Fantasy Fiction Tour Day Six

Three more signings today, plus a drive-by signing at a Borders store. We began in Bel-air, MD, at the Christopher Matthews store where quite a crowd of young people gathered. We stayed busy talking and signing the entire hour. From there we went to Newark, DE, and signed at a Family Christian store and The Days of Knights store. Both stores gave us opportunities to speak at length to quite a few fantasy fiction enthusiasts.

I don't have time to post photos tonight. I'll try to make up for that tomorrow. For now, here are the newest video releases. Enjoy!

Fantasy Fiction Tour Day Five

Ready for another update? After signing at the National Presbyterian Church in Washington, D.C., where we had a great time speaking to a youth group, we did another signing at a Barnes & Noble store in Alexandria, VA. We did several readings there to a relatively small, but interested audience.

The final stop of the day was at the Barnes & Noble in Ellicott City, MD. That event was amazing! We were again mobbed by people and sold dozens and dozens of books. The photo above shows just part of the crowd. At times they backed up all the way to the door, and we signed almost nonstop until the store closed.

As some of you know, I used to live in Maryland. My boss from when I worked at the railroad in Baltimore showed up. We didn't have much time to talk, but I was greatly blessed that he came out.

Below, you will see the video updates of the most recent tour days. These are really great. Enjoy!

Fantasy Fiction Tour Day Four

What a great day! After driving from Raleigh, NC, we had a signing at a Barnes & Noble in Richmond, VA. Quite a few people drove hours to come out and see us, and we sold a good number of books. We were busy talking to customers the entire time. The manager was super excited and had us sign all of our leftover books. He said he would put up a display in the front. To the right is a photo of us at this Barnes & Noble.

After that, we drove to Ellicott City, MD, for our next signing at His Way Bookstore. The traffic was terrible! We lost well over an hour because of the bumper-to-bumper mess and arrived at the bookstore about forty minutes late. We were in touch with the store representative several times, and she kept telling us that people were waiting patiently for our arrival. So, when we arrived, we expected a line of people, but we weren't prepared for the mob that greeted us. Even though we had well over an hour left in our appearance time, it took the entire hour and twenty minutes to sign books for the people who had waited. It was amazing! Some bought all six of my books, including one boy who came all the way from Rochester, NY!

As you can see in the photo, some readers showed up in costume. We had such a great time signing and speaking to the fans, we didn't have an opportunity to do a reading. That's not a bad problem to have at all!

Michelle at His Way was fantastic! She prepared an unbelievable array of decorations for the signing, including hand-painted banners, book display units, a fabulous window display, among others. You can see some of the banners in the next photo.

On Sunday we will go to church in Washington, DC, and speak to a youth group, then do a signing at the church. After that we will go to Alexandria for a Barnes & Noble signing, followed by another Barnes & Nobel signing in Ellicott City, MD.

We have heard that a reporter from the Washington Post will come to the Alexandria signing. That will be terrific!

Fantasy Fiction Tour Day Three Extra

Here are the videos from days one and two of the tour.

Fantasy Fiction Tour Day Three

Today was a great day for meeting people. At our Charlotte stop at Barnes & Noble, at least a dozen people were waiting for us when we arrived. Some came to see Wayne, some to see me, and many to meet all of us. One brought a story for Wayne and included a wonderful testimony about how Wayne's books changed her life. A lovely young lady who is a regular on my forum brought me a beautiful painting of a dragon's eye. I will treasure it for years to come. Over to the right, you can see her with her painting.

In the next photo, you can see us posing with several of the fans and well-wishers who came to see us at the Charlotte store.

Next came Raleigh and a Borders store. Again we met some great fans as well as people who have never heard of our books. It's fun to get acquainted with people who seem already familiar with our hearts and minds because they have read our writing. At Raleigh I became reacquainted with a lady I met at the Florida Christian Writers Conference ten years ago. That was a fun experience.

I also had the opportunity to see one of the moderators on my message forum. You can see him, Knight of Heaven below with Legossi and me.



Tomorrow, on to Richmond and Ellicott City!

Fantasy Fiction Tour Day Two Extra

I forgot to post the Youtube video of our second day at ICRS. Enjoy!

Fantasy Fiction Tour Day Two

We began the day in Knoxville, TN, at the Cedar Springs Christian Store. As you can see in the photo, they put us up on a stage and treated us like important knights. I suppose when you carry swords around, people often act nicely.

Some wonderful fans came by, and we were able to introduce a number of customers to our books. We had a great time!

From there we traveled to Asheville, NC, to a Barnes & Noble store. A wonderful lady named Kathryn came along who happened to be a stage combat instructor. She began an impromptu lesson on swordplay out in front of the store. It drew quite a crowd. You can see in the photo Sir Wayne Thomas Batson doing battle with said lady.

Needless to say, we had a blast! Now we might do sword battles at every store!

Fantasy Fiction Tour Day One

Day one of the Fantasy Fiction Tour was exciting! After departing the Atlanta show (see photo), we rolled into Manchester, TN, and spoke to a homeschool group. It's always great to speak to homeschoolers, because they spread the word about books they enjoy.

Then we went on to Nashville for a signing at a Borders store. Quite a number of fans came out in costume, as you can see in the next photo. Our visitors included Phil Keaggy, well known Christian musician and a friend of Christopher's.

We got into our host home near Knoxville at 1 a.m., so we're tired. I hope to post more later.

ICRS Atlanta Day Two

Today was a very busy day; a signing for Enoch's Ghost by myself, a signing for Enoch's Ghost with the other three authors on the Fantasy Fiction Tour, a signing for the new audiobook for Raising Dragons, and a bookstore signing with Sharon Hinck at the Lifeway Christian Store in Douglasville. In the photo, you'll see the four of us signing at ICRS.

I'm tired now, but it was a blast. We had quite a line of people at the four-author signing, so that was great, a very nice launch for our books and the tour. At the bookstore signing I met some wonderful young people, including a family that drove four hours just to meet me. I was overwhelmed! I am thankful to God for all these opportunities. What a blessing!

If you want to see a highlights video of the first day at ICRS, go to
Day One Video

For other tour information, go to Fantasy Fiction Tour Website

Tomorrow we will go to Manchester, TN, for a homeschool group gathering, then on to Nashville for a signing at Borders. Please pray for us as we travel.


The tour starts tomorrow.

We're Almost Ready to Roll!

The first day of ICRS is over. The four fantasy authors had a great time at a "Meet and Greet" session at the Tsaba House booth. In the photo you'll see from left to right, Wayne Thomas Batson, Christopher Hopper, John Cooper (a sponsor who gave us the swords), me, and Sharon Hinck.

We have a signing event together at ICRS tomorrow, and we'll be hitting the road on Wednesday morning. As you can see from Christopher Hopper's suave combination of knight wear and cool fashion, we will be stunning.

The audio version of Raising Dragons is being released tomorrow. I will be signing it at the Oasis booth at 3 pm, then at the Lifeway Christian Store in Douglasville, GA, from 5:30 to 8:00 pm. If you live in the Atlanta area, I'd love to see you at the Lifeway store!

Fantasy Fiction Tour Begins!

The International Christian Retailers' Show (ICRS) begins at the World Congress Center in Atlanta today. Christian publishers come to this convention to show their books to potential buyers, bookstore managers from all over the world.

This is the big kickoff for the Fantasy Fiction Tour. At 11 am today, the three other authors and I will be at a "Meet and Greet" event. We will be in costume, cloaks, swords and shields, to mingle with the attendees. We'll pose for photos, talk to readers, and just be crazy fantasy authors.

We'll take some photos, and I hope to get them on the blog tonight.

I have my wife and two of my daughters with me. Please pray for me wife. She is having a reaction to something that's causing terrible itching. I might have to find a doctor here in Atlanta for her.

