always before me is not just about religion and faith, it also addresses many worldly and humanitarian issues, for example the conditions in prisons. I look forward to reading other books by John Servant.
Review by Fadzai29 — Always Before Me by John Servant
by Fadzai29 » 23 Feb 2021, 11:35
Always before me is a story about faith written about John Servant.Father Paul a man who feared God and he was never moved by the standards of this world.Father Anthony a man of great faith ,who adhered to the laws of God.Matt was a friend to the two Catholic priests ,he had experienced the same situation as Father Anthony.Father Paul who was arrested for deciding to abide by the principles of his faith,he was never moved because he believed that his sufferings are similar to what his saviour Christ Jesus went through.
Father Anthony was brought to minister at the prison due to a false accusation.Knowing he had the same situation with Father Anthony ,Matt was drown close to him.As Father Richard is narrating the life of the servants of God to John Daly a nephew to Father Anthony ,who had come to only collect the worldly possession of his uncle .Will John receive salvation through hearing the stories from Father Richard?
What i like the most about this book is the teachings of the word of God,my faith was strengthened as i was reading the book.I learnt that we can have our own aspirations but it is God who accomplishes his purposes for our lives in his own way and i should let the will of God take course and put all my trust in him.The book taught me that our future is not determined by our past ,God is willing to forgive us. Always before me gives hope to children of God ,as they suffer the tribulations of this world they should hold on to God.This was a perfect book with great teaching about faith ,there is nothing i disliked from the book.
I give this book a rating of 4 out of 4 stars, the author took enough time to prepare as he was writing this book .The teachings are supported by scriptures and the storyline is not difficult to follow.Always before me has the relevant teaching you need as a child of God.
I enoyed reading this book.I recommend this book to anyone who is going through trials of this world as they will get the assuarance that God loves them and has a reason and purpose for whatever they are going through . I also highly recommend the book to those who know they are sinners and think they no longer have a chance to read this book.I did not take note of any grammatical errors when i was reading the book.
Review by Mikeasmara12 — Always Before Me by John Servant
by Mikeasmara12 » 23 Feb 2021, 05:51
It is a book that narrates a journey that every true Christian believer goes. The trials and tribulations that face the believer to grow, unexpected small events that change to life’s journey , unexplained drift in life that is interpreted as God’s will that completely changes everything. The story starts with visitation of young gentleman to prison in the cast of his uncle, a catholic priest who is wrongfully accused sexually abusing a female penitent during a confession. The book narrates back the life story of Fr.Paul and his last years in prison in detail. There is also another priest as a character in the book who is Fr. Anthony who is also deny accusation of molesting young boys and to protect the reputation of the church the bishop denied any assistance in the legal prosecution and he was assigned in the prison as a Chaplain. Father Paul is much older and wiser than Father Anthony and guides him to gracefully accept his post in the prison and let go his dream to be academician.
I believe the prison life is not explained as it should be. There should be much more trials to Father Paul and also the positive impact of Father Paul on his fellow inmate could be explained more and more examples could be added to show how he is silent preaching and his masses changed the lives and personal behavior of the most despaired souls.
From my point of view, being a Christian is what is depicted in this book. There is no rainbows or sunshine always, there is no angelic voice or vision to keep a believer all the way to the heaven. But there are times of tribulation that determines those who are true believers and rewards who are patient in those times.at the beginning of Christian life it may seem easy and paved road but when the world alienates, despises, condemns wrongfully the believer. The book explains clearly the hardships that every true Christian faces and how true believer should bear the cross.
I rate the book Always before me by John Servant to 3 out of 4.
I think the book is appropriate for both Christian and non- Christian or non- religious readers. For the non- religious readers it gives a lesson that during a hardships, it is better if we stay calm and focus on what is positive .The Christians have a lot to learn from the character Fr.Paul his dedication, love and faith to Christ and also tolerance to the evil even he was wrongfully convicted as a criminal he did not object it he accepted it gracefully by completely submitting to God’s will.
Review by KatieKay-22 — Always Before Me by John Servant
Postby KatieKay-22 »
[Following is a volunteer review of “Always Before Me” by John Servant.]
In Always Before Me, John Servant explores a variety of individuals in varied situations through a common ground. Throughout the whole book, we focus on three main characters: Father Paul, Father Anthony, and Matt. Each of these individuals face time in prison and between being guilty and being falsely accused, each character explores their relationship with Christianity. As the book title evokes, each complication always before the characters is dealt with in different manors, but with the same faith-based intentions. With each character facing a multitude of trials to achieve the end goal of salvation, Servant explores the harsh reality of everyday individuals. All three men are accused of sexual misconduct and represent different pathways to healing through religion.
While being accused of sexual misconduct and having the accusation left as a stain on one’s reputation is a concerning matter within the world, it is not a common one. Yet, Servant makes this book more than relatable. With the common themes of dealing with failure, damned dreams, and lost hope, the average reader can understand each character and their thought process. Along with the ability to connect to the characters, Servant opens up ways to deal with our loss, expand our understanding, and kindle with God.
What I liked about Always Before Me, is that the story is not just provided through fictional characters, but is supported by the characters’ sermons. These sermons are heavily based on the Bible and provided to embrace the healing needed for the stories given scenarios. These sermons were well thought out, short, and necessary for the growth on how to deal with overcoming hurdles.
This book is already intended for a Christian audience; however, I would heavily recommend this book to anyone curious about the religion or maybe new to Catholicism. Servant has a way of exploring sought-out topics and explaining the Catholic view through simple and accurate methods. There are even moments where he will expand the definition or context, such as when he provides further detail as to what a rosary does and how to use it.
I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. As the characters are facing similar accusations I was surprised at the authenticity each individual had. In a storyline such as this, it would be easy to give in to repetition or becoming mundane. However, the whole time I was reading I was becoming enlightened with new outlooks and religious morals. Servant has a way to draw in the reader. Always Before Me is professionally edited.
Review by Fadzai29 — Always Before Me by John Servant
Postby Fadzai29 »
[Following is a volunteer review of “Always Before Me” by John Servant.]
Always before me is a story about faith written about John Servant.Father Paul a man who feared God and he was never moved by the standards of this world.Father Anthony a man of great faith ,who adhered to the laws of God.Matt was a friend to the two Catholic priests ,he had experienced the same situation as Father Anthony.Father Paul who was arrested for deciding to abide by the principles of his faith,he was never moved because he believed that his sufferings are similar to what his saviour Christ Jesus went through.
Father Anthony was brought to minister at the prison due to a false accusation.Knowing he had the same situation with Father Anthony ,Matt was drown close to him.As Father Richard is narrating the life of the servants of God to John Daly a nephew to Father Anthony ,who had come to only collect the worldly possession of his uncle .Will John receive salvation through hearing the stories from Father Richard?
What i like the most about this book is the teachings of the word of God,my faith was strengthened as i was reading the book.I learnt that we can have our own aspirations but it is God who accomplishes his purposes for our lives in his own way and i should let the will of God take course and put all my trust in him.The book taught me that our future is not determined by our past ,God is willing to forgive us. Always before me gives hope to children of God ,as they suffer the tribulations of this world they should hold on to God.This was a perfect book with great teaching about faith ,there is nothing i disliked from the book.
I give this book a rating of 4 out of 4 stars, the author took enough time to prepare as he was writing this book .The teachings are supported by scriptures and the storyline is not difficult to follow.Always before me has the relevant teaching you need as a child of God.
I enoyed reading this book.I recommend this book to anyone who is going through trials of this world as they will get the assuarance that God loves them and has a reason and purpose for whatever they are going through . I also highly recommend the book to those who know they are sinners and think they no longer have a chance to read this book.I did not take note of any grammatical errors when i was reading the book.
Review by Mikeasmara12 — Always Before Me by John Servant
Postby Mikeasmara12 »
[Following is a volunteer review of “Always Before Me” by John Servant.]
It is a book that narrates a journey that every true Christian believer goes. The trials and tribulations that face the believer to grow, unexpected small events that change to life’s journey , unexplained drift in life that is interpreted as God’s will that completely changes everything. The story starts with visitation of young gentleman to prison in the cast of his uncle, a catholic priest who is wrongfully accused sexually abusing a female penitent during a confession. The book narrates back the life story of Fr.Paul and his last years in prison in detail. There is also another priest as a character in the book who is Fr. Anthony who is also deny accusation of molesting young boys and to protect the reputation of the church the bishop denied any assistance in the legal prosecution and he was assigned in the prison as a Chaplain. Father Paul is much older and wiser than Father Anthony and guides him to gracefully accept his post in the prison and let go his dream to be academician.
I believe the prison life is not explained as it should be. There should be much more trials to Father Paul and also the positive impact of Father Paul on his fellow inmate could be explained more and more examples could be added to show how he is silent preaching and his masses changed the lives and personal behavior of the most despaired souls.
From my point of view, being a Christian is what is depicted in this book. There is no rainbows or sunshine always, there is no angelic voice or vision to keep a believer all the way to the heaven. But there are times of tribulation that determines those who are true believers and rewards who are patient in those times.at the beginning of Christian life it may seem easy and paved road but when the world alienates, despises, condemns wrongfully the believer. The book explains clearly the hardships that every true Christian faces and how true believer should bear the cross.
I rate the book Always before me by John Servant to 3 out of 4.
I think the book is appropriate for both Christian and non- Christian or non- religious readers. For the non- religious readers it gives a lesson that during a hardships, it is better if we stay calm and focus on what is positive .The Christians have a lot to learn from the character Fr.Paul his dedication, love and faith to Christ and also tolerance to the evil even he was wrongfully convicted as a criminal he did not object it he accepted it gracefully by completely submitting to God’s will.
Review by Rosy12 — Always Before Me by John Servant
Postby Rosy12 »
[Following is a volunteer review of “Always Before Me” by John Servant.]
Come to me those who carry heavily laden, God will give you rest. God is slow to anger, harden not your heart. Always Before Me, a book, written by John Servant is a story of mercy and salvation. John gives accounts of the lives of men before they met when their paths collided and then there is everything after.
Chapter one begins with a sad scenario. One man is lying dead in a casket, and the other has been stabbed, unfortunately, no doctor was to come. John Servant diverts the reader’s thoughts to talk about father Anthony and father Paul life history. Father Anthony is a teacher, a crime it is said he committed has robbed him of his career and his life is not the same again. Father Paul is carrying someone else cross, being in prison for a crime he knows nothing of.
Other than diminishing his reputation, father Paul’s life in prison brought out the best in him. He lived an exemplary life following the teachings of Jesus Christ. It is in prison that this book’s plot progress further. Always Before Me has a didactic theme, the major theme being prayer, forgiveness, compassion, crime and God’s love for mankind. In prayer, we see the mystery of healing. Paul is so compassionate that he forgave those who wronged him even to the point of his death.
John tells us, readers, to pray without ceasing. He mentions that the Holy Mary mother of God will intercede for us if we offer our petitions to her. This is done through the rosary. Praying the rosary guide Christians to commemorate the life of Jesus and her mother Mary. The mysteries of the rosary are joyful, sorrowful mysteries, glorious mysteries and luminous mysteries. Jesus Christ tribulations on earth formed the sorrowful mysteries. Father Paul agreed to live a life like Jesus following His deeds. The author using the parable of the sower in the Bible seeks us, readers, to live according to the teaching of God, have faith and never give up on God even when persecuted or betrayed.
The message of salvation and mercy is clear. I am delighted to review this book in a season when the Catholic faithful is on the lent season. This is a season to seek forgiveness and ask for God’s mercy, to lead a life that is pleasing to Him. I did not like the character of Blood, his rudeness is cruel. This is a glorious book and gets 4 out of 4 stars . Missionaries, the Clergy and readers who like reading religious books will find John’s book suitable for them.
Review by Brainiac140 — Always Before Me by John Servant
Postby Brainiac140 »
[Following is a volunteer review of “Always Before Me” by John Servant.]
Have you ever been wrongly accused and because of circumstances, you doubted the existence of God? The book, Always Before Me by John Servant teaches you how to strengthen your faith in God in times of tribulation. It sends a strong message of reassurance for people who have lost faith or are having trouble keeping their faith in God.
Father Anthony, who was assigned the role of a prison Chaplain thought that he couldn’t effectively serve God and man in his assigned position. His mindset changed when he had the pleasure of meeting Father Paul, who was serving a 20 year jail term for upholding his faith and for a crime he didn’t commit. Despite the trials and tribulations, both men never stopped doing the work of God. Circumstances meant to weaken their faith only made it stronger. Father Paul and Father Anthony went through several challenging encounters. There were also a few tragic experiences that taught several lessons. Grab a copy of this book and journey with Father Anthony and Father Paul as they navigate through this harsh world while upholding their faith in God.
Just when I was doubtful and felt my faith wavering, I encounter a book that strengthens it more than it was. The author’s main purpose of writing this book wasn’t defeated as I’m a witness to the impact the book has. I got to know that God has a reason for everything that happens. The book was very captivating, my attention was taken away from everything thing else as I read. Reading a Christian book to me has always felt straightforward or sometimes just heartwarming, but Always Before Me was one exceptional book that had suspense in it. At first, I wondered why God would allow his beloved to face such challenges, but the life of Father Paul made me know that as Christians God wants the best for us in life. The author must also be a man who upholds his faith very high. Although this book focuses more on the Catholic side, it relates with every other Christian denomination .
I found absolutely nothing to dislike about this book. The plot is very realistic. Matt’s part of the story also made the book more interesting. How his faith, which was dead was made alive by Father Anthony was just awesome. My favorite character in this book was Father Paul. I see him as an embodiment of Christianity. He didn’t just preach about the word of God, his life also reflected what he preached of. He demonstrated patience and held on to his faith at all times.
The book was professionally edited as I only found a few errors. I’m rating this book 4 out of 4 stars due to positive reasons mentioned in both paragraphs 3 and 4. I love how the book ended. It was realistic and it makes a reader reflect on his/her life on earth. I recommend this book to Christians looking to strengthen their faith.
[Following is a volunteer review of “The Narrow Gate” by John Servant.]
The Narrow Gate[/i] by John Servant is a kind of Christian book which teaches people to follow Christ and the teachings of the Bible, the teachings of Apostle Paul, and gives us a good example of the life of a very successful political figure, Senator Joe. The book is a fiction novel, all the characters, situations in the book, names, places, dialogues are the product of the author’s imagination, they are fictitious.
The book is embedded in a frame, an assignment given to a reporter named John Kelly to write an article about this former Senator Joe. The former senator is now in hospital on his deathbed. The reporter is not very happy about his assignment but still goes to the hospital to visit him, makes some searches on Google about him, and accepts the task. While visiting him in hospital, he finds there a nun, praying at the rosary for this former senator, which incites the curiosity of the reporter, who becomes really interested in the life of Senator Joe and does research in his life. The whole novel revolves around the life of the senator, how he reached the top of worldly political fame, how he fell from political power, and how he changed his ways of life, his focus, and how he saved his life while he lost it.
His story resembles very much the story of the prodigal son, who returns to his father, who receives him back with a great feast. The story has two guidelines to follow, the guidelines on how to be successful in the world, in politics, in money, and how to be successful in the eyes of the Father God. These two ways do not go parallel, hand in hand, because many times to achieve worldly success means a loss for eternal life. Joe was a man who had everything needed to achieve political and worldly success, good manners, education, good looks, loyalty to the party, intelligence, ambition, and so on. Going up on the social and political ladder at the same time means that a person must make moral compromises to please other people and political figures to be advanced.
The book teaches at the same time that small, innocent-looking moral compromises lead to a big fall, and it is not possible to satisfy both the world and God at the same time. He had natural charisma, he understood he should be loyal to his party and closed his eyes any time when his conscience told him he should not act in a certain way or should not do this and that.
Sister Francis is a true Christian nun, who taught Senator Joe, later taught the senator’s son, and she can perceive everything when somebody is not loyal anymore to Christ and to God’s teachings. She acts as the senator’s conscience. She sees the hidden sins and when are people departing from the ways of God. Her role in the novel is a key role in showing the way back to God. She is very happy, as she reached to be a person who can show the way to Christ not only to the senator after he lost everything, his son, his wife left him and he lost his political power at the same time. Sister Francis shows that many time hardships and difficulties in life are often God’s ways to lead people to choose the narrow path which leads to eternal life with God.
I like the way how Sister Francis’s prayers and life made the senator completely change his way of life after he lost everything, his son, his wife, and his power as a political leader. He became first a worldly success-seeker person, then a God-centered person, open to all kinds of good deeds. Sister Francis became a model person not only for the former senator but also for reporter John Kelly, who also became interested in the narrow path which leads to eternal life.
It was a pleasure for me to read this book, as it showed very well the psychology of people drunken from worldly success and greedy for money and fame, and how compromises considered small compromises lead to slow, first invisible but sure moral downfall, which later becomes visible and lead to big losses.
I liked the way the book gave a picture of political life, social relationships, family matters, questions of fidelity and betrayal, and so on. I also liked the insight the book gave into the life of a Catholic nun in the person of Sister Francis.
The book has a clear Christian teaching, based on the Bible, but I can recommend it to everybody interested in good deeds and a good life centered on charity and religion. I rate this fiction book 4 out of 4 stars, for its content and for its readable, teachable and enjoyable nature.
[Following is a volunteer review of “The Narrow Gate” by John Servant.]
The Narrow Gate by John Servant is a story of a successful politician and the awful truth behind his success story. The book tells you that how a person can go beyond his human aspects, moral qualities, and family affection for only his self-gain. This is also a story of a person who finds peace by trusting in God and returns his passage to God.
The story starts with a reporter named John Kelly, who was tasked with covering the story of the once-famous Senator, Joe Jay. Despite his reluctance, John goes to the hospital to interview Joe, who is on his deathbed. There he encountered a praying nun named Sister Francis. He asked her some basic questions and left from there. Now here appears the main story.
Joe Jay belonged to a poor and troubled family. He could not pay off for the tuition. So he finished his high school with the support of Sister Francis. Sister Francis was the principal of Joe’s high school. She was an extremely generous person and helped many people. Joe later attended law school and became a lawyer. After becoming a lawyer, one day Kevin Coley, the head of a local political party, offered Joe a job as a district attorney. He accepted the proposal. Thus he hoped in politics. Only becoming district attorney did not bring him peace. He tried his best to be more successful. In the intoxication of success, he had lost his all human qualities. But he didn’t care. He was on his path to achievement. He then became a senator. But it cost him a lot. He lost his family for his own success. He lost all the moral qualities which he held once.
Joe didn’t care about his son either. He did not notice that his son was drug addicted. He became involved in corruption and extra-marital affairs. Sister Francis had noticed everything from the beginning. She warned Joe. But Joe was beyond his conscience. He didn’t stop, neither he listened. But at some point his greed for success was the reason that his downfall occurred. He lost his family and all of his powers. Then came sister Francis to save him. She brought him back to the path of religion. Joe finds himself by believing in God. He devoted his life to other people and to God.
The author introduced the characters nicely and established the relationship between them. I also liked the fact that the story is very simple but has a powerful impact. A troubled soul can find its way to home by reading this book. That is why I like this book. Though there is only one principal character, but I think Sister Francis played a vital role in this story. So I gave her character no less importance than the major character. I really recommend this book.
The only thing I didn’t like about the book is that I think there should have been more story about reporter John Kelly. Not too much. It would be nice to have some information about his background at the beginning. I was very disappointed because the first scene was so short. But the author later explained its deep meaning with his expertise. So I am not counting this as a negative aspect.
I am rating this book 3 out of 4. I didn’t give it a 4 stars because of the reason I explained before. I didn’t find any error. So it seems the book is professionally edited. However, there are a suicidal case and some mild sexual related topic. So I don’t recommend this book for children.
Review by Bradley D — The Narrow Gate by John Servant
Postby Bradley D »
[Following is a volunteer review of “The Narrow Gate” by John Servant.]
The Narrow Gate by John Servant is the Christian fiction story of the once famous senator Joe Jay. In this story, the author has shown how people can go down for their temporal life. The story of this book is about if life gives a man a second chance. John Kelly, an award-winning reporter, was asked to cover a story about the life of once-famous senator Joe Jay, who was then fighting to the death. When John went to the hospital, he saw a nun praying next to him. It was at this moment that the story of Joe’s past began.
Coming from a poor and troubled family, Joe Jay somehow finished his education with the help of his high school principal, Sister Francis. After becoming a lawyer, a local party offered Joe a position as a district attorney. Joe couldn’t help but accept the offer. From then on, Joe’s journey as a politician began. Soon he was moving towards one success after another. But the more successful he was as a politician, the more he went down as a man. The darkness of politics was swallowing him up. His success was so important to him that he did not even care about his family. Sister Francis warned him about his wrong decisions. But of course, he didn’t listen to anyone. However, Joe soon realized his mistakes. What would he do now? How would he come back from this track? Would life give him a second chance?
After reading this book, I felt it was not a story but a reality. I had been able to relate each of the characters of this story to real life. That is why my interest in the book increased. I like the way the author has shown people how to get better through Sister Francis’s character. Although Joe is the primary character in this story, I think Sister Francis’s character is an ideal human character. After reading the book, I found hope, which encouraged me to improve myself more. I like this thing the most. This book teaches people to think about each work’s effect, which I believe to be useful.
I am rating this book 4 out 4 stars. I think it’s hard to find the critical aspects of the book. In this book, the author has presented both the good and bad parts of every decision in life. I also did not find any offensive language in this book. So, I gave the book 4 stars.
Those who have made many mistakes in life but want to get back on track should read this book at least once. I would recommend those who are going to start a new chapter of life to read this book once before. However, there is a suicidal case. Sensitive readers should know about this matter. I think the book is truly helpful for finding yourself, improving yourself, and being aware of your work results.
