Monday, April 15, 2019

Spotlight Author, Sylvia Bambola, Pens First Non-Fiction, Following the Blood Trail from Genesis to Revelation!


Sylvia Bambola was born in Romania but lived her early years in Germany, a Germany still reeling from the devastation of World War II. At age seven she relocated with her adopted military family and saw the Statue of Liberty and America for the first time. But the memory of those years in Germany lingered and was the inspiration behind her novel, Refiner’s Fire, which won a Silver Angel Award, and was a Christy Finalist.
Life as an “army brat” gave her the opportunity to live in several states, including Hawaii. Then came nursing school in New York after which she married and began a family. Raising two children and being the wife of a business executive made for a busy life. So did working in marketing for a telecommunications company, then a medical software company.
Her first novel, A Vessel of Honor, written under the pen name of Margaret Miller, garnered a Small Press Editor’s Choice Award and was seriously considered for production as a television movie.
Bambola is the author of six published novels, lives in sunny Florida and has two grown children. She’s been a guest speaker at Women’s Aglow and various church functions, is a Bible study teacher at her church, and is learning to play the guitar.

Following the Blood Trail From
 Genesis to Revelation:
Why Jesus Had to Die and What it Means for Us

By Sylvia Bambola



We are all living in a timeline, 

a timeline set by God, Himself, 

and one that will last
 only until His full plan is accomplished; 
the plan to reconcile both heaven and earth
 back to his perfect order;
 the plan to uphold His holy name and character.

And it involves blood.


The first nonfiction book by author Sylvia Bambola is more than I could have hoped for. The title obviously gives what will be reviewed. It implies a full scriptural analysis of how Christ came to die on the cross for all of us.

The key difference for me was that, I felt that it was Jesus who had brought salvation to us. That if we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, we would be saved.  As I finished the book and write these words, a scripture came to me:

1 Corinthians 13:11...11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.


It wasn't that the book presents new information--rather, what Bambola has done is present the "entire story." As a child I had accepted Jesus...Now I was being led, through Sylvia Bambola's book, to consider and learn God's Full Plan! Wow!  Again, nothing new, except that God had surely inspired the author to tell us the whole story, not just parts that we have heard preached for many years, or not just Sunday School lessons that we studied at various times.

Or, perhaps, for me, it is just that Sylvia Bambola's book was published at a time when there is much chaos and divisiveness--that people are looking differently toward those who we once called neighbors, friends, family.... and are being incited to do so...

Many are now saying what is happening today is part of a plan...and they are working diligently, perhaps without seeking God's  guidance, to ensure that it moves forward...  My first experience with The Late Great Planet Earth by Hal Lindsey years ago when we were to expect the Second Coming, which never happened, of course, had led me to believe God was the maker of the schedule, not man.  

And I needed to have confirmed that God does indeed have a plan and a timeline for what will happen... But not necessarily that told by some people.

Bambola starts by an overview of the beginning...through Biblical reference and through analysis for context. Although the beginning is provided in Genesis, further reference reveals, as some may have already known, that earth had been populated prior to the story of the Garden of Eden and the creation of Adam and Eve.
Apparently, Satan had charge of the earth prior to his fall. He was the watchman. This may explain why he was still in the Garden of Eden after his fall and after the six-days of creation, and why he wanted to tempt Eve to sin in order to regain his authority.
The author also explores what I learned was called the "Gap Theory" which, essentially, was the conclusion I had long ago reached. Essentially, this refers to the possibility, the probability that time elapsed between various Biblical references; e.g., between Genesis 1:1 and Genesis 1:2.  After reviewing various issues, including scientific study of the earth itself, she then states: Based on the Gap Theory, we can understand how both can be true. There is no contradiction. I was feeling better that, perhaps, I really wasn't still in childhood, rather I just hadn't known the words, the whys and how it happened as a complete unique story that...followed...the...blood... My thank you to the author!

Chapter 2 then begins the review of the Blood Trail through both the Old and New Testament, with, I believe, a clear statement that Blood sacrifices must continue, even though Christ died for us. Many of the references will be shown: the Passover, the story of Cain, the sacrifice of Isaac--and many more. Reading them sequentially, to see the trail, is surely a wonderful learning experience revealing the omnipotence of God and His words on the power of innocent blood...

For me, this was an important part of the Trail we followed, because the issue of Capital Punishment came to the forefront. (See additional article by the author, tomorrow, here at BRH.)

You see, I believed in Capital Punishment, but had always heard arguments against that were not satisfactory. How could children and adults be murdered, especially for sexual or human trafficking reasons, etc., and not require that the individual be also killed?  Bambola concludes that it does "involve blood!"

So, we learn in Numbers what happens when we do not put murderers to death. We pollute and defile our land. And Deuteronomy 19:13 warns us that “Thine eye shall not pity him (the murderer) but thou shall put away the guilt of innocent blood..."
This is a book that needs to be on your personal library shelf. It is effortlessly read (and reread) and referenced, providing sufficient information and research to feel confident that the writer has acted to present and support the book on behalf of God's Word. I understand she plans on continuing this effort and look forward to similar reference books, while at the same time, hoping her fictional stories will also continue.  This book has both a glossary and a list of questions for book clubs or study groups!

Sylvia Bambola has proven to me to be an outstanding writer and an individual who I feel truly writes inspired books. If you are looking for an author that effectively and honorably pulls God's words into her writings, do read her books! 

And, for this latest nonfiction book, it is a must-read for those who seek to learn more about the Words of God in the Bible...


GABixlerReviews

1 comment:

  1. Glenda, thank you for reviewing my book, Following the Blood Trail from Genesis to Revelation. It was very appreciated. However, two or your statements left me confused. Perhaps I just misunderstood, but would appreciate your clarification.

    First, you wrote, “The key difference for me was that, I felt that it was Jesus who had brought salvation to us. That if we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, we should be saved.” You suggested your Sunday School teacher got it wrong. No. Your teacher had it right. Jesus DID bring salvation to us. All the blood sacrifices in the Old Testament was but a foreshadowing of how God, Himself, through the God-man Jesus, would be the final and perfect sacrifice for sin. Scripture tells us that Jesus, the Lamb of God, was slain from the foundation of the world.

    The next statement was, “Chapter 2 then begins the review of the Blood Trail through both the Old and New Testament, with, I believe, a clear statement that Blood sacrifices must continue, even though Christ died for us.” If my writing was unclear and I have mislead you, I apologize. But Hebrews 9:12 clearly states the opposite. “Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he (Jesus) entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.” There is no further need for any more blood sacrifices. Perhaps I misunderstood, and your reference is to capital punishment when an unrepentant murder must pay with his blood.

    At any rate, would love clarification. And thanks again for the review. Blessings!

    ReplyDelete