For more information about the tour, go to http://www.fantasyfictiontour.com/

Leaving Tomorrow - Last minute rush

I will drive to Atlanta tomorrow for ICRS, so today I have to finish editing Beyond the Reflection's Edge, pack for the Fantasy Fiction Tour (thanks for the list!), go to various stores to get what I need for the tour, and prepare for nine classes I'm teaching at a writers conference immediately after the tour. Maybe that's why I'm up at 4:30 in the morning!

For more information about the tour, go to http://www.fantasyfictiontour.com/

Fantasy Fiction Tour Prep - Getting Practical

Okay, I'm asking for your help. I am leaving on Sunday, July 8 to head for the ICRS convention in Atlanta, then leaving from there to go on the tour. I won't get home until July 19 or 20, depending on my driving schedule.

Considering that this is an unusual trip, driving all over the East with three other authors, my daughter, and an author's wife, while staying with people we've never met, what should I bring along? What practical items might I need, especially something helpful that I might not think about.

Help me make a list.

For more information about the tour, go to http://www.fantasyfictiontour.com/

Fantasy Fiction Tour Prep Continues

So what do you pack for a tour that lasts 13 days, if you include ICRS time and travel time? Everything! Besides our clothes, we have books, banners, swords, shields, and costumes!

At the upper right, you can see my darling daughter Amanda modeling the elvish-style cloak Sharon Hinck will be wearing at our appearances. We will all have similar cloaks as well as swords and shields, so it should be a lot of fun. At least we'll attract attention.

In order to haul everything, I will be renting a small trailer, but that presents another problem. I'm wondering how I'm going to get around in New York with a trailer. First, what's the best way to get to New York from Newark, Delaware? Hauling a trailer will make the New Jersey Turnpike expensive. Should I park the trailer somewhere outside of the city and drive in? Take the subway in? A bus?

If there are any veterans of New York travel out there, please give me some advice.

Just a couple of days, and I'll be taking off. Please pray for us!

For more information about the tour, go to http://www.fantasyfictiontour.com/

Tour Preparation

Since I'm the primary driver on this tour, I'm making sure we know where we're going. Today, I am plotting detailed maps to every stop along the way. The hard part will be choosing the stores where we will make "unannounced" drive-by signings. In other words, we'll stop at a store at whatever time we happen to be going by, charge in, sign all the books we authored, and ride off into the sunset.

But what if they don't have any of our books? That would be a bummer. So, I will be searching the Internet for stores that are near our route, calling them to see if they have some of our books, and asking them if it's okay if we stop by. So much for being unannounced.

That means my planning and map plotting will take quite a bit of time. And I don't even know how many "unannounced" restroom stops we're going to have to make. If there are too many, we'll have to start rationing the water.

Learn more about the tour at http://www.fantasyfictiontour.com/

Fantasy Fiction Tour is almost here!

What's the Fantasy Fiction Tour all about?

1. Four fantasy authors on the road together for nine days

2. Sixteen official appearances and many unannounced stops along the way

3. Authors selling and signing wildly imaginative fantasy novels

4. Authors and fans wearing fantasy-inspired costumes, complete with cloaks, swords, and shields

5. Contests for best costumes and door prizes for fans

6. Video recording at each event and daily blogging as the tour goes along

7. Authors speaking about their books and answering your questions

And probably a lot more fun that we haven't even thought of yet!

Here are the authors who will be at each event:

Wayne Thomas Batson - The Door Within series
Bryan Davis - Dragons in our Midst and Oracles of Fire series
Sharon Hinck - The Sword of Lyric series (Book 1 - The Restorer)
Christopher Hopper - The White Lion Chronicles

Here is our current schedule:

Wednesday July 11th
1:00pm – 3:00pm
Heart & Hearth Home Education Support Group

First United Methodist Church
105 Church Street

Manchester, TN 37355
Contact: Linda Reed (tnhomeschooler[at]yahoo[dot]com)
931-596-3171

Wednesday July 11th

6:00 pm to 8:00 pm

Borders

2501 West End Ave.

Nashville, TN. 37203

615-327-9656

Thursday July 12th
12:00 - 2:00pm
Cedar Springs Christian Store
504 N. Peter’s Rd.
Knoxville, TN
865-690-5253

Thursday July 12th
6:00pm - 8:00pm
Barnes & Noble
Dreamland Shopping Center
83 South Tunnel Rd.
Asheville, NC 28805

Friday July 13th
12:00 - 2:00pm
Barnes & Noble
4720 Sharon Rd.
Charlotte, NC 28210
704-554-7906

Friday July 13th
6:00pm - 8:00pm
Borders
404-101 E. Six Forks Rd
Raleigh, NC 27609
919-755-9424

Saturday July 14
12:00pm - 2:00pm
Barnes & Noble
5501 West Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23230
804-282-0781

Saturday July 14
6:00pm - 8:00pm
His Way Christian Bookstore
Normandy Shopping Center
8450 Baltimore National Pike
Ellicott City, Maryland 21043
410-465-7546

Sunday July 15
10:00 am
National Presbyterian Church
4104 Nebraska Avenue N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20016
202-537-0800

Sunday July 15
3:00pm - 5:00pm
Barnes & Noble
Potomac Yard Bookstore
3651 Jefferson Davis Highway
Alexandria, VA 22305
703-299-9124

Sunday July 15
6:30pm - 8:30pm
Barnes & Noble
Long Gate Shopping Center
4300 Montgomery Road
Ellicott City, Maryland 21043
410-203-9001

Monday July 16th

1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Christopher Matthew's Christian Store
The Festival at Bel Air
5 Bel Air South Parkway
Suite 1421
Bel Air, MD 21015
410-569-0690

Monday July 16th
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Family Christian Store
1105 Churchmans Rd #1107
Newark, DE 19713-2112
Phone: (302) 368-7002

Monday July 16th
6:00pm – 8:00pm
The Days Of Knights Store
173 East Main Street
Newark, DE. 19711
302-366-0963

Tuesday July 17th
5:00pm - 6:30 pm
Timeless Treasures Christian Gift & Bookstore
163 Livingston St.
Brooklyn, NY 11201

Wednesday July 18th
12:00noon - 1:30pm
Timeless Treasures Christian Gift & Bookstore
673 8th Ave.
Manhattan, NY 10036

For more information about the tour, check out: http://www.fantasyfictiontour.com

I hope to see you at one of these events!

Beyond the Reflection's Edge

I have finished a second draft for the new book I'm writing for Zondervan. It's at about 103,000 words now, and I suspect it will probably finish at around 105,000 when I complete a third polishing.

Zondervan settled on a completely new series and book title. These aren't my first choices, but I think they're pretty good:

Series Title: Echoes from the Edge
Book #1 Title: Beyond the Reflection's Edge

Since I know the story, it's easy for me to see that these titles fit. I hope they attract browsers who don't know the story at all.

I have just a few days to do a final polish. The book is due at the end of the month. I appreciate your prayers.

Book Update

I just passed the 90,000 word mark in my newest book. I had been calling it Time Echoes, but now I'm playing with Interfinity as the title. What do you think of that title?

Anyway, the basic storyline is complete, but it's still just skin and bones. Over the next month, I will be adding details, developing characters, and including some important foreshadowing, as well as polishing, polishing, polishing.

But, at the same time, I have three trips to take, and I'm moving my family to Tennessee. This will be a challenging month indeed.

Dragons in our Midst on Audio!

Oasis Audio will create audiobooks for my Dragons in our Midst and Oracles of Fire series!

They will be unabridged with multiple actors doing the voices, and they will come out in MP3 format, perfect for your iPods and up-to-date CD players.

