Guest Blogger: Crystal Mary Lindsey, Spiritual Warfare and her new novel, Spirit Warrior

Today, I welcome author Crystal Mary Lindsey, author of Christian fiction and non-fiction. I first came across Crystal when I saw her latest novel, Spirit Warrior: Fighting the Realms of Darkness, (to be released on 5th December) advertised on Facebook. I was impressed with the description and the genre of spiritual warfare which I love to read.

I then listened to her being interviewed by Helen Brown on Cooloola Christian Radio and was impressed with her passion for Christian fiction, love of writing and dedication to following the bible as a way of life and practising spiritual warfare as being one of its disciplines. She also talks about this new novel. I wanted to hear more from her about this novel and her attitude towards spiritual warfare, so I offered her this guest post. 

So sit back and let Crystal talk about spiritual warfare and her new novel, Spirit Warrior. 

Thank you for requesting this interview Peter, it is much appreciated.

I was born in New South Wales, Australia, the second youngest of five children. 

With a surname of White and arriving three days before Christmas, my mother felt Crystal Mary was an appropriate name. It is surprising how many people call me Mary, supposing I tacked the Crystal on the front myself, LOL! 

I was a dreamy child who isolated out in the paddocks of our farm, laying in the grass looking at the clouds and crying to myself. I desired to be in the sky, not on earth. There was no understanding of why I felt like this, except at night I often dreamt about flying with ease through space. I do believe that we are spirits in heaven prior to our birth and perhaps I desired to be back there. (Jeremiah 1:5) “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you.”


I have written about many of my spiritual experiences in the story “Abuse Beaten: From Victim to Victor” Yes I came through about thirty years of domestic violence. During those years when home alone at night and with my children in bed asleep, I studied the Bible. Reading was escapism, and my first inspirational Christian romance by Janette Oke led me to a world of kindness and happiness which I lacked in my own. 

There was never any thought of my becoming a writer. However, my life has always been an active one so when I was forced to retire from nursing at sixty-three as the result of accident boredom struck. Having ever lived in my many dreams my son introduced me to blogging, and from there I wrote my first book.

Spirit Warrior is my tenth book, and eighth inspirational, Christian romance. It comes from my own experiences. I have seen and smelt demons. I have also seen an occasional flash of angels, heard them talking and smelt the beautiful perfume that surrounds them.

Since becoming a Christian author, I have come under spiritual attack, and it’s been so constant that many of my friends find it unbelievable. Jesus himself knew that the only way to defeat the devil was by the Word of God. “It is written, man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the Father.” Matthew 4:4

I use many scriptures all day and before I retire at night, to defeat the evil one. 

2 Corinthians 10:4 “For the weapons of our (my) warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds." 

Ephesians 6:12 “For we (I) do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” 

Lastly, I finish with, 1John 4:4 “Greater is he who is in me (Jesus) than he who is in the world.” I often say the Lord’s Prayer and the 23rd Psalm as well as John 3:16.

So due to my own experiences, I am hoping that through my new book people will come to have a better understanding that satan in behind havoc and chaos. It is not my intention to frighten anyone, and that’s why I also wanted to share the beauty and safety of knowing Jesus. God loves us by sending his angels to fight the powers of darkness in the spiritual realm. We just don’t know how often be are protected from harm.

Lastly, God has not given us a SPIRIT of FEAR! He only gives us GOOD SPIRITS with the HOLY SPIRIT being the greatest of all: 

2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

AND.. “If God is for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8:31.

I don’t believe that I am the finest writer, but I do know that my stories are God inspired. 

Example of Books on this subject:

Read about a Pastors experience with angels and demons: Angels on Assignment by Roland Buck  

And a woman who angels often helped: The Shaping of an Apostle by June Newman Davis

We are all given gifts from God, and they are not to be wasted but used for his glory. Read 1 Corinthians 12.

To further pique your interest in this novel, here is the description of Spirit Warrior: 

Very few can see into the spiritual realm of good and evil. 

Serenity Charles is a young woman given that special gift of spiritual vision. With it, she commits to fight off the powers of wickedness.

Her spiritual eyes are open to see evil deceit, and she observes demons that live within humans causing destructive behavior.

Wearing a sacred armor, Serenity (Rena), goes into battle to protect those who the demons would coldly harm or annihilate. With her shield she is protected from their flaming darts while using her sword of the Word, she cuts them asunder sending them screaming away in panic. 

Three of Gods Waring Angels, Avigdor, Ariel, and Akim, are her guardians and collaborators, supporting her to accomplish a victory. 

Aiden Baker, a mining boss, meets and is apparently taken by Rena’s beauty. He fights his attraction for her by either ignoring or voicing his reluctance to pursue a promising relationship. Will this angry man remain stubborn or will he chase Rena when she leaves town to return to her birthplace? 

This supernatural story takes place in an Australian Outback town during the wild roaring twenties. A time marked by happiness, that often lacked respect and morals. Iniquity prospered primarily in the goldfields where the hunger to get rich quickly – thrived over honesty

Crystal has included some sample chapters of Spirit Warrior to whet your appetite: 

Chapter 1

1922

On a dreary September night, dark and stormy, illuminating flashes of lightning through gaps in her heavy bedroom curtains, Rena lay huddled in her bed. Would it be safe to escape from this house tonight? She’d planned it carefully for days, all but the ferocious weather.

