Into the Fire

Which do you prefer?

Macaroni and Cheese or Pasta Salad

Hot Tea or Iced Tea

Coffee or Tea

Pork Chops or Ribs

Slacks or Jeans

Dresses or Skirts

Blouses or Turtlenecks

Flip Flops or Sandals

Yoga Pants or Sweat Pants

Hoodies or Pullovers w/o a hood

Salmon or Halibut

Rock 'n' Roll or Country Western

Swimming or Hiking

Tennis or Pickle Ball

Monopoly or Scrabble

Hearts or Canasta 

Peanuts or Almonds

Muffins or Bagels 

Raw or Cooked Vegetables

Bicycling or Driving 

Father, you've given us unlimited choices in so many things. Blessings upon Blessings. Thank you for it all. Please help us to share with others and to be obedient to you. Thank you is never enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

I'm an author. I primarily write contemporary love stories heavy on the romance, never with graphic sexual situations but definitely acknowledge sexual attraction and desire. Being a Christian author, I incorporate the gospel in contrast to worldly culture without condemnation. I make no excuses for how I've chosen to write my stories. Not all Christian readers will like my work.

When I think about what I'm willing to include in my stories – since I write contemporary novels – I've realized there are some circumstances I will not incorporate. Any author who publishes independently as I do has that freedom.

Currently, in some publishing houses, restrictions have been levied for authors which do not allow them the freedom to accurately tell their stories the way they would choose to do. It's been shocking to absorb and possibly in the big picture will add new and accomplished authors to the indie publishing ranks. 

Whereas "self-published" authors used to be viewed as – pardon the expression – the scum of the writing world, some indie authors now occupy the ranks of "bestsellers" in multiple categories and genres. 

Just thinking . . . 

Father, every story I've written, you've given me. Apart from you, I can do nothing. Please continue to lead me in your ways. Thank you is never enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

. . . darkness was over the surface of the deep and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.

      And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. 

There is a darkness here again and we desperately need God's light once more. We can no longer ignore it. We can no longer pretend it doesn't affect us: the children of the Light of the world. It's here. 

Father, we lift up our world, knowing you see it all, you allow certain things in the passage of time, that this earth is not a permanent dwelling place for your Creation. There will be total darkness or the wonderful Light of perfection as the eventual eternal choices for the people of this place. We have no concrete hour or day for the termination of life as we know it. You've given us some guidelines for the future, but you've instructed us to live in the present. As we live in this moment of time, we ask that you would show yourself in the darkness and bring your perfect light to us once again allowing so many who've not seen it to now recognize who you are and seek after you in spirit and in truth. We thank you for all you have done, are doing, and will do. You know the pain and the suffering of so many. Free them, Lord. Let us experience your magnificence for all the world to see and expose the evil ones to the blinding light of your pure goodness. Bring them to their knees and defeat them for all to see. "Every knee will bow, every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord, to the Glory of God the Father." Philippians 10-11 

I'd never heard this song – I can't believe it released in 1978 and I missed it. I like this one – especially the lyrics and the easy-listenin' music. Not bad. (With special thanks to SB for mentioning it in a Tweet.) 

Father, you listen to our hearts and only you know where and with whom we truly stand. May I always be faithful to you above all and to those I love so deeply. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

The introduction to John Milton begins the incredible journey of the man the British government sends after those who won't "negotiate". There are others like him out there who need to be taken down. Sometimes it's a matter of them or John Milton. Tarantula starts the series with a novella. 

Mark Dawson has created one of the most appealing characters in the espionage/assassin genres even though the first full length novel in the series (The Cleaner) takes John Milton out of the game as Number One in the Group Fifteen stable. In Tarantula he's Number Eight and is assigned a job in Naples, Italy, by the director of the group known as Control. John is handed a stack of folders with information on his target and role in pursuing the target since Number Three suffered a confirmed death by this ruthless branch of Mafiosos. 

If Milton is nothing else, he is definitely confident in his ability to pull off whatever is required of him. He's quick to assess sometimes rapidly changing situations after having explicitly planned for many possible encounters. He's glacier cold when he needs to be, and he has a look in those ice blue eyes which rarely fails to transmit what he's capable of.

These men who murdered Number Three are intent to take out John if necessary. They have a contract assassin to do their dirty (wet) work known as "Tarantula" because of a tattoo of the spider across most of one side of his face and neck. He's almost flawless in what he does – much like John Milton. When John assesses what and who he's up against, he travels to the quartermaster to get what he needs and sets his plan. 

Tarantula is interesting, definitely entertaining, and a perfect enticement and tease novella to send a reader storming to buy Book One in the John Milton Series – all of which are reviewed on this blog. 

