Into the Fire

Those of you who are familiar with my reading tastes know I rarely go back in time – or forward, for that matter. I prefer the here and now. However, every now and then I break my own tight-fisted reading mold because the premise of a novel catches my eye. Gumshoe by Michael Compton happened to write that little number with a seductive description of an old-fashioned noir mystery.

Definition of noir: a genre of crime film or fiction characterized by cynicism, fatalism, and moral ambiguity

And what's a dark mystery without an alcoholic Hollywood Private Investigator, a Packard, some heroin, an aged rich Colonel, his young knockout cold-as-ice conniving wife, a missing son – or is he? – a club singer, the inconvenient bastard daughter, and a rare artifact?

Before I go any further I must say I loved Michael Compton's writing. You know I don't rave about writers here, but Michael's good. Expressions, metaphors, tone, he did it all. If I had to fault him, I could only say there were just a couple of times our contemporary slang expressions infiltrated the prose but not enough to lurch me out of the moment. 

This dark story held me captive with P.I. Ellis York's impressions, insights, and descriptions of other characters and their motives for wanting what they did. His liquor inevitably landed him in trouble, but it seemed there was no escaping trouble anyway on the two cases which somehow intersected – just outside of his mental reaches to discover exactly how. Typical of noir, figuring out who was doing what to whom seemed as impossible for this reader as it was for the gumshoe in this story.

Remembering the introduction to the story remained, wondering if there would be a reprieve, but I confess I never saw this ending coming. Unusual, well-done, and carefully constructed, Gumshoe is almost a two-part novel with the second part coming near the final pages. While not the ending I would've chosen – or even preferred - it's still a fascinating and well-written story. Surprisingly clean for a general market novel in spite of the suggestion of unintentional incest.

Father, you know my heart. You know everyone's heart. I pray your continued blessing upon Michael's life, that he would understand that every good and perfect gift comes from you, and that you would continue to inspire him. Keep your hand upon him and let him know how much you love him. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.  

     Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table. When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.

     When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is – that she is a sinner."

     Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to tell you."

     "Tell me, teacher," he said.

     "Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?"

     Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled."

     "You have judged correctly," Jesus said.

     Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven – for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little."

     The other guests began to say among themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?"

     Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you, go in peace."

Luke 7:36-50 (NIV)

                                Ahhh, hush little baby. Dooonnn't you cry . . .

Lord, music is yours. Some make it beautiful with your gift. Those who don't fail to realize who created it. Please lead hearts to your Son. Holy Spirit, we're desperate for your leading. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Yes, it's only pre-season and all that it entails. No matter. We're fan-addicts when it comes to the Seahawks. GO HAWKS!

Lord, thank you for all the talents you disperse to all of your creation. Thank you for those who worship you in what they do. Help all of us to be faithful and to serve you with our whole hearts. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

An old Bones scene from years ago that played out well. The ensemble cast has great chemistry then and now. Don't know how many seasons this series has left, but it's had a good run.

Father, the only thing that really matters with creativity is the recognition of who gives it to us. Please help those who don't know you to find you. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

There are too many places of pain in this world as it continues on its voyage to extinction and rebirth. Sounds so fatalistic, doesn't it? But those of us who've read the account – the biblical one – realize we're only allowed so much time on this earth, and those that come after us, if we survive our current state of affairs, will at some point experience the end of all things as we have known them.

It would take either naiveté or utter stubbornness to deny the deterioration of societies, cultures, and countries around the world. From the sexual slave trade of children both males and females to the butchering of Christians, this is clearly a world gone mad from the supernatural influence of demons. There is no other explanation and certainly no excuses for the perversions foisted upon the human race by the embracers of evil.

It's too much. More than we can handle. Heartbreak, tragedy, perversion, rage, murder, exploitation, selfishness, cruelty, victimhood, criminality, lies upon lies, diseases and addictions, depressions and anxieties. All combine to create chaos and hopelessness, providing easy marks for the enemy of our souls.

But . . . there is one hope, one unchanging factor, one comfort zone. Yes, if you've traveled this blog at all, you know what I'm going to offer. And if you stop reading here, you've decided it's not good enough for you. But He is. There's a scripture in the Book of Colossians I use for my signature scripture because, although written thousands of years ago, it speaks so importantly to this world today.

      See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. (Colossians 2:8 NIV)

Jesus is the only answer to personally conquering and surviving the depravity of today's world just as He was when He came to earth as the God-man. He said, "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33 NIV)

He's the Redeemer, the Savior, the Light of the World. When you ask Him to forgive your sins and take over your life, He intends to guide you while you're here. When speaking to His Father, He prayed, "My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent them into the world, I have sent them into the world. . . ." (John 17:15-18 NIV)

You have a purpose while you're here. You're not built to be idly passing the time pursuing pleasure and lusts. You were given life and created for a specific reason even though you entered this world in corrupted flesh. It's a constant battle to seek out the right things to do over the wrong. Life is not easy for anyone even if it seems it is for some. Nothing minimizes the pain involved in experiencing trauma or tragedy. It simply means all things have meaning and can serve a divine purpose, even though unimaginable while happening.

