One of the all-time best Christian rock bands with their leader Mylon LeFevre who truly had been through it all before he found the One who set him free. Mylon's story is worth hearing if you ever take the opportunity. Truly talented, chose his path of ruin before giving it up to serve Jesus. A Christian is no "stranger to danger" unless they ignore the temptations of life – hard to do.
Father, continue to bless Mylon's ministry and all that he does for you. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
We play a dangerous game, we who write novels. Yes, it's fiction so we can play with characters, plots, tempos, melodic prose, staccato words, all of that. And we do. However, some authors dare to take a terrible risk when they make their protagonist – their hero or heroine – unlikable. I would guess that some readers might find that prospect intriguing, but I must admit I do not.
Instead of doing my typical Monday book review, I decided to discuss this topic because of a novel I read a short time ago which only had one moderately likable character in the entire rather long story and cast of numerous characters. Written by a British author and taking place predominantly in various parts of London and outlying towns, the pre-middle age protagonist was mostly a heavy drinker but had also been an historian, teacher, and a husband. "Had been" being the operative words. He was fired from the school where he taught, but the reader doesn't learn why until two thirds of the way into the story which opens with him staying with/mooching off a friend.
When another friend from his university days approaches him and invites him to meet his employer in Madeira (Portugal) who might be interested in hiring him for his talents as an historian, he accepts the invitation and travels to their destination, a beautiful estate owned by a wealthy older man who has a mystery he wants solved about a dead British man. He gives the dead man's journal to the protagonist to research after offering substantial money to hire him. The historian in the protagonist is fascinated and anxious to pursue the fate of the dead man which leads him back to London and neighboring areas.
Although at this point the protagonist is hardly likable before his research is all said and done, he becomes even more unlikable – a self-serving often obnoxious man – until after what turns out to be a harrowing discovery, he finds a bit of redemption near the end and at the end of the story. The story elevates the dead man who is faced with multiple betrayals and heartbreak. He's the antithesis of the protagonist while sharing the stage in the plot. It's implicated that the dead man's honor and death give a renewed understanding of a respectable life to the protagonist who concludes the story better off than when it began.
All that to say, I almost quit the book multiple times because of the multi-characters' lack of integrity and anything of personal value. I guess it was the "heroism" of the dead man who saved the novel. Would I recommend it? No. Which is why I'm not naming names.
Father, thank you for the art of writing stories. Thank you for the inspiration and gift of writing. Please help me to be the best I can be and to always bring you glory. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
Luke 2:16-20 (NIV)
Jesus, born in a manger, committed to saving the world. He offered it all yet some refused His sacrifice.
On this day, may you find the Savior and let the Light triumph in your life.
Merry Christmas!
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified, but the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you: he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger." Luke 2:8-12 (NIV)
Christmas Eve, 2020. Jesus Is Still The Reason For The Season. People still honor the birth of Jesus Christ.
Some open gifts. Some deliver gifts. Some serve a special meal. Some serve meals to the homeless.
Some attend candlelight services and in spite of "regulations" will sing the beautiful songs of Christmas.
Some suffer in hospitals, some suffer in addictions, some suffer in loneliness, some suffer deep loss.
Some celebrate modestly, some celebrate elegantly, some celebrate humbly, some celebrate boisterously.
Some anticipate Christmas morning, some complain about too many/not enough gifts, some resent preparing the big dinner, some welcome the wonderful holiday and all it brings.
I wish you a Merry, Joyous Christmas. Jesus came to save us all from the evils of sin and shame. Nothing compares to Him and what He did for His creation. May you be the ones who truly celebrate Christmas in spite of all that is sinful and distracting from the real meaning of this unique and beautiful event.
Thank you, Jesus, for rescuing us. We're all desperate for you.
Those of you who know me well know I don't generally read Christmas novels, but Christmas at Harrington's by the prolific author Melody Carlson was a thoughtful gift so I appreciated the spirit in which it was given and read the story.
