Bryan M. Powell D. Litt.'s Blog

Why Write?
Why Write? Why do anything creative for that matter. In most caces, the creative arts don’t add much to the economic engine that drives the community. Oh yes, we authors, artists, and artisans can make a living doing what we do, but in most cases, unless it’s a commission job for a city project, it’s difficult. So why do we do it?
Well, to be honest, we do it because we love doing it. If we are in a financial situation that gives us the freedom to be creative, we either do it as a hobby or we earnestly work at trying to earn a living off our creations.
Some are better at it and are successful. Others struggle, but for the love of it, we toil on.
Here are a few other reasons why we talented artisans keep creating.

The process brings us great pleasure. It is both relaxing and therapeutic.It reflects our Creator’s nature as God is the Primary Creator of beauty and balance. When we paint, tell a story, fire a clay-creation, we are imitating our God. John 1:3 says, “All things were made by him, and without him was not anything made that was made.”It beautifies our community.It adds richness and depth to our lives.It leaves a lasting legacy for the generations to come. Joshua 4:5- 6 says, “That this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean ye by these stones? Then ye shall answer them, That the waters of Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord; when it passed over Jordan, the waters of Jordan were cut off: and these stones shall be for a memorial unto the children of Israel forever.”I would argue, it’s a calling. Not everyone has the talent, patience, time, or support to be creative. Let’s be honest, in many cases, it’s a lonely road we travel. We spend hours hunkered over a piano, a canvas, a laptop, or a spinning board covered with ooey-gooey clay. But the result enriches scores of people in ways that only time will tell.
So write on. Keep creating and be sure to add your name to whatever you create.

Be sure to visit my 2025 Catalog and Gallery as I have added new content.

“Do you exist?” the caller asked.

The phone call came not long after I had closed my bookstore and I was sure the caller’s question was with regard to the existence of my store, but I took the opportunity to have a little fun. I said, in answer to his query, “I am, because I am.” A reference not that different from the one God gave to Moses when asked, “who shall I say sent me.” God’s cryptic answer was, “I am that I am.” The meaning being, the self-existent Creator God is all that the Children of Israel would need. Trust Him and He will deliver you.

Upon further reflection, the question my caller asked went much deeper than, was my store still in business? My answer, though true, fell far short of God’s all-inclusive answer. It did, however, give me pause to think, to ask myself, “Do I exist? Are my days spent simply existing with no purpose or direction? I had to come to the conclusion that yes, there are days I spent just exist. Thankfully they are far fewer as I yield my life to Christ. His will for me is more than being a potted plant. I am a tree planted by the living waters who brings forth its fruit in due season. The closing of my store was just a season followed by a new and exciting season of fruitfulness with its challenges and victories.

So I ask you, “Do you exist?” “Is your life spent in meaningless pursuits?” or is it a life marked by purpose and direction? If not, it can be, but first, you must yield it over to Christ’s control. Let Him be your focus, yes the very essence of your existence. As the Apostle Paul said, “For me to live is Christ and to die is gain.”

This year has had its ups, downs, rain-outs and blow-outs. Despite it all, November’s sales set a new record high. Also, we are excited to announce the coming release of two new novels scheduled for early next year.

For December, we are offering special bundles for your reading pleasure. [image error]

The Chase Newton Mysteries Series is bundled at $30.00.

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The award-winning Christian Fantasy Series is bundled at $45.00.

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The Jared Russell Contemporary Thriller Series is bundled at $35.00

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The Trace O’Reilly Detective/Mystery Series is bundled at $30.00

To get in on these savings go to my Square Store, make your selection and follow the link.

[image error]You may remember the song, Excuses, made popular by The Kingsmen in the ’60. It starts off with this catchy phrase; “Excuses, excuses, you hear them every day.” There couldn’t be a truer statement.

People make excuses for an array of reasons; some truer than others. Here are a few I hear at signing events, “I’ll check you out,” “I can’t read,” “I don’t have time to read,” “I’ll be back,” and my personal favorite … “Do you have a website?” they ask with a wrinkled nose and a slight head dip.

I know then, there ain’t no reasoning with them folks … pardon my slang.

Now I know we all have our reasons for not wanting to do something. Nevertheless, let’s be honest. If you don’t want to do something, come out and say it.

Nicely

“Thank you, but no thank you.”

So here’s my answer to those excuses which I would never say out loud. To the one who says, “I’ll check you out,” I say, “Go ahead, check out my books on Amazon, Goodreads, Google Books. On the other hand, here’s a novel idea, pick up one of my exciting books, read the back and let it capture your imagination.”

To the one who says, “I don’t read,” I say, “You can. You just won’t.” I understand having eye problems and concentration problems and not being a good reader. In that case, why not try to improve your reading skill? You will be the better for it.

