Religion & Fiction Podcast

The end of the year and entrance into another is the perfect time to consider our spiritual journey. So I thought I would offer a space to do that here with Book 2 of my spiritual coming-of-age series, Faith Reimagined. A Rediscovered Faith follows the spiritual journey of Peter Daniel Young as he considers deep questions of faith, life, and everything in between. Whether you are facing your own faith crisis and wonder if Christianity is still relevant to your world, or you know someone who is struggling themselves, discover with Peter why the story of Jesus and his love still matters. For him, his family and friends, the Church — and for you.Join the journey now to get ready for the final book in the trilogy coming next month: A Refined Faith. I’m launching a Kickstarter hootenanny, with self-study and reflection workbooks and video studies to go along with the series. 👉 GO HERE to follow and get notified about the final book, the workbooks, and the spiritual courses.The book club is finished, but you can still get the book on discount below and follow the study along through these links. Amazon.com has it HERE. Most other online retailers are HERE.🗓️ Here are the dates and deets:* December 20 | Chapters 1–8* January 3 | Chapters 9–16* January 10 | Chapters 17–25* January 17 | Chapters 26–31* January 24 | Chapters 32–39The story takes a tragic turn for Peter and his family that provoke deep questions about faith, life, and everything in between. He must confront his own beliefs, and others, and rise to the occasion to fight for others while keeping the faith.After you have a listen, here are some questions to guide your reading, with more inside the episode:* Have you ever experienced guilt, confusion, regret over a relationship, as the characters had in this story? Why, and was was that like?* What was it about JT’s confession that made Peter question his relationship with God? What was his brother relying on?* A constant theme in the book is ideas have consequences. What do you make of this theme, and how does this final week showcase it? What do you think it means for others—for you, as Peter wondered for himself?* How had the Prosurgent version of Christianity offered false hope, rather than genuine hope? How was it not honest about the Christian faith?* What do you make of Peter’s reference to Jesus’ exhortation to ‘Stop doubting and believe’ (John 20:27)? Where are you in relationship to this almost command, to let go of doubt and embrace belief—in Jesus?* In what was is doubt considered a virtue nowadays? Why do you suppose belief is almost ridiculed?* Consider that journal article from JT that Peter read. Can you identify with his opinions about faith? Do you know others who share the same understanding? What is your own trust for God’s acceptance?* Near the end of Chapter 38, Peter offers a prayer of confession and repentance, a turning toward Jesus in faith and belief. Have you offered such a prayer? If so, I would love to hear about it! If not, what’s stopping you?* In what way does this story reinforce the urgency of faith, both for ourselves and our relationship with others?* Consider Peter’s closing meditation and prayer at the end of Chapter 39. How does it reflect your own feelings, if any? Do you know where to turn with God? Do you know where your faith is heading? What might it meant that Christ’s grace, his crazy love for you is enough for you and journey?This book club is meant to be a self-study exploration rediscovering faith. Feel free to read and listen along, then come back to offer your comments and discussion below!J. A. Bouma believes nobody should have to read bad religious fiction—whether it’s cheesy plots with pat answers or misrepresentations of the Christian faith and the Bible. So he tells compelling, propulsive stories that thrill as much as inspire, while offering a dose of insight along the way. Available at most online retailers and direct: shop.jabouma.com. Get full access to Religion & Fiction Newsletter at bouma.substack.com/subscribe

The end of the year and entrance into another is the perfect time to consider our spiritual journey. So I thought I would offer a space to do that here with Book 2 of my spiritual coming-of-age series, Faith Reimagined. A Rediscovered Faith follows the spiritual journey of Peter Daniel Young as he considers deep questions of faith, life, and everything in between. Whether you are facing your own faith crisis and wonder if Christianity is still relevant to your world, or you know someone who is struggling themselves, discover with Peter why the story of Jesus and his love still matters. For him, his family and friends, the Church — and for you.Join the journey now to get ready for the final book in the trilogy coming next month: A Refined Faith. I’m launching a Kickstarter hootenanny, with self-study and reflection workbooks and video studies to go along with the series, so GO HERE to follow and get notified.The book club runs through January 24, 2024, with a week break for Christmas. Each episode will discuss 8 chapters with some questions to consider.