A genuinely innocent woman (Lena) who served eight years for being conned by her ex-husband leaves prison with next to nothing to attempt to start a new life in a new town away from the horrible memories of her betrayal. On the bus ride to her destination where a boarding house room has been reserved for her, she reluctantly meets a lovely older woman who asks to sit next to her. Not wanting to be close to anyone but feeling she can't refuse, she discovers the sweet lady named Moira in a funny red Christmas coat sincerely wants to befriend her.
Needless to say, there are multiple challenges ahead for Lena, not the least of which is finding a job. She's supposed to have one at the local department store, but she learns upon her arrival that workers are being laid off. Upon meeting the owner's teen daughter, an unusual possibility seems to be her only prospect of employment.
The novel is a quick read about second chances, having to face the ugliness of a painful past, learning what true friendship looks like, and resolving all issues in the course of facing the real reason for faith at Christmas and always. If you're a reader of Christmas stories, you're bound to find pleasure in this one.
Father, please continue to bless Melody and provide all she needs to continue writing the stories you have just for her to tell. Give her joy for the season and keep her safe from all harm as she does as you direct her to do. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
The pure voice of Josh Groban perfectly delivering the words of this wonderful Christmas hymn.
The classic sound of a choir for this old folk hymn traditionally sung at Christmas.
Beautiful voices and a perfect rendition of this great old Christmas song.
Thank you, Jesus, is never enough.
Firewalk by L. T. Ryan and Brian Shea addresses the modern-day horror of human trafficking.
Hatch starts out her new life anonymously until she's forced to make up her name on the fly. Grabbing her beloved niece's first name and coupling it with a former young cop's last name, she quickly becomes Daphne Nighthawk – at least temporarily. A quick stop at a gas station yields a pretty teenager showing signs of distress and intentionally dropping a school pin as she's nearly dragged to a waiting vehicle. When the car pulls away, Hatch, aka Daphne, retrieves the pin and figures out the exclusive school it represents. Approaching that school to verify the whereabouts of the young girl who dropped it proves to be difficult and irritating, but finally yields valuable information on who the girl is and that she is in fact missing. Next stop takes her to the police station.
At the local police station, Hatch faces ineptitude and condescension by the man in charge of the investigation, insisting she probably just ran away for a few days. Her final stop is the girl's home located in an exclusive area with gated mansions. She approaches the home and requests to speak to the parents stating that she has information about the girl, but the security guard proves to be a bundle of hostility and refers her to the police. Turns out he shouldn't have messed with Hatch.
Through a clandestine conference with the girl's mother, she gathers the woman is basically a hostage herself by a controlling husband, but the woman decides to trust Hatch and her promise to bring her daughter home.
The abhorrent underworld of human trafficking is revealed when Hatch teams up with a Private Investigator who likes to fake who he is. When Hatch realizes he's far more clever and insightful than she first gathered, having fallen for his first guise, she begins to trust him.
Firewalk is not a fun story, and the treachery and disregard for human life – especially of those who are young and attractive – explore the absolute base desires of sinful man. Hatch is at her best when she has a noble purpose before her. Being a woman dedicated to keeping her seldom made promises, she knows there are only so many opportunities in this life to right a wrong. If she can, she will, or she will literally die trying.
Having left behind the family she'd grown to love and the man who stole her heart in order to keep them all safe from the group who killed her father, she misses them terribly and wonders if there will ever be a way to return to them. She must quickly set those thoughts aside as she continues on her journey being someone else.
Hatch is an amazing character, hard-headed but tender-hearted, tough as any good soldier but vulnerable just the same. Firewalk is Book 5 in this series and each segment allows us to see another part of Rachel Hatch.
Father, you know everyone's heart, how they view things, how they handle life. Only you can save souls. We're all desperate for you whether we know it or not. Please bless L. T. and Brian as they write stories of the good and evil in men's hearts. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. "Get up," he said, "take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him."
So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: "Out of Egypt I called my son."
Matthew 2:13-15 (NIV)
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And last and the most inexpensive, a real bargain:
Merry Christmas shopping!
Father, Jesus is the Reason for the Season, and there are never enough thank yous for that. Please keep seeking souls with hearts open to the Savior of the world. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
