“There are two kinds of Truth: Truth as it really exists and Truth as we perceive it. The purpose of all life is to strive to make both truths one and the same, or perfect truth. There is no relative Truth.”
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― Plato
The Watchmen
The Watchmen is a thriller concerning Ivan Samsonoff, a conflicted and newly retired “black ops” US intelligence agent. His old-school Russian father is dying of a broken heart, his only brother Linus is missing from the military, and, to help a friend, Ivan has agreed to help locate Adam Tanner, a kidnapped candidate for the San Diego City School Board.
Ivan’s unspoken agenda concerns Violetta, the love of his life, now married to the soon-to-be confirmed City Schools Superintendent. Further complicating his search, Ivan detects that Chinese operatives (with diplomatic immunity) have arranged Adam’s kidnapping from a DC airport—they have strict orders to protect a pending billion-dollar book deal for all of California that begins with San Diego City Schools. These Chinese books contain a new deadly drug that can be injected into the pages of school textbooks.
The throughline of The Watchmen is a race against an election day deadline, an unwitting hospital staff in Pittsburgh, a clumsy FBI, and several Chinese assassination teams. Using “black ops” skills and associates, Ivan must covertly locate Adam and return him safely to San Diego in time to qualify as a legal candidate. Moreover, the “ops man” still needs to discern what has happened to Linus as well as how he can causally reconnect with Violetta.
Introducing: The Resurrection Chronicles
The story begins with how Jesus met the first Apostles and received baptism from John the Baptist, then follows what happened to Jesus and His closest followers during His illegal trial, conviction, torture, hideous crucifixion, and controversial burial. But the main characters of The Resurrection Chronicles-the mother of Jesus, Mary Magdalene, Mother Mary's sister, the Apostles, Nicodemus, and Joseph of Arimathea-realize that despite the danger, they have been called to pick up the pieces of Jesus' message and share it with the world.
They're still trying to reach an agreement about how best to do that three days after His burial when Jesus arises from His tomb and begins visiting His followers. But the time Jesus can remain on Earth is rapidly coming to an end. Forty days after his death, angels help Him ascend into the clouds and heavens above. Ten days later, Peter rises before a vast gathering of Jesus' disciples and Jerusalem visitors and reminds them of all that has taken place in the past 50 days. And even though Jesus, Son of God, has left them, He still remains with them in the form of the Holy Spirit. And with the Holy Spirit, all things are possible.
Maiden General
The year is 1429 and the English have been attempting to annex France and illegitimize its crown prince (the Dauphin) since long before Jehanne d’Arc can remember.
Jehanne, just 17 years old and a pious young woman, runs away from home to attempt an impossible mission from God—get herself appointed as a French field general and lead her country to victory over the English. She’s small in stature, of low birth, illiterate, and has no knowledge of war or politics.
Nonetheless, like her hero, the Blessed Virgin Mary, she says “Yes” to God and, determined to succeed, sets off to prevent a major English victory at Orléans, France.
For Mike’s blog about Joan of Arc, go to maidengeneral.tumblr.com.