Raising Dragons will release in July, then the rest of the books will come out every two months thereafter until they catch up with what I've written.

I'm really pumped about this. I hear from kids who aren't allowed to read my books until their parents read them, but their parents don't have time. They said they would read them if they could get them on audio. I also know kids who are visually impaired, and this is a great way for them to enjoy my books.

If you're interested, here are links for Amazon and Christian Book Distributors:

Amazon - Buy Raising Dragons Audio on Amazon Online

CBD - Buy Raising Dragons Audio on CBD Online

Looking for a new church in Tennessee

At the end of May, I will be moving my family to Western Tennessee, near Middleton to be more precise, so we will be looking for a new church. I'm sure many of you in the area would graciously receive us with loving arms extended, but I'm hoping for a good fit. It's important to have strongly held beliefs affirmed.

Our beliefs our not exactly in the mainstream, so I will list some things I'm looking for. PLEASE don't reply to argue against my beliefs. That would be counter productive. I also realize that I might not find all of these in a church, but a reasonably close fit will help us be more comfortable. I am willing to make a significant drive in order to worship with like-minded brothers and sisters.

1. Teaches straight from the Bible - Not topic of the week
2. Not Calvinist
3. A holiness perspective-Close to John Wesley or Charles Finney teachings
4. Homeschool friendly
5. Teaches modest dress standards
6. Encourages courtship rather than dating

I thank you in advance for any help you can provide.

Attention Binghamton, NY, area

Just in case anyone's interested, I'm coming to the Binghamton, NY area for three events listed below. I hope some of you can come and introduce yourselves. I love meeting new people.

May 10 - 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Book Signing
Arrowhead Parable Christian Bookstore
One Harry L Drive
Johnson City, NY 13790

May 11 - 9:00 am to 11:00 am
Career Day
St. John the Evangelist School
9 Livingston St
Binghamton, NY 13903

May 12 - 1 pm to 3:00 pm
Book Signing
Barnes & Noble
Town Square Mall
2443 Vestal Parkway East
Vestal, NY 13850

Why Christian Writers Do What They Do

As a writer, it's great to get one of those notes that reminds me of what it's all about. Please allow me to quote from a letter I received today.

"I also need to thank you for saving my life. When I read those books, I was not a Christian, but the power I saw in these books made me want that close relationship with God that Bonnie and Sapphira had. I am happy to write that I am now a Christian, and my faith is stronger than ever. Someday, I hope to be as great a writer as you are and do the same for somebody else."

Wow! As I read the letter, my hand shook and chills covered my body. I must confess that tears filled my eyes.

This is truly what it's all about. There is no greater joy than feeling God's pleasure.

Another Pause

As you might have noticed, I haven't posted in a while. Life is way too busy. With another book to write, going through the editing process on the previous book, and moving in May, I don't foresee any change. I doubt you'll see many posts for quite a while.

I appreciate your patience.

Conference Blessings

I just returned from the Florida Christian Writers' Conference in Bradenton, FL. I taught the Teen Track, and the 16 students and I had a blast. In our "After Hours" session, we did a critique group session that lasted almost four hours. Some of the students were laughing so hard, they cried.

I was very impressed with the writing talent of several of these kids. Based on feedback from magazine editors, I think at least six of them will have articles published within the year. An 18-year-old young man is writing a fantasy novel. His imagination and descriptions are superb. Four young ladies who have become close friends because of the Internet are going to collaborate on an article about Internet friendships. Another young lady had an article on her hero, her little sister, and two editors indicated a strong interest in buying it. This girl also won the conference's poetry award for submitting the best poetry. Although she was only 17-years-old, her poetry demonstrated the insight of someone three times her age.

I pray that these young writers will take the inspiration they gained in our workshops and continue in the writing field. They are wonderfully talented.

The poet I mentioned wrote a note to me before we parted. I trust that she won't mind my sharing it with you. You will see why these young people were such a blessing to me.

I travel the path of faith
Searching for reason I often lose track
Of the footprints from those before me
And when I stumble upon hesitation
I search for a hand to guide me on
And he gives me wonders
Miracles, like you
Brilliant souls which he speaks through
His words are your thoughts
You are the light with his guidance
And with such faith I will not turn back
He reveals to me footprints
And he gives me wonders
Miracles, like you

Facing the Giants movie

I rented "Facing the Giants" and watched it with my wife and three of my daughters last night. I had heard that it was inspiring but was plagued by bad acting, so I tried to watch it without prejudice.

The acting isn't stellar. In fact, a couple of the actors were quite bad, and several of the story elements were predictable. But those flaws didn't harm my enjoyment of the movie. I found it inspiring and uplifting. I lost a few tears in a couple of scenes and felt a rush of joy at a several others. Overall, it was very satisfying. I would definitely watch it again.

I think the best aspect of the story was the positive message that you can succeed in obeying God and giving Him the glory. He has given us the ability to do all things through His strength, and that truth was powerfully presented. In these days when the church beats down Christians, telling them that they are sinners until they die, it is refreshing to see a movie dispute that lie and give us an uplifting message.

Enoch's Ghost Finished

I sent Enoch's Ghost to my publisher today. It's always a feeling of relief to finish a book, but there's also an emotional letdown to go with it.

Now, I will work on straightening my office, preparing for the Florida Christian Writers Conference, and doing my taxes, not necessarily in that order. After the conference, I will be back to "heads-down" writing for my next project, Time Echoes. That book is due on June 1, so I have three months to get it done. The fun begins again!

Killing Straw Men from the Authorial Pulpit

Have you ever written a straw man in a story? He's the opponent you set up for the purpose of easily defeating, usually in order to destroy a belief or opinion he holds that you as an author despise.

Let's say that you hate onions (as I do), so the bad guy in your story is an onion farmer who decides that a law must be passed that all people must eat onions at every meal. You write him as being ridiculously vile, even maniacal. Then, your hero comes along and destroys him and his onion farm.

As an onion-hating author, that would be a lot of fun, but it's not a great idea for a story. I would be preaching against onions by setting up a ridiculous person who gets thrashed by my hero. This would be a very preachy kind of writing. It's an onion-hating sermon, and most readers (except maybe other onion haters who applaud the farmer's demise) will see it as a thinly-veiled, sermonizing attack.

In author circles, much has been written about "preachy" stories, especially in Christian-themed novels. I'll save the details for another post, but I have seen just as much preachy writing in secular stories as I have seen in Christian stories, maybe more, so Christians aren't the only ones trying to get our morals, or lack thereof, into our books.

Is it wrong to "preach" in our stories? I think not. We just have to learn to allow our stories and our characters to live out the "sermons" rather than delivering our points in obvious pulpit-pounding scenarios. When our readers close our books, we want them to feel and desire to live out the value of the story. If there is no real value, then the book isn't worth the paper it's printed on.

I mention the straw man, because I have one in my new book Enoch's Ghost. It was fun and satisfying to put him in and then do away with him, but this week I'll be altering him into a more realistic character who isn't there just to be destroyed. Then, the book will be done and ready to send to the publisher.

Any thoughts on preachy writing or straw men?

A Vision of Hell

Perhaps the most frightening concept of the Christian faith is that God will condemn unbelievers to an eternity of horrible torture--a Lake of Fire that burns with brimstone. As a child I remember getting a minor burn and how badly it hurt, and I thought about how much worse the burning would be in Hell and that it would never, never end for those condemned.

It scared me. It made me wonder whether or not God was cruel for doing it. To this day, the thought troubles me, and I rely on faith in the God who has shown both justice and mercy throughout my life. He knows what He's doing.

In books for youth, is it important for readers to get a vision of the truth about eternal punishment? Should it be portrayed in fiction? Should an author give a glimpse in order to cause readers to think about the whys of such a judgment?

