Philippians 4:6: Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
James 5:16: Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
We discussed in the last study, prayer is a simple conversation with God the Father, in faith.
Let’s talk about the different aspects of Prayer? There are several different aspects or types of prayer described in God’s Word. We are instructed to pray on a regular basis. God is personal….He cares for you! He knows your name! He knows how many hairs are on your head! God loves you and He hears your prayers.
Psalms 55:17: Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.
We are to pray or talk with God continuously. Without Ceasing!
There are several different aspects or types of prayers. They can be prayed alone or in combination with other types. Most of the time you are already doing this and don’t even reallize it!
Let’s look at the different types or aspects of prayer. The first and most basic and yet the most important is
The Prayer of Salvation:
Every person must admit that you are a sinful creature and you need a Savior. Then you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior and confess with your mouth and believe in your heart and you will be saved!
Romans 3:23: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
John 3:16: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Romans 10:9: That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
What a wonderful Gift God was given!!!
The Prayer of Agreement:
Matthew 18:19: Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
If any two of you agree as touching … You have a need – You find another believer and agree in prayer based on this verse and no matter what the need is —- God will honor it.
There are several important things to remember, always pray in line with the Word. We discussed this in the first study. Know the Word, and how it applies to your situation. The other thing to remember is you cannot be in agreement with someone you have strife, anger or unforgiveness towards. The people who pray with you and for you should be close to you and in total agreement with you. You cannot pray with someone you just had a screaming fit with!.. (unless it is a prayer of forgiveness!) Pray in line with God’s Word and it will always be effective!
The Prayer of Petition:
Psalms 143:1: Hear my prayer, O Lord, give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness.
Job 6:8: Oh that I might have my request; and that God would grant me the thing that I long for!
Matthew 6:8: Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
The prayer of petition is the most common type or prayer prayed. Your are asking God the Father for something for you – it is a petition or request for your needs.! God knows your needs! He has already planned for them. Nothing takes God by surprise! He is always ready to answer you!
Psalms 37:4: Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
The Prayer of Praise and Worship:
Ephesians 5:19-20: Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
Hebrews 13:15: By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
Hosea 14:2: Take with you words and return to the Lord; say to him, “Take away all iniquity; accept that which is good and we will render the fruit of our lips.
Psalms 22:22: I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.
Praise is the way we acknowledge what God has done for us!
It si the way we express our joy to the Lord. We need to acknowledge through praise Who God is! and All that he has done!
Psalms 71:6-14: Upon thee I have leaned from my birth; thou art he who took me from my mother’s womb. My praise is continually of thee. I am as a wonder unto many; but thou art my strong refuge. My mouth is filled with thy praise, and with thy glory all the day. Do not cast me off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength is spent. For my enemies speak concerning me, those who watch for my life consult together, and say, “God has forsaken him; pursue and seize him, for there is none to deliver him.” O God, be not far from me; O my God, make haste to help me! May my accusers be put to shame and consumed; with scorn and disgrace may they be covered who seek my hurt. But I will hope continually, and will praise thee yet more and more.”
Worship is the formal setting in which our devotion and reverence to God is expressed. Praise and Worship go hand in hand. You pretty much do them at the same time, whether you are in a formal setting or alone.
Praise and Worship should spontaneously burst from you — at all times!
Psalms 95:6-7: O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our maker. For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice,
The Prayer of Thanksgiving:
1 Thessalonians 5:18: In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
Thanksgiving is pretty simple – it is giving thanks to God the Father for all His blessings. Thanking Him in everything you are going through – the good and Yes – the bad! You are not thanking Him for the bad but in the midst of these things thank Him that you are more than a conqueror in Christ Jesus. Because everything the enemy puts you through God will use increase your faith!
You need to first of all thank Him for your salvation through His Son Jesus Christ,
the greatest gift He ever gave! Remember – “God is good and His mercy endures for ever”
(1 Chron. 16.36).
Thank Him for His enduring mercy. Thank Him for your home, your spouse, your children, your job – if you don’t have a job- thank Him for providing one! Thank Him for your divine health, “By His stripes we were healed.” (1 Peter 2:24). No matter what you feel — Thank Him! I guarantee You will be full of the Joy of the Lord before you are finished!
Don’t be slow to Count your Blessings as that great old hymn says: Count your blessings, Name them one by one, Count your many Blessings, See what God Has Done!
The Prayer of Intercession:
Ezekiel 22:30: And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.
Hebrews 7:25: Consequently he is able for all time to save those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.
Intercessory prayer is the burden, joy and responsibility of one person praying for another.
The most classic example of intercessory prayer is found in Genesis 18.