To the one who says, “I don’t have time to read,” I say, “We make time for what’s important.” Quality time with God, family, work, home responsibilities, getting the kids to and from school, practices, rehearsals, recitals, birthday parties … the list goes on. But then there are times (rainy days, snow days, sick days, waiting room days) when you have nothing better to do than look at your FB. Why not snatch up a good book and plug into it. You’ll be amazed how much time you suddenly have.

And finally, to the one who promises to “Be back,” and doesn’t, I say … well, we all know what you are.

So the next time we are tempted to give a starving artist the brush-off, think of how it makes him or her feel. Be nice, be honest, and tell them the truth.

We have all heard the lame excuse unbelievers use to blur the facts, derail a discussion or blunt someone’s witnessing attempts by claiming that the Bible is full of myths. As one who believes in the infallibility, inerrancy, and preservation of God’s Word, I take exception to that false claim. But I have to admit, there are some pretty fantastical stories in the Bible. The Flood, Moses parting the Red Sea, Jonah and the Great Fish to name a few Old Testament examples. The New Testament is not without its wild stories. Peter’s angelic helper, Paul being caught up into the Third Heaven, the events of the Book of the Revelation and, of course, the Resurrection.

These and other biblical stories must be taken by faith, not with a grain of salt.

First, we must examine what a parable is. By definition, a parable is a short allegorical story used to illustrate or teach a truth, moral principle or lesson. Usually, it is a statement or comment that conveys a deeper meaning indirectly using comparison.

By laying a truth alongside a belief or concept, the teacher gives his listeners an opportunity to compare their belief with what is true and change their minds. At least, that is the teacher’s goal. During Jesus’ earthly ministry, He spoke many parables comparing God’s Kingdom truths with Man’s ideas. His message was radically different; the way up is down, the way to gain is through giving, the way to life is in dying.

Radical!

And to illustrate these truths our Lord used simple examples: a mustard seed, sheep, a field of grain, two brothers, the Good Samaritan, the Prodigal son, the wise and the foolish virgins, 45 in all. Whenever Jesus spoke a parable, many of His listeners left not completely clear as to His point.

That was by design.

In Matthew 13:34-35 we are told, “All these things Jesus spoke to the multitude in parables, that it might be fulfilled, which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.”

You may be asking why.

Again, scripture gives us a clue in Mark 4:10-12. “When he was alone, his disciples asked him why he always spoke in parables. He said unto them, unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: that seeing they may see, and not perceive, and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.”

Parables were God’s way of revealing certain truths to those who had ears to hear and a heart to believe and yet leave the masses wondering.

And the masses are still wondering. It is our job to explain God’s truths to those who will listen. So how are you doing?

 

Let me begin by saying emphatically, Yes! However, I also believe “All scripture is given by inspiration of God …” II Timothy 3:16

You may be asking, ‘Doesn’t the Bible contain lots of stories?’

[image error]It does. There are romance, survival, murder mysteries, short stories, and long epic stories. There are stories of men overcoming great odds and stories of men falling to lust, murder, and corruption. All are true, and all were placed there by God to warn and/or encourage us.

But what about the fictional stories?

Before I answer that question, allow me to set the stage. “A good story evokes an emotional reaction.” Randy Ingermanson

Whether it is a fictional or non-fiction story, it should cause its readers to have an emotional response. That is the result of having a goal, a motivation, and a conflict. These are the building blocks of any good story.

To illustrate my point allow me to use one of the most poignant fictional stories as told by [image error]Nathan the prophet. The story is given in II Samuel 12 involving a poor man who owned a single lamb. It was his pet, and he treated it like family. Compare that with a rich man who owned many sheep, but when a visitor came unexpectedly, he was unwilling to take from his flock, but rather, he stole the poor man’s lamb and slew it. King David felt an immediate association with the poor man since he was a shepherd at heart. Losing one in such a violent way would have and did affect him deeply. The problem was, King David had done a similar deed when he stole another man’s wife, and tried to cover it up by killing her husband. In a fit of rage, he condemned the offending rich man, saying he should be made to repay the poor man four-fold because he had no pity. It was then, Nathan made the convicting statement, “Thou art the man.” This illustrates the power of a good story. It elicited an immediate response and convicted David of a heinous crime; one for which he paid dearly.

A couple other, lesser known, but equally powerful fictional stories are given to us in the Old Testament. The first was told by a woman from Tekoah. In II Samuel 14 Joab hired a woman to tell a heart-wrenching story to, once again, King David. She pretended to be a widow with two sons. As the story goes, the two young men fought, the one killing the other. Now the town’s people were up in arms demanding he pay with his life. As she later reveals, if they executed her remaining son, she would lose her family’s inheritance. As expected, David reacted. The point of the story was to make David aware of his own shortcomings. His son, Absalom, had killed his half-brother as retribution for raping his sister. Later, he caused an insurrection for which he was banished. Joab’s purpose was to restore the father and son back to each other, and the story worked. David and Absalom were eventually reconciled. Again, a good story evokes an emotional response.

