“Valerio … walked

toward the willows

and brush at the

camp’s edge and

the Jordan River

flowed before him.

Its dark, green water

passed calmly …”

"Their story is our story."   ( Horace )

Have you ever wondered what First Century Jews or Romans thought when John the Immerser proclaimed the coming of God's kingdom? How Jesus' interpretation of the Torah was perceived by his fellow Jews and later by foreigners? What was it about John and Jesus' message that threatened those in power? What geography, people, rituals, historical and military events, foods, cultural conflicts, social norms, and economic conditions influenced their message and lives?

I have been wondering such things since I was a child. Such wonderings are at the core of my love of history and my faith, and led to my writing a story set in First Century Judea and Rome. Through the characters, I explored the New Testament message from within it and, in the process of writing and researching this story, in living it with my characters, my understanding of the New Testament was changed, enriched, deepened, and I better understand how the issues addressed within it still impact us today.

Wilderness Refuge: A Prophet's Kingdom is the first story in my New Testament exploration. In it, I focus on bringing the First Century world alive, so readers can experience it, be a part of it, through my characters. Then, when John the Immerser enters the characters' lives, readers encounter him as First Century people did - not knowing what else is to come.

For a glimpse into Wilderness Refuge's story, please click here. It is available in hard, soft, and electronic formats, and includes bibliographic references, a glossary of First Century terms, a time line, and genealogy charts, so readers can pursue their own historical explorations if they so desire.

“Hear the shout – “Make a way for Adonai through the wastelands.
Make a straight path for him through the deserts!”
The valleys will be raised up, the mountains leveled,
And the rough ground smoothed out like the plains.
There will Adonai’s glory be manifested before all,
Together all nations of people will see it,
For from his own mouth Adonai has declared it will be so.”(paraphrase of Isaiah 40:3-5, excerpt from Wilderness Refuge)

Bread and Stone: A New Kingdom, the second story in my New Testament exploration, has been released, also in hard, soft, and electronic formats. In it, my characters encounter Jesus and struggle with the theological, cultural, and political issues his life and message generate. Click here to find out more about it.

Other Stories

If readers enjoy these stories, learn from them, and want to know what happens to the characters, perhaps the other three stories I have that continue my exploration of early church history and conflicts will also, one day, be available.

Hard Cover - 6.14 x 9.21
292 pages - $27.50

ISBN: 978-1-60693-132-5
ISBN / SKU: 1-60693-132-6

Soft Cover Trade Book - 6x9
292 Pages - $16.95

ISBN: 978-1-60693-564-4
ISBN / SKU: 1-60693-564-X

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buy the book on Kindle

Hard Cover - 6x9 - 304 pages - $26.50

Soft Cover - 6x9 - 304 pages - $16.50

ISBN: 978-1-61204-028-8
ISBN / SKU: 1-61204-028-4

 

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book on Kindle