Into the Fire

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted

  and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Psalm 34:18 (NIV)

                                               Need to get away . . .

Father, thank you for beauty. In the physical, emotional, and spiritual. I'm desperate for you. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

                                           "Good morning, Viet Nam."

                                    04/06/1947 – 10/29/2013

My friend Rick left his family and friends and headed to eternity on Tuesday after battling cancer.

God allowed me to see him before he died, to occupy a small amount of his life after so many, many years. Those of us here know it was no coincidence that I found him on Facebook at this season of his life. I'm so grateful for that visit.

Rick occupies only good memories in a time when few things seemed stable. One special summer of '67 lived on in our hearts before he and other friends headed to Viet Nam, a friend and I ventured to Europe, then I found my niche in horse racing at the now defunct Longacres. I think we saw each other twice briefly in the last 30 some years, but this reunion was good, memorable. He allowed me to pray for him before I left his home.

He left his mark in my life as friends who cross time and space to remain friends in spite of life. He will be greatly missed.

Thank you so much to all who prayed for him. Words can't express how grateful I am for your friendships.

Father, I pray for his family as they must face this horrible grief. I can only hope they will find you to comfort them. That is my hope. I know of no other true comfort in the face of death. Please help them. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Concluding my Christmas in October III list for you early shoppers who love to capitalize on the recommendations of good books.

Here is my one Non-Fiction entry to this list:

A first hand account of a man born to be a soldier who put everything on the line for his country.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias=aps&field-keywords=Revenge%20by%20Winter%20Austin#/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_3_15?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=american+sniper+by+chris+kyle&sprefix=American+Sniper%2Caps%2C288&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Aamerican+sniper+by+chris+kyle

Political/Espionage Thrillers:

The unequaled skills in this genre of the late Vince Flynn with his unmatched hero Mitch Rapp. Can't recommend him highly enough. Especially for the current state of our country.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias=aps&field-keywords=Revenge%20by%20Winter%20Austin#/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_0_9?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=vince+flynn&sprefix=Vince+Fly%2Caps%2C288&rh=n%3A283155%2Ck%3Avince+flynn

Southern Romance/Women's Fiction

Normandie Fishcer's debut novel is a laid back southern story of sailing the rough seas of relationships.

http://www.amazon.com/Becalmed-Normandie-Fischer/dp/1938499611/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1383056403&sr=8-1&keywords=Becalmed+by+Normandie+Fischer

Finally, my contemporary fiction entries. If you love Romance:

And a contemporary love story written like a fictional biography:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias=aps&field-keywords=Revenge%20by%20Winter%20Austin#/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_14?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=nicole+petrino-salter&sprefix=Nicole+Petrino%2Cstripbooks%2C288&rh=n%3A283155%2Ck%3Anicole+petrino-salter

Father, thank you for giving me the opportunity to read and write. Apart from you, I can do nothing. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Part Two of my Christmas in October III picks continues.

Suspense:

An exciting and unusual tale with an unlikely heroine who must contend with not only a mother with dementia but homegrown terrorists.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias=aps&field-keywords=Dark%20Justice%20by%20Brandilyn%20Collins

Romantic Suspense:

To get the full benefit of this series, start with Relentless, then Retribution, and the latest release Revenge by Winter Austin. A Cajun hero and a sassy Texas cowgirl try their hands at falling in love amidst murder and utter mayhem.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias=aps&field-keywords=Revenge%20by%20Winter%20Austin

Speculative (Contemporary) Suspense/Thriller:

A fascinating and original premise to tackle topics like revenge and forgiveness.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=All%20Souls%20by%20K.%20T.%20Kaufman

Contemporary Women's Fiction:

An important story of pseudo-love and abuse. Well done and an accurate account of how domestic abuse can trap people and nearly destroy them.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=wings%20of%20glass%20by%20gina%20holmes#/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=wings+of+glass+by+gina+holmes&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Awings+of+glass+by+gina+holmes

The conclusion to my suggested list of books tomorrow . . .

Father, again, thank you for your wonderful writers. They bless so many. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Hey, I bet you thought I forgot about my traditional Christmas book shopping suggestions in October for the early get-it-done shoppers. Every book on this list is reviewed here*. Some of these have been out for awhile but merit your attention still. Shall we begin?

