"No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money."
The Pharisees , who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus. He said to them, "You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of men, but God knows your hearts. What is highly valued among men is detestable in God's sight."
Luke 16:13-15 (NIV)
I value Forewords in novels. There's something the author wants to say, preview, and/or warn the readers about concerning the novel they're thinking of reading. Most authors use the Foreword to invite and explain whatever seems significant enough to warrant writing that Foreword. I've yet to read a Foreword that discouraged a reader from tackling the tome. Until I wrote one. Point blank: first two sentences.
FOREWORD
Be warned: this is Christian fiction. From start to finish.
We are constantly besieged with what the world calls “love”. This book was written as a stark contrast to the multi-layered attempts of the world to define love. When I began this novel, I had no idea it would take the direction it did, but as with all of my writing, I trust the Lord has the contents in His beautiful, creative hands, and I am so blessed to go along for the ride.
Love, romance, and sex are the subjects of endless books, films, television shows, and various other media efforts. Some of those efforts are educational and informative, others are purely for entertainment, and yet others demonstrate the most perverse nature of mankind. In Christian literature authors in the non-fiction arena strive to inform us about God’s intentions for us in love, sex, and romance. They try to diligently address the “normal” as well as the terribly destructive roadblocks to achieving freedom in learning to love at the spiritual, emotional, and physical levels. It is a divine task given the nature of our souls and the condition of our world.
Since God is Love (1John 4:16), and since He is the Creator of lovemaking (Genesis 2:24-25), it is my heart’s desire to give readers a picture of the way relationships should be in contrast to what the world tries to sell us as the “real” thing. Christian couples are not immune to the hard sell of the worldly style of love, romance, and sex. Many have never been presented with a contrasting viewpoint. To me that’s tragic.
Every now and then I need a novel that illustrates the goodness, passion, and the lighter side of being a human in love. A story of people finding love, working through their pain or hardship, finding real truth and meaning in their lives . . . Having said all that, I give you Sweet Release and hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
Most of my writing is for adult readers, and this novel is no exception.
And then I wrote another one:
FOREWORD
WARNING: This is a novel that presents Christianity. If somehow taking a look at the faith offends you, this book is probably not for you although you might find yourself in its pages.
People in this world have their “come to Jesus” moments in both subdued and spectacular ways. They meet Him through family, attending events, visiting churches, talking with friends, hiking in the forests, the testimonies of athletes, or on country roads alone in a car the way I did. There can be abundant tears, mounds of regret, simplistic acceptance, unemotional responses to facts, or any number of reactions to the prodding of the Holy Spirit producing what the world has mockingly dubbed a “leap of faith”.
In Destination both young and mature meet the Master. Their journeys are simple and complex, easy and hard, calming and perplexing, but always supernatural.
And some refuse to accept His gift . . .
What is your opinion of seeing a Foreword in the novel you're about to read?
Thursday I'll explain why I chose to do this.
Father, thank you for the words, stories, forewords, prologues, epilogues – all of the tools authors use to write. Thank you for your gifts and talents. Thank you is never enough. Apart from you, we can do nothing. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
Tosca Lee's latest won't last long at this (Kindle) price.
First of all, I love Tosca Lee's writing. Amazing talent. Great character development. From serious drama to sensual experience, she can do it all.
Most of you know I'm generally not a fan of speculative fiction but have made several exceptions to that opinion, definitely not a fan of the fantasy genre, and I don't like apocalyptic literature – but this one is by Tosca Lee.
The Line Between is a speculative, apocalyptic story whose unlikely heroine (Wynter) is moved with her mom and older sister to a "safe" place called "The Enclave" which is really similar to the infamous Jim Jones cult of years ago many of whom "drank the Kool-Aid" laced with poison, or you might remember the David Koresh cult that was consumed in a fiery explosion in Waco, Texas. The leader of this exclusive little family of followers is "Magnus", and in his previous life of course this wasn't his real name. He's a typical cult leader who's worshipped and fawned over and who rules his puppet-like group with iron rules which he enjoys breaking at his whim.
Typical of families in this enclave, they're soon separated from each other to do whatever tasks and assignments for which they're responsible, and sometimes loved ones die without their relatives even knowing they were ill. Wynter experiences some sorrows and observations of things she can't believe are acceptable and is often required to spend time in a "Penitent" cell confessing her multiple sins.
There are numerous occurrences which facilitate Wynter's desire to leave, but the extenuating circumstances make it an impossible situation to arrange until she has no choice.
To allude to much more of this story would be to ruin the surprises for readers.
I don't like apocalyptic novels because they're depressing downers, and they tend to linger. Tosca's novel is no exception. It's still her writing, her skills and talents, her vivid imagination from serious research, but even with a fair conclusion – and a Book 2 coming – it's still an apocalyptic novel. For me, that says it all.
Father, continue to bless Tosca in your abundance. Keep those stories coming you have just for her to tell. Encourage her, give her wisdom, and touch her heart as she reaches for you. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
Utterly amazing. Breathtaking. Incredible. Etc.
Father, you're amazing: the talents and gifts you give are astounding. Thank you for beauty in whatever form it appears. Apart from you, we can do nothing – whether we know it or not. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
One of the most beautiful recordings of Over the Rainbow ever. Israel ("IZ") is no longer with us, but his beautiful voice and smile remain.
