Winner of Summa Elvetica is…

My daughter drew a name from the bowl and the winner of Summa Elvetica by Theodore Beale is…

Alexandra Ashford

Congratulations!

If you didn’t win, stay tuned for my next contest.

Top 10 Best-Selling New Christian SciFi/Fantasy Books

Is your vacation book bag packed for summer? If not, I have a few suggestions for you. I have compiled here a list of the currently best-selling science fiction/fantasy books published by faith-based publishers. For more information each on these titles, click on the book title.

I apologize in advance for any titles I have inadvertently omitted. If you have further recommendations, please let me know in the comments section below.

1. Elyon (The Lost Books) by Ted Dekker and Kaci Hill
2. Lunatic (The Lost Books) by Ted Dekker and Kaci Hill
3. Black/Red/White (The Circle Trilogy omnibus) by Ted Dekker
4. Left Behind (Book 1) by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins
5. Renegade (The Lost Books, Book 3) (The Books of History Chronicles) by Ted Dekker
6. The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell
7. The Chronicles of Narnia (Box Set) by C.S. Lewis
8. Infidel (The Lost Books, Book 2) (The Books of History Chronicles) by Ted Dekker
9. Chaos (The Lost Books, Book 4) (The Books of History Chronicles) by Ted Dekker
10. Chosen (The Lost Books, Book 1)  (The Books of History Chronicles) by Ted Dekker

Other Notable New Titles of 2009:
• The Vanishing Sculptor by Donita K. Paul
• The Bones of Makaidos (Oracles of Fire) by Brian Davis
• Tuck (King Raven Trilogy, Book 3) by Stephen Lawhead
• Offworld by Robin Parrish

The Other Side: A Parable (Conclusion)

As the pounding of the horses’ hooves faded into the distance, the villagers stared at each other in shock. What would happen to them? What would they do? What could they do?

But that was several months ago. Rumor had it the King had been taken into the heart of the enemy’s kingdom, where he had been and still remained in an impenetrable dungeon, deep in the labyrinth tunnels of a slumbering volcano.

Since the King had been taken, the kingdom had fallen into disrepair. Even though it had only been a few months, the villagers had lost all will to work. The crops had not yet reached harvest and the people had ceased their work in the fields. Some were discouraged and left for other lands, wondering why the King had left. Why hadn’t he at least tried to fight off the enemy?

Jake certainly didn’t understand. All he knew was that his family was hungry and there was no food in the village. So here he was, in the forest, bow and arrow in hand, searching for game. But although he had been searching all day, he had found nothing. With a deep sigh, Jake headed toward a frequently travelled game trail he knew about. If he hid in the bushes nearby, surely something would eventually appear on its way to the stream downhill.

The peasant reached the trail, and settled down behind a large oak to wait. After a time, he heard the crack of twigs. Jake peeked around the trunk of the tree until his target came in view. But it was not a target after all. It was a man, a worn traveller trudging toward him on the trail.

Great. So much for hiding. This guy probably scared off any game nearby. Nonetheless, Jake tried not to show his irritation as he straightened up and stepped out from behind the tree. “Mornin’, traveller. I’ve not seen you in these parts before.”

“My good sir,” the man replied. “Are you hunting?”

Isn’t that obvious? “Yes, I was waiting for a deer when you came by.”

“Hm. So you found nothing? Perhaps you should look down the path in the other direction.”

Why would that matter? Yet Jake had nothing to lose. He turned and looked down the path in the other direction. To his surprise, an enormous buck stepped into view. When the buck saw Jake, it froze, presenting the hunter with a perfect shot. In one motion, Jake took aim and released an arrow, which flew straight and lodged in the deer’s heart.

As the buck fell dead to the ground, Jake turned to the traveller. “Sir, how did you know…” But his voice trailed off as the man threw back his hood. There before him stood King Stephan. “But you’re…”

The King smiled. “Come, Jake. Let’s dress this buck out together and take it to the village.” Without waiting for a response, the King bent to the task.

As they worked, King Stephen explained to Jake that he had willingly been captured by the enemy so that he might spare his people from torture and certain death. Yes, he had been tortured and imprisoned himself, but after the enemy was sure he had won, King Stephen seized weapons from his guards and freed himself. Then in a showdown with his enemy, he gained passage back to his kingdom.

And so it was that the King and Jake took the venison back to the village, where the King blessed the people and then returned to his castle, charging the people to spread the news of his return.

The End…Or is it Just the Beginning?

(Does the story sound familiar? See the Gospel of St. John, Chapter 21.)

The Other Side: A Parable

The ragged peasant nocked an arrow to his bowstring and peered around the tree, hoping for a clean shot. Instead, all he saw was the white flash of a cottontail disappearing into the brush and his shoulders sagged in disappointment once again. He was so hungry.

