I was privileged to team teach with Willy Torresin de Oliveir on how to have victory over the flesh–i.e., those besetting habit patterns we all fight to overcome. Here is the presentation, translated by Willy into Portuguese, and filmed in Fort Worth, TX.
Jake wrote to say, “GREAT book [“No Mercy”]. Read it twice already.”
Would you like to expose the enemy of your soul? Like to uncover how he entices you to do his bidding? Then do something about that?!
Good for you! Me too! This is what “No Mercy” is about.
The book is now available electronically—and has a NEW section of questions for reading groups.
Seth Godin talks about getting through the dip—the perseverance necessary to overcome resistance and impediment—that thwarts life and living. The Bible calls this quality, steadfast endurance.
In “No Mercy,” Hank Henderson’s life displays how movement through the dips and dark places in life is realized and enjoyed. Moving, changing, overcoming, and succeeding are sometimes best demonstrated rather than talked about.
“No Mercy”—now available for Kindle, iPad, and Nook—shows how to change and be transformed.
Bill wrote recently, “I’m ¾ of the way through ‘No Mercy!’ Wow Wow Wow!!! What a powerful read.”
My book, “No Mercy,” is now available for all the e-readers: Kindle, iPad, Nook, and Sony. You can order here from the various stores.
Why is this an important book for you to read?
Because it helps you move and grow and change and transform in your quest to know your Heavenly Father better. It guides you in the process, offers a mentor to follow, and ushers you into the grand adventure of spiritual formation.
Bruce said on the “No Mercy” Facebook page, “The greatest treasure of all is His grace in real life. ‘No Mercy’ points the way uniquely.”
From here you can access the various online stores.
It is difficult to find a solitary place when you are the guest on a television program.
A few weeks ago I was in Canada and appeared on “100 Huntley Street” to discuss my book, “No Mercy.” As is my custom, after they had applied my makeup and guided me to the Green Room to await the start of the program, I slipped out to find a solitary place to discuss things with Father.
Television is a heady media. Unlike radio, it is visual and about appearance. Walking down the halls of Crossroads Television Network with makeup all over me is a dead giveaway that I’m “a personality.”
I was polite and I smiled and I greeted people, but I needed a quiet place to consult with my Father.
The more I walked, the more my morning coffee guided me. At first I viewed my necessary pit stop as an interruption in my quest, but when I entered the Men’s Room I remembered: Bathrooms in television studios are abnormal. Unlike the airport or a restaurant, the bathrooms in a television studio contain dressing rooms and showers. I had found my quiet place.
I sat down in the chair between the sink and the commode, rested my elbow on the sink to my right and my arm on the grab bar to my left, and as is my custom I asked Father while enveloped in solitude if He had any guidance for me before I “went live.”
I discovered some years ago to seize the isolation of my hotel room, my truck, and my house to my advantage. The cue that reminds me to capture my last moments of quiet is the door knob/handle.
Before I touch the handle to leave, in this case, the Men’s Room, I ask, “Father, do you have any final words for me before I leave this solitary place?” And then, I wait until He has had time to reply or is finished speaking to my heart and mind.
Once our conversation is complete, I check my fly one last time—that is a critically important step if you are on stage or platform—grab the door knob, and step out to face whatever comes my way.
Inside the labyrinthine hallways of Crossroads Television, buried down a half-hall from an unused makeup room, behind the door marked “Men,” and shielded behind a swinging door affording the privacy of a loo, I consulted with Father in my makeshift prayer closet before going on stage. Then I checked my fly—and then, and only then, did I touch the handle to the door.
But whether speaking on camera to what they told me was an audience of a million, or getting out of the truck to visit my Dad in the care facility, a door knob/handle/latch is my reminder to pause in the quiet and follow the lead of my Older Brother who leveraged solitude to His advantage. In fact, He frequently retreated to secluded places to visit with His Father.
As Paul Harvey used to say, “Now, you know, the rest of the story.”
So, as you watch this clip of the interview, and consider the headiness of being “on camera,” consider where my morning started.
The fundamental, life-skill of solitude is essential to our wellbeing. For Hank, the main character in “No Mercy,” it starts with his morning stretches.
