Into the Fire

It's difficult for me to believe there can still be "undecideds" at this point in the campaign for president of the USA. The exposure of the Libyan tragedy due to the ignoring of death threats to our ambassador Chris Stevens which led to a planned 9/11 attack that killed and tortured him and three other Americans should've provided genuine outrage against the current president and his regime to negate his return as the leader of our country. There are no excuses for his lack of judgment, his total disregard for their lives as the live feed of this attack were streamed to the White House during the seven hour ordeal. The lies that followed were inexcusable and appalling.

The issues of our national debt which is over $16 Trillion accrued by this president and his Democrat Congress, the unemployment which is over 14% when those who've quit collecting and applying for unemployment compensation are factored into the statistics, a record number of people on foodstamps, and the poverty level rising, should only add to the dismay of having voted this man into office. He is fundamentally changing this country into a nation of dependents and robbing the position and status of this great nation, degrading and creating it into a sub-level country, and reducing its ability to protect its citizens by the proposed cuts to our valiant military.

If you need further evidence of this debacle, here are a few clips to demonstrate the hypocrisy, ineptitude, and lack of class this administration has produced:

http://blog.heritage.org/2012/10/26/morning-bell-obama-administration-will-pay-companies-to-violate-the-law/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6G3nwhPuR4

http://www.ijreview.com/2012/10/20206-must-watch-video/

And finally:

Finally the last page of Christmas in October. And the one that's hardest for me to post for you because it involves my swishy, "You know it don't come easy" part of self-promotion. To make it more palatable I'm giving away a copy of either The Famous One or Breath of Life. Your choice. Leave a comment here (not on Facebook). I'll pick a random winner to be announced on Friday. Email me an address if you win, and I'll send you a book. Free. (USA only.) 

The Famous One is a love story written as a fictional biography. Breath of Life is a romance/love story and roughly 30K words shorter written mostly in first person from the male protagonist's POV.

The Famous One takes an introverted yet passionate character of few words and deep running emotion and puts him into the spotlight of fame where he is hungry for value, substance, and real love but struggles to find them.

Breath of Life tells the story of embittered, wounded, and divorced Michael Jamison, who, after a prolonged period as the casual observer of a lovely woman, discovers his attraction to her supercedes remaining a stranger. With a smarting ego and nothing to lose, he figures out a non-threatening way to introduce himself and is overwhelmed by her pristine beauty and challenged to change everything about the way he's lived his life so far.

Father, I only have you to thank for these stories. If they're not well told, that's on me. Anything good about them is all you. Apart from you, I can do nothing. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

I really believe people are hungry for the supernatural but don't know how they want to access it. Some will accept aliens but won't entertain the thought of God. Others will champion the superiority of humanism but cannot control getting a common cold.

The release of another paranormal movie topped the box office this last weekend but didn't do it with outstanding numbers. However, it out-earned the second week of Argo which had a convincing debut.

Only those with limited imaginations will argue against another "realm" not easily accessed. Another dimension.

For Christians it's the supernatural kingdom, both good and evil. We sense it, we believe it, we experience it, and yet there's so much of it we cannot see, hear, or fully understand. We have the comfort of knowing it exists, that we're a part of it, and that we can choose which kingdom we wish to serve.

You see this human existence is incomplete. The desire to experience something greater than ourselves, something that extends beyond our senses, inspires artists, writers, musicians, and the "average Joe" to reach beyond what we accept to touch that which is beyond us, beyond the boundaries and definitions of our human-ness. Simply because humanity is never enough.

Our motives can be impure. We want power over others, over elements, over anything. We want riches beyond what we can earn. We want . . . we want, we want.

Or our motives can drive us to admit we are not enough. Humanity does evil things, is never satisfied, is finite, and in the huge scope of the stars, sky, and unlimited heavens, it is insignificant and powerless.

So, Christians, why do some seek after Truth in Jesus Christ, and others who search will accept anything and everything but Jesus?

Father, we pray that you would call more and more souls to serve you, that they would set aside the counterfeits and embrace Jesus. Holy Spirit, pursue the lost with your love and mercy and call to love. We're all desperate for you. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

. . . so the next generation would know them,

even the children yet to be born,

and they in turn would tell their children.

Then they would put their trust in God

and would not forget his deeds

 but would keep his commands.

They would not be like their forefathers –

a stubborn and rebellious generation,

whose hearts are not loyal to God,

whose spirits were not faithful to him.

Psalm 78:6-8 (NIV)

Common sense:

http://www.newsmax.com/Headline/schwab-romney-taxes-economy/2012/10/18/id/460590?s=al&promo_code=106FC-1

The sorrow amidst the lies:

http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/obama-optimal-slain-diplomat/2012/10/19/id/460716?s=al&promo_code=1073C-1

God, we ask your forgiveness. We repent for our sinful ways. Please forgive us. Please. Heal our land. You're the only one who can. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Five Friday Prayer Requests:

Would greatly appreciate your prayers for "Caleb's Land", one of our Thoroughbreds who's been sick for a few days.

Please continue to pray for our nation and the elections.

Need prayer for author Mary DeMuth's teenage daughter Julia who recently came home from the hospital but is still dealing with severe migraine-type pain.

A wonderful woman by the name of Jan who is soon facing a double mastectomy.

Last and least compared to the other requests: my writing. I have novels to complete.

Thank you all so much.

God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, you are The Healer, The Comforter, The Listener, The Mighty King, The Provider, The Master of Everything. We need your heart, your mercy, your grace, your healing, your loving kindness. We're desperate for you in every way and in every need. Hear our prayers. Help us, please. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.  

Do typos in blog posts matter to you? In books? Ever? I know it bothers writers when typos appear in the articles, posts, and books they read. Just one once in a while wouldn't bother most of us. But for many of us picky writers and readers, those typos make us stop reading if even for a flash in time. And if they appear in a published author's post? Well . . .

Typos can be simple oversights. Quick typing mistakes. And they're not always easy to spot as we reread our posts because we know what we wanted to say and type and automatically insert those things with our eyes. But they do speak to our carelessness. I hate it when I spot one after I've posted. I get back to it as fast as I can to make it correct. I can't afford to be sloppy – meaning I'm a nobody and will remain one if my posts speak of shoddy preparation and delivery. Not that I expect to be Somebody, but I suspect you know what I mean.  

So. What do you think when published authors render mistakes and typos in posts or articles? Do you think they probably didn't have time to go over their material, and it's all "good"? Or . . . what? Does it tempt you to think they're unprofessional? Or is that too extreme? 

Father, we're error prone in most cases. We depend on you for everything. Sometimes we forget that. Help us to always remember: Apart from you we can do nothing. Period. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.