Into the Fire

Passionate thoughts about the world of writing and the Power of God

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Passionate: right or wrong. Writes love stories with a passion. Raw Romantic Redemptive

  • Follow up on Season/Series Finales

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    In "The Equalizer" Robyn McCall (Queen Latifah) is always able to handle the serious trouble that comes her way. Former CIA, she has skills. Deadly skills she prefers not to have to use. Extremely well-cast and acted, it can get a little preachy, but overall it's a well-written thriller-type drama. Harry (computer genius) and his wife Mel (she's a former sniper with all kinds of defensive skills), and Dante (a police detective – on suspension in the finale) unite to help fix sometimes impossible problems for Robyn's diverse clients who need her to find or remedy whatever will solve their needs – people who no one else will or can help. But, in the finale, she and those very important friends are in dire trouble because of a past incident in a foreign country. And the finale leaves us in a terrifying cliffhanger where there appears to be no viable solution for getting this one under control. 

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    What became my favorite NCIS drama, "NCIS-LA", ended its 14-year run Sunday night in its Series Finale. It was exciting, tear-jerking (for me), and a fitting conclusion to the entertaining drama of some very rewarding seasons of great acting/writing/character development/and occasional laugh out loud moments with each character. (Interesting that "Sam Hanna" appeared in the Season Finale on Monday night's "NCIS Hawaii", saving heroine "Special Agent Jane Tennant".) The final scene of "NCIS-LA" was fitting to conclude the drama, letting the never-ending mystery of Hetty's disappearance end in a continued mystery. 

     

    Father, thank you for these amazing actors. Please bless each one of their lives with the absolute knowledge of who you are and how you've given them their incredible abilities. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

  • Tuesday Tunes

             

    This has got to be my favorite Elvis song. Really features his crooning voice. Great lyrics. So well done. 

     

    Father, only you know our hearts and where we will spend eternity. Thank you for rescuing me. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

  • That time of the year . . .

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    TV Seasons are coming to an end and their finales are often cliffhangers, sometimes heartbreaking, and hopefully always done especially well. In the "heartbreaking" department, one of my favorite new shows "Fire Country" pictured above with its main cast came to an end of their first season. A definite gut-punch. Highly recommend this one. Definitely start from Episode One to get the full effect of this amazing family drama. 

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    "So Help Me Todd" wrapped up its season Thursday night with a shocking last scene and a bit of intrigue from Todd. Extremely well-cast and a mixture of drama, slapstick, life pains, and comedy, this investigative court drama brings laughter and tears in the same episodes. Highly recommend.  

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    "NCIS-LA" will end its 14-year run Sunday night in its Series Finale. I've loved this one from start to finish and am so sorry to see it go. Here are the primary characters that have survived cast changes and are at the heart of this action drama with great writing and wonderful character development. It always hurts when the good ones say goodbye. 

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    "The Equalizer" will have its Season Finale Sunday night and there's little doubt it'll be a good one. My guess is there will be a bit of a cliffhanger, but I won't know until I watch it. 

    Many people don't watch series television anymore. I find the good ones inspiring. When the writing is noticeably well done, it's a pleasure to watch the characters come to life on the screen. 

     

    Father, thank you for the beauty of acting, creating, writing – all the talents you so generously give. May each one know from whom their gifts come. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

     

  • Sunday’s Offerings

        And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. He had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on his horns, and on each head a blasphemous name. The beast I saw resembled a leopard, but had feet like those of a bear and a mouth like that of a lion. The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority. One of the heads of the beast seemed to have had a fatal would, but the fatal wound had healed. The whole world was astonished and followed the beast. Men worshiped the dragon because he had given authority to the beast, and they also worshiped the beast and asked, "Who is like the beast? Who can make war against him?"

         The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise his authority for forty-two months. He opened his mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name and his dwelling place and those who live in heaven. He was given power to make war against the saints and to conquer them. And he was given authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation. All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast — all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world.

         He who has an ear, let him hear.

              If anyone is to go into captivity,

                  into captivity he will go.

              If anyone is to be killed with the sword,

                  with the sword he will be killed.

     This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of the saints. 

     

    Revelation 13:1-10 (NIV)

         

  • Friday Five

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    So. IF you have a particular weakness for certain items that you mostly can't resist when you go shopping, here are five of mine. 

    Sunglasses. I have a terrible time resisting sunglasses. I have more than I wear. I know: that's ridiculous. 

    Eyeliner. Every time I see a certain shade I wear, I buy it because I can't be sure it's going to be there the next time I need it.

    Lipstick. I have to hustle past new shades. I also have more than I can ever wear. It's not right. 

    Red Pens. Now I don't have an excess of red pens, but when I see a certain kind I like, well, you know what happens.

    Flashlights. I love the military bright multi-faceted kinds. I need to stop.

    Here's my bonus confession: Knives. Yes, smaller knives. Sharp pretty dangerous ones. 

