Prepare for edge-of-your-seat suspense in this Thriller Short.Originally published in THRILLER 2 (2009),edited by #1 New York Times bestselling author Clive Cussler.In this Thriller Short, David J. Montgomery, who usually makes a living by critiquing books, turns writer with a clever story about a clever man. Jason Ryder is a hit man who''s seen it all and done it all. He''s been given an assignment to assassinate a Chinese spy, whose cover is serving as a long-tenured Chinese diplomat. It would seem to be a straightforward mission, but in addition to the job, Ryder''s been offered a bonus. Make it an embarrassing death and there''s an extra fifty grand in it for him. Fortunately for Ryder, Mr. Li is anything but a skilled spy, and though there are challenges Ryder navigates the obstacles…until the unexpected happens.Don''t miss any of these exciting stories from Thriller 2:The Weapon by Jeffery DeaverRemaking by Blake CrouchIced by Harry HunsickerJustice Served by Mariah StewartThe Circle by David HewsonRoomful of Witnesses by R.L. StineThe House on Pine Terrace by Phillip MargolinThe Desert Here and the Desert Far Away by Marcus SakeyOn the Run by Carla NeggersCan You Help Me Out Here? by Robert FerrignoCrossed Double by Joe HartlaubThe Lamented by Lawrence LightVintage Death by Lisa JacksonSuspension of Disbelief by Tim MaleenyA Calculated Risk by Sean ChercoverThe Fifth World by Javier SierraGhost Writer by Gary BraverThrough a Veil Darkly by Kathleen AntrimBedtime for Mr. Li by David J. MontgomeryProtecting the Innocent by Simon WoodWatch Out for My Girl by Joan JohnstonKilling Time by Jon LandBoldt''s Broken Angel by Ridley Pearson

There is a story, one that runs from the beginning of creation itself, through thousands of years of human history. It is a story of triumph and disaster, miraculous deeds and terrible betrayals, divine justice and ultimate sacrifice, and of steadfast faith continuing down through generations and across continents to the present day. This is a story that is still being told, and will be finished only at the end of time. One remarkable chapter in that bigger story is the story of IFES, now 75 years long, with many incredible adventures along the way, just as there are in the books of Luke and Acts.In these 30 days of devotions, we can zoom in on a very important part of the Christian story, and take the lessons it teaches to strengthen our faith and enhance our witness today. Each day there is an opportunity to dig deeper into the themes that Luke uses to build his narrative of Christ and the church; to pray into the issues that Jesus, his disciples and the early church faced, and relate them to the changing times we live in now; to reflect on the passage and consider how we can respond; to explore the context of 'the wider story' in which these important events took place; and take a few minutes to meditate on an 'Evening Psalm' to recentre and bring us back to God after the activity of our day.

Prepare for edge-of-your-seat suspense in this Thriller Short.Originally published in THRILLER 2 (2009),edited by #1 New York Times bestselling author Clive Cussler.In this Thriller Short, David J. Montgomery, who usually makes a living by critiquing books, turns writer with a clever story about a clever man. Jason Ryder is a hit man who''s seen it all and done it all. He''s been given an assignment to assassinate a Chinese spy, whose cover is serving as a long-tenured Chinese diplomat. It would seem to be a straightforward mission, but in addition to the job, Ryder''s been offered a bonus. Make it an embarrassing death and there''s an extra fifty grand in it for him. Fortunately for Ryder, Mr. Li is anything but a skilled spy, and though there are challenges Ryder navigates the obstacles…until the unexpected happens.Don''t miss any of these exciting stories from Thriller 2:The Weapon by Jeffery DeaverRemaking by Blake CrouchIced by Harry HunsickerJustice Served by Mariah StewartThe Circle by David HewsonRoomful of Witnesses by R.L. StineThe House on Pine Terrace by Phillip MargolinThe Desert Here and the Desert Far Away by Marcus SakeyOn the Run by Carla NeggersCan You Help Me Out Here? by Robert FerrignoCrossed Double by Joe HartlaubThe Lamented by Lawrence LightVintage Death by Lisa JacksonSuspension of Disbelief by Tim MaleenyA Calculated Risk by Sean ChercoverThe Fifth World by Javier SierraGhost Writer by Gary BraverThrough a Veil Darkly by Kathleen AntrimBedtime for Mr. Li by David J. MontgomeryProtecting the Innocent by Simon WoodWatch Out for My Girl by Joan JohnstonKilling Time by Jon LandBoldt''s Broken Angel by Ridley Pearson

There is a story, one that runs from the beginning of creation itself, through thousands of years of human history. It is a story of triumph and disaster, miraculous deeds and terrible betrayals, divine justice and ultimate sacrifice, and of steadfast faith continuing down through generations and across continents to the present day. This is a story that is still being told, and will be finished only at the end of time. One remarkable chapter in that bigger story is the story of IFES, now 75 years long, with many incredible adventures along the way, just as there are in the books of Luke and Acts.In these 30 days of devotions, we can zoom in on a very important part of the Christian story, and take the lessons it teaches to strengthen our faith and enhance our witness today. Each day there is an opportunity to dig deeper into the themes that Luke uses to build his narrative of Christ and the church; to pray into the issues that Jesus, his disciples and the early church faced, and relate them to the changing times we live in now; to reflect on the passage and consider how we can respond; to explore the context of 'the wider story' in which these important events took place; and take a few minutes to meditate on an 'Evening Psalm' to recentre and bring us back to God after the activity of our day.