If we do this, we risk inciting fear. But is fear bad as long as it is qualified with understanding? I don't think fear is the best motivator for goading us toward loving God, but it is a great motivator to get us to evangelize. "Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men." (2 Corinthians 5:11)

I wonder if a proper understanding of Hell might help young people to gain a greater desire to tell others about what can save them from such terrible wrath. Probably. The question is at what age does such a lesson become appropriate. When does the image of Hell go beyond just giving nightmares to the point of instilling a heart for souls?

Just some points to ponder.

Real Kids - Real Holiness

And whoever causes one of these little ones who believe to stumble, it would be better for him if, with a heavy millstone hung around his neck, he had been cast into the sea. (Mark 9:42)

This verse has been on my mind a lot recently. As an author of books for young people, I am constantly aware of my charge to create stories that uplift and encourage my readers. That's why, when I see forces pulling the opposite direction, that is, toward acceptance of sin, I lament and try to pull even harder toward righteousness.

These thoughts are likely in sharper focus for me now since I have lately participated in a couple of online exchanges with people who say that all kids sin or that it's normal for young people to sin. This was in context with debates about the characters in the Harry Potter books. Some say that the books depict "normal" kids and that all kids are like them--lying, cheating, stealing, etc--even kids who are raised in Christian homes and have professed faith.

Such thinking is a stumbling block for young people. When they are told over and over that sin is normal, that "real" kids are rebellious and mean, that they can never escape committing sin, those who tell them these lies are causing them to stumble. The lie-bearers will answer to God, and according to the verse I quoted, their judgment will be terrible to behold.

The truth is that real kids can be obedient to God in all things and at all times. If they surrender their lives to Jesus Christ, they will have to power to obey and follow God with all their hearts.

Here is the truth:

Little children, let no one deceive you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, that He might destroy the works of the devil. No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother. (1 John 3:7-10)

I hope that those who are preaching the opposite will repent before it's too late, and I hope that young people will be able to recognize the deceivers and reject their lies. I will continue to do my part to shine the light of truth, that God cleanses all true believers from all unrighteousness and gives them power to live holy lives. I will continue to write about young people who care about doing what's right and make heroes out of them, giving good kids role models and making them feel "normal" instead of out of touch with what many of J. K. Rowling's supporters falsely call "reality."

Enoch's Ghost Update

In case anyone is wondering, Enoch's Ghost is coming along well. The story is pretty much finished. I just have to add a few sequences to a couple of scenes.

Right now the manuscript stands at about 104,000 words, and I expect that it will top out at around 110,000, which is about the length of The Candlestone--longer than Raising Dragons and Tears of a Dragon, but shorter than Circles of Seven and much shorter than Eye of the Oracle.

I think I'll be completely finished with the story by the end of the week, then I'll have a couple of weeks to polish everything before sending it to the publisher.

Praise and Thanksgiving - Part Five

Shortly after my daughter's anointing for healing, the eye doctor called to suggest that she go to Shands Hospital in Gainesville for further testing and treatment, not knowing that she had experienced healing. We told the doctor about the experience, and he said he wanted to test her again, “just to be sure.”

The test was this morning. The doctor reports that her vision is now "within normal limits." In other words, she is healed! Unfortunately, this doctor played the skeptic, saying that the first tests had to be erroneous. He even discounted Amanda’s personal witness that she couldn’t see through most of that eye, the very reason we came to him in the first place. In not so many words, he called her a liar. Such unbelief is amazing!

Tell me, who is the blind one?

May God be praised!

Praise and Thanksgiving - Part Four

I am awestruck by God's continuing blessings on my career. Great is His faithfulness!

I signed a contract with Zondervan for a new series, a Young Adult fantasy trilogy tentatively called Time Prints. The first book is scheduled to come out in May of 2008, and its working title is Time Echoes. As these books become a reality, I'll post more about them.

Please join me in thanking God for this exciting opportunity!

Praise and Thanksgiving - Part Three

My new book, Eye of the Oracle, is number one on the January CBA Young Adult best-seller list!

I am so thankful! Although all the Dragons in our Midst books have sold well, this is my first number one novel.

Here is a link to the list.

Click Here

Praise the Lord once again!

Praise and Thanksgiving - Part Two

My daughter Amanda was suffering through a severe loss of vision. About two-thirds of the field in her left eye was completely black. After taking her to an optometrist, an ophthalmologist, and two specialists who did an MRI and sonogram, we had no answers. Nobody knew why she had lost her vision.

So, we took her to the altar at church. The pastor anointed her while dozens of church members gathered around and prayed. From that moment, her vision began to clear. The black field has faded to a blur, and she estimates that her vision is 70% better.

Praise the Lord! We are continuing to pray for complete healing!

Praise and Thanksgiving - Part One

It's time to move away from the public lamentations and post on more positive issues.

God has so blessed me and my life, I need to shout it from the rooftops as often as I can. God is great! He is full of love, grace, and mercy, and His faithfulness is everlasting.

Yesterday, while jogging, the remaining details for the Enoch's Ghost story came to mind. It thrilled me so much that I actually began to weep even while running. I think both the power of the story, and knowing that the loving hand of God reached down to help me with it, became overwhelming. It fills me with awe to know that our heavenly father is so intimately involved in our lives.

I want to publicly praise Him for that!

Lamentations - Part Four

The doctrine of the inevitability of sin in Christians is the cause of my deepest laments. It's clear to me that the church, almost universally, has abandoned God's plan for believers regarding obedience.

Every day I hear or read something about how the sinful nature is in us all, that we, as Christians, will always suffer this indwelling presence, when, in fact, there is no Scripture that says anything like that. There is no evidence for the existence of a sinful nature at all.

Readers of the NIV translation might wonder why I say that, as they read those words time again in their translations, but the NIV translates sarx (flesh) inaccurately, so they are being misled.

This flesh is simply our bodies, so the New Testament writers created a term for the control our natural desires had on us as unbelievers. There is no sinful essence within us, no anti-God spirit that sneaks into our minds at birth that causes us to stray from God. This has become a sad, "the devil made me do it" excuse for sinful behavior.

The flesh, the bodily desires' control, is crucified and removed when we become Christians (Romans 6:6, Galatians 5:24, Colossians 2:11), so even that concept is no longer effectual in a believer. There is absolutely nothing that can make us sin. Yet, most preachers teach as if sin is something that we can never escape in this life, even as believers. This is the most evil lie that has ever been spoken in church, yet it is also the most common and widely believed.

Jesus put the matter plainly, and the power and completeness of His words are almost always ignored.

"Truly, truly I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin ... If, therefore, the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed. (John 8:34, 36)

No Christian is a slave of sin, because we are free, yet anyone who sins is a slave of sin. The sinful nature doesn't exist, and all the passions and desires of the flesh are crucified (Galatians 5:24).

I see no shadows in the words of Christ. If we who profess Christ continue in sin, we prove that our profession is invalid. And those who profess Christ and continue in sin are dishonoring His name.

Lamentations - Part Three

In my first lamentation, I mentioned the epidemic of divorce, often brought about because of adultery, but there is another kind of adultery that is probably more common and committed more frequently by men, even men in the church.

His target, his secret affair lurks in the shadows, quiet and unseen, without consistent shape or physical substance, yet she is more alluring than the street harlot and just as destructive as the motel tryst. She seeks his company, often posing as a damsel in distress. Her poses beg for his attention; they seek to be rescued from loneliness. Although she wears no clothes, she bears a sword, ready to cut his heart in two, setting body in conflict with spirit. From the slick pages of a magazine or the colorful images of a computer screen, she awaits his peering eyes, ready to strike with her naked dagger. She is the harlot of pornography.

