More from the Smooth Jazz genre to keep you mellow this Tuesday. Greg Chambers here with Side to Side.
Father, may those who use your gifts and talents honor you. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
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After an untold time alone – days and nights unable to be deciphered in the all white cell with no windows and one light constantly on – "the prisoner" is flown away in shackles, unlocked, and deposited on an icy tarmac with his duffle bag of dirty clothes and what few belongings he'd carried when imprisoned.
Prior to his release and unknowing exactly how long it had taken him to do, Gibson Vaughn allowed his mind to resurrect a childhood friend nicknamed "Bear" along with his father Duke Vaughn to keep him company. Their-invisible-to-others presence and conversations came when he needed their companionship most, noting this probably qualified him as having approached – if not embraced – insanity. As time went on, not all of the discussions were welcomed.
This begins the initial vengeful journey for Gibson whose sole purpose is to be reunited with his daughter Ellie, hoping his ex-wife will somehow understand his long absence. His dad keeps filling his thoughts with plans of how to exact revenge on the CIA man who imprisoned him, but at first Gibson's heart isn't in it.
Now looking like a homeless man with matted hair and a ratty full beard, his efforts to rejoin the human race are both clumsy and painful. Having been a former Marine and used for special missions, he felt nothing like the man he used to be, and even the simplest elements of regaining normalcy prove taxing and anxiety-inducing – especially with his dad hammering his thoughts with pursuing vengeance for the family honor.
Added to Gibson's return to his unsure reality are old enemies, old friends, old betrayals, a short-term vengeance, real sacrifice, and a type of freedom.
Cold Harbor (Book 3 in the Gibson Vaughn Series) by Matthew Fitzsimmons is a well-written entertaining suspense with unique story components leading up to a satisfying conclusion that feels right but not permanent. Definitely not a cliff-hanger, it still leaves the door wide open for whatever Gibson Vaughn might do next.
Some profanity.
A good buy on Kindle now.
Father, only you know the condition of our hearts. Please keep inspiring Matthew and may he realize every good and perfect gift is given by you. Encourage him as only you can do. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
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"You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell? Therefore I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town. And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from the blood of the righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berakiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. I tell you the truth, all this will come upon this generation."
Matthew 23:33-36 (NIV)
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So. Here are my answers to Thursday Thoughts . . .
Favorite places to read: On the deck in the summer; in front of the gas or wood fireplaces in the winter; in the bedroom
Favorite book of 2018: The Masterpiece by Francine Rivers
Favorite genre(s): Thrillers; Mystery/Suspense; some Romance
Favorite song(s): Too, too many to name or even think of but . . . Mary, Did You Know? (Michael English); Hallelujah (Chris Botti's version); What Does It Take (to win your love for me)? (The Eisley Brothers)
Favorite vacation spot(s): Ocean; Idaho; Hawaii (Have been to Kauai once many years ago)
Favorite means of travel: Car/Truck
God, you've given me such a wonderful life. Thank you is always insufficient. May I honor you in all I do and repent when I fail – which is too often. Apart from you, I can do nothing. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
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Fill in the blank(s) . . .
Favorite place to read
Favorite book(s) for 2018 (list up to five)
Favorite genre(s) (list up to three)
Favorite song(s) (list up to five)
Favorite season
Favorite vacation spot
Favorite means of travel
Father, thank you for "favorites". Thank you for all the variety you've made available to us. Thank you for making us different even in our sameness. Thank you for it all. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
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This picture is probably the last thing those in the Midwest and wherever the Polar Vortex has struck want to see, but it is winter and it is Wednesday, so this is it. It's real somewhere.
Father, you share your beauty in every season. Thank you. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
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A little smooth jazz to ease you through your day . . .
Father, thank you for your artists of all kinds, for the beauty you generate through them. Every good and perfect gift is from you. Thank you for it all. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
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Some authors churn out novels with seemingly unlimited imaginations. Others take long periods of time to release a single novel. Fans of each anticipate their favorite authors' new arrivals after devouring their previous selections. For those authors who release one a year or have an even longer time between them, it's difficult to wait for their tomes to be finished and available. For those authors who manufacture them swiftly, those books are devoured by their avid readers and those readers eagerly await the soon release of another one.
The long lengths between novels often indicate a considerable amount of time invested in the proper research for the book in order to make it as authentic as possible. Complex, layered plots often require a sophisticated system in order to keep every detail straight and to be able to conclude the tale with all the ends tied up neatly. There are multiple reasons for the choices authors make to produce their novels in the time frames of their desires which can include things like publisher deadlines.
Several years ago I was able to complete three novels in one year. These came after my first book took 8 and 1/2 years to complete and the next two each took around 9 months. However, those next two came after I started a sequel to the first book which after some time looked as though it was going to be longer than the first one of over 700 pages! I abandoned it.
It seems for cozy mystery lovers and novellas, authors get their next one in their series out pretty quickly which is wonderful for readers who appreciate the shorter books.
Is there an ideal "wait" time for readers? Probably not if you have favorite authors. You want to read their next book the instant you read "the end" on the one you're reading.
So much for Monday musings . . .
Father, keep inspiring your authors, keep them writing to honor you, and please help me to be the one you designed me to be in my writing life and life in general. We're all desperate for you. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
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"No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.
"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him."
Matthew 24:36-44 (NIV)
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Five miscellaneous things I love:
Sitting in front of the gas fireplace early in the morning before dawn when the house is quiet.
Building a fire in our wood stove.
Words of affirmation from true hearts.
Seeing farm animals with shelter when they need it.
Breakfast or lunch with friends.
Father, thank you for it all. You've been so gracious to me. I'm always desperate for you. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