👉 Amazon.com has it HERE.👉 Most other online retailers are HERE.🗓️ Here are the dates and deets:* December 20 | Chapters 1–8* January 3 | Chapters 9–16* January 10 | Chapters 17–25* January 17 | Chapters 26–31* January 24 | Chapters 32–39The tension ratchets this week for Peter — both with his own faith and with a number of people close to him. He begins to think differently about the newfound faith that had saved his Christianity.After you have a listen, here are some questions to guide your reading, with more inside the episode:* How did Lexi’s childhood inform her faith? How has yours?* Part of the attraction of more progressive versions of Christianity is its permissiveness with question-asking. How can this be helpful for a person’s journey of faith? What might be the danger? What are your questions about Christianity?* What was Peter’s point with his The Village metaphor? How have you experienced this yourself?* What did JT think about Bryan’s book when he finished it? Why was Peter alarmed? What tension did this create in him, and how did Jake help him figure it out?* Jake’s wisdom in how to walk with his brother was to give him love and truth. Why are both necessary? How can you be deliberate with both, especially with someone you know?* In what way is Peter caught between his past and present?* What does Peter experience at the Love Will Win book signing, especially with overhearing conversations? What does JT express, and how does Trevor Bohls answer him? Why doesn’t Peter find this hopeful?* How does Peter find freedom in the vintage, historic Christian faith? How does it contrast with progressivism?* Peter’s story seems to affect Lexi, his wrestling and journey. How have others’ stories affected your own journey of faith?* What does it mean to be a loyal radical? How might your yourself reflect this attitude?This book club is meant to be a self-study exploration rediscovering faith. Feel free to read and listen along, then come back to offer your comments and discussion below!J. A. Bouma believes nobody should have to read bad religious fiction—whether it’s cheesy plots with pat answers or misrepresentations of the Christian faith and the Bible. So he tells compelling, propulsive stories that thrill as much as inspire, while offering a dose of insight along the way. Available at most online retailers and direct: shop.jabouma.com. Get full access to Religion & Fiction Newsletter at bouma.substack.com/subscribe

The end of the year and entrance into another is the perfect time to consider our spiritual journey. So I thought I would offer a space to do that here with Book 2 of my spiritual coming-of-age series, Faith Reimagined. A Rediscovered Faith follows the spiritual journey of Peter Daniel Young as he considers deep questions of faith, life, and everything in between. Whether you are facing your own faith crisis and wonder if Christianity is still relevant to your world, or you know someone who is struggling themselves, discover with Peter why the story of Jesus and his love still matters. For him, his family and friends, the Church — and for you.Join the journey now to get ready for the final book in the trilogy coming next month: A Refined Faith. I’m launching a Kickstarter hootenanny, with self-study and reflection workbooks and video studies to go along with the series, so GO HERE to follow and get notified.The book club runs through January 24, 2024, with a week break for Christmas. Each episode will discuss 8 chapters with some questions to consider.👉 Amazon.com has it HERE.👉 Most other online retailers are HERE.🗓️ Here are the dates and deets:* December 20 | Chapters 1–8* January 3 | Chapters 9–16* January 10 | Chapters 17–25* January 17 | Chapters 26–31* January 24 | Chapters 32–39The tension ratchets this week for Peter — both with his own faith and with a number of people close to him. He begins to think differently about the newfound faith that had saved his Christianity.After you have a listen, here are some questions to guide your reading, with more inside the episode:* Do you resonate with Peter’s desire for something fresh and new in his faith? If so, what?* Why might asking questions about faith, life, and everything in between be so vital for growth? Why might people be resistant to them?* Some conflict rises between Peter and his parents. Who do you identify with? Can you understand both perspectives? How so?* What view of the Bible do you identify with in this reading? Why?* Why might it be helpful to go backwards in order to go forwards in our faith? What might be the benefit?* Why does tension rise between Peter and his brother JT? Who do you identify with most, and why?* The week ends with Doc VanDyke and his patience and understanding. Who has been this person for you during a similar period of questioning and doubt? How did it make the difference? Who might you come alongside in the same way?This book club is meant to be a self-study exploration rediscovering faith. Feel free to read and listen along, then come back to offer your comments and discussion below!J. A. Bouma believes nobody should have to read bad religious fiction—whether it’s cheesy plots with pat answers or misrepresentations of the Christian faith and the Bible. So he tells compelling, propulsive stories that thrill as much as inspire, while offering a dose of insight along the way. Available at most online retailers and direct: shop.jabouma.com. Get full access to Religion & Fiction Newsletter at bouma.substack.com/subscribe

