Into the Fire

     Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should not give up. He said, "In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with a plea, 'Grant me justice against my adversary.'

     "For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear god or care about men, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually wear me out with her coming!'" 

     And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?" 

Luke 18:1-8 (NIV) 

You see that very special name below mine? That's a very special author of his own novels, now the producer and narrator of Race. You know him. I've reviewed two of his novels here and here – and loved them! It's the one and only Joseph Courtemanche. That melodic voice will insert you into this murder mystery, written like a police procedural, and send you into your search for the killer. 

The big "tease": our new audio book is now available. 

Father, I pray you would pour out your Spirit upon Joseph, bless him in your abundance, continue to lead him on the path designed just for him, and give him those stories you have just for him to tell. I cannot thank him enough for his generosity, kindness, and steadfast commitment. He's amazing, and I thank you that I can call him a friend and a special man. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

This is the novel that started it all. Who writes a 700+ page saga for their first book? And who uses a little-known Christian vanity publisher, who makes a costly error by inserting pages that didn't belong where they were placed, and who orders a boatload of these books only to have to recycle them and order a boatload more of the corrected copies? I won't tell you how much it cost to publish this novel. Who does this? A complete novice, that's who. The one whose name is on the cover under the title. I'm embarrassed at the unprofessional presentation of the final book, but I'm not embarrassed at all by the story told within those many pages. A comprehensive story of horse racing set in the 80s at a racetrack that resembled the now defunct Longacres Racetrack, one of the most beautiful middle-echelon racetracks in the country. Gone but never forgotten. 

Trivia: Copies of this novel are all over the United States and there are even some in Africa. 

            The horse on the cover is named Cops and the jockey's name is the well-known Gary Baze.

To write it was an act of obedience to the Lord who actually speaks to His people. He started this writing journey. It all belongs to Him. I'm grateful for every word, every character, every story. Apart from Him, I can do nothing. 

Lord, I can never thank you enough. Not now nor in eternity. Never enough. Please help me to be the one you designed me to be. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.  

More fun, easy escape, light and dark, enjoyable. The UST has picked up considerably this season which is always special when there's chemistry. 

Father, thank you for fun and laughter and those who provide it. "A merry heart does good like a medicine." Truly. Help us all to remember to laugh – and love. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Speaks for itself. No words needed. 

Father, help us to do as you instruct, direct, lay straight the right path. You're the only Way. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

The Water Keeper by bestselling author Charles Martin is Book 1 of A Murphy Shepherd Novel duet this far. 

The problem with reviewing a Charles Martin novel is knowing where to start and what to say. The high praise he deserves for creating his unique, very often hurting deeply, some multi-talented but humble characters, or for the incredible way he writes with both elegant and common words creating beautiful or horrific pictures with accompanying emotions to match either description, present the awkward decision of what part of a complex story to focus on when composing the review. 

I guess I'll start with the ugly plot of this story. We don't know anything about Murphy Shepherd, aka "Murph" to friends, as the story begins with an exciting but tragic scene. Next thing we know, Murph, alone on a small island he owns and maintains, has two urns of ashes from very special people in his life. He decides to take his Boston Whaler boat (Gone Fiction) and one urn at a time to spread the ashes as designated. On the way, he rescues a dog, a woman, and aims to rescue her daughter who it turns out he's met in a not-so-great brief encounter on his island. 

From that point on, we begin to learn something about Murph's "occupation" and his satellite phone's contact who keeps him as up to date as possible on the whereabouts of the missing teen daughter belonging to the woman he's taken onboard. From there on, a hyper madness of sorts continues to bring passengers onboard, heartache, and matters of the heart. 

The Water Keeper is a story depicting the sordid well-rehearsed practices of human trafficking while the undercurrent of a love story touches everything past, present, and future in Murph's soul. The story develops several relationships while tapping into the pain of everyone involved. 

On page 282 of my softcover copy, Charles writes this:

     The trouble with stepping into the ring with someone bent on evil is just that. Evil. And there's no way to get around it. Don't negotiate. Land for peace never works. Never has. If they step into the ring with a baseball bat, you don't meet them with a spoon. Evil is not interested in peace, and no amount of conversation will lessen its intent. 

