Into the Fire

I prefer this older cover of the Vince Flynn novel Kill Shot, the second prequel in the Mitch Rapp Saga. 

Mitch Rapp has been living in France while quietly neutralizing a list of insatiables compiled by his handler (Irene Kennedy) and their boss (Thomas Stansfield). It's a list that only a handful of individuals in the upper echelon of the CIA are aware of – including Stan Hurley, the tough, egocentric, often profane and unlikable trainer of Mitch Rapp who decided early on that he (Stan) didn't like Rapp, maybe because Irene discovered him, maybe because Rapp reminded him of himself. 

With Rapp set to put down a specific target in a Paris hotel, he's dotted his i's and crossed all his t's. Finishing up and about to exit via the balcony where he entered, suddenly he hears the entrance of several men with silenced rifles and dashes for limited cover. When these men start shooting, the only hope Rapp has is to wait until they have to reload. 

Able to escape but receiving a through-and-through to his shoulder, he hustles back to the apartment he occupies and does his best to patch himself up.

When the police investigators show up to the mess of dead bodies, it isn't long before the DGSE arrives and usurps the case from the lead detective causing her to confront her briefly former lover with questions he won't answer. It doesn't sit right with her, but he makes it clear she has no choice. However, she has no intention of ignoring this infringement or this case. 

When Stansfield and Kennedy learn of the mess, they have no idea how the information has been spun, but since Rapp has missed his normal check-in, they assume he's gone off the rails from the sound of the info. Except Kennedy has a hard time believing it.

This thriller covers an abundance of angles from dirty officials in and at every level of espionage and law enforcement. Rapp concludes quickly that he's not safe and has to determine who he can trust – if anyone. 

Needless to say, reading Kill Shot again reminds me how much I loved Vince Flynn and his writing, his creation of Mitch Rapp, how superb his sources must have been to author the novels he wrote starting with Term Limits (the only book without Mitch Rapp in it). As I've written previously, there is no other thriller hero equal to Mitch Rapp. Many come in a close second, but no one can take his place. 

Highly recommend all of the late great Vince Flynn's novels, the continuation of his saga by Kyle Mills and now Don Bentley. 

Father, you know hearts and minds. May each one who has been gifted to write novels realize who it is who's given them their talents. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

. . . For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "If a man will not work, he shall not eat."

2 Thessalonians 3:10 (NIV) 

Okay. Outside of the characters in my novels, here are some of my favorite heroines and heroes. 

Raleigh Harmon is my number one favorite heroine written exquisitely by Sibella Giorello.

The Stones Cry Out will introduce you to Raleigh in this first book. Feel free to start here. Sibella wrote the prequels later, but you can start with them if you'd prefer. 

Needless to say, Mitch Rapp is the premiere thriller character originated by the late great Vince Flynn. No one has equaled his Mitch Rapp. No one.

And my ultimate favorite hero in a completely different genre is Francine Rivers' Roman Velasco (aka the Bird) in The Masterpiece. I can't explain how deeply this character touched me. Amazing work.  

Father, thank you for heroes and heroines in real life and in literature. Their creations touch hearts in incredible and unique ways. Thank you is never enough. Please bless those who write them. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

The Anna Denning Mystery Series by Karin Kaufman is a terrific collection if you're looking for a fresh group of mysteries that might send a chill up your arms now and then. This isn't a new series, but it's an excellent one. Well written and highly recommended. 

Father, you know Karin well and you've given her enormous talent. Please assist her in everything going on in her life now, refresh her, inspire her, and encourage her as only you can do. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Do you have your favorite novel characters? Those that you remember through the years from a single story or from a series when you can't wait for the next book and you never want the series to end? 

Building characters in stories is incredibly fun, exciting, intense, surprising, and (to me) personally meaningful. 

Since I will tell you some of my very favorite characters in Friday's post, today I'm going to share three of my favorites from my novels. 

I love "Joey Parr" from The Famous One:

Two of my absolute favorites! Hey, what did you expect from this romantic? 

Father, music is a gift. May all who make it thank the One who's given them their talents. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

As for other matters, brothers and sisters, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you. And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil people, for not everyone has faith. But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one. We have confidence in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we command. May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.

2 Thessalonians 3:1-5 (NIV)

An excerpt from my novel Seeing . . . 

Taken from Chapter 32

Reminder

     Jean July had the luxury of being born into a holy house with two parents who managed to praise God’s love and provision in spite of her father’s disability and eventual amputation and even when the young and vivacious Jean was told there was nothing that could correct her heart condition at such a tender age.

     He heard her words of explanation after she took him to their favorite spot up above their hideaway homes, high in the evergreens with an occasional pine, alder, or maple draping over them like a primitive shelter. They called it Eden—this place of beauty and stillness. This place where their lips first touched.

     She huffed and stopped along the way, and he asked if she was okay. She just smiled and pushed herself to get there.

     “Micah,” she said, settling into the seat of an ancient root system of a long-fallen fir. “We know God. You’ve even seen our Lord.”

