Pastor Stephen Grant?

Stephen Grant is the pastor at St. Mary’s Lutheran Church on eastern Long Island. Grant is one of the more unique second-career clergy around, as he once worked for the CIA. Besides theology, his interests include archery, golf, writing, classic films, the beach, poker, baseball, and history. Grant also knows his wines, champagnes and brews. Oh yes, he generally dislikes politicians, and happens to be an expert marksman with a handgun and a rifle, while being pretty handy with a combat knife as well.

Thursday, March 28, 2019

3 Reasons for Reading the Pastor Stephen Grant Mysteries/Thrillers: MURDERER’S ROW on Baseball’s Opening Day

It’s Opening Day for Major League Baseball. So, it’s a great time to grab Murderer’s Row: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel for the Kindle since it’s on sale as the Pastor Stephen Grant Book of the Month. That means the Kindle price at Amazon.com has been slashed from $5.99 to $2.99. By the way, there also are savings on signed copies of Murderer's Row and assorted book sets at https://raykeatingonline.com/t/book-of-the-month. The sale ends on March 31st!


Need more reasons, well consider the following baseball snippets from Murderer's Row:

1. A key character plays in his first professional baseball game...

Dawud Wasem took the sign from Ty Beachamp for a fastball. He wound up and launched his first professional pitch. While registering 97 mph, it also sailed over the heads of Beachamp, the batter and the umpire. 
After the ball hit the backstop, Beachamp reached up for a new ball from the umpire. He tossed it to Wasem, and then moved his hands in a slight up-and-down motion that communicated a settle-down message. 
In the second row of the stands next to the first base dugout, Melissa said, “He’ll be fine, Tom.” 
Maggie was sitting on the other side of Tom, and squeezed his hand. 
Three more balls followed, and the leadoff man for the Nassau Gold Coasters was on base. 
The next batter laced a hard line drive to left for a single. No outs, and men on first and second. Beachamp called, “Time.” He walked to the mound, and said, “Okay, are we done with that crap?” He offered a slight smile as he placed the ball in Wasem’s glove. “Like I’ve told you before, you’ve got great stuff, and you’ve got the smarts to manage it. Nobody knows better than you that this is just baseball. It’s time to enjoy something simple that I can tell you love.” 
Wasem managed to return a small smile, and nodded. 
The next pitch was a nasty cutter. The batter swung, and broke his bat. The ball bounced back to the mound. Dawud fielded it, turned, tossed the ball to the shortstop, Jackson Quick, at second, who then fired it to first to complete the double play. 
The sellout crowd erupted in approval, with Ambler leading the cheers on her feet. 

2. A meeting between Stephen and Jennifer Grant, Mike Vanacore and Melissa Ambler...

As other guests approached, Jennifer looked down at two pugs – one fawn and the other all black – that were quietly sitting at Melissa’s feet. She bent down and petted each on their wrinkled foreheads above their flat faces. “And what are their names?” 
Melissa pointed and said, “That’s Trevor and he’s Tony.” Stephen said, “You really are a big Padres’ fan.”
Mike said, “See, I told you.”
Jennifer offered a perplexed look. “What am I missing?” Melissa said, “Stephen’s right. They’re named for Trevor 
Hoffman and Tony Gwynn.”
Jennifer replied, “I see now – two Padre greats.”
As Mike and Melissa moved off to greet other guests, 
Trevor and Tony dutifully followed Melissa.

3. And a moment with Stephen Grant reflecting on the game...

Stephen Grant inhaled deeply. He loved the aromas of baseball. 
Having been mown just a couple of hours earlier, the smell of fresh-cut grass under his feet still lingered. 
He raised the glove on his left hand to his face, and took in the bouquet of oil and leather.How long has it been since I was on a baseball field? Had to be the softball team at seminary. Too long. 
Growing up in the Cincinnati area, Grant became a big Reds fan, and in addition to golf and archery, he played Little League and high school baseball. After graduating from Valparaiso University, and serving his time in the Navy SEALs and with the CIA, Grant arrived at the seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where he organized and managed the seminary softball team. 
In fact, the last time he stood in centerfield, as was now the case, Grant was in the vast field at the back of the seminary property. At that time, his friend and fellow seminarian Jacob “Big Jake” Stout joked, “You’re the best we have on our baseball and basketball teams, Stephen. But considering that we’re dominated by short, pudgy guys of German descent, that’s not exactly saying much.” 


Wednesday, March 27, 2019

4 Cool and Quick Facts: Cool Churches in the Pastor Stephen Grant Mysteries/Thrillers

Check out the descriptions of four churches or chapels from Ray Keating’s Pastor Stephen Grant novels and short stories...


