Into the Fire

Here's another oldie but a goodie! Great old song! 

Father, so much talent you've given. Let each one know from whom their talent comes. Thank you is never enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Christian readers of novels are an enigma. It's not that they're readers of many genres. It's not that they are of all ages. It's not that they favor reading series over standalones or vice versa. 

What amazes me about some Christian readers are these two factions: the legalists and the refusers. I'll explain. First, the legalists expect clean fiction that adheres strictly to their doctrinal tendencies. They tend to be intolerant of those authors who expand their stories with supernatural events, conversations, or confrontations. They also seem to be repelled by any real depiction of how the worldly act or what they do even though it's not glorified in the story (and never graphic). They shun certain words and rarely fail to demonstrate how appalled they are in reviews noting that the author occasionally used unseemly words such as "hell" or "damn" without true profanity. But, in their favor, Christian literature offers many, many novels to fit their strict criteria. 

Other Christian readers of novels have proclaimed they never read Christian fiction because it's too preachy, too unrealistic, too boring in whatever genre they favor. It's quite possible they haven't been introduced to the right Christian novels to suit their tastes.

There are so many fabulous, multi-talented fiction writers in the Christian Fiction genre. However, to find Christian authors of true thrillers is difficult. Maybe it depends on one's definition of "thriller" or type of thriller. 

If you're a reader of Christian novels, where do you stand on this subject? 

Father, thank you for the stories and characters you've given me. Thank you that I've been writing since childhood. Thank you that you made it a part of my life. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.  

     Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

    Do not put out the Spirit's fire; do not treat prophecies with contempt. Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil. 

1 Thessalonians 5:16-22 (NIV) 

Do you have a favorite novel? Is it a classic, a romance, a thriller, a historical, a mystery, a sci-fi, a fantasy? Can you name the author? Do you have a top five list of favorite novels? 

Do you categorize your favorites in each of your preferred genres? 

Do you have a favorite author? Do you have enough favorite authors to make a list of five?

Here are two of my favorite novels in two different genres: The Masterpiece by Francine Rivers and Consent to Kill by the late great Vince Flynn. 

Father, thank you for all the wonderful novels out there. Thank you for your Christian authors who've done all they can to honor you with their stories. Thank you for allowing me the privilege of writing novels. I can never thank you enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

A very long time ago in the Liberty Lake area of Spokane, Washington. Times of life when you feel very small . . . 

Father, thank you for always watching over me even when I had no idea how to live my life. Thank you for patiently waiting for me to turn to you for it all. Thank you is never enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Many years ago, two cases of my first novel accompanied a mission trip to either Ghana or Guinea in Africa. Another two cases went to Florida with a pastor. I also took a couple of cases to the local racetrack (Emerald Downs) to be sold or given away to racetrackers. It's a comprehensive story about horse racing in the 80s. I once left a copy of it in a motel room on their small bookshelf. 

And I sent a copy of The Famous One to an actor's agent. (It probably ended up in a dumpster.)

Just a bit of novel trivia. 

Lord, you're the only One who knows the eventual effects of those novels. Inspired and written by you and for you. Apart from you, I can do nothing. Thank you is never enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.  

After a glitchy start, it's time for Tuesday Tunes. Enjoy one of the many hits from this great voice and talent. 

Father, only you save souls. Thank you is never enough. May everyone you've gifted in the arts know from whom their talent comes. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

From my older novel Sweet Release:

CHAPTER ONE  

Claudia Madelyn Rutheford hated her name. Not even as a child did she once remember liking her name—especially when the other kids teased her by calling her a “clod” which she never thought was even remotely clever or funny in spite of their hysterics. By the time she was old enough to imagine such things, she wished her mother had been more adventurous and named her “Madison” or “Collette” or “Jenna”—anything but the names of her great grandmother and grandmother respectively. Nothing against them—she just happened to hate being named after them. So, by the time she was in high school, she went by C.M., and no one (other than her mother) had better call her anything else because she would respectfully but commandingly correct them. And by the time she was in college, she dropped the periods and went only by CM.

     Matthew Preston, his 6 ft. frame slumped over his laptop set up on the glass coffee table in the living room of his expensive two bedroom apartment, inquired as he typed furiously, “So, did you like it or not, CM?”

     “Geez, Matt, I don’t know. What’s that about anyway? Normally I would’ve really liked it,” she answered with irritation in her voice at her own indecisiveness. She stood, squeezing the aromatic spicy flavored tea from the bag into her mug. “Did you get any honey?” she asked, looking in the cupboard.

     “Forgot,” he answered as he continued to work. “Sugar’s there, though.”

     “Matt—you know I’d rather have honey, darn it,” she said with muted ire as she grabbed the box of sugar and inadvertently slammed the cupboard shut. “I didn’t mean to,” she offered looking back at him before he could react further than the uplifted eyebrows she received.

     “What’s buggin’ you anyway? It’s just another movie, right?” he asked, closing his laptop and stretching his muscular arms over his head while pulling his long legs out from under the coffee table so he could climb up onto the couch.

     “You know it’s my job,” she said with a hint of disgust at his apparent lack of understanding. She sat down at the dining table and stared into her mug, stirring abstractedly.

     Matt stood and walked over to the table. “Hey, I know you take your work very seriously—and rightfully so—but c’mon—you can’t possibly expect to give your positive approval or your succinct rejection to every movie you see, can you?”

     She noted his sincere logic as well as his genuine concern, and she wondered why in the world she didn’t love him madly and passionately—like in the movies, she thought in the brief span of a moment. He was gorgeous. And built. His above the collar length bleached blonde hair with its medium brown roots only accentuated his deep blue eyes and the natural color of his skin that always looked tan. He was a bona fide head turner.

     “Well, can you?” He sat after his quiet question, reaching over to place his hand over her free hand resting on the table.

     “No. No, I suppose not.” She resigned herself to the fact and mustered a smile.

     He stood again and walked to the refrigerator, bending down to examine its contents. He pulled out a carton of pulpy Minute Maid orange juice and drained it, tossing it in the garbage under the sink.

     “Let me take you out to dinner. We’ll go to Lupe’s.”

     “You just want to get me drunk on Margaritas and take advantage of me,” she said, turning in her chair to face him.

     “Yeah,” he said, grinning broadly, his charming smile lighting up his face. “I do.”

     “I do appreciate your honesty, believe it or not.” She laughed at his easy admission.

     “That’s one thing I’ve always liked about you, CM. You want it straight.”

     “And don’t forget that either.”

     “I don’t plan on it.”

Father, thank you for all of it. Please give me more words and stories. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him. According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words. 

1 Thessalonians 4:11-18 (NIV) 

Some bestselling authors have the best of intentions. They want to have conversations with their readers, but after trying to converse via emails or other venues, it proves to be more time consuming than they can justifiably handle – especially when they're researching or writing their next novel. 

Others are recluses from the start. All they want to do is write and not to be bothered with communicating with those who buy their books. It seems counter-productive, but if you sell enough stories, it doesn't matter much. Perhaps it even unintentionally engineers more intrigue for readers. Imaginations about their favorite authors fuel their fandom. Or not.

If you're an avid novel reader and have established your favorite authors, what do you expect from them? Anything? Are you satisfied just to read their next release and wish they'd keep them coming just a little bit faster? Do you go to book signings? Send emails when an address is available? Do you have any expectations? 

Just asking . . . 

Father, you make us individuals. Some of us write for your glory, do our best to write what you give us, and try to do it well. Thank you for words and stories and books. Apart from you, we can do nothing. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.