Genesis 18:20-30,32-33: And the Lord said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous; I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know. And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the Lord. And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked? Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein? That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? And the Lord said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes. And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes: Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous: wilt thou destroy all the city for lack of five? And he said, If I find there forty and five, I will not destroy it. And he spake unto him yet again, and said, Peradventure there shall be forty found there. And he said, I will not do it for forty’s sake….And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten’s sake. And the Lord went his way, as soon as he had left communing with Abraham: and Abraham returned unto his place.”
Abraham’s deep concern for any righteous people living in such sinful places led him to continue to ask God for Sodom’s salvation!
This is what intercession means – no matter what “city of sin” someone you love or know is in – no matter what they are going through or how far from God they have drifted; You, as a believer, have the right to go boldy into the throne room and pray for them!
Look at Exodus 17:8-12: Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim. And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: to morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand. So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses’ hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.
As long as Moses kept his hand lifted to God in intercession – the Israelites were winning the battle.The wonderful thing about this is – Moses got physically tired and Aaron and Hur stood on each side of him and supported him! If you have someone you are interceding for – no matter what the need is, Remember, first of all God hears your prayers! Let’s look at Daniel.
Daniel 10:12. Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia. Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days.
Daniel had been praying and interceding but the enemy had done everything he could to stop the answer from getting to Daniel.
Many times in intercession – there is spiritual warfare going on- to prevent the answer to your prayers. Just as Moses had Aaron and Hur had to support him , you may need prayer warriors to support you, in your time of weariness. Remember – we are more than conqueres!
Psalms 31:24 Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord.
Psalms 50:15: And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.
Remember “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”
Let me leave you with a few thought:
Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
If you want to know that you are a child of God, then I would like to invite you to earnestly pray this prayer.
Dear Heavenly Father, I come to you in the name of Jesus. Your word says, “…and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.” (Jn.6:37), So I know You won’t cast me out, but You take me in, And I thank you for it. You said in your Word, “whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Ro. 10:13).
I am calling on Your name, So I know You have saved me now, You also said, “…that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes to righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made to salvation.” (Ro.10:9,10).
I believe in my heart that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. I believe He was raised from the dead for my justification. And I confess Him now as my Lord, Because Your Word says, “… with the heart one believes to righteousness…” and I do believe with my heart, I have now become the righteousness of God in Christ. (2 Cor. 5:21),
And I am saved! Thank You, Lord!
I can now truthfully say, I see myself as a born again child of God!
Glory to God!!!! Amen.
I was raised Catholic, and was born again at the age of 17. I received God’s call into ministry at the age of 19 and began to prepare for ministry. I graduated from Rhema Bible Training Center in 1979. The Lord has called me to teach. My desire is to help all that are seeking to come into a deeper understanding of what God has done for us through Christ Jesus and I have started a web site for this purpose called The Olive Branch; Please visit us for more free studies and resources to help you on your journey.
Mark Baker
http://www.olivebranchministries.us
Share this song for free download from FREEMUSICVAULT.INFO D12 – Girls (Hidden Track) – Devil's Night (Limited Edition
ACU 1986 Spring Cup 350cc Formula II race. For road racing bike frame around engines (Yamaha YPVS RD350LC) 1986 was founded the first year of "Bus Stop chicane are used to warn drivers has been slower than the speed of the Devils Elbow. Riders are: Ian Neil Newton Tuxworth (now respected team manager), Carl Fogarty, Tony Ray, Ian Burnett Swann leader Steve Hislop Ian Williams, Dave Lough
moviechannel222.blogspot.com
Gone are the days of blurry, indistinguishable photos taken with that wind-on thing you bought at a souvenir shop for five quid: the future is digital! At this point, I’m actually sure that many camera enthusiasts might disagree with me, but for we amateurs, a digital camera can hardly be surpassed. The rise of the digital camera has made it ever more difficult to find an excuse for taking bad pictures. However, if you’re still struggling to explain why your wife’s eyes constantly come out looking like the Devil’s own in each picture you take, or why your photos always seem to look like they were touched by the halo of a mischievous angel, here are ten simple tips to improve your photography without giving you a headache in the process:
1) Read the manual!
This really should go without saying. Even quite experienced users can always benefit from reading the user manual, as tempting as it is to skip it and get straight to the action. However, if the idea of wading into that quicksand of technical terms and dry, joyless language gives you the chills, at least there the basics – how to turn the flash on and off and onto auto, how to zoom in and out, how to use the shutter button and how to view your pictures. If you’re feeling braver at a later date, you can always go back and learn the technicalities.