Why do the hearts of so many married men become divided? Although they have wives whom God designed to meet their physical needs, why are they tempted to seek the pleasures of another? For many men, physical adultery is a well-recognized taboo. Physically violating the wedding vows, even in our permissive society, is still considered by most Christians to be a sign of unfaithfulness to God, an act that proves an unsaved spiritual state. A divided heart that leads to spiritual adultery, however, has not gained such public condemnation. Millions of men dive into the cesspool of pornography, purposefully filling their eyes with forbidden fruit. Although they may never touch another woman’s body, their minds entertain the thoughts, their lusts traveling from woman to woman, gaining mental and even physical pleasure from the images these willing females produce.

What is the allure of these undressed and apparently sexually insatiable women? With pursed, come-hither lips, she curls her inviting finger, exposing and caressing her smooth, airbrushed flesh. She is the image of desire, a lonely woman begging for a man’s fulfilling touch, and not just any man. She wants you. She’s begging for you to take her and have your way with her. She’s there for your pleasure. “Come and take me,” she calls. “I need you!

And it’s all a lie.

The woman is a whore. She poses for money, nothing more, nothing less. She doesn’t care about any man who mentally rapes her with his eyes and mind. In fact, if you venture into her lair, she will likely disdain or even hate you, perhaps laughing at your weakness as she overpowers you so easily with a mere flash of flesh. How many men have allowed her to poison their minds, committing spiritual adultery with this harlot of hate who reveals her body while stealing a man’s soul?

For the lips of an adulteress drip honey,
And smoother than oil is her speech;
But in the end she is bitter as wormwood,
Sharp as a two-edged sword.
Her feet go down to death,
Her steps lay hold of Sheol.
She does not ponder the path of life;
Her ways are unstable, she does not know it (Proverbs 5:3-6)

Pornography is a simple formula, although the user allows himself to be unaware of its devices. It invites wandering eyes to drink from its lovely pool, promising a quenched thirst. Alas! The thirst is far from quenched! The harlot’s drink is a pill of salt; it makes a man beg for deeper draughts, more skin, younger girls, views of lesbian encounters, until images alone are unable to satisfy. Each sip whets the addiction as a man is entrapped by the harlot’s poison, and his mind is imprisoned in pornography’s deadly snare. Solomon wrote, “For on account of a harlot one is reduced to a loaf of bread, and an adulteress hunts for the precious life” (Proverbs 6:26).

Jesus said, “Everyone who looks on a woman to lust for her has committed adultery with her already in his heart” (Matthew 5:28). Can a man claim that he looks at images of nude women without lusting, that his reasons for seeking the harlot’s exposed skin are holy? Hardly! This lust is adultery, pure and simple, and a man who pursues this course has broken his vows. And with whom has he mated? He has pursued a mere phantom. He has thrown away his virtue for colored dots on a printed page. He has cast away his wife in pursuit of pixels on a computer screen.

The Internet has certainly helped pornography purveyors capture a whole host of men. An innocent engine search may yield a dozen lurid descriptions, inviting a simple click to reach images of women who beg for your attention. No magazines to hide. No trips to the video store. No evidence of evil. One mouse click and a dozen smiling beauties await your caressing eyes. Simple curiosity leads many into the snare, trapping the minds of those who don’t dash for the exit in disgust. First a sip, then a draught, and the harlot has captured another lover.

But where is thy wife, O man? For whom hast thou cast her aside?Drink water from your own cistern,
And fresh water from your own well.
Should your springs be dispersed abroad,
Streams of water in the streets?
Let them be yours alone,
And not for strangers with you.
Let your fountain be blessed,
And rejoice in the wife of your youth.
As a loving hind and a graceful doe,
Let her breasts satisfy you at all times;
Be exhilarated always with her love.
For why should you, my son, be exhilarated with an adulteress,
And embrace the bosom of a foreigner? (Proverbs 5:15-20).

Why do so many men seek strange flesh? The mystery of the unknown? The excitement of the forbidden? The desire to conquer? Any of these excuses is surely inadequate. There is simply no good reason, as Proverbs 6:32-33 reveals:

The one who commits adultery with a woman is lacking sense;
He who would destroy himself does it.
Wounds and disgrace he will find,
And his reproach will not be blotted out.

Let’s get real, guys. What’s this pornography stuff all about, anyway? Freak shows aside, more than 99 percent of the women in these pictures look pretty much alike, with body parts in the same places. Breasts are in front, buttocks are in back, there are two arms and two legs, and an epidermis holding it all together. There aren’t many surprise arrangements. There goes the mystery excuse. And we won’t conquer these women; they’re untouchable. In fact, if we lust after them, they’ve conquered us. We’ve fallen into their trap.

That leaves us with the excitement-of-the-forbidden excuse, the hormonal rush that accompanies the peek through the keyhole, the stolen view of what lies beneath the clothing, the places no one is allowed to see. “Come take a look, Mister, and I’ll show you something you’ll like … just for you.”

Get over it. These women aren’t giving you a private peak; they’re strutting their stuff for anyone with eyes. Forbidden? Yes. For your eyes only? Forget about it. These harlots put their bodies on show, inviting deeper draughts for paying customers. All they really want is your money. You can waste your endorphins on a lie, see hate masquerading as love, and the hormonal rush prompts the desire for more as each drink creates new thirst.

If you’re addicted to pornography, you need to meditate on reality—the truth of the hateful harlot. She’s a stalker, a seductress, a destroyer. She will poison your soul. She has nothing to offer that you haven’t seen before; even her body is just a fleeting image. She’s certainly not a damsel in distress, and it’s not your duty to rescue her, even in your mind.

Tell me, would you look at pornographic images with your wife? Would you sit down and say, “Honey, come take a look at this gal! Isn’t she hot?” May it never be! Such an act would be shameful. Yet this is a good test and a faithful standard to use in avoiding what is shameful. If you’re ever contemplating an act, ask yourself if you would do it in your wife’s presence. If the answer is no, don’t do it.

Say this along with me: “I will never do anything in private for which I would be ashamed in public.” Repeat this promise, and embed it in your mind.

Remember, too, that you’re never really in private. God always looks over your shoulder. Would you say to Him, “Get a load of this one, Lord! She’s a looker!” God forbid! Yet millions of men act as though God can’t see them. But He not only sees everything in your view, He reads everything in your mind. He is watching. Do we believe it? Do we care? Will we invite Him to inspect everything we view? Would we mind showing to Jesus Christ everything we bring up on our computer screens, every image our eyes rest upon in magazines, every television channel that makes us pause as we look for a decent program?

Isn’t this the test of faith? Isn’t how we act in private a true reflection of what we believe about God, that He is really who He says He is, the ever-present, omniscient Lord?

For those of you who feel trapped by this insidious evil, there is a cure. As we set our minds on the things above, where Christ is, memories of evil begin to vanish. As Paul taught:

If then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3:1-3).

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things; and the God of peace shall be with you (Philippians 4:8-9).

Even if you have imbibed the poison of pornography for years, God can give you peace. Give your life to Christ, and He will shatter the unfruitful images as your mind learns to dwell on what is pure and honorable. Leave your adulterous ways behind, and God will help you walk in holiness, giving you the ability never to stray again in your mind.

Your wife is your one and only damsel. Never seek another. Let her breasts satisfy you at all times, and be exhilarated always with her love.

Lamentations - Part Two

During the past several months, going to church has been more of a burden than a joy. I used to prepare for worship with my fellow believers in great anticipation of glorious fellowship and corporate praise of our heavenly father. Yet, lately, I believe that God has not been glorified by our gatherings. In fact, He is likely disgusted.

The issue that comes up in my mind week after week is the manner of dress of the young ladies. Their immodesty cannot possibly please the One who created their bodies to be covered and protected, guarded carefully for the man who will someday be their husband. These are not harlots off the street who come to Jesus begging for salvation; these are daughters of the pillars of the church who have heard and given lip service to the gospel.

