Novels

This collection of clergy tales tells the stories of clergy in both their noble light and their shadows. At its most boring, there is something special about the ministry, and frequently, it is a full-time, hair-raising adventure that is anything but boring. This book seeks to provide parabolic stories of the complexity of ministry. It is an attempt to build respect for clergy, one story at a time.

The necessary mundane nature of many of the demands of ministry can also blur the special nature of this body, the Body of Christ, chosen to incarnate God’s expression of truth. There is a particular danger of moving from an adrenaline-pumping event in one moment to a mind-numbing meeting that solves nothing the next moment. Mix that with listening to how someone has taken offense at something you did, or the heart-breaking experience of watching a friend’s marriage disintegrate, or the pain of strangers who have come to you in desperate need for help, and you have a sense of the daily encounters in the ministry.

A major cause of stress for a pastor is the disconnect between the ideals of faith shaped by his or her beliefs and the pressures and demands of serving a church. A pastor is called by God and hired by a congregation. These two forces can sometimes be in tension. You are invited to read these tales and increase your awareness of the labyrinth that clergy walk in response to God’s call.

This collection of clergy tales tells the stories of clergy in both their noble light and their shadows. At its most boring, there is something special about the ministry, and frequently, it is a full-time, hair-raising adventure that is anything but boring. This book seeks to provide parabolic stories of the complexity of ministry. It is an attempt to build respect for clergy, one story at a time.

The necessary mundane nature of many of the demands of ministry can also blur the special nature of this body, the Body of Christ, chosen to incarnate God’s expression of truth. There is a particular danger of moving from an adrenaline-pumping event in one moment to a mind-numbing meeting that solves nothing the next moment. Mix that with listening to how someone has taken offense at something you did, or the heart-breaking experience of watching a friend’s marriage disintegrate, or the pain of strangers who have come to you in desperate need for help, and you have a sense of the daily encounters in the ministry.

A Star & a Tear is a mystery thriller wrestling with a spiritual edge. Frank Sessions is locked in a season of grief caused by the violent death of his wife during a convenience store robbery. He emerges out of his grief when a young reporter asks for his assistance in writing a story about a rape in the city, and Frank realizes he has a strange connection with the anonymous rapist. It soon becomes clear that the city is confronting a serial rapist with a religious fixation.

Racing against time, Frank Sessions seeks to assist the police to track down a serial rapist recognizing that there are strong indications that the rapist will soon escalate to murdering his victims. If he is to succeed, he needs to confront an embarrassing chapter in his own past and recognize the strange symbiotic relationship between sexuality and spirituality present in religion.

While A Star and a Tear is a thrilling mystery with plenty of challenging twists and turns, it also provides the foundation for a discussion on both the creative and destructive power of sexuality in life.

Whether it be several clergy, lay people who want to explore this significant issue in the church, or someone who is interested in how to live a healthy life, this book is both an enjoyable and valuable foundation for exploring the relationship between sexuality and spirituality in our society. The mystery will keep you reading, while the group discussion may deepen friendships and challenge your thinking.

A Star & a Tear is a mystery thriller wrestling with a spiritual edge. Frank Sessions is locked in a season of grief caused by the violent death of his wife during a convenience store robbery. He emerges out of his grief when a young reporter asks for his assistance in writing a story about a rape in the city, and Frank realizes he has a strange connection with the anonymous rapist. It soon becomes clear that the city is confronting a serial rapist with a religious fixation.

Racing against time, Frank Sessions seeks to assist the police to track down a serial rapist recognizing that there are strong indications that the rapist will soon escalate to murdering his victims. If he is to succeed, he needs to confront an embarrassing chapter in his own past and recognize the strange symbiotic relationship between sexuality and spirituality present in religion.

This novel addresses faith’s response to violence in society. Frank Sessions, pastor of John Knox Church in Lincoln, North Carolina, is halfway through his sermon when he sees a teenager rise from his pew a third of the way back in the sanctuary. Before Frank can process what is happening, the youth calls out his name, shouts that it is all a lie, and begins shooting people around him. Within two weeks, a teenage girl shoots up another church. Both willingly die in the process. Later, it happens in Wisconsin, then Texas, and beyond.

Soon, the whole nation lives in fear that a church near them will be next. It is always a teenager with some version of the same accusation. Frank, his psychologist son, Jacob, and police officer daughter, Rachel, join with Amanda Singletary of the Justice Department to advise the president on this new form of terrorist threat to the country.

Since the attacks seem random, and there are too many churches in the country to guard them effectively, Frank’s team seeks a strategy to countermand the despair in the minds of an invisible river of teens attracted to violence as their answer to the world that has disappointed them. This is a gripping story that pits faith and realistic hope against the desperate despair in a nation that has lost its confidence in institutions and people in power.

