Into the Fire

                HIS TRUTH IS MARCHING ON! 

                THANK YOU, JESUS!

I'm going to do things a bit differently today. I'm going to pray first instead of at the conclusion of my post as I usually do. 

Father, you established the number of our days with purpose. Death of the body is something we can't argue about. Death is the result of sin on earth going way back to the debacle in the Garden of Eden when the beautiful humans you made for each other came to the conclusion after listening to the devil that it would be fun to be like you. Bamboozled by the same sin as the devil himself: pride. As a result, not one of us since then is sinless. No, not even one. And yet because of your great love for us, Jesus came to be the sacrifice. And still, you give your creation free will and choice. Choose Jesus who gave His life for mankind, the Savior of the world, who provided access to His Father in heaven. Or not. In which case, "you" (mankind) serve the devil whether you realize it or not. You will, simply put, go to hell.

Lord, you made two choices for the human race. It took me 30 years to find Jesus even though I always believed in you. You rescued me from myself when I'd had enough of my choices. I can never thank you enough. Now, Lord, I ask that if somehow my words here, or the stories you've given me to write, can minister your incredible benevolence, grace, love, the sacrifice of your Son, forgiveness, the Gospel, in any way to anyone, please make it so. In the Name above all names, the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Charlie Kirk. Assassinated on a college campus. His death at 31 was instant, harsh, final. A kid with a rifle killed him. 

I've read many tributes honoring Charlie, his family, and Turning Point USA. Some incredibly eloquent. Personal and heartbroken. Spiritual assessments of what happened and what lies ahead. I'm sure after the writing or posting or airing of those tributes, it felt like it could never be enough for this fine Christian man, husband, and father to two little ones: the young man who proclaimed he most wanted to be remembered by His faith in Jesus Christ. 

This scripture was cited from some: Revelation 6:9-11.  

Still others stating hardcore facts about those who celebrated (and continue to) his assassination. 

I decided before I wrote anything concerning Charlie's death, I'd let the anger subside. However, when one sees or hears what those who quietly smirk at the event with silent pleasure, who joyfully pronounce his demise, who shout out obscenities about him which are hateful but even more importantly untrue, I will only say a few things to those people. They are as follows.

You will reap what you sow. In the vernacular: what goes around comes around right back at you and to you with the same force.

You have chosen evil which belongs to the enemy of your soul: Satan. He is your leader and guide whether you acknowledge him or not. You serve him: the perfect patsy for his hatred of God, of you, of everything good. You have been deceived.

Not everyone in the Democrat party is a bad person. Nor is everyone in the Republican party a bad person. The fact is you choose what is good, decent, righteous, and just. Or you choose the opposite. Those who celebrate the death of Charlie Kirk have chosen the opposite. They refuse to see how Charlie allowed those who embraced evil to have a dialogue with him, to listen to his point of view after expressing theirs. He gave them information so that the vile notions they'd received and deduced from their learning sources could be re-evaluated. He did it fairly, kindly, but firmly. This is the nature of real discussion. He was what Christians refer to as a "witness" for the life-giving love of Jesus Christ. 

A certain group on the left side of politics chooses to demean, debase, belittle, accuse, and vilify a certain group on the right. However, if you watch closely enough and don't lie to yourself, you will clearly spot that what that particular group on the left is in fact doing is projecting their exact and distinct behaviors onto the right – in other words onto conservative Christians. If you're serious about being objective in your examination of left and right politicians, you can see it plainly. Charlie Kirk was a master at confronting the leftist actions acquired by so many of the kids – and adults – in his audience. It's what changed so many of them, transformed them into true thinkers and gradual converts. Truth has a way of penetrating the evil we carry around IF we open the door to it – much like we opened the door to evil. 

Having given my thoughts to add to all the rest of the loving tributes to Charlie Kirk, I will close with this:

Amen. 

     You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth? That kind of persuasion does not come from the One who calls you. 

Galatians 5:7-8 (NIV) 

Another cut from my second published novel . . . The Famous One.

From the section titled "Idolized"

Diaries of Desolation 

I don’t get it … isn’t that obvious … an understatement of the facts … love is lost … and I can’t find it … wouldn’t you think that if someone wanted to find it they could? … I just don’t get it … I wonder if I ever will …

The letdown after completion of The Night Catches All was nearly unbearable for Joey. He was so restless at times he found himself pacing through his house for no apparent reason. He needed a good book to read, but right now he didn’t have the patience to go find one. He wished Frank Kelley’s new novel was ready, but Frank had assured Joey he’d have the copy in his hands as soon as it was done. He knew he should fly home for awhile, but he didn’t even feel like doing that. All he felt was empty and restless.

     Monica found Joey something of interest with a note attached that once again the director had someone else in mind for his first choice. Joey was tempted not to even read the script because he was so devoid of enthusiasm, but he’d learned to trust his agent—she knew him well after all these years, so he grabbed a bottle of bourbon out of his liquor cabinet and began reading without even bothering with a glass. He was enthralled after the first page and totally focused on the character, picturing him and his mannerisms—even his voice intonations—as he read. He called Monica back in the morning to get the information he needed.

