It’s been my intention(s) for the past years or so to get back into reading more, since I don’t spend/waste as much time as I used to watching television. When I was younger (mid twenties), Stephen King novels made up the majority of my reading sources, and though I have no objections to eventually checking out more of his works, my desire was to read something that was more spiritual in content. 
”Big John”, an old high school buddy and teammate from the football team suggested I take a look at the works of author Randy Alcorn. Taking Big John’s advice, and actually remembering the author’s name, I ran across three of Alcorn’s books (Deadline,Deception & Dominion) in the bargain bin section of a local book/movie rental store a few months back.
I finally finished reading Deadline (2006) a few nights ago. It’ been slow going with this first novel, as I’ve had several other things going on,however, the book is an easy read coming in somewhere in the 500 page range. (Amazon reviews)
Deadline follows the life and investigation of Jake Woods, a divorced, liberal journalist for the Trib, who survives an accident that claims the lives of his childhood friends Finney & Doc. As Jake conducts his investigation into the supposed “accident” he is confronted with questions and challenges. The very subjects that Jake writes and defends in his columns for the Trib come full circle to confront him face on, challenging his moral compass,his worldview, which he’s trusted as right for the better part of his 50 year old life.
As the investigation deepens, Jake reassess his relationships. His eyes are opened to a grander scheme of things and he becomes aware of so many of the failings in his life; those failings stemming from not having the ultimate relationship with Christ Jesus. Jake further learns that his perceptions, formed by the culture, are skewed from what is true of life. As Jake experiences revelation upon revelation throughout the investigation he is moved closer to the conclusion that for his life, and his legacy to have any meaning he must now turn to something outside of himself.
Deadline mixes in a healthy dose of spiritual and eternal implications around a story of murder and conspiracy to murder. The story delves into the initially non-existent spiritual life of Jake Woods and draws for the reader images of his transformation via the investigation, the friendship with his friend’s widows, and a desire to find out the truth.
Deadline may challenge some readers in that the story doesn’t read linear, for in between, the reader is also treated to “jumps” into the spiritual realm. Alcorn’s rendering of the material world playing out from a heavenly point of view (observation) and perspective (eternal consequences) is imaginative and drew me in, causing me to ponder more and more about that day when we go to our real home.
I don’t want to drag on and risk spoiling the book by giving away too much however, if you enjoy mysteries and have an opportunity to check out Deadline, I do hope you’ll find it to be as much of an enjoyable read as I did.
“To have the right priorities a man’s focus must not be on the head, but on the heart;
not on himself, but on God;
not on time, but on eternity.”
- Roy Lessin
Grace and peace be with you.