Modesty standards have been delivered to them by the youth pastor, yet they ignore them, choosing instead the fashions of the flesh, wanting to portray the harlot with plunging necklines revealing whatever cleavage they have, skirts and tops so tight every curve is accentuated in their come hither struts down the aisle, bare midriffs with low-slung, tight jeans that reveal every legal inch of skin below the navel, even mini-skirts and short shorts with something printed on the posterior that begs for every male in the congregation to read and admire.

Why is this immodesty tolerated? It’s the age-old reason, expressed in a variety of ways. The church has a low standard of holiness. They accept sin in many forms, not wanting to exercise discipline, because such a practice will likely reduce their numbers. Since their measure of success is usually in units of bodies and dollars, or they fear retribution in the courts, they are unwilling to risk obeying God because of their fear of man.

Maybe they want to appear “with it,” in tune with this generation of youth, fearful of losing both the kids and their parents should they dare to revert to an “old-fashioned” morality. “Hey, everyone’s dressing this way. I don’t want to look like a geek.” Popularity trumps prudence, and fashion overwhelms feminine virtue. Girls sell glances at their skin for a smile from a passing guy and acceptance from their peers.

But what does marketing their flesh really buy? A sickened soul. A lost innocence. A corrupt conscience. At first, the exposure was a daring gambit, and though their consciences were pricked, the excitement of allure or the pressure of peers took over. Soon, however, their hearts become callous, and now they no longer feel an inner prodding that begs them to cover and protect what is holy—their virtue.

As the Lord said, “Were they ashamed because of the abomination they had done? They certainly were not ashamed, and they did not know how to blush; therefore they shall fall among those who fall; at the time of their punishment they shall be brought down.” (Jeremiah 8:12)

Yet, these ladies come to the front of church and offer prayers for their non-Christian friends at school, acting like there is nothing wrong with their own northern and southern exposures. And why shouldn’t they be comfortable in their nakedness? They are told that all is acceptable. No matter what they do, their sins will be forgiven. So why not enjoy acceptance in the world? You get to go to heaven anyway, right?

But what does God really say, “But look, you are trusting in deceptive words that are worthless. Will you steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury, burn incense to Baal and follow other gods you have not known, and then come and stand before me in this house, which bears my name, and say, ‘We are safe’—safe to do all these detestable things?” (Jeremiah 7:8-10)

Alas! They have chosen the idol of fashion and sexual desire. They have followed the Baal of peer acceptance. They have burned incense to the god of fleshly pleasures.

So, while I hope for a change, I weep in my pew.

O daughter of my people, put on sackcloth and roll in ashes; Mourn as for an only son, a lamentation most bitter. For suddenly the destroyer will come upon us. (Jeremiah 6:26)

Behold, listen! The cry of the daughter of my people from a distant land: “Is the Lord not in Zion? Is her King not within her? Why have they provoked Me with their graven images, with foreign idols? Harvest is past, summer is ended, and we are not saved.”

For the brokenness of the daughter of my people I am broken; I mourn, dismay has taken hold of me. Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then has not the health of the daughter of my people been restored? (Jeremiah 8:19-22)

May God bring a fresh wind to our church and true exposure to the daughters of our flock, a rushing, fiery storm that will expose their dark hearts and provoke repentance that will usher in true salvation.

Lamentations - Part One

In the coming days, I expect to post some of my laments. Sometimes I get so sad about the state of the world, especially the state of the church, I just cry out to God over the wickedness, apathy, and hypocrisy I see every day. I think God doesn't mind when I vent, because I believe he also laments over what He sees here.

Lately, I have witnessed several newly broken homes resulting from men who have forsaken their vows and committed adultery. At one time, the church wouldn't tolerate such behavior, but in one of these instances, the man is still teaching Sunday School at his church, though he is open about his adultery, taking his new object of lust to public events, even if his wife is at the same event. The church seems to say, "this man is a sinner, just like the rest of us, so why should he be singled out?" As usual, the church's refusal to honor the true doctrine of holiness is leading the Christian culture to hell.

This deadly, cancerous disease of depraved, selfish minds called divorce is a blight on the church, a sickening stain that spreads its corrupting, lethal venom with every passing year. This corruption is graffiti on our walls that says, “Ha! You’re no different, you bunch of hypocrites!” We preach “good news,” yet we live in laughable turmoil, ravaged by the very illness we claim to cure.

Have couples completely forgotten these holy vows: “For better or for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, ’til death do us part”? With words like these binding two into one inseparable union, a reasonable person would think the divorce rate might be one in a thousand, perhaps one in ten thousand, and with drastically lower percentages in the church.

Rather, the truth about the divorce rate is beyond tragic. With the national rate hovering at around 43 percent of unions, and around 50 percent for couples under the age of 45, the prospect of marriage looks more like a coin flip than a promised life of fidelity. And an even more alarming conclusion comes from the Barna Research Group: “Christians are more likely to experience divorce than are non-Christians.” Divorce rates are actually higher among professing Christians than among atheists!

Such a finding is a tragic slap in the face of Christ, who said,

Have you not read, that He who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, “For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh”? Consequently they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate” (Matthew 19:4-6).

God hates divorce. (See Malachi 2:16.) Trying to deny this fact is like closing our eyes in a hurricane while denying the reality of wind and rain furiously slapping our faces. Yet people make excuses in droves, thinking that their vows are mere ceremony, empty words designed to decorate a beautiful show. It’s as though they crossed their fingers while promising marital faithfulness. They believe that somehow God will excuse their mistaken belief that this person was really “The One” whenever they decide the sparkle is gone.

In reality, God has left us with no option; we are to fulfill our vows.

When you make a vow to the Lord your God, you shall not delay to pay it, for it would be sin in you, and the Lord your God will surely require it of you. However, if you refrain from vowing, it would not be sin in you. You shall be careful to perform what goes out from your lips, just as you have voluntarily vowed to the Lord your God, what you have promised (Deuteronomy 23:21-23).

Why do “Christians” divorce at a higher rate than non-Christians? There are two major reasons. The first is simple. Too many people view God as a doting grandfather who just wants to make them happy. I have heard people say, “God wouldn’t want me to stay in an unhappy marriage. That’s why I knew He wanted me to get a divorce.” Seeking only their pleasure, these people assume that God always blesses their pursuit of happiness. They have molded God into their image, fashioning a bobble-head idol who simply nods “yes” to every whim of its human creator.

They are merely playing Christianity, not really walking the bloodstained steps to Calvary. They are like straw houses built on sand. While they close their eyes to the truth, the hurricane strikes, and they are left desolate. Their houses crumble, all because they have denied the reality of the wind and rain, the reality that God really does require their sacrificial allegiance and doesn’t condone fleshly indulgence for the sake of “happiness.”

What is happiness, anyway? Where does it originate? Was Paul happy when authorities unjustly sent him to prison? As a matter of fact, he was! Singing hymns of praise to God, he celebrated God’s goodness even during terrible circumstances. (See Acts 16:25.) Did the apostles find joy in being flogged? Surprise! They actually enjoyed it! Although the beating itself likely drew moans of agony and painted dark bruises on their aching bodies, they still rejoiced in their suffering. (See Acts 5:41.)

For a Christian, true happiness comes in pleasing God, especially during great trials. This is the happiness our Lord calls us to seek. God isn’t interested in fulfilling our fleshly desires, allowing us to please ourselves in violation of His principles. If Paul had bought into the rationalizations of many today, he might have stayed at home and skipped his missionary journeys. “Traveling is just too hard!” he might have said. “They threw big rocks at me last time. And I can’t risk going to places where they’ll throw me in jail. I wouldn’t be happy there, so God can’t be calling me to do that.”

