No Dark Clouds

by R.W. Nelson

Inspired by the author’s 2 year observation of the struggles and disabilities of India’s beggar children, No Dark Clouds is a unique Christian fiction intertwining the lives of seven beggar children in Biblical Jerusalem with historical figures of the time, including Jesus. The novel brings forth the raw emotions of what a personal encounter with Jesus might have been like for a youth living at the time. The story gives the reader a possible glimpse of the lives of those who found themselves caught up in the Passion Week, trial, and people such as a slave, Roman soldiers, Pharisees, Barabbas and King Herod. This fictional account takes the reader to Resurrection Sunday, where he or she experiences the life-changing effects of that day in the lives of Pilate, his wife Claudia, the Disciples, Cleopas, the High Priest Caiaphas, among others. Beggar Boy and his companions all bear a form of disability. For him, 5 scars inflicted by a cruel man are etched across his face, rendering him an outcast. He has no home and no guardians to care for him. Being 10, he has to beg and steal to survive. His friends are controlled by Taskmaster whose income is derived from the children’s begging. Aditya, the oldest at 14, is also one of the shortest beggars. Her disability (similar to that of dwarfism), forces her to sing in the marketplaces in order to survive. The beggar friends grow up in a tumultuous Israel. The Zealots (led by Barabbas) threaten rebellion while the Romans (led by Pilate) are focused on squashing any type of revolt. In the midst of all of this, Jesus continues with his ministry and carrying out miraculous healings. By saving the life of a centurion (Leonidas) during an ambush by Barabbas, Beggar Boy is ‘rewarded’ by being allowed to live and work within the Roman Fortress Antonia. This also provides a way for him to steal food from the granary and distribute it to his beggar friends. A major task for the boy is the carrying and administering of vinegar wine to criminals being crucified on a cross. When he learns (then verifies) that a ‘Healer-Man’ has healed two of his beggar friends (one from deafness, the other from deformity), he sets out by leaving Jerusalem in order to find this man (Jesus) in the hopes of being healed of his knife-scarred face. However, Jesus is in the Holy City for the Last Supper, Gethsemane, His trial, and crucifixion. Beggar Boy returns only to find out that a crucifixion for 3 criminals is taking place. Grabbing his javelin and vinegar wine, he hurriedly departs to Golgotha. A climactic encounter unfolds when Beggar Boy arrives at Calvary only to realize that it is the ‘Healer-Man’ who is being crucified. He experiences ‘spirit-crushing’ disappointment and betrayal by his own Roman caretakers. The uniqueness of No Dark Clouds is that it includes 8 Biblical study guides embedded within the storyline as experienced by the characters such as ‘The Ministry of Angels’, ‘What is Heaven Like’, ‘The Miracles of Jesus’, ‘The Beatitudes’, ‘Tabernacle of Moses’, and others. It truly is an educational venture into the ‘realm of the heart’. A key fictional character is an Ethiopian slave - Mishea, 20, who is the royal tutor for the Roman children in Jerusalem. She becomes the ‘mother figure’ for the beggar children, and is the first to understand Messianic Scriptures from the book of Isaiah. ‘Life-trait’ themes of the characters abound within the novel God made you unique, reputation matters, judge someone from within, and everyone has God-given gifts. It also offers readers a unique blend of Biblical history, geography, Bible references, and Christian doctrine, all wrapped around the profound story of a beggar boy (and associates) in their search for and encounter with Jesus. A Thematic Unit Companion is available for a classroom experience

Genres: Fiction

315 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 12, 2018

About the author

First written as a motion picture script while living in India observing beggar children for two years, then subsequently a church musical, No Dark Clouds has now been penned as a unique Christian fiction by R. W. Nelson. Performances spanned the nation from Off-Broadway – to TBN Studios, Irving TX – to Los Angeles.

Born in Texas, R.W. received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Texas A&M University and his Master of Arts degree in Communication Studies with a cognate in Media Management from Regent University, and the Christian Broadcasting Network, Virginia Beach, VA.