Her packed bag sat in the trunk of her grandmother’s automobile, hidden away in the shed out back of the house. Tears came to Rena’s eyes remembering the love they’d shared on every occasion, and now there was to be no more of those happy times. Her grandmother in an illustration of words would have said she had gone to glory to reunite with the love of her life, her Evan.

Even though only sixteen at the time of her granddad death, Grandma Annie insisted Rena learn to drive their motorcar.

“You just never know Rena. In an emergency it’s wise to know as much as you can,” Grandma’s blue eyes twinkled as she spoke those words and of course she always knew best.

Rena smiled remembering how fast she’d driven over the furrowed ruts on Grandma’s land when first taking control of the wheel. They both laughed each time they bounced up and down on those springy seats. She learned to operate that car and to navigate it well, under Grandma’s, sometimes hilarious instructions.

Since Grandma Annie’s death last week and the funeral today, Rena kept the fact that she was able to drive a secret from her mother and stepfather. Not many people owned a motorcar, and even less understood how to operate one. Not even her stepfather Colin knew how, so they arrived back home by Pioneer touring bus.

“Be as wise as a serpent and as harmless as a dove in everything you do and say,” Grandma always advised her. “And I mean that especially when dealing with your mother,” she emphasized.

Rena wasn’t quite sure why she hadn’t told her mother about the automobile or that she could drive. Now she understood the wisdom of her grandmother’s words. They were spoken to protect her against being taken advantage of by the self-seeking Shirley.

The last time Rena’s mother Shirley visited, Rena was very young, likely around seven years old. Shirley hadn’t remained long, only coming to whine for money. After receiving five pounds, she gave her mother a nasty look and flounced from the house. There were no words of goodbye or a kiss of endearment. No thank you for the money, nothing except her retreating figure.

Rena remembered staring at her in bewildered hurt. She recalled her grandmother looking at her with sad eyes, then opening her arms wide as she welcomed the little girl to her embraced.

“It’s a good thing granddad wasn’t at home today; he’d have taken his belt to her. He always tells me I spoilt her; I can now see how right he is.”

Three years later when grandfather fell off the roof and died, Shirley hadn’t come to the funeral. A telegram arrived, with the wording brief and to the point. ‘We never got along in life so why should I waste my time and money on his death!’

Grandma stared at that piece of paper for ages before tearing it up and throwing it into the fire. “Come on little lady,” she reached for Rena’s hand, “we have a funeral to go to, and we want Granddad to have a wonderful send off don’t we.”

A circuit preacher spoke at the graveside, and the many who travelled miles to show respect sang hymns before walking over to the little community hall and the food prepared by the town ladies. Everyone loved Grandma Annie for her caring nature and helpful spirit. She was the town healer with her herbs and ointments that treated everything, from a headache to food poisoning. Her granddaughter felt extremely proud to be her student learning those talents.

Grandma never talked about having a faith - that was something you kept to yourself she felt. A wonderful picture of Jesus on the sitting room wall said it all with the words beneath. ‘Come unto me all who are laden and heavy burdened and I will give you rest.’

Another beautiful picture of Jesus with little children gathered around him hung on Rena’s bedroom wall as a reminder that she was never alone. The inscription on that one read. ‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.’ These were strange words to Rena. However she felt it disrespectful to ask their meaning, so never did.

• • • •

With the storm raging overhead it was hard to hear if the two, her mother Shirley and stepdad Colin were now in bed? Their time since the burial and reading of the Will that day was spent drinking themselves into a stupor. Music played on the radiogram with drunken laughter aplenty as if it was party time. There was no displaying of remorse for the deceased family member.

There were plenty of mean remarks directed at Rena from her mother upon learning her daughter inherited all of her grandmother’s possessions. What did Shirley expect? She’d deserted Rena and left her for her parents to rear soon after the birth. Her grandmother named the little one, Serenity Grace Charles. Serenity is an unusual name but one her grandmother read in a nice story.

Granddad thought it was too fancy to get his tongue around and shortened it to Rena, which stuck. There was no one else at the country school with her name, so to her, it was special.

No! Her mother Shirley was a person who only cared about herself. She didn’t even show up when her parents learned of her brother, David, killed in the war at Gallipoli in Turkey. Her parents were left to mourn his death alone. Rena’s memory floated back to that time. Her grandfather almost suffered a heart attack from the shock, and her grandmother cried so much and then barely spoke for months.

What a lot of memories lived stored in Rena’s head, some beautiful and others horrible, yet she supposed now at nineteen years of age that it was just life. It was always best to leave the bad where they belonged, in the past.

Rena was brought back to the present time and out of her reminiscing when the light shining under her bedroom door went out. She held her breath hoping there’d be no repeat of last night when HE, wandered into her room. Thankfully, Rex, her large German shepherd began sleeping on the floor nearby. He was likely fearful she’d disappear as grandma did. Being a good guard dog, he growled making Colin retreat, swearing under his breath.

Animals sensed evil people and Rex didn’t like either of the two new noisy visitors who invaded his boundary.