****** The Narrow Gate
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[Following is a volunteer review of “Always Before Me” by John Servant.]
Always Before Me by John Servant is a story of mercy and salvation. In this book the author tried to give answers to various human queries like do we believe in creationism, is redemption possible late in life, why troubles always knock the door of good people, how to surrender to god and ask for forgiveness and many more.
The story revolves around three characters two of them are priests namely Father Paul and Father Anthony and the third one named Matt. Father Paul is a man of disciplines and beliefs, he is the servant of god,he walks on the path laid by the god(Jesus), he worships everyday and has his full faith on Jesus, Joseph and Mary. Somehow he got caught up in the dispute with the sheriffs and because of his sacred oath of confession and discipline he ended up in jail. There he is joined by Father Anthony and Matt both are accused for their respective crimes. To find out whether they are truly guilty or falsely accused you have to grab the book and read it.
Somehow the stories of all three characters are interconnected. Initially Father Paul feels the prison environment is not for him but despite of his fate he never doubted or loose his faith in god instead he daily prayed his rosary. After a while the warden of the prison allowed Father Paul to hold masses and preach sermon. He enlightened the convicts that they are not to late for redemption, that they could come forward and ask for forgiveness and the god will show mercy on them. He recited the sayings of the Bible and encouraged the convict to redeem themselves. He guided them no matter that your sins or failure is always before you, you have to continue on the righteous path. All these sermons has positive affects on the convicts but as we know good things never last for long and Father Paul met a dreadful end which is not expected but despite of that father Paul didn’t loose his faith on the holy god. All these incidents deeply affected Father Anthony, he used to admire Father Paul. Father Anthony however helped Matt to redeem himself and encouraged him that it’s never to late to ask forgiveness from god. At the end Matt was alone in the prison, Father Anthony has done so unexpected act out of love, care and his faith towards the god that leaves the readers awestruck.
The thing I liked most about the book is that the author has written it in a very systematic way and without any confusion he managed to put a story within a story which holds the grip of the audience. I liked the way author through the Bible teachings gave some insightful answers to the most common human questions. This book has only 90-100 pages so I was able to read it in one sitting and it’s worth it because it is truly gripping.
The book is professionally edited thus I couldn’t find any errors. There is nothing to dislike about the book despite in the end I am the one who is enlightened and learned something new-that no matter in what form the failure hits you or how many times it hits you never loose your faith on god,your hard work and your good deeds. I know it sound a little hard to preach but it’s true and at the end the success awaits you. On the basis of all the aforementioned points I will rate this book 3 out of 4.
I recommend this book mainly to the people within the age of 15-40 years because especially adulthood is very demanding mentally as well as physically. This book can somehow help them to cope up with their life challenges. Rest everyone can give this book a try it’s worth reading.
****** Always Before Me
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[Following is a volunteer review of “The Arrow That Flies By Day” by John Servant.]
The Arrow That Flies By Day is a stand-alone Christian novel written by John Servant. The story revolves around John, as the protagonist. John is an ex-marine who recently started playing football on a professional level. He lost his dad as a young child and later lost his mom while serving in the Marine. Sister Francis sees it as her duty to cater for him both spiritually and physically.
John who had always wanted to be a football player thought his dreams were unrealistic when his dad died. Fate took him to the Marines to prepare him for what lies ahead. While in the course of service he learns a lot that both develops him spiritually and physically. After serving as a Marine, he decides to give football one last shot. Though his trials to join the Raptors wasn’t easy, he later got in. He falls in love with a girl, Sarah, it happened so quick. If he is to marry Sarah, he has to tell her what happened to him while serving in the Marines. What could it be that he is finding it difficult to say? Grab a copy of this book to find out.
The book from the beginning to the end kept me in suspense. I liked the idea that the author didn’t use a clergy as the protagonist. The level of faith exhibited by John should be what every Christian should look to emulate. He turned everything that happened to him as a more reason to give God glory. His strong faith made God always stand by him. I never really found a Christian novel fun to read but the author proved me wrong with his masterpiece. Sister Francis also amazed me with her compassionate life. She was an embodiment of Christianity.
I thought the author made a mistake after reading about John’s last tragedy, but as I read on I found out that whatever happens to us is all mapped out by God in his plans. The author’s use of Biblical passages gave me something to ponder on. The author also did a very nice job in the way he narrated those football matches, it created a vivid picture in my mind. I think this novel would be excellent for a movie adaptation. I think the sole purpose of writing this book wasn’t lost, it strengthened my weak faith.
I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. It was exceptionally well edited. The author’s choice of simple words is commendable. Though the novel was brief, it passed its message to the readers. I recommend this novel to lovers of Christian book.
****** The Arrow That Flies By Day
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[Following is a volunteer review of “The Arrow That Flies By Day” by John Servant.]
John Thaddeus has experienced many challenges up to this point in life: losing the ability to play football, the passing of his parents, getting wounded in combat, and returning to life in the States again. Now he wants to play football professionally as a kicker, to add to the list. However, he does not have any college experience like the rest of the players trying out. This prevents him from having much of a chance until the team’s kicker gets injured, and they are desperate for a replacement.
John is able to overcome so much with the help of Sister Francis. She met John years ago and became as a mother to him. She was also his principal during high school, as well as a nun. Sister had faced many challenges including being diagnosed with leukemia. Because God healed her, she lives her life to help as many people as possible. John is always sharing his life with Sister because she has experienced many similar challenges. She gave him a rosary that he took with him in the Marines. It became very dear to him and strengthened his faith in God. As the author describes John, “He was a Marine who had faith, and that would be an unbeatable combination.” Sister helps guide John as he aspires to be an NFL kicker.
Through Sister’s influence and guidance, John is able to help others on the team and in the community. While he is doing many positive things, there is still opposition because of his faith. John finds a way to keep serving others even when they are opposed to his way of life. He later runs into an old friend from high school, Susan. They fall in love, but he is afraid of sharing certain details of his life with her. Through all the relationships and challenges faced, John finds that kicking is only a small fragment of his life’s purpose.
There are several things I liked about The Arrow That Flies by Day by John Servant. For one, it was edited fairly well. I can count on one hand the times I had to stop to make note of an error. This was a breath of fresh air. It was also short but contained an important life message within its pages. I enjoyed the book as well because it caused me to learn more about the Catholic faith. It involved real-life challenges and didn’t give the reader a typical happy ending, which was nice to see. Lastly, I enjoyed the character of Sister Francis. She was paramount to the entire plot and made such an enormous impact in her service to others.
While there are many things to like about the book, I have one minor critique to add. John only has experience kicking briefly in high school, but he is somehow able to make kicks from 70 yards without a problem. Throughout the history of the NFL, the longest kick ever is 64 yards. I felt this was stretching reality a bit. However, it may just bother me, being the sports fan that I am.
I give this work by Servant 3 out of 4 stars. It was a short read, but I felt like I got a lot out of it. It contains a meaningful message of putting faith in God and living out a true purpose in serving others. I appreciated the editing too, as I mentioned earlier. I only detract a star because of my knowledge of football, and the improbability of some of the kicks John successfully makes in the story.
I recommend this book to most readers. It might be of more interest to those with a Christian/Catholic faith. It falls under the Christian fiction genre but can have numerous real-life applications. Anyone that has faced challenges in life might find this book encouraging. Unless you are completely turned off by religion or elements of faith, I think you should give this book a chance.
[Following is a volunteer review of “Always Before Me” by John Servant.]
Always Before Me is plainly and simply put just as the sub title reads, “A story of mercy and salvation”. The story revolves around Father Paul and the many struggles and temptations he faces because of his strict vows as a Catholic priest. Specifically the vow of maintaining the seal of the confessional. His unwillingness to conform to worldly expectations, albeit at no small price, sends Father Paul down a road of spiritual growth and the lives of the people he encounters along the way are changed as a result.
I loved the way the book was written. The ease in which it read made me feel like I was an invisible onlooker in every room and moment watching how these characters lives played out, while a calm and comforting voice narrated as I read. The story took me to a place of self inspection and re evaluation of my own life and priorities and that is something I really value in a book.
There was some irony in the story that stood out to me. There are two instances in the book where Father Paul is put in a situation where he must choose to stand by his beliefs or conform to what the world wants him to do. In my opinion he chose very differently the second time. However both of Father Paul’s decisions cost him dearly. He was after all only human but serving a supernatural higher power. His faith carried him through all that he endured and changed other’s hearts along the way. But this story is not only about the good in people. It touches on the evil in the world too because let’s face it, without one the other would not exist.
I noted only two small errors where a single word or letter had been accidentally left out but otherwise I feel that the book was professionally edited. There was nothing I disliked about the story although I was left wanting more detail which is a testament to the intrigue of the Author, John Servant’s story. I wanted the book to last longer. I needed more information about the lives of the characters and felt like that was all that the book was missing. This is also the only reason why I did not rate the book higher.
I give this book a rating of 3 out of 4 and recommend it to anyone who may be struggling with their faith and also to those, religious or not who love to read thought provoking stories about the human condition.
[Following is a volunteer review of “Always Before Me” by John Servant.]
John Servant in his book wrote a great story about the serious criminal offense and the understanding from Catholic Faith representant his position in US law.
As I was excited about the dialogues between characters I pictured/processed the scenes in my imagination – all sounds profoundly serious with the right implications from the background.
Always before me is about the understanding from the priest his position and having a strong belief in Jesus Christ and being a great God servant. Priest following the rules and laws in Catholic Church and using the best knowledge and wisdom he gave the right task for the sinner trying to solve the problem. Unfortunately for two hard cops that were not enough they were both aggressive in their investigation and decided to shut anyone who was not helping or who was refusing to help to find justice.
Always before me is specifically a good book for those who are having an interest in law and its implication. Also is great for Catholic people they can engage in the story followed characters and give them their feelings. I felt sorry for the whole situation because as I understand the punishment from the priest was very strong and his whole life had changed after that one confession from the murder.
There is a good description of the scene reflecting the climate and what the reader can expect next from the author.
There is a good description abut the tension between priest their relationship.
There is a great fragment from Bible showing the understanding about the faith in Jesus Christ, priest interpretation and evaluation what they what to say by that to the God listeners.
There are also moment from the prison when the priest was learning something from the prisoner’s lives, their story, and where it could go. There are many open questions about faith giving space to think, and your own vision. You could early see what the author wanted to present – some pieces from Bible for your own interpretation. I see those fragments are giving you a grasp of knowledge you can expect from reading the Bible. The author put these fragments from Bible showing you what you can expect and how those lines are fitting into the world he created.
I will give 3 out of 4 stars.
It shows the unknown space between different sets of rules that priests follow and laws that were executed by the police representative to find justice. Sad understanding for the character – I felt sorry for him as he was just too lucky enough in the hierarchy he belongs to. At the end of the book, the reader can find prayers they can use it. Book has good characters and situation presentation.
In the book, you can see the fragments from the life the Father had in prison that he wanted and also read the inspirations from Bible and read the meaning behind it.
Father Anthony had many problems, being accused and threatened. The book is showing what life can bring basically for anyone strongly focusing on faith aspects and how unexpectedly life can bring a life-changing surprise turn life upside down and put serious consequences.
Book has a strongly religious context. Good for Catholic believers but also for anyone interested in the author’s imagination or visions. I will recommend those positions to anyone who already knows the author and want to read more about his different positions.
[Following is a volunteer review of “The Arrow That Flies By Day” by John Servant.]
The book Always Before Me is a Christian fiction novel that was written by John Servant. This book is about forgiveness, mercy, grace, salvation and undying faith in God. In this book the author, John Servant shows us his deep knowledge about the Catholic faith, which is also supported by scriptures from the bible. Always Before Me narrates the story of three men from different walks of life . We meet Father Paul, who is falsely accused and convicted for choosing to abide by what he believes but refuses to lose his faith in God and believes that all he goes through is what God wants him to go through. Father Paul compares his sufferings to those that Jesus Christ had to endure.
Secondly, we meet Matt ,who believes that because he is a sinner he is not worthy of God’s love and forgiveness so instead of turning to God, he turns away from God. Lastly we are presented with Father Anthony, a servant of God who is falsely accused as well but is willing to forgive even the one person who was responsible for his unjust downfall. Matt and Father Anthony share a similar story which was what lead the both of them to the prison. Despite these men being different and having walked different paths in life they have one thing in common and that is God’s love for them.
What I enjoyed most while reading this book is that as a reader, it made me want to grow and mend my relationship with God, it also made me stronger in faith. The book Always Before Me also made me understand that even though we may face many different kinds of trials and tribulations it does not mean that God has forsaken us, but instead has chosen us to be a representation of him to the world. When Father Paul was wrongly convicted, we expected him to be like the normal human being and become angry, full of hatred and also full of resentment towards God, because how can God allow this to happen to one of his servants? But instead Father Paul continued to pray his rosary, he continued to be kind to people, even in his last moment he did not want to hold a grudge against those who did him wrong but instead he prayed for them and so did Father Anthony. This book had me filled with many different emotions while reading it some were very pleasant and reassuring while some were unsettling and made me angry.
I will give this book a rating of 4 out of 4 stars. The book was well and professionally edited. The book was also very well researched, and even though I am not very much informed about the Catholic religion, the manner in which the author narrated the story made it so much easier for me to be able to follow the story without much confusion.
I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy reading books that books that are Christian fiction and people who are looking to restore their faith and mend their religion with God as the storyline would be appealing to them. Non-believers and people who are from different religions can also read this because it does not show any disrespect to people who are from other religions.
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Always Before Me
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[Following is a volunteer review of “Always Before Me” by John Servant.]
Life in Its entirety is full of uncertainties. One day you wake up and realize that everything you have ever dreamed of has become a figment of your imaginations. At this point, for how long can you be able to stand firmly in what you believe in? Can your Faith stand the test of time or are you willing to let go of your convictions? Always Before Me by John Servant is a book based on the life of a certain catholic Priest and how his life would affect others eventually.
Father Paul has discovered a great secret- one he cannot share with anyone. A couple has been murdered in New York city, and the Killer must be punished, especially when the victim is a custodian of the law. Will Father Paul stand for what he believes in and risk loosing everything he has ever dreamed of? will he let go of his beliefs? and to what will his decisions affect the people around him? There’s only one way to find out!
One thing I loved most about this book is author’s artistic use of Flashbacks in delivering this beautiful masterpiece. The manner with which he introduces different characters at intervals and then finally bringing every character together and linking them to each other is really very commendable. The book is filled with captivating scenes and events which take unexpected twists and turns- ones which you would have to discover yourselves.
Always Before Me is the first novel by John Servant that I have read, so I would say that he is either an ardent catholic or he has done a great deal of study on the catholic church and its doctrines as the story revolves around the catholic faith. I love the way John Servant is able to present religion as something that is sacred and should not be toyed with, and yet not being judgmental about it. This is a story of Faith, Hope, forgiveness, betrayal, redemption, and Personally I am not catholic and may not relate directly with some of the doctrines, but this is a beautiful and touching story for all to enjoy irrespective of your denomination and religion as it bears no form of slander against any religion. Through this novel, John not only gave us a story, he gave us Hope.
The story was somewhat sluggish at some point, but the author picked it up again almost immediately, therefore I would not count that as a negative. Besides that, I found no negatives to list for this book. It is exceptionally well edited and I highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy religious books and those who like a good story as you do not necessarily need to be catholic to flow with the story. This book is suitable for everyone including teen audiences as it contains minor violent scenes and zero profanity. I rate Always Before Me a whooping 4 out of 4 stars
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Always Before Me
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[Following is a volunteer review of “Always Before Me” by John Servant.]
Always Before Me is a noteworthy book that showcases the life of Father Paul, who spent many years in prison. Father Paul realized God had called him to minister to the prisoners. He conducted masses and many prisoners used to come and listen to his sermons. Some of them did not like the methods of Father Paul. There was one person named Ramos who badly wanted to kill the Father. But he was afraid of the consequences it might bring.
Father Anthony was charged guilty of an issue and was put in the same prison as Father Paul. Father Anthony’s life was different. He had many unanswered questions to which he desperately needed answers. That’s how he got close to Father Paul. There’s an interview that happens inside the prison. An atheist asks questions to Father Paul in the pretext of trapping him. But the answers were unexpected and witty that the interviewer was spellbound. Prisoners, Gus and Matt play important roles in this story.
Many sermons of Father Paul can be seen in this book. He mainly focuses on living a holy life by doing the will of the Father in heaven. He talked about Jesus and Mary and the importance of salvation. There were many Bible verses quoted by the author. This book revolves around people from different aspects of life and how they see God from their life’s perspective. Readers will find it interesting. John Servant has used simple English to help the readers understand the concepts with ease.
I will rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. The reason is for the simple explanations of life that one must follow to live a happy and contented life. This will surely be useful to all. I found minimal errors in this book. It did not stop me from enjoying the entire volume. I had nothing to dislike about this book. The teachings were simple and precise. John Servant has done a great job in making this book possible. This volume is much necessary for the current scenarios happening all over the world.
Always Before Me might not suit those who don’t believe in God. I would recommend those readers to kindly skip this book. Christians and Catholics will find this book fascinating. If you are searching for a gift for your believer friend, I would suggest you gift them this book. They will not regret it. Watch out for the five words of Jesus and Mary, which brings out the bottom line of this publication.
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Always Before Me
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[Following is a volunteer review of “Always Before Me” by John Servant.]
This is the story of a saint, a sinner, and an ordinary man. The book is strongly influenced by Catholic faith. Author John Servant does an excellent job of demonstrating his extensive knowledge of Catholicism. The author attempted to answer the big questions a person faces in life through the sorrows and sufferings of these characters, such as why bad things happen, are bad people worthy of redemption, do good deeds guarantee a happy and smooth life, how to live a righteous life and seek forgiveness etc.
Always before me is a story about two priests and a psychologist; Father Paul and Father Anthony, and third, Matt who meet by chance in a prison, Father Paul is a man of disciplines and beliefs; he walks on the religious path of Christianity ; he conducts sermons for the fellow inmates; religiously does rosaries and he has complete faith in God.
Father Paul is sentenced to prison for refusing to break his oath as a priest. There, he is joined by Father Anthony and Matt, both of whom have been falsely accused of sexual misconduct.
Always Before Me is a short, fast-paced book that is rich in religious principles and Catholic teachings. It captures adversity, failure, tolerance, and forgiveness. The author has three stories that are all intertwined. These are the stories of faith and how these men overcame adversity by having unconditional faith in God. In the story, each man goes through many trials and tribulations that bring out the weaknesses and strengths in each of their characters. Their journey will inspire and brings out the good and motiving thoughts from the readers.
The book is small and simple to read. It’s only 90 pages long, and I finished it in one sitting. The story is both inspiring and motivating. Catholic teachings and Christian faith are heavily influenced in the book. Even though the stories are based on moral messages, they have a good plot and are entertaining. Any type of readers are likely to enjoy the stories and life lessons contained within. The motivational speeches and teachings are easy to understand.
I rate this book a 4 out of 4 stars. I found no flaws in the writing, and the book appears to have been professionally edited. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for motivation and faith. The book is ideal for Catholics or anyone who holds high moral values. Author John Servant has done an excellent job composing this story.
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Always Before Me
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[Following is a volunteer review of “Always Before Me” by John Servant.]
Have you ever been in a situation where your faith is being tested? Always Before Me by John Servant is a book that will help every reader strengthen their faith and also believe in the goodwill of man.
The story line revolves around two protagonists, Father Paul and Father Anthony. A priest who wanted only to do good got caught up in an event that became a turning point in his life. Having taken the vow of obedience (vow of poverty, chastity, and obedience), he had learned a long time ago to go wherever God led him. It all began when Blood and his gang killed a cop and his wife. He went for confession, which was led by Father Paul, and had to confess that he had killed the cop and his wife, after which Father Paul gave him a penance and told him to turn himself in to the police. Blood was not willing to turn himself in. Later on, the bodies of the cop and his wife were discovered. Being that it was a cop that was the victim, the police vowed to take the case seriously. They went on with the investigation, which linked Blood to the crime. He was called for questioning, but he denied all the charges brought against him. However, the police learned that Blood had made a confession in a church, which was traced to Father Paul. Will Father Paul break his vow to save himself? What role does Father Anthony have to play in this book? This book has a lot to offer. Just get a copy.
This book kept me indoors all day. I couldn’t get enough of this interesting read. There is a lot to learn from this book, especially about faith, and I found it to be both inspiring and educational. Have you ever been in a situation whereby you are wrongly accused and want to give up? This is likened to Father Paul, who stood strong on his faith and belief, which had a huge impact on the life of Father Anthony, who almost gave up. I must commend the author on the way he developed this plot. What happened to these two men of God is not far-fetched from what is happening in society today.
There was nothing to dislike about the book. My favorite character in this book was Matt. I experienced how he revived his faith, though the credits go to Father Anthony, who played a crucial role in reviving his faith. I think that making a movie that goes with this book would be nice in order to strengthen the faith of believers who are going through the same ordeal as Father Paul, Father Anthony, and Matt. I also loved the way Father Paul helped the inmates and wardens.
I would love to rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. While reading, I didn’t detect any errors. This shows that it was exceptionally edited. I would love to recommend this book to Christian book readers.
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Always Before Me
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[Following is a volunteer review of “Always Before Me” by John Servant.]
Always Before Me, by John Servant, is a Christian story that tells about the life of three men, Father Paul, Father Anthony, and Matthew Ryan, and how they were wounded up in the same prison. It is a book that depicts what to do when your sins and failures are behind you.
