Into the Fire

He made some great tunes. This was one of my favorites of his. 

Father, only you give these great gifts. Thank you for your artists. May they know you are the giver of their talents. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Toni Shiloh presents Book 2 in the Faith & Fortune series: The Truth About Fame. 

Tori Bell (Astoria Bell) is a supermodel. Her parents are famous actors, and her brother is an award winning photographer. It seems Tori has acquired a stalker and her dad requires and hires her a bodyguard. Marcel Fox, who she calls Fox and who calls her Princess, gets on her nerves in spite of his 6' 3" drop dead gorgeous appeal which she chooses to ignore – for the most part – because of his uninvited presence which requires him to take care of her and shepherd her around 24/7. However, when the stalker escalates his threats and causes injury, Fox moves her out of her home which she shares with her two lifelong friends and into a place she least expects to occupy, reducing any possibility her stalker will locate her. 

Toni knows how to write romance, and, yes, this is a "typical" romance, but this time I do not mean it disparagingly. Because the heroine and protagonist share mostly equal parts in this story, it's who they are as people that separates this story from being tiresome or mundane. Well-developed characters with snap, crackle, and pop chemistry between them, a pledge of protection from Fox rocks Tori's pledge to remain man-less. Trust issues plague Tori because of her early and more recent experiences with predator men, but she's forced to place her trust in Fox because of his plan to flush out the stalker. When it works, Tori is forced to rely on her re-commitment to God because it seems her stalker has seen to eliminating her protection.

Tori does show some evidence of living the high life while desiring to be a regular person without really realizing all she's ever known is privilege. She can't help that, but she's kind, pleasant, fun, and giving – except when it comes to her bodyguard. Fox comes from a history of pain, is a man of admirable faith, absolute in his devotion to complete his job no matter what it requires of him. He knows how to push Tori's buttons and selectively takes pleasure in doing so.  

Ultimately, we get the happy ending after Tori realizes that she certainly can trust God and can always count on Fox.

The Truth About Fame is a quick, fun romance with plenty of heat between the two main characters. Well done, Toni!     

Father, please continue to meet every need Toni requires to keep writing the stories you have just for her to tell. Bless her in your abundance and keep her safe from all harm. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

     For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them into gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment; if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others; if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the filthy lives of lawless men (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard) – if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment, while continuing their punishment. This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the sinful nature and despise authority.

     Bold and arrogant, these men are not afraid to slander celestial beings; yet even angels, although they are stronger and more powerful, do not bring slanderous accusations against such beings in the presence of the Lord. But these men blaspheme in matters they do not understand. They are like brute beasts, creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, and like beasts they too will perish.

     They will be paid back with harm for the harm they have done. Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their pleasures while they feast with you. With eyes full of adultery, they never stop sinning; they seduce the unstable; they are experts in greed – an accursed brood! They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Beor, who loved the wages of wickedness. But he was rebuked for his wrongdoing by a donkey – a beast without speech – who spoke with a man's voice and restrained the prophet's madness.

     These men are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them. For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of sinful human nature, they entice people who are just escaping those who live in error. They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity – for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him.

2 Peter 2:4-19 (NIV) 

One of the most horrible injustices committed by the then leaders of this country. Waiting for the country they served to rescue them, three of them fought to their deaths to defend this country's embassy. And died while politicians slept. 

Father, one day we will all face judgment. It won't be pretty for any of us, but for some who reject your Son, it will be exceptionally ugly as they realize their denial of Truth. Help me to always be faithful, thankful beyond my ability to express, and to serve you always. We're desperate for you, Lord, whether we know it or not. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

9/11 brings images of incredible damage, hardship, death, mayhem, and sacrifice. Loss and mourning. Grisly pictures, scents, sounds. Horror, fear, shock. 

Rescues, testimonies of miracles, professionals at work without hesitation.

Never forget the sorrow of 9/11.

Remember that life can be short or long. Remember that ultimately all of our days are numbered. Live fully.  

Find the One who longs to take you with Him to heaven whenever your life comes to an end. That makes it all more meaningful. 

Jesus, you suffered and died to provide the peace between God and man. Took every sin and allowed it be nailed to the Cross with you. All we need to do is believe you gave your life for ours. Confess our sins and give our lives back to you. Thank you is never enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

                                    Originally posted on 01/12/07 

Everyone knows that life can be tough. Miserable for some. Horribly treacherous for others. Some of us cannot imagine the existence some people suffer. Sometimes it’s invisible to us, other times it’s blatant.

I think it’s important to say right here, right now, that without Jesus Christ as our Savior, there is no “happy ending”. Those people who are blessed to go through this life with many creature comforts, relatively few episodes of drama and trauma, yet refuse to acknowledge the sacrifice which ensures their eternal life will be even better than the one they’re living, stand to lose it all. The memory of a fortunate life on planet earth will be so distant amidst the torment of their eternal destination that it simply won’t matter nor will it bring any comfort.

Randy Alcorn wrote a based-on-truth novel called Safely Home. It’s not only an eye-opener to the perils of the underground church, it is a soul-wrencher. You cannot read Safely Home without enduring the pain of acknowledging such bravery and wondering, “Would I be able to do the same?” It crushes you while it inspires you. And it reminds you of eternity.