1. From Warrior Monk...

The Puddleworths’ sensibilities when erecting this gothic-style building back in the nineteenth century made for an ideal abbey. The family’s original small chapel still served for private prayer. After taking over the facility, the Catholic Church merged another four rooms on the ground floor into the facility’s main chapel. 
The windows along the north side of what was called the Holy Family Chapel long ago were replaced with stained glass scenes from Acts. Stephen found that interesting. He could not recall being in another church or chapel with scenes from the Book of Acts. These included the Ascension, Matthias being chosen to replace Judas, Pentecost, Peter and John on trial, Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch, Paul’s conversion, and Paul preaching in prison. 
But Grant’s attention was drawn to the window between Peter and John, and Philip. That was the martyrdom of Stephen. Grant, in fact, was specifically named by his mother after St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr. So, this was a scene Grant was familiar with – Stephen gazing up at Jesus at the right hand of God the Father, the Holy Spirit as a dove shining the power of faith down on Stephen, all while an angry crowd threw stones to kill Stephen. 
Hope that’s not prophetic as well. 
He turned to the altar, behind which was a wall of statues of saints, with Mary and Joseph atop looking down lovingly on Jesus as a baby. Grant loved his Catholic brethren, and even admired various aspects of the Roman church, but he had a tough time with the Catholic view of and emphasis on saints, especially in worship spaces like this. But he slid into one of the pews, even though Vespers would not begin for another half hour. 

2. From Warrior Monk...

St. Bartholomew’s Church itself was a beautiful, historic stone building that resembled a mini-castle. Another building comfortably housed church offices, a large room for congregational meetings, dinners and events, classrooms and storage. And the large, six-bedroom parsonage was made of the same materials as the church. All of this sat on four acres on a lake in Eastport. 

3. From Lionhearts...

Grant walked by the old brick buildings that populated the small university across the street from the church. When the founders built the Lutheran University of New York, they also erected St. Mark’s. The school buildings, church, president’s home and the parsonage all followed a brick gothic architectural style. At the end of the campus, Grant came to the St. Mark’s parsonage. 
He paused on the sidewalk, and looked back at the church. Grant was a stickler when it came to church architecture, appreciating a wide array of styles, except for the churches built in recent decades that lacked any distinction, sometimes looking like office buildings. Grant not only liked the architecture of St. Mark’s, but also that this very much was a neighborhood church, surrounded by homes, the university, small apartment buildings and local stores. He then had a passing thought of appreciation that his own leaders and congregation at St. Mary’s had chosen a Tudor-style when their new church was built a few years ago.

4. From Warrior Monk...

Entering the nave and proceeding halfway up the center aisle, Grant bowed before turning his back to the altar and the massive Crucifix hanging on the wall behind it. 
The inside of the new St. Mary’s jibed nicely with its Tudor exterior. Lining the walls was a dark wood paneling about four feet high. Rising from there up to the various points in the ceiling were off-white walls accented with wood beams. The windows and ends of each pew came to a similar pointed shape as the ceiling. Rather than stained glass, the windows featured scenes from the life of Jesus Christ etched into otherwise clear glass. Daylight was allowed to stream into the building as a result. 
The largest etched window was behind the choir loft, showing Jesus as the teacher. At the other end, under the Crucifix, the altar rail closely mimicked the wood paneling and beams, while the altar was bathed in a white brighter than the walls...
He strode back into the narthex. A turn left would have taken him down a hall to four rooms—three used for Sunday school and various church meetings, and the other for storage. He instead went down the hall to the right, which led to the budding church library and conference room, a small copy room, his secretary’s office—though Mrs. Barbara Tunney more often acted like a nosy mother than a secretary—and his own office. 


Tuesday, March 26, 2019

Spy Stuff: Death of Mossad Spy Who Captured Eichmann

On Saturday, March 23, Rafi Eitan passed away at the age of 92. Eitan led the Israeli Mossad team into Argentina in 1960, and extracted Nazi Adolf Eichmann, one of the architects of the Holocaust. 


According to a Washington Examiner report, “Eitan was not just involved in Eichmann’s apprehension. He also assisted Israel with a number of other national security and intelligence projects, including its nuclear program, and the assassination of the Palestinians involved in the 1972 murder of Israeli athletes at the Olympics.”

The BBC noted, “Speaking to the BBC in 2011, Eitan described Eichmann as "completely average" and laughed off his own hero status, describing himself as only ‘half of James Bond’.”

However, Eitan also was the handler for “Jonathan Pollard, a US analyst who gave thousands of top secret documents to Israel. The FBI issued an arrest warrant for Eitan after Pollard was exposed. Pollard spent 30 years in prison after his capture in 1985.”

- Ray Keating

Monday, March 25, 2019

Character Quote of the Week from HEROES AND VILLAINS: A PASTOR STEPHEN GRANT SHORT STORY



An exchange between Pastor Stephen Grant and Pastor Zack Charmichael in HEROES AND VILLAINS...

