Let the Reader Speak! A 12-year-old's point of view

Whom do you think is Ethan's favorite character? I received this well-crafted book review from a young man who is an avid reader of my books. I thought I would share it with all of you. Notice this young scholar's vocabulary (Ethan, no doubt, attends the very best of schools...) Dear Mr. Bond, Did you have stories as good as yours when you were a boy? I am very thankful for your books. I own the Crown & Covenant series and the Faith & Freedom series. I really appreciate your books because they are written full of adventure and excitement. Of the two that I have read, my favorite trilogy is the Crown & Covenant. By far my favorite character is Angus M’Kethe.  All of your books are written extraordinarily. They are so great because you skillfully weave history with fiction into splendid stories. The characters experience history from a real perspective. Also, faith is included in the story along with action. Impressively, you create characters that are strong physically and in the faith. Grandfather Sandy M’Kethe is an example of that. You write excellent stories as good as gold.   The Crown & Covenant trilogy is the best trilogy. I believe it is the best because it is action-packed. Sometimes I feel that I can relate to the characters. They experience trial and hardships. During the trials, they persevere and stay true to each other and God. I admire that. The three books are a story of true manhood. You hit the bulls-eye when writing the Crown & Covenant series.  In my opinion, Angus is the coolest character. He is bright. He is fast. He is brave. His quick thinking entertains me. Adding to that, his bravery saved his siblings and nephew. His skill with the bow impresses me the most. I wish I had his skill. Angus takes first place above all the other characters. Although all of your books are great, the Crown & Covenant series is my favorite set. In that series Angus is the best character. I enjoy your style of writing the most because you weave exciting history and fictional characters into fun historical-fiction. Sincerely, Ethan Ashley, 6th grade  ORDER SIGNED COPIES

KNOX 500 Scotland Tour--the grand virtual tour!

What a wonderful time together in Scotland! It was such a pleasure meeting many of you for the first time and getting reacquainted with others of you on our adventures together in Scotland and England on the Knox 500 Tour. As promised, I am posting this with lots of pictures and reminders of the places we visited and why they were important. Hope you enjoy them--and do keep in touch!

Glasgow Kirk (used to be cathedral) on our very first day together

Fenwick Kirk, 1643, William Guthrie Covenanter first pastor here, Second Reformation in generation after Knox

St John the Baptist Kirk tower, Ayr, where Knox's son-in-law John Welsh ministered and where his daughter Elizabeth is buried. Gavin Beers shared with us so ably here

Westkirk disruption church, built 1845. With the growing apostacy in the Church of Scotland, Thomas Chalmers led the founding of the Free Church in 1843. Westkirk sadly is now a pub where we ate lunch

Aston Hotel Dumfries, Knox installed young pastors in Dumfries

Hadrian's Wall, AD 122-128 (yes, Giles and I did manage to finish all 84 miles of the route, a great time together, especially with our support crew making it happen)

Durham Cathedral (Church of England) where Knox was called to answer charges by the bishop in 1550; where Bede, Cuthbert, and Oswald are buried. Modern error corrupting the gospel is marked here as NT Wright was bishop of Durham for a time

Lindisfarne Priory (Hand of Vengeance, 8th century Anglo-Saxon yarn of mine) center of Celtic Christianity 6th c and beyond

Norham Castle where Knox ministered as chaplain to the garrison while pastoring at nearby Berwick-upon-Tweed and where one of his first converts, Marjory Bowes, was brought to living faith in Christ (and would become his future wife)

St Mary's Collegial Church across the river from where he was born in Haddington, where Knox was likely baptized, where he was ordained, and where he later preached, installed a pastor and suggested they wall off the un needed portion of the large parish church building.

St Giles High Kirk Edinburgh where Knox preached, Grassmarket Covenanter monument, Knox House Museum, The Netherbow Tolbooth Prison now pub where we ate lunch, Magdalen Chapel where went to church, Edinburgh Castle and Grassmarket, our hotel on the Royal Mile: 

St Andrews sites: Where Patrick Hamilton was martyrd, where Rutherford taught and died, St Andrews Cathedral ruins, St Andrews Castle where Knox was taken prisoner by French

Leuchars where Alexander Henderson preached

St Peter's Dundee at M'Cheyne's grave with living pastor David Robertson

St John's Kirk, Perth where Knox preached and iconoclasm commenced

Loch Leven Castle where Mary Queen of Scots was held after she was forced to abdicate

Church of the Holy Rude, Stirling; Knox crowned James VI here and preached; James Guthrie pastored here

Stirling Castle where Mary Queen Regent orchestrated persecution of Knox and Reformation

Bannochburn (1314-2014) Robert the Bruce crushes English army of Edward II

Dunblane Cathedral (Knox ordained by Bishop of Dunblane)

Sir Richard, Knight of Nottingham

KNOX 500: day 10-11C Falkirk Wheel and hamsters

What an amazing engineering feat! Scots really have contributed far above the preferred caricature of them as partially tamed barbarians

Sir Richard, Knight of Nottingham, is one of the ablest and pleasantest coach drivers in the entire UK (my fourth tour to lead with him at the helm)

Friendships forged that will endure

Dan Steere sharing his passion for training pastors in West Africa (he and his  dear wife Susan fly straight to Ghana from Scotland for three weeks of ministry with hundreds of church leaders)

KNOX 500: day 10-11B, Bannockburn

700 years ago the Scots managed to defeat the far superior English army of wimp king Edward II

"Remember Bannockburn!"

In 1314 the battle commenced with single combat in which Robert the Bruce cleavered his English opponent with his battleaxe, a portent of the outcome of the entire battle

Simon Peter's brother Andrew, patron saint of medieval Scotland, crucified but not like his Lord

Full-Scottish breakfast minus the haggis and black pudding (beans a hold over from the rationing days of WW II)

It was fascinating to hear Judge Jim DeWeese give us the perspective of biblical jurisprudence on injustices in high places faced by Knox and his Covenanter offspring