Al,l Saints / Michael Spurlock and Jeanette Windle / 207 pages

This book is the true story of Michael Spurlock on his journey to becoming a pastor and his first assignment to a church in Smyrna, Tennessee.  A movie was made about this story that I saw before I read the book.  Of course, the book provides more details of the actual story and events.  All Saints was a struggling church that was down to only twenty-five devoted members and a huge mortgage when Michael came to be their pastor.  He was looking at the decision to close the church and sell the property.  However, with the help of God and a group of Karen refugees from Burma the church is saved.  The congregation embraces the Christian Karen refugees who help them turn their church property into farm land.  There are so many God moments in this journey!  The story is amazing.  All Saints is saved and their congregation grows.  The book goes beyond the movie in telling about Michael leaving the All Saints and the two pastors that followed him and continued the revitalization of All Saints Church.

Carnton Plantation Ghost Stories / Lochlainn Seabrook / 249 pages

Carnton Plantation is in Franklin, Tennessee and was built in the early 1800s.  It was the sight of the Civil War battle, the Battle of Franklin II on November 30, 1864.  It is considered Tennessee's most haunted Civil War house.  The author is a descendant of the McGavock family, the original owners of the plantation. He is a former tour guide and author of several Civil War books and magazine articles.  The book is filled with many stories and photographs of the house.  The Southern slant on the Civil War that comes out in the author's writing was amusing and interesting.  I had heard of Carnton Plantation before I read this book.  Next time I travel through Tennessee I plan to stop there and take a tour.