For me, it starts with a door knob.
A few days ago I put a copy of “No Mercy” in the mail to my good friend, Fred. He emailed yesterday to say my package had arrived, but without the book. Someone along the way neatly cut the mailer open, removed the book, and resealed the envelope. An empty envelope from Bonefish Publication arrived in his box on Wednesday.
Fred, who lives in Vermont, said he had the same thing happen on another occasion. He packaged up a container of maple syrup and mailed it. When it arrived, the recipient said the top of the box had been neatly opened, the syrup removed, the box resealed, and the empty container delivered otherwise unscathed. This is bad news for whoever ordered the syrup but good news for the value of “No Mercy.”
Items get lost, damaged, and delivered wrong all the time. There are whole departments at the USPO that manage these inevitabilities. But tampering with the mail—I think that is a federal crime that can land you a pair of orange coveralls and shower shoes.
Here is what I find interesting: Thousands of books are mailed, probably every day. I don’t have a clue how many of these packages are tampered with, but I find it remarkable that no more copies of “No Mercy” than there were in the mail on this given day (probably just that one), Fred’s was methodically, carefully opened, the book removed—and kept!—and the package resealed and delivered.
There is some probability that this event is coincidental. There is also a probability that this event is spiritual. Personally, given the content of “No Mercy,” what I’ve been observing of Father’s work through the book, and what I know of spiritual warfare I think the spiritual probability is statistically much greater than the coincidental option. Indeed. Much greater!
Since there are two, great forces in the world, this leaves two perspectives to consider: First, Fred is without his book. So, Satan prevents Fred from whatever benefit he will ultimately derive from reading “No Mercy.” Knowing Fred as I do, I think he’ll make it until the replacement arrives. Satan’s thwarting also costs me money and the anticipated endorsement from Fred once he is done reading. But seeing as how the “No Mercy” project and related business is Father’s, I’m not sure there is anything to be consternated over.
Second, the person who opened this innocuous package containing “No Mercy” (why didn’t they open the box containing the Magic Bullet blender?), and kept what they opened, is now in the hands of Father God. That’s pretty interesting to contemplate.
As we have seen time and again, Father will go to any measure to engage a man who is seeking Him. I like this option and consideration, although I’m not certain how a just God gets around mail tampering in His quest to engage this person’s heart. He’ll most likely get this figured out though.
Satan’s pettiness is easily remedied: a new book is en route to Fred via the US Mule. He’ll have it by spring.
But the man or woman with the stolen copy of “No Mercy:” Now this is something different.
I have two, big thoughts as I write: Pray for this person. You’ve read the book, and if you haven’t, this is a pretty good indicator you might closely consider doing so. It seems quite probable that Father is on this person’s trail—the “Hound of Heaven,” as Francis Thompson called Him, is chasing him. Intercede for this person! Pray that their encounter will be life-altering.
Second: Father is distributing “No Mercy” via unconventional means. I cannot honestly say my marketing plan included mail tampering. Clearly, it should have. Chalk it up to a small vision on my part!
What is an integral part of the marketing plan is for “No Mercy” to spread and circulate because you talk about it. That Father would smuggle a book to an unknown person between Texas and Vermont indicates He is using the message and story of “No Mercy” in remarkable ways. He is targeting souls, hunting them down, and engaging them. (Can you envision the person with the stolen copy of “No Mercy,” the book crying out to him from the kitchen counter or wherever it rests now that he has tampered it into his possession?)
I don’t know about you, but when I see Father head down an unmarked trail like this, I want to join Him.
So, please pray for this unknown soul. Please pray for yourself in light of this post, and if you need a copy of “No Mercy,” or need to send a copy to someone, here’s how to get it done. And, your discount increases as you order more copies. While you are praying, pray for Fred too. He’s a great man doing fabulous work.
Have you considered giving a gift of No Mercy this Christmas? It is a gift that will keep on giving, influencing, and creating a vision long after the decorations are stored until next year.
The next time the family gathers, you can discuss what it means to you to walk in the light versus live in the pit. Or, like the main characters in No Mercy do, what it might look like to go on a llama-supported, fly fishing trip together.