2) Set your resolution
While not immediately obvious, it’s important to set your resolution as high as you can afford it. If this involves buying a larger memory card, then do so. The lower your resolution is, the ‘fuzzier’ and worse quality your photos will be when you come to print them out. A low resolution also makes it more difficult to crop photos and digitally alter, which limits your options drastically.
3) Make your camera your new best friend
By which I mean, start taking it everywhere with you. One of my best friend’s boyfriends has made it his resolution to take a least one picture every day. He carries his camera around with his everywhere he goes and as a result has come across some stunning shots and improved his technique immensely. There really is truth to the saying ‘practice makes perfect’. Additionally, you will get to know how your camera reacts in different types of light – artificial, natural, cloudy, dusk and so on. Besides, most of us can identify with that incredible frustration of coming across the perfect shot and not having our camera around to take it.
4) Think outside the box
Start thinking like a photographer. If you see something you want to photograph, don’t just click away like some shutter-happy tourist: think! From which angle would your subject look best? Would different lighting convey a different mood? Should you shoot from close up or further away? While there are certain ‘rules’ that can help you at the beginning to get the feeling for what a ‘good’ photograph should look like, you should also feel free to experiment. Even if everything goes horribly wrong, you can still learn from your mistakes.
If, however, you’re just starting out, it can helpful to keep the following points in mind:
- Apply the ‘Two Thirds’ rule, by positions your points of interest along the third lines of the photograph. Try not to let the horizon or other lines cut your photo in half.
- Avoid distractions: it may be amusing to realise your photo looks like your mum has a tree growing out of her head, but if you’re aiming for decent photos, try to look at the ‘big picture’ as it were and alter your position to remove distractions.
- Mix things up: take photographs from interesting angles, as demonstrated by this photo. While this can go horribly wrong, often it can result in beautiful, unique photographs without a lot of hard work.
5) Keep still and focus
Pay attention to what you’re doing while taking photographs. If you are prone to taking blurry or shaky pictures, either you haven’t got the hang of focusing, or you may be moving too much while attempting to snap your subject. In any case, learn how to use the auto focus and don’t play with manual focusing unless your auto focus run into trouble. One top tip to steady your shot is to use one hand underneath the lens to steady it (keep your fingers out of the shot though!) and use your other hand to focus and take the picture. If you still have trouble, try experimenting with a tripod, although this will limit your movement.
6) Don’t get flash happy
Use your flash sparingly. While it can be a god-send in certain circumstances, if you give into temptation too often your only reward will be washed-out subject or strange reflections. Your flash is best limited to the following situations:
- to eliminate ‘panda eyes’ in bright sunlight
- to fill in dark shadows for contrast
Where possible, avoid flash by introducing as much light as possible to the area, for example opening curtains, turning on lights and so on. If you have no choice but to use your flash at nighttime, go ahead, but do be prepared for a rather washed-out or flattened photograph.
7) Go for a crop
Try installing photo-editing software and learn how to use the basics of it. One of the best is Photoshop, but it’s quite expensive. A better option is perhaps to start with Paint.NET, which is free to download online (it’s only Windows-compatible though). Even if you are the most computer-phobic person in the world, you should be able to master some simple skills, which can do the world for your photographs. Probably the most important things to learn are:
- correcting colour balance
- cropping
- adjusting lighting
- removing the dreaded red eye
If you’re more ambitious, there is almost no limit to what you can do.
Stick to automatic
Most cameras have a automatic mode – some have several different automatic modes. Stick to these until you get your bearings, since due to advances in technology, there isn’t a pressing reason to switch to manual. If you appear to be experiencing problems in your automatic mode, such as consistently taking blurry photos, you might want to start experimenting manually, but otherwise don’t mess around with it too much.
9) Gather critics
Invite your pals around to view your pictures and to tell you which they like best and why. They’ll be able to point out to you both positive and negative aspects that you may have missed. One may point out that they love the composition of a certain photo that you had overlooked. Another might comment on your use of lighting or how you might improve your framing. Don’t underestimate the use of looking through other people’s eyes, as it were, to gain new insight. And don’t be put off if everybody doesn’t immediately rave about your newfound artistic talent!
10) Have fun!
And that’s a command! Don’t worry if you first few, or even first few hundred photos come out looking a bit pants – that doesn’t matter. What matters is that you enjoy the process of learning and don’t get put off too easily by mistakes at the beginning. With a bit of practice, photography can be a very fulfilling and creative hobby, so keep at it!