Now with the light turned off Rena watched her door pretending to be asleep as the knob silently turned and the door slowly opened. She knew Colin couldn’t see her eyes peeping through slightly open lids, yet she saw his shadowy body sneaking on tiptoes into her room.

Where was Rex? At the thought of his name the dog growled and pounced throwing Colin off balance and onto his back on the floor.

Rena sat up in bed. “What are you doing in here Colin?” she spoke aloud, pretending to have jumped awake with the noise.

“Nothing,” he mumbled, “got mixed up with the rooms.” He was rubbing his arm where Rex grabbed him. “Lucky that mutt didn’t do bad damage or I’d bury him tomorrow.”Slurred words of warning spoken as he turned and retreated out of her room.

Rena got his message loud and clear. It wasn’t safe for either Rex of her in this house any longer. Since she wasn’t twenty-one, she couldn’t evict them. But she could disappear, and so could her pet. How long to wait? She guessed two hours should do it and by then both of these unwanted visitors would be snoring loudly.

All of her life Rena had seen into the spirit world. It wasn’t something that happened at will; it just happened at unknown moments. It never frightened her as Grandma once explained that it was a gift that some received from God. She named it the discernment of spirits, saying that Rena was special to receive it.

“Never waste such a gift Rena, and don’t try to turn it into something for your advantage. When you are older, we will talk more on this,” yet their talk never eventuated because Grandma left before it could.

Chapter 2

Angelic Guides

Rena pondered now on her unworldly sight of Colin’s presence entering her room. His thick body shone with a furious red light in the dark; his face betrayed a repugnant and vindictive self. She had sensed him to be an evil man, and since shown his true spirit, it proved her right. He was not someone she wished to be in association.

Much later with the drumming down of heavy rain, Rena crept out of bed. She was fully dressed beneath the covers, and now her pillows got stuffed under them, resembling a figure in steadfast asleep.

Those two special pictures of Jesus were going with her, and so was her bodyguard Rex. Wearing boots, a raincoat, and her umbrella she was ready to leave, and let herself silently out of the back door.

Thankful now for the undercover sound of the rain, she opened the old shed door to expose the automobile. Settling herself and Rex and all else inside she drove out, going back to close and bolt the door after her. By the time daylight came, she would be long gone, and the rain would have washed away any evidence of how.

Grandma left her well provided for, as a healer with herbs and saving carefully over the years; she showed Rena the hiding place of her money - should it be needed.

“I just feel I need to do this for you my sweet girl,” Grandma said and led the way to the rear of the automobile shed. An old tub Granddad once used to grow his tobacco was the hiding place. Reaching between it and the shed she pulled out a tin, rusted and very old.

“Your grandfather and I have kept this here for years; it’s our emergency money. We have never taken much from it, and with my herb business doing so well, there is a nice nest egg if ever it’s needed for a rainy day.”

As though it was yesterday, Rena could see in her mind Grandma’s firm tanned hand opening the tin and lifting out a pile of notes. Rena couldn’t believe her eyes; surely there were hundreds of pounds all in five, ten, and twenty-pound notes.

“Why are you showing me this Grandma? Why do I need to know?”

Grandma smiled knowingly and considered before answering. “Life can be strange Rena, and I want you to know that if need be, this is yours.” Closing the tin and returning it to its hiding place, her grandmother had hugged her close standing silently and contemplating without a word, before taking hold of Rena’s hand and walking back to the house.

“Now… let’s go and have a nice cup of tea and some of that rhubarb pie.

Rena almost felt her grandma’s presence as she collected that box before heading off in the rain that night. Knowing it unsafe to keep money in one place she’d carefully separated the bundle into three before leaving. Some placed under clothes in her case, some in a secret pocket inside her corset and the other inside a broken part of the seat where Rex sat. Unlike her grandparents, Rena believed in the safety of banks and knew most of this was for a deposit when she arrived at her destination.

Her mind lingered on all that she had heard and read about the bustling outback gold town of Kalgoorlie, it was a long way off, but where she felt led to be.

“What do you think Rex?” she spoke out loud now, “will we make it?”

The rain never let up for a moment. Trying to see and keep on the road soon became hazardous. The wheels slid all over as solid dirt disappeared into muddy sludge.

Miles from the tarred highway Rena finally gave in to her tears. Would the motorcar get bogged and stranded on this lonely road? No one with sense ever wandered off in weather like this, and here she was in the dark with no way of driving safely.

“Help me, please help me,” she cried out. To whom she had no real idea. Perhaps Jesus from those pictures, and the same one who loved her in Sunday school. Would he hear? With tears running down her face she drove at a crawl feeling alone and fearful.

A flash of what she thought was lightning lit up her vehicle and the road in front. With quick reflexes, her foot automatically pressed the brake.

Illuminated by that light and staring at her through the windscreen stood an enormous angel. Rena felt no fear of him only stunned surprise.

To no longer be alone on this deserted road and with this huge angel in front of her vehicle, she felt safer. She noticed two other angels standing on either side of her motor. “Thank you, Jesus,” she whispered.

