Author Bob Dowell's latest book POEMS ABOUT THINGS THAT MATTERED MOST features the memoir of an octogenarianrecounting, through a collection of unpublished poems, events and relationships that governed and enriched his life.[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Poems About Things That Mattered Most" by Bob Dowell]4 out of 4 starsPoems About Things That Mattered Most: Faith, Family, Country by Bob Dowell was published in 2020. The sensational book is approximately 137 pages long and comprises forty-three enthralling poems. The poems undoubtedly inspire, inform, entertain, and above all enlighten the reader about what truly matters most in life. They span many years from when the author met his future wife to the present where he enjoys spending time with his great-grandchildren. The author’s profound love for God, family, and country stood out in every poem.The poetic compositions address diverse issues, like love, celebrating the struggles and joys of parenthood, appreciating mothers, the greatness of America, faith, and even the ravaging Coronavirus Pandemic. The author references the significant contributions of the Puritans as part of the founding fathers of America while abundantly demonstrating this unwavering belief in God in his own life. This was quite evident when Bob closed the concluding poem with a line appreciating the God-given longevity to enjoy these unique blessings. Consequently, his faith in God formed a sturdy foundation upon which everything else was built.The poems made me smile, laugh, reminisce, and cogitate. I could not keep myself from chuckling when I read how Stan and Dwight, the author’s sons, were playing a ‘dangerous game with the fridge’. Dwight could not get his brother out, as he was too short to reach the door handle. Initially, his father did not understand the situation when he was informed Stan was inside the fridge. As a result, he instructed Dwight to tell his brother to get out before it finally dawned on him that Stan needed help. Other poems led me on a path of self-examination, while others still taught me to appreciate the seemingly minute things in life.What I liked most was the thought-provocative nature of the poems. They made me think about things I value the most in my life. The poems were simple and impressive. Simple as they communicated ordinary subjects in a straightforward manner and impressive as the author employed many literary devices and thus making every poem exceptional. The metaphors used were mind-blowing. For example, the author compares guidance and God’s will to a dance where one partner takes the lead with gentle cues while the other follows. Further, the allusion to several biblical and monumental events and figures in history was sufficient evidence of the author’s remarkable devotion to the subjects.I rate the book 4 out of 4 stars as there is nothing I disliked about it, and the editing was professionally done. I recommend it to all lovers of poetry. The poems did not contain any attempt at proselytization, and accordingly, nonbelievers will enjoy poring over them. In the fullness of time, we will all be forced to answer the question about the things that matter most in our lives. In the meantime, Poems About Things That Mattered Most will cause you to look around and appreciate the people and little things around you. You will be led down the memory lane to retrieve those memories that give the present meaning. You may be inspired to compose poems about them as well.In SATAN AND ME AND OBE, the author uses a dialogue format to relate a riveting out of body experience in which Satan is confronted, first in Hell and later on earth. One blazing hot summer night twelve-year-old Bobby sits in a church pew with his friends. It is the first week of August, traditional revival week for his small rural church. Tonight, as each night of the revival, Bobby listens to the impassioned evangelist's plea for the unsaved to come forward to the altar and be saved from Satan and blazing Hell. All of Bobby's friends have answered the altar call, but Bobby hesitates. Suddenly, mid-way through the revival, severe stomach pain lands him in the hospital, an acute case of appendicitis requiring emergency surgery. A mask placed over his face to administer sleep inducing ether, Bobby trembles with fear, the fear of dying without being saved. Resounding in his ears is the evangelist's warming about blazing Hell. As the ether takes effect Bobby is falling, falling, falling landing in a blazing lake of fire where Satan seizes him: a terrifying out of body experience.Consciousness regained, Bobby cannot wait to accept the altar call. His out body experience not only made him a passionate believer but an animated Bible enthusiast as well. Thus fortified, he is always prepared and eager to defend God's word against any antagonist, including Satan. And, behold, much to surprise, yet much to his delight, it happens. At age seventy, Bobby, now known as Old Man, undergoes a second out of body experience in which he takes on Satan in debate: who is winning the divine battle of good versus evil. Satan argues he is; Old Man argues God is. Both Satan and Old Man support their stances with Biblical reference. Their citing of situation examples from both the Old and New Testaments, as they argue their respective cases, takes readers through the entire Bible. Readers hear why Satan hates God, why there was a war in heaven, why Eve was tempted, why the war shifted to the earth, why Satan claims he's winning the war, why Old Man claims otherwise, and much, much more. The debate ended, readers previously invited to serve as jurors, are now asked to cast their ballots. Who wins the debate: Satan or Old Man? Then, utilizing the 19th century "dear reader"device, the author poses an overwhelming question for readers to ponder! In UNDERSTANDING THE BIBLE HEAD AND HEART, the author utilizes a poetry component to enhance message. Think of the Bible as a collection of materials collected and assimilated over many centuries. Out of its sixty plus divinely inspired narrative pieces, referred to as books, emerge the greatest of stories: the fall of humanity and the redemptive process that follows. Understanding this redemptive process requires participation of both head and heart, for redemption is a head and heart process whereby conviction of mind connects with consent of heart. Question: What then would be an effective format for writing an interpretive work on the Bible? Answer: A format with a poetry component as demonstrated in UNDERSTANDING THE BIBLE:HEAD AND HEART (PART ONE, PART TWO, PART THREE) whose format provides readers multi-interpretive summaries, book by book, beginning with Genesis and ending with Revelation. Each interpretive prose summary is followed by an interpretive poetic summary. Because of poetry's emotive nature--its appeal to the heart--the poetry component facilitates connecting conviction of mind with consent of heart, thus furnishing readers an effective format for understanding the Bible. PAPA TELL US ABOUT THE BIBLE instructs and entertains through an engaging dramatic framework in which the narrative is filtered through the characters' dialogue, thereby producing a playbook for an individual reader to peruse, or for a group to enact. A group can assume the roles of characters and read aloud the characters' lines, thereby producing an engaging and instructive Bible drama for reflective discussion. Whether an individual perusing or a group enacting, each witness a lively and engaging dialogue between Papa and his teenage granddaughters as they journey through the Bible discovering and discussing its eternal truths--essential guides for living a purposeful life,Papa narrating and his granddaughters responding with questions and observations.See back cover of book for a list of its multiple uses; see pages xiii-xiv for more detail.Read more about this authorRead less about this author