The end of the year and entrance into another is the perfect time to consider our spiritual journey. So I thought I would offer a space to do that here with Book 2 of my spiritual coming-of-age series, Faith Reimagined. A Rediscovered Faith follows the spiritual journey of Peter Daniel Young as he considers deep questions of faith, life, and everything in between. Whether you are facing your own faith crisis and wonder if Christianity is still relevant to your world, or you know someone who is struggling themselves, discover with Peter why the story of Jesus and his love still matters. For him, his family and friends, the Church — and for you.Join the journey now to get ready for the final book in the trilogy coming next month: A Refined Faith. I’m launching a Kickstarter hootenanny, with self-study and reflection workbooks and video studies to go along with the series, so GO HERE to follow and get notified.The book club runs through January 24, 2024, with a week break for Christmas. Each episode will discuss 8 chapters with some questions to consider.👉 Amazon.com has it HERE.👉 Most other online retailers are HERE.🗓️ Here are the dates and deets:* December 20 | Chapters 1–8* January 3 | Chapters 9–16* January 10 | Chapters 17–25* January 17 | Chapters 26–31* January 24 | Chapters 32–39The tension ratchets this week for Peter — both with his own faith and with a number of people close to him. He begins to think differently about the newfound faith that had saved his Christianity.After you have a listen, here are some questions to guide your reading, with more inside the episode:* This is a book primarily about relationships, the people walking with us through our faith journey. Who has been that for you? Who has walked with you through your spiritual journey? How has it made the difference?* What is theology, doctrine? What’s the point of studying it? Peter says the point is to continue to paint the faith, joining in with others searching and forming what we believe. His professor says the point is to preserve and contend for it (Jude 3). Where do you land?* Peter is encouraged at various points to rediscover, not reimagine, his faith. How have you yourself rediscovered* What do you make of Doc VanDyke’s encouragement for Peter to hold to a regressive (rather than progressive) Christian faith — to go backward in order to go forward in his faith? What does it mean to hold to the fundamentals of Christianity without jumping into fundamentalism? Do you think that’s even possible? Explain.* One major theme is the fact that ideas have consequences. How have you seen the truth of this statement, in a variety of ways?* Peter finds himself caught between the tension of progressive Christianity and a traditional Christian faith. Have you similarly felt such tension? If so, how?* Peter dreams a dream I myself received twenty years ago, a word from the Lord: “I’ve revealed, therefore you can know.” What does that mean that God has revealed? What has he revealed? Why does it make all the difference to our journey of faith to know that our confidence is rooted in God’s own revelation?* There’s a shift that begins to happen in chapter 13, where Peter begins to change in his perception of the reimagined faith he had embraced. What is that shift, and why does he seem to start to make it?* Again, this book is about relationships, and how they affect Peter’s spiritual journey. Two of those reveal themselves at the end of the week’s reading: Lexi and Pastor Dave. Both seem to have been burned by the Church. How has it affected them, so far as you can tell? Have you yourself been burned by the Church? If so, what was that like?This book club is meant to be a self-study exploration rediscovering faith. Feel free to read and listen along, then come back to offer your comments and discussion below!J. A. Bouma believes nobody should have to read bad religious fiction—whether it’s cheesy plots with pat answers or misrepresentations of the Christian faith and the Bible. So he tells compelling, propulsive stories that thrill as much as inspire, while offering a dose of insight along the way. Available at most online retailers and direct: shop.jabouma.com. Get full access to Religion & Fiction Newsletter at bouma.substack.com/subscribe

