Into the Fire

Need some classic beauty for the coming season? I know: many of you aren't ready for it. "Thanksgiving hasn't even happened yet!" you shout. Well, Thanksgiving will be here soon enough, and I am thankful everyday. I want Christmas to last a long time. Not just a few weeks. It deserves two months at least. I wrapped presents today, and all I have left to do is put up the tree. I'm late on that! Logistics interfered. To each his own, right? I love Christmas! 

Father, thank you for it all. Jesus came. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Thank you, Jesus! Amen.

Few things are worth dying for, but freedom and liberty rank at the top. May God bless those who served to honor this country and protect its citizens. We are forever grateful. 

We thank you for all that you've done in service to us all. 

GOD BLESS the USA and all who served.

Father, guard and protect them as only you can do. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

This was a great song by the Isley Brothers. There's some heavy duty guitar work goin' on in this version. 

Father, you love your musicians. May each one know from whom their talent and gifts are given. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Are you in need of another thriller hero? How about a former Delta operator working Black-Ops for an unknown government contact in need of making certain individuals disappear? Enter Jon Reznick. The Jon Reznick Thriller Series by J. B. Turner will keep the pages turning and the next installment lined up. 

Let's face it. Operators of this kind have to present certain characteristics that most of us will never attain to do things we could never achieve. They're warriors who've been able to develop their natural God-given skills to an extreme level to become who they are to do what they do. But these elite warriors don't get to this level without sacrifices in both their minds and bodies. In order to do their "jobs", it has to be this way. 

In Hard Road Jon Reznick performs specific jobs and gets paid handsomely to do them. When he gets a phone call from his handler, he regrets the timing but goes to the target location anyway. Only something's not right. And everything goes wrong. What could've easily been a quick elimination turns out to be more of a rescue and a mad chase to survive. When the FBI gets involved, Jon strikes a deal to determine exactly what's happening. And it isn't good. 

In Hard Kill Jon Reznick has been brought on board in a "consulting" position by the FBI Assistant Director Martha Meyerstein who he "helped" in Hard Road. There's been a kidnapping of a high level security specialist and Meyerstein wants his analysis assistance. There's also a missing young woman who could be dead, and the one individual who Jon can't eliminate is the seemingly "perfect", as in squeaky clean surgeon, with not even a parking ticket to his name who had a brief association with the woman. 

Jon's like a dog with a bone, and he insists there's something about this guy that strikes him wrong, and he pushes to the point where Martha and her top assistant square off with Martha pulling rank in no uncertain terms. For whatever reason, she sides with Jon.

Hard Kill is excruciatingly complex and takes its time to discover who's doing what and why.  

Book 1 and Book 2 in The Jon Reznick Thriller Series will keep you reaching for the next one in the series (which I am currently reading).

Profanity present. 

Father, please bless your authors with an ever increasing knowledge of yourself. Please keep J. B. filled with inspiration and supply what he needs to write the stories you have just for him to tell. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.  

     Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off — for all whom the Lord our God will call."

Acts 2:38-39 (NIV) 

To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."  John 8:31-32 (NIV)

So how does this important scripture relate to fiction? Fiction is not "truth", but it can portray truth. Probably at the root of Christian Fiction is the desire to tell stories that reveal truth in a way where readers can relate to or identify with it. Depending on the types of stories, the depth of biblical truth will be shown in myriad ways. Symbolically, literally, or fantastically (as in fantasy), stories can illustrate the classic battle of good versus evil, the need for a Savior, the personal struggles that point characters to Jesus Christ, and/or the beauty of a relationship with Him. 

Truth is critical in a fallen world. We become aware of this in every area of our lives. We know the source of Truth:

Jesus answered them, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me."  John 14:6 (NIV) 

Novels can give us glimpses of truth, and the better we write them the more effective they can be in revealing it. 

Father, thank you for the zillionth time for every word. You are the only way I can write at all. Thank you is never enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

This is from The Famous One . . . 

