This is wildly different from the mainstream world view that Madeline Snow finds when she lands in the Oregon Outback. Her goal to be a successful business woman who grows herbs, prepares medicines and sells them, is perfectly normal to the Shaker world view—as is the idea that a man from China is no less likely a husband as any other man…if one were to leave the Shaker community for the sake of marriage, that is.
One of the chief influencers of the Shaker faith was Ann Lee. Her leadership brought the group from a life of persecution in England to a new life in America, and her visions framed their theology. Not only did she teach that all were one in Christ, but she believed and taught that God had a dual nature, being both male and female, and that the savior did as well.
She believed that Jesus was the male savior, and that she, Ann Lee, was the female savior. She also taught that her visions were on par with Scripture and were to be treated as the inspired word of God.
Like Madeline in my story, I believe that this teaching does not line up with what the Bible teaches about salvation through Christ alone. It is hard to look at a group as admirable and worshipful as the Shakers and say they are wrong, but their teachings disagree with God’s simple truth as written in 1 Timothy 2:5 “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus”.
To learn more about the Shakers, their history, beliefs, and contributions to America, visit http://shakerheritage.org and http://shakerworkshops.com
About the Author
Traci Tyne Hilton is the author of The Mitzy Neuhaus Mystery Series, The Plain Jane Mystery Series, The Hearts to God Series, and one of the authors in The Tangle Saga series of science fiction novellas. She was the Mystery/Suspense Category winner for the 2012 Christian Writers of the West Phoenix Rattler Contest, a finalist for Speculative Fiction in the same contest, and has a Drammy from the Portland Civic Theatre Guild. Traci serves as the Vice President of the Portland chapter of the American Christian Fiction Writers Association.
Traci earned a degree in History from Portland State University and still lives in the rainiest part of the Pacific Northwest with her husband the mandolin playing funeral director, their two daughters, and their dog, Dr. Watson.
More of Traci's work can be found at http://www.tracihilton.com
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Cozy Christian Mysteries by Traci Tyne Hilton
The Plain Jane Mysteries
Good, Clean Murder
Living on her own for her first time, Bible school student Jane cleans houses to make ends meet. But being independent brings big trials, like falling for a handsome professor, dealing with an obnoxious roommate, and then there’s the dead bodies…
Who knew being housekeeper to wealthy owners of a Roly Burger franchise would mean sweeping up clues to their death, while ministering to the needs of their heirs?
This is one big mess that Jane is intent on cleaning up before things get even worse.
Dirty Little Murder
College student and housekeeper Jane Adler dreams of being a missionary but the road to the 10/40 window is littered with corpses.
Jane found the most recent body floating in the hot tub at her newest client’s house. The dead guy was a notorious flirt and carouser. Had his romantic shenanigans gotten him killed?
Cleaning up a murder was bad enough, but Jane’s love life was a mess too. Usually absence makes the heart grow fonder, but her boyfriend Isaac’s overseas teaching job seems to be driving them apart.
On top of it all she’s been hand selected by her church as a candidate for one of their few fully funded missionary support positions. But can she solve a murder, keep her boyfriend, and follow her dream all at the same time?
Bright New Murder
Homeless preschoolers, angry protesters, frozen yogurt, and murder.
Jane Adler is keen to try on her detective hat, and the dead lady at the Christmas fundraiser is her perfect shot.
Timing is everything and this murder was timed perfectly to destroy her best friend Jake’s growing Fro-Yo business. He’s a great friend–just a friend, honest– and she owes him a favor or two.
But discovering who would want to kill the town’s favorite preschool teacher is messy business, and Jane doesn’t have a moment to waste!
The Mitzy Neuhaus Mysteries
Foreclosed
Mitzy Neuhaus is the top selling Realtor in Portland, but even her office is dead in this economy. Foreclosed is the word no homeowner wants to hear and Mitzy is determined to save the incredible mansion on her street from that fate. But with the homeowner desperate to keep Mitzy away from his property and Alonzo, the dangerously hot rival investor trying to snatch it out from under her, Mitzy knows she has to work fast, or the economy won’t be the only thing dead…
Eminent Domain
Mitzy Neuhaus is dying to get back to business as usual, but The Worst Economy Since The Great Depression has just about killed her real estate business. But when the excessive interest of the FBI, city planners, and possibly the Mafia, threaten to derail Mitzy’s plans things really get dangerous…
Buyer’s Remorse
Mitzy Neuhaus had an easier time selling her condo before the mystery buyer “bought it” on her patio. Mitzy stumbled over the body and knew she had to get involved in the case–if only because the corpse was a dead ringer for herself.
At first it seemed like a clear case of mistaken identity and Mitzy feared the Mafia wasn’t done with her yet. But digging into the life of the dead buyer uncovered a peculiar little dress shop where nothing added up.
Can Mitzy untangle the mystery before she ends up with her own case of buyer’s remorse?
Frozen Assets
When a local architect and notorious lothario gets himself impaled on a wrought iron fence it pretty much ruins Mitzy's Christmas.
With her client--the dead guy's most recent ex-wife--in crisis and the custom Tudor home now a murder house, Mitzy will need to work a lot of overtime to unload the unsellable property--and catch a killer.
Find them all at TraciHilton.com/Books
Hearts to God (The Hearts to God Series) Page 7