Kathryn Castle is an online marketing expert for HolidayCheck, with a particular interest in travel and hotel reviews. Her writing has been published in many UK publications, including Aesthetica Magazine, with UK-wide circulation. She has recently visited Vienna, Budapest, Bratislava and Konstanz.
With Cape Point at its tip, this is perhaps the most popular section of Table Mountain National Park, and is one of the top tourist destinations in South Africa.
Visitors can see a variey of wildlife such as antelopes like bontebok eland and red hartebeest, cheeky chacma baboons, an array of reptiles and a great selection of birds – it literally teems with life.
This area of Cape Town’s South Peninsula, is also steeped in history, for it is here that the great Portuguese voyagers Bartholomew Dias and Vasco da Gama historically rounded the Cape in the 16th century, and opened up sea trade routes between east and west.
Shipwrecks:
The coastline is littered with the wrecks of ships that fell prey to the violent storms and deceiving reefs that have earned this passage the accolade, “Cape of Storms”. The original Cape Point Lighthouse still stands and visitors can take the funicular up the hill to see for themselves, the treacherous conditons that caused it to be erected in the first place. While at Cape Point, dine at the Two Oceans Restaurant, which boasts spectacular sea views. If you prefer a picnic, head down to Buffels Bay – but you may have company, so look out for baboons. Be sure to visit the Buffelsfontein Visitor Centere for coffee and a snack, while looking at the exhibits showing all the plans and animals of each season.
Boulders Penguin Colony:
Visit the famous Boulders Beach colony of African Penguins. This is a truly special experience, with the option of a guided tour. After you have fallen in love with the penguins, swim in the comparatively warm sheltered coves, ideal for children. But don’t touch or feed the penguins – they can give a nasty bite.
Signal Hill, Lions Head and Devils Peak:
These three peaks flank Table Mountain and together hold Cape Town in a rocky embrace. Signal Hill is home to the noonday gun, which marks midday in Cape Town with a bang. A drive to the top of Signal Hill offers uninterrupted views of Table Bay and endless Atlantic Ocean. Lions Head peak has become something of a pilgrimage for Capetonions, who make the rocky climb to witness the full moon rising. Devils Peak protrudes from the flat line of Table Mountain and has challenging slopes.
Picnic Sites:
Silvermine picnic and braai sites and wheel chair-friendly boardwalk (half an hour south of the city), overlook a picturesque reservoir in which you can take a refreshing swim. Half way back to the city is the popular jogging and picnic area in Newlands Forest, while on the Atlantic coastline is the beachside Oudekraal braai an picnic site.
Gerald Crawford was born in South Africa, studied electronics, telecommunication, eco-travel and african travel concepts. He taught responsible tourism in South Africa. If you have any questions or comments please e-mail me on. E-mail Address: southafricantravelarticles@12234455.co.za Website Address: http://www.12234455.co.za
With the ever-rising cost of health care looming into the future, many of us are looking to the past for answers in natural home remedy (for Gout especially) for the treatment of what ails us.
This also goes for disorders like Arthritis and Gout. Home remedy is mostly being used as treatment.
Medicinal plants and herbs have been around for as long as humans have roamed the earth. Through centuries of trial and error, experts say that we’ve gotten it down to an art but we continue to learn more about natural medicine. In seeking a natural home remedy for gout, we needn’t look much further than our homes and grocery stores.
To plan a regimen of natural home remedy for gout, we need to understand the disorder and how it can be affectively treated with home remedies. Gout is a result of the build-up of a chemical called uric acid in the blood stream.
Uric acid is a by-product of a waste product called purine, which is formed during the natural breakdown of protein in our cells. Ideally, uric acid leaves the body through the urinary tract and that’s that.
But with gout, the uric acid builds up, forms crystals that spill into the bloodstream and painfully strikes a joint, usually a great toe but can be other joints as well.
Let’s preface by saying that most bouts of gout can be avoided by following a few simple guidelines, but the intense pain associated with an acute flare-up requires immediate medical attention. Remember that a home remedy for gout is not meant to replace advice and treatment from a healthcare provider.
They will address the attack of gout more aggressively with prescription and non-prescription medications. Consider some of the following typical Gout’s natural remedy and treatments to help keep you on your toes.
Take it Easy
Using natural home remedy for Gout and its treatment include supplementation, diet, herbs and adjustments to activities of daily living. Elevate the effected joint and rest it as much as possible during acute phases. Applying an ice pack can help ease the pain if applied in 10-20 minutes sessions every hour or so.
Many people mistakenly believe that medications such as ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®) are for pain only. Not so. These are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications that treat the source of the pain of gout-the inflammation.
