The Betrayal - A Precinct 11 Novel by Jerry Jenkins

What a perfect time for this family friendly, murder/suspense novel set on the gang-infested streets of Chicago.  This book took me back to the Golden Age of TV, when you could sit down with your parents and watch a great detective show chock-full of suspense and intrigue, but minus the foul language, gore, and sexually inappropriate scenes. Think McMillan and Wife, The Rockford Files, Canon, and Hart to Hart. Detective Boone Drake of the Chicago Police Department has just suffered a bullet to the shoulder while protecting a very important gang informant, making him a hero to the vast city. Lying low from all the hullaballoo of heroism, he works through the pain of his injury as he sets out to clear his new love interest, Haeley Lamonica, of felony charges. Suspects are crawling out of the woodwork and Boone is forced to consider those he respects and honors as possible snitches (responsible for leaking information to the shooter), not to mention the accusations whirling around Haeley. This fast paced, clinch the bottom of your chair, sometimes humorous novel has bestseller written all over it.

Katie and Angelique

This is just a small excerpt from "The Secret Kingdom". The link below is a song that truly touches my heart and casts a great deal of meaning to the book as a whole. It also carries the feel of the following scene. I think watching the video might help in visualizing the scene. Yeah, I know, I'm supposed to take care of the visualization. But I feel it never hurts to include additional elements. :) Love and Blessings! Any and all comments welcome!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIkQ7YVys_A

Copyright by Laura L. Kirk 8-22-2011

The Kingdom Above the Clouds

The Picture at left, is called “Clouds of Creation”, and viewed from an Observatory Telescope.

As many of you know, I have written a book that has required much research regarding heaven – the home of God, as well as, our solar, planetary, and star systems.

As far as the home of God is concerned, the doctrine waters are quite muddy. No one really knows exactly what Heaven will be like. We have some idea from the scriptures, scholars, and near-death accounts. Yet, even still, much remains mysterious and unknown. In my book, I have stretched Biblical accounts of Heaven to the fictional limit including Paul’s account of being caught up into the Third Heaven, and The Transfiguration of Jesus.

Scripture states that Paul was caught up to the Third Heaven (2 Cor. 12:2). Among the Jews in the apostolic ages the heavens were divided into three: (1)  clouds, atmosphere, what is above us until we come to the stars, (2) where sun, moon, and stars appear, (3) residence of God, angels and holy spirits, Christ seated at the right hand of the Father, where spirits of the just are assembled. I personally refer to (3) as the Kingdom above the clouds. I LOVE that!

In the Gospels, Jesus takes Peter, James, son of Zebedee, and John the Apostle with him and goes to a mountain, which is not named (yet we now refer to it as the Mount of Transfiguration). Once on the mountain, Matthew 17:2 states that Jesus was transfigured before them; his face shining as the sun, and his garments became white as the light. At that point the prophets Elijah and Moses (deceased at that time) appear and Jesus begins to talk to them. Luke is specific in describing Jesus in a state of glory.

I have to tell you, such research has brought much excitement to my writing. I LOVE thinking about and researching the mysteries of God! I hope this has stirred excitement in you about the God and Creator of our Universe!

Until Next Time,

Love and Blessings!