It hadn’t always been this way. Life had been good before the king left, before the enemy soldiers came.

Jake had been standing just inside the castle gates when the soldiers arrived. They galloped their horses up the road and straight through the castle gates unchallenged. As they pulled up to a stop, the horses’ hooves tore into the dirt and Jake squinted and turned his head to keep the swirling dust out of his eyes. The soldiers jumped off their chargers and tromped behind their captain into the keep.

Trembling, Jake followed the enemy as they trod through the main hall and into the hall where King Stephan sat upon his golden throne. The enemy captain stopped in front of the throne, drew his sword and growled, “You will come with us.”

At the door, one of King Stephan’s soldiers drew his sword and slashed one of the enemy soldiers from the back, drawing blood as he sliced through the leather armor.

But the King held up his hand. “No. Don’t stop them. I’ll go.” He  stood, lay down his scepter and crown and descended from the dais upon which his throne stood. The enemy captain spun on his heel and marched out, followed by his soldiers as they hustled the King outside and onto a horse. Then with another cloud of dust, the enemy and the King were gone.

As the pounding of the horses’ hooves faded into the distance, the villagers stared at each other in shock. What would happen to them? What would they do? What could they do?

(For the conclusion, see tomorrow’s post.)

Win a copy of Summa Elvetica, by Theodore Beale

Summa Elvetica: A Casuistry of the Elvish Controversy is a unique fantasy that thoroughly explores themes of redemption and theology. The story is set in a medieval world populated with men and elves, among other creatures. In this world, mankind is dominated by a powerful Church, which to me was reminiscent of the Roman Catholic church. In Summa Elvetica, the Most Sanctified Charity IV leader of the Church decides the time has come to decide whether elves have souls. If they do, the Church will be obligated to bring the Holy Word of the Immaculate to them. If they do not, however, a holy war is sure to ensue, a war that will allow certain powerful but greedy men to seize the ancient wealth of the elvish kingdoms. At the heart of the matter lies Marcus Valerius, a young nobleman and rising scholar in the Church. However, he is young, inexperienced, and totally unprepared to face the beauty of the elves. Throw in a planned betrayal awaiting the young Marcus and the stage is set for an intriguing story.

Summa Elvetica was one of the first titles published last year by Marcher Lord Press, a new imprint launched by Jeff Gerke, a leading authority in Christian science fiction and fantasy. Marcher Lord Press has recently launched its second set of titles. To see information on Marcher Lord Press’s other titles, click here.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Summa Elvetica, leave a comment to this post. I will draw one winner’s name on June 29.

Miracles and Faith

In church on Sunday, our pastor spoke about the storms of life and our faith in God. In Luke, chapter 8, we find the disciples and Christ in a boat trying to cross from one side of a lake to the other. I’ve never been to Israel, but I understand the storms there (such as on the Sea of Galilee) can form very quickly, making it quite dangerous for boaters.

In the Biblical account, Christ is sleeping in the boat when such a terrible storm comes up and the boat becomes swamped with water. At that point, the disciples woke Christ  with a frantic, “Master, master, we perish!” Christ rose, rebuked the wind and raging water, whereupon the sea became calm. Then Christ turned to the disciples and asks them where their faith is. At this point, the disciples are both afraid and filled with wonder, asking, “What manner of man is this? For he commands even the winds and water and they obey him.” (Luke 8:24-25, KJV)

The disciples were fishermen. They might have built the boat they were in. The knew the lake, they knew the weather patterns there. They knew each other and their capabilities. They put their faith in what they knew and Christ called them on it.

Like the storm, there are things that can rock our world: finances, fear, failure, uncertainty. And yet, as our pastor said, storms do not build faith. Storms reveal faith. Troubles in our lives show us where we have placed our faith. It might be in ourselves or in others around us.

Here comes my favorite part. I love miracles, the things that fall into the realm of the fantastic. I love the fact that Christ can stand up and command the elements to obey him. How cool is it that Christ can also save me from the difficulties in my life? Christ knew the disciples’ circumstances; he knows–and can change–my circumstances. And if he chooses not to, he has a reason. But the lesson here is to have faith in Christ regardless of our present circumstances.

In these uncertain times, life is difficult for many people. Here are a couple of scriptures that I find very comforting:

“…I know whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.” (1 Timothy 1:12b, KJV)

“The Lord is my light, and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life, of who shall I be afraid?…For in the time of trouble he shall hide me, he shall set me up upon a rock.” (Psalm 27:1, 5)

Thank you, Lord, for watching over us, for knowing–and guiding–the circumstances in our lives.