     He remembered she labored over the words, reaching for more air as she spoke. “We don’t have much time left together. They—” She stumbled then. “The doctors can’t help me. It’s my heart.”

     The tears came fast then, and he panicked. He almost lunged for her but pulled her gently to himself and started to tell her they didn’t know what they were talking about. She was too young to die, and no way would he allow it. But as he struggled to speak, the Lord made sure he understood this would not be compromised. Jean July belonged to Him and what He intended for her was more and better than anything Micah or anyone else could provide. Micah wept as he held her and made no grandiose statements of her miraculous healing.

     When he could find his own oxygen and stop his wretched sobbing, he found a way to whisper, “Marry me.”

     She pulled out of his embrace and looked with wonder at his statement. “I’m going to die, Micah.” She said it so sweetly as if bestowing some noble gift upon him.

     “I know. So marry me.” He grabbed her hands. “I love you, Jean. I’ll always love you.”

Father, sometimes I marvel at the stories you've given me, the words that capture characters I love. Thank you is never enough, ever. Please continue to give them to me and provide me with the discipline to write them. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

                          High-school, my school. Senior picture. 

Lord, thank you for being patient with me and protecting me from myself. You rescued me several years later and I'm forever grateful. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

(I'm not sure how long ago I posted this, but I think it was in 2011. For me, it provided a reminder of perspective.)

All in good time . . .

Those of you who “know” me are aware of my two self-published novels. The first one Hope of Glory was begun in 1993, finished in 2002, published in 2005. My second novel The Famous One was begun late in 2004, finished in 2005, and published in 2008.

My third novel Sweet Release was started in 2005 and finished in 2005. My fourth novel Wounds . . . and Healings was started in 2005 and finished in 2005. My fifth novel Destination was written in 2006. My sixth novel The Fixer was begun in 2006 and finished in 2007. And the seventh novel Breath of Life was written in 2006. I have started the eighth novel, but it is progressing more slowly than I thought it would which is okay at this point.

Recently an individual who shall remain nameless picked up Hope of Glory after setting it aside some time ago. This person had read somewhere around 200 pages of the 744 page monster when he put it away for a considerable period of time. When he elected to start over with the book, he reread those pages and finished the book. He called to tell me that upon picking up the novel again and reading it through, he experienced a long desired healing. Called it a miracle. Said there was significant weeping involved, but he continued through to the end of the story and, although he didn’t explain the type or circumstances of the healing, let me know without a doubt, he was “healed”.

I’ve been getting some wonderfully positive feedback from those who’ve read The Famous One. And, if you have a copy of the novel and are not feeling positive about it, I’m sorry. Believe it or not, some readers have been truly moved by the story.

All in good time . . . the Lord ministers to and through us if we are willing to receive and pour forth from His supply and bounty. He gives us all we need to do what He assigns to us. If we can control our selfish desires and curb our lusts for fame and fortune, He will accomplish great things in us and through us because of who He is. And although our definitions of “great” and “successful” often clash with His, if we can sustain a willing heart to adhere to His desires for us, we will experience a profound sensation of value to His kingdom.

“He has made all things beautiful in His time . . .”  Ecclesiastes 3:11

Living in what we consider “real time” it becomes so difficult to understand the significance of time beyond us. The “I want it now” culture has always existed. It isn’t new to this generation or even to this society. We can’t help ourselves with our greed or yearnings unless we want to make an effort to sacrifice the constant demands of the flesh, spiritually crucifying them. Rising above our wants restricts our self-centered ways and steers us away from conforming to the empty philosophies of a world that is self-serving and as a result self-destructing.

It kind of amazes me when we forget that our successes are a result of the benevolence of a loving God with a purpose so much more divine than we have in mind, so much farther reaching than we can imagine, and so much more worthwhile and multi-dimensional than we can figure it to be. And that the first priority of those successes is spiritual.

Writers, serving the Lord is your highest order and your greatest honor. When the priorities become confused, and you find yourself serving man—hence serving yourself—ultimately your writing will be wasted. Christians know that only those things done in obedience to God remain untarnished and eternal. The rest of our “stuff” is so much chaff, burned in a wasted bonfire at the Judgment Seat of Christ. What if that “stuff” outweighs our collection of the “Done in Obedience” stack? The shame of it will be unbearable.

The “glory” of the arts is not in the objects themselves but in the direction taken by the heart immersed in obedience to the God who gives the inspiration for creation. We simply cannot create without Him.

The time to write is when He gives you the story. The time to continue through the hard places is when you determine to follow Him through the deep waters. The time to complete what He has given you to do is when you hear His instruction urging you forward. The time to stop is when He tells you to stop and not before. Listen carefully. Write on. Timing is everything.

Father, you are the Master. We are your servants and yet you call us friends, joint heirs with Jesus. Help us to be willing to serve, loving, and obedient. We’re desperate for you, and we need you to push us, prod us, nudge us, and never give up on us. We know we can count on you. If only you can count on us . . . I continue to ask: please, help me to be the one you want me to be. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.