     “Tell me more about the author who is receiving a lifetime achievement award tonight?”
     “Wes Jenkins. He ranks as one of the great storytellers, as a writer and artist, in comic book history.”
     Stephen noted that Zack was ramping up the enthusiasm to provide the Jenkins’ bio.
     Zack continued, “Early on, he had great runs with some of the big DC and Marvel characters. But then he teamed up with Simon Huck to form J&H Comics Publishing. Fans and people in the industry thought Jenkins was nuts. No one predicted his subsequent burst... No, wait, ‘burst’ doesn’t capture it. No one predicted his outbreak or storm of creativity. He gave comic book fans dozens of heroes and villains, ranging from more classic, bright characters to dark, noir-ish ones. Jenkins’ creativity, coupled with Huck’s eye for bringing in complementary talent, launched J&H from nowhere to the third largest comics house.”
     “Impressive.”
     “You’ll appreciate the fact that Jenkins’ work is rich in biblical allegories, and Greek and Roman myths. He also likes to play with historical parallels.”

Tuesday, March 19, 2019

Mike Trout, Economics and Pastor Stephen Grant

by Ray Keating

So, forget about Bryce Harper and that $330 million contract with the Philadelphia Phillies. According to assorted news reports, outfielder Mike Trout has signed a 12-year extension with the Los Angeles Angels for a breathtaking $430 million.


Well, if anyone in baseball deserves the highest contract, it would be Mike Trout – the best player in the game today.

Now, this deal actually touches on two aspects of my own career – as an economist and as a novelist.

Trout and Economics

Let’s first consider the economics. Many people inevitably will – if they haven’t already – complain about paying a baseball player $430 million, while teachers, cops and assorted other “more important” professions get paid a fraction of that – indeed, a tiny fraction. The problem with this thinking is that it ignores basic economic principles, such as supply and demand. It’s more about feelings rather than economic realities. After all, water is far more important than a bottle of Dom Perignon, but guess what costs more?

Consider that compensation is about productivity, and demand relative to supply. Productivity and skills vary widely. If one possesses highly specialized skills, this will lead to better pay. And compensation will be driven higher if those skills are in high demand. Likewise, the more productive an individual is, the higher that person’s earnings. Skills and productivity are affected by natural talent, work ethic, and investments made in human capital. Those investments can take the form of education, practice, experience, and knowledge.

Economists refer to the “marginal revenue product” of a worker. That essentially means that the greater a worker’s contribution to a firm’s revenue, due to productivity and skills, the greater the compensation.

So, few people on the planet possess the abilities to be among the very best in Major League Baseball. For good measure, consumers willingly spend billions of dollars enjoying Major League Baseball each year. Therefore, people like Bryce Harper and Mike Trout are extremely well compensated.

Trout and Murderer’s Row

Okay, now what about being a novelist? Murderer’s Row: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel is a mystery/thriller taking place amidst minor league baseball on Long Island. Pastor Stephen Grant and a few clergy friends find themselves serving as team chaplains, and they have the opportunity to shag some fly balls with the team on Opening Day. Here’s what happened:

    They looked in at the pitching coach tossing another fat batting practice fastball, and Blue launching the ball high and deep.
    It was Stephen’s turn. “I’ve got it.” He turned and ran toward the six-foot centerfield fence. Grant looked over his left shoulder, picked the ball up in the sky, continued his strides, glanced one more time at the warning track and wall, and then back at the quickly descending ball. At his second step on the dirt and gravel mix of the warning track, he jumped. Using the top of the wall, Grant pulled himself up higher with his right hand, and fully extended his glove into the air. The ball landed in the mitt. The momentum of the fly ball took Grant’s forearm over the wall. Descending to the ground, he pulled the glove back with the ball resting firmly in the pocket.
    Grant held the glove up as he felt a wave of elation sweep over him.
    Shouts of approval came from around the field. 
    Zack called, “Sweet catch!”
    With the bat still in his hand, Brodie Blue walked past the pitcher’s mound, stopped at second base, and pointed at Grant. He yelled, “Who do you think you are, Mike Trout?”
    Assorted Surf Kings latched onto that, with calls of “Nice, Father Trout” and “Father Trout’s the man,” along with a “Blue robbed by Father Trout.”
    Grant was still smiling as he tossed the ball back into the infield. 

By the way, Murderer’s Rowhappens to be the Pastor Stephen Grant Book of the Month for March, with the price of the Kindle edition cut from $5.99 to $2.99, and signed books and sets on sale as well at https://raykeatingonline.com/t/book-of-the-month.

Hey, it’s not like I’m making Mike Trout money, so any opportunity for a plug, I’m grabbing it.