     Joey didn’t realize what had happened behind the scenes regarding this role until years later. The studio was dead set against Joey starring in the film, but the director Paul Comstock insisted he wouldn’t do the film without Joey after auditioning him, actually threatening all kinds of legal ramifications since it was his screenplay. The studio finally relented but attempted to put all sorts of limitations on what he could do. Paul Comstock found other studios to produce the film which had no objections whatsoever to Joey Parr or whatever Paul Comstock wanted to do with the film because Paul’s work spoke for itself. Just three years before, he’d won Best Director at the Academy Awards for a complex, haunting, and unusual film loosely based on a real-life unsolved mystery.

     This film was a sad and dark study of an upright man who failed to address his own weaknesses and character flaws and how being unable to assess himself honestly led to his eventual demise as a man, as a husband, and ultimately as a person, slipping into the darkness of total depravity.

     Joey wanted desperately to portray the man truthfully at every phase of his decline. He felt like this character was potentially common to every man—he certainly identified with parts of him. The contrast of this character from start to finish, which did end with his death in the seamiest of circumstances, was the key to making this man come alive on the screen. He had to be believable at both ends of the spectrum in order for people to relate to him and the process. Joey and the director were on the same page throughout the filming, and Paul gave Joey a lot of latitude to experiment and stretch this character. When the film wrapped, Paul, Joey, and the other actors had given it their all. In the sense of the acting involved, the film was a masterpiece, but it was a dark and heartbreaking, gut-wrenching film, and therefore not a box office success.

Father, thank you so much for this one. One of those that had to be written. Truly, can never thank you enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

I wrote these lyrics in April of 2010. Would be fun to have a tune and a voice for them. 

AN END

I've been down a hard, hard road but I'm comin' to an end.

Saw many empty faces but never met a friend.

I've had some laughs and drunk the drink,

I've even smoked the dope,

But all I found out in the end was there was never any hope.

Tell me why I traveled down that road,

I've always wondered why,

But now I know the path is straight

Because Jesus took me through His gate.

Doesn't matter where you've been, He said.

Doesn't matter who you've known.

The only thing that matters now

Is the heart for me you've shown.

The heart for me you've shown.

I've wandered long and far enough in that life of sin.

Tried all the schemes but never found a way to finally win.

Tasted this and sampled that

And thought I'd had some fun.

But when I looked a little closer, I discovered I'd had none.

Tell me why I felt the need to go,

Why I went that way.

It still grieves my soul and makes me ache

Till Jesus tells me He set me straight.

Doesn't matter where you've been, He says.

Doesn't matter who you've known.

The only thing that matters now

Is the heart for me you've shown.

The heart for me you've shown.

Lyrics by Nicole Petrino-Salter

Father, thank you for all the words you've given me over the years. Thank you for giving me stories to tell where your love can be revealed. Thank you is never enough. Please keep me writing. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

                              IT'S COMING! 

Father, you left us with beauty in every season. You didn't have to. Thank you is never enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Such a fantastic group of ladies. Great songs, great dance moves. Makes ya wanna dance in the streets. Smile! 

Father, thank you for your singers, dancers, musicians. May each one know it was you who gave them their talents and gifts. Thank you is never enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Some oddball musings today:

What makes readers want to read general fiction pornographic romance? Because if the exact procedural navigations of intercourse are being "hotly" explained, it's pornography. You can visualize it, therefore the film is rolling in your mind, which makes it almost personally "experienced." What compels readers to want to read these "hot," "spicy," graphic novels? 

Second question, what compels the authors, both male and female, to write these graphic scenes – besides selling books to those who are compelled to read graphic romance? 

Just asking . . . Anyone? 

Father, you made the sexual act the complete expression of lovemaking for a man and a woman committed to you and to each other for their pleasure and procreation – not just for procreation. And then as sinful man has done to everything beautiful and noble, it has been corrupted, made dirty, and in many cases ruined for hurting individuals. Lord, thank you for the power of your love and salvation to make things new – the only way to live on planet earth. Thank you, Jesus. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 

Galatians 6:9 (NIV)

Regularly, I don't post on Saturday. However, since Typepad had some difficulties with their site before its final curtain call, I thought I'd post today. 

All that to say, next week we'll be on "vacation." For us, that means we actually are going somewhere other than doing errands. We know where our first destination point will be, but it will take more than a day of driving to get there with one stop before we do. More about that when we return. 

We had planned to leave early Monday morning, but the refrigerator decided Friday was a great day to act up. That produced a Monday morning appointment with a repair person. There is a purpose in all things even when we can't possibly understand the whys of those things. Sometimes, hindsight provides insight. Sometimes.

So. If you'd like to see this blog next week, you'll actually have to stop by here because my articles won't be seen on the usual Facebook and X spots. 

I hope your Saturday is filled with the wonders of Holy Spiritual blessings. 

Father, please continue to lead us in all of your ways and may we honor you in all we do. In the Name above all names, the Name of Jesus, Amen.