Let's start with the Thriller genre:

The first book in the Patrick Bowers Series and the latest in the series. I recommend these and all those in between.

http://www.amazon.com/The-King-Bowers-Files/dp/0451239784/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1382819217&sr=8-1&keywords=the+King+by+steven+James  

The first and second novels in the new Jevin Banks series.

*Singularity will be reviewed here shortly. 

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Singularity%20by%20Steven%20James

Supernatural Suspense/Thriller:

The Immortal Files exposes Robert Liparulo's amazing imagination in a contemporary setting with historical flashbacks. Not normally my kind of novels, but these were superb.

http://www.amazon.com/Judgment-Stone-Immortal-Files-Novel/dp/1595541721/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1382820086&sr=8-1&keywords=the+judgment+stone+by+robert+liparulo

A timeless love story transcending all the magic. Well-written and fantastical.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Illusion%20by%20Frank%20Peretti

Suspense:

Athol Dickson creates wonderful characters with exceptional writing in this touching suspense. (Look for the second in the series in February.)

http://www.amazon.com/January-Justice-Malcolm-Cutter-Memoirs-ebook/dp/B00AGAW6EC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1382820322&sr=8-1&keywords=January+Justice+by+Athol+Dickson

A very well written suspenseful mystery.

 http://www.amazon.com/Wounds-A-Novel-Alton-Gansky/dp/1433677180/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1382820658&sr=8-1&keywords=wounds+by+alton+gansky

I'm not done yet. More tomorrow.

Lord, you've given so many so much. Thank you for these who know where their help comes from. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

To King Darius:

Cordial greetings.

  The king should know that we went to the district of Judah, to the temple of the great God. The people are building it with large stones and placing the timbers in the walls. The work is being carried on with diligence and is making rapid progress under their direction.

  We questioned the elders and asked them, "Who authorized you to rebuild this temple and restore this structure?" We also asked them their names, so that we could write down the names of their leaders for your information.

  This is the answer they gave us:

  "We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we are rebuilding the temple that was built many years ago, one that a great king of Israel built and finished. But because our fathers angered the God of heaven, he handed them over to Nebuchadnezzar the Chaldean, king of Babylon, who destroyed this temple and deported the people to Bablyon.

  "However, in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, King Cyrus issued a decree to rebuild this house of God. He even removed from the temple of Babylon the gold and silver articles of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple in Jerusalem and brought to the temple in Babylon.

  ". . . From that day to the present it has been under construction but is not yet finished." 

  Now if it pleases the king, let a search be made in the royal archives of Babylon to see if King Cyrus did in fact issue a decree to rebuild this house of God in Jerusalem. Then let the king send us his decision in this matter.

Chapter 16

  . . .

  Furthermore, I decree that if anyone changes this edict, a beam is to be pulled from his house and he is to be impaled on it. And for this crime his house is to be made a pile of rubble. May God, who has caused his Name to dwell there, overthrow any king or people who lifts a hand to change this decree or to destroy this temple in Jerusalem.

  I Darius have decreed it. Let it be carried out with diligence.

Ezra 5:7-17; 16:11-12 (NIV)

Five Favorites:

Lord, just thank you. May those with God-given talents and gifts know you who gave them what they have. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

I have a small stack, depending on your defintion of "small", of novels to read. I have several unread on my Kindle. You'd think I'd be anxious to get into them. You'd think . . .

But I'm not. And I'm not sure why. I could speculate, but what's the point? Suffice it to say, not one of them is sparking the drive to get started.

I'll get to one soon, I'm sure. But right now I've got the reading blahs.

Lord, you know what season this is. Help me to see from your perspective. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

I love to laugh to the point of hysteria producing tears and a near stomach ache. Not a lot to laugh about lately . . .

Give me good directions and I'll drive almost anywhere. I do love to drive.

If I could have any house, it would be built by Linwood Custom Homes. Sigh.

Favorite colors are black, yellow, and red. Those were our racing colors.

Love fiction over non-fiction. Always have. Always will.

Favorite trucks: Fords 

Love tailored clothes but like lacy things too. 

What little piece of whimsy comes to your mind today?

Father, you're the author of life, the giver of every good and perfect gift, the all in all. Thank you for loving me in spite of me. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.