Oral antacids can help maintain an alkaline base in the body’s chemistry. Once the pain subsides, gently stretching the joint helps keep the range of motion from becoming prohibitive. While these may seem like ‘no-brainers’ they are the foundation upon which to effectively base your Gout’s natural home remedy regimen.
From the Easy Chair to the Kitchen
Recalling that uric acid comes from purine, and purine comes from protein yields clues in properly planning your diet as home remedy for gout. Most purine rich foods are protein rich and should be avoided in excessive amounts. All sources of purine should not be omitted from the diet completely.
Taking up diet as home remedy for gout has its share of ups and downs. For lower uric acid levels avoid foods such as organ meats (liver, etc.), shellfish, yeast products, alcohol (especially beer), poultry, and vegetables such as asparagus and mushrooms to name a few. Another home remedy for Gout opt instead for complex carbohydrates such as bread, potatoes, pasta, and high fiber foods, steering away from high protein and fat.
A delicious home remedy for gout is a diet chock full of red and blue berries, including juicy cherries and strawberries in addition to whole grains, nuts and seeds. Raw fruits and vegetables will help keep uric acid levels at bay, as will plenty of water.
Experts recommend drinking 96 ounces of water daily for hydration to assist the urinary tract and the excretion of uric acid. Drink up, buttercup!
From the Kitchen to the Cabinet
Recent clinical studies concluded that vitamin and herbal supplements are an important natural home remedy for gout. Vitamins are effective for a variety of reasons. Vitamin C and B complex both help break down uric acid (but check with a physician first if there is a history of kidney disease).
A low purine diet is deficient of Vitamin E so its replacement is necessary for cell repair and overall health.
The herbal supplement Devil’s Claw was determined to be as effective in anti-inflammatory response as Cox-2 inhibitors (such as Celebrex®) available by prescription only. As a natural home remedy for gout, Devil’s Claw is available in tablet and tincture form as well as a brewed tea.
Home remedy for Gout can also be other beverage such as stinging nettle, horsetail tea, horseradish and parsley juices are thought to help stimulate the body to excrete uric acid, eliminating it from the joints. Birch leaf, celery and mustard seeds are also believed to flush uric acid from the system.
Taken between meals, bromelain, a derivative of pineapple, is another powerful source of anti-inflammatory natural remedy for gout.
There are a host of Gout’s Natural Remedy that compresses, poultices and baths to ease the symptoms of gout that include many of the herbal ingredients listed above added to oat straw, St. John’s wort, camomile, honey and comfrey. There are many soothing options for helpful home remedies for gout.
Betty Roberts
Author of Gout-Info.com [http://www.gout-info.com]
For those Extreme Cyclists who know no bounds let me suggest the ride from hell thru the Arizona Mountains. Lets start in Beautiful downtown Scottsdale shall we? In fact the entire ride will be nothing short of breathtaking in some of the best scenery and Mountain Passes in the United States of America.
We will ride South through Tempe AZ take a turn East and head for Apache Junction on E. Main Street, which turns into East Apache Trail and then onto Hwy 60. So far we are now warmed up with 30 miles under our belts and our muscles are loose and ready for the hills ahead.
The next 15 miles is a slight grade nothing too tough, but give it five more miles to the town of Superior and you are really starting to feel it. The next 20 miles to Globe is some of the coolest Devils Canyon type terrain you have ever seen and by the time you get to Globe you are burning in your legs. You started at 1250 feet elevation and now you are already at a Hello; 3524 feet; ouch. But the fun is just beginning folks.
We head out of globe at 65 miles already ridden, a hard days ride for anyone, but we do not stop here because Hwy 60 awaits and Show Low, which is 90 more miles and an elevation of 6411 feet. Should we stop here? NO! For if you are still alive after 155 miles of sheer hell then you can ride another 38 miles to Springerville, AZ at 6970 feet about sea level.
And heck what is another 12 miles in the high mountains to get you and your bike into the State of New Mexico? You can all coast back down the hill to stay in Springerville, nice people, nice hotels, but personally I must keep going in my Trek Across America.
“Lance Winslow” – Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/. Lance is an online writer in retirement.
If you haven’t started the Deception Series by Jacqueline G. Randolph yet, you better check out these three reviews! One more book to go…you need to catch up!
Deception’s Guard By Jacqueline G. Randolph
One of my favorite all-time movies is “The Long Kiss Goodnight.” It was one of the first action/suspense movies I had seen where the female was the main character. Geena Davis starred as an assassin for the CIA. As I met Skye Mathews in Deception’s Guard, the first book in the Deception series by Jacqueline G. Randolph, I was reminded of my delight in having the female as the lead in an action-packed thriller!
