Into the Fire

     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. 

This is a real throwback to a Poll I took in 2003 from a diverse group of authors/writers about their definitions of Christian Fiction.

Question/Poll

Presented to various authors/writers/publishing industry professionals:

Whether or not you like or dislike the label, define “Christian Fiction”.

In no particular order:

[Generic Description: Christian Fiction: stories written by authors who accept Christ as their Lord and Savior. They are written either for like-minded readers or to entice others into the fold. They proclaim God’s truths through the plot or the actions and beliefs of their characters, either subtly or overtly.] 

Robert Liparulo (Author)

If the motifs and ideas an author works through in his novel derive from Christian theology, that's Christian fiction in my book — along with novels that write honestly about the Christian community and the experience of faith. Given this definition, a lot of things the label is never applied to actually qualify, and a few things it's often applied to don't. 

Mark Bertrand (Author)

Fiction that points to God's truths.

Gina Holmes (Author)

I think about this category in two ways: For me, capitalized "Christian Fiction" is an industry, a genre of storytelling that intentionally uses values held by Christians as a context for the story's themes. I more loosely define "Christian fiction" (lowercase) as any story that illuminates for any reader, whether the author intended to or not, the same Christian values. 

Erin Healy (Author/Editor)

Christian Fiction is a recently recognized genre comprised of stories written by Christians, primarily for other Christians (though some would claim that their goal is essentially evangelist). Its purpose seems to be to provide religiously safe stories for those of the same mindset, and it tends to be insular and stilted in its thinking and application of real life scenarios. The influence of "Worldview Fiction," on the other hand, would likely be farther-reaching and hit the mark for "serious literature" more readily, a mark all Christian writers should strive to achieve.

Chila Woychik (Author/Publisher)

Christian fiction is a genre that includes Christian themes and a worldview that is consistent with Judeo-Christian beliefs. Any story that shows the redemptive work of Christ whether subtle or blatant fits Christian fiction as a descriptor. A clean story is not a good enough reason to label a book Christian fiction.

Michelle Sutton (Author)

My definition is not the industry definition but it's how I define it. Christian fiction is a story told from a Christian worldview and the faith thread can either be subtle or overt, just like we see in the parables of the New Testament.

Susan Meissner (Author)

To me, "Christian fiction" is fiction that merely addresses or includes some aspect of the Christian life/walk. On the one end it is not necessarily synonymous with clean fiction and on the other end it doesn't have to include a salvation message. It can be written for both believers and/or unbelievers to encourage, exhort, equip, or evangelize.

Mike Dellosso (Author)

For me, Christian fiction is fiction for Christians. It reveals Christian ideals–fruits of the spirit, characters fighting to live or live fully against all odds, stories of maturing, of sacrificial love, or of the reality of evil to contrast and set the light in stark relief. It's both escapist and instructive and exists to bring God glory.

Mick Silva (Author/Editor)

Christian Fiction… is a fiction market where readers go to find stories that include stories with a Christian worldview or motif.

Tosca Lee (Author)

Christian fiction for me, whether with an overt faith message, symbolic, or subtle between-the-lines writing, causes me to examine my life against biblical principles to see how I might live differently. It is hard for me to define Christian fiction and put it in a box because I have read books that never mention God but whose characters’ moral code stems from a biblical foundation (even though the author may never have intended such a comparison). It is fiction where the characters and their belief system are so deeply woven together that you read the book and don’t think of the two things separately—which is very hard to achieve.

K. Jackson (Author)

Christian fiction can be filtered through many different genres, characters, and settings. It might never mention a church. Its protagonist might not be a Christian–even at the conclusion of the book. But the book should provide quality storytelling grounded in a biblical worldview.

Eric Wilson (Author)

Novels can't be "Christian." They can, however, contain elements that reflect Christian precepts, virtues, and beliefs. Stories that frame a biblical worldview and/or wrestle with spiritual themes, whether or not those themes are explicitly portrayed or representative of any one religious wing, should be considered as part of the spectrum of Christian art.

Mike Duran (Author) 

Christian fiction is a well told story from a Christian worldview.

Mary DeMuth (Author)

Christian fiction: A novel that is told from a Christian worldview, a story where the Christian faith of the characters is an integral plot thread, important to the story as a whole.