The Blues

     Pelting rain on the car windows in the grey light of day finally woke him up to a disgusting taste in his mouth and the sense that if he did anything too fast he would be throwing up. Slowly, he sat up and read his watch. It was 10:30 and a new year had begun. Another day, he thought soberly, carefully pulling himself out of his sleeping bag so he could walk to the house to use the bathroom before going home.

     To his surprise, a week later Rick brought a guy to Wembler's Grocery just before Joey got off work.

     "Joey, this is my friend Jay Garver, the one I was tellin' ya about who's lookin' for a singer for his band. We'll meet ya out in the parkin' lot when you're done, alright?"

     When Joey walked out to his car, Jay asked him how old he was.

     "Sixteen," he answered, lighting up a much welcomed cigarette.

     "Hmm. Well, Rick said you're really good. Can you come to a try out with our band tomorrow night?"

     "This is crazy, Rick. Look, Jay, I was jut goofin' around at Rick's party. I was smashed! Rick was smashed–how could anybody tell if I could sing or not? Everybody was ripped, man!" Joey tried to explain.

     Jay smiled subtly through his moustache and fingered his trimmed beard. "Well, maybe we'll just have to get you smashed so you can sing," he offered. "Joey, it takes a little extra to sing the blues, man. It has to come from in here," he said pointing to his chest. "Most kids your age don't even listen to the blues. I'd like to hear ya sing. We'll play somethin' you know. The guys are great–all they care about is the music, man. Give it a shot. What's it gonna hurt anyway?" 

     "C'mon, Joey! These guys are good, I'm tellin' ya," Rick urged.

     "What time?" Joey asked a little nervously.

     "How's 7 o'clock?" Jay asked.

     "Okay. Where?"

     "Just go over to Rick's house, and we'll swing by and pick you up, alright?" Jay instructed.

     "This is crazy," Joey said, looking down at his boots and shaking his head.

     "I got a good feelin' about you, kid." Jay smiled again.

Father, you know my heart, my soul, my everything. You know. Please continue to minister to me and instruct my writing. Apart from you, I can do nothing. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

                He reigns. That isn't whimsy. It's Truth. 

Father, thank you is never enough. You left us beauty amidst the cursed earth. And grace and mercy. Holy Spirit, thank you is never enough. In the Name of Jesus. Amen.  

The Band often backed up Bob Dylan back in the day before coming out with their album "Music from Big Pink" which was the "name" of the house they lived in at the time if I remember correctly. Interesting unique sound which apparently thrilled some music critics. Not everyone's favorite, but they did produce some great songs. 

Father, only you know hearts and save souls. May your musicians and singers know who's blessed them with their talent. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Book 3 Fair Trade in the Barks & Beans Café Mystery Series by Heather Day Gilbert resurrects a long time ago friendship for Macy.  

Carolina is the lead singer of the well-known band Carolina Crush and was Macy's best friend growing up, and now here she is performing at their local fair where Bo and Macy have a stand representing their Barks & Beans Café. When Macy runs into her, Carolina is thrilled to renew their friendship and promises tickets for her and her brother Bo. However, things seem to be off kilter when Macy is introduced to the band members and manager, but she's not familiar with the music world and how it operates so she ignores the disconnect. When things get dicey for Carolina, Macy's worried for her friend and offers her the guest room in her home until things get resolved. However, "things" don't seem to be heading in the right direction, and a real murder mystery results.

In the midst of it all, the only real interest Macy has experienced since her divorce is in the FBI Special Agent friend (Titan) of her brother's, and the crazy goings on at the fair bring him back to town briefly with his interest in Macy equivalent to hers in him. 

Don't want to give away too much for the cozy mystery lovers who will have lots of suspects to keep them busy through this quick and fun read. Another good one for the Barks & Beans Café crowd. And a terrifically cute cover to top it off. 

Father, you know Heather's every need. I pray your blessing over her and that you would supply all of her needs according to your abundance. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.