Many people today see nothing but the flaws in the good ol’ USA, its deterioration, its moral decline. But I try to remember everyday to thank my Lord for allowing me the privilege of living in a country who is struggling to survive in a world gone mad. A country that still has a remnant of those who are willing to fight for what is good and right, whether it involves survival or the war against the demonic slaughter of unborn children. Most citizens have their strong issues to champion. Having been to Europe many years ago and visited several countries, appreciating their ancient beauty and unique structures, I can say without reservation the governments of those countries offer nothing in comparison to ours and in spite of the EU, they are in decline more severely, and have been, for much longer than this country.

All of this has been foretold between the pages of the bestseller of all time: the Bible. The long, large book with the happy ending . . . for some. Not most. For the “peculiar people” who acknowledge and live for the One who gave His life that we could all have a “happy ending” after these “light and momentary troubles”.

Although few things wrap up neat and tidy in our lives, if we love Jesus Christ, they will wrap up happy. In the end. When life on earth says farewell and gives way to life which lasts forever.

So, to sum it up, if you’re writing a novel, at least let your readers know at some point there will be a happy ending. Not a perfect life, not a happy-go-lucky life, not a life of luxury and perfection, but for having known the Savior, there will be a reward. Real and eternal. If you doubt that, read the non-fiction bestseller of all time.

Father, thank you for giving us the opportunity to be redeemed, to experience true happiness which alludes us in the lasting sense on planet earth. Born into sin, without hope, doomed to destruction without Jesus Christ and the redemption He provided by sacrificing His life that we might experience a "happy ending". Let me be always faithful. I need more faith, more of you. I need it all. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

If you could meet your favorite novel character, who would it be? You may pick three of each male and female. Go! (Authors, you may not pick your own . . . this time.)

I know I can't get away with not naming mine. So they will be no surprise to most of you, but it's really, really hard to limit the males to just three. Ready? (You know I'm going to have to cheat, don't you?)

Mitch Rapp  Roman Velasco (aka Bobby Ray Dean)  John Milton and Cole "Tox" Russell are tied. 

Raleigh Harmon  Grace Moore  Rachel Hatch and Ham are tied.

Your turn. 

Father, please bless your writers/authors. May each one know that you are the giver of all gifts good and perfect. Apart from you, we can do nothing. Thank you is never enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.  

Ah, the revised – but much the same – Jefferson Airplane to the Jefferson Starship. Great sound, lots of talent. Typical lyrics of that "drugs/sex/rock'n'roll" era. Some great music from that time – never has been equaled. 

Father, only you know hearts. Only you can reach them. May every gifted artist know from whom their talent comes. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Captain Michael Pope is the new Control of the super secret British Group Fifteen. The former Control is dead thanks to the daughter of the former Number One Beatrix Rose: Isabella Rose. Isabella Rose was taken from her mother after being in the arms of her father as he is executed by other members of Group 15 under the leadership of the former Control. She's grown up in sequestered foster homes and kept apart from her mother until John Milton helps Beatrix recover her daughter for one final year with her, knowing Isabella will be in extreme danger until Beatrix can eradicate those agents who ruined her family's lives. So she spends the one year she has left with her daughter training her to run, shoot, fight, think, and act like an agent. And Isabella responds. 

When there is a tragic bombing in London, Michael Pope is charged with finding and eliminating the perpetrators. What he learns determines his attempt to enlist the help of the young Isabella Rose. Having promised Beatrix he'd watch over her, he has mixed feelings about asking for her assistance, but she readily accepts his offer. Pope, two other members of Group 15, and Isabella set up their covers and fly out of London. 

After establishing their identities, Isabella lands an invitation to the mark's party and must somehow make her way through the mansion to download information about the father's business dealings. When she is accosted by the boy's mother, everything goes haywire, and utter chaos erupts within the house. Pope loses track of Isabella, there are murders, and armed men chase after the family who drags Isabella with them to escape.

From here, the stories take off to Syria, Macedonia, Washington DC, Vietnam, Ciudad Juarez, and eventually back to London. In the process of all the confusion Pope's family is kidnapped, there are impossibly strong young agents sent after him and Isabella, incomprehensible revelations about those agents, a rescue and exchange plan, a mysterious man dubbed "Atari", deep and hidden lies, a doctor who plans to expose the reason for the powerful agents, death and mayhem, Isabella's injury and surprise attachment to an unlikely friend who saves her life. 

Pope's a mess after all of it, estranged from his uprooted family. He's lost Isabella and thinks she's dead. He turns to alcohol much like Milton had done. He learns who's behind everything and pulls himself together to end the discovered horrors of the men who are responsible for it all, ultimately assisting Isabella to complete her mission. 

We see the deterioration of Michael Pope, at his worst, rallying to fulfill a promise he made to Beatrix when he gains real information, and losing just about everything including his life. It seems he and Isabella have a bond that can't be broken, and each other are all they really have left in this world. These Beatrix Rose/Isabella Rose stories, although often terrifically exciting and interesting, carry a profound sense of loss and a devastating sadness with them. 

The Isabella Rose Thriller Series by Mark Dawson is another thrill ride all around the world. The final chapter puts most of it to rest. 

Some profanity. 

Father, please continue to accommodate Mark in his writing needs and minister to him as only you can do. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

     Brothers loved by God, we know that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. 

1 Thessalonians 1:4-7 (NIV)