Ray Keating is the author of the Pastor Stephen Grant novels, with three books - Reagan Country: A Pastor Stephen Grant NovelHeroes and Villains: A Pastor Stephen Grant Short Storyand Shifting Sands: A Pastor Stephen Grant Short Story– published in 2018. In addition, the second edition of Warrior Monk: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novelwas published in January 2019. He can be contacted at raykeating@keatingreports.com.

Saturday, March 16, 2019

4 Cool and Quick Facts: Fascinating, Fun Locations in the Pastor Stephen Grant Novels & Short Stories

1. At the opening of WINE INTO WATER...

     Stephen Grant decided to savor the moment. 
     He sipped the aromatic, earthy white Hermitage wine. Bottled 15 years earlier, it came from grapes grown on slopes above the French town of Tain on the banks of the Rhône River. 
While swallowing, Grant took in his surroundings from the rooftop of the Loews Hotel in Monte Carlo. 
     He looked down at the Formula One cars fighting an unnatural restraint in order to make hairpin turns. As was always the case when observing excellence, Grant admired the drivers’ skills, as well as the expertise of those who built and maintained these machines. His ears recognized the vast difference between these engines versus other so- called high-performance cars, not only in terms of power, but also the precision and responsiveness needed to compete in the Monaco Grand Prix. 
     He then turned to look out at the yachts anchored in the harbor and beyond in the Mediterranean’s azure waters. The Principality of Monaco might be tiny, about the size of New York’s Central Park, Grant reflected, but what it lacked in space, it more than made up for in terms of wealth. 
     The weather was near perfect, with clear cerulean skies and bright sun. After all, this was May in Monaco. Grant chuckled to himself, wondering if the residents and their guests would allow for anything less. Looking out at the crowds populating the grandstands that were wedged in along the hillside road course, he didn’t doubt estimates that the city’s well-heeled population of 30,000 jumped by six or seven times during race weekend. 


2. From THE RIVER...

     Stephen strolled along the sidewalk, with trees on his left running close to Las Vegas Boulevard South and the Fountains of Bellagio on his right. 
     The music started, and the fountains came to life. 
     He spotted Jennifer leaning on a column. The lights and water engulfed her attention. 
     Stephen quietly approached, catching a glimpse of the water and lights reflected in her brown eyes. He slipped his arms around her waist. “Hello, Dr. Grant.” 
     She clasped her hands behind his neck. “Good evening. Pastor Grant, isn’t it? Imagine meeting you here.” 
     They kissed, a little more deeply and longer than they would have on the sidewalk of almost any other road in the country. 
     Jennifer turned back to the fountains, resting the back of her head on Stephen just below his chin. His hands moved around and met at her stomach. 
     She sighed. “When you think about a casino in the middle of the desert with a manmade lake and a regular fountain show, it seems silly. But when you’re standing here, it really is mesmerizing.” 
     “I agree.” 
     They listened to Frank Sinatra belt out “Fly Me to the Moon” over the many speakers surrounding the waters. 
     Stephen added, “Apparently there’s no getting away from Sinatra on this trip.” 
     Jennifer shrugged. “Hey, it’s Las Vegas. This still is Frank’s town, right?” 
     “I think it was Dean Martin who said that it’s Frank’s world, we just get to live in it.” 
     As Sinatra was concluding, “I love ... you,” the fountain waters shot high in the air, and then fell back as the music and lights came to an end. 
     Jennifer turned and took Stephen’s hand. They started walking slowly on the sidewalk, with the many other lights of the Strip darting and leaping. 

3. From REAGAN COUNTRY...

     Each couple walked hand-in-hand along the Ocean Front Walk that ran between assorted buildings and the sand. Given his Ohio upbringing and the dunes of Long Island, Stephen was often struck by how flat and wide the beach was in Santa Monica. 
     As they strolled by Hotel Casa del Mar, an oceanfront hotel built in the 1920s and guarded by palm trees, Jennifer whispered to Stephen, “I love that place. I’ve stayed there when out here to meet with Joe.” 
     “I know. Tough assignment.” 
     Jennifer poked him, and said, “Next time we come, let’s stay there.” 
     “Twist my arm.” 
     They eventually approached a sign noting “The Original Location of MUSCLE BEACH.” It claimed to be “THE BIRTHPLACE OF THE PHYSICAL FITNESS BOOM OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY.” Stephen pulled out his iPhone and snapped a picture. 
     Joan and George looked at him quizzically. 
     Stephen said, “I’m going to text it to a friend that I used to work with at the CIA. His nickname is ‘Tank,’ and for good reason. Ever since I worked with him many years ago, he has maintained a Schwarzenegger-like physique.” 
     Stephen sent his text, and the group resumed walking. They climbed a set of stairs leading up to the Santa Monica Pier, and proceeded to do the tourist thing, stopping at various kiosks, sticking their heads into small shops, and taking a ride on the Pacific Park Ferris Wheel. Then came hearty Pier Burgers with cheese – doubles for both Stephen and George – one large order of fries, and shakes all around. The cups announced that Pier Burger was the “Last Burger on Land,” since the Santa Monica Pier marked the end of the old Route 66. 