As the former president of People To People Productions and New Life Films , R.W. was active in production and distribution in the Christian film industry. An ordained Southern Baptist minister, his first copyrighted publication was entitled A Case for Salvation. He then wrote numerous laymen Bible college courses including, Spiritual Warfare; Old Testament Survey; New Testament Survey; Romans; the Minor Prophets’; among others.

R. W. holds two certified California teaching credentials and taught special education for almost two decades at the middle school level, and is the recipient of two Digital Voices Awards® for the video productions, ‘An Emerson to Einstein Silent Movie’ and ‘Mummy Math’.

He is the creator and writer of his daughter’s globally experienced internet youth Bible course, A-Z Scripture Memory, (a-zscripturememory.com) and was the creator and host of the international radio program, ‘Bible School of the Air’, featuring audio cassette courses such as, ‘Experiencing God’s Peace, Love, and Joy,’ and ‘A Crumbling Tower.”

Finally, the above mentioned ‘life-experiences’ have culminated, not only in writing No Dark Clouds as a novel, but using those valuable teaching experiences by creating No Dark Clouds - The Thematic Unit Companion , for the religious, church, and home-school educational classroom.

Reviews

[R.W. Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've decided to rate my own novel - here is the reason -

My life changed forever after interacting with 7 beggar children while living in India for 2 1/2 years. The all had physical disabilities. They were the inspiration of No Dark Clouds.

I first wrote it as a movie script and it made the 'circuit' at many studios but no takers at the time. Then it became a church musical and now it is a Biblical historical fiction. The impact of the beggar children in India also led me to teach special education at the middle school level in California for almost 2 decades. I had already earned a M.A. degree from Regent University and the Christian Broadcasting Network but I went on to earn 2 California Special Education Teaching Credentials. I saw firsthand students having to deal with some major disabilities. But I also saw that each and every one of them had God-given gifts - that needed to be patiently nurtured.

Some of the themes of No Dark Clouds include: God made you unique; You have God-given gifts; true love can conquer darkness; God uses imperfect people to share His perfect Son; and joy is not the absence of problems but joy is the presence of the Lord.

All 7 beggars in No Dark Clouds are based on the lives of real kids. I sometimes wonder how their lives have turned out (now many years later). In the novel, the beggars experienced the pain of empty promises - yet it was the empty tomb that changed everything.

So, this is why I am reviewing my own book - because I know that its Message will not only entertain, but Jesus is still in the business of healing physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Maybe by reading No Dark Clouds (the novel as well as the embedded Biblical Study Guides) it may (in some way) touch the lives of: a college student experiencing 'chaos'; or a high school student living from one foster home to another; or an orphan blaming God for their situation; or a special needs person living from day-to-day; or someone so lonely and depressed that they do not want to see another day.

[Munita · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is unique biblical historical fiction book. I liked the inspiration behind it. The author was inspired by the beggar children and their physically deformities. He interacted with them when he was in India. They had a deep impact on him. The book talks about beggar children in all their different forms of physical deformities in Israel where they come in contact with Jesus and his miraculous healing powers that earned him the title "The Healer Man". But as we all might know in one way or the other what will happen next it's is arrest, trial, crucifixion, and resurrection. Because the Jewish religious leaders felt threatened by him. At that time, the Romans ruled over Israel. The book focuses mainly on the beggar children and their hardship with their physical deformities but also they are gifted in the other way with some talent. I liked Misha the beautiful Ethiopian slave who worked as a tutor for the royal Romans children. She was the mother figure for those beggar children. I was confused with the writing style in the beginning but later on it flowed well. The book is formed in the bible educational sections with bible verses. It was interesting for me to read a Christian book and learn their view on Prophet Isa (Jesus). The book talks about overcoming adversity, compassion and acceptance. Thank you R.W. Nelson for the opportunity to read your book very heart warming. And heart wrenching to learn about those children situation. Much respect.