In Deception’s Guard, Skye is a top Drug Enforcement agent working undercover. She is called back from her primary assignment to become the bodyguard for CEO Rhys Wielde, who has agreed to work with the DEA. Just as with the character played by Geena Davis, readers will quickly come to admire Skye’s courage, strength and commitment, while maintaining an underlying warmth and concern for those she serves and protects.
Rhys had been shocked when, after extensive research and elimination of his possible involvement, he was contacted by the DEA, regarding his company, Genoreach. They had determined that his company was responsible for the creation of a genetic receptor, code-named Omega, for all known illegal drugs. That is, the receptor was designed to annihilate the biological receptors in the brain responsible for addiction and necessary for withdrawal and rehabilitation. The destroyed receptors would be replaced by artificial receptors incapable of purging drugs, thus ensuring a captive market for drug smugglers! Rhys had created Genoreach shortly after graduating from MIT. He had considered the small group of employees as his family and felt bitter betrayal and anger that one or more of them had not only turned against the goals of the company, but had worked to create something so monstrous and deadly. Once he was convinced his company was involved, he agreed to help bring these traitors to justice. That placed him in immediate danger from those who had first contacted his company representatives.
While Skye was a long-term, experienced agent, she had learned through that experience that oftentimes men did not accept a woman as a bodyguard. Instead, it was instinctual for them to try to protect the female in times of trouble. Skye surmised that Rhys Wielde would follow that role. So, while she had agreed to become his bodyguard, it was to be done without Rhys ever meeting her. However, as she and other agents surrounded Rhys in a hideaway cabin, and a car drove slowly by without his knowledge, Skye realized that she would have to be closer if she were actually going to be able to protect him. Skye’s plan was to meet him in disguise, as Sierra, and have him become interested in her, so that he would invite her to spend time in his company. The plan worked-very well. Unfortunately, the plan worked on Skye as well… Their attraction was instant…and real. But Skye is able to maintain control of her passion and, within Rhys’ arms as he kisses her, she plunges a syringe deep into his neck. As arranged, she pulls him into a hiding place; then crawls in, guns in both hands now, to protect him if necessary. She nervously listens, sweat pouring down her face, as those wanting to kill Rhys attack the cabin, and as her team fights against the assassins.
When Rhys regains consciousness, the battle is over; Sierra is gone! But the first phase of the Omega operation is a success and they arrest the chief biologist and two information system programmers of Genoreach, along with a number of South American mercenaries. Now they must turn their efforts to those who initiated the research. Just as the mercenaries gave up the Genoreach contacts, Rhys is permitted to shake information out of his former colleagues. He discovers that they were to make contact at an industrial conference in Peru. Since Rhys had already been scheduled for attendance, he readily agrees to act as the promised systems analyst who would release the data and receive payment from the drug lords. Although fearful of her own feelings, Skye is again asked to act as his bodyguard and Gabe, her boss and friend, has arranged for her to be disguised as a haggard domestic worker in the capitol mansion.
With various disguises, Skye is able to handle many of the activities necessary to the mission. However, as the Haggard is called upon to guide him from danger and they must abandon their disguises to escape, Rhys unhappily discovers how the various characters Skye has played have fooled him. Is the woman for whom he has such attraction, Sierra, Skye, or the domestic worker-or some other woman he has not yet met? Rhys finally accepts and applauds that Skye is able to guard him. But, by the time they are nearing the end of their mission, and they are under attack, Rhys does exactly what Skye was afraid of-he takes the bullet that she should have taken and is badly injured.
Deception’s Guard has constant action and twists, setting a pace that keeps the reader interested and involved. Jacqueline Randolph has used knowledge gathered through extensive traveling as well as her excellent writing skills to introduce wonderful characters whom you will quickly come to know and love. Then she takes us through a wonderful and exciting adventure in faraway lands of intrigue. You might plan on buying the second in her series, Deception’s Fury, at the same time. I read both books in two days, reading almost around the clock-plan to meet Skye and Rhys on Friday night and have a wonderful, exciting weekend! Trust me! This author is on the move! Watch her! She is a challenge to J. D. Robb and many other well-established writers. This is definitely a MUST-READ!
Deception’s Fury By Jacqueline G. Randolph
Those who remember and enjoyed the original series for Mission Impossible will certainly welcome Deception’s Fury, by Jacqueline G. Randolph. In fact, you will see that this story would have made a great script for that popular show. Fury is an exciting adventure that reveals a world known by few-a world where undercover Americans fight as part of the Drug Enforcement Agency to protect our citizens, demanding of themselves a commitment and loyalty to their mission that can only serve to inspire and amaze us.