Pain can be excruciating and unmanageable. Hurting inside or out, pain debilitates. Spiritual pain is often ignored and pacified with Band-Aids with no effort to get at the root of it. Doctors do multiple tests to determine the source of the patient's pain in order to treat it properly. Spiritual pain can only be healed by the Great Physician Jesus Christ. His heart surgery is painless and heals without physical scars. Jesus is the only way to freedom for the aching soul.

But it's always your choice. Your choice won't change who He is or the truth of what He offers. He offers healing from the spiritual pain and help through the rest of the world's pain.

God, help us all. We're desperate for you whether we know it or not. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

The first book in Brenda S. Anderson's romance series is ready for pre-order. Although not the genre of Brenda's heart, she stuck to the general format of romance novels and kept the conflict alive almost up to the final page.

Risking Love is the story of four individuals – yes, really – who form an unlikely triangle. Not a good visual, I know. Here's why it has to be four. One of the individuals in this story is deceased which establishes the risk to love again for one of the characters (Caleb). The heroine (Lissa) in the story is as tightly wound as her 6th grade goals list requires, allowing the rules of her life to dominate every decision she makes. Playing it safe is her topic du jour of every single day. Until . . .

Caleb donates his availability for a fundraiser auction and lands a date with Lissa via her mother's "purchase". Although Caleb used to be an adrenaline junkie along with his wife (Jeanette), the sorrow of losing her and raising their toddler daughter without her has produced a significant lessening of anything wild and crazy. Lissa isn't happy about "the date" and will let this guy know in no uncertain terms she is not a risk taker. Besides, she has her eyes set on her safe, straight-laced, former boss (Haven) who intends to get together with her as soon as they can arrange it.

There are extenuating circumstances with both of the men in her life – aren't there always? And when she learns of these, she reacts in near hysteria, wondering why these guys would've kept the information from her. It takes an accident and her mother to talk her down off the cliffs of her thoughts and help her realize the heart doesn't always desire to play it safe. With good reason. 

Faith is a definite part of this story, albeit fairly shallow at times in Lissa's life. She's fiercely independent and clings to legalism believing crossing all her t's and dotting all her i's according to her definition of order is the safest and best way to live her life. Until . . .

It's not. That supposed safety net she's built for herself leaves her hopeful but empty and when she comes to terms with those choices she's made, she rushes to correct them – if it's not too late. 

Father, you know Brenda inside and out. You know her faith, her abilities and talents, all of them, because you gave them to her. I pray your continued blessings in her life, your refreshing of her spirit when she needs it to keep the desire strong to do what you have for her to do. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.  

     "To what then can I compare the people of this generation? What are they like? They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to each other:

     'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance: we sang a dirge, and you did not cry.'

For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say. 'He has a demon.' The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, 'Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and 'sinners'. But wisdom is proved right by all her children."

Luke 7:31-35 (NIV)

Many of you will remember Erin Healy as being Ted Dekker's primary editor before becoming an award winning, bestselling author in her own right. I haven't read all of Erin's work, but I've read enough to describe what I've read as speculative/supernatural fiction. She's a terrific writer. I'm not one that gravitates toward speculative novels, but I definitely appreciate when an author interjects the supernatural from a godly perspective into a story. If done well, readers get a picture of either the terrifying horror of the enemy of our souls or the unequaled boundless and benevolent love of our Creator. For me, regarding speculative fiction, the genre sometimes takes too many liberties when trying to mesh the speculative with the supernatural. I'll stretch to a point, but then I'm done.  

Afloat by Erin Healy takes an ensemble group of characters thrown together by an outrageous circumstance of an earthly and heavenly collision. Between foul play and foul weather, the beautiful construction of a "floating" apartment development on a scenic river designed and engineered by Vance Nolan for the financier Tony Dean is threatened by a ravaging impromptu flood and a crane truck catastrophe. Taking a look at each character's perspectives and motives in this situation is a study of the human psyche and heart at its best and more prevalently at its worst. Add a blind man Zeke with his rescued assist-dog Pit Bull Ziggy who's petrified of water but accompanies his master and a friend in a small boat at the start of the storm to get a message to Vance. The connection between Vance and Zeke is slowly revealed in flashbacks of Vance's life.

Life and death, murder and mayhem coagulate during the scary storm where daylight disappears in the middle of the day, rations are combined, a child experiences the supernatural, and Zeke sees visions. There are twists and turns and secret connections culminating near the end of the story which grows more intense when the group is effectively cut off from all knowledge of what has happened.

The ending is unexpected but adds a convenient solution and a fitting conclusion.

I will leave you with this sample of Erin's impressive writing skills:

     Rain dripped from their noses and chins. It flattened hair and clothing and clung to everyone's flaws. It coated their thick-skinned natures in a high gloss.   

Father, you know Erin's heart and soul, and I ask that you continue to bless her and her family as she works for your glory. Please give her those stories you have just for her to tell and watch over her, keeping her safe from all harm. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.     

Go here to see how you can enter to win: http://brendaandersonbooks.com/2016/08/10/spotlight-on-stacy-monson/

http://brendaandersonbooks.com/2016/08/11/spotlight-nicole-petrino-salter-giveaway/#comment-88351 

Please continue to bless Brenda, Lord, as she fulfills what you've asked of her. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.