Father Paul was an assistant priest at St. Anne. It so happened that he heard the confession of a young man, Blood, in the confessional. The man had admitted to killing a policeman and his wife, along with his friends, for justly doing nothing. Father Paul had advised that he turn himself to the police and reform his life in the church. Blood had done the latter but the former, he refused. A police investigation had carried on the following day and had traced the evidence all to Blood. However, the proof was far from indisputable. They found a prayer card in Blood’s pocket which led to Father Paul and had questioned him but Father Paul could not speak because the confessional was holy and not to be disclosed. He was trialed and sentenced for obstruction of justice.
Father Anthony, who was a young priest, was accused of having made sexual advances towards a girl in his class. He was quiet while prosecuted and restricted from teaching in the school. This took a toll on his career as a teacher and his reputation. He was later appointed as a prison chaplain.
Matthew Ryan, a young teacher, was also, publicly accused of seeking sexual endorsements in trade for good grades. This ruined his reputation as he could no longer find a job as a teacher. He stumbled on an ad that informed him of the prison seeking a teacher and applied. How do they all find their way from the unfair indictments on them?
These three were judged by the accusations upon them even by those close to them who seemed to ignore them. They were all wronged from the world and sought consolation from God. However, after the passing of Father Anthony which followed after Father Paul, John Daly, Father Anthony’s nephew comes to the prison to seek the inheritance his uncle had left for him. He is sat down by Father Richard, a priest in the prison, and is curious about what kind of man his uncle was as he never knew him that well. After hearing all the allegations of these three men, does John Daly reform his life and seek absolution?
In reflection, I found this book significant to me as it conveyed many important earthly views and Christian values that I could personally apply in my life. The book is professionally edited and proofread. I found no error in the book and the plots were well structured. I also loved the message in the book. I learned a few lessons in the book, one of which was; Always put my failures behind me. The author, John Servant, did a very good job of getting the biblical themes across and writing a great Christian story. I enjoyed the author’s writing style.
I did not find any negative aspect in the book as I found it to be an engaging read. The book is sure to hold you from the starting to the climax. I even had it finished in less than a day!
I found Always Before Me to be an easy and enjoyable read. At the end of it, I felt uplifted, vivacious, and apprised. I also felt empowered to do God’s will in my life and for this reason, I rate the book a 4 out of 4 stars.
I highly recommend this book to Christian novels both teenagers and adults. Also, to those curious about the Christian views on topics like; abortion, the modern science of evolution, this book is for you.
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Always Before Me
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[Following is a volunteer review of “Always Before Me” by John Servant.]
John Servant wrote the novel Always Before Me. Father Anthony, a priest, was buried at the start of the book. The Father spent his final days in prison, thus the funeral took place there. Only a few individuals attended the funeral. Father Anthony’s cousin to whom he had given all he had and another Priest named Father Richard. John the cousin, a young man with little knowledge of God and life met with Father Richard, wanting to know more about the man who had left him all his possessions, he asked about his uncle and the life he lived. Father Richard happily obliged. This led to the story of Father Anthony and another Priest, Father Paul, who had a significant good impact on Father Anthony’s life.
Father Paul’s faith was stronger, his confidence in God was unwavering, and his love for God was unwavering, despite the fact that he was a prisoner whereas Father Anthony was not. Both men endured difficulties, but God was always there to help them.
This book was incredible. Everything about it was fantastic. I admire how the Catholic way of life, as well as the priesthood way of life, were presented and described. Many of my misconceptions about Catholics were dispelled, such as the fact that they rarely read the Bible and rely on the Rosary. However, the bible was always mentioned, and the Rosary’s significance was discussed. I liked how the book was written because it was heavily based on religion and was written in a solemn tone. I liked how genuine the book was; it didn’t only heap adulation on the Priest; I realized these Priests, too, were human. There were no errors in the book, and it was meticulously edited.
I liked how the book addressed people’s issues and how God aids them in overcoming them. The book was short and intriguing, and it wasn’t that long. I like how it was brief and to the point, with a clear message. The book includes sermons delivered by the priest, which made the book both fascinating and useful.
I can’t think of anything about Always Before Me that I don’t like. The book is fantastic and motivating.
I give this book a four out of four star rating. It’s well-written, well-edited, has a good plot, and is simple to follow.
I recommend this book to anyone who isn’t afraid of religious fiction. Always Before Me will help people who need to be encouraged and overcome guilt. The book will be very useful to people who wish to learn bible verses that will benefit them in their daily lives.
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Always Before Me
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[Following is a volunteer review of “Always Before Me” by John Servant.]
In the world today, many people have lost sight of the most precious promises of God because of the tragedy and sorrow they see in the world around them. They say, “If God is love, why does He permit such evil to plague his children?” Always Before Me by John Servant provides expert guidance on how to deal with such devastating circumstances.
John wrote about maintaining faith in God amidst every challenging situation. He recognized and emphasized the importance of full surrender to the almighty God. He begins by giving a story of Father Paul, a Catholic priest who was falsely accused, imprisoned and later mudered without denying his faith in God. The same fate faced father Anthony whose acts of forgiveness run deep inside Mat who is a non-believer. John conscisely went on to outline the steps to take when all hope seems lost.
I found this book very encouraging. For instance in paragraph six of page 29, Father Al says,”My son, the purpose for suffering is not apparent to us, and yet we know everything is part of God’s plan.” It turned out to be more of a surmon of hope to me. The book was accompanied by explanations and illustrations quoted from the bible. It also contains mixed tone that kept changing my mood from sad, sympathetic to happy at different times. Suspens in the book again kept me constantly wanting to know what would happen next. Catholic religion was also expressed explicitly in a way that even atheists could understand. The flow of the book with no noticed errors made me really enjoy the book. There was nothing I disliked about the book.
I give this book a rating of 4 out of 4 stars. The author not only explained what life of a true believer should be but also supported his explanations with relvant bible verses. The book was also exceptionally well edited.
My recommendation for this book goes to those undergoing temptations of the world and thinking that all hope is lost. This book gives them assurance of the undying love that only come from God. Those interested in learning more about Catholic religion will also find this book helpful.
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Always Before Me
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[Following is a volunteer review of “Always Before Me” by John Servant.]
Will you hold on to your beliefs and sentiments when everything you value starts to fade away and everyone turns against you? Will you remain the same when the light of hope appears? How far will you go to defend your beliefs? These are the kind of questions that John Servant attempts to answer in his book Always Before Me. The story revolves around the lives of the two honest Catholic priests in prison.
The story starts in a quiet and peaceful room of the prison. Father Richard was alone in the room, who had come to pay his final respects to Father Anthony, who had just passed away due to aggressive lung cancer. Father Richard was lost in his thoughts when a young man arrived to pay his final respects to the person lying in the casket. He was John Daly, the nephew of Father Anthony.
For years, John had not seen his uncle. After learning of Father Anthony’s death and discovering that his uncle had left him all of his belongings, he visits the prison. Father Richard and John had some conversations which revealed that John does not know much about his uncle, except he was here in prison as a teacher because he was alleged to have molested a young girl long ago. Although no charge was levelled against him, he could not get any job outside due to this allegation.
Father Richard made John meet Matt, a very close friend of Father Anthony, to seek the truth and to know more about the noble character of his uncle. This meeting later introduces readers to another important character, Father Paul. He always stood by his belief and faith in Jesus and Mary even when he was accused and imprisoned for ten years for not cooperating with the court and police investigation.
The majority of this book explains how Father Paul came to be imprisoned for an unjust reason, how he maintained his faith, his fight and desire to share the holy truth, and his efforts to rehabilitate the minds of inmates. Later, Father Paul runs across Father Anthony. Father Paul showed a stressed Father Anthony the route to calm and faith, as well as the importance of never giving up. They made a few friends along the road, but also a few enemies, leading to some tragic events.
What I liked about the book was the way the author presented the characters and their dialogues. Typically, a religiously oriented book is overly obsessed with glorifying themselves or condemnation of other groups of society and religions. However, John Servant excellently describes the ideals and teachings of Christianity plainly. This book is suitable for everyone regardless of any religion and social group. Catholic readers will favour this book as it is full of verses and teachings of the Bible. Always Before Me is deeply entrenched in Catholicism. Father Paul quoted several lines and words from the NABRE (New American Bible Revised Edition) wonderfully.
In conclusion, Always Before Me deserves a rating of 4 out of 4 stars. There is nothing I disliked about the book. The book is excellently written and is well-balanced. I could not find any significant grammatical mistakes or issues. The book will appeal to those who want to learn more about the topic of religious storytelling.
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Always Before Me
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[Following is a volunteer review of “Always Before Me” by John Servant.]
ALWAYS BEFORE ME: A STORY OF MERCY AND SALVATION by JOHN SERVANT. The author introduces the reader to Father Antony who died some years before and his casket is retained in the prison, Antony’s nephew John Daly comes to pick up his uncles possession, John Daly later on he learnt how his uncle was falsely accused, he was tortured by his failure and how he was rejected. But inspite of everything he underwent through he still trusted in God. The author introduces a new character Blood who kills a couple by shooting them. Investigations are carried out and his DNA is taken from urine sample, Blood is arrested and prosecuted for murder, and Father Paul is called to testify. Father Paul was jailed because he failed to testify what really happened, Father Paul ministered to the prisoners and many began to change, Anger and bitterness was relieved and they became compassionate and filled with joy and happiness. Father Paul, undergoes through many test but he still put his trust in God. The author introduces the reader to Karen Father Paul’s niece. Karen is married to Frank and they have a child named Annie. Annie died, and when Father Paul received the news of the death he was heartbroken he wrote them a condolence letter and he still trusted in God and believed that everything happens for a purpose. Jacob who was an atheist came to interview Father Paul but his effort bow no fruits because Father Paul remained still to his thoughts and he was not ready to betray God. He also helps the prisoners to learn about letting go of the past and not looking back at the evil, but to move on in the right ways according to God’s commands in heaven. The girl who accused Father Antony suffered from lung cancer and father Antony prayed for her and she was healed. After, healing Father Antony also suffered from lung cancer and he later passed on.
What I like about Always Before Me is the way the author used simple language and different writing styles that helped the reader to anticipate in the forthcoming events. I also like the way I’m taught the word of God in this book and my faith is strengthened.
I disliked nothing about this book because it was well published, and I found no errors. I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars because it is well written and professionally edited. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading religious books.
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Always Before Me
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[Following is a volunteer review of “Always Before Me” by John Servant.]
John Servant has written a spiritually uplifting book that shows a life lived in faith, in the midst of great tribulations. It is a story being narrated to John Daly, a young man, who thought that his rich and famous father was better than his uncle, a priest who had died in jail. Father Paul, a Catholic priest gets locked up in prison to serve a sentence of 20 years. Why is he there? Is justice being served? Details to these questions are in the book Always Before Me by John Servant. Even with the uncertain circumstances, he keeps his faith by praying and believing. He becomes hope for his fellow inmates. He says mass while in prison where he becomes a good example of humility and faith. He is seen praying his rosary every place he went. He gives hope to father Anthony, a prison chaplain who was feeling like he had lost his dream to teach. Gus a fellow inmate becomes friend with father Paul. He is presented as a Judas to Father Paul.
I liked the story as it is told. There are many lessons for the believers and non-believers. I liked that father Paul is not defensive towards his religion. When Gus comes to him, wondering if a priest could defile children, he says no human is perfect but that should not shake his faith. The story is entertaining and captivating. The author has showcased the holiness in every step of father Paul, the revenge felt by many in the society and humility overcoming arrogance. I also liked that the language was neutral and bible is well quoted.
I could not find anything to hate. The story was touching with lessons to learn. The tone was objective. When Jacob the interviewer, is asking father Paul’s opinion on the issue of abortion, he simply says every life is of value to Jesus. The book was well edited hence I could not find any error. There was no sex content or vulgar language.
I would rate this book 4 out of 4. This is because the story was interesting, Emotional and captivating. Themes of Crime, religion, oppression, and faith were well showcased.
This book is good not only for Catholics, but also other Judeo-Christian religions.It will touch those who feel that their faith is being shaken. I would also recommend that people who are feeling unjustly accused, oppressed and betrayed by those they were helping to read this book. It is a wonderful read for people who fight crime. It will help them to keep faith in the face of hardships.
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Always Before Me
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[Following is a volunteer review of “Always Before Me” by John Servant.]
Always Before Me, a fictional book written by John Servant, is a great book. It uses the art of story telling to pass across practical sermons, which the world needs to know and use. It is a story about forgiveness and piety. Father Paul was wrongly accused and put in prison by a vengeful prosecutor. There, he got closer to God through frequent prayers and impacted lives positively. Towards the end of his life, he met Father Anthony, who was also wrongly accused but was embittered about the situation. Father Paul mentored him till he became a better person and priest, a blessing to the prisoners. An earnest prayer for a soul by Father Anthony finally convicted and converted Psychologist Matt, who was in prison for a sin he committed.
Always Before Me is a book of 8 short chapters, which teaches unforgettable lessons. The answer to Father Anthony’ s prayer for his false accuser’s healing brought an end to his life and ministry in the prison but not until he passed the baton of righteousness and service to Matt. Father Paul’s mass sermons addressed social issues and proffered solutions to them. They gave hope to prisoners and revealed what should be the priority in times like these. Father Paul made the hard choice of shame over fame.
I see 2 positive aspects in this book. First, it is very short and concise, the whole book could be finished in one sitting. Secondly, the story is told in an interesting and engaging way, that exposes non-Catholics to the faith. I actually learn more about it from the book and I come to appreciate the Catholic faith in the process.
A negative aspect I see is that readers were not told the inheritance that Father Anthony left for his nephew, John. Nothing was said about the young man after the story of Father Anthony was told. Also, there is much emphasis on the Catholic faith, which may put off some readers who could have been blessed through the lessons in the story. This could, probably, be because the book is written by a Catholic, as shown in the appendix.
I will give John Servant and his book 4 out 4 stars. It is well edited with minimal errors. It is a book of hope. The sermons are worth reading.
I recommend this book for everyone, who seeks to know God more. Also, for anyone who has been wrongly accused, anytime and anywhere, you will find healing within the pages of this book. Catholic faithfuls and those who are interested in the faith will greatly enjoy reading Always Before Me. Special recommendation for Prisoners, it will set their souls free from spiritual prison. Print versions can be given as gifts to prisoners, wardens and those into prison ministry.
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Always Before Me
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[Following is a volunteer review of “Always Before Me” by John Servant.]
Is life for a righteous man always full of the joys of spring? Sometimes a man’s faith is tested by how firm he is willing to stand in the midst of great trials and temptations. The book, Always Before Me: A Story of Mercy and Salvation by John Servant, is a book that evinces the rivalry between faith, revenge, justice, and betrayal. In his book, John projects the life of a steadfast Catholic priest who was committed to his faith by an oath. Father Paul was unyielding to any adversity, even to the point of death, despite being an innocent man.
In this very inspiring book, the life of an innocent priest betells that what a man is made up of is actually more visible in his deeds than in his words. A young police officer and his pregnant wife were killed by some boys, and there is so much pressure on the law enforcement agencies to bring justice to the late officer, even if it means prosecuting an innocent priest because of his faith. How much of the agony would this priest have to endure? Or is he fulfilling his purpose in such tribulation? Is it foolish to hold on to one’s beliefs and faith even if it means giving up everything that matters to you? This book provides soothing answers to these questions and more.
I so much love the narrative used by the author, John Servant, to keep his audience so focused on his book. The flashback used by the author and the suspense he created were quite intriguing. Another interesting thing about this book was the clarity of the message the author was trying to pass on to his audience. The author avoided the use of equivocal and ambiguous sentences. The author did so well in expanding the scope of his book beyond just Christianity.
Having gone through this book, there was nothing I disliked. Always Before Me is a book that teaches so much about faith, forgiveness, and love and gives encouragement and inspiration to those going through betrayal and persecution because of their faith. The author did so well in explaining the disparity between revenge, the truth, and justice. I couldn’t get enough of this book as every chapter was pleasurable.
I will rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. I found no errors in this book as it was well edited. I recommend this book to all Christian book lovers, including adults, youth, and children, and those who are interested in building their morality and faith. This book will also be of great benefit to anyone going through persecution because of their belief.
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Always Before Me
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[Following is a volunteer review of “Always Before Me” by John Servant.]
The subtitle for Always Before Me highlights mercy and salvation which is timely and timeless as these are what most of us search and pine for. For centuries. The book’s Ignatian dedication For the greater glory of God further narrows the religious genre. The cover showing the Rosary firms up the book as a Catholic piece. The priests-and-prison setting appears simplistic at first. Then the reader not just once switches from one side to the other, as a protagonist and then another defends his faith or his absence of belief. The dialogues and monologues can send shivers as degrees of desolation or consolation both become familiar then distant. The vicarious thrill or threat can challenge one’s goodness or villainy as the reader reminds himself that nobody is consistently right or wrong at any time. This book is much deeper than how it strikes after the first read. Trying for instance to digest the title itself even after you close the book is a good start. Then you just have to read all over again and again and indeed still find new gems from author John Servant, a subsequent recipient of a nihil obstat from his peers.
Rarely can one read how an author seamlessly touches on Stephen Hawking and then Saint Mother Teresa in one breath. It is also almost soothing to hear John Servant share that he writes his books after instances of enlightenments. Reminiscent of how James Hilton’s book Shangri-La- The Lost Horizon popularized the once romanticized movie quote “There are moments in every man’s life when he glimpses the eternal.” Yet aside from its substance, the book is appreciated for its style. And unabashedly I can say editing the book must have been just a matter of course. John Servant, a lawyer, shows how to be both exacting and circumspect. Despite the preponderance of the reasons for the imprisonments and being outcast, there is not even a hint of prurience. A reader is said to be flattered when an author sprinkles unexpected complexities presuming the former’s intellect can easily keep pace. At the very first page the author effortlessly makes use of a present time to put a flashback about a future event! Then one is wont to think quick as to which of those named ones existed first. Choosing the names of the personalities shows a clever purpose. They are all biblical and historical, serving as cues for how each participates in the flow and denouement of the story. The prison as the overarching milieu represents the hindrance to the characters’ free exercises and the restraining chains are more felt than seen. Safe to say that at one time or another, the reader harks back to when the walls around him were closing in.
My only major fuss is that the book is too short. Further pursuits could have been ripe for more discoveries too if only the seemingly minor characters are magnified, like how an already rich youth can soon justify awaiting for his chance as an heir to a man clearly bereft of any worldly possession. This can be juxtaposed to that other central person who is down to his last morsel of reason for existence but is the only character in the book to have had the privilege of knowing the other protagonists and has their life’s lessons seeping into his heart and mind. One would have liked to know which of the two would in the end turn out happier. Or sadder for that matter. Some minor wishes can be exemplified by this wonderment that while the book easily cites Mama Mary’s titles or explained the Rosary quite well, it leaves the un-oriented in the dark about the scapular. Or maybe it is the author’s peculiar way of saying Go search.
I thus rate this book 4 out of 4.
In passing I can with all respect say that had John Servant waited a few more weeks before writing Always Before Me, the COVID-19 scourge would have been at the very center of everyone’s undertakings. The pandemic could have been the theme of this book… well, maybe in the forthcoming one. There is no prison more restricting than this present pestilence. This virus plus how it is handled overwhelms everyone. How many still curse and raise fists to high heavens? Or the inverse, how many bend their knees then turn to and find their God? This is why I recommend the book to those who personally know COVID-19’s silent and all-consuming fury. They are legions. For one, the book offers some cathartic refuge even if we just tarry at the sermons; it can also be a rich and even unending source of resolve for the reader to struggle through personal transcendence and ultimately be a better protagonist in his own odyssey.
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Always Before Me
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[Following is a volunteer review of “Always Before Me” by John Servant.]
The journey of this life is an interesting one that is filled with happiness and challenges. I guess if it was all smooth, we wouldn’t enjoy life. In the book Always Before Me by John Servant, most of life’s question that most human beings have concerning existence have been answered and challenged. It is a story of three men, a saint, a sinner and a man, and how each of these men found his way back and redemption.
The author introduces this book with an eye-catching situation of a Catholic priest who lay dying in the prison yard, stabbed to death by another prisoner. The priest, Father Paul, had been a friend of another priest by the name of Father Anthony. The two priests met in an awkward and interesting place, the prison.
Father Paul was a convict sentenced for twenty years in prison, whereas Father Anthony was the prison chaplain. Due to Father Paul’s adherence to the laws of God, he received prosecution for violating the laws of man. This was after a young man by the street name of ‘Blood’ came for confession over an offence he committed of shooting both the police officer and the officer’s wife. When the detectives were interrogating Father Paul, the priest gave no inkling that he knew anything, but was aware about the killing from Blood’s confession. Finally, the decision was made; either Father Paul would cooperate or be prosecuted.
For Father Anthony, he was accused of sexual harassment and could no longer find his cherished teaching job. The only assignment offered to him was as prison chaplain. Hence, he was tortured by his failure of being a teacher and by the suffering caused by the false sexual accusations from a girl he spurned in a class he taught. But from all his suffering, Father Anthony gradually learned obedience, patience, sacrificial love, and complete trust in God.
I really liked the way in which the message was flowing and how the author was infusing life quotes within the context of this story. Indeed, his career experience as a lawyer for many years of helping people overcome obstacles and achieve goals braced the writing of this book. My favourite part was when Father Paul’s public ministry in prison grew that even some gang members respected him. Another encounter was when Matt (Matthew Ryan) met Father Anthony. The two had undergone a similar accusation, so it was easy to relate. The difference between them was that Father Anthony was innocent while Matt was guilty.
Always Before Me by John Servant was professionally articulated and edited without any level of profane language in it. I did not find anything to dislike because it was well written in its own field and has a timely message that resonates with its own readers. I did not find any major noticeable errors that could disturb anyone’s reading ability. Therefore, I can proudly rate it 4 out of 4 stars.