There's no going soft on the evil portrayed in this story, no lessening the horrors or shortening the pure pain enacted on unsuspecting people of all ages and genders. The cruelty is nothing short of demonically enhanced and enacted at all levels. Murph and his satellite contact "Bones" are sold out to rescuing these victims, but somewhere along the way, Murph begins to realize he's tired, weary, hurting, and restless from all the extended pain in this life.

At his lowest point, he finds betrayal, excruciating pain he can't reconcile. The closure he gains won't balance the weight of what he's lost. And yet, there's one more job to do. Always. One. More. Job. To. Do. 

There's real sorrow in this story, tears, relief, and more pain. Another unique and meaningful story from a master storyteller.  

Father, you know what's in all of our hearts. You know it all. And yet you love us. Thank you is never enough. Thank you for your authors who write the truth in fiction. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

The truly righteous man attains life,

  but he who pursues evil goes to his death.

The Lord detests men of perverse heart

  but he delights in those whose ways are blameless. 

Be sure of this: The wicked will not go unpunished, 

  but those who are righteous will go free. 

Provers 11: 19-21 (NIV) 

I've read a lot of books over many years, the majority of them novels. And I've read a lot of authors, male and female. I've read general market (secular) and Christian Fiction. I've read very few fantasies and science-fiction and possibly even fewer historical novels. I've read lightly in the Women's Fiction/Family Drama genre and have spent time in Cozy Mystery Series by two Christian authors. Primarily I've read thrillers, mysteries, suspense, and romance/love stories. 

What I want from my authors of these stories is, of course, to be entertained. That's a given. Reading usually takes several hours unless you enjoy novellas – which I mostly don't. To surrender hours to words on a page – whether reading or writing them – means I want them to be meaningful, satisfying, even important in their own ways. I want the authors to make me cry or laugh or both – in other words: to react strongly. If I can't get emotional at some point in a story, then the author hasn't managed to snag/hook/entangle me in the story. I don't care at what point this occurs, but it had better happen "at some point". 

I want to care, preferably deeply, about the story – what's going on – the characters – at least the hero or heroine – because if I don't, the book becomes a throwaway. A loss. A waste of my time which is the greatest disappointment. 

The best novels I've read have lingered long after "The End". I remember key scenes that reached through those words and touched my soul. I smile at the memory. Not all stories can accomplish that special experience. But there are still those novels which leave a mark, that achieve the goal of being entertaining and appreciated even if their effect is short-lived. 

I want my authors to make sure the story is well-told and well-written. That doesn't mean it has to smack of "literary" language and imagery, but it does mean there are thoughtful words used to tell me about the people, places, and circumstances in this tale. Even if the timeline is unique and the structure varied, things must come together to form a cohesive story. 

I can break down my favorite authors to specific genres, to sub-sections of genres, but it's unfair to have an absolute favorite when so many characteristics and demands are required for each type of novel. 

So. What do you want from your authors? 

Father, thank you for authors. You've gifted writers since the beginning of time. May they know from whom their talents come. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Did you know that the Merriam-Webster Thesaurus/Dictionary lists 38 synonyms for the word "perspective" along with several definitions? 

Did you know the perspective with which you view pictures, places, things, and ideas can change over time?

Perspective gives us a partial understanding of the world around us, but our perspectives can be incorrect because our information might be skewed, inaccurate, convoluted by outside influences, or lack confirmation of actuality. 

Perspective can also give us comfort when we examine something that might have upset us which "in the big picture" is rather small. Perspective allows us to regroup and adjust our outlook and/or attitude, making any necessary concessions or revisions. 

Perspective is a valuable asset when based on absolutes. 

Father, we're all desperate for you whether we know it or not. We need your perspective on and in this life. Thank you for however you provide it. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

                           Springtime in the desert. 

Father, beauty belongs to you, and you left it everywhere for all to see. Thank you is never enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.