Rena’s heart calmed down its torment as the feeling of protection penetrated. She calmly understood to continue driving. The miles passed with the front angel light up the road well ahead with his guidance. Either side of the vehicle the two angels could be seen holding her motor in position on the mud-covered surface.

With a heartfelt sigh of relief - the solid bitumen road came into view. Rena smiled knowing she could safely continue on her way. With this knowledge, it was no surprise to see her angels disappear gradually from view. She felt they still accompanied her, but as invisible spirits, she need no longer physically see.

• • • •

With relief after four days on the road and sleeps in strange hotels, Rena drove into the town of Kalgoorlie.

What a surprise to see flocks of people in this developed town. It was more fantastic than what she’d understood.

Where she came from everyone wore work clothes yet here, many of the women dressed in the latest fashion, with beautiful hats and gowns. The men accompanying them wore suits. It was a strange mixture of working-class men carrying heavy loads and others jostling horse-drawn wagons while the rich paraded in their finery.

Some of the latest fancy automobiles lined the street along with the occasional horse or buggy. Some people turned to look at her drive by, but mostly they kept busy with their concerns. Mothers pushed prams along the path in front of shops; women strolled with umbrellas held up against the hot sun.

Rena felt tired hungry and dirty. She wanted to eat and get a hot bath and Rex also needed to eat. Parking outside the Grand Hotel and leaving the motors windows down for Rex, she walked along the footpath and into the hotel reception. Many people crowded the entry vainly trying to get service. A man with a bushy moustache loudly announced there were no more vacancies for the night. Voices rose in annoyance. Many had waited for ages before hearing the bad news. Rena was unprepared to learn that she too, would be bed-less.

“What will I do now?”

One little lady standing to the side watching everyone approached Rena and spoke in a low voice. “I have a room to rent at my home if you are looking for accommodation. I only like to take in single decent ladies. You are by yourself aren’t you Miss?”

“Yes I am, oh but I do have a dog, would he be welcome also.”

This lady thought for a moment. “I don’t have my little dog any longer, but if you take care of him, I suppose it will be fine. The names Baker, Mrs Eunice Baker, I’m a widow, and that’s why I only want a single lady sharing with me.”

Rena looked into kind eyes taking in Mrs Baker’s appearance. She wore a white blouse to the neck with a cameo broach nestled in a little white frilly lace. Her navy skirt was clean but well worn; a little hat perched on her head of white hair was also navy with a small navy bird sitting on top. Rena almost laughed as it looked quite comical.

The lady stood patiently waiting for an answer, So Rena quickly made up her mind; she felt she could look for something else tomorrow if it weren't suitable.

“Thank you Mrs Baker; I will accept your offer then, will there be just the two of us plus Rex?”

“Rex?” the lady stiffened.

“Rex is my dog,” Rena explained, “and I am Rena Grace Charles, very hungry and tired after a long journey. She confessed, “I’m simply dying for a hot cup of tea. Is there somewhere to get that around here?” She added.

“Of course my dear, there’s a little tea shop just a few doors up, lets both go I could do with some refreshments myself.”

Seated waiting for their tea and cake Mrs Baker filled Rena in on the cost of her lodgings with meals. “I may not always prepare a meal, but when I’m not at home you can cook for yourself, there will be plenty of food to choose from as my cupboards are never bare.”

There was plenty to talk about, Mrs Baker filling her in on the town news. Finished the refreshments, Rena gathered a piece of cake to give Rex then followed her new landlady outside.

“This is my buggy Rena, and where is your motor?” She looked around wondering.

“It’s that green one a few down,” Rena nodded her head in the direction. “I can follow slowly behind you if that’s okay?”

Without an answer, only a nod Mrs Baker walked quickly off, so Rena assumed it was. 

If you would like to pre-order Spirit Warrior, you may do so at this link from Amazon. It is to be released on December 5th, 2017:

Spirit Warrior: Fighting the Realms of Darkness

You can view more of Crystal's books at her Amazon author page

See can be found on Facebook,  Twitter

Thank you, Crystal, for describing more of your new novel and knowledge of spiritual warfare. I am looking forward to reading Spirit Warrior. May God use your novel to reinforce that we are living in a spiritual war and that we have the victory over this through Christ's victory on the Cross and can use the spiritual armour He has given us.  

Guest Blogger: Dennis Bailey and His Debut Novel: Army of God

Today, my guest is novelist, Dennis Bailey. I first came across Dennis when I saw his debut novel, Army of God on Facebook. As soon as I saw the cover depicting a scene relating to Noah's Ark, I knew I had to investigate this novel further. I contacted Dennis for more information and I liked what I read. From that I offered him this guest post. One of the unique aspects of this novel is Dennis' take on the speculative element he had included in the plot and that you can see on the cover. If you have not worked this out yet, you will just have to read on to find out!

I am reading this novel at the moment and it is very impressive!

So sit back and let Dennis describe the background to his novel and identify the unique speculative aspect  he has included. But first a little about Dennis:

Dennis Bailey is a retired police detective, sex crimes investigator, and devoted researcher of the Word of God. His experience in the criminal justice system gives him a unique insight into the workings of the perverse criminal mind. Combined with his investigative and analytical skills, he uses this knowledge to search the Scriptures for personalities from which to create unforgettable characters and story lines.