My recommendation of the book Always Before Me about mercy and salvation goes to people that enjoys reading and learning from religious books. Though the message rightly suits people of the Catholic faith, anyone interested to learn how far people can go for their belief and values would enjoy reading it.
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Always Before Me
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[Following is a volunteer review of “Always Before Me” by John Servant.]
Always Before Me: (A Story of Mercy and Salvation) is a fiction story about the characters’ faith in God, and was written by John Servant. All of the characters in this book faced hardships in life, some of them chose to live their life by their God and their Bible, and the others chose to live life by their own rules, which often involved power over others and being worried about how people viewed them. The ones who remained faithful in their God viewed life and those around them lovingly and compassionately. Whereas those who did not follow any religion or Bible viewed life and those around them selfishly and sometimes were hateful and harmful. The concept of this book was how important some of them believed having faith in their God was, no matter what happened.
This book was written very well, even someone who doesn’t believe in the Catholic religion or follow the same beliefs as the characters could read this story because of how engrossing it is. On top of it being an easy-to-follow story, it is also edited so well that I didn’t find any typos, spelling errors, or grammar errors. Being such a well-told story made it easy and enjoyable to read through.
I don’t have anything negative to say about this book. Though this book is Fiction, I think John Servant wrote a captivating story about his beliefs and how they affect his life, and how he believes they affect others’ lives. I found it interesting to read about the religious beliefs in a story form and appreciated that it was easy to read through.
I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. I gave it this rating because of how well it was written. I appreciate that the story is easy to follow and there are no typos. I don’t have anything negative to say about this book and only have good things to say, therefore I recommend others read it.
This was an easy, quick read. I recommend this book to people who enjoy stories about how characters overcome hardships in life. This story also isn’t very long, so it’s appealing to people who are intimidated by the commitment to reading through bigger books. This book involves a lot of religious content, but anyone with any beliefs can enjoy reading it. If someone was looking for a laid-back story about people dealing with the troubles they go through, Always Before Me: (A Story of Mercy and Salvation) would be a great option.
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Always Before Me
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[Following is a volunteer review of “Always Before Me” by John Servant.]
The book, Always before me, is an inspirational book, that talks about the lives of three people;Father Paul,Father Antony and Matt.
Father Paul was a priest who was well aware of confidentiality behind confession in the church. He understood what was expected of him by the parish and he embraced it dearly. A confession however changes his life as it was an admission to crime by Blood. Father Paul is arrested and convicted for refusing to cooperate with a police investigation. Innocently convicted,he was taken to prison where the prosecutor first made sure he was stripped off permission to conduct mass or preach in prison. The warden is later on compelled to grant Father Paul a favour of his wish by his wife who was sick. Father Paul has no other desire other than to serve the Lord by preaching His word thus he asked permission to preach and conduct mass. The warden allowed him to preach only to those that wished to be there listening to him.
Father Antony later on joins father Paul in the same prison for he had heard the works of Father Paul in prison. They had a talk and Father Paul strengthened Father Antony who was wrongly accused of assaulting a student. The journey of life of Father Paul in prison and his teachings during the time inspired Father Antony and Matt who was a psychiatrist in prison and facing similar accusations as Father Antony. Father Paul is eventually killed in prison and Father Antony is left to take over the ministry in prison. Father Antony later on dies leaving Matt as a witness of what had happened to the two servant’s lives. Matt recognized himself as a sinner and not worthy of God’s favor but after the death of Father Antony,he realizes that he too had been chosen. Matt was already taught by Father Antony that God was capable of forgiving him this Matt received and took it upon himself to continue with the ministry in prison.
The book , always before me by John Servant is the ideal inspirational book that I actually like. Teachings used in the passage are inspirational and contain moral values that add value to the community. I encountered zero spelling mistakes and the tenses used are correct. Although I did not like the cover of the book,I’d recommend people to read the book since it offers comfort to the disputed and contains teachings of peace. No vulger language is used and no age limit is required to read the book.
I’d rate Always before me, a 4 out of 4 stars. Values such as patience ,kindness, forgiveness for one another, obedience and respect are widely discussed in the book. I’d recommend this book majorly to Catholics and Christians since it’s based on their beliefs and teachings. It contains helpful motivational teachings and values.
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Always Before Me
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[Following is a volunteer review of “Always Before Me” by John Servant.]
Always before me is a nostalgic story which portrays the life of devoted catholic priests. Father Paul’s obedience to the law of God caused enmity between him and other men which led to him being sentenced to jail and he faithfully bore his cross, looking unto Jesus, saying the rosary, while he counted himself worthy to pass through the same persecution Jesus went through. While in jail, he was able to continue his priestly roles, like leading mass and listening to confessions, he ended up making a disciple of a man called Augustus who later betrayed him because his faith was weak.
Father Paul also had a friend in Father Anthony who was a teacher in New York. Father Anthony was ripped of his dignity as a teacher after he was accused of making sexual advancement to a female students for grades. He wasn’t convicted of this accusation which make him unable to secure a job as a teacher until he got a job offer in the prison where he met Father Paul. The life of Father Anthony depicts forgiveness. He was able to forgive his accuser and bore her suffering
I love how the story started which gave me the curiosity to know who Father Paul was.
It was the introduction of the story that caught my attention, the expression and the emotions. I loved that the book gives a full understanding of the Catholic faith and a ‘good man’ I love John Servant’s idea that a ‘man’ can be perfect as I love to think it’s possible rather than how others sees being perfect as impossible. Also, I respect Father Anthony’s unpretentiousness that he has a lot to learn from Father Paul
Although this story is an amazing one, I think the death of Father Anthony was not necessary, I believed John Servant could have a better idea of Father Anthony’s life. Also, there were instances where the characters changed real fast, at some point I had to reread some paragraph
I rate this book 4 out 4 stars. Though ,there was the problem of quick change of characters but it wasn’t much of a problem to get back on track and this book is really an amazing work with which a man can strengthen his faith
I recommend this book to people who loves the Catholic faith and those who wonder if perfection is attainable. It is however not suitable for people who doesn’t believe/like religion or anything related to God or the Christian faith.
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Always Before Me
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[Following is a volunteer review of “Always Before Me” by John Servant.]
Always Before Me by John Servant is a novel about God’s love. The novel tells the story of three men who gradually lose what they believed was their dream in this world. They are sent on a path filled with loss, pain, and injustice, as well as questions for God. A path that eventually leads them to prison, but most importantly, to their true purpose and redemption. As we read the book, we learn that faith, friendship, and love in God are all they need to surpass everything that may come.
The first man is a priest, Father Paul, a humble and loving man whose faith in God is stronger than any obstacle or temptation that is presented to him. He was imprisoned for doing his job and keeping his vows to God, no matter what the consequences were. At first, he cannot see the path that God has led him on, but as time passes, he finds his purpose. The second man is also a priest, Father Anthony, who is wrongfully accused of sexual harassment towards one of his students. His faith in God is not as strong as the first priest’s, and it takes him longer to accept his faith and see his purpose. The third man is Matthew Ryan, a teacher who is also accused of inappropriate sexual behavior. Therefore, he is left with no option but to accept the job as a psychologist in that place. He is the one that has the hardest time accepting and seeking forgiveness from God. Together, they help and lead each other towards understanding, love, and forgiveness. The author presents to us an intriguing and most enlightening story about priests, friendship, prisons, gang leaders, and God.
As I think of positive things to say about the book, I simply cannot think of one or two, because the entire book has no flaws; it is perfect. The author does an amazing job in his description of people, places, actions, scenes, objects, and attention to detail. For example, the way Father Anthony describes the entrance to the prison and the symbolism that he found in every aspect allows the readers to easily create an image in their mind of the environment in which the action happens and the emotions that come with it. The way the author expresses it is very clean and concise.
As for the negative aspects, I didn’t find anything to complain about. It has no spelling or grammar errors. The book is professionally edited. I give this book a 4 out of 4 stars because it is well written, captivating, and has no mistakes. I recommend the book to everyone who likes religious novels and to those who want to understand God better.
For those who lost their way for a second or longer time, this book can be a point of reference and a very good motivation to move forward. It is a book that teaches us love and valuable lessons about life and ourselves. So, if you enjoy reading this type of literature, then this is the book for you.
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Always Before Me
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[Following is a volunteer review of “Always Before Me” by John Servant.]
If you want to know how you can live peacefully in this world and improve your life both spiritually and socially, then this is just the book you need. Always Before Me by John Servant can serve as the ultimate guide to spiritual freedom, and it did just that for me. And it isn’t boring.
In this book Servant talks mostly about Father Paul whom I believe is so spiritually enlightened. In the beginning Father Paul was a normal Catholic priest but after a series of twisted events he finds himself in prison though he is innocent. After being unjustly imprisoned, Father Paul believes that the prison is now his new territory to preach and change lives, and he starts to help his inmates to achieve their spiritual freedom, and his good deeds and nice behaviours make him popular in the prison and outside the prison, and after many barriers he is finally allowed to give sermons in the prison.
Father Paul tries to help many people to live better lives through his sermons, wich are both heart warming and full of wisdom. In his sermons he addresses the major problems the world is facing for example environmental issues, family issues and many others. His life influences many people including Matt who is the psychologist and Father Anthony who is a new young priest for the prison and help them to live better lives, and he influences many inmates.
Though he faces many challenges, hostilities and betrayals during his time in prison, his faith in the Lord gets stronger than before he came in prison.
These are some of the positive parts of this book; in his book Always Before Me Servent provides lessons on how people can improve their lives and strengthen their faith. He addresses many problems the world is facing in a way that you can’t get enough of it or even be bored in the slightest way. John Servant addresses the roots of those problems and provides advices on how to deal with those problems in an interesting manner wich makes it easy to be understood by everyone. Servant also emphasises that we can not solve the problems of the world without seeking guidance from God and trusting in him.
This book acts as an ultimate spiritual guide to help people to improve their lives even if they might be facing many problems in this world like injustices, sickness, and guilt from their past mistakes. It can also help a person to achieve their spiritual freedom. And the way Father Paul deals with other inmates, wardens and even those who had opposite views about the major life principles can help you to deal with hostilities and betrayal from the people around you.
The negative aspects aren’t as much, except that there is a constant occurrence of The Church’s doctrines, for example Servant included many prayers in the book that they may be considered a little bit too much by some readers.
I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars because it is written in a way that is interesting for a person seeking spiritual guide and it is full of useful information and advices. Always before me was also professionally edited that you won’t find any typos or errors. This book was really meticulously written for its purpose.
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Always Before Me
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[Following is a volunteer review of “Always Before Me” by John Servant.]
A Catholic priest is seen lying dead in the prison yard. He has been stabbed by one of the prisoners who have ganged up against him for preaching and teaching the word of God in prison. The priest had been imprisoned for refusing to give evidence about a murder suspect named Blood who had killed a cop and his wife and was arrested. After the murder, Blood had come to church and confessed to Father Paul for killing a cop and his wife. Father Paul feels he should save the young murderer’s life and even suffer for him just like what Jesus did to the world. As such, Father Paul does not release any information about Blood killing the cop and his wife when called by police for interrogation leading to him being imprisoned for willfully refusing to release important information about Blood concerning the murder. Even so, Father Paul holds preaching and mass sermons in prison. Father Antony is another Catholic priest who is a prison chaplain. He was transferred from being a priesthood teacher to a prison chaplain after being falsely accused by a girl from his class that he made sexual advances to her. That girl, now a woman and is suffering from cancer. She goes to Father Antony and asks for forgiveness for the false sexual advance claims she made against him. The priest forgives her and deeply feels pained by her cancer illness and starts praying that God removes the cancer from her and transfers it to him. God fulfills his request and the woman is healed but Father Antony is attacked by cancer and dies. His coffin is laid in the prison yard in preparation for the wake procedures and that marks the end of the book.
Always Before Me, is a book presented with perfect writing skills. The flow and logic of proceedings of events coupled with the proper staging of characters at appropriate intervals and the subsequent incidents is just sweet. In turn this continuously draws curiosity to read further with the desire to know more of what happened later on. The first sentence on the very first chapter, Chapter 1, starts by a puzzled shout from one of the guards who called upon Father Paul after seeing him lying down and dead in the prison yard. This Catholic priest is the main character in the story. The reader will have him more than often throughout the book only to get to an abrupt end in suspense, and sending the mind to curiously thinking about what really was the end of Father Paul, only to realize that the curiosity arousing first sentence of Chapter 1 is the end of the main character’s life and the story. Thus, the evil plans that involved many of the prisoners, and even those who had looked repentant to the priest’s teachings including some prison authorities, the evil plans about killing the man of God because he chose to fear and respect only God and not fear men, was certainly fulfilled in the first paragraph of the first Chapter of the book. I really liked reading John Servant’s book and it has actually raised my spirit in the understanding that troubles to people who love God can be used by God to raise their spirit and put them closer to Him if they remain obedient to him.
Throughout the whole book I have not noticed anything needing correction that I may need to comment about. Instead, I can just say Always Before Me, is just one of the best fiction novels about Christian faith.
On the rating of this book I can freely rate this book 4 out of 4 stars.
The book is just completely interesting and neatly written. There are no grammatical or typing errors.
I recommend this book to people who want to read and learn more about a Christ like character. Father Paul and Father Antony really resemble a Christ like character in this fiction novel.
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Always Before Me
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[Following is a volunteer review of “Always Before Me” by John Servant.]
Always Before Me, by John Servant, teaches us that everyone has their unique life that no one but God knows about or understands. It demonstrates that many Christians are losing faith in God as a result of culture. Some people believe that they can do everything without God, which causes them to lose hope and slowly die in God.
In summary, this book redefines one’s faith in God and the ways in which culture might influence it. It depicts a variety of life stories of people who do not entirely trust God, who are losing faith in God, who are gaining faith in God, who have never believed in God, and who have truly placed their lives in God.
Apart from that, it demonstrates how a person may grow to love themselves and become a better person after coming to know God. As far as I’m aware, sinning individuals lose hope of living, having negative thoughts and fear, but they can learn how to avoid these emotions by reading this book.
Always Before Me is an engaging and well-written story. The author crafts the story in such a way that readers will not find it tedious to read. The book is not too long to read, with only 87 pages, so readers will be able to finish it quickly.
This book is one of my favourites because it is simple to read and flows well. As a believer in God, I recommend this book to everyone, believers and non-believers alike. Non-believers may be able to alter their minds about God’s work, while believers may be able to strengthen their faith in God.
To sum it up, I rate Always Before Me4 out of 4 stars. I couldn’t rate it lower because this book is deep for me and I can’t find any grammar mistakes in it. This book is worthwhile to read because it contains lessons that can help a reader improve their conversations, relationships, and other areas of their life.
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Always Before Me
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[Following is a volunteer review of “Always Before Me” by John Servant.]
Always Before Me by John Servant is about two catholic priests, Father Paul and Father Anthony, who are both faced with several trials which change their lives forever. Father Paul finds himself stuck between a rock and a hard place, as the situation he is faced with demands him to choose between his faith and manmade laws. His decision seemed to have made things worse for him, but Father Paul refuses to lose hope. Father Anthony on the other hand, is faced with his fair share of challenges. He finds himself working in the prison where Father Paul was serving time. Meeting Father Paul and watching him strive through the difficulties he was faced with provided Father Anthony with some form of encouragement. In the end, the lives of both of these catholic priests were quite exemplary to everyone around them, especially to Matt, whose life made a total turnaround as he reflected on the lives of both Father Anthony and Father Paul.
I absolutely enjoyed reading this book. It was quite interesting to read about the challenges faced by these priests and their ability to hold on, not lose hope, and have faith, even when things got really tough. This is a subject that basically everyone can relate to, as we all go through rough patches at one point or another in our lives. It was also nice to read the book without coming across any errors; the book was very well edited.
However, there were a lot of sermons in the book which I found to be too lengthy. It got tiring to read at a point, but once I got past those pages, the story had a seamless flow till the end. I feel the long sermons were quite unnecessary, and could have easily been shortened. All the same, that was my only issue with the book.
I’m rating this book 4 out of 4 stars. The storyline was a very captivating one, and the book could serve as a means of encouragement, as well as a faith guide.
This book is best suited for people with religiously inclined mindsets; it contains a lot of religious content. However, the book is a good read for people of all ages; adults and teenagers alike. No profanity was observed in this book; this is to further emphasize its suitability for young readers.
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Always Before Me
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[Following is a volunteer review of “Always Before Me” by John Servant.]
Always Before Me (A story of Mercy and Salvation) written by John Servant is a story that throws light on the varying degrees of life challenges encountered by three people whose eventual life transformation was because of the compelling nature of ordeal they experienced. Rather than throw hope to the wind, they endured until a better life. A character as Father Paul, an assistant priest had a young man come to the confessional to confess to murdering a police officer and his wife. He refused to mention who the murderer was despite the height of police interrogations. He therefore had to suffer imprisonment for a crime he never committed. Notwithstanding all odds of life grapples, he latched on to his faith and this passionately drives him irrespective of situations where he finds himself a lone ranger.
Father Anthony another character who suffered an injurious fate of life; was falsely accused of sexual advances by his student. A crime he was not liable for yet was relieved of his duties as a teacher. As a prison chaplain, will he find the reason to re-live his life? The third character Matt Ryan was found culpable of sexually exploiting a student. This led to his marriage breakdown and subsequent resignation. As life would have it, he secured a job as a prison psychologist and his life began to take a different turn. Is this turn for the better?
The puzzles of life darts discovered in this book are thought-provoking and life transforming realities as several practical life challenges and experiences were brought to bare by way of concision and coherent examples. The author also expatiated by taking turns to address readers directly and elaborated on life changing sermons preached by Father Paul. Issues affecting the family unit, environment, marriage as well as relational tensions were all tackled as the author privileged on discussing challenges the imprisoned had to go through. As regards encouragement, parts of Father Paul’s sermons were enough to lay absolute grip on any troubled soul.
The life changing moments of Father Paul in particular whiles in prison became manifest as his sermons brought about significant life transformation. One could experience some suspense as you read the book page by page undesirous of ever ending the pages in respect of what would happen next. The only minor issue I observed was with evil plotting characters such as Ramon, the Prosecutor and Blood who were not made to experience their fair share of their deeds but perhaps for the purposes of reasons best ascribed to the author, he omitted that part. No wonder the book had a focus on mercy and salvation. The book was professionally edited.
The scope of thought and writing dexterity were unique and therefore I give Always Before Me (a story of Mercy and Salvation) a rating of 4 out of 4 stars. I enjoyed reading the book.
I recommend the book to readers who enjoy religious books and especially to all curious readers who look forward to a life changing experience.
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Always Before Me
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[Following is a volunteer review of “Always Before Me” by John Servant.]
What would you do if failure were always before you? Always Before Me by John Servant reveals spiritual beliefs to deal with difficulties in our life. Living in life with a lot of options but stuck in circumstances with almost no option, Father Paul and Father Anthony chose to keep silent in front of accusations towards them. Those decisions lead them to where lack of hope and full of darkness cover human’s heart and mind though that isn’t their fault. Wherever life broughts them to, their faith doesn’t fade, which helps prisoners and sinners around them realize that it is never too late to change.
At times, human beings are prisoners of their own suffering, failed dreams and their weak faith. When it happens, the power to forgive is important. Even saints have their pasts and sinners have the right to call on God’s mercy. Mercy will take dangerous minds to where the light shines through.
Always Before Me is a story about faith, mercy, redemption and humility and how to heal from your own mistakes.
This book reminds me of a saying at the end of a dramatic daily-life Korean story I read: “Be brave, be happy.” It has been a long time since I read that story. It is not my favorite story but I have been obsessed with the saying. Reading Always Before Me also reminds me of an absurd idea I had. Everything seems to be clear. Being brave doesn’t guarantee that life will be fulfilled with effort, so the saying has the word “happy”. Both make the saying end completely. Failure is always ahead or not, decisions have to be made.
A story with terrible tragedies that weren’t adjusted. Weakness might be the reason for falling into temptation but there is always a faith to overcome temptation. The prisoners and sinners in this book, some of them cannot win their lives. The book is much about spiritual aspects, it speaks thoughts out rather than actions.
I think the book is rich in philosophy. I don’t think I dislike anything in this book. It is understandable what happens to characters. Complete trust and sacrificial love are sacred things which I saw through Always Before Me. I rate the book 4 out of 4 stars.
I recommend this book to readers who take pleasure in Catholic and Christian fiction stories. The book is not only about religious contents but also some problems in society nowadays.
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Always Before Me
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[Following is a volunteer review of “Always Before Me” by John Servant.]
This is the story of a saint, a sinner, and an ordinary man. The book is strongly influenced by Catholic faith. Author John Servant does an excellent job of demonstrating his extensive knowledge of Catholicism. The author attempted to answer the big questions a person faces in life through the sorrows and sufferings of these characters, such as why bad things happen, are bad people worthy of redemption, do good deeds guarantee a happy and smooth life, how to live a righteous life and seek forgiveness etc.
Always before me is a story about two priests and a psychologist; Father Paul and Father Anthony, and third, Matt who meet by chance in a prison,
Father Paul is a man of disciplines and beliefs; he walks on the religious path of Christianity ; he conducts sermons for the fellow inmates; religiously does rosaries and he has complete faith in God.
Father Paul is sentenced to prison for refusing to break his oath as a priest.
There, he is joined by Father Anthony and Matt, both of whom have been falsely accused of sexual misconduct.
