Book Overview
Through Fire to Faith is the first book of a trilogy that tells the story of Michael whose personal odyssey takes him from tortured soul to bold believer. In this novel Michael lives out the joys and conflicts of a person coming to an understanding of genuine faith. Michael’s astonishing heroics as he rescues a little girl from a burning building sets up a captivating narrative filled with doubt and inspiration.
In the second book of the trilogy, Through Horror to Hope, Michael suffers through personal trauma when he experiences evil face-to-face with a massacre at his church and must discover whether or not hope is real.
In the third book, Through Loss to Love, Michael confronts the question of the meaning of life and death as he experiences the loss of loved ones and the birth of his son. In the end, Michael must determine if life is really all about Faith, Hope and Love.
Other Works
THROUGH HORROR TO HOPE
The odyssey of Michael, which began with his personal struggles about the truth of religious faith in Through Fire to Faith, continues in Through Horror to Hope. He is thrust into a crisis of faith which can only be resolved if he can discover the meaning of good and evil. Furthermore, he needs to become convinced that this world and his life are meant for good. The book begins with Michael’s sincere conviction that he has been touched by God and called to genuine faith.
Through Loss to Love
Michael, who grappled with the truth of religious faith in the first novel of this trilogy, Through Fire to Faith, and with the personal turmoil brought about by the horrific massacre at his church in Through Horror to Hope, now finds himself confronted with the very meaning of life and death. In Through Loss to Love Michael must sort out and resolve the conflicting questions that spring from the suicide attempt of a major character, an unsettling visit from his best friend Tom, the birth of his son, the apparent conversion of his assailant Jonah and the distressing deaths of two other characters who are very close to his life story.
Getting Older
Is getting older to be feared or embraced? The story of Don, a 73-year-old retired widower who is initially fearful of getting older, is for anyone thinking about the meaning of their life, especially seniors. It is a story about discovering the opportunities and joys of getting older.
MURDER in the TIME of COVID
Murder in the Time of COVID is a narrative set in contemporary times with the background of a worldwide disease and the current controversy regarding the proper place of police officers in the community. This novel is much more than a detective story as it engages the reader in the question of whether humans are fatally flawed in character or really capable of attaining genuine nobility.
Chemical Addiction & Family Members
We can be very frustrated with an addict’s behavior. We think, “Can’t he see what’s happening to his health?” “Can’t she see what is happening to our relationship?” “Can’t he see what is happening to our finances?” When we understand what is going on, everything begins to make sense. And with that understanding comes the direction for what to do.
This book explains chemical addiction and its traumatic effects on family members.
A Month of Wonders
This is a book about wonder. That is, wonder in the sense of being engaged with, taken up with and fascinated by an encounter with a seemingly never-ending source of enlightenment. But it is also about wonders in the sense of the things about which there is wonder. It is by coming upon and getting to know these things that wondrous insights happen, truths are born, and there emerges a sense of finding a way through life that is tinged with hope.
Passion, Longing and God
Does God exist? This question haunts us all, and the answer is crucial to whether we can find meaning and fulfillment in our lives. Resolving this issue should be a priority. But often it is not, because its thoughtful consideration is left to “experts” or is settled by using stock pieties and slogans or is dismissed as irrelevant or inconsequential in today’s pragmatic, technology-dominated culture. Deny it, defy it or decry it, but the question of God’s existence confronts every one of us as an issue crucial to discerning our own identity and value. We need a tool for considering the question of the existence of God in the manner we experience it: as a longing in the passion of our existence. Passion, Longing, and God is that tool.
SIX BIBLE STORIES THAT NEVER HAPPENED…but maybe could have
This book takes six minor characters of the New Testament–the rich young man, the widow and her mite, the centurion Cornelius, one of the ten healed lepers, the good thief, and Peter’s mother-in-law–and presents fictional stories woven into the actual Biblical narrative. Jacob’s story concerns choosing between God and money. Sarah’s story is about believing in Jesus’ power to heal. Cornelius’ story regards coming to faith even in the face of a questionable past. Miriam’s story chronicles her physical and moral restoration leading to a deep personal commitment to Christ. The Dismas story is about forgiveness and inner beauty in the face of disfigurement and confusion. And the Hannah story dramatizes the overcoming of doubt and resentment followed by the discovery of peace and genuine faith.
THREE MORE BIBLE STORIES THAT NEVER HAPPENED…but maybe could have
This book is a sequel to my previous book, SIX BIBLE STORIES THAT NEVER HAPPENED…but maybe could have. It takes additional minor characters of the New Testament—a pagan woman, two blind men, the father of the apostles Matthew and James, and others–and presents fictional stories about them woven into the actual Biblical narrative. Justa, a pagan woman, is presented with a back story of true faith, genuine love, debilitating tragedy and miraculous healing. She is introduced as a house slave who longs to be respected and loved. Her story follows her as she learns resilience from Mary and Joseph, how to love and be loved from her beloved husband Danel, and her true worth from Jesus. Micah and Asher’s story begins with them as thieves partnering with Eli, an unrepentant ne’er-do-well. Then, through the concern of the apostle Nathaniel, they are lifted up from blindness to sight, both physically and spiritually. The story of Alphaeus is about a man who is obstinate regarding his Jewish beliefs and traditions, even if his stubbornness means being estranged from his sons, Matthew and James, and creating heartache for his wife, Rebecca. Alphaeus’ adamant stand leads him to join Saul in persecuting the first Christians until he and Saul are ironically called to be ambassadors for Christ.
These stories engage and inspire, for they not only speak to questions of faith in the context of the start of Christianity, but they also touch on challenges regarding faith and the meaning of life facing contemporary believers and unbelievers alike.
AND THREE MORE BIBLE STORIES THAT NEVER HAPPENED…but maybe could have
This book is a second sequel to my previous book, SIX BIBLE STORIES THAT NEVER HAPPENED…but maybe could have to complete the trilogy of BIBLE STORIES. It takes additional underdeveloped characters of the New Testament and presents imagined stories about them woven into the Biblical narrative. “Malchus and Photine” is a coming-to-faith story. Malchus’ loses his ear to Simon Peter’s sword and Photine meets Jesus at Jacob’s well. These are transformational moments leading to struggle and salvation. “Didymus” is the story of the Apostle Thomas and his identical twin brother,Tamir, who learn the meaning of sacrificial love through doubt and conflict. “Joanna” is a story about Jewish aristocrats who become disgusted with their rich and powerful lives and come to know that Jesus is “the way and the truth and the life.”