Father, thank you for the amazing beauty you put in us: made in your image. Without you and apart from you, we're nothing and can do nothing. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
Hellfire by Dustin Stevens is Book 4 in the Hawk Tate Novel series.
Hawk Tate decides to go on a lucrative last minute fly-fishing adventure to Patagonia (southern tip of Argentina) with a former client of his Yellowstone "Hawk's Eye Views", his private outdoor guide company. Unforeseen circumstances with the man he'd hired caused Mr. Grey Rembert to see if Hawk was available to accompany him on the trip. Hawk couldn't refuse.
Boarding the jet and looking forward to catching some of the most famous trout in the world, the last thing they expected was to touch down at an airport in Caracas, Venezuela, with supposed minor mechanical issues. Hawk's intuitive radar is appropriately attuned, and he doesn't like this stoppage one bit.
There's an election about to happen in Venezuela to determine its future leader, and the campaign has taken a strange turn by the challenger – strange enough to bring its attention to the CIA Special Director for South American Operations Charles Vance. Concerning enough to visit the Director of the CIA with an alert he never expected to have to give. And to suddenly make Venezuela a political battleground. (Published in January of 2018)
Okay. Hellfire does not start quickly, but when it does get going, Hawk Tate is a one-man wrecking ball. The intensity with which he recovers all his skills from his Navy, DEA, FAST history comes with an added bump in vengeance for what he sees as cruel and unnecessary. He's willing to sacrifice his life to get justice, but he needs considerable help mostly with some outlandish provisions. As that harassing internal time clock for his operation pulses, he does all he can to make this ill-advised plan work. You can feel the sweat pouring off him, the sticky clothes, the dried blood.
So, suspend belief, tolerate some ridiculous and disappointing typos of all kinds (i.e. "conscious" for conscience, etc.), accept some stereotypical bad guys, and just ride the Hellfire express to its conclusion. If you want to read a series that entails some reluctant super-hero moves, the entertaining A Hawk Tate Novel series is the one for you.
Father, you're the One who gives the talents and giftings. Please continue to bless Dustin with stories to tell and may He know the real Author in and of Life. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
". . . In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." [Jesus]
Luke 15:10 (NIV)
Five of my favorite thrillers:
Consent to Kill by Vince Flynn
Comes A Horseman by Robert Liparulo
Crown of Souls by Ronie Kendig
January Justice by Athol Dickson
Thank you for each one of your gifted writers, Lord. So much talent. But always: apart from you, we can do nothing. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
(From my novel Breath of Life, published in 2011.)
“Hi, Mom,” I said with a sigh. Time for my mother to check in on her wayward son—the one whose wife left him for another man. The son who has yet to add his offspring to their growing number of grandchildren. “Good, yeah. Doing well,” I lied.
“I’m not lyin’, Mom,” I lied again. How come mothers always know when you aren’t telling the absolute truth? It’s like a heat seeking missile zeroing in on that red warm mark that belches out the lie, regardless of how small and inconsequential. “How’re you and Dad?”
I listened gratefully to the recitation of their latest adventures and plans. They’d both worked hard in their lives and deserved all the fun and happiness to be had on this planet. I never wondered if they were ever tempted to leave each other. In fact, it had never occurred to me until this very moment.
“Wow. Yeah, sure. Don’t know if I’ll do that, but, sure, yeah, I want to come up for the day. It’ll be fun to see Joseph and family again.” My older brother, awesome guy that he was. He cared deeply about me—I knew that. It’s just that I felt like such a screw-up compared to him. And it had nothing to do with the normal “success” type things like making money, which I did, and a relatively successful career, which I had. No, it was more to do with having a family and the core value that having one produced.
Joseph and I had a brief separation of closeness over Kate. Come to find out, she wasn’t worth it. I know that sounds bitter, but it’s true. She wasn’t worth the blank time of not having a rapport with my older brother who truly loved me for who I was and was so concerned about my happiness he told me I was making a mistake marrying Kate. Never once did he say “I told you so” when it all fell apart. Joseph risked my wrath, which he received in full, in hopes that I could see the potential for things going haywire. Which I refused to do even though there were definite indicators of that strong possibility which I vehemently chose to ignore and defended against to the death—or at least to the temporary death of the relationship with my beloved brother Joseph. (After our marriage was completed, Joseph and I resumed our rapport.) If you want the truth, Kate had me in the bedroom department. Hook, line, and sinker. I loved sleeping with the woman.
Apparently it wasn’t quite the same for her after awhile.
“Uh, yeah, Mom. Great. Thanksgiving it is, then. Tell Dad I love him, and you know I love you, too.” . . . “I don’t try to be a stranger, Mom. It’s just getting up there, you know? But I’ll definitely try and make it before Thanksgiving, alright?”
Her kind doubt expressed.
“Yes, I will, Mom, honest.” And I meant it this time.
Father, again and again I say it: Apart from you, I can do nothing. Thank you for it all. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
One of my all time favorite movies: Benny and Joon. This scene was so well done. Loved it.
Father, you know all hearts. Holy Spirit, only you can reach them. Please. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