The end of the year and entrance into another is the perfect time to consider our spiritual journey. So I thought I would offer a space to do that here with Book 2 of my spiritual coming-of-age series, Faith Reimagined. A Rediscovered Faith follows the spiritual journey of Peter Daniel Young as he considers deep questions of faith, life, and everything in between. Whether you are facing your own faith crisis and wonder if Christianity is still relevant to your world, or you know someone who is struggling themselves, discover with Peter why the story of Jesus and his love still matters. For him, his family and friends, the Church — and for you.Join the journey now to get ready for the final book in the trilogy coming next month: A Refined Faith. I’m launching a Kickstarter hootenanny, with self-study and reflection workbooks and video studies to go along with the series, so GO HERE to follow and get notified.The book club runs through January 24, 2024, with a week break for Christmas. Each episode will discuss 8 chapters with some questions to consider.👉 Amazon.com has it HERE.👉 Most other online retailers are HERE.🗓️ Here are the dates and deets:* December 20 | Chapters 1–8* January 3 | Chapters 9–16* January 10 | Chapters 17–25* January 17 | Chapters 26–31* January 24 | Chapters 32–39The book launches with Peter heading back home again to a place he vowed he would never again return (a very similar vow I took that I have to imagine God thought was funny!). What he finds creates tension and raises the stakes for those closest to him.After you have a listen, here are some questions to guide your reading, with more inside the episode:* Where are you in your own spiritual journey? At the start, the messy middle, or well on your way?* What was your childhood faith experience like? How did it influence your spiritual journey? How similar or different are you to that past?* This is a story about relationships — our influences in both direction, and the tension that comes with our faith. Who has most influenced your own faith, and how have you influenced others? * Have you faced similar tension that Peter has with his faith and those closest to you? If so, what was that like? What sort of tension has come between you and your faith and those closest to you?* Who do you most identify with in the story so far? James Thomas (who seems to have reneged on his faith) or Peter Daniel (who has more reimagined his faith)?* What is your reaction to JT naming his beer mug To the Unknown God (a reference to Acts 17) and this confession: “I don't know, man. Just where I'm at, I guess. God seems unknown, foreign” along with “I don't know what I am. Or where I stand with God. Or even if there is a God…I gotta tell ya, Petey, it's way less complicated than Christianity.”?* Peter’s return to his childhood church ends in disaster. What can we learn from Maggie and her feelings? What about Peter, and the way he is navigating his changes?* How does chapter 8, and what Peter reads from the Prosurgent authors, reflect your own spiritual questions, or even your wrestling with Christianity itself?This book club is meant to be a self-study exploration rediscovering faith. Feel free to read and listen along, then come back to offer your comments and discussion below!J. A. Bouma believes nobody should have to read bad religious fiction—whether it’s cheesy plots with pat answers or misrepresentations of the Christian faith and the Bible. So he tells compelling, propulsive stories that thrill as much as inspire, while offering a dose of insight along the way. Available at most online retailers and direct: shop.jabouma.com. Get full access to Religion & Fiction Newsletter at bouma.substack.com/subscribe

New Years has to be one of my fave times of the year.The end of the year and entrance into another — with its celebration of Christ’s birth and the promise of new life — offers the perfect chance to take stock and set goals for the road ahead.One area I always consider is my spiritual walk, which brings up all sorts of questions: Am I closer to God at the end of the year than I was at the start? Am I growing more or less like Christ? Am I deepening my relationship with my Savior in ways that bring transformation to my world?Maybe you think about the same sorts of questions this time of year. If so, I’ve got the perfect way to enter into 2024: the next Religion & Fiction book club!A year ago I walked through the first book in my Faith Reimagined series. I thought I would pick up the same theme with Book 2, A Rediscovered Faith. It follows the spiritual journey of Peter Daniel Young as he considers deep questions of faith, life, and everything in between. In particular, he is haunted by this one:What do you do when your newfound faith is challenged by those closest to you?The question comes hot on the heels of a crisis of faith that transformed him in powerful ways. A crisis and transformation that mirrored my own 15 years ago.Whether you are facing your own faith crisis and wonder if Christianity is still relevant to your world, or you know of someone who is struggling themselves, discover along with Peter why the old, old story of Jesus and his love still matters. For him, his family and friends, the Church — and for you.The book club will start next week, December 20, 2023, and run through January 24, 2024, with a week break for Christmas. Each week’s podcast episode will cover 7-8 chapters, running around 25 minutes with some questions to contemplate and discuss (should you desire to pop into the comments!). 👉 Amazon.com has it HERE.