Now let me hand you over to Dennis so he can describe the background to his debut novel: 

Hello, I’m Dennis Bailey and I’m the author of the just released Biblical thriller, Army of God. It’s a novel set during the time of the great flood recorded in the book of Genesis, and tells the story of how the animals of Noah’s Ark rose up to defend it against an invading army. But before telling my story, I’d like to thank Peter for giving me the opportunity to spotlight the novel on his website.

I wish I could say it has been my lifelong desire to become a writer, that like so many famous authors the itch had followed me since childhood. It hasn’t. In fact, it wasn’t until four years after I’d retired from a 28-year police career that I gave any thought to the idea of writing fiction. I had read Jerry Jenkins’ hugely popular Left Behind series, a chronology of end times events detailed in the Book of Revelation, and I felt a call to try something similar with one of my favorite Old Testament stories, Noah’s Ark. That’s when I sat down for the first time and began typing a scene for a story that had been on my heart for years. I was fifty-four.

Thus was the genesis of the idea for my first novel. It is an effort to bring to life the characters of Noah’s time in a suspense-filled, action-packed adventure while maintaining full fidelity to the Scriptures.

Now I know what some of you purists are thinking, “How does a novel that purports to adhere to the Bible include as part of its storyline a premise about the animals defending the ark?” My answer is that just because it wasn’t recorded doesn’t mean it couldn’t have happened. Lest we forget, Noah’s entire one hundred-plus year ordeal is condensed into four short chapters (Genesis 6-9) of Scripture. Undoubtedly, numerous details of events that occurred during this period were never documented, meaning that we must turn to other supplemental sources to fill in the blanks.

In this case, you may be surprised to learn that several ancient Hebrew texts reference a confrontation where a group of people trying to break into the ark were destroyed by the animals that surrounded it. And while the details of such a struggle are not recorded as part of the Biblical record, the Scriptures are rife with examples of how God called to service members of His animal kingdom. Students of the Bible will remember how He commanded armies of frogs, lice, and flies to afflict the Egyptians preceding the Exodus, shut the mouths of lions to spare His servant Daniel, and sent the great fish to keep Jonah from fleeing to Tarshish.

Now if the Lord could use those creatures, I didn’t consider it heresy to suggest that the animals identified in Genesis 6 could have been organized to form an army capable of protecting the ark.

Of course, all this is mere conjecture, offered as background to support the premise of a fictional story. On the other hand, I hope the reader will allow their imagination to consider the possibilities this story proposes, recognizing the awesome power of God and His ability to use the whole of His creation to help exercise His will.

Incidentally, that scene I wrote eight years ago . . . it never made it into the story. But I doubt you’ll notice the difference.

Here’s a description of the novel to peak your interest:

One of the most beloved and enduring stories of all time . . .

One of the most recognizable characters in history . . .

A plot by a rival to kill Noah and his family is thwarted by a beautiful young woman, who joins them as they flee the ancient Biblical city of Eden. A year later, the Lord reveals His plan to destroy the earth by flood and commands Noah to build an ark. Only the news is met with skepticism and opposition from members of his own family. Eventually, word of the ark reaches Eden, prompting the rival to send an army of five thousand men to destroy it.

However, Noah has an army of his own.

Action, adventure, and suspense combine with the Biblical account of Noah’s Ark to create a heart-pounding page-turner that will stay with you long after the flood waters have receded.

To further tantalize you, check out the Army of God video trailer:

To learn more about Army of God and future titles, visit my website at www.dennisbaileyauthor.com. You can also find me on Facebook and Twitter,

If your interest in this novel has been piqued from reading this and you would like to read more or buy this novel, please click on the PREVIEW or BUY icon on the image below: 

Thank you, Dennis, for explaining the background to Army of God. Speculative fiction always has a great drawcard and I love your take  on this. Who would have thought of the animals of the Ark defending it? I pray that readers will receive this novel well and it serve its purpose in sowing a seed of faith in any reader who considers that the account of Noah's Ark is not just a story but one of truth and paves the way for God's plan for the salvation of man while also showing God for who He is and His faithfulness to mankind.

Author/Novel Spotlight: Steven Luhring and Debut Novel, Scrooge and the Question of God’s Existence

Today I a spotlighting novelist, Steve Luhring. Steve contacted me requesting me to review his new novel, Scrooge and the Question of God's Existence. When I read the blurb and discovered it dealt with apologetics, I was excited. I love this genre of Christian fiction. I have read two other author's novels in this genre, Keith A. Robinson's Origins Trilogy and Dr. Paul Maier's book A Skeleton in God’s Closet and More Than A Skeleton. These books got me hooked to read more in this field.  I applaud author's like these three as they are equipping us to have a defense to the faith we have in Christ Jesus, just as it says in 1 Peter 3:15

  but honor the Messiah as Lord in your hearts. Always be ready to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.

Like these author's, I have found that fiction and story are very effective to do this. 

So without further ado, sit back and let Steve Luhring describe his passion for apologetic fiction and the background to this new novel. I must confess I am looking forward to reading this. I can see I am going to be captivated and better equipped in how to give a defense when challenged as to why I believe in God.