[Tracey Madeley · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is a Christian retelling of Jesus’s life leading up to the crucifixion and resurrection from the point of view of a number of street children. What it lacks in technique it makes up for in heart.

Beggar Boy is the glue that holds the little group of children together. It is hard to believe today that children could be treated as slaves, but in biblical times, this was perfectly legal. Taskmaster points to the fact that he bought Rebekah legally at auction. How he came by Aditya, Scooter, Baa-Foo and the infant Figs is not as clear. All the children have some form of disability which elicit public sympathy and make begging easier and more lucrative for their master.

The dynamic of this story is driven by their changes of fortune. Beggar Boy manages to get Aditya and Scooter out from the clutches of Taskmaster, but this is only for a period of time. Beggar Boys fortunes change when he saves the life of Leonidas a Roman centurion. He gives him employment at the fort. Then he meets Mishea who is a tutor to Pilates children. It is she who teaches him the scriptures and talks about Jesus. When Baa-Foo and the child are healed Beggar Boy begins a quest to find Jesus hoping he will also be healed, but things don’t turn out as he expects. When he witnesses the crucifixion, he loses all hope. At the resurrection he is shocked to see Jesus is alive. He shares a meal with Jesus on the shore of Lake Galilee and he gives the boy a name. Finally, the book ends with forgiveness and reconciliation.

The characters in this book are full of warmth and heart, giving an alternative perspective on a familiar story. Beggar Boy is the independent street urchin who unites all the characters in the book. He is no one’s slave, he begs for his own needs. His attitude is one of justice and retribution, seeking to punish those who make fun of his scars. This is why the ending is so important and why there is hope for this boy. Darius and Leonidas are two Roman centurions, one believes the other doesn’t. Darius has faith that Jesus can heal Favian just by saying the word, Leonidas assumes he was not that sick. Aditya’s abduction is a little distressing and the fact that Darius and Leonidas do nothing to rescue her. Perhaps they feel as a singer she may have a better life than being on the streets.

Begging on the streets of Jerusalem is perfectly plausible. I like the fact that not everything goes smoothly for the children, there were setbacks to overcome. This moved the plot forward and made it more interesting. There is too much telling rather than showing in the book which can hamper the connection between the reader and the action. I would have also liked to see more cultural detail like The Red Tent by Anita Diamant

Readers of Christian literature will find this book charming due to the characters and the familiar story. The book is not meant to teach, despite the study guides which are quite good. Non-Christians may find the use of scripture too much, which is a shame, because it is a nice story. Anyone who likes optimistic, general fiction and doesn’t object to scripture will enjoy the book.

[Wayne Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is around A.D. 31, and in the city of Jerusalem a man known as Taskmaster runs a ring of child beggars whom he abuses for his own profit. They include fourteen year old Aditya, a dwarf who can sing beautifully; nine year old Scooter who is crippled in both legs; ten year old Rebecca who was born without a left arm; four year old Figs who is blind and mute; six year old Baa-Foo who is completely deaf; and a six month old baby known as Deformed Infant whose arms and legs are grossly twisted. In the same vicinity there is a young man, ten years old, who is called Beggar Boy, because even he does not know his name or who his parents are, but is not part of Taskmaster’s group. He has five permanent scars crisscrossing his face which were made with a knife by a former master from whom he then ran away; he is now on his own.

The big news in Jerusalem as the Passover draws near is that the famous healer Jesus is coming to town. The lives of the seven beggar children become intertwined with historical figures of the time, including Jesus, the Disciples, Barabbas, the Roman soldiers, Cleopas, the High Priest Caiaphas, the Governor Pontius Pilate, his wife Claudia, the Pharisees, and King Herod, among others. The fictional account follows the events of the Passion Week, with the trial, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus. What will happen to the youngsters? No Dark Clouds is Biblical historical fiction, which is my absolute, all time favorite kind of literature. And this book is good! The engrossing story captures the attention from the very beginning, draws the reader directly into what is happening, and makes one truly feel the plight of these poor young people as they experience the life-changing power of Christ.