Always Before Me is a short, fast-paced book that is rich in religious principles and Catholic teachings. It captures adversity, failure, tolerance, and forgiveness. The author has three stories that are all intertwined. These are the stories of faith and how these men overcame adversity by having unconditional faith in God. In the story, each man goes through many trials and tribulations that bring out the weaknesses and strengths in each of their characters. Their journey will inspire and brings out the good and motiving thoughts from the readers.
The book is small and simple to read. It’s only 90 pages long, and I finished it in one sitting. The story is both inspiring and motivating. Catholic teachings and Christian faith are heavily influenced in the book. Even though the stories are based on moral messages, they have a good plot and are entertaining. Any type of readers are likely to enjoy the stories and life lessons contained within. The motivational speeches and teachings are easy to understand.
I rate this book a 4 out of 4 stars. I found no flaws in the writing, and the book appears to have been professionally edited. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for motivation and faith. The book is ideal for Catholics or anyone who holds high moral values. Author John Servant has done an excellent job composing this story.
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[Following is a volunteer review of “Always Before Me” by John Servant.]
Always Before Me by John Servant is a story about how people can succeed even after failing. This is clear from narration of Father Richard about Father Anthony and Father Paul who spent part of their life in prison. Father Anthony’s life changed after serious accusations of seeking sexual favors. This has greatly affected his career and he ends up being suspended. His new life begins at the prison as a chaplain. Here, he suffers from his failures. He later began a journey of faith which led to his success. Father Paul is imprisoned for failing to go against his oaths as a priest. His good work is visible and has a great impact to the prisoners. His teachings attracts many followers who start to seek the kingdom of God. Not all prisoners appreciated his work and some end up hating him. He believes that God has a reason as to why he had to go to the prison and this was to bring back the lost sheep back to the ways of truth. The author also narrates about Matt who is a psychologist in the prison. He had lost his job and family as a result of his evil actions. He later changes after meeting Father Anthony. This shows how we can still reform our ways and Christ will accept us despite our faults. The work of Father Anthony and Father Paul left a great impression on those who interacted with them. Their teachings makes Matt question God about evil actions but the response he receives from Father Richard made him realise that he was sent there by God for a reason and he has to do something.
This book is easy to read as the language used is well chosen. It also has few pages therefore, one can read it quite a number of times. The narration is based on what people face in their life and especially how one can be accused of something they did not do. The teachings used are supported by bible verses which makes it more interesting to read. The main characters are deeply discussed making the reader understand each of them well.
I did not find anything negative about the book. There is no grammatical error or any typing errors. It is professionally edited. I also did not find any profanity.
I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. This is because it made me realise that it is never too late to change our perspective as well as our ways. It also made me understand that God has a reason as to why we exist or face challenges.
I would recommend this book to readers who would like to view life in a different perspective as well as change their bad ways and live a christian life.
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[Following is a volunteer review of “Always Before Me” by John Servant.]
When you make a mistake, it is customary to find solutions and never repeat them. If the same mistakes keep repeating themselves, will you give up on yourself? These mistakes may hinder you from having self-growth. This is what is depicted in Always Before Me by John Servant. The book describes many people’s lives and specifically to the fathers’ characters. The story is told by Father Richard, who is the only wake one and is sitting in front of Father Anthony’s casket. Father Richard meets John, Father Anthony’s nephew whom he left all his belongings to, and he feels like the nephew did not know his uncle well and decides to tell him more about the life of father Anthony and how great of a person he was. This takes us to when Father Paul was brought to prison. Both father Paul and Anthony were jailed for crimes they never committed. They were accused of the crimes.
Father Paul was jailed since he did not testify in court over a crime that had taken place, and he couldn’t break the laws of confession to testify in court against the criminal. To protect the church, he accepted the sentence he was given. Father Anthony, however, was accused of sexual harassment in a school that he was teaching, and that landed him in jail, where he met Father Paul. Both of them in the story feel like they have suffered for so long, and they at some point become hopeless, but they believe in God. Father Paul believed and trusted in God so much, and he managed to make Father Anthony gain back his trust in God.
Every person would want the best for themselves that life has to offer them. Sometimes, the process becomes so rough, and nothing works out the way you figured it out, but giving up should not be an option at all. This story reveals that people feel like their mistakes are the end of them, yet with your mistakes coming before you in every endeavor you take, you still hope you can live life making a difference. However, much of the fathers’ lights and aspirations were shut; they amended even though they were accusations and still used their skills to empower people.
This is the first of John Servant’s books I am reading, and from the book and the way he brought out the aspect of Christianity, even a non-Christian can relate many elements brought out in religion. He tries to bring out people’s aspects about different beliefs and worship. Some sacrifices that people make often help others in a bigger perspective, which is why the fathers kept having hope even though their lights were being dimmed on several occasions. The way that the author brings out the aspects of flashbacks to tell the story in detail is a good part that engages the reader, and they yearn to know what happened next, making the book a good flow. He as well brings in the twists and turns in the book. Everyone expects to happen, but they do not happen the way you have them figured out in your minds. He also introduces the story’s characters in intervals that make the book have rhythm since every scene has the character well played out. These are the artistic aspects that the author has brought out in his book, which makes the book so captivating.
I loved the book so much. Every aspect it brought out is remarkable. In the book’s introduction, the author gave the characters a brief description of themselves, which made the book so engaging and had a significant flow. The characters portrayed in the story make the reader view everything occurring from every character’s perspective. The book flows in a relevant manner, and the stories are connected. The book gives a clear view of life in the most appropriate form.
There is nothing that made me feel uncomfortable reading the book. I would therefore give the book a 4 out of 4 stars. The book is well articulated in-depth, and it gives the reader a lot of information about the characters in the story. The keywords used in the book give a smooth flow of the book, and it was given professional editing that makes everything about the book very correct. I can recommend it to the people struggling with the mistakes they have made in the past that make life seem so hard to tackle. Even as mistakes may overshadow the good things you would want to achieve in life, this book will give you another view of living contrary to what you see now. With the various occurrences in the story being related to the present circumstances in life, the book is an excellent recommendation for every generation.
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[Following is a volunteer review of “Always Before Me” by John Servant.]
Always before me by John Servant is a short story detailing the temptations and perseverance of a priest who exhibits an otherworldly humility, sacrifice and trust in God. This priest was not favored by man because of his overly righteous ways he refused to do wrong, refused to do what other people were doing or would have done . He lives his life in a way that we only read in books about saints and this lifestyle of his helped change a lot of people in his environment making him friends as well as powerful enemies. Will he succumb to the will of the people?
A positive aspect I should point out would be one of the moral lessons of the book, it shows us who we truly are as humans and how we react to someone being different. When someone doesn’t conform to majority or popular opinion, they make a lot of enemies. The book was realistic about the treatment the priest and eventually, the end. Humans will try to bring you down at all costs if you are not on their side.
However, I do think some sermons on the book went on for a little bit longer than it should and it gets exhausting to read, this won’t be a problem if you’re looking to expand your faith or learn new bible verses.
I will rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. The story line is well put together, the plots well executed and the book well edited. This story is realistic and relatable, kept me glued to the end.
This book is recommended for people looking to strengthen their faith and those facing challenges in their lives. This book reminds you of the promises of God and it has bible passages to help you through great suffering and temptations.
****** Always Before Me
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[Following is a volunteer review of “Always Before Me” by John Servant.]
Always Before Me is a fictional book by author John Servant. This book is about the trials and tribulations of one man, Father Anthony and how his outlook in life was influenced by a prisoner, Father Paul and Father Anthony in turn touched the life of another man, Matt Ryan.
The story is set up in a New York prison and is narrated by Father Richard who is attending a wake for Father Anthony. The writer begins with a flashback of Father Paul’s stabbing in prison then brings us back to Father Richard attending the wake of Father Anthony while remembering Father Paul, Father Anthony’s friend. At the wake Father Richard met John Dylan who had come to collect his inheritance from his uncle, Father Anthony after being invited to the wake by Matt Ryan, a good friend of Father Anthony. John is young and is portrayed as worldly and arrogant, he had little knowledge of his uncle and deemed him to be lowly because his wake did not have many mourners like his father’s. Having Father Richard wanted to set the record straight concerning Father Anthony’s life.
In his younger days before ending up in prison as a chaplain, Father Anthony was a teacher. As any man, he had advances from an attractive girl in a class he taught which he vehemently rejected and as the saying goes, hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, the girl falsely accused Father Anthony of sexual advances which led to a suspension and accusations against him. He was rejected by the priesthood and the school, all which he took in silence. Matt Ryan was a psychology teacher at upstate New York and was accused of seeking sexual advances in exchange for grades that got him suspended, the accusations took a toll on his marriage and his wife left him and he lost his job. He finally got a job at the prison which was the only place he could teach and there he met and became friends with Father Anthony, a man who had somehow walked in his shoes. All this was in God’s special plan.
Father Paul was an assistant priest at St. Anne’s for mother of the Great Mother of God. He one day received a confession from a young man called Blood who had killed a policeman and his wife. That confession would change the life of Father Paul forever. Blood and his gang got caught and somehow Father Paul got implicated too. On interrogation, Father Paul held fast to the confession seal and did not disclose Blood’s confession, holding fast to God’s laws and fearing Him only. This put him in the wrong books with the cops who could not let their colleague’s death go unpunished and they together with the public prosecutor would use any means necessary to ensure someone paid for the deaths and serve as an example. Father Paul was the fall guy and he ended up in prison with a twenty-year sentence, but in prison, he would later face his death plotted by a gang leader who did not want to lose his control over other inmates.
The good thing about this book is how these priests would remain silent and humble under immense accusations and rejection. They chose to see the good in every situation and trust in God to be with them in circumstances that another person would vehemently defend their innocence. Their practical application of their faith was a testimony to others and in at the end of it all, people believed. John Servant was able to make the me connect with the main characters and be slow to anger or react.
The book started with Father Richard talking to John Daly, but along the way these characters seem to have disappeared. I would have liked to know what was John’s reaction to the narration. Did it give him a different perspective to life?
I would rate this book 4 out of 4 stars because the humility of the Fathers and how they took their suffering really fascinated me and I couldn’t wait to find out what was next. I did not find any grammatical errors indicating that proper editing was done. I recommend this book to lovers of Christian fiction books and those who would like books that have some sense of realism.
****** Always Before Me
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[Following is a volunteer review of “Always Before Me” by John Servant.]
ALWAYS BEFORE ME
Always Before Me, is a book written by John Servant. The book indulges a religious life of a priest named father Paul, later, the life of father Anthony. The story is emotional and sad because it vividly narrates the life of father Paul in prison. It explains how hard and tempting life of a Christian man focusing his vision in heaven and suffering like a martyr fully and completely faithful to the Holy Spirit. Father Paul finds himself in prison under unfair circumstances at the hands of a bitter man. The story Portrays father Paul as a firm believer in what he believed in and fully dedicated in his faith. He doesn’t allow anything even reason to compromise his faith in God. The story also touches on the life of father Anthony and how it was shaped by father Paul’s life in prison. Their stories are almost similar but father Anthony gets his strength and farm resolution when he gets to meet Father Paul. The story also touches on the life of a prison warden Matt who saw firsthand the lives of these priests and what happened to them and that changed his life.
The story does not fail to touch the reader’s emotions; it engulfs their feelings to the point of tears and real sadness. The vivid description gives readers a perfect picture of what these two priests went through in their lives. The story gives a perfect picture of a life of a priest in prison and the challenges and temptations that come with it. The genuine honesty of the firm resolve these priests had is well brought out by the author. For example when father Anthony on page 81 asks the Lord that he should take the place of the girl who is suffering from cancer instead. The book is exceptionally edited.
The book is too religious and does not touch much on other aspects of life. The main character, a priest who was a prisoner, is an ideal person and does seem real. Readers, who do not like religious books, may not like them. The book is almost like preaching in itself.
I will rate the book 4 out of 4 stars. It is because the book is a well-written story, flaws naturally. The author touches the readers’ emotions and makes them empathize with the lives of these priests.
I will recommend this book to religious people, particularly Christians. It is because the book explains the life of a priest. Roman Catholic father. I will recommend this book strongly to fathers and Catholic Deacons. It will be a perfect example for them to follow and encourage their congregations.
******
Always Before Me
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[Following is a volunteer review of “Always Before Me” by John Servant.]
Always Before Me by John Servant was a tale of three men who ended up in prison for diverse reasons. Father Richard attended the wake of father Anthony who died of lung cancer, and he was the only attendee. He began to reminisce about his colleagues, their friendship, and their journey in prison. While lost in thoughts, John Daly (father Anthony’s nephew), walked in and interrupted him. He came to pay the last respect to his uncle whom he hardly knows and collects his inheritance. After introductions, father Richard began to tell John about his uncle. When father Anthony was a teacher, one of his students accused him of improper sexual advances. Despite the absence of evidence, the school could no longer allow him to teach. He became a prison chaplain.
In prison, the man of God befriended Matt, who was a teacher and psychologist. He faced the same accusations of sexual favors for grades, and he was suspended. This ordeal turned his life upside down; therefore, he resigned and found work at the prison to teach psychology. Were accusations against both these men correct? In contradiction, father Paul was sentenced to twenty years for defying the law of man to endorse the law of God. After five years as a priest, a young man named Blood made a confession that would frantically alter his life. What did Blood confess? Would he ever share the confession?
This was a story that would take the reader through a range of emotions. The author looked into topics such as the power of prayer, hope, forgiveness, betrayal, and patience. The story was based on thoroughly researched Catholic doctrines and immense biblical principles. What I liked most about Always Before Me, was how father Paul used his sermons to address the issues humans encountered daily. I think the author was brilliant in simplifying the scriptures to explain everyday situations. It came as no surprise that John Servant was well versed in themes of Atonement and redemption since this was his third book on the topic. Furthermore, he was a lawyer for over forty years, thus making him qualified to talk about political issues, law, and social justice. That also gave him an advantage of understanding the emotions and behavior of the prisoners during their incarceration.
The characters were well developed, with detailed descriptions of each character brought in. The author mixed new stories seamlessly; the plot had bends and twists that I did not expect. I became fascinated and very amused. This was a short and fast-paced novel that was easy to understand and was loaded with life lessons. The one idea the reader should walk away with was that suffering, mistakes, and/or failures are inevitable. People’s everyday choices will determine their destiny. In our darkest moments, we cannot allow ourselves to give up hope. Prayer and waiting patiently upon God give positive results. Reading the book became a time of reflection on my spirituality and faith. The book successfully provided kind of guidelines on how to face challenges victoriously.
I could not find anything negative about the book. However, it has referenced many scriptures, so maybe those who do not believe in God would want to stay away from the book. I think Catholics and Christians would better enjoy the book. Similarly, people of different religions could still learn the profound lessons the book has to offer. In addition, it is suited for young and mature audiences. I rate the book a complete 4 out of 4 stars. There were no errors spotted during my entire reading, therefore the editing was exceptional.
****** Always Before Me
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[Following is a volunteer review of “Always Before Me” by John Servant.]
When you make a mistake, it is customary to find solutions and never repeat them. If the same mistakes keep repeating themselves, will you give up on yourself? These mistakes may hinder you from having self-growth. This is what is depicted in Always Before Me by John Servant. The book describes many people’s lives and specifically to the fathers’ characters. The story is told by Father Richard, who is the only wake one and is sitting in front of Father Anthony’s casket. Father Richard meets John, Father Anthony’s nephew whom he left all his belongings to, and he feels like the nephew did not know his uncle well and decides to tell him more about the life of father Anthony and how great of a person he was. This takes us to when Father Paul was brought to prison. Both father Paul and Anthony were jailed for crimes they never committed. They were accused of the crimes.
Father Paul was jailed since he did not testify in court over a crime that had taken place, and he couldn’t break the laws of confession to testify in court against the criminal. To protect the church, he accepted the sentence he was given. Father Anthony, however, was accused of sexual harassment in a school that he was teaching, and that landed him in jail, where he met Father Paul. Both of them in the story feel like they have suffered for so long, and they at some point become hopeless, but they believe in God. Father Paul believed and trusted in God so much, and he managed to make Father Anthony gain back his trust in God.
Every person would want the best for themselves that life has to offer them. Sometimes, the process becomes so rough, and nothing works out the way you figured it out, but giving up should not be an option at all. This story reveals that people feel like their mistakes are the end of them, yet with your mistakes coming before you in every endeavor you take, you still hope you can live life making a difference. However, much of the fathers’ lights and aspirations were shut; they amended even though they were accusations and still used their skills to empower people.
This is the first of John Servant’s books I am reading, and from the book and the way he brought out the aspect of Christianity, even a non-Christian can relate many elements brought out in religion. He tries to bring out people’s aspects about different beliefs and worship. Some sacrifices that people make often help others in a bigger perspective, which is why the fathers kept having hope even though their lights were being dimmed on several occasions. The way that the author brings out the aspects of flashbacks to tell the story in detail is a good part that engages the reader, and they yearn to know what happened next, making the book a good flow. He as well brings in the twists and turns in the book. Everyone expects to happen, but they do not happen the way you have them figured out in your minds. He also introduces the story’s characters in intervals that make the book have rhythm since every scene has the character well played out. These are the artistic aspects that the author has brought out in his book, which makes the book so captivating.
I loved the book so much. Every aspect it brought out is remarkable. In the book’s introduction, the author gave the characters a brief description of themselves, which made the book so engaging and had a significant flow. The characters portrayed in the story make the reader view everything occurring from every character’s perspective. The book flows in a relevant manner, and the stories are connected. The book gives a clear view of life in the most appropriate form.
There is nothing that made me feel uncomfortable reading the book. I would therefore give the book a 4 out of 4 stars. The book is well articulated in-depth, and it gives the reader a lot of information about the characters in the story. The keywords used in the book give a smooth flow of the book, and it was given professional editing that makes everything about the book very correct. I can recommend it to the people struggling with the mistakes they have made in the past that make life seem so hard to tackle. Even as mistakes may overshadow the good things you would want to achieve in life, this book will give you another view of living contrary to what you see now. With the various occurrences in the story being related to the present circumstances in life, the book is an excellent recommendation for every generation.
****** Always Before Me
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[Following is a volunteer review of “Always Before Me” by John Servant.]
Always Before Me: (A Story of Mercy and Salvation) was written by John Servant. It centers on Father Paul and Father Anthony. They had suffered a similar fate. Father Paul was sent to prison due to his willingness to keep his faith. He lived a life exemplary to that of Jesus Christ. While in prison, Father Anthony would encourage Father Paul, who was wrongly accused of rape and sent to prison. John had come to pay his uncle his last respect at his wake, held at the prison when he met Father Richard. Would this encounter turn out to be life-changing for the reader, as Father Richard took the time to tell how these two priests have lived a life worthy of emulating? The reader would find out by reading this book.
I’ve never been an ardent lover of books about the “Catholic Denomination” due to my lack of exposure to how their mass is held. But I found this very easy and educating to read. I love that this book speaks about priesthood and what it encompasses. For instance, the book talked about the sacred confessional, especially as it tells a little of the context of “the seal of the confessional.” The book also described the “Rosary” and its significance.
Another part I enjoyed most in this book was Father Paul’s sermon in prison. I believed this could serve as an encouragement to those who have found themselves in a strange land just like Father Paul. Also, I love that the book expounds on how we should encourage each other in times of trial.
Also, I wouldn’t have learned about this aspect of priests if I hadn’t come across this book. The scandals about sexual abuse and rape against priests are one fact the author discussed. I find this part very reliable and true. This is a real-life dilemma that has been heard over the years. But I loved the intention of the writer to correct the fact that a lot of these are accusations against most priests.
This book seems professionally edited. I found just a few grammatical errors while reading. I think this book deserves a rating of 4 out of 4 stars. It has just a few chapters, and they were arranged thoroughly. I found nothing to dislike about the book.
I would love to recommend Always Before Me: (A Story of Mercy and Salvation) by John Servant to those who need to build up their faith in God again. Members of the Catholic denomination would enjoy this book.
****** Always Before Me
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[Following is a volunteer review of “Always Before Me” by John Servant.]
Woven around religion and what it takes to be a true Christian, Always Before Me by John Servant is an intriguing fictional novel that tells mainly of the life of Father Paul, a Catholic priest. as narrated by father Richard Turner. Father Paul is found in an unpleasant situation with the law because of his obedience to God which does not align with men and is considered to be an enemy of justice. With his refusal to yield to the pressure of the world and betrayal by one whom he saved, he is convicted and put in prison. Forgotten by his colleagues, rejected by his friends and denied the privilege to say mass, father Paul finds himself in a situation where most people would feel hopeless, dejected and depressed. However, Father Paul’s faith in God only grows stronger as he lives in constant prayer. The prisoners begin to see Father Paul as a holy and righteous man, and just as Joseph found favour in the prison, father Paul also finds favour in the eyes of the prison warden. Having been a part of a major testimony of the warden, Father Paul is finally allowed to say mass. Through this medium, Father Paul reaches out to his fellow convicts who feel hopeless and rejected by society. From saying mass to hearing confessions, Father Paul finds purpose once again.
It is commonly said that one cannot live without enemies, despite the many who respect and look to Father Paul, some wish for his downfall. Ramon is a gang leader who dominates through drugs and violence. Afraid that Father Paul would turn the prisoners away from him, plots Father Paul’s downfall but does he succeed? In the midst of these, Father Paul experiences when he loses a loved one and finds a friend in Gus, a fellow prisoner. They say a Christian’s life is never and Father Paul’s life shows just that. Father Paul’s strong faith during persecution encourages Father Anthony to do the same as it were a contagious spirit brought in by Father Paul.
I enjoyed reading Always Before Me and I found it to be enlightening. Father Paul’s character as a priest is fascinating. From his obedience and faith to his humility and dedication, Father Paul’s life characterized the persecutions faced by Christians in these present times and how to overcome them. I enjoyed reading Father Paul’s teachings during mass and the manner with which he spoke to those around. His humility and dedication were captivating. I like the author’s choice of words and the Bible references which captured pressing issues in many lives. The writer was able to pass across a significant message on Faith in God as a Christian. The book is also well edited.