     

    Father, thank you is never enough for all you've done for me. Never was, will be, or is. Desperate for you, Lord. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

     

  • Seriously?

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    I'm a serious person. But I love to laugh. Hysterically at times if possible. But, back to being serious. I am. I prefer serious conversations, discussions, questions, topics. If during those engagements, laughing ensues. Bring it on. I'm all in. 

    I'm not into surface talk, light and fluffy conversations. And with me, I want it real. Purposeful. Intense is good in some cases – time to exit in others. 

    That's not to say I can't be silly because I can. I love to laugh. 

    But I truly am a serious person.

    If you've visited here and elsewhere where I am, you've seen my self-description: "Passionate: right or wrong" – that's me. 

    What about you? Are you easy going? Are you light-hearted? Are you gruff? Are you silly? Who are you? 

     

    Father, thank you for how you've made me. Emotional and passionate. Didn't always use it for your glory, that's for sure. But you loved me anyway and rescued me from myself. So grateful for your love, forgiveness, mercy, and grace. Thank you is never enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

  • Wednesday’s Writings

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    My current WIP is moving along slowly, but it's moving. As you know, because I've reiterated it an over-the-top amount of times, I don't write genre romances. I write love stories heavy on the romance.

    One of the differences I perceive between those two identifiers is this: So many genre romances are built on conflicts, conflicts, conflicts. So many of those conflicts are based on poor communication, silly decisions, and overall denials of how two people genuinely feel about each other – hence: game playing. I hate emotional game-playing in real life and between characters in stories. 

    The natural occurring conflicts in relationships usually involve misunderstandings or unintended mistakes. People who want to be in a relationship usually also want to respect the other person and keep certain kinds of joking or sarcasm to a minimum until it's understood what is acceptable or at least tolerable. Learning about someone usually takes some time and willingness to be perceptive and patient. Lasting love isn't built in a day. It's the same with friendship. 

    The protagonist in this story has run away from himself. He's sick of what he's been and wants to change, but he really doesn't have quite enough incentive – or even the know-how – to change his nearly lifelong lifestyle. His best friend from their early school years – both of them successful adults in their individual professions – became a Christian several years ago. That didn't sit well with the protagonist, but his best friend only mentioned it that one time. Until . . . 

    And so the story goes . . . 

    A first-person male POV character study of himself . . . 

     

    Father, you know I know apart from you, I can do nothing. I thank you for every good thing in my life. Only you, Lord. Thank you for stories, words, characters, inspiration. Only you. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

     

     

     

  • Tuesday Tunes

               

    "Without love, where would you be now?" Great song ("Long Train Running") of many from The Doobie Brothers.

     

    Without your love, Lord, we wouldn't exist. Thank you is never enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

     

  • Cruel and . . . Absent Pity

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    Absent Pity by Blake Pierce is Book 1 in the Amber Young Mystery Series.

    Amber Young is the editor for the puzzle section of the newspaper where she works for a demanding and overbearing boss. She's gifted in both figuring out complex puzzles, ciphers, crosswords, and codes and in creating them. She's always careful to make her puzzles doable for her readers but not simplistic – even though they seem so to her. She's far more capable of making nearly unsolvable puzzles, but she takes it somewhat easy on those who participate on the puzzle page. 

    Her home is filled with puzzles of all kinds, and they pretty much occupy her life. She's attracted to one of the reporters but too shy to let him know. She plays online chess with another puzzle guy who works for a competitor newspaper. 

    When a ruthless killer sends what seems like unsolvable puzzles to the local police as a "hint" to where these individual victims are held, the FBI sends Agent Simon Phelps to help solve the case. When Amber sees what is posted, she calls on a help line to let them know they're not getting the puzzle correctly. She's invited in to help solve it.

    This begins the clever and complex journey to saving the lives of women the "Puzzle Killer" has selected to set up in a torturous setting and left to die. Amber is quick to figure out his cipher and works at a frantic pace to try and avoid the obvious and sift through to the hidden clues to get to each one before they die.

    Blake Pierce is always good for an intense mystery, and Absent Pity is no exception. If you like the mystery genre with a unique heroine who's truly a brilliant "puzzler", this will be an interesting and entertaining story for you. 

     

    Father, thank you for the creativity you've given to us. You didn't have to share it, but your benevolence is never ending. Please continue to bless Blake with more stories for the many readers who love mysteries. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

  • Sunday’s Offerings

     

    She is clothed with strength and dignity;

       she can laugh at the days to come.

    She speaks with wisdom,

       and faithful instruction is on her tongue.

    She watches over the affairs of her household

       and does not eat the bread of idleness.

    Her children arise and call her blessed;

       her husband also, and he praises her:

       "Many women do noble things,

       but you surpass them all."

    Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;

       but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

    Proverbs 31: 25-30 (NIV) 

     

    Happy Mother's Day, Beautiful Mothers!