The other fictional story is given to us in I Kings 20 where the Lord tells an unnamed prophet to go to the Ahab, king of Israel to point out his sin. The King Ahab allowed King Benhadad to escape after capturing him in war. The prophet disguised himself as a soldier who was assigned the task of guarding two prisoners. As he was busy going about his other duties, the two detainees escaped, which was a capital offense. Because of this, King Ahab condemned him to death. Then the prophet removed his disguise, and made his point. In essence, he said, ‘thou art the man.’

Each of these fictional stories was designed to make a point and bring its audience to a decision or an emotional response. And in each case … they did.

So the answer to the original question is yes. God, the author, and finisher of our faith uses fictional stories to draw in His audience and bring conviction or cause us to respond. This is why I write fictional and fanciful stories. I write with a purpose and hope and pray my readers will respond accordingly.

Next month we will discuss Fiction in the New Testament.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[image error]So often, when people ask me what I write and I answer “Christian fiction,” I get a blank stare. Many readers simply don’t understand what makes a novel Christian equating it rather to Military Intelligence and other oxymorons. But in reality, there is something distinctly unique in a Christian novel and it starts with the author’s heart. There is a message, a truth the author is trying to communicate and they use a fictional story to do it with. Aesop’s Fables have a moral message, though not inherently Christian. C.S. Lewis’s Narnia series, though packed with Christian under tones, is not labeled as “Christian.”

There are many considerations in deciding what is a “Christian” novel.

1.      Is Christian fiction defined by the seller? Some say Christian fiction is fiction sold in Christian bookstores. Yet Barnes & Novels and Borders sell them.

2.      Is Christian fiction defined by the author? Some say Christian fiction is novels published by Christian authors, on the basis that your Christian beliefs should come through in everything you write. An author’s beliefs come through no matter what their beliefs are.

3.      Christian fiction defined by the content? A lot of people seem to define Christian fiction—especially Christian romance—by the content; what it shouldn’t include: promiscuity, graphic violence, swearing, smoking use of drugs, gambling. Although this is not strictly adhered to as Christian authors try to reach a broader readership.

4.      Is Christian fiction defined by the world view? Some say Christian fiction is those novels written from a Christian world view. By a Christian world we mean a biblical world view as compared to a postmodern world view. “What is postmodernism? In simplest terms, it means we no longer believe in absolutes. Everything is relative . . . In postmodern literature, the author isn’t saying anything . . . you, the reader, have to decide what the text is saying to you.” Ann Tatlock – Writing to a Post-Christian World.

This may be the nut of the issue. What are our core believes and how we view the world written in a compelling story.

So what is Christian Fiction?

The Christy Awards web site explained it this way:

Christian fiction is a category of stories written by novelists whose Christian world view is woven into the fabric of the plot and character development. Although this definition might seem either simplistic on the one hand or overly broad on the other, this grouping of novels is as comprehensive and as varied in age, interest, and spiritual depth as its readership. C.S. Lewis resisted the label “Christian” for his novels, contending that he was simply creating a story. But whether overtly or subtly, Lewis’ fiction came out of his understanding of God and of the universe He created, out of the knowledge that God cares deeply about His creation that has been damaged by sin, and He joined the human race to build a bridge back to himself. This bridge between God and humanity will in some way inform and characterize every Christian novel.

Good fiction, whether or not it is identified as Christian, will provide a memorable reading experience that captures the imagination, inspires, challenges, and educates. Fiction published for the Christian book market does not include the gratuitous demonstration of sin—whether language, violence, sexual situations, or the more hidden sins of idolatry and self-worship. Credible characters in a fallen world, of course, will sin. But the Christian novel’s presentation of the grit and grime of human circumstance will not be done for its own sake or to titillate, but to point the reader toward hope, toward God.

Because the essence of Christianity is a relationship with God, a Christian novelists’ well-conceived story will in some way, whether directly or indirectly, add insight to the reader’s understanding of life, of faith, of the Creator’s yearning over His creation.

In my next post I will discuss the topic; Is there Fiction in the Bible?

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Psalm 68:20

“He that is our God is the God of salvation; and unto God the Lord belong the issues from death.”

It is a great comfort to know that our God is the God of Salvation. He is the way, the truth and the life, in Him is life, He is the life giver. So how is it then, the scripture says to God belong the issues of death?

If you will remember, it was God who introduced the whole idea of death when He warned Adam, “In the day you eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you shall surely die.”

