Lots and lots of great music. Love this song.
Father, so much music is about love, but we can't experience anything like your perfect Love. You are Love. We can touch it when we touch you but won't know it until we're with you. Thank you for the touch and taste as we wait for the real thing. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
When you need a release from common fiction, you can count on James Scott Bell to deliver. His "Habit" series will amuse, warm your heart, bring out that "justice served" desire in you, and make you want to learn Krav Maga (at least it did me).
Sister Justicia Marie, aka former child star and actress Brooke Bailey, barely survived her Hollywood career, her dad living his fantasy through her, drugs and alcohol, and making it through re-hab, before finding her Lord Jesus Christ and becoming a nun. However, she's discovered her training for a character in a Steven Segal film which never finished production has come in exceptionally handy – much to the disdain of the Catholic church. So to avoid further conflict with the head Sister where Sister Justicia was suspended from teaching children, she purchases an abandoned building in the heart of NoHo (North Hollywood) where no one with any common sense wants to spend time. She opens it as a shelter for the homeless, mentally impaired, and those seeking help.
When another conflicted Sister joins her at the shelter and pleads with Sister Justicia to teach her this self-defense, Sister Justicia is torn between what is right and good and what is . . . not. But, believing in her last result purpose of using her defensive skills, she agrees to teach the younger sister her moves and the two of them found The Order of the Sisters of Perpetual Justice.
This four part series presents all kinds of opportunities for Sister Justicia to meet with head gangster "the Pope of Los Angeles", her long lost father, Father Dom whose "Hoo boy" at her confessions is a hoot, and a variety of unsuspecting, lawbreaking members of the Los Angeles community. So many lawbreakers in fact that she becomes known as the "kick-butt nun" much to her chagrin and the embarrassment of the local Cardinal who deems she should be sent away to meditate on her penchant for violence. The dialogue is crisp Bell and often hilarious. The premise is thought-provoking although often clothed in humor and church hypocrisy.
So much fun to read.
Father, you know the stories you have for Jim to tell. I pray your continued blessing over his sterling career and may he honor you in all he does and writes. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
Now Stephen, a man full of God's grace and power, did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people. Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called) – Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia and Asia. These men began to argue with Stephen, but they could not stand up against his wisdom or the Spirit by which he spoke.
Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, "We have heard Stephen speak words of blasphemy against Moses and against God."
So they stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law. They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin. They produced false witnesses who testified, "This fellow never stops speaking against the holy place and against the law. For we heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs Moses handed down to us."
All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.
. . . . . . . . . . .
"You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers: You always resist the Holy Spirit! Was there ever a prophet your fathers did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him – you who have received the law that was put into effect through angels but have not obeyed it."
When they heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. But, Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. "Look," he said, "I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God."
At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.
While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." Then he fell on his knees and cried out, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he fell asleep.
And Saul was there giving approval to his death.
Acts 6:8-15; 7:51-60 (NIV)
EITHER, OR ?
Closer to being a "hippie" or a "yuppie"
Winter or Summer person
Ocean or Mountains person
Black or White person (talking preferred colors here as in clothes, cars, etc.)
Novels or novellas
God, thank you for fun and laughter – oh how we need them both so much in this dark world. We're desperate for you whether we know it or not. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
Thoughts can drive us crazy sometimes. Other times we wish we could think of something constructive to address a problem, contribute to a conversation, or translate our thoughts to creative word choices "on paper" or screen. Thoughts can be relentless, bent on processing or reviewing or reacting to situations we didn't anticipate. Do we wish to be a problem solver or a mighty eraser? Are those two things often the same?
What stimulates our thinking and what do we wish didn't do just that?
Are we faithful to think on good things or do we rehash the less pleasant, the bad, our ignoble memories?
What are your Thursday thoughts?
. . .
Father, help me to put my thinking to good use, to focus on those things you have for me to consider. Apart from you, I can do nothing. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
Granted, these are professional gardens. So pretty to look at these manicured areas of lovely flowers and greenery in beautiful settings.
Lord, if flowers alone can't convince unbelievers of your magnificent creation, men are indeed without excuse. Thank you for beauty in the land of the living and the hands and hearts that cultivate it in all its forms. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
This is a good one by a lovely lady.
Father, so much talent allocated to each individual, so many exceptional ones. That you're no respecter of persons as far as valuing one above another is such a mystery to us. We're desperate for you. Apart from you, we can do nothing. Thank you. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
There are few writers who write noir as well as James Scott Bell. And I have yet to read an author with better opening lines, witty metaphors, and unique descriptions seen from his troubled protagonists' eyes. Those of you who read my reviews know I'm stingy with the 5-star designations, and I don't prefer novellas. However, if James Scott Bell's name is on the cover, I'm all over it. And Framed gets 5 stars, hands down.
A young ex-con (Jonathan Curtis) has been clean for a couple months when he gets an invitation to restore an old Buick LeSabre. However, after giving the classic car a once over, the owner wants him to come back that night to discuss it further. At the evening meeting, he threatens Jonathan and things go haywire.
Kris Boland wants to be a serious actress and knows it's a long shot since she's unwilling to compromise her self-respect in the process. Getting a job at an acting school that allows her to take classes there, she meets a friend who later wants to be more than that – at least for a night. But he has bigger problems than her rejection.
Inadvertently meeting Jonathan in his clumsy but determined way to right a wrong, Kris helps him and they both suffer the consequences.
This is a non-stop, can't put it down, little novel that will take just a few well-spent hours to finish. Loved this piece of work. James Scott Bell is picture perfect in Framed.
Father, please continue to bless the incredible talent you've allotted to Jim. Keep him safe from all harm and keep him writing. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
"I AM the Resurrection and the Life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" [Jesus] (John 11:25-26 NIV)
Never forget what He did for us, all of us.
Thank you, Jesus. Thank you is never enough.