Although interesting, the story wasn’t fascinating right from the start and I lost interest but I later found it to be captivating along the way. The introduction was a bit confusing. John Daly who meets Father Richard when he comes for his inheritance is said to be curious and asks about Father Anthony’s story. However, when Father Richard settles to give him the answers, we are told that he is ‘fidgeting’ in his seat because he is only interested in getting his inheritance and not being preached to despite being the one who asked for the story. This is a bit confusing John’s latter action seems to contrast with the former.
I would rate this book 4 out of 4 stars because the story was fascinating and enlightening. Although I encountered a few confusing moments because of the complex sentences, I was still able to understand the message being passed across. Asides from this, the book is an amazing novel and I applaud the writer for a job well done.
I recommend this book for readers who are interested in religious literature, specifically on Christianity, and what it entails to be a Christian; especially Catholic. I would also encourage those in need of encouragement or upliftment to read this book because of the words and Bible verses cited. I would advise those easily disturbed by sad stories not to go for this book as it is quite tragic and can make some get sympathetic.
****** Always Before Me
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[Following is a volunteer review of “Always Before Me” by John Servant.]
A common ground unites John Servant’s characters in Always Before Me, which considers individuals in a variety of situations. Father Paul, Father Anthony, and Matt are the central characters throughout the whole book. Father Paul walks on the path laid out by God (Jesus) by disciplining himself daily and having faith in Jesus, Joseph, and Mary. Each character in the story faces prison time and is forced to confront their relationship with Christianity, as they are both falsely accused and have done some time behind bars. The author illustrates the harsh reality of everyday life as the characters undergo a variety of trials leading to salvation. All three men have been accused of sexual misconduct and they all propose different paths to healing through religious practices.
Catholicism and all the beliefs it entails are deeply embedded in the book. The Catholic Church plays an incredibly significant role in this story, as seen through the eyes of both the major and minor characters. It is through praying, setting, and practicing that Catholicism is fully expressed. The majority of the story in this book relies on an understanding of Catholic beliefs and practices. The author demonstrates his deep roots and comprehensive knowledge of this religion.
The wisdom contained in this book will help answer some of the most common questions in human life through biblical teachings. This story is a fitting example for those who think that a mistake can end their lives. It depicts scenes from the past and shows connections to the present. My favorite thing about this story is its realistic characters and a compelling storyline.
Despite the fact that the author has successfully woven a story within a story, due to systematic writing, one never gets confused by this approach. Mercy and salvation are the central themes of this book. Although the characters were facing similar accusations, I was pleasantly surprised by the authenticity each character displayed. A story like this has a tendency to repeat itself or become monotonous quickly. Yet, I was enlightened with various perspectives and religious morals while reading.
I would give this book a 4 out of 4 stars, as there was nothing I disliked about it and it has been professionally edited. Regardless of your individual religious beliefs, this is a lovely piece that can be enjoyed by all, as no faith is besmirched and would specifically appeal to readers who are interested in religious fiction.
****** Always Before Me
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[Following is a volunteer review of “Always Before Me” by John Servant.]
We live in a cruel world. In spite of this, I have come across people with the same dedication to obedience and service to Christ, as the characters depicted in this story. If I had not, I may have categorized Always Before Me (A Story of Mercy and Salvation) by Dennis Servant as a fairytale. This story, documented as fiction, enlightens us on how the choices we make along our paths in life can build or destroy. The theme of service to Christ unfolds through the challenges faced by Father Paul and Father Anthony. These two priests confront difficult issues in their lives and end up behind prison walls because of them. Though neither had an easy destiny to fulfill, both committed their lives to spreading and sharing the word and love of God to every inmate, guard, and even warden who would listen.
The characters of Father Paul and Father Anthony are convicted for different reasons. A criminal confesses to Father Paul that he murdered two people. Father Paul made a choice not to break his vow of confidentiality for the murderer. He was indicted and agreed to take a plea bargain because he would not break the confessional seal. He was sent to prison for twenty years. While imprisoned he makes a choice to continue leading others to receive salvation in Jesus Christ through faith and repentance. He eventually meets Father Anthony who was wrongly accused of making sexual advances toward a female student. Father Paul, through his words and actions, teaches Father Anthony how to strengthen his faith. They work together and face adversity behind bars, leaving no doubt of the power they stand for.
I rate Always Before Me a 4 out of 4 stars.
What I liked most is that the story is short and to the point on how Father Paul had such a great effect on others through Christ. It did not matter that he was in prison. For a time, he was able to fulfill his duty by making a small area within the prison a place for worship. Despite his outlook of sharing and kindness, there was still someone attempting to make him falter and bring him down.
What I liked least is the lack of dialogue in the beginning. I thought I was missing information regarding Father Paul’s journey before he came to prison and his connection to Father Anthony who had recently passed away. John, the nephew of Father Anthony, came to the prison to pay his last respects and collect what his uncle had left him. He is referred by a fellow pastor, Father Richard, to Matthew. Matthew is a teacher and psychologist for the prison. He was a friend of Father Anthony and begins to explain his uncle’s trials and tribulations, and how God’s mercy was his saving grace.
My disappointment was rectified when I found that the story is quickly paced in the first few chapters to get to the heart of the story of what happens when Father Paul is sent to prison. Matt describes the friendship between Father Paul and Father Anthony. Father Paul helped Father Anthony to forgive and grow in faith as they worked together. Father Anthony was able to carry on the duties and responsibilities of Father Paul when he passed away. Both sacrificed worldly wants and desires to follow the steps of Christ. Temptations are everywhere, even behind bars.
This is an inspirational book for anyone on the path, searching for the path, knocked off the path, or even never heard of the path to Christ. Jesus taught among the criminals and sinners. He did not shun them. Father Paul and Father Anthony followed the will of God humbly through prayer, supplication, and meditation. Their story is for any faith, any denomination, or anyone needing encouragement on how to stand strong for what is the truth and choose to make changes within.
I do not agree with praying to saints. They are only human beings too. However, praying to God through His son Jesus Christ has changed many things in my life. Always Before Me solidifies the fact that God’s word is everywhere. If those behind bars can choose to follow Christ, become stronger in their faith, and make changes in their lives, what excuse do I have in my freedom? We are given a choice in how we decide to react to whatever challenges we face – wherever we are. The power of God’s reach can be anywhere – it is omnipresent.
****** Always Before Me
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[Following is a volunteer review of “Always Before Me” by John Servant.]
Always Before Me(A Story Of Mercy And Salvation) by John Servant is an educating fiction book with a touch of christianity, politics,law and history.It talks mostly about love,faith and forgiveness.The book is told in a third person manner and about what the two priests went through in prison.
From the very beginning the readers attention is caught by the death of the main characters of the book.The reason behind their death is being told by a Catholic priest whom was their friend.Behind their deaths lies betrayal of men that they had helped because they felt it was their duty as servants of Christ and it’s what had led to their gruesome deaths.
It’s a short book that’s definitely a page turner,it has not over hundred pages.The author had referred and compared the book’s characters to those in the bible and history,that made it easy to get the point across without repetition of words.This book also has scriptures that are quoted straight out from the bible and anyone can use them in their daily lives to get through. Always Before Me (A Story Of Mercy And Salvation) by John Servant isn’t just a random book but it’s a source of motivation, inspiration and reassurance.The book is a very flowy one and that’s because the author has done a very well research on the bible and history.
I would recommend this book to anyone even though it has religious elements it’s relatable to every being especially for believers as they’ll relate differently because it’ll give the hope that no matter what the situation they’re going through they should hold on,keep praying and have faith because better days are coming.I would like the readers to keep in mind that at one point the author mentions killings, suicide and threats.
I didn’t find any negative aspects while reading this short book,the beginning and the end deserve a chef’s kiss.The author did a good job on the research and there we’re no grammatical errors, that’s why I’m rating this book four out of four stars.I hope readers will regain faith and motivation after reading it
****** Always Before Me
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[Following is a volunteer review of “Always Before Me” by John Servant.]
How far will you go to protect what you believe in? This is the question every reader will find asking themselves as they read Always Before Me by John Servant. It is a story of faith, mercy, courage and betrayal. The book is based on the lives of two Catholic priests who die in prison, albeit, in very different circumstances. Father Paul was jailed for protecting his priestly vows; Father Anthony was assigned prison chaplaincy after losing his teaching job.
In the small room allocated for Father Anthony’s wake at the prison, enters John, his estranged nephew and beneficiary. The only other person in attendance is Father Richard, an old acquaintance of the deceased. John learns from Father Richard how his estranged uncle had been falsely accused of making sexual advances by a girl he had taught. Due to the seriousness of the accusation, Father Anthony could no longer secure a teaching job afterwards, which is how he ended up working in prison. He struggled with the circumstances thrusted upon him. However,upon seeing Father Paul’s bravery and faith, he ended up accepting his fate found himself as his cross to bear in this life.
Father Paul’s journey to prison was quite dramatic. In court, he refused to reveal the confession of a criminal, nicknamed Blood, who was charged with double murder. Citing priest-penitent privilege, Father Paul refused to break his vows, which led in the accused being set free. This commitment to his priestly vows so infuriated the district attorney, that he made it his mission to make Father Paul pay. A subsequent donation by Blood to Father Paul’s church, without the priest’s knowledge, led to a corruption charge being layed against Father Paul, his prosecution, and sentencing to a prison term. Yet, Father Paul never wavered. The one close friend he made in prison, Gus, who ended up being wrongly influenced and turning against Father Paul.
Always Before Me carries a message of integrity, surviving extreme unfairness, and, faith in God. Though not Catholic myself, I did not find anything offensive in the Catholic theme of the book. The message is clear, the book well and simply written with negligible errors. It earns a rating of 4 out of 4stars.
There is nothing negative I can say about the book. Since I don’t normally read religious books, I was pleasantly surprised by how enthralling I found this one to be. I recommend it for everyone over the age of thirteen.
****** Always Before Me
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[Following is a volunteer review of “Always Before Me” by John Servant.]
Always Before Me is a noteworthy book that showcases the life of Father Paul, who spent many years in prison. Father Paul realized God had called him to minister to the prisoners. He conducted masses and many prisoners used to come and listen to his sermons. Some of them did not like the methods of Father Paul. There was one person named Ramos who badly wanted to kill the Father. But he was afraid of the consequences it might bring.
Father Anthony was charged guilty of an issue and was put in the same prison as Father Paul. Father Anthony’s life was different. He had many unanswered questions to which he desperately needed answers. That’s how he got close to Father Paul. There’s an interview that happens inside the prison. An atheist asks questions to Father Paul in the pretext of trapping him. But the answers were unexpected and witty that the interviewer was spellbound. Prisoners, Gus and Matt play important roles in this story.
Many sermons of Father Paul can be seen in this book. He mainly focuses on living a holy life by doing the will of the Father in heaven. He talked about Jesus and Mary and the importance of salvation. There were many Bible verses quoted by the author. This book revolves around people from different aspects of life and how they see God from their life’s perspective. Readers will find it interesting. John Servant has used simple English to help the readers understand the concepts with ease.
I will rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. The reason is for the simple explanations of life that one must follow to live a happy and contented life. This will surely be useful to all. I found minimal errors in this book. It did not stop me from enjoying the entire volume. I had nothing to dislike about this book. The teachings were simple and precise. John Servant has done a great job in making this book possible. This volume is much necessary for the current scenarios happening all over the world.
Always Before Me might not suit those who don’t believe in God. I would recommend those readers to kindly skip this book. Christians and Catholics will find this book fascinating. If you are searching for a gift for your believer friend, I would suggest you gift them this book. They will not regret it. Watch out for the five words of Jesus and Mary, which brings out the bottom line of this publication.
[Following is a volunteer review of “Always Before Me” by John Servant.]
At first, I had a question in my mind if the book tells the teachings of the Catholic Church or if it was a personal belief of Mr. John Servant about the case of criminal confessions that became a big controversial issue. It interests me to search more on the Catholic ordinance that forbids a Pastor to reveal personal confession and priest-penitent privilege. Wikipedia conveys that; this priest-penitent privilege is not only for Catholics but also for all religious leaders in the U.S. This priest-penitent privilege has been debatable, described in the book (page 23-24). It is a simple story, yet complex with lots of conviction shared. I see that the book Always Before Me by Mr. John Servant portrays the similarity of the life of Father Paul as its main character with the life of Jesus in terms of being treated unjustly. Tragically, the killer did not heed the advice(Page 9-10). On the other hand, Father Paul has obliged to defend the killer.
Positively the book explains how life as a Christian is not an easy way of life. The Cross of Jesus shows how unjust Christian life could be. Jesus himself stated in the Bible of book Matthew 16 verse 24, Then Jesus said to his disciples, Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me (NIV). Gladly, I found no profanity words in addition to sexual content is minimal (scale – 1).
Negatively, in my personal opinion, the book can mislead people of Christianity by disobeying those in authority. I believe the Bible does not contradict itself. When Church policy can lead to the contradiction with the teaching of the Bible, we should always follow the Bible. The Bible states in Romans 13:1-2, Every person should obey the government in power. No government would have come about had it been allowed by God. The governments which exist have been put in place by God. Therefore, whoever resists the government opposes what God has established. Those who resist will bring punishment on themselves. (GOD’S WORD® TRANSLATION). The book also describes a corrupt authority from a pulpit that makes Christians think negatively against officials, which is not a Christian job. (Page 64, 73). My conviction based on the Bible scripture above, the Church should reconsider its rules that might cause this controversial issue. The book has a different point of view that I can understand.
Regardless of my personal belief, this book can inspire people to be better Catholic or Christian. Therefore, I give this book 3 out of 4 stars.
Lastly, I recommend this book for religious people to understand better the hard decision made because of a controversy between Government Law and so-called Church Law. I recommend this book for Christian politicians and government officials for them to be able to understand how to avoid corrupt authority.
[Following is a volunteer review of “Always Before Me” by John Servant.]
At first, I had a question in my mind if the book tells the teachings of the Catholic Church or if it was a personal belief of Mr. John Servant about the case of criminal confessions that became a big controversial issue. It interests me to search more on the Catholic ordinance that forbids a Pastor to reveal personal confession and priest-penitent privilege. Wikipedia conveys that; this priest-penitent privilege is not only for Catholics but also for all religious leaders in the U.S. This priest-penitent privilege has been debatable, described in the book (page 23-24). It is a simple story, yet complex with lots of conviction shared. I see that the book Always Before Me by Mr. John Servant portrays the similarity of the life of Father Paul as its main character with the life of Jesus in terms of being treated unjustly. Tragically, the killer did not heed the advice(Page 9-10). On the other hand, Father Paul has obliged to defend the killer.
Positively the book explains how life as a Christian is not an easy way of life. The Cross of Jesus shows how unjust Christian life could be. Jesus himself stated in the Bible of book Matthew 16 verse 24, Then Jesus said to his disciples, Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me (NIV). Gladly, I found no profanity words in addition to sexual content is minimal (scale – 1).
Negatively, in my personal opinion, the book can mislead people of Christianity by disobeying those in authority. I believe the Bible does not contradict itself. When Church policy can lead to the contradiction with the teaching of the Bible, we should always follow the Bible. The Bible states in Romans 13:1-2, Every person should obey the government in power. No government would have come about had it been allowed by God. The governments which exist have been put in place by God. Therefore, whoever resists the government opposes what God has established. Those who resist will bring punishment on themselves. (GOD’S WORD® TRANSLATION). The book also describes a corrupt authority from a pulpit that makes Christians think negatively against officials, which is not a Christian job. (Page 64, 73). My conviction based on the Bible scripture above, the Church should reconsider its rules that might cause this controversial issue. The book has a different point of view that I can understand.
Regardless of my personal belief, this book can inspire people to be better Catholic or Christian. Therefore, I give this book 3 out of 4 stars.
Lastly, I recommend this book for religious people to understand better the hard decision made because of a controversy between Government Law and so-called Church Law. I recommend this book for Christian politicians and government officials for them to be able to understand how to avoid corrupt authority.
[Following is a volunteer review of “Always Before Me” by John Servant.]
Caught in a battle between material fame and spiritual satisfaction, a saintly priest chooses spiritual benefits over materialism, much to the anger and disappointment of socially influential people in society. This decision led to his fall.
Always Before Me by John Servant takes you through the journey of a good man, whose choice of his spiritual wellbeing and that of others is manifested in his love for undeserving prisoners. His imitation of his master made him suffer greatly for sins he did not commit. Just like his master, he is bound to have a tragic end. Overall, the story revolves around a Catholic priest who touches people’s lives through his actions and homily. In trying to do what is right and morally gratifying, opposition will be encountered (the raging war between good and evil), especially by dishonest and morally deficient people. It takes patience, goodwill, and prayer to overcome this great tribulation, especially in cases where those being worked on are undeserving. This story describes unconditional love and gives a reflection of the life of Jesus, the Saviour. It shows one man bringing himself to nothing but finding consolation in the life of his master.
The story depicts the show of enduring love by Father Paul, who, even in the face of difficulties, shame, defamation, the media, and the law, remained strongly committed to his vow of secrecy in his vocation. It reflects the display of perfect love by a godly man who, even after betrayal and humiliation, remained steadfast in his belief and saw materialism as vanity. It also teaches us that love, though sincere and perfect, will not always be appreciated and reciprocated, and human guilt, greed, and ego will overshadow human thinking. This is seen in the characters of Ramon and Blood.
The book also shows the need for one to be selfless, especially in a society where its members are egomaniacs and selfish and have unwavering faith in what they believe in, despite the hurdles experienced in our daily lives.
I’m impressed by the author’s description of events and his narrative in the connecting of past events with present happenings. The book contains a lot of religious content, which people who do not believe in God and the Catholic faith might find dissatisfactory.
The positive aspect of this book is its ability to change the psychology of people from ugly to good. I have no negative comments about the book.
Since I found no errors, the book was exceptionally edited. I would, therefore, give it a rating of four out of four stars. The book will be of interest to religious people and those who have lost hope in love. Therefore, I recommend it to them.
[Following is a volunteer review of “Always Before Me” by John Servant.]
Always Before Me by John Servant is a non-fiction Christian Catholic book. That shows the lives of two different noble Catholic priests, the challenges each of them faced, and their various attitudes towards these problems of life. The writer took his time narrating the lives of these men, breaking down everything they went through in their lifetimes.
The first person we saw was Father Paul, a noble and honest priest who was very dedicated to God’s work and his calling. But after Blood’s visit, things in his life took a different turn, and he was condemned to 20 years of imprisonment. There he went through a lot of trials and temptations, but he took it as his suffering as God’s plan for him, looking up to Christ’s suffering as a source of strength and example to carry on his cross. His love for souls and his desire to convert everyone around him to Christ ultimately cost him his life.We also saw Father Anthony, who was accused of sexual assault by one of his students, which resulted in the loss of his job. He later got work in prison as a priest. There he met Father Paul. The life of Father Paul had a great impact on his life. After the death of Father Paul, he tried to continue from where Father Paul had stopped in the prison, but it wasn’t easy for him. So he did the best he could and was able to bring Matt back to Christ before his death.
This book is well written and is not only meant for Catholic Christians alone, despite the usage of Catholic doctrine. Every other Christian can also read it because it teaches us the right attitude to put on in times of trial and suffering. It also teaches complete surrender to God and his will, as well as unwavering faith in God during times of trial and suffering, knowing that he who has called us is capable of delivering us from whatever befalls us. I like how the author, John Servant, supported some of his points with scripture, demonstrating that these are God’s word/promises, taken directly from the Bible. Another thing I like about this book is the fact that it was clearly written from a Christian worldview, adhering to Biblical principles and concisely written with a page count of 83.
Although there were empty pages left at the beginning and end of the book, which really doesn’t mean anything. I can say that there was nothing I disliked about the book, but those who are not Catholics can be put off by its doctrines.
[Following is a volunteer review of “Always Before Me” by John Servant.]
Review of Always Before Me
by NovaFaith_15
Always Before Me by John Servant is about mercy and salvation. The story revolves on how Father Paul and Father Anthony have lived their lives even though they were falsely accused and persecuted by the others because they did not covet in the ways of man but in the ways of God. Father Paul the first victim in the story, was doing his custom in the church when a criminal had confessed what they had done. The crime committed by the person who confessed was murder and the only lead and the key that would solve the crime was Father Paul’s testimony. As he was a servant of God he only did what the though that is right in the eyes of God and so he refused to cooperate with the authorities. As a result he was put to prison. Even though Father Paul was put to prison he still did what he had to do as a servant of God. He held a mass, confession and let other more prisoners know more about God. Little by little some of the prisoners came to listen to his masses and gradually some of them changed for the better. After being in prison he came to be acquainted to Father Anthony who was also falsely accused of sexually harassing one of his students and that resulted to the ending of his career for teaching.
Father Anthony was in need of consolation as he was lost. He talked to Father Paul about his situation and was consoled. Father Anthony grew closer to Father Paul as he saw that Father Paul was a good and just person. As Father Paul was able to change most of the prisoners to become a better person there was someone who didn’t really agree with Father Paul and his teachings called Ramon. His influence as leader would gradually become weaker and he would not be able to make people do violence and his drug dealing would be of no use. He plotted to kill Father Paul and approached Gus who was gradually changing for the better. Ramon tried to keep people under him and tried to do all sorts of ways for people to obey him and not listen to Father Paul’s teachings and ways. In the end he succeeded and killed Father Paul. As Father Anthony was doing his work he couldn’t help Father Paul, and the people who came to attend to Father Paul’s masses didn’t bother saving him because they were afraid of Ramon who was behind the killing of Father Paul. The officers and especially the warden whose wife Father Paul helped cure her sickness didn’t bother to do anything except one officer. He was the only to tend to Father Paul until he died. Gus whom Ramon ordered to kill Father Paul hanged himself after because of the guilt.