You can purchase the book at Amazon, but if you would like for me to personalize your copy, or if you would like to receive a bulk discount, you need to order through my publisher, Bonefish Publication.
In order to personalize books, place your order, then send an email with names and/or personal messages to, Info@BonefishPublication.com. I’ll sign the books and then they will be shipped.
I’ll write to you again before Christmas Day, but until then, here’s wishing you a wonderful Christmas!
Here’s a totally cool opportunity!
Tuesday evening–that would be tomorrow, the 14th–my friend and fellow author, Lamar Smith, and I will be signing our respective books during the holiday wine tasting at WineStyles in Montgomery Plaza.
A few weeks ago, Lamar and I were sitting and talking at a restaurant and the owner of WineStyles came over to say hello to us. One thing led to another and she invited us to be part of this special evening in her store. How’s that for way cool?
Lamar has written a very interesting and insightful novella, “There’s More to Life Than the Corner Office.” It is a great gift for the business-inclined folks on your shopping list. It is also a wonderful introduction to the mind of a truly great individual.
My book, “No Mercy,” is an adventure story. It too will make a good gift for readers who are high-school age and up.
I’m hearing that the story line stands up well as an adventure tale, but if you want a book that invites you to think more deeply as the backstory unfolds, “No Mercy” is a good choice. Most readers are telling me that they finished the book and started reading it again the next day.
WineStyles is located in the Seventh Street corridor between downtown and the Museum District. If you will recall, the warehouses of the old Montgomery Ward complex were blown apart during a tornado. The entire property is now refurbished and reinvented, decorated for Christmas, and filled with everything from great eating places to a big-box, super store or two. Woohoo! You can make an evening of it just strolling under the lights, enjoying the chill, and knocking out some shopping.
Lamar and I will both have books on hand, but feel free to bring your existing copies of our books, and we will be happy to sign them. There is no charge for the wine tasting. Typically there are five wines to sample with light hours d’ oeuvres in between.
For those of you from Georgia and Oklahoma (both authors included), it is not cool to make a meal off the snacks. (I want to know who made that rule, but I digress.) That said, if you like what you taste, Wine Styles has inventory on hand. Depending upon how your shopping has gone, you can take your wine purchases home or open a bottle at the store. Depending upon how books sales go, Lamar and I may join you.
If you are flying in for the signing… (just kidding–a delusional thought).
See you between 6:00 and 8:00 PM, Tuesday evening.
Dianne and I have worked hard to establish holiday traditions. Most of these happen before and in between since the actual holiday demands of Thanksgiving and Christmas are so unpredictable.
One tradition we have created fits within a modification of Advent that I created for us. Beginning with the first Sunday after Thanksgiving, we read relevant stories each evening. The stories are the same each year. That’s part of the tradition.
In addition to simply sharing my Christmas writings with you, e.g. “Baby Names,” I hope you will feel free to use these stories in your Christmas reading tradition. And, please pass them along to others as you see fit. I wrote them to be shared.
I’ll post another story here early in the week.
Before I conclude, have you thought about “No Mercy” as a Christmas gift? Not only can you wrap it up and give it, but there is a gift inside as well.
If you have not seen the interview with Preston on Canadian television, click the link. It is a wonderful TV debut for No Mercy and your prayer support has been immensely important.
The events in the recent months are taking toll on Preston and he writes, “I’d ask that you pray for me please. While I am interactive with Jim [the TV host], I’m tired, very tired. As you would suspect, life has not slowed down yet after Mom’s passing and the Thanksgiving holiday. I don’t regret the investment of my energy and life in joining my family to care for our folks, but the last months have clearly taken their toll. I need to tend to my health right away.”
Please make this request a matter of your conversations with Father. As you talk to Him, please inquire of what you might do to support the vision of No Mercy. The Christmas season, though busy, affords opportunities for reflection and analysis. Do not hesitate to dream big of how God can use you in relation to No Mercy. What you are really dreaming about is how to help people walk in the Light. And please, share what you hear from Father and what is on your heart. If He puts a dream in you, He will confirm it throughout the community of Believers.
Be blessed as you dream boldly,
Reny Madjarska
Head Prayer Tribeswoman