If Jesus had lived a “please-the-flesh” mentality, He wouldn’t have gone to the cross. He might have said, “Father, you wouldn’t ask Me to bleed and die for a bunch of sinners, would You? That wouldn’t make Me happy.” And He would have skulked out of the garden and avoided the approaching soldiers.

The true story should blare in our minds like a trumpet call to sacrifice. Although Jesus had a bodily desire for the cup of death to pass from His lips, what did He say to His heavenly Father? “Yet not My will, but Thine be done” (Luke 22:42). Going to the cross brought Him true joy, as the Scripture reveals, “Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2). Jesus said to His Father, “I have come … to do Thy will” (Hebrews 10:7), and this shout of complete obedience echoes in the soul of every true Christian around the world.

What made Jesus “happy”? Pleasing God. What makes Christians happy? The same self-sacrificial search for holiness, the seeking of God’s kingdom and His righteousness. Whoever seeks fleshly desires over God’s purposes is not a real Christian. “For if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God” (Romans 8:13-14).

Yes, God wants us to be happy, but of far more importance, God wants us to be holy. On this truth, we can all firmly stand, because as we live holy lives we find true happiness in obedience. This is our joy, to find favor in the eyes of God.

Another reason the divorce rate is so high among “Christians” is that so many of them have bought into the popular “blind-God” concept. They’ve been taught that sin is normal and that when God looks at them He sees only Jesus. Naturally they conclude, “God won’t bring judgment for the sin of divorce. He doesn’t even see it. He sees only His dear, sweet Son hanging on a cross.” It’s as though Christians have a cardboard cutout of Christ shielding them from view.

This heresy threatens to tear down the walls of the church. We might as well close the doors and send everyone home. Not only are we not separating ourselves from participation in the world’s system, these lies concerning our commitment to marriage covenants have made us worse than the world. Our hypocrisy makes us look like clown-faced charlatans, and people just laugh and shake their heads, thinking, What a bunch of buffoons! This Christianity sideshow just doesn’t work.

There are many forces that try to tear married couples apart: family and financial pressures, spiritual persecution, and mental illness, just to name a few. Every one, however, is anticipated in this wedding vow: “for better or for worse.” God still commands us to keep our unions whole. Only adultery remains as the true break in the marriage covenant, and even then we’re not commanded to divorce. God still hates divorce, although He allows it when sexual unfaithfulness destroys the bond. Even when it is allowed, however, divorce still stains the beautiful image of Christ and the church. Divorce, even because of adultery, stands as a symbol of failure, a precious pearl intentionally thrown into a sewer for the sake of a few minutes of pleasure by the adulterer or adulteress.

Adultery proves unfaithfulness to God. The Bible says, “Or do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, shall inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Corinthians 6:9-10).

Don't be deceived. You cannot be a Christian and an adulterer. Since the church, for the most part, has bought into the lie that true believers are still sinners, every imaginable sin has become both commonplace and acceptable. Unrepentant adulterers are teaching Sunday School and pastoring large flocks, parading their hypocrisy on national television.

With this kind of example, the blind leading the blind into hell, it's no wonder God and His true followers lament. The time for judgment is coming quickly, and it will begin in the church.

Christmas Pain and Promise

This is the first year in quite a while that I didn't write a poem for Christmas. I'm not sure why I skipped this year, but there are several possible reasons that I'll be thinking about.

I'm going to post a Christmas poem from the past that is something of a lament. It seems that God is leading me to engage in such lamentations, and I might post some of them here.

From Ezekiel 22:23-31

Son of man, O son of mine,
Your land has need of cleansing rain.
Conspiring prophets weave their lies
To make the holy foul, profane.

A prince, a wolf that tears its prey,
To seize a dime, they slay the least.
To leave a widow castaway
Is not a sin, so says the priest.

Son of man, O son of mine,
The prophets smear excuses broad,
A whitewash coat, a false divine;
They say their words have come from God.

And all the people indulging greed
Have followed princes, prophets, priests
Oppressed and robbed the poor in need,
Perverting justice in your streets.

Art thou a son or just a hire?
Go stand before your land of sin
To stay my angels’ swords of fire
And fill the gap from deep within.

Your eyes O God have seared me through;
Before your mercy throne I fall.
How can I bridge a path to you?
The gap is wide and I am small.

Then words I heard by spirit’s ear
From whispering wind encircling me
“A maid hath borne the end of fear;
The bridge was built from bloodstained tree.”

Son of man, O son of mine,
Go bear his cross to those in need,
And speak his words across the line,
That I may spare the ones who heed.

I took his cross upon my back,
His crown of thorns upon my brow,
I wore the maid’s poor cloths of sack,
His words alone my oath, my vow.

I hear, obey, and stand with thee
The gap so wide, so deep and dim.
A maid, a tree, a bridge, and me,
God’s tools to build a path to him.

A Dragon Christmas

One of my readers sent this drawing to me, so I decided to share it.

The kids on my message forum frequently call me Clefty, a shortened form of Clefspeare, which is my forum name and the name of the main dragon in my series. So the artist entitled it, "Clefty's Christmas." I assume that's Excalibur in the upper left corner. In case you can't read it, the stocking says, "Bryan" on the front.

I'm not sure I'd want a dragon in my stocking, but it would be handy for keeping the log in the fireplace ablaze.

I get all sorts of drawings from my readers. Click here to see more of them.

Goals Update

Enoch's Ghost is now at about 23,000 words. My goal was to get to 40,000 words this month, so, based on the number of days in the month, it might look like I'm behind. Not really. I had a couple of local appearances to do early in the month and had to make a trip to Tennessee, which made it impossible to write during those days

Also, the beginning of a book is the hardest part to write, so now that I have the story well underway, and I have no more trips or appearances in December, I hope to make that 40,000 word goal.

In the physical fitness category, I am back up to four-mile runs, so I feel good about that. I hope to stretch those to five miles in the next couple of weeks. In weight lifting, I'm doing multiple reps with with 210 pounds (free weights) and expect to move up to 220 within a week or so. I will test this weekend to see what my maximum is.

What God Has Joined Together

Today is the 26th anniversary of the day my wife, Susie, and I got married. I'm writing today to celebrate her. I want to tell the world that she is a wonderful, godly woman. Her love and beauty are incomparable. Her love for God and faith in Him is an inspiration. She is the perfect helpmate to me, and I can't imagine going through life without her.

Without a doubt, I couldn't survive as an author without her constant encouragement. She is my biggest fan and most ardent cheerleader. When I need wisdom or counsel, I look to her first, and she gives freely and humbly.

She teaches our seven children and makes our home warm and welcoming, dressing us all in garlands of love that never wear out.

Many daughters have done nobly, Susie, but you excel them all.

Signs Update

I hope you're not getting tired of reading about these strange events, but they seem to keep coming. Just a few minutes after the latest "dime and two pennies" incident, though I didn't find out about it until this evening, another one occurred. My youngest daughter searched for her old purse, wondering if she had left her long-lost watch in it. She had not seen this purse in over a year.

When she found the purse, it had exactly three coins in it, no more, no less. Yes, one dime and two pennies. Strangely enough, the dime was silver (pre-1965) and the pennies were the wheat mark variety (pre-1958).

While I was jogging today (my most effective story idea generation activity), I figured out what the coins are all about. I was so excited, I hurried home and wrote it all down. I told my wife, and she agreed that there is no doubt about it, and the answer is really cool, a perfect idea for my story.

No, I'm not going to tell yet, but it will be in Enoch's Ghost.

Friendly Reminders

Some reminders are annoying, the nagging kind that you wish would just go away--my calendar prodding me that I have to get my tax information together, yet another political ad reminding me that an election looms, and my backache telling me that I'm chasing 50 years old.