The novel includes eight Biblical study guide lessons embedded within the story. These may also be obtained, along with other educational activities and worksheets, at the book’s website. Author R.W. Nelson was inspired to create the foundational themes of the plot by observing the actual disabilities and struggles of India’s beggar children. Born in Texas, he received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Texas A&M University and his Master of Arts degree in Communication Studies with a cognate in Media Management from Regent University and the Christian Broadcasting Network in Virginia Beach, VA. As the former president of two Christian film companies, R.W. was active in production and distribution in the Christian film industry. Also an ordained minister, he holds two certified California teaching credentials and taught special education for almost two decades at the middle school level. Again, let me say it—this book is good—really good! It may even leave a few tears rolling down the cheek.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. I got this book as an early review copy in exchange for a review.

I wasn’t expecting to finish this book nevermind like it. It’s a historical fiction during biblical times, retelling of the end of Jesus’ life and his resurrection. Inspired by 7 real life beggar children in India, the story is largely told from their point of view as they interact with real people from that time including Jesus. The story itself is sad a lot of the time as anyone who grew up in Christianity knows. It made me very sad to read it all and imagine it.
Not perfectly written and since it’s not a final copy, there are typos and a few mistakes in my book.
There is a prologue that I went back and read again at the end. It didn’t mean as much to me in the beginning. Reading it again brought everything back full circle.
It is a bit heartwarming but still sad and a crazy story. I enjoyed my time with this book and the way it’s wrapped up in the end. I flew through it. It was a bit suspenseful even though I knew ultimately how it would end. I wanted to know what it would happen to the kids.

[Cj Zawacki · Rating 5 out of 5]

No Dark Clouds, by R.W.N elson retells the story of Holy Week from the characters that he had ministered to from his time in India. R. W. Nelson brings those the beggar children there to life during the time of Christ.
Nelson has an outstanding educational resource incorporated into the novel by adding thoughtful insights help the reader to understand a deeper insight of the Biblical account of that period of what a follower of Christ would have encountered.
I love to read Jim Bishops' book , the Day Christ Died, during lent. I will keep R. W. Nelson's perspective of that time , also to deepen my spiritual journey.
The book is not only an excellent adult read, but the book will also have a faith connection for younger children.

[Avis Gill · Rating 5 out of 5]

“No Dark Clouds” brings raw emotions of what a personal encounter with Jesus might have been like if you were living in Biblical Israel as a youth or a teenager. Glimpse into the lives of a slave, a Roman soldier, a Pharisee, even Barabbas or King Herod during the Passion Week, trial and crucifixion. In this fictional novel you’ll follow along in Jerusalem on Resurrection Sunday the life changing effects of that day in the lives of Pilate, his wife Claudia, the Disciples, Cleopas, even the High Priest Caiaphas. The story brings about a perspective of the Greatest Story ever told and hopefully will motivate you in your own personal encounters and life changing events of the Risen Lord!
I highly recommend this book to those of you who are of faith or not. It’s an educational venture! 😉

[Austin Allred · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this book through a free giveaway for an honest review.

Interesting story of Jesus’ ministry, crucifixion, and resurrection told through the eyes and lives of several beggar children.
Interesting perspective on a tale as old as time, seeing how they all fit, and all their perspectives on the events.
You feel for each of the characters in their lives and problems.
Well written, characters are really well portrayed.
Takes the story and links it to bible verses, even has a bible study in the back that will delve into what scriptures go with the stories. If you are into the more studying bible aspect. Gives you plenty of opportunity to study further.

[Ruth Roszell · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a good historical read.

I liked the story. I liked how the author told about Jesus and other characters in this time period. The beggar children interacting with other other characters adds a good touch. It is well written and I didn't want to put it down. If you like historical fiction and books set in bible times,you would like this. Christians and non Christians would like this book.

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ultra Christian fictional retelling of biblical times around the crucifixion.

[Theresa Harvey · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's been a while since I read this book, but it's a great, different perspective on the death of Christ from the perspective of poor children in Jerusalem. A must read!