Some profanity. 

Father, you've given so much to so many. Please continue to bless Mark with stories that accentuate his talent. Thank you for the gift of writing. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

     Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." 

     Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

John 20:29-31 (NIV)

Okay, we often say people are "weird" because of their unusual actions, words, habits, etcetera.

But some people think we authors/novelists are weird because we tend to live in a fantasy world where our characters reside. We hear their conversations or perhaps it's safer to say we write their conversations – but that sort of happens after we hear them. Talking. Oh, never mind.

So, yeah, we can sometimes qualify for being weird, but, hey, readers, be grateful because without our weirdness and mind pictures and hearing voices, you wouldn't have those stories you've grown to enjoy. Right? 

So, weird or not, our characters must be real to us or how are they going to project as real to you? 

My note to authors: Celebrate your weirdness! Embrace that storyland where you live for as long as it takes to write that story. Enjoy those people because eventually you have to say goodbye, and that's like leaving a good friend behind! 

Anyway, I don't mind if you call me weird – as long as you do it affectionately. 

Father, thank you for all of my characters. Apart from you, I can do nothing. Thank you is never enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Posted under "Finding the fallen but . . . Chasing Angels" on 11/18/20 written by Karin Kaufman. 

Two people haunted by their past sins comprise an unlikely team who investigate demonic activity wherever they are called by generally frightened people who desperately seek relief from the evil side of the supernatural realm and have no idea how to combat it.

Enter "Berg" and Teagan. Berg's an arthritic retired pastor, gracious, patient, intelligent, and determined; Teagan a divorced police academy wash-out, a young woman with crippling guilt and a sugar addiction, and every now and then her outbursts get the best of her. 

Their latest case takes place in a former Episcopalian church recently purchased as a private residence to eventually become a bed-and-breakfast. However, before significant renovations have been completed, a dead man is found in a resealed basement wall along with a strange note. Accompanying that discovery, things have gotten "noisy" and objects appear to be moved. 

After a strange acquisition of one of Teagan's business cards, Matt and Carissa Peterson and their two young children seem to have reached the end of their coping abilities, calling in Berg and Teagan to help them rid their home of "ghosts". Upon their arrival, Berg and Teagan learn they weren't the first choices for this endeavor, the couple first calling another man to perform a "psychic cleansing" and a woman who is a medium named "Madame Lebec" to do whatever she does. She's the party responsible for passing the business card to the scary neighbors who gave the card to Carissa. 

The evil neighbors know far too much about both Berg and Teagan – too much for it to be naturally accumulated. 

Both Berg and Teagan know this particular job is far more convoluted than what it originally seemed, and during their discoveries they realize both of them need to expand their confessions to one another to establish more trust. As they experience some horror, they learn they can truly count on each other, and their friendship expands out of necessity. 

Chasing Angels by Karin Kaufman is Book 1 in the Teagan Doyle Mysteries, and it's a great start. Most of you know I'm stingy with the 5-stars, but Karin earned all 5 of them in this very well-written supernatural mystery. Presenting a complex plot with superb character development and insights, she gives us two very likable main characters, and a real exposure to the power and influence of evil while making it clear that God is the true and ultimate power. With a tad bit of profanity, the outbursts are authentic and understandable giving the story a genuine reality.

I've read and enjoyed all of Karin's cozy mysteries (Juniper Grove Series) and her Anna Denning Mystery Series. Chasing Angels is on yet another level of excellence. Well done, Karin! Can't wait for the next one in the series.

And I want to mention this beautiful, enticing cover and the significance of the title! 

Father, please provide all that Karin needs to continue her very good work. You've blessed her with such talent, but she needs your healing touch at times to continue. Please comfort her and fill her every need. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

I do look for new authors to read. Sadly, I haven't found a bunch of new Christian authors that I've been enthralled with, and I'm not saying that's their fault. If the novels I've selected have been traditionally published, let's just say that some of the stories lack authenticity or have drama queens or kings that I don't tolerate well. As a reader, I can probably tolerate more than some Christian readers seem to be able to do. Therefore, some of the general market authors I've read recently have filled the bill in the thriller/espionage genre. 

What will you do to select a new author to read? 

Father, you've given gifts and talents to all people. It's up to us whether or not we acknowledge you as the origin of and for them and choose to honor you with them. Thank you is never enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

So many songs for broken hearts and wrong decisions – throughout the ages. Some tell the truth about mistakes and some just play the game with the lyrics – kind of like real life. 

Father, you've spread your gifts around and you're no respecter of persons. Your love is unfathomable. May each one know who gives them their talents and gifts. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.