The Ishbane Conspiracy

The Ishbane ConspiracyBy Angela, Karina & Randy AlcornThis novel is similar to the Screwtape Letters of C.S. Lewis in which we hear demons reflect on how to defeat or lead astray the main characters. Randy Alcorn and his two daughters present a fascinating work of fiction with great truth in it. The story focuses on four youthful characters and their families. Rob is a faithful Christian who has left a gang and carries remorse. His girl friend Jillian is a bulimic cheer leader. Their friends Ian and Brittany are enjoying life with little restraint. Jillian’s mother is busy and uninvolved. Jillian’s younger brother is constantly bullied at school. We learn the trials and temptations that beset each of them. Some are dabbling in Ouija boards and the occult, others are depressed and thinking of suicide, all are unaware of each other’s problems and needs. Letters between two demons reveal the strategies they use to keep us from the Enemy (God). Here’s samples from the demons writing to each other:“Long live the holy trinity of Marx, Darwin and Freud. Long live the high priests of popular culture: musicians, actors and athletes. Welcome, vermin, one and all. Come join our Truth of the Month club. Before we run out of false truths, you’ll run out of life! Pg. 145The central principle of hell is “I am mine!” Everything must be done on our terms never His….The same applies to the vermin’s (humans) rebellion. As far beneath us as they are, they, too, crave mastery. Control. Sovereignty. Their battle cry is “I will not serve. I will be served.” This means “I refuse to be what I am, a creature; I insist on being what I am not - God. “ Pg. 224“Our greatest enemy is humility. We never know what to do with a humble man.” Pg. 224I love it when they ask whether a belief is “healthy” rather than whether it is true or false. Their reasoning seems to be this: If something causes fear it must not be real. If it would make them afraid to know there are lions, then there must not be lions. If the existence of demons - or of God Himself – makes them uncomfortable, well then demons and God must not exist. Pg. 243As always in his books, Randy Alcorn also gives us a brilliant picture of what heaven will be like when we arrive there.This is a great book!

If you haven't read CSLewis' Screwtape Letters .... you need to --Alcorn's Ishbane is definitely at par with Lewis when it comes to eavesdropping on the conversations and schemings of the enemy of our souls ....

I am a big fan of Randy Alcorn and love all of his work. "The Ishbane Conspiracy" refers to the plotting of the devil and his minions to undermine God. There are two intertwined storylines in the book. First, a group of pre college teens face the struggles of everday secular living. The second story line is a fascinating discussion between the demons assigned to each teen.Here are a few examples of the demons discussing how to bring down Christianity:“Our cultural destruction committee continues its work to redefine the family. We’ve taken both parents out of the home by convincing the most wealthy people that they must have two incomes. We’ve made single parenting normal. We’ve created latchkey children who have been baby-say by television and the Internet. The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world. We’ve put an end to the sacredness of family dinner together, using business and telephone and television to pull them away from the table and family conversation. We’ve given a whole new meaning to “family planning.” We’ve even created scorn for “family values.” Pg. 81“Picture the professor teaching in this class. He congratulates himself on debunking the ridiculous fantasies of religious fanatics. Of course, his own position is imminently credible-in the beginning there was nothing, and then the nothing exploded into gigantic pieces we call stars and planets, and from these self-generated inanimate objects came plants, and from the plants came animals, and from animals came people, and from people came Saran Wrap and bug zappers and bungee cords. Presto change alakazam, there you have it, the history of the cosmos.” Pg. 108I found the teen story line to be predictable and a tad slow.I found the demon story line to be fascinating, creative and applicable to today.Randy, and his crew, have written a Christian novel explaining what is wrong with our culture today.The devil plays himself. Interesting and provocative.

Randy Alcorn maintains his position (at least in *my* opinion) as America's #1 author of Christian fiction. Alcorn can write! You won't have to sacrifice technique or craft for content when you settle in with one of his books.Ishbane Conspiracy is fun even for those of us who've long since left high school. It's evident someone closer to that age group (his daughters) helped write this book, because the dialogue and terminology is so current and authentic. And the way the story focuses on 4 characters and their relationships with each other draws the reader in and holds their attention, too.How did he come up with those demon names? The part where one demon remarks that someone "now has the ghost", as in Holy Ghost, cracked me up. Even though it is crystal clear that Alcorn has used this as his soapbox, it's interesting to see how he does it using this technique. While I doubt that demons have such dialogues with each other (but how would I really know?), I got a kick out of seeing Satan's plan for destruction told from the viewpoint of his minions.You can polish this book off in a weekend. I am so proud of Randy's Alcorn's skill as a writer. It's unfortunate that more so-called Christian writers are not as talented as he. Go, Randy!

A fiction book that reveals the spiritual reality/battle behind the decisions we make. Brilliant book. Especially recommend to non Christians.

all OK

Enjoyed the depiction of the seen and unseen realms moving together. I read this book about 20 years ago, and enjoyed the Kindle read, too.

Wasn't my kind of story

After I paid for it, this book did not download onto my tablet.