4. From SHIFTING SANDS...

     Stephen and Jennifer had an early check in at The Ian- Soho Hotel. The 5-star Ian was a unique 21-story, 206-room building that generated descriptions among guests like bright, clean, and modern. Their room offered custom-made furniture, more space than typical Manhattan hotels, and expansive windows offering arresting views of the Hudson River. 
     Jennifer remarked, “Well, staying here for three nights certainly beats riding back and forth on the Long Island Railroad or the L.I.E. each day.” 
     Stephen moved next to her, closed his green eyes, breathed in deeply, and then looked out at part of the city, the river, and New Jersey on the other side of the water. “Agreed.” 
     Jennifer said, “We can enjoy this more later. We’ve already missed at least a couple of today’s matches. Shall we head over to the tournament?” 
     “Sounds good.” 
     The couple made sure they had what was needed for a day of watching beach volleyball, including the lanyards housing V.I.P. tickets supplied by Maggie Stone. Tom and Maggie, along with some of the volleyball players, including Melissa Ambler, were also staying at The Ian. With Maggie having a room, Tom already had journeyed over to Pier 26, where the two-court beach volleyball stadium had been set up. 

3 Reasons for Reading the Pastor Stephen Grant Mysteries/Thrillers: More Thumbs Up from Kirkus Reviews

Kirkus Reviews has favorably reviewed the Pastor Stephen Grant novels and short stories. Here are three thumbs up...


1. Kirkus Reviews on LIONHEARTS: A PASTOR STEPHEN GRANT NOVEL: 

“The narrative’s swift momentum is retained even during profound moments, as in a scene in which terrorists debate their cause after murdering two men that’s intercut with clergymen reciting biblical passages. Though sequences of Grant or Caldwell and her team engaged in combat are exhilarating, the story’s brimming with everyday heroes. One political figure, for example, is rescued by a neighbor whose courage is measured by the hefty Desert Eagle gun he brandishes. First-rate supporting characters complement the sprightly pastor, who remains impeccable in this thriller.”


2. Kirkus Reviews on WINE INTO WATER: A PASTOR STEPHEN GRANT NOVEL: 

“A first-rate mystery makes this a series standout, even if the titular protagonist splits his hero status with others.”


3. Kirkus Reviews on MURDERER’S ROW: A PASTOR STEPHEN GRANT NOVEL: 

“Action fans will find plenty to love here, from gunfights and murder sprees to moral dilemmas.”


Friday, March 15, 2019

Spy Stuff: The French Woman Who Ran One of the Most Important Resistance Efforts Against the Nazis

There’s a fascinating report from the New York Post about a new book covering Marie-Madeleine Fourcade, a French woman who “headed one of the most important resistance networks during World War II and oversaw the collection of crucial intelligence that helped turn the battle’s tide.”


It is noted: “In 1941, Fourcade ascended to command a vast intelligence network in France, overseeing some 3,000 agents and operating in nearly every sizeable town in the country.”

Consider the following from the piece:

    “If you’re raised not in your country, you’re raised with this love of an ideal,” Olson says. “She was raised with this love of France as an ideal, of liberty, equality, paternity. And the idea that Hitler would come in and destroy everything she held dear about her country outraged her.”
    She and Navarre were soon working to build a network of informers across Europe, and when Germany invaded France in 1940, the group moved completely underground.
    In 1942, Navarre was arrested, leaving Fourcade in charge of the network. In order to ensure the continued assistance of British intelligence, which had been providing money and supplies, Fourcade decided to travel to Spain to meet a MI6 representative.
    To meet her contact, Fourcade had to be smuggled across the border hidden in a small jute mail sack stuffed into the trunk of an accomplice’s car. She had to contort her 5-foot-6 body into a 2-by-4 bag and remain inside for more than nine hours, in excruciating pain the whole way.
    When they reached Spain and she was released, she fainted. Her accomplice revived her in the most French way possible: with a cigarette and a glass of cognac.

Check out this fascinating article, and the book - Madame Fourcade’s Secret War: The Daring Young Woman Who Led France’s Largest Spy Network Against Hitler (Random House) – is on my reading list.

- Ray Keating

Character Quote of the Week from MURDERER'S ROW: A PASTOR STEPHEN GRANT NOVEL


An exchange between Father Tom Stone and Pastor Stephen Grant...

     Stephen answered, “No, I can’t say that I like this snow. But there’s nothing I can do about it either. So, complaining seems like a waste.” 
     Tom said, “Ah, I see. The no-nonsense, no-complaining, onetime Navy SEAL and CIA spook is with us this morning. The Stephen Grant who, no doubt, secretly ventured into a frozen gulag tucked away in Siberia to free some Russian scientist willing to help the good old U.S.A. Am I right?” 
     “Not exactly,” said Stephen. 