But first, a little about Steve and his journey to being published novelist:

Thanks Peter! Glad to be visiting your blog. I am really excited to talk about my new novel and how it came about. 

I started pursuing in earnest my passion for Christian apologetics (otherwise known as “defending the faith” or “dealing with doubt”) after stumbling upon a Dr. William Lane Craig podcast in 2007. I vividly remember listening to the first podcast while shoveling snow in my driveway. It was quickly clear to me that Dr. Craig’s effectiveness rested not only in his command of the facts and logical argumentation, but also in his ability to communicate concisely and persuasively - and with wit no less. From that point I was hooked. Within about a year, having gained reasonable and convincing answers from a Christian point of view to some of life’s biggest and toughest questions and with enthusiasm only building to learn more, I felt that I needed some productive outlet for sharing. I began teaching bible studies at my church that focused on dealing with doubt and answering the big questions in life, like “Does God Exist?” Over the years, I’ve been a student of the writings of other great, persuasive Christian apologetics including Dr. Paul Maier, C.S. Lewis, Professor John Lennox, G.K. Chesterton, Greg Koukl, Frank Turek, and Ravi Zacharias (whom my son and I had the privilege to hear speak in person at a nearby university earlier this year). During that time I also had the idea for the Scrooge book which I see as an ambitious attempt to reach both the heart and the mind through a gripping story.

Now let's look at Scrooge and the Question of God’s Existence which was released on Amazon on July 1st, 2017 in Kindle format and paperback: 

Scrooge and the Question of God’s Existence is an adaptation of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. It’s set in the modern day and chronicles the overnight adventures of the world-famous atheist, Ebenezer Scrooge. Scrooge is on a crusade to rid the world of religion and things could hardly be going better. But his fortunes soon change and he has a “Dickens of an evening” filled with ghostly encounters during which he’s given a chance to reconsider the meaning of life and his answer to the question of God’s existence. But Scrooge is a brilliant, hard-core skeptic, so the thought of the ghosts convincing him of anything or bringing about a change of heart is, as Scrooge would put it, a “bah-humbug!”

Steve explains why he wrote this novel: 

I’ve always loved Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol and had recently seen it performed at a university near my home. It occurred to me that however uplifting I found the overnight transformation of Scrooge, it would be much more meaningful and satisfying for me if Dickens had been able to incorporate the life-changing apologetics that I’d recently learned. Dickens’ story, modified to incorporate the apologetics that I wanted to share, was the story I most wanted to read. But because it had not been written, I decided to write it. After I had completed a draft of the book, I shared it with a hero of mine, Dr. Paul Maier (a Christian author with over 5 million books in print). Dr. Maier’s book, A Skeleton in God’s Closet, was a real inspiration for me in writing this book because of its breakout success in combining Christian apologetics with an extremely entertaining fictional story. He, if anyone, would be able to tell me if I was on the right track. Dr. Maier did not know me before I contacted him. My aim was to merely get his feedback based on a short excerpt. To my surprise though, he not only read the excerpt, but read and loved the entire book. He then further shocked me by agreeing to edit the book and to write the foreword. His involvement was a game-changer for me in my expectations for the book and the potential for it to make a real positive impact for those dealing with doubts about God and the Christian faith. Here’s an excerpt of what he wrote in the foreword of the book, “While Charles Dickens' immortal story is a compelling tale of transformation, imagine what it would look like had Dickens been ambitious enough to have had Scrooge go on to tackle some of the greatest questions in life, such as: Does God exist? If so, why is there such evil and suffering in this world? Is there meaning and purpose in life? Is there an after-life? Is freedom worth fighting for, and what's at stake if we lose it? These pages are bold enough to do exactly that, and do it brilliantly.”

In addition to Dr. Paul Maier’s A Skeleton in God’s Closet, inspirations were C.S. Lewis’ The Screwtape Letters and The Great Divorce. My Christian apologetics influences include Dr. Maier, C.S. Lewis, Dr. William Lane Craig, Professor John Lennox, G.K. Chesterton, and Ravi Zacharias (whom my son and I had the privilege to hear speak in person at Michigan State’s Breslin Center earlier this year). This book was written to be accessible. There are many wonderfully thick books on apologetics written by Ph.D.s who have spent the best years of their life studying the topic. Unfortunately, those books are largely unread by wider audiences. Although beneficial, many people find apologetics to be bad tasting medicine. By leveraging Dickens’ story I’ve attempted to provide “a spoon full of sugar to help the medicine go down.” People should not be intimidated by the apologetics or philosophical arguments in this book. I’ve gone through great pains to deliver concise, almost intuitive, argumentation without losing too much of the potency of the scholarly, more robustly developed arguments.

More recently, another college professor, Dr. Joel Heck of Concordia University Texas, has lent his support to the books saying, “The choice of a modern retelling of the Scrooge story is very clever, perhaps even brilliant.” Dr. Heck is a C.S. Lewis scholar and author of the book, From Atheism to Christianity: The Story of C. S. Lewis.

Steve has provided an excerpt to highlight the theme of apologetics when discussing whether God exists or not and how to address this with the person who does not believe:

The following excerpt from Scrooge and the Question of God’s Existence conveys the conversational tone of the apologetics in the story, the human side of the two characters involved in the disagreement, and the importance of winning the person, not merely the argument, and the hopefully fair treatment of the atheist – both as a person and his point-of-view.