Others are friendly--every sunrise that reminds me of God's mercies, my wife's smile that says, "I love you" every time we pass, a hug from my son or daughter once again restoring my hope in their futures.

Some reminders are pointed and thought-provoking. This morning is an interesting example. Some of you might remember This post where I told the story about finding a dime and two pennies in multiple places and how it related to my father's apparently prophetic statement, "What are you going to do with the twelve?" I thought it might relate to the new book I'm writing, so I hoped that the idea would come while I was writing.

Well, I have been working on that book all month, and the story is pretty average so far, so I have been praying for a spark to make it shine. As you might have guessed by now, I hadn't thinking much about "the twelve."

My wife, Susie, and I got up extra early this morning to take my son to the airport (he's flying to be part of a big orchestra clinic in Chicago), so when we got home it was earlier than the time we usually go on our morning prayer walk. We went anyway and found ourselves alone in the park long before daylight. As we traversed our usually trek and passed under a light, we both spotted a shiny dime. Susie picked it up, and I immediately thought about the "signs" and said, laughing, "I wonder where the two pennies are."

She pointed to a place just a couple of feet away, said, "They're right here," and picked up two pennies. We looked all around. There were no more coins.

If we had gone at our usual time, I doubt that the dime would have been there. It was too shiny and obvious. Very strange.

I take this as a friendly reminder from God, a gentle prod that answers my prayer for a spark to my story. It's coming together in my mind this morning, so, if you are so inclined, please pray for the ideas to bear some exciting fruit.

Eye of the Oracle Review

It is such a delight for me when I see a really positive review pop up on the Internet when I don't expect it. It's especially interesting to see one on Amazon.com from an adult when most of my readers are younger.

I'm pasting this review for Eye of the Oracle because I thought the reviewer captured the essence of what I was doing with this book, and he also seemed to appreciate that this story is deeper than what I have written in the past. I am grateful for his willingness to tell others.


By Kevin Lucia, posted on Amazon.com on 12/12/2006

In 2004, Bryan Davis opened up a brand new world of wonder and adventure with the release of his first novel, Raising Dragons. It spawned the Dragons In Our Midst series, which took a unique spin on Arthurian legend and dragons lore. Weaving Biblical truths with fantasy in an entertaining, natural way not seen since C.S. Lewis's beloved Chronicles of Narnia, Davis created a fantasy world safe for young, Christian minds, but satisfying for all. Rarely preachy, often imaginative, the works functioned as true pieces of fiction, not thinly-coated devotionals for Sunday school class, which so many Christian Young Adult novels often turn out to be.

September 2006 featured the release of Eye of the Oracle, the first novel in Davis' new series, Oracles of Fire, which is a prequel series to Dragons In Our Midst. The book promised to readers the history of dragons; how they fit into the Biblical creation story, their respective roles in Biblical history, the treachery within some dragons' hearts that lead them to betray men, and the salvation plan for dragons after their fall.

Eye of the Oracle delivers this and more. Starting at the very focal point of humanity's history, outside the Garden of Eden, Oracle delivers a resounding, epic tale of dragons and their service to humankind and God. Davis takes some truly creative leaps in his narrative, which spans the course of thousands of years, and he continues to use classic, well-known Arthurian figures: Morgan, the Lady of the Lake, Merlin, Excalibur, even King Arthur himself, giving them a decidedly spiritual, Biblical twist.

However, as with Raising Dragons, Eye of the Oracle leaps "off the map" in ways Christian Fantasy probably wouldn't have been able to do ten to fifteen years ago. The creation of Morgan's underground lair, as she plots her revenge against the world of men and dragons, is an astounding work of fantasy that can be placed alongside some of the best moments in the secular fantasy market. Davis naturally weaves high points of Biblical lore into the framework of the story; dragons defending Noah's Ark from a demonic attack, to the fall of the tower of Babel; classic Biblical characters such as Noah, Shem, Enoch, and many others are featured. Also, we see touches of classical literature: echoes of Dante's Inferno resonates in his depictions of the Abyss, the seven circles of Hades, and the different layers of the underworld Morgan's slaves toil in.

One thing making this an even more enjoyable read than Raising Dragons was the complexity of the narrative, plot, and writing. Raising Dragons is a solid fit for the Young Adult market, good for those in fifth through eight grades. Eye of the Oracle is a deeper, more complex novel, and should have a much wider appeal to all ages. At six-hundred and nine pages, this isn't one of those "kid books" you can knock off in a weekend; it's a hearty, encompassing tale that enhances the Dragons In Our Midst series with history, giving it a mythology much like the Silmarillion does for the Lord of the Rings trilogy - but it's much less ponderous than Tolkien's unfinished historical work of Middle Earth.

Eye of the Oracle is also the "perfect jumping off point" for new readers - it meshes with the existing DOM storylines flawlessly, but familiarity with DOM is not needed to read this novel. Eye of the Oracle expands the DOM storyline to epic proportions, and is a great gift for this holiday season.

Enoch's Ghost Cover

The cover for Enoch's Ghost, the second book in the Oracles of Fire series, is here. As you can see to the right, it's another colorful, eye-catching illustration that I hope my readers will enjoy.

This is the first cover that doesn't include Bonnie, so it represents a real departure from the earlier storyline, though some of the other characters are still here. My regular readers will likely guess that the boy on the left is Walter, and the girl on the right is Ashley. If you have read Eye of the Oracle, you can probably also guess who the girl in the center is.

If you want to see a higher resolution image you can go to:

http://www.dragonsinourmidst.com/images/EGCover2.jpg

Enoch's Ghost is scheduled to come out in the summer of 2007.

The Nativity Story

Yesterday, I took my youngest daughter to see The Nativity Story. Beautiful. A delightful portrayal of Joseph and Mary. At times I was moved to tears because of the deep emotions the two main characters evoked.

I particularly loved Joseph. The movie portrayed him as a gentle, merciful, and compassionate husband who only and always wanted to do what was right. His selflessness and gracious attitude never faltered. I love to see stories portray men in such a positive light. It's so rare these days.

I am accustomed to seeing portrayals of Mary as being a holy young lady, chosen by God because of her character, but this story seemed to imply that Joseph was one of the main reasons that God chose Mary. God would use Joseph to teach Jesus mercy, compassion, and zeal for God.

The movie had its flaws. Although I enjoyed the offbeat characters of the three magi, the story had them showing up at the stable, which seems impossible. It also had Joseph and Mary fleeing to Egypt directly from the stable, which didn't allow them to go to the temple where they would bring their sacrifice and meet Simeon and Anna. This, of course, is simply inaccurate. It's a shame that the makers of such a beautiful movie would choose to depart from history that way.

Overall, however, I thought The Nativity Story was terrific. I highly recommend it.

Weather

Dear Friends in the Northern Lands,

It's December 2, 2006, and my air conditioner came on this morning. The agony!

I read about all the snow in the Midwest and the cold rain and snow that are coming to the East, so I thought I'd write this and tell you about our suffering here in Florida. It was 85 degrees yesterday, and it's going to break 80 again today. Do you realize what this is going to do to my electric bill? That air conditioner won't stop running!

Not only that, these strange people are beginning to show up at the stores--shivering souls with pasty white skin buying lots of sunscreen and floppy hats. It's kind of scary, but it seems to happen every year about this time. They finally go away sometime in April when their skin is so red they look like ripe strawberries. It's almost like they come here as unripened fruit, with white skin and green money, then leave with red skin and no money left, ripe and plucked. But that's okay. It helps our economy.

I've stalled enough. I have to get to work. But first I have to get some lemonade or freshly squeezed orange juice and turn on my fan.