Wednesday, March 13, 2019

Saint Patrick Spread the Christian Faith

by Ray Keating

St. Patrick’s Day arrives on Sunday, so I thought it was an ideal time to post a Newsday column of mine that looked at who St. Patrick was, and what he actually accomplished during his life. It turns out St. Patrick was a humble Christian who followed Jesus’ directive: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” This column was first published in March 2004 …


Who was this guy St. Patrick, and why does he have his own day? I admit to never really thinking much about the person behind St. Patrick’s Day.  

I discovered through a limited, highly unscientific survey at a St. Patrick’s Day parade on Sunday that I was not alone.  With a wee nip in the air, ‘twas a grand day for a parade, and everyone lining Main Street in Center Moriches seemed to be wearing the green.  This scene has been replayed year after year in towns from one end of Long Island to the other.  

I asked dozens of revelers: What do you think of when St. Patrick’s Day is mentioned?  The most prevalent answers were parades, beer, corned beef and cabbage, shamrocks, green, and Ireland or their ancestry.  Two women amusingly said they felt like St. Patrick’s Day widows because their husbands played in bands during a variety of parades throughout the month of March.

A couple of people mentioned snakes in Ireland, and just one said she thought of the church.  Only one individual actually mentioned St. Patrick specifically. 

The two things that St. Patrick is best known for – driving the snakes out of Ireland and explaining the Holy Trinity using a shamrock – are legend.  But what little we know of the real Patrick is no less dramatic or inspiring.  Most of the information comes from two surviving letters Patrick wrote.  One is the “Letter to the Soldiers of Corocticus” and the other is called the “Confession of St. Patrick.”  Both are included in a new biography St. Patrick of Ireland  by Philip Freeman, who does an excellent job in bringing alive the world and times in which Patrick lived.

Patrick was born sometime in the late fourth or early fifth century, and at the age of 16, was kidnapped from Britain by Irish raiders and forced into slavery.  During six years as a slave in Ireland, his Christian faith took root and grew through extensive prayer.  After escaping and returning to Britain, he received a vision in a dream calling him back to Ireland to spread the good news about Jesus Christ.

Patrick became a priest, later a bishop, and did return to Ireland, where he had been enslaved, to spread Christianity in that predominantly pagan land.  At considerable peril, he followed Jesus’ directive: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 28:19)  In his “Confession,” Patrick wrote: “I even went to the most remote parts of the island – places at the very edge of the world, places no one had ever seen before – to baptize and ordain clergy and confirm people in the faith.”

This also was no holier-than-thou, self-important churchman.  He recognized his own sinfulness.  The “Confession” opens: “I am Patrick – a sinner – the most unsophisticated and unworthy among all the faithful of God.”  His message emphasized God’s grace and forgiveness, and the importance of prayer and faith.  He concluded about his life’s work: “You must understand – because it is the truth – that it was all the gift of God.”

For good measure, Patrick, according to scholars, was one of the first Christians to speak out strongly against slavery, and played a role in putting an end to human sacrifice in Ireland.

I’ve heard it said that you don’t have be Irish to wear the green on St. Patrick’s Day.  You also don’t necessarily have to be a Roman Catholic to embrace St. Patrick.  Heck, a sign outside the United Methodist Church in Center Moriches highlighted a St. Patrick’s Day dinner this past Saturday night.  All Christians certainly should be able to appreciate Patrick’s commitment to spreading the faith.  Most people should be able to see the merits of his humility, courage and conviction. 

So, before taking a bite of corned beef, or a gulp of beer on St. Patrick’s Day, at least a pause is warranted to think of the important lessons offered by a very real man named Patrick.

Ray Keating is the author of the Pastor Stephen Grant novels, with three books - Reagan Country: A Pastor Stephen Grant NovelHeroes and Villains: A Pastor Stephen Grant Short Storyand Shifting Sands: A Pastor Stephen Grant Short Story– published in 2018. In addition, the second edition of Warrior Monk: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novelwas published in January 2019. He can be contacted at raykeating@keatingreports.com.

Tuesday, March 12, 2019

Book of the Month: Murderer's Row

MURDERER’S ROW is the Pastor Stephen Grant Book of the Month for March. The Kindle price has been slashed from $5.99 to $2.99.  In addition, signed paperbacks are on sale, and MURDERER’S ROW is available for free as part of Pastor Stephen Grant book sets at https://raykeatingonline.com/t/book-of-the-month.