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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Start of Excerpt~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Christmas a humbug, uncle! You don't mean that I’m sure?" Scrooge’s nephew, Fred, inquired.

"I do," said Scrooge. "Merry Christmas! What right have you to be merry? What reason have you to be merry? The Christmas story is a myth. You believe in a myth! If I could work my will, every idiot who goes about with 'Merry Christmas' on his lips, should be boiled with his own pudding, and buried with a stake of holly through his heart."

"Uncle!"

"Nephew! Keep Christmas in your own way, and let me keep it in mine."

"Keep it! But you don't keep it."

"Let me leave it alone, then. Much good may it do you! Much good it has ever done you!"

“Christmas has done me good, the ultimate good I’d say. I believe its promises and it gives me hope for beyond the grave. Life is utterly absurd and meaningless without a loving God. I have nothing to lose and eternity to gain. And I feel great joy in serving my Creator.”

“Karl Marx liked to call what you feel the opium of the masses. Can I just tell you that you sound like a fool?” Scrooge stood energetically as he made his point, then turned his back to Fred and walked over to the corner of the room to retrieve his winter coat.

“Uncle, I believe the Christmas story is true, I really do. I have every good reason to believe it and have no convincing reason to doubt it. Let’s reason about it together.” Fred offered with a grin.

“If Christmas and all of Christianity is not a myth, then why is God so hidden?” questioned Scrooge in a dismissive tone.

Fred had clearly been hoping Scrooge would engage him with questions and jumped at the challenge but tried to hide the excitement he felt having finally gotten Scrooge to open the door to this line of discussion. So he calmly took a seat, leaned forward with his hands on his knees and continued, “Perhaps the very nature of God makes it such that we as finite creatures cannot look directly upon him. But as with the sun, while we can’t look directly at it, we can’t see our world without it.”

“I can see the world without God quite nicely, thank you.”

“You say that, but why is the world even here, and what’s it all for? 

Can you explain why it exists? Why is there something, rather than nothing after all?”

Scrooge paused and pretended to think carefully, pulled his coat on, and then said with a sneer, “I don’t care. Now you need to listen to me. You may have gotten an A+ in Sunday school for faithfully repeating what your teachers said, but I’ve given the best years of my life to scholarly work …”

“Now wait. Why is there something rather than nothing, Uncle? It’s a profound question that a thoughtful person would consider before dismissing the idea of God. In fact, many have started with that question only to have their thoughts lead them all the way to God.”

“It’s profound to you perhaps, but it’s a hum-bug to me.”

Fred continued, “In faith there is enough light for those who want to believe and enough shadows to blind those who don't. You say God is hidden, but you close your eyes to the explanation for the universe that has been written on man’s heart since the beginning. God, as an explanation for the universe, is something that rings true to me. God’s creation is evidence of God himself. I believe the reason there is something rather than nothing is because, dear uncle, God created it! You ask why God is hidden. Maybe the simple answer is that he wants us to make a choice of the heart to seek him that we simply could not make if he first overpowered mankind with a tautology of his existence. Admit it, uncle – it is possible that God exists.”

Scrooge repeated rotely: “It’s possible that God exists.” Then he continued sharply, “It’s just terribly unlikely in my view – so unlikely that it’s not worth considering. I know this will hurt your feelings, but I can’t respect a person such as yourself who believes in miracles. Quite honestly, they strike me as ridiculous. Miracles are quite amusing. And oh! What fun! Yes, like when an old lady sees the face of a saint in a potato chip and every fool proclaims – it’s a miracle!”

Fred replied in a firm but pleasant manner, “So if one miracle claim turns out to be false or even patently ridiculous, then all the rest are guilty of being false? Guilt by association, right? It makes sense to me that if God exists and created the universe, then any other miracle you imagine is too difficult for God is, in fact, a piece of cake compared to the creation of the universe out of nothing. If you don’t have certainty on the origin of the universe and the existence of God, why do you think you can rule out miracles right off the bat?”

Scrooge had completed the gathering up of his things to leave. In an attempt to end the conversation, he replied hurriedly, “OK then, I’ve changed my mind. I do believe in one miracle – it’s a miracle that I’m still entertaining this ridiculous conversation. Good afternoon! I’m sure you have other important things to do as well. Perhaps, my miracle-loving nephew, you’re singing Christmas carols later with the Tooth Fairy?”

Fred didn’t waste his time taking offence at his uncle’s teasing and instead stayed true to his original purpose. “Uncle, I do have plans for later, but I was hoping to include you. That’s actually why I’m here – to invite you over for Christmas dinner tomorrow.”

“You can’t be serious!” Scrooge scoffed as he walked out of the office and onto the street with Fred following close behind.

“Yes, I am! Come! Dine with us tomorrow. "

“I’d dine in Hades first! Good afternoon."

"I want nothing from you; I ask nothing of you; why can’t we be friends?"

"Good afternoon," said Scrooge more firmly.

"I am sorry, with all my heart, to find you so resolute. But I have made my visit in the spirit of Christmas, and I'll keep my Christmas humor to the last. So a Merry Christmas, uncle!"