While this story may be fiction, it, nonetheless, elicits a response-a thankful, prayerful elation that there are those among our fellow Americans who work to serve and protect our United States.But, wait! Before you read further, let me tell you that you will want to start right from the beginning of this series. Check out my review of Deception’s Guard because I believe you’ll want to read about the great love affair and the dangerous adventures of the two main characters before you are submerged into the Fury of the greatest challenge to that love in Randolph’s second book!
Yes, Deception’s Fury continues the story of the love affair between Rhys and Skye Wielde. Skye has moved from her position as a Drug Enforcement Agent into an advisory position and has become Rhys’ wife and the mother of three beautiful children–a set of twins, and later a young son. She is also a part-time professor and has established a local air charter business, sometimes working as one of the pilots.
Rhys is head of Genoreach Technologies which is dedicated to research and development of bioinformatic technologies-the mating of biology and information systems. A major deception at Genoreach had originally brought Rhys and Skye together (See Deception’s Guard) and nearly ten years of wedded bliss have passed.Until the day that messages were intercepted. Information that referred to their youngest son, who was called “Wolf,” had been discovered on the Internet. There are also references to Omega, the drug that had been created at Genoreach and had been found to be deadly. Had the drug not totally been stopped? Or had other scientists duplicated the process? And what did it mean to have the involved ship, the ship that was known to transport drugs, have the same name as their son, with a captain who was called “Wolf”?
Skye, with her DEA background, extensive knowledge of the earlier mission, as well as having a pilot’s license, is asked to participate actively once again. Declaring that she would act only as pilot to other DEA operatives, Rhys agrees to her involvement with the caveat specifying that, if she were not back in a month, he would come looking for her. But a month goes by and Skye is not home. Not only does Rhys begin plans to track her down, but her boss contacts him and asks him to become involved and work with the DEA. For they had received word that three agents were found dead. Skye is missing. Soon it is discovered that Skye is alive and held captive although she has been beaten and is near death. A local woman who is an undercover agent has been able to convince the assigned guards that a doctor’s visit is needed. Skye is known to be a master of disguises but now it is Rhys’ turn and he is disguised as an elderly doctor by night while by day he holds a position as an embassy aide. The old woman meets Rhys, as the doctor, and brings him to Skye. She has been beaten and bruised over her entire body, chunks of her neck and face are gone-eaten by rats. She is covered and smells of her own excrement. The horror of seeing her is almost too much for Rhys to bear. But little by little, he is convinced that his wife recognizes him and is able to respond to help his efforts to save her.
Once Skye is saved and well enough to act on her own, she is once again driven and, against her husband’s wishes to go home, is relentless in her determination to finish the mission. Reluctantly, Rhys agrees to stay and help the team find the ship transporting the drugs. The trail takes them to Ecuador, Buenos Aries, and finally to the Antarctica, the coldest most uninhabitable place on earth. There, putting together all of the pieces of information she has gathered, Skye locates the ship–the ship which some claim to be a ghost ship because of its mysterious appearances and disappearances.But there is talk among the DEA team and bosses of Skye’s sanity . . . of her becoming a rogue agent. Skye knows that in addition to her assigned mission, she has a personal need-to seek revenge on the murderer of her former DEA partner-and she doesn’t mind questions about her sanity as long as she is able to fulfill that quest as well as find the ship. Rhys is there when she finds the location and is the only witness to a major shift from team plans, which support the possibility she is indeed a traitor. He is forced to believe that Skye is no longer the woman that he has known and loved. Can he allow his wife to return and care for his children? He will always love her, but his trust has been almost destroyed. Can their marriage be saved?
Deception’s Fury is indeed a love story, but that story is just a major underlying theme. The character of Skye is a major force, an individual who, in disguise, easily becomes a person who moves through the underworld of drugs and prostitution–with its many dangers–to overhear, discover and piece together where her target can be found and how to get to it. Needless to say, the suspense and intrigue is heavy; the methods and actions of the team and undercover agents are frightening. What they must do to stay alive can only be considered monstrous and yet a very necessary part of survival. With a surprise ending, readers are kept in suspense right to the ending!
Randolph has outdone many major writers in the creation of her two main characters and, especially, her female lead. Skye will become one of your all-time favorite characters!
The tone and scenes bring readers into a distressing world and forces them to read on until the heroine allows them to leave…at the end of the book. Her writing is superb, the characters will become your heroes, and you will be searching for the next book in the series long before it is available. Trust me! This author is on the move! Watch her! She is a challenge to J. D. Robb, with her husband/wife team, as well as many other well-established writers. This is definitely a MUST-READ!
