About
The centerpiece of Margaret Montreuil’s published works—whether a novel, devotional book, poem, Internet blog post, or article—is always the same: Jesus Christ. With Christ as the focal point of all that she writes, Margaret offers readers an intimate look at Jesus and God’s Word.
In Margaret’s first novel, God in Sandals, and this second one, His Kingdom Come, she leads readers into a personal journey alongside Christ and his disciples. Both novels are powerful portrayals of New Testament biblical history, as Margaret offers a glimpse into the minds and hearts of the individuals who played central roles in the four Gospels and the book of Acts.
Margaret’s past years of involvement in a Messianic congregation—along with her in-depth historical research—have helped her to describe what the primitive, early church in Jerusalem might have been like. In addition, her four trips to Israel have equipped her with a personal familiarity of the Holy Land, creating a greater level of authenticity in her writing.
More than anything, Margaret’s novels are timely for the body of Christ today. With her writing, she joins other voices in the church today who recognize that the Holy Spirit is bringing Christianity’s worship and expression of faith full circle, as believers embrace the Jewishness of Jesus and the Hebraic roots of our faith to enjoy a deeper grasp of God’s heart and purposes.
Along with being a writer, Margaret considers herself blessed to be a mother of five grown children and a grandmother of four grandchildren. She is a member of Joy Church, a non-denominational fellowship in Matthews, North Carolina. Margaret welcomes readers to contact her through her Web site at www.margaretmontreuil.com.
Learning to Breathe Fire: The Rise of CrossFit and the Primal Future of Fitness
Description
<p><b>The absorbing, definitive account of CrossFit's origins, its explosive grassroots growth, and its emergence as a global phenomenon.</b><br /> <br />One of the most illuminating books ever on a sports subculture, <i>Learning to Breathe Fire </i>combines vivid sports writing with a thoughtful meditation on what it means to be human. In the book, veteran journalist J.C. Herz explains the science of maximum effort, why the modern gym fails an obese society, and the psychic rewards of ending up on the floor feeling as though you're about to die. <br /> <br />The story traces CrossFit’s rise, from a single underground gym in Santa Cruz to its adoption as the workout of choice for elite special forces, firefighters and cops, to its popularity as the go-to fitness routine for regular Joes and Janes. Especially riveting is Herz’s description of The CrossFit Games, which begin as an informal throw-down on a California ranch and evolve into a televised global proving ground for the fittest men and women on Earth, as well as hundreds of thousands of lesser mortals. <br /> <br />In her portrayal of the sport's star athletes, its passionate coaches and its “chief armorer,” Rogue Fitness, Herz powerfully evokes the uniqueness of a fitness culture that cultivates primal fierceness in average people. And in the shared ordeal of an all-consuming workout, she unearths the ritual intensity that's been with us since humans invented sports, showing us how, on a deep level, we're all tribal hunters and first responders, waiting for the signal to go all-out. </p>
Story Behind The Book
What was it like for Jesus' closest friends, relatives, and disciples when he conferred the Kingdom of Heaven into their hands? What was it like to have intimately known the Lord on human terms, to have known him while he walked beside them, to then suddenly discover what it meant to know Jesus INSIDE of themselves? What might this pivotal moment in history been like?
The beginning of Christianity looked different than it does today. Most of the believers were Jewish and they understood Jesus as their long-awaited Messiah. Jesus was, to those who followed him, the hope of their nation and the Light of the world. However, the Kingdom Jesus ushered in didn't look the way anyone expected and yet the Scripture foretold, in uncanny detail, all that Jesus fulfilled in his life. Jesus is the Jewish Messiah, the Son of Israel; the roots of our faith are Jewish and God's deep love is most wondrously revealed when we understand the degree and extravagant way God came to us.
Even though most Christians have heard the story of the beginnings of the church countless times, I don't think there is another book like this one. I set out to make it more true than fiction. I wanted to tell the story in a way that would be fresh and new--that would engage our hearts and minds as only stories can do. I set out to flesh out the historical characters who lived during this astounding time. I wanted to reawaken readers to the reality of what Jesus has done and is still doing for those he calls his own.
So, come on a journey ... come and see those extraordinary first few years when Jesus' followers and enemies find themselves caught up in an amazing but difficult time of transition in the epic story of God's redemption.
Reviews
"<em>HIS KINGDOM COME</em> makes you feel as though you are walking alongside James, Peter, and John with its emotion, adventure, and intrigue. Scripture will come alive for you in this inspired book!" <br /> -John David Kudric - Editor, Writer, Consultant