So to understand this verse, we need to examine what it is to have an ISSUE. Webster says an Issue is an important topic or problem for debate or discussion, or the action of supplying or distributing an item, such as a newspaper.

When Adam and Eve willfully disobeyed God, they introduced an Issue which needed to be resolved. In love for His fallen creation, God began to deal with this Issue. From the first blood sacrifice, in which He slew a lamb and covered Adam and Eve’s nakedness, until the Cross of Calvary, there has been an ongoing controversy. And it will only be resolved at the end of time; but until then, God has an Issue.

There is the Issue of the Certainty of Death

God said, in the day you eat you shall surely die. Scripture tells us, “It is appointed unto man, once to die.”

Someone once said, death is the only way out of this world. Face it, except for the rapture, we’re all going to die. “As in Adam, all died.” The question which remains is when. I think about the man on death-row. At least he knows when he will die and can prepare for it. We, on the other hand, are left to face the inevitability with no warning.

There is the Issue of the Creativity of Death

I’m sure Adam didn’t understand what God meant when He said “In the day you eat, you will surely die,” but we now know he died spiritually and later died physically. In either case, death means separation.

First it is separation from God. Secondly it is separation from the living.

“As in Adam, all died,” but how we die is always a mystery.

There is not only the certainty of death, but there is the creativity of Death. There is natural death, accidental death, premature death, self-inflected death, voluntary and involuntary death.

There is an infinite number of ways to die. It would be impossible to count all the diseases and their mutations, and different ways of murder, etc. A reliable source once estimated there are “6 million ways to die, choose one…”

There is the Issue of the Personality of Death[image error]

Over the centuries, society has assigned a certain persona to death. He comes in the form of the Grim Reaper, a wraith with a long sickle. In Norse mythology, it was a Valkyrie, a winged female figure who chooses who would die in battle and who would live. Other cultures have Brunnhilde and Odin the Destroyer. In every instance, death is the one who takes its victims at his will. Of course we know Satan has come to kill, steal and destroy.

2 Timothy 2:26 –  “And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.”

The bad guys on TV and in movies always threaten their victim with a gun at their head and say, “If you don’t give me the money, I’ll blow his head off.” To which a missionary in a similar situation replied, “You can’t frighten me with Heaven.”

There is the Issue of the Calamity of Death

Like a predator swallowing a Pufferfish and then realizing its mistake, so Death swallowed the Prince of Life and found he couldn’t hold Him.

[image error]Death cannot keep his prey, Jesus my Savior! He tore the bars away, Jesus my Lord.

Up from the grave He arose, with a mighty triumph o’er His foes,

He arose the victor from the dark domain and He lives forever with the saints to reign.

He arose! He arose! Hallelujah, Christ Arose.”

Acts 2:24, 27, 31 –  “Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be held by it. He seeing this before spoke of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.”

There is the Issue of the Destiny of Death

One day there will be no more cemeteries, no more road-side memorials, no more wakes, no funeral services, no grave-side committals because God will wipe all tears away and death will be no more.

1 Corinthians 15:25-26 – “For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.”

Revelation 20:14 – “And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.”

1 Corinthians 15:52-57 – “… For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality … then shall be brought to pass the saying, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?  The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Conclusion

The rich man died and in Hell, he lifted up his eyes in torment, but when Lazarus died, the angles carried him to Abraham’s bosom. What a picture of that passage. David said it like this, “Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, … thou art with me.” That’s a comfort the world does not have, but we who know the Lord can carry it to the grave … and beyond.

One day the Lord will finally deal with the issue of death. But until then, for the believer, death is nothing to be feared. It is a passage, a door, an entrance into the presence of God. “Absent from the body … present with the Lord,” there to dwell for all eternity with those who’ve gone before us.

 

 

Recently, I tried to order more copies of Stranger in the Pulpit from Tate Publishing. After waiting longer than usual, I tried contacting my publicist to no avail. I attempted to call and email the publisher … nothing. Finally, I got a general announcement informing me and my fellow Tate authors that the company was undergoing a restructuring and that if we wanted our manuscripts back they had several options. In essence, the company went belly up, so I chose the least painful route.

Having said that, I proceeded to do a second/third edition on each manuscript, ordered new covers with new and exciting titles for The Stranger Series since they are no longer available. Stranger in the Pulpit is now – The Order, Stranger in the White House is now – The Oath, The Stranger Among Us is now – The Outsider.

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So, in addition to having the second novel in the Christian Fantasy Series released March 29th, The Chase Newton Series will now be available both in E-book format and Paperback soon. If you have been meaning to get into The Stranger Series, there is no better time than now as these are new and improved editions. Go to My Catalog and scroll down to order your copies.