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

  • When I was . . .

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    Some more free verse . . . 

    Lost 

    The darkness pretended to be light,

    and I failed to see the difference.

    Games were played, and I had to learn

    how to play in the darkness.

    Sad to say I excelled, competition fierce. 

    Then suddenly, after the final game, 

    I no longer wanted to play. 

    Empty. Lost. In the dark.

    Faintness of light in the distance,

    I followed the stumbling path, 

    seeking the power of that light.

    Arrival, knees to ground, sorrows, confessions:

    the darkness died.

    Found. 

     

    Thank you, Jesus, for always watching out for me, saving me from myself. Always desperate for you. Thank you is never enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

     

  • Sunday’s Offerings

     

         After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven. He had great authority, and the earth was illuminated by his splendor. With a mighty voice he shouted: 

             "Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great!

                  She has become a home for demons

               and a haunt for every evil spirt,

                  a haunt for every unclean and detestable bird.

               For all the nations have drunk

                  the maddening wine of her adulteries

               The kings of the earth committed adultery with her,

                  and the merchants of the earth grew rich from her

                     excessive luxuries." 

     

    Revelation 18:1-3 (NIV)

  • Friday’s Rant

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    I apologize for this not being a new rant. Not new. Still aggravating. To me. 

    If you choose to read secular/general market fiction, the possibility for graphic sex, violence, and/or language/profanity is almost guaranteed. Expected. The way it is most of the time.

    If you choose to read Christian Fiction, you do not expect to read about graphic sex and/or language/profanity issues. Violence is in a league all its own. Depending on whether or not you're reading a thriller, the violence level and/or graphic description of a violent act may vary, but rarely does it amount to the graphic descriptions used in the general market novels. 

    So. "It" being a given that Chrisitan Fiction isn't going to give you the graphic play-by-play of a sexual act, rarely graphic portrayals of slaying someone or something, but does give the reader the elimination of true profanity (i.e of the 4-letter variety not including hell or damn), why in this day and age should Christian Fiction need to be labeled "Clean Fiction"? Isn't the fact that it's Christian Fiction indicative of it being "clean"? 

    And if you're going to tell me that it shouldn't have this or that in the romance area, I'm probably going to demand specifics as to what makes it a romance, and why is the reader reading a novel where the real essence of romance is eliminated, "toned down", or unacceptable? What qualifies a read as "clean"? Does "clean" mean that the characters are mistake-free? That they don't ever sin in their romantic interludes or thoughts? So, a sinless relationship? In other words, perfect? No such thing in a human being.

    I need a valid explanation of "clean" for Christian Fiction? Anyone? 

     

    God, you are perfect, and we can find it nowhere else. We fail you, but in Jesus we strive to do as your Spirit directs. Thank you for forgiving us. We're always desperate for you. Jesus, thank you is never enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

  • Throwback Thursday

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    Well, some things are not cooperating for this post, so I'm going to post another selection of free verse going back in time. 

     

    Young

    There were songs and themes and drums,

    laughs and stares, far-off intentions hidden in hearts.

    Concerts and movies, walks and cameras.

    Secrets, regrets, and time racing away

    leaving memories in its wake.

     

    Father, thank you for memories. Thank you for the present day. Thank you that we remember in order to advance in the days you've numbered for us. Thank you is never enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

         

  • In time . . . .

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    I've been tinkering with a little free verse. I used to write a lot of it long before I wrote novels. A remembrance and request brought it on again. Hope you enjoy this one.

    Timing

    Remembering a moment in that time,

    Thoughtful, serious, dissecting meanings of words and glances.  

    Rapid, heart pulsing, touched, a dared romance.

    Desire, craving, needing 

    A closeness.

    But it never came. 

     

    Father, thank you for it all. Apart from you, I can do nothing. That much I know. Thank you is never enough. In the Name of Jesus. 

     

  • Tuesday Tunes

             

    One of the absolute best crooning and purest voices of many years ago. Love songs at their best from Johnny Mathis. 

     

    Father, only you know hearts. Please touch those to whom you've given such talent and turn their hearts to you. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

  • Monday Musings . . .

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    Simplified: every novel is a risk. Will readers like the protagonist and the other characters? Will the story have appeal to the audience you hope to reach? Enough conflict? Enough drama? Enough resolution? Good dialogue? Will it? 

    In my last novel, I told you it was a risk creating that hero. Because he was a heroic man. Maybe not his entire life, but he couldn't help himself when the time came for him to step up whether in love or the pursuit and defeat of evil, he did. In many ways he was near perfect – but not quite. A protagonist like that is a risk. "Too perfect", but he wasn't. He was just the right man for the part. 

    My current novel takes another risk. Mostly dialogue either spoken or internal. A love story told by the man who's experiencing it. A bestselling author no less. 

    They are all risks. Authors must take them. And hope for the desired result. 

     

    Father, you are the supplier of inspirations. Apart from you, I can do nothing. Thank you is never enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

  • Sunday’s Offerings

         

         "This calls for a mind with wisdom. the seven heads are seven hills on which the woman sits. They are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; but when he does come, he must remain for a little while. The beast who once was, and now is not, is an eighth king. He belongs to the seven and is going to his destruction. 

         "The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour will receive authority as kings along with the beast. They have one purpose and will give their power and authority to the beast. They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings — and with Him will be His called, chosen and faithful followers." 

         Then the angel said to me, "The waters you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations and languages. The beast and the ten horns you saw will hate the prostitute. They will bring her to ruin and leave her naked; they will eat her flesh and burn her with fire. For God has put it into their hearts to accomplish His purpose by agreeing to give the beast their power to rule, until God's words are fulfilled. The woman you saw is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth."  

     

    Revelation 17:9-18 (NIV) 

  • Excerpt . . . again.

        Excerpt

    This is from Chapter 13 of my WIP (Work-in-Progress):

         I accompanied her in silence until we reached the area between her cottage and my home, waiting until she unlocked the door and turned with a smile and a brief wave. Walking back to the car, I got in and sat there before backing up to put it in the garage.

         I have a tendency to run from serious contemplations. Mostly because they take me back to where I don’t want to visit. Memories aren’t always kind. In hindsight I had very few of the good variety. They seemed instead to be reminders of what a jerk and a lush I could be, an inconsiderate guy who took advantage of – and everything I could get from – the opposite sex with pleasure. It now made me shudder and I whipped my car in reverse to back it into its spot. Since when had I grown a real conscience?! 

     

    Father, apart from you, I can't write word one. Thank you is never enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

     

     

  • Memories . . .

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    There are times in our lives which we almost rush past, participating but not realizing how quickly these times will pass and move on to the next times in our lives with barely a moment to truly reflect on what took place. That's when memories are called upon by a simple remembrance, a flash from the past, that brings us to a sudden stop to recall how meaningful those quickly passing times truly were – and how we missed so much in the moment of our past when we kept looking ahead instead of right in front of us. 

    Re-connecting with people who meant so much to you, but somehow then there wasn't the connection you hoped there could have been. 

    Memories are funny things. They can sometimes elevate people, places, and things to pedestals they never could've occupied, or you relegate them to failures when they were really just a part of living. 

    Not all memories are accurate nor are they all good or bad, but they serve a purpose in the tomorrows of our lives, and it's best not to let them slip away again. 

     

    Father, I have some good and some bad, you know them all. Huge regrets and major joys. The best thing is you rescued me from myself. And that memory is precious. Thank you is never enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.