Father Anthony who was falsely accused of being a sexually offender by one his students came to visit her as she was suffering from cancer. When he visited her, she saw how she suffered and ask for his forgiveness but Father Anthony had already forgiven her a long time ago. Father Anthony prayed for her and his prayers were answered and she was healed. Then suddenly Father Anthony had gotten a cancer, just like the cancer of the woman who accused him of being a sexual harasser. He Gradually became not able to speak and he died after the surgery a week later. As Father Anthony saw how good a person Father Paul was he was helping a lost person. He was Mathew Ryan. He was devastated when Father Anthony had gotten cancer. As Father Anthony died he thought that there was no one who could continue the works of Father Paul and Father Anthony and so he asked Father Richard who was a friend of both Father Paul and Father Anthony why there was so much evil and God is not doing anything. Father Richard answered by saying “God had sent us”.
Though the novel was short you can really learn a lot of things from it. The ways of man cannot be compared to the ways of God you must not think of it logically because God’s ways exceeds what man thinks and it exceeds it. Though there will a lot of times where you will be tempted to acquire such worldly powers and use whatever means you can to be successful and succeed on acquiring it. This novel is recommended to all people especially Christians. As they would really love the story. I rate this story 4 out 4 as I had a great time reading it and you can really feel the moral of the story.
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Always Before Me
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Review by Wambiz — Always Before Me by John Servant
by Wambiz » 18 Jan 2021, 09:14
[Following is a volunteer review of “Always Before Me” by John Servant.]
In Always Before Me by John Servant, a teacher, Matthew Ryan, was falsely accused of sexual violations of one of his students but without more evidence, he was acquitted but his reputation made him be reduced to a prison chaplain. Father Paul on the other hand had been shown retaliation for not cooperating while he was following his principles. he spent the days in prison holding on to the principles and continued carrying out God’s work as he could. Pastor Richard begins by correcting the nephew to Father Anthony on who his uncle was and how he lived by narrating to him the events of his life. The nephew had been called to receive all inheritance that was left to him to which he had no idea about.
John Servant gives an inspirational story on how differently we are to handle failures even when we feel all hope is lost. That we could all always hold on to our principles hoping for a silver lining at the end.
The conflict between the government and the church has been going on for years and this has been demonstrated by how Father Paul was punished by following the ways of the church while the prosecutor was bitter because he held no faith in the church and religion. Always before me by John Servant raises the questions on how long you can hold on to your religion.
What I liked about this book being a Christian is about how the author brought out how hard it is for not only Priests and church leaders to hold on to their religion in difficult times but also all other Christians as well. I did not find any displeasing factor in this book as I found it very inspirational.
This book has been gracefully edited as I have not encountered any grammatical errors as I perused through it. Due to the writer’s exceptional understanding of the topic, I, therefore, rate this book 4 out 4 stars.
I would greatly recommend this book to Christian believers and especially those that follow the Catholic faith to get inspiration here. I would not recommend the book to non-believers as it would not sit right with them with many the many aspects of religion clearly demonstrated by John Servant.
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Always Before Me
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[Following is a volunteer review of “Always Before Me” by John Servant.]
(The following is an official book onlinebookclub.org review of Always Before Me for Christians by John Servant)
Always before me by John Servant is Christian Catholic book that tells a story about priests who are sentence to prison for being against the law of man
John Daly visits his dead uncle Father Anthony. He does not know much about him. He asks Father Richard to tell him about him. Father Richard tells him that Father Anthony was accused of sexual assault of a young girl he thought. Father Richard tells him that he said he was lonely that he even questioned God. Father Anthony loses his dream of teaching. Matt was his friend who would later confess his sin to Father Anthony. Father Anthony later dies of lung cancer that had spread through his throat. Father Paul is caught up with a confession by a boy called Blood which would totally change his life. Blood confesses to Father Paul and he is later questioned by the police but refuses to comply. He is prosecuted. Blood had killed a cop and his wife. Father Paul would not tell the police what he was told by Blood because of his believes. Father Paul is given a chance to conduct mass in prison. Father Paul does not want to do interviews but wants only to serve God Father Paul dies.
Always before me is a good Christian book. It teaches the Christian to endure life challenges up to the end. It shows great examples of priest who are wrongly judged and they cannot give up hope until their death. It shows that even an innocent man can face big lies and will suffer for it. This is a story that talks about finding life after all has been broken. Always before me depicts that an innocent man can be persecuted just like Jesus Christ but sinners do work scot free. The most important part is forgiveness. Christians are thought to forgive when wronged and it is well illustrated in this book But God does not leave his people behind.
In summary, I did I liked this book. It is easy to understand and copy moral lessons from the characters and because of its easy language, I did not find any error. The story is great for Christians who feel or are undergoing the worldly challenges and temptation. So, I gladly rate Always before me 4 out of 4 star . I recommend the book to every Christian and indeed this book is meant to change their lives.
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Always Before Me
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[Following is a volunteer review of “Always Before Me” by John Servant.]
Always Before Me:(A Story of Mercy and Salvation) was written by John Servant. This book has two important faces: Father Paul and Father Anthony. Father Paul is a holy man sent to prison for his willingness to maintain “the seal of confessional”. He comes across Father Anthony in Prison, who is falsely accused of rape. Matt watches the two holy men devoting their life to God. Matt believes his sins are so huge that they won’t be forgiven. Will he get back his faith?
This book gives us the difference between proving right and being right. Father Paul has given us the walkthrough of his life and about Jesus. Enduring suffering and all the cruelty this world experiences can be seen as a test of our faith in the greater power. This book has a beautiful depiction of what faith has to offer. Any challenges can be overcome by having trust in God.
It has the part where Father Paul wants to have a mass in prison but comes across so many difficulties. The human race is so weird that if they do not find their profit in your things, they won’t agree to it. He suffers a lot but never loses his faith and says his rosary. The author has beautiful explained the details of every phase Father Paul and Father Anthony have had in prison. Before meeting Father Paul, Father Anthony had doubts about the suffering one must endure. But, when Father Paul says the importance and how even Jesus went through similar things gives him enlightenment.
Many of us don’t know about the priesthood. This book gives us knowledge and idea about some things we don’t already know. This book has some verses from the bible. It gives us hope and rebuilds our faith. This book shows you a path if you are lost.
This book is professionally edited. I would rate this book 4 out of 4 stars.There are only a few chapters, and they connect deeply to one’s soul. I would recommend this book to all believers and those in need of rebuilding their faith.
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Always Before Me
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[Following is a volunteer review of “Always Before Me” by John Servant.]
In Always Before Me (A story of Mercy and Salvation) by John Servant, the author tells the story about two people who through various life experiences understand that the path of God is different from the path chosen for himself.
The story is written on the basic teachings of God conveyed through Bible that God sometimes chooses some people for a special task in life and the sufferings faced are to bring them closer to Him as they become more like the crucified Christ. So it was with the characters in the story. So it is with many people of faith, each in his own way.
However, the premise of the story is very similar to the lives of Saints and the struggles faced by them during their lifetime on their path to canonization.
I could not find any negative aspects to this novel and there are a lot of lessons that a Christian can learn from this story. The story depicts the strength obtained by people who pray daily through the Rosary and lived a life of holiness, pureness, kindness and devotion.
It was professionally edited. I rate this story 4 out of 4 stars. I recommend this book to all people around the world, specifically to Christians to help them understand the importance of the Rosary and participation in holy mass.
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Always Before Me
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[Following is a volunteer review of “Always Before Me” by John Servant.]
Always before me by John servant,unveils tools about what to do if your failures are always before you and how to snatch victory and your dreams from unjust tragedy. John servant Learnt the importance of prayer and inspiration, hence he provided this book to help people overcome obstacles and achieve goes. This book is written for Christian leaders and every follower of Christ and for all those that are from unjust tragedy in order to snatch victory.
Consisting of intriguing personal stories, this book is straightforward and comprehensible,it contains simple and effective strategies that will help them to have faith in unjust tragedy. Also it provides practical questions and steps, which make it more relatable. I like the author’s smooth and conversational writing style. Being a lawyer with an apostolic calling, John servant helped people overcome obstacles to achieve goes and also learnt the importance of prayer and inspiration. He also reveals a lot of information that will inspire you. Though written from a Christian point of view,non believers can also benefit from the book since it has some tips that can be useful for everyone,for example the confession of a young man called ‘blood’to killing a police officer and his wife, And also the confession of a young man matt to his sins. It helps you as a sinner to believe and accept Jesus Christ as there Lord and person Saviour.
In a clear way,this book discusses about having faith and believing God in whatever unjust circumstances we face, this book relates to Christian consumerism, belief, mission, feelings, writing, mind training, fear, worry, distractions, change, addressing bad habits, behavior change and so forth.
This book discusses about a man who feared God and kept his faith despite what he went through, and it also mentiones and encourages those that are still living the life of sin, to turn to God and confess their sins. The author mentions that though your sins are red as Scarlet, they will be white as snow. He is convincing those that think of their sins to be greater that they will not be forgiven but encourages them to turn to God because God forgives all sins. This guidebook comprises of many scripture verses,if you are a reader who don’t like books written in Christian perspective,i advise you to steer clear of this one.
John servant advises readers to follow the life of Jesus Christ and practically live in it. for example encourages them to choose silence over everything, this is observed through the life of father Paul and also to learn and understand the power of prayer whenever you face difficult situation. Therefore, it’s his dream that this book will play a role in sparkling those that are faced with failures and want to snatch victory and dream from unjust tragedy.
Therefore, i rate Always Before Me by John Servant 4 out of 4 Stars. it’s well written and it has interesting strategies that will help you overcome failures to snatch victory and dreams from unjust tragedy. It was well edited. I therefore recommend it to every Christian, Christian leaders, young people and everyone who would want to overcome obstacles in life
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Always Before Me
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[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of “The Arrow That Flies By Day” by John Servant.]
John Thaddeus, a football lover, breaks his leg in his freshman year and is told by the doctors that playing football would be impossible. But with the help of his father and Sister Francis (an old nun who is John’s high school principal), John strengthens the muscles of his legs through constant exercises. Then tragedy strikes at the beginning of his senior year – his father dies of a heart attack leaving John devastated. As a result of his father’s demise, John cannot pay his school fees. Sister Francis offers to pay his fees from her meager resources so John can remain in school.
Overwhelmed by the loss of his father and the financial constraints, John becomes angry and engages in fights at school. His mother and Sister Francis soon enlist him in the Marine, where he finds purpose and discipline. He is sent to Afghanistan; this experience builds his character and faith in God. While in Afghanistan, he loses his mother to cancer. Later, John suffers an injury and is discharged from service. Upon his return, he attempts to join the NFL to pursue his dreams of becoming a professional footballer. Will John achieve his dreams despite his wounds? Will he make the much-desired impact in the face of adversity?
John Servant’s The Arrow That Flies By Day is an inspirational contemporary Christian novel with themes of unwavering faith in God, resilience, unconditional love, determination, tragedy, and victory. This novel is short and only contains five chapters; each chapter has a title that gives the reader an inkling of what to expect. The author narrates his story using the third-person narrative point of view.
Although the story was written in a straightforward manner, I wasn’t prepared for what happened in the fifth chapter. It was unexpected and unbelievable that I hoped for a twist to undo the incident. I like that this story is impactful, thought-provoking, and instructional. This book reminds me that life is transient; it emphasizes the need to live intentionally and make hay while the sun shines. It also encourages me to depend on God and pursue my goals with determination and focus no matter the challenges, just like John.
The only issue I had with this book is the use of American football terminologies. I am not familiar with the rules of the game and the terms used, so I couldn’t quite comprehend some parts of the book, especially chapter three. Nevertheless, I was still able to grasp the narrative.
This novel was professionally edited as I only found two errors in it. I would recommend The Arrow That Flies By Day by John Servant to lovers of Christian literature, especially those of the Catholic faith. This is because it contains biblical verses, and ample references were made to the ‘Mother of God’ and doctrines of the Catholic faith (such as the mysteries of the rosary). I also believe lovers of American football will enjoy this book. The issue mentioned above did not detract from my enjoyment of this book. Therefore, I rate it 4 out of 4 stars.
[Following is a volunteer review of “The Arrow That Flies By Day” by John Servant.]
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The Arrow that Flies by Day is an inspiring fictional novel written by John Servant. The book tells the story of an ex-marine, John Thaddeus, who is determined to achieve his dream of playing in the National Football League (NFL), despite all the obstacles life had thrown at him.
John Thaddeus had always been passionate about football, even as a child. His father played a huge part in his football ambition. His father trained him to be a kicker, supported him, and helped him get back on his feet after he had sustained a serious injury that could’ve stopped him from playing entirely. The death of his father was a major tragedy for John. The grief and pain he experienced soon turned into rebellion and rage. He constantly got into fights at school. As a result, his mom was forced to enlist him in the marines. During his time in the marines, John built his spirituality, confidence, and courage. Upon his discharge, John decided to take a bold step towards achieving his football dreams. He tried out for the Raptors football team, despite his lack of professional experience. What would be the outcome of this daring step?
This is a very impactful book. I liked that the themes of determination, resilience, and faith in God, amongst others, were expressed in the story. The protagonist, John, was an embodiment of these qualities. For instance, at the start of the novel, John showed great determination by walking a long distance, in an attempt to attend the Raptors’ practice. I also liked that a bit of romance was incorporated into the story. I always had butterflies in my stomach while reading conversations between John and Susan. The author, John Servant, is certainly a skilled writer. He showed immense skill in character development. A character that particularly stood out to me was Sister Frances, a nun and principal in John Thaddeus’ high school. Her kindness and selflessness are worthy of emulation. She supported John through the tough times and helped him grow in faith. We need more people like sister Frances in the world today. I also appreciated the length of the book. The author was able to deliver a great story in just 74 pages.
I give this book an overall rating of 4 out of 4 stars. There was nothing I disliked about it. The plot was interesting. Despite being very inspirational, it was somewhat a tearjerker. The diction used was simple, and it was definitely professionally edited.
I recommend this book to Christians and lovers of Christian literature. I believe it would also appeal to enthusiasts of football as it is packed with football-related terms. I would also recommend this novel to anyone interested in building their faith and finding their purpose in life.
[Following is a volunteer review of “The Arrow That Flies By Day” by John Servant.]
The Arrow that flies by day by John Servant is an inspirational Christian fiction centered on hope, faith, prayer, and mercy. The novel is about a man named John Thaddeus whose parents died and was taken in by Sister Francis, who takes the responsibility of being her guardian. Sister Francis is a catholic nun and a teacher who dedicates her life to the church and helping young people. John is a football player who dreams of making history in the NFL. The story begins with John trying to join the football team at college and convincing the head coach to let him play in the team; despite not having prior experience, he proves himself in the eyes of the coach and gets accepted to play in the team. Despite criticisms from teammates about his background and capability to play well, he proves to them that he has the skill.
Without any hesitations, John Thaddeus follows his calling with a lot of ambition and becomes not just a successful NFL player but also a good friend and neighbor. Sister Francis was always good to John and lacked a solution to his problems. Servant uses her character to tell us the importance of God in our lives. Servant clearly shows that we can achieve even the most impossible things with God and determination.
A positive aspect of the book is how short and exciting it is. The language used is simple and easy to understand. I love how the author described the characters in detail, making the book more fascinating. Servant brings out the importance of prayers in our lives, which positively influences my faith. I also loved the use of dialogue in the book, which made it livelier. The choice of words and vocabulary in the book is impressive. I loved how great themes of love, loyalty, ambition, perseverance, faith, persistence, and authenticity.
I dislike nothing about the book; it was well written and edited. I did not find any typos or grammar errors.
I am glad to rate this book 4 out of 4 stars, as it a fascinating and enthralling; it also has a lot of life lessons and insights,
I would recommend this book to Christian readers who want to grow their faith in God; the book would also be an excellent read to people who are hopeless and discouraged. The Arrow that flies by day is one great book that will not disappoint the reader.
[Following is a volunteer review of “The Arrow That Flies By Day” by John Servant.]
It’s Simply Amazing!!! Against all odds and defects, this Young Warrior who strives to pursue is purpose and dream to play football. The arrow that flies by day by John Servant is a Christian literary fiction novel that tells of a young man named John Thaddeus. A marine who is physically affected by an accident that seems to have a drastic effect on his legs and choose to pursue his dream to play football. Shortly after retirement, when encouraged by his caretaker (now being an orphan and alone) and his mentor, an old nun named Sister Francis. Who tells him that with could God, he could accomplish all task, no matter how impossible it may seem. John after taking up the sister’s advice decides to try out and pursue his dreams with his own fierce determination not to give in to whatever disadvantages around him. But is faced with many obstacles right from the very start. Will he and forget his dreams? Will determination be enough to carry him through?
First off, I was attracted to this book by the title the arrow that flies by day. Gotten from the Bible,“You shall not fear the terror of the night nor the arrow that flies by day… Though a thousand fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, near you, it shall not come… For he commands his angels regarding you, to guard you wherever you go (Psalm 91: 5,7,11 NABRE).” Apparently, Sister Francis usually sends this to John during his troubling times as he served in Afghanistan. The title really makes you wonder what kind of book this would turn out to be. I couldn’t help but just check it out. And I’m glad I wasn’t disappointed.
I really like the character John in the novel, he seemed so alive and real. So filled with faith, courage, and determination regardless of the situations. A Christian at heart with faith in God and publicly display his faith with fear or shame. I really love this about him, acknowledging God, making it clear to everyone around him. I mean, this is a society where God has been separated from many activities where God should be only a church affair and not to be displayed in public gatherings or activities. So, John display of faith is somewhat inspiring. Then his nature, just calm, quiet, humble and kind and focused on the task at hand.
Then Sister Francis, I think she’s outstanding, fill with so much faith in God and devoted to helping as much as she can in any and every way she can. Her personality is just so energetic and positive. She really helped John in becoming what he is (which is spectacular by the way) and she particularly raised him in the fear of God and love for people. She also helped some minor characters in the novel, like Phil Junior, a young boy whose future would have been messed up if he continued with his path. Then I find the relationship between John and Susan to be romantic and cute, who becomes another pillar of support apart from Sister. The book is just great.
Although I don’t like how things ended up between John and Harvey Brown (his rival) or even for John, it just kind of made me sad. Other than that, I consider it to be a fantastic book.
Hence, a 4 out of 4 it’s perfect, easy to comprend and very interesting. I recommend this book for everyone. But special for those who enjoys football (or gridiron). Then for Christians too. It reminded me of a movie I watched “Facing Giants” so if you’re a fan you might probably find this book to be fascinating.
[Following is a volunteer review of “The Arrow That Flies By Day” by John Servant.]
The Arrow That Flies By Day is a Christian fiction written by John Servant. The book is about a young man named John Thaddeus who was in the Marine and one day decided that he wanted to be a NFL kicker. Although he did not play in college, he was optimistic about becoming the best kicker. The story tells the journey of John and all the suffering that he endured but never gave up. John had hope and faith and in the end encouraged those around him to have hope and faith as well.
The Arrow That Flies By Day encourages you to have faith and believe in the Higher Power because without Him nothing is possible. Furthermore the book uplifts you to become a better person and to always achieve your goals regardless of the hardships that you will face in life.
There are no errors in the book and no foul language nor sexual content is seen in the book. Servant wrote a book that can be easily read as I did not encounter any difficulties reading the book.
I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars because after reading this book, it encouraged me to become a better person and go after my dreams. It is a book that will make you appreciate life, be good to others and live in the moment as we do not know when we will depart from this world.
I reccomend this book for Christians who are struggling to find their purpose and are going through difficult situations. They must increase their faith and ask for guidance and protection as John did in The Arrow That Flies By Day. Although this book is Christian fiction, I believe anyone can read it and learn something from it.
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of “The Arrow That Flies By Day” by John Servant.]
In The Arrow That Flies by Day, John Servant told the story of John Thaddeus, a young man who was a firm believer in God but never had life easy. His travails started with an injury to his legs which his father, through several rigorous exercises, helped him recover from. John later lost his father, and his mother also died from cancer. He had to live in Paterson with a nun named Sister Francis, a cancer survivor who was his high school principal and has dedicated her life to caring for people, especially children. Sister Francis was the only family John had, and she made sure to teach him her ways and deepen his faith in God.
After leaving the Marines owing to a severe injury he sustained, John, who had zero experience playing for any college football team, wandered to New Jersey Raptors, a football team that takes only students who have played for college teams, with nothing but a strong belief that he could convince the coaches to give him a try. He was tried out, and he impressed the coaches. The leg exercises his father gave him, and his experiences from being a marine came in handy. How will John fare with the team, and how will his life change from then on? Find out from John Servant’s The Arrow That Flies by Day.
The most exciting part of this story is the unanticipated twists in the storyline and turn of events. John servant is such an ingenious storyteller that you’ll never see the twists coming. The element of surprise in this story made it very impressive, and also, the infusion of flashbacks made for a wholesome read. You could see the dots connect once the author plays back events leading up to the present. The author did an excellent job at explaining American football to a reader that’s not familiar with the sports. It wasn’t difficult to grasp how the sports work, the role each player has and how points are scored in the game. Sister Francis’ exemplifies the love of God, and I took a lot of lessons from her. Love is the greatest gift given to man by God, and it remains the greatest gift a person can give to another. Sister Francis dedicated her life to loving and caring for people, and that motivated me to live a life of love. John’s romantic connection with Susan, albeit brief, was beautiful to read about. I love that she never saw his vulnerability as weakness.