MURDERER’S ROW was named “Book of the Year” by KFUO radio’s “BookTalk,” and it features baseball, terrorism, a string of grisly murders, sordid politics, and a Lutheran pastor who once was a Navy SEAL and CIA operative. The book has received high praise, including…

"The author packs a lot into this frantically paced novel... a raft of action sequences and baseball games are thrown into the mix. The multiple villains and twists raise the stakes...  Action fans will find plenty to love here, from gunfights and murder sprees to moral dilemmas."  - Kirkus Reviews
    
"I miss Tom Clancy. Keating fills that void for me."   - Lutheran Book Review
  
"This is a fun read, though the embedded theology is real and salutary. There is death and life, adultery and commitment, friendship and betrayal, violence and victory over violence. Keating, an economist and experienced business writer, does extremely well in portraying the politicos and their machinations at all levels of government, as well as the machinations of the news media, of which he is a longtime member. He obviously knows his way around the bases and dugout, too, as does his hero, who becomes a baseball chaplain." - Touchstone magazine

"I really enjoyed the baseball references! The complexity of the plot was great. Structure and flow were great. This was just a super pleasing read!"  - Mary Moerbe, author of Blessed: God's Gift of Love and Family Vocation

Friday, March 8, 2019

Signed Copies of MURDERER'S ROW

With baseball here, MURDERER’S ROW is the Pastor Stephen Grant Book of the Month for March. Signed copies are on sale, and the book is available for free as part of Pastor Stephen Grant book sets.
MURDERER’S ROW was named “Book of the Year” by KFUO radio’s “BookTalk,” and it features baseball, terrorism, a string of grisly murders, sordid politics, and a Lutheran pastor who once was a Navy SEAL and CIA operative. The book has received high praise, including…
"The author packs a lot into this frantically paced novel... a raft of action sequences and baseball games are thrown into the mix. The multiple villains and twists raise the stakes... Action fans will find plenty to love here, from gunfights and murder sprees to moral dilemmas." - Kirkus Reviews
"I miss Tom Clancy. Keating fills that void for me." - Lutheran Book Review
"This is a fun read, though the embedded theology is real and salutary. There is death and life, adultery and commitment, friendship and betrayal, violence and victory over violence. Keating, an economist and experienced business writer, does extremely well in portraying the politicos and their machinations at all levels of government, as well as the machinations of the news media, of which he is a longtime member. He obviously knows his way around the bases and dugout, too, as does his hero, who becomes a baseball chaplain." - Touchstone magazine
"I really enjoyed the baseball references! The complexity of the plot was great. Structure and flow were great. This was just a super pleasing read!" - Mary Moerbe, author of Blessed: God's Gift of Love and Family Vocation

4 Cool and Quick Facts: Cool Weapons Used in the Pastor Stephen Grant Thrillers/Mysteries, Part II

Before becoming a pastor, Stephen Grant was a Navy SEAL and then with the CIA. He has extensive knowledge and experience with a variety of weapons, as do assorted colleagues from his Agency days. Check out four excerpts that feature some cool weapons in the world of Pastor Stephen Grant...


1. From Shifting Sands...

     Upon hearing Caldwell’s call of “Gun,” Lucena removed a tactical knife that had been nestled next to a Glock under the Route 66 shirt. 
     He broke into a sprint. Moving to the left of the third long-coated figure, Lucena backhanded the knife, and then drove into the man’s neck. The shocked terrorist struggled to suck in air. Lucena pulled the knife out. As the man fell to his knees, Lucena shifted his attention to the final threat. 
     That terrorist started to reach for his Uzi. 

2. From Lionhearts...

     Three squad members in each assault team raised stubby-looking grenade launchers to their shoulders. The others from each group were positioned with submachine guns to cut down anyone who might emerge from the forthcoming conflagrations. Caldwell was the only one preferring to use her Glock. 
     Driessen held one of the launchers. In his microphone, he said, “Okay, quick countdown. 3, 2, 1, now.” 
     The beauty of these grenade launchers wasn’t just their laser rangefinders, but that they were semiautomatic, with five rounds in each magazine. 
     Coming from three sides, five projectiles penetrated walls or windows of each building, with the grenades detonating at a determined distance. After the initial massive explosions tore apart much of each building, setting them ablaze, each shooter dropped the empty magazine, and slipped on a new one. The same firing process took place, and the buildings crumbled. 

3. An exchange between Paige Caldwell, Jessica West and Lis Dicce from Murderer’s Row...

     [West] looked at Caldwell. “What are we getting in terms of the Black Hawk? Is this just pure transport, or are we armed?” 
     Caldwell said, “A Battlehawk package.” 
     Dicce said, “Excellent. Does that include a 20mm turret cannon, Spike ER missiles, and GATR laser guided rockets?” 
     Caldwell said, “Yes on the cannon and missiles, along with a door Gatling minigun. Will that do, Jessica?” 
     “Damn straight.” 

