Into the Fire

This is an absolutely beautiful cover of Foreigner's "Waiting for a Girl Like You". It's a fabulous cover and a great song. Wow. 

Father, you've given us such amazing musicians. May they all one day realize the One who's given them their talents and gifts. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

In Savage Son, Book 3 in the James Reece Thrillers, Jack Carr brings out the down and dirty characters, one of them the traitor who plans to kill James Reece. 

Oliver Grey has gotten away with being a traitor to the USA and, although James Reece has seen to it that he is no longer employed by the Russian who used Grey's skills to assassinate the Russian president, Grey knows he'd better kill Reece before Reece finds him. His life is filled with the paranoia of being hunted, knowing what Reece is capable of, but Grey's just arrogant enough to think he can outwit former SEAL James Reece. Bad mistake. 

The leader of the Russian mafia (Ivan Zharkov) decides to employ Grey because of his knowledge of key US figures and practices and because of his cyber skills. And when Grey presents his case to eliminate James Reece after finally finding him at Kumba Ranch in Montana which is owned by Reese's best friend's (former SEAL Raife Hastings) family, Ivan suggests both should be eliminated. 

A team of Russian mafia operatives who've trained some of their gang members for this mission is deployed to Montana to hunt Reese and Raife, but when Ivan's perverse son Aleksandr, who has a position in the Russian government, discovers through one of his assets what's on his father's agenda, he alerts his USA contacts to the ambush and deploys his own team to facilitate his craving for hunting humans.  

Following the disturbing Prologue, because of the complexity of Carr's plot plus the multitude of characters who comprise these novels, this story is a bit slow in developing. Having said that, the last quarter of the book is fast, breathtaking, bizarre, and partially conclusive with some sorrow and a slight cliffhanger mixed in. 

Reading this series will give you an education into the amazing knowledge the best of the best military men must have to do the jobs they do all over the world to keep this country of ours safe. They are incredible individuals given impossible situations to overcome. When it gets personal for the characters in these stories, they use every part of their training and their innate giftings from the God who many of them have yet to know to perform outlandish measures to accomplish their purposes and to protect those they love. 

If you love weapons, you'll love the insider knowledge described in these novels. 

Profanity present. 

Father, you are so gracious to us, all of us whether we know you or not. You hand out all kinds of talents and gifts and then leave it up to us how we use them, even though we're designed to use them at your direction. May you bless those who've yet to meet your Son and help them find your salvation. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

I

     But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 

2 Peter 3:8-9 (NIV) 

Name five of your favorite movies. They don't have to be in order. Can be random choices that come to mind. Five movies you enjoy.

POTC Curse of the Black Pearl 

The Tourist (remake)

The Bourne Series

The Mission Impossible Series 

Skyfall 

Father, you designed the arts. May those who participate in them find the One who's given them their talents and gifts. Only you, Lord. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Frozen in time . . . caught in the moment when the mood is written in the eyes and the pose says it all. 

Longacres Racetrack, a very long time ago. 

Father, you watched the struggle, you waited patiently, and finally at just the right moment when my heart was right, you rescued me. Thank you is never enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

On the evening of February 14th, 2022, I finished my latest novel. Then . . . you is now sporting the two words that brought it to a close: The End. Yes, it's a love story. Yes, I love this one. Yes, I hope those of you who choose to read it when it's "a wrap" will love it too. Yay! 

Father, always: Apart from you, I can do nothing. Thank you is never enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

With clips from the film The Bodyguard starring Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner, one of Whitney's most beautifully performed songs with meaningful lyrics, it's absolutely one of my all-time favorites. And Whitney Houston's voice is priceless. There aren't enough superlatives to describe it. A great song to follow Valentine's Day. 

Father, you gave us music, singers, and musicians. Not all use those gifts for you, but hopefully more will realize apart from you, they can do nothing. You bless. You give. You take away. You are Love. Incomparable love. Thank you for it all. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.  

Today is just another day for some – and this year it's a Monday. For others it's a celebration of the romantic kind of love. For others it's a reminder of that which is lacking in their lives. 

I don't know what it is for you, but Valentine's Day in my 6th grade year of school many years ago was a day where four beautiful heart-shaped candy boxes were sitting on my desk when I arrived. Only one of them allowed me to know who'd given it to me. Very thoughtful young guys I never got to thank except for one. Funny what we remember . . . 

I wish you a good day, a beautiful romantic day, and certainly not one which reminds you of what you don't have – or even what you don't want. 

Happy February 14th! 

Father, you are Love, the kind we humans can't truly imagine. From you it's pure and defined in ways our sinful hearts can never fully understand. Help us to learn what we can while we're here so we can share the best part of it – or try to. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Place me like a seal over your heart,

   like a seal over your arm;

for love is as strong as death,

   its jealousy unyielding as the grave.

It burns like a blazing fire,  

   like a mighty flame.

Song of Solomon 8:6 (NIV) 

"I write love stories with a passion." Yes, that's me. My novels don't have major conflict after conflict after conflict. That notion is the prescribed medium for pure romance novels. Which is why I refer to mine as love stories, heavy on the romance.

My novels are about people. Period. Some ordinary, some extraordinary, all with flaws, all in need of a Savior whether they know it, experience Him, want to know Him . . . or not. 

People make mistakes, people cause problems, people do wrong things and suffer the consequences. That's life. 

And that, in so many words, is what my novels are about . . . 

Father, always simply and profoundly: apart from you, I can do nothing. Help me to stay close, listen well, and write strong. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.