This novel addresses faith’s response to violence in society. Frank Sessions, pastor of John Knox Church in Lincoln, North Carolina, is halfway through his sermon when he sees a teenager rise from his pew a third of the way back in the sanctuary. Before Frank can process what is happening, the youth calls out his name, shouts that it is all a lie, and begins shooting people around him. Within two weeks, a teenage girl shoots up another church. Both willingly die in the process. Later, it happens in Wisconsin, then Texas, and beyond.

Soon, the whole nation lives in fear that a church near them will be next. It is always a teenager with some version of the same accusation. Frank, his psychologist son, Jacob, and police officer daughter, Rachel, join with Amanda Singletary of the Justice Department to advise the president on this new form of terrorist threat to the country.

Since the attacks seem random, and there are too many churches in the country to guard them effectively, Frank’s team seeks a strategy to countermand the despair in the minds of an invisible river of teens attracted to violence as their answer to the world that has disappointed them. This is a gripping story that pits faith and realistic hope against the desperate despair in a nation that has lost its confidence in institutions and people in power.

A series of sniper incidents in metropolitan DC, rumored to be funded by American money from Arab oil profits, has paralyzed the city. Bret Albert MacDonald, a Prince of Peace church pastor, wrestles with how you offer a believable message of peace to anxious people in a city paralyzed by fear. Does religion offer any relevant answers to a world consumed by such turbulence?

A series of sniper incidents in metropolitan DC, rumored to be funded by American money from Arab oil profits, has paralyzed the city. Bret Albert MacDonald, a Prince of Peace church pastor, wrestles with how you offer a believable message of peace to anxious people in a city paralyzed by fear. Does religion offer any relevant answers to a world consumed by such turbulence?

Hospitality for Alien Strangers opens with a once-familiar midsized city now trapped beneath an impenetrable bubble, its horizon pierced by the silhouettes of alien spacecraft. These otherworldly beings present an ultimatum: prove humanity’s worth in a mere five years. Entrusted to a pastor and the pure hearts of children, this decree thrusts the city into a whirlwind of soul-searching and revelation. What would you do to highlight the very core of your humanity? How would you bridge the chasm between yourself and those unlike you?

While this tale doesn’t boast the celestial artistry of biblical parables, it ignites profound dialogues about the sanctity of life and the priceless value embedded in every soul. Imagine a world where every glance reflects recognition of another’s worth, where compassion and empathy aren’t just virtues but a way of life. Let this story be your beacon, drawing you out from today’s tumult and lighting the path to a more united, radiant tomorrow. This story of hope is more than just words, it’s a journey.

Hospitality for Alien Strangers opens with a once-familiar midsized city now trapped beneath an impenetrable bubble, its horizon pierced by the silhouettes of alien spacecraft. These otherworldly beings present an ultimatum: prove humanity’s worth in a mere five years. Entrusted to a pastor and the pure hearts of children, this decree thrusts the city into a whirlwind of soul-searching and revelation. What would you do to highlight the very core of your humanity? How would you bridge the chasm between yourself and those unlike you?

To address the shameful history of racism in the church, Christians must move past the twin barriers of denial and crippling guilt. This journey calls for a redemptive faith that courageously faces our past, enabling us to engage with our history honestly and openly.

Shock and Awe adapts the lessons of the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission. It allows the church and Black and White people to explore the power of confession and forgiveness to reconnect the racially divided community of faith. It inspires healing and hope in our fractured society.

This book provides specific steps by which the Christian community can reflect the God who was in Christ and reconcile the world to God’s self. It calls the church to trust God to offer a way to overcome racism and celebrate the diverse world that God loves.

While this tale doesn’t boast the celestial artistry of biblical parables, it ignites profound dialogues about the sanctity of life and the priceless value embedded in every soul. Imagine a world where every glance reflects recognition of another’s worth, where compassion and empathy aren’t just virtues but a way of life. Let this story be your beacon, drawing you out from today’s tumult and lighting the path to a more united, radiant tomorrow. This story of hope is more than just words, it’s a journey.

Hospitality for Alien Strangers opens with a once-familiar midsized city now trapped beneath an impenetrable bubble, its horizon pierced by the silhouettes of alien spacecraft. These otherworldly beings present an ultimatum: prove humanity’s worth in a mere five years. Entrusted to a pastor and the pure hearts of children, this decree thrusts the city into a whirlwind of soul-searching and revelation. What would you do to highlight the very core of your humanity? How would you bridge the chasm between yourself and those unlike you?