Deception’s Legacy By Jacqueline G. Randolph
Randolph’s latest book in her “Deception” series, Deception’s Legacy, is a stunning complementary addition! In fact, in many ways, it surpasses her first two books, Deception’s Guard and Deception’s Fury, in this reviewer’s opinion. And that is saying something!
In addition to action-packed adventure, Deception’s Legacy, brings us significant historical information and a major surprise in the life of one of our main characters, Skye, who, even in her 70s is actively involved in her family and in her former career as a DEA agent. Set in two primary time periods-1966 and 2030-the story also takes readers back to the time of the Spanish Inquisition. And there is where I would like to begin in sharing the story.
Evil people use whatever they can to justify hatred and prejudice. During the Spanish Inquisition, which was instigated by Queen Isabella and sanctioned by Pope Sixtus IV, in 1483, theft, torture, and murder were routinely committed against all those in Spain whose only crime was that their faith and belief was not sanctioned by the Catholic Church! In Palomares, Spain, these outrages were planned and executed by “Don Cristobal,” which represented both a family as well as the nobility who held the title at any given time. These men were thrilled to use religion to cover their lusts and they were quite willing to choose Marranos–Jews and Muslims especially–as their victims. Each generation excitedly considered how to “improve” and “surpass” the atrocities of the previous Don Cristobal. Using this background, Randolph moves between 1966 and 2030, presenting two exciting storylines, separately but ultimately connected in an explosive confrontation that is truly unforgettable! Jim, a training instructor, was commanded to fill a last-minute staffing problem and fly as standby pilot on a nuclear airlift mission-Chrome Dome. In 1966 the last missions were flown which carried nuclear bombs over Palomares, Spain. This novel recounts the horrific nuclear accident that occurred during the ill-fated mid-air refueling. But there in the midst of tragedy, a wondrous love story began.
Rosita had found Jim after he had parachuted/crashed; using that parachute, she was able to finally pull him into a cave in which she had been hiding. When Jim finally awoke, dazed, he saw her-she was bruised and bleeding, almost as badly hurt as he was. His first thought was that one of the nuclear bombs had exploded and it was already too late-she was evidence of what had happened. Rosita cradled the black man in her arms. She did not know that Jim was one of the few African-American pilots; all she knew was that he was hurt and she tried to comfort him. As time passed, a young boy, Rosita’s friend, came to bring food to her. Finding the stranger, he stayed and when the man awoke, he used what little English he knew to try to communicate. The nuclear bombs had not exploded; Don Cristobal, to whom she belonged, had hurt Rosita. She was pregnant, her third, for Rosita was a Marrano, and Don Cristobal could not allow another Marrano to be born, so he would beat her until each baby died! He was looking forward to killing her third child, still joyously following the commands established so long ago. Rosita had escaped to protect her baby.
Jim knew, however, that neither he nor Rosita would live if they didn’t get help. Finally, he was able to make Rosita understand that she must go for help; he sent her with evidence of his existence and she looked until she finally found the one other black man who was stationed in Spain, thinking that would be who would help them. Knowing that Rosita would be killed if he didn’t further help her, Jim claimed that Rosita was his wife and that she was carrying his child. What appeared to them to be a miracle resulted in Rosita later being on the plane that was carrying Jim back to the States. Decades passed before how they escaped was revealed-what a story!
Although Skye had tried to dissuade him, her son Tristan had followed in her footsteps and joined the DEA. In 2030, Tristan was assigned to Spain and was quickly immersed in a major effort to trace drug smuggling activities. The assignment required Tristan’s search of the ruling Don Cristobal’s castle. There he found the hideous evidence of what these men had done, and were still doing, in the name of the Catholic Church. Unbelievable perversions had been documented–each generation trying to be more heinous than the one before! Now they were using drugs as one of the latest methods by which Marranos were murdered. Now they were not really too careful whether it was just Marranos that were affected!
Tristan encounters include fun impersonations, exciting near-death experiences (when his parents come to his rescue) and, finally, in his finding his own soul mate. Surprise after surprise keeps the reader turning pages, striving to keep up with what is being revealed! There is NO way I’m going to even hint at what happens at the end!
Needless to say, Randolph gets better and better! Her third novel in the Deception series is excitingly new and historically significant. Randolph continues as one of my favorite and MUST-READ authors. If this book sounds interesting, trust me…get the first two books and start at the beginning of this unique family saga!
G. A. Bixler is co-owner of an online review site of Independent Professional BookReviewers. She is an avid reader and has over 40 years experience in educational administration and publishing.
bloghottrends