Robin Lee Hatcher (Author)

Christian fiction is our opportunity through story to show the grace, mercy and redemption of Jesus Christ. As He used story to teach and emulate sacrificial love which leads to God, so can Christian fiction whether as overtly as the story of David or as subtly as the story of Esther.

Dineen Miller (Author)

Fiction that arises from the Christian worldview. I do not agree that any fiction a Christian writes is Christian fiction, as some say, because a Christian is capable of writing all manner of perversion or depravity. Christian fiction is fiction that deals with issues pertaining to Christians and/or Christianity.

Jeff Gerke (Author/Publisher)

Christian fiction should not only reflect the teachings of Christ and his great love for all mankind, but should imitate a Creator that refuses to settle for mediocrity and somehow fashions beauty from brokenness, light from dark, peace from conflict, and ultimately, life from death.

Lisa Samson (Author)

Christian Fiction are stories created to either edify the Body of Christ, glorify God, evangelize, or all. It is written for Christian readers, but can be mainstream. It is not pigeonholed to clean writing, Amish fiction, or works solely published by CBA.

Dee Stewart (Author/Reviewer/Publicist/Editor)

Christian fiction is written from a passionate conviction that Jesus Christ is Lord, Creator, and Savior by a Christ follower. Sometimes His name appears in the text and sometimes not, but the story is driven by themes of redemption, forgiveness, and unconditional love. And it is—should be—the most beautifully crafted fiction anywhere.

Patti Hill (Author)

For me, Christian Fiction is storytelling that presents readers with biblical principles. The storytelling should be authentic, carry emotional depth and challenge the reader where they are in their own life, or perhaps where they’ve come from. Ultimately, the book should glorify God and share His redemptive heart.

Kirk Kraft (Writer)

Stories told from a Christian world-view. The intent is either to reach the lost by conveying a Gospel message through the story, or to illuminate truth about God to believers.

Mark Harbeson (Writer)

If I had to give a definition I’d say it’s stories with spiritual depth emanating from a world view where Jesus Christ is Lord. Does that mean stories where people pray a few times but could still stand as stories if you took the prayers out aren’t? Yep, that’s what it means.

Jim Rubart (Author/Owner of Barefoot Marketing)

“Christian Fiction” is a generally accepted term used to label stories written with elements of Christian themes. For me, it is simply a novel in which the author had the freedom to tell that story from his or her worldview.

Tim George (Author, Reviewer)

Christian fiction is fiction written from a Christian world view, with a Christian readership in mind.

Athol Dickson (Author)

Christian fiction consists of stories about redemption, God's grace and mercy. Characters, flawed and imperfect, strive to overcome obstacles, and in the process either find faith or strengthen and affirm the faith they already have.  Readers who believe, likewise, are uplifted and encouraged, and readers who have yet to confess the salvation of Christ either meet the Master through the story, its character and theme, or draw closer to Him as a result of a satisfying and provocative faith-filled read.

Patricia Woodside (Author)

Christian fiction encompasses stories told with a Christian worldview. Not always rosy or happily-ever-after, yet ending with some measure of hope.

Brenda Anderson (Author)

Fiction that is written with a Christian Worldview. Where one or more of the characters are Christian, living in the world around them, where a strong message doesn't always occur.

Winter Peck (Author)

Fiction published by a Christian publisher. 

Travis Thrasher (Author)

Christian fiction is fiction with hope. But not only that (because there are plenty of secular novels with hope) Christian fiction points toward the source of real hope.

C. J. Darlington (Author/Reviewer)

Christians and non-Christians alike can show the world truly and sinful man’s nature in all its ugliness. Both can also show the moral thread that runs through men and women, making some determined to fight for justice and others choosing to live by the rules of their own making. However, only Christians can include God in a story and have Him appear as He really is: the one thing that is the distinctive of Christian fiction is the one thing that only Christian fiction can do — tell the truth about God.

Rebecca Luella Miller (Author, Editor)

Christian fiction is a label designed for the niche market of evangelical Christian book buyers for the singular purpose of guaranteeing expectation of content. It is NOT an all-encompassing, council of Nicean, declaration of the parameters of an art-form designed to exclude and label novels which fall short of a certain standard to pagan propaganda suitable only for the process of rapid oxidation known more commonly as fire.

Dayle Arceneaux (Author)

To me it means writing a story from a Christian worldview. The characters either learn to or solve their problems from a Biblical perspective … all without preaching. 