"Good afternoon!" said Scrooge as he stormed down the street in the direction of his office on campus, leaving Fred behind.

It was near the end of the day, and it was cold and getting colder. The setting sun was entirely hidden by fog that was billowing in, providing a gloomy, dream-like ambience for his walk. The diffused, dim daylight that remained was vanishing quickly. House lights and streetlights were now casting a hazy glow into the street. As he walked, he replayed the conversation with his nephew in his head. Fred’s probably pretty proud of himself for that little performance. What a fool. I’m not so cruel as to do it, but all I had to do is ask him about my little sister, his mother. One of the gentlest, sweetest creatures on the planet – dead and gone. Where was God when she died on the delivery table giving birth to Fred? Upon reaching his office, he hurriedly closed up for the day.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~End of Excerpt~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Amazon reviews have been very favourable, all 5 Stars: 

Has ever a man recovered so quickly from such a horrid previous state?

ByJames D Chineryon July 10, 2017

Format: Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase

“Is life without God truly meaningless?” Scrooge asked aloud.

This question, which for many is the ultimate question…resonates throughout this amazing book, “Scrooge and the Question of God’s Existence.” At first, the reader may say, “I’ve heard this story before!” But let this reviewer reply, “Nay…not in this way.”

You are familiar with the idiom, “You can’t have your cake and eat it too.” In general, this phrase means that you cannot have two incompatible things at the same time. Steve Luhring has written a notable exception to this rule. The book is not only well-written and entertaining…it is enlightening and nourishing to the soul.

You may think you are reading just a clever re-telling of the Christmas Carol story, but as you take a bite you discover that you are also feasting on the words of some of the world’s brightest minds. G.K. Chesterton, C.S. Lewis, Blaise Pascal, John Lennox, Ravi Zacharias, Dostoevsky, Martin Luther, William Lane Craig, Leibniz, Nietzsche and John Newton…to name a few!

In his re-telling of an iconic classic, Luhring dives into topics that many Christians and atheists flee from. He successfully addresses the question of theodicy, the application of law and gospel, the idea that we are to hate sin yet love the sinner…and the existence of good, evil and an objective moral law…doing so in the midst of a brilliantly written and thought out story.

The characters are believable and truly representative of the great separation of beliefs that are represented in our world today. What I also appreciated in the dialogue of the story was the honesty in which Christianity and atheism were presented. It isn’t the “good, humble Christian,” versus the evil and dark atheist, but an honest portrayal of people struggling with life’s most difficult questions.

The author does seem to have a disturbing proclivity to Black Label beer lamps...but I'm willing to let that pass.I leave you with this tidbit to brighten your day.

“As a follower of Christ, I do not live as those who have no hope. I’ve got a very different reason now for whistling past the graveyard. Since Christ has conquered death, it has lost its sting. I don’t need to fear it. My reason, most simply put, is joy.”

I was not disappointed. I wondered if it would be historical fiction

ByMary J. Moerbeon November 1, 2017

Format: Kindle Edition

Initially I read this book because I was smitten with the idea of someone reworking Dicken's A Christmas Carol in such a way that the ghosts, well, ask more important questions. I was not disappointed. I wondered if it would be historical fiction, but the structure consists of a frame story set in relatively contemporary times (Religious rights are in tension with other sought rights.). In that sense, there is some political treatment, but it quickly gives way to the re-treatment of A Christmas Carol.

Mr. Luhring, as a writer myself, I must wag my finger at you a little for the intensely inspired scene of quick masterful writing! If only my own writing came about that way!

More seriously though, there is a very winsome way in which the main character in the frame story provides ample reason for the apologetic and philosophical arguments presented. He's an intellectual. A college man, through and through.

I really enjoyed this. I feared it might get a bit political during the set up, but it was overall very satisfying, as both a story and commentary about the intellectual rigor that benefits from Christianity's biblical teaching and our Christian history of academic integrity built around TRUTH.
 

Highly recommended!

ByPaula M. Cudneyon July 9, 2017

Format: Paperback|Verified Purchase

Luhring’s ability to skillfully interlace the extraordinarily important questions facing all of us regarding our existence, our purpose and God’s role in it, into the familiar story of A Christmas Carol was just terrific. You’ll enjoy the story and you’ll appreciate the thought provoking Christian apologetic ideas.

This book is appropriate for mature middle school aged children on up. This is a great book for families to read and discuss together.

Excellent read!

ByNancy R. Zuelligon October 23, 2017

Format: Kindle Edition

Excellent!!! I got online after just finishing reading this book to send it to a few of my friends. I was disappointed to find it was only available for kindle. It is very well-written and keeps the reader engrossed throughout the story. What a creative idea to weave the questions many skeptics have about God's existence into the age old story of Scrooge.

Engaging and compelling

ByThomas Genderon July 2, 2017

Format: Paperback

Storytelling has always been one of the most powerful forms of persuasion and Luhring’s idea to interweave apologetics arguments into a classic story known by many people is quite clever. This was not forced or unnatural at all, but very seamless, engaging, and compelling. It is an excellent story and I hope that God will use it to open many hearts and minds.

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