4. An exchange between Stephen Grant and Paige Caldwell from Wine Into Water...

     After pulling on a shirt, she dragged out a silver locker. Once opened, it revealed assorted handguns, ammunition and holsters. “Now for something with more kick than that pissant Taurus PT-25.” 
     Grant replied, “Hey, the PT-25 serves its purpose.” 
     “You might be right,” Caldwell said. Then she held up a black handgun. “But like you, I’ll take a Glock 20, thank you very much.” She slipped a cartridge into the weapon with evident pleasure. 

Thursday, March 7, 2019

Spy Stuff (in this case: Special-Ops Stuff): Army Special-Ops Unit Leads the Fight Against ISIS

YahooNews reports in a piece by Sean D. Naylor on a small, secretive Army special-ops drone unit – officially called E, or Echo, Company – that has had a devastating impact on ISIS.


As reported:

• “Echo Company’s achievements are remarkable, in part, because unlike the Air Force, whose drones are operated from air-conditioned trailers in Nevada and flown by officers, the pilots in this Army aviation company are mainly enlisted soldiers who are deployed in combat theaters.”

• “‘Echo Company [is] the most lethal company in the Army, and it may very well be the most lethal company-size element in all of [the Defense Department],’ Brig. Gen. John Evans, at the time the head of U.S. Army Special Operations Aviation Command, told attendees at the aviation association’s conference in April 2017.”

• “Made by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc., the same firm that produces the MQ-1 Predator, which the Air Force retired in 2018, and its successor, the MQ-9 Reaper, the MQ-1C Gray Eagle [operated by Echo Company] is a derivative of the Predator and falls somewhere between the two in terms of capability. Armed with up to four Hellfire missiles or a mix of other munitions, the Gray Eagle also carries a suite of surveillance gear that includes signals intelligence equipment and high-resolution cameras that can read a license plate from 15,000 feet. The basic Gray Eagle can fly for up to 25 hours, while an extended range version has a maximum endurance of 42 hours.”

• “...while the Air Force’s Predators and Reapers — and even the conventional Army divisions’ Gray Eagle companies — are used mostly for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions, and more occasionally for striking targets, Echo Company’s Gray Eagles are primarily used in either close air support or ‘hunter-killer’ missions, according to sources familiar with Echo Company’s role. ‘They’re worried about killing targets and getting the next bad guy and basically going down the merit list of who needs to die,’ said the special operations officer with recent experience in the Middle East.”


Wednesday, March 6, 2019

Sign Up for the Pastor Stephen Grant Novels & Short Stories Newsletter

Hello! I will be starting a Pastor Stephen Grant Novels and Short Stories monthly newsletter with some fun information, offers, and a note from me about the latest project that I am working on in the Pastor Stephen Grant universe (and perhaps beyond). The newsletter will be emailed, so sign up at http://www.pastorstephengrant.com/contact.html

3 Reasons for Reading the Pastor Stephen Grant Mysteries/Thrillers: Have Some Comic Book Fun with HEROES AND VILLAINS

HEROES AND VILLIANS: A PASTOR STEPHEN GRANT SHORT STORY takes onetime Navy SEAL, former CIA operative and current pastor, Stephen Grant, into an entirely unfamiliar setting – a comic book, science fiction and fantasy convention. But he still joins forces with a unique set of heroes in an attempt to foil a villainous plot against one of the all-time great comic book writers and artists. 

Here are three thumbs-up to consider about this rip-roaring adventure...

1) "Keating manages to instill the same suspense of his other epic thrillers into this unlikely little gem. As he always does, Pastor Grant brings bravado and humility to the table at the same time, instilling the book with morality, action and thought-provoking revelations from start to finish. Keating's creativity and storytelling ability remain on point, for a fun and different take on Pastor Grant, and one that's just as satisfying as longer books in the series."  - Self-Publishing Review

2) "Heroes and Villains takes you inside all the drama of a comic convention, including that which only Stephen Grant can help with. It's an enjoyable romp complete with the gritty realism of the Burton Batman films, the camp of the Adam West adventures of the 60's, and the modern humor of LEGO Batman. 
     "If you know the adventures of the Avengers from the movies or the pages, dream of the day of decent DC films, or love the experience of Comic-Con, Heroes and Villains is the read for you!  
     "Gun-toting clergymen aren't only found in Wyoming. Keating's novels and short stories prove it with Pastor Stephen Grant and his adventures. May they continue! DC and Marvel are famous for telling stories of worlds like ours, yet different. This is the 'multiverse.' Somewhere, there is a world like ours where these stories have their own screen adaptations. How I'd love to see Pastor Grant on Netflix!"  - Lutheran Book Review

3) "This is a fantastic novel... If you are a comic book fan who is fed up with the political correctness that's going on, you have got to pick up Heroes and Villains... I highly recommend this book... I'm definitely going to be paying more attention to Ray Keating, and getting more of his novels."  - Jacob Airey, host of StudioJake