Ane Mulligan (Author)

To my audience comprised of Christians, I label my novels, "Christian fiction" or "Christian suspense/thrillers" because I know these readers will "get" what I'm talking about. To my audience of non-Christians, I label my novels "Suspense/Thrillers," and sometimes I add, "With a Christian Slant." That's because I don't want them to pass my books up, just because of the term "Christian”—so, I guess it depends who our audience is!

Creston Mapes (Author)

At its broadest, yet most precise point Christian fiction can be defined as fiction published by CBA publishers. At its narrowest, yet most imprecise point Christian fiction is whatever an individual reader sees as conforming (or not conforming) to their personal religious/political/moral beliefs.

Josh Olds (Reviewer/Writer)

Christian Fiction is fiction written by a Christian which contains Biblical symbolism or themes designed to uplift, enlighten, reinforce, or ultimately lead a reader to Christ.

Jessica Thomas (Author)

Christian fiction is niche market that caters primarily to evangelical Christians in search of "safe" reading – no sex, no foul language, no graphic violence. It's a great niche to fill, as far as it goes, but it's also a tremendously limited niche that often forces characters and stories into sugar-coated stereotypes that don't always allow authors to tackle the hard questions of real life

K. M. Weiland (Author/Editor)

We don't have Christian photography, Christian sculpture, Christian woodworking; it seems odd to me to speak of "Christian fiction”; there is fiction of mediocrity and fiction of excellence, fiction that brings glory to God and fiction that does not, fiction that tells the truth about the world and fiction that shies away from that. If we write stories of excellence that bring glory to God, celebrate what he celebrates, tells the truth about the world, inspires people to ask the big questions that matter most, and doesn't create caricatures (either of good or of evil), I think we're on the right track, whatever we call it. 

. . . is fiction that tells the truth about the world—that means being just as honest in our portrayal of evil as we are in our portrayal of grace; that means showing that all people are lost (and can be found); religious people are not better than other people, hope is only found through the gifts of God.

Father, presently, I thank you for all of these who responded to this poll many years ago. I pray your blessing still over them and your love to encompass them as only you can do. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Blood on the Wire by Candace Irving is Book 5 in A Military Veteran/K-9 Suspense. 

Kate Holland finds herself in the unique position of keeping reasonably calm and focused since the man (Arash) who has stolen her heart – and even Ruger's – is away on a Classified Operation. While hoping to receive a simple text or word somehow, she's put on a case with a shocking, violent murder of a former military man, now a psychiatrist who was involved with PTSD veterans at the same clinic where Kate has been seeing her therapist Dr. Manning. 

What is discovered in this man's home leads to a convoluted, multiple suspect ordeal that first focuses on a female EMT (Gwyneth) who appeared to be the last person to see him alive. With a sealed juvenile file, Kate has to work to get it unsealed to discover the ugly truth of what makes this young former military female so hateful toward law enforcement. As I mentioned here, Candace takes readers on a super complex journey to find the murderer of not one but two men, both of which have connections to Gwyneth. When a third co-worker of Gwyneth's is added to the list with no apparent connection to the other two, the frustration is amplified.

Added to all of that, there's been a bombing at a military base overseas, and next to no information about it/injuries/personnel/etc. is being released. 

Kate has associates in every division of state police and a military source helping on this case. Her good cop friend (Seth) since before she took her Special Assignment role, has a connection to Gwyneth which he has been manipulated into thinking is something special. It crushes him when he realizes he was played by the woman after believing she couldn't possibly be involved in any of it. 

Solving this case is definitely a group effort but only when Kate finds out she's been played does the serious solving of the mess finally produce results.

Blood on the Wire is a mystery with unlimited quandaries and the threats of severe danger. Underlying it all is the unknowing of Arash's status. Having had to conduct the interview with Gwyneth, as much information as Kate has about her, she wants to experience compassion for the woman, but Gwyneth is purposely unlikable, hardcore, and just about unflinching. 

As I've indicated multiple times, this is a great series with a strong but vulnerable, wonderfully likable heroine with a K-9 who is beyond intelligent, empathetic, and adorable. 

Highly Recommend. 

(Some profanity and a dash of graphics at the end.) 

Father, I ask for blessings upon Candace, that you would continue to give her what she needs to tell the stories you have just for her to tell. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.