I didn’t find anything to dislike about this book. The conciseness of the story made it an even better read. I can’t fault the author in any way. He delivered a very touching story in the best way possible. He articulated John’s experiences in such a manner that the reader could feel every bit of his emotions. This story was real to life, no doubt.
Even though I found a few errors in the book, I still rate it four out of four stars. The editor did a great job as it was professionally edited. I see no reason the remove any star from this book.
Lovers of American football will most definitely enjoy John Servant’s The Arrow That Flies by Day. Also, lovers of stories with strong themes of love for humanity and living according to the dictates of God will enjoy this story.
[Following is a volunteer review of “The Arrow That Flies By Day” by John Servant.]
The Arrow That Flies By Day by John Servant tells the story of John Thaddeus,an ex marine who wanted to join pro football training as a kicker.
John was determined and hopeful that he would make the team.The coaches doubted him since he did not attend college which was a requirement for NFL players,but were amazed by his skill and allowed him to stay for practice.His main figure was Sister Francis who took care of him after his parents died and also nurtured his spiritual growth .He met a lot of people at the training including Harvey who hated him for his elegant kicking.He was also a selfless person who helped Phil a fellow footballer, whose son was a drug addict and Frank, a homeless ex marine .John was a staunt believer who prayed rosary at the sidelines during game time.His skill helped the team win the game at last.
The story was awesome.It lacked ambiguity that deters one from understanding,as the language used was simple and clear.I especially liked the use of football terms such as drills and calisthenics that were used throughout the story,showing that it was thoroughly researched.The author gave detailed information regarding each character as well as the events that took place ,giving the reader a vivid picture .The chapters were arranged according to the events that took place in the story giving it a good flow.
Honestly I did not find any negativity in the story.I understood it quite well .The language used was simple and clear as I stated earlier .I enjoyed reading the book.
I gave the story a four out of four because of its clarity,simple language and good flow.I liked the story and the little errors I found cannot make me lower the rating.
I recommend it to motivational speakers who usually draw inspiration for their talks and shows from books.It is also a good book for those who love contemporary christian fiction.
[Following is a volunteer review of “The Arrow That Flies By Day” by John Servant.]
Marine John overcame several difficulties in his life at a very young age, beginning with a very bad accident. He didn’t give up though, and he remained confident in God as he overcame every obstacle that came his way. The only family he has is an elderly nun who helped him when no one else would.
When he joins a football team, his life is turned around. But no particular colleague applauded his achievement.
As he keeps playing, John’s life becomes more difficult, but he lacks the skills to give up. The fact that he is dismissed from the team due to his inexperience causes him to experience his first letdown. Then, by chance, he meets a girl, and they develop a romantic relationship.
His romance and the new path he choose are fading away, because of a hard choice he has to make.
This story is very touching and inspiring, especially for people who can relate to the story. I give a four out of four stars to the book because it is well edited and the story is impressive.
[Following is a volunteer review of “The Arrow That Flies By Day” by John Servant.]
Did you ever believe God to perform the impossible?Have you ever come face to face with adversaries who would tempt you to lose hope in the promise of God?The-Arrow-That-Flies-By-Day by John Servant is a Christian fiction novel about John Thaddeus who is destitute after serving as a Marine having no resuremay to support his ambition of being an NFL player but his faith in God.He desides to enlist as a place kicker for the Raptors. Is he the place kicker the Raptors have been looking for or does he get overlooked for a more worthy opponent? Read The-Arrow-That-Flies-By-Day to find out!
John Thaddeus always had a passion for football but having a disability as a youth was not able to play for any team. Sister Francis his Christian teacher who irrevocably believes in love has compassion towards him because of his misfortune and does everything in her power to inspire him to trust God and never lose sight of his goodness towards him.
I love the way John Servant structured each paragraph in this book, I clearly understood the message in which he was conveying to his readers, he does an excellent job of creating visiual imagery at his choice of diction, I was intrigued at how simple yet in detail he narrates each football match of the NFL Raptors.There is a saying the author narrates: “How often will people follow thier leader, whether or not it makes sense!”.This is quite true, I have seen people abused and mislead by people in power yet continue to believe in thier oppressors.
There are many moral lessons a person can learn from this book,firstly, I learnt never to complain when bad things happen in life because there is always a person who is worse off than me, John Thaddeus having lost both his parents also having a disability possessed the fortitude to believe God despite his negative circumstances.Secondly, I learnt that there people that are willing to help us, people which we need to support us in making our dreams become a reality.However, there are also cruel,cynical people who desire the worse for us and would do everything in thier power to try cause us to give up on our dreams.
Though being difficult to locate, I did find one negative aspect of the story, the belief that Sister Fancis and John Thaddeus had in believing that the rosary had the power to protect them and grant them life. I personally believe that a person recieves life and divine protection through faith in Jesus Christ.
Dispite this minor flaw which I previously stated, I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. I could not find a basis to deduct a star,there were no spelling,typographic or punctuation errors in this book, it was professionally edited.
I recommend this book to Christians,lovers of football and any person who has a desire to persue a career is sports.
[Following is a volunteer review of “The Arrow That Flies By Day” by John Servant.]
“Sir…if I am willing to take chances, then I will have chances.”-was the strong belief of John, when the coach of the pro football team told him he had no chance with all the setbacks he presented himself with. He was a war veteran and to try out for the team was the last thing expected of him. But he was relentless and seeing his determination, the coach allowed him to try out for the team.
John, the protagonist of the novel, An arrow that flies by day, is not the quintessential hero, that we find in most of the novels. John is a believer and he leaves everything in the hands of the Lord along with making the maximum efforts he is capable of.
He had lost his father at a young age and both he and his mother were left to fend for themselves in the tough world. Eventually his mother too left the world leaving him in the care of Sister who was by his side as a reliable guardian through all his ups and downs. In the guidance of Sister he had learnt never to give up and always to have faith in the Lord. And thus despite being in an accident that barred him from playing his favorite game to not being able to attend college, John never gave up on his dream of being a pro footballer.
The narrative opens softly and gradually it glides smoothly over the life, the past, the incidents that built up to the present scenario, the resolve of the protagonist of not giving up on his dreams and aspirations along with the presence of the light hearted loving Sister, who was a tender but strong pillar for the protagonist to lean on.
Sliding over the basic introduction the readers will find themselves on the field, running along with the players, worrying along with them and praying along with John for his team. The picturesque description of the football game had me hooked to the pages and along with the players and John, I also found myself being immersed in the happenings.
Amidst all the hurdles and troubles and flying arrows in John’s life, a budding romance bloomed innocently and it was pretty sweet to read their romance.
Stealthily captivating the attention through team work, coaches, captains and the forever evolving relationships of the characters, the author does not give the reader a chance to check how many pages got turned until it reaches the climax and the reader is left groping for the foothold unable to accept the sudden change of events. With each line and each word, along with Sister and Susan and the coach and the team players, I too found it hard to accept the fact that was laid bare in front of us by the author.
It is not only a narrative about John alone but about the John-Sister duo who reached out to anyone in need whether it was a wayward teenager or a war veteran suffering from PTSD–they helped anyone and everyone. John’s dependency on Sister is so infectious and her presence has been so reassuring that in the middle of the narrative whenever any trouble came up, I found myself asking, where is Sister?
The novel has pairs of opposites–the toughest guy who loves to rule, meeting another tough guy who is just focused on doing good and being good or the bully meeting the bullied.
I would recommend the book to anyone and would rate the book 4 out of 4. But I might ask the ones who are looking for a thrilling adventure to not expect too much from the novel. This book does not hold the reader with an enthralling grip but it has a soft mellow hold onto the mind that makes one calmly read through the story and get up only after turning the last page. Despite everything and apart from the big blow that comes in the end, I enjoyed reading the novel. I loved the narrative and it has actually worked as a consolation in my hard times. It is uplifting and even though it is a Christian story with the overtone of religion and faith, it is a good read for everyone.
The message is clear, never give up on your dreams, work hard and keep moving forward with grit and clear ambition. There is someone watching over all of us from above and that Superpower will give us the chances we need and open up the path we need to tread. All we need to do is work hard and be kind. John and Sister has always been kind; though Sister is tough like a drill-master, the sweet tough old lady has became more of my favorite than the protagonist.
With his experiences and knowledge, John Servant presented the readers with a book that shows us the journey of a normal boy growing up with failures and heart breaks to a strong man with an unrelenting faith.
[Following is a volunteer review of “The Arrow That Flies By Day” by John Servant.]
“The Arrow That Flies By Day” is a fiction by John Servant.The book is about a boy named John Thaddeus who was in the marine and one day he decides that he want to be a NFL Kicker. Although he has never played at college,but optimistic about becoming the best kicker. The story puts a ray on the journey of John and all the sufferings, from which he never gave up.
“The Arrow That Flies By Day” encourages to have faith and let go ego. Further more the book uplifts you to become better person and learn to conquer things.
There are no error in the book and no disturbing languages seen in the book. Easy to understand.
I rate this 3/4 . It is a book that will make you appreciate life. I recommend this book to everyone,if you are going through difficulties this may increase your faith.
[Following is a volunteer review of “The Arrow That Flies By Day” by John Servant.]
The Arrow That Flies By Day is a Christian fiction written by John Servant. The book is about a young man named John Thaddeus who was in the Marine and one day decided that he wanted to be a NFL kicker. Although he did not play in college, he was optimistic about becoming the best kicker. The story tells the journey of John and all the suffering that he endured but never gave up. John had hope and faith and in the end encouraged those around him to have hope and faith as well.
The Arrow That Flies By Day encourages you to have faith and believe in the Higher Power because without Him nothing is possible. Furthermore the book uplifts you to become a better person and to always achieve your goals regardless of the hardships that you will face in life.
There are no errors in the book and no foul language nor sexual content is seen in the book. Servant wrote a book that can be easily read as I did not encounter any difficulties reading the book.
I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars because after reading this book, it encouraged me to become a better person and go after my dreams. It is a book that will make you appreciate life, be good to others and live in the moment as we do not know when we will depart from this world.
I reccomend this book for Christians who are struggling to find their purpose and are going through difficult situations. They must increase their faith and ask for guidance and protection as John did in The Arrow That Flies By Day. Although this book is Christian fiction, I believe anyone can read it and learn something from it.
[Following is a volunteer review of “The Arrow That Flies By Day” by John Servant.]
It tells the story of John Thaddeus, an ex-marine and devoted catholic. He is aiming to join a football team. Despite his mediocre background, through perseverance, he attains his goal. Sister Francis serves as his inspiration and supported him since he was becoming an orphan at a young age. His faith and being a marine help him to win against all odds that hamper his way. He met new friends that become part of his new life.
One thing that I love in the story is the twist. It makes the story stand out. At first, it was like a slow-moving story but it’s help to create a lasting impact of the twist on the reader’s mind. It makes the ordinary scenes seem so special. I also admire how it deals with being catholic of the characters. It never enforces any dogma of Catholicism. But it talks about faith beyond routine or tradition. Catholicism is a huge part of the story, but it doesn’t create any friction with the readers. I am not catholic. It is more than that, it is a journey toward redemption. I believe every one of us can easily be connected. Nor do I understand playing football. In how the scenes are described you can easily understand, how the emotions of the characters are drawn toward it.
I am having trouble with long sentences.Even do it doesn’t have any grammatical and typographical errors. I find it hard grasping the idea of the sentences.May I suggest make conversational.It makes the reading smooth sailing. I also suggest make more room for John’s character and his faith. In how it influence the lives the people around him.Not through his words but his action.It give more emphasize on how John played football. As for reader who doesn’t have any idea , how football played. It make them lost interest in reading it. The story had a great lesson that I wanted to emphasize. It should be about getting second chance backed by faith. The story should be more focus on his journey toward redemption.
I will give it , three out of four. The story easy to understand. There is no grammatical and typographical errors. It can be read without any making personal biases toward any specific faith. It held no discrimination toward others faith. It never force any catholic dogma. It just part of the story but it is not the story all about.It talks about redemption as human journey. The beauty of faith or having one. But it never criticize others beliefs.It we read deeper, the wisdom of the story will not disappoint. If we read it again, it makes the theme more clearer and lasting upon our mind.
I would like to recommend it, especially to the young adult. Young adult who had an issues with their present situation. Nor had any idea of what they want in their life. John story serves as an inspiration. An eye opener for them, to believe or maybe have faith. In their selves and people around them, who believe in them. Everything is possible for a man who had faith and perseverance like John. It also makes them realized what really important in this called life. I am looking forward to read more from the same author.
[Following is a volunteer review of “The Arrow That Flies By Day” by John Servant.]
This is a very good book. It is a perfect quick read to get inspired and to know that you can do anything. I liked how it took a boy, who nobody knew and people gave him the chance. He endured and worked passed adversity to continue playing his dream. No matter what obstacles got in his way, he would turn to his prayer for help and believed that he could do what he needed to strive and live. I was very sad at the ending but I understand it and it gave the chance for his beliefs and story to inspire his team, his relationship and his circle of people to use his story to make their lives better. I would recommend this book for anyone who needs a moment to reflect and work past adversity and hardship. This is truly a worth while read and one that needs to be spread around. I would give this book and 4 out of 4.
[Following is a volunteer review of “The Arrow That Flies By Day” by John Servant.]
This is a very good book. It is a perfect quick read to get inspired and to know that you can do anything. I liked how it took a boy, who nobody knew and people gave him the chance. He endured and worked passed adversity to continue playing his dream. No matter what obstacles got in his way, he would turn to his prayer for help and believed that he could do what he needed to strive and live. I was very sad at the ending but I understand it and it gave the chance for his beliefs and story to inspire his team, his relationship and his circle of people to use his story to make their lives better. I would recommend this book for anyone who needs a moment to reflect and work past adversity and hardship. This is truly a worth while read and one that needs to be spread around. I would give this book and 4 out of 4.
[Following is a volunteer review of “The Arrow That Flies By Day” by John Servant.]
The arrow that flies by the day by John Servant is a Christian romantic book about patience, focus, hope, faith, courage, positive attitude and power of prayer. The book tells a story about a man who leaves the marine after being wounded and is trying to overcome obstacles in his path and find a purpose and belonging through professional football as well as nurse his emotional and spiritual wounds.
The positive aspects about the book is that it portrays hope, strength, love, purpose, faith and the power prayer to overcome obstacles. For example; One of the main characters in the book; John Thaddeus leaves the marines after being wounded and does not give up trying to find his purpose, he believes in himself thus passing the trials despite lacking the required proper background.
The negative aspect about the book is bullying by one of the characters known as Harvey which could be triggering to some of the readers with trauma from bullying.
I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars because it was exceptionally well edited.
The arrow that flies by the day would appeal to all persons as it vividly shows the fruits of patience, courage, focus, faith, strength, hope and love which I believe everyone needs to win at the ultimate game of life.
[Following is a volunteer review of “The Arrow That Flies By Day” by John Servant.]
The book, The Arrow That Flies By Day was authored by John Servant. It brings out greater insights about the importance of obedience and respect for people, towards unlocking the hidden benefits of diversity, inclusiveness, humility and equity. It reflects the unlimited direct and indirect rewards that one gets as a result of helping others. The book provides a wider platform of how belief is very useful in order to see obstacles, adapt to challenging situations, and enjoy the opportunities that always seem to be overshadowed by problems faced in real life.
The book titled, The Arrow That Flies By Day is a reflection of how risk taking and belief can lead to enormous rewards. It underlines the value of people regardless of one’s background. These aspects are evidenced in the fact that John Thaddeus who had nothing and had lost the meaning of life, was helped by other people, including coaches and Sister Francis to find his purpose and gain fame. It is equally vital to recognize how John Thaddeus used his fame to continue helping others, while staying very humble.
This book gives a broad understanding about the importance of learning from others. This is a life value that John Thaddeus gains as indicated in the first paragraph on page 30. In addition, the book unveils a key attribute, which is humility. In this case, the book unpacks humility as a sense of talking to others, understanding them and helping them in terms of food, shelter, clothes, and income. This is evident in the last paragraph and the first paragraph of page 36 and page 37 respectively.
The book is a great inspiration and a mirror of the unlimited opportunities which arise from risk taking. Part of the evidence of this is noticed when the Raptor’s Assistant Coach, Eugine Eckley, accepts John Thaddeus’ request to joint the team. Eventually, the team makes incredible wins and reputation. However, more answers can be explored as to whether the coaches provided enough awareness in terms of team work between senior players and new players, including the relationship between Harvey Johnson and John Thaddeus.
I rate the book, The Arrow That Flies By Day, 3 out of 4 stars. This rating is attributed to the careful and professional approach which was involved in ensuring that the book is highly edited.
This book appeals to footballers, believers, sports teams, motivational speakers, restaurants, sports journalists, leaders, soldiers, college and high school students, youths, Nuns, marines, caretakers, guardians, head teachers, girls and women involved in sports, runners, athletes, doctors, magazine organisations and stakeholders, nutritional entrepreneurs, drill instructors, players, coaching and non-coaching staff, fans, sponsors, convenience stores, accountants, construction companies, health workers and health institutions, television commentators, writers, media, automobile stakeholders, and people serving as next-of-kin for others.
Following is a volunteer review of “Always Before Me” by John Servant.]
4 out of 4 is how i rate the book always before me by John Servant. A very interesting book that i can read and re read. The story’s major conflict is obedience to Gods will versus obedience to men and their laws. The main character is Father Paul. He is a faithful priest who have chosen to hold fast the church Doctrines and break none. We also see his close friends namely: Father Anthony, Father Fr Richard and Matt who helps in the story development.
Father Paul has chosen to abide by the church doctrines to the letter. The theme of suffering both to the good and the bad is also coming out. The major difference between these two groups being the perception and the attitude towards suffering and the ability propelling ones purpose despite the present situation. The book also portrays the theme of obedience, patience and sacrificial love as portrayed by the main character Father Paul.
The story is inspirational and left me uplifted especially in how I perceive suffering. Suffering and pain is an area so misunderstood by all people, Christians and non-Christians alike. We all have an inadequate view of suffering but Fr Paul is giving a completely new perspective. He however, cautions that suffering can either strengthen ones faith or drive it out of him completely. The characters are well defined and in a good number. I would have loved to see more dialogue in the story.
I would recommend everyone to read this story and appreciate the fact as pointed out in the book that sufferings makes us recognize how inadequate we are by ourselves from the spiritual and social point of view. One will also understand that many a time’s help is not where we always we expect to find it
[Following is a volunteer review of “Always Before Me” by John Servant.]
I really enjoyed my time reading ALWAYS BEFORE ME. It taught me and inspired me a lot about not giving up faith and hope on what you truly believe in. You shall not let yourself be tempted to evil stay true no matter how hard the Devil strikes. All men experience their own passion and sometimes your can lead you to the darkness. Kneel down, open your mind and pray to God. Ask for wisdom and strength. God will never forsake us so it is important to learn patience and never lose faith. Stay humble and stay ready to listen and help others as we are all children of God. The judgement shall not be made by man on earth the one above us is the FATHER and THE CREATOR The story taught me that it is never healthy to hold on to the past, we should be eager to focus on what before us. Love your neighbour as you love yourself. Help is not always where we expect to find it, so do right and the right shall be done unto you. We do not know what the future holds for us, so it is only fair that we treat others as how we ought to be treated to see the light. Through my connection with the book, I would say this is the best publish ever made. My ratings for a job done by John Servant on the scale 3 out of 4. I would recommend it to everyone as reading this story would touch and change the darkness in a person. I should know because it saved me. Forgiveness is a weapon to use conquer evil and deliver light and righteousness to all mankind.
[Following is a volunteer review of “Always Before Me” by John Servant.]
‘ Always Before Me ‘ a story of faith , redemption and resilience . This story introduced us to ‘Father Paul and Father Anthony’. Both men’s of faith , we are also introduced to ‘Matt’ who knew the two and appreciated their way of living life and wanted to honour it and make it his own . Matt was accused falsely through which he feels connected to both the priests who themselves were convicted for wrong accusations . Father Anthony and Father Paul both were arested when they decided to act upon the words of Christ instead of the worldly way of handling things . Father Richard is seen narating the life of these two men to ‘ John Daly ‘ nephew of father Anthony who came only to possess the treasure father Anthony left for him .
The priests believe their sufferings was as similar to the suffering of Christ himself and that they are being tested by God who wants them for greater purpose . Matt has seen their struggles and their approach to their problems and he felt related to both of them and wanted to continue the work of spreading the will of Christ .
The words of Christ and the purpose of one’s life is much more bigger than anyone’s imagination . This is precisely what I like about this book . It is short but fast-paced book. Which gives you enough ideas on moving one with one’s suffering and being a hero out of it and while they are headed to their salvation you can help others too . One should trust the will of God and believe that if he puts you through a situation it is only to strengthen you by it . The above mentioned things are based on the story and suffering of the priests .
This book taught me that everyone can be forgiven if they admit their mistakes and can be free of their guilt . God is willing to forgive us .This book approaches me beyond inspirational levels . This is a perfect book filled with goodness . I did not dislike anything about this book .
I give this book a rating of ‘4 Out of 4 stars ‘ . Easy language is used by the writer , so anyone can read it . Bigger concepts are simplified by stories of people and their approach towards it which by the way is backed with the scriptures .I really enjoyed reading this book .
I recommend this book to anyone who wants to have some inspiration and insight of a selfless and humble life . Also to those who are being tested by God and want to be guided . This book insures ample amount of examples as well on that subject . Summing up this book can also be read by people who wants to level up their generosity towards other .
While reading I have not came across any grammatical errors .
dulcita schatanoff