👉 Most other online retailers are HERE.Today’s episode is a prequel to the book club, a sort of behind the scenes intro to the story — the very FIRST novel I wrote 11 years ago! It explores the why behind the story, and what sort of spiritual empowerment and insight you can expect. Next week, we’ll dive into the first chapters of the book in the podcast so you can listen and follow along at your pace.🗓️ Here are the dates and deets:* December 20 | Chapters 1–8* January 3 | Chapters 9–16* January 10 | Chapters 17–25* January 17 | Chapters 26–31* January 24 | Chapters 32–39Hope to see you along for the story ride starting next week! Last year was a blast and I plan to have as much fun this go around 😀J. A. Bouma believes nobody should have to read bad religious fiction—whether it’s cheesy plots with pat answers or misrepresentations of the Christian faith and the Bible. So he tells compelling, propulsive stories that thrill as much as inspire, while offering a dose of insight along the way. Available at most online retailers and direct: shop.jabouma.com. Get full access to Religion & Fiction Newsletter at bouma.substack.com/subscribe

It may seem like an odd addition to the library of a former pastor, but it’s precisely because I’m a former pastor that I appreciate his stories and his perspective, or at least one aspect of it: humans have a unplumable capacity for evil, with an equal measure of longing for justice. Intuitively, we know that things aren’t the way they are supposed to be, and we aren’t either; we’re bent as much as the world is broken. And we long for a fix to make things right. His Bill Hodges Triology is one of my favorites that fully explores this tension. Now I add Holly to the list. And I explain why in this episode fit for Halloween. What I appreciate about King and other horror writers is their honest interrogation of our relationship with monsters — both outside ourselves, the darkness we confront in life, and also those hiding within. Holly takes an especially hard look at an important theological insight into human nature:Just when you think you’ve seen the worst human beings have to offer, you find out you’re wrong. There’s no end to evil. (p. 442)Listen to the episode and don’t miss the last day to grab my own interrogation of the darkness with Rite of Darkness, the 7th book in my Order of Thaddeus series that leverages the occult supernatural suspense sub-genre to spin a spooky tale.The novel is on sale for $2.99. OR...buy directly from my bookshop for $1 — PLUS get a FREE behind-the-scenes audio commentary + story concept outline.Whispers of Stephen King and echoes of Frank Peretti haunt every page, crafting a soul-stirring collision between the diabolical and the divine that will keep you up at night! ⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆ "A great scary Religious thriller about Occult!!" ~ Reader ReviewFor a spooky thrill on the cheap, jump to your retailer of choice to start the page-turning, heart-thumping ride! But hurry: the sale ends when the candy's gone at the stroke of midnight today.This frightening tale combines faith, fact, and fiction to weave an explosively inventive religious thriller steeped in occult suspense that raises the stakes for the Order of Thaddeus like never before — taking the series and its characters in a direction that will leave fans speechless.J. A. Bouma believes nobody should have to read bad religious fiction—whether it’s cheesy plots with pat answers or misrepresentations of the Christian faith and the Bible. So he tells compelling, propulsive stories that thrill as much as inspire, while offering a dose of insight along the way. Available at most online retailers and direct: shop.jabouma.com. Get full access to Religion & Fiction Newsletter at bouma.substack.com/subscribe

Finally, the days are colder here in West Michigan after several 80 degreers. Not that I'm complaining. The weather people say we're in for a polar vortex kind of winter. So the extra days with shorts and T-shirts and flip-flops was a nice gift.Fall is definitely my fave season, though, so I'm enjoying cider and donuts as I finish a surprise book and gear up for a cool challenge. I’m also getting back into the Religion + Fiction Podcast with a sort of season 2 offering a special glimpse into one of my frightful tales perfect for the season.The episode is an exclusive behind-the-scenes commentary to my 7th religious conspiracy thriller, Rite of Darkness. You’ll hear my own perspective on the story and the ideas and themes behind the dark tale, taking you into the intersection of the sacred and story using this spooky thriller. The story itself centers on a series of frightful events that cast my favorite Order of Thaddeus characters into a historical, spooky tale. It’s an adventure ripe for a world plagued by a rise in frightening wickedness and a fascination with witchcraft, plumbing the depths of the demonic and our only source of hope.That means there are spoilers :) So if you haven’t read Rite of Darkness yet, first grab the spooky read — which is at a nice discount until the end of the month.For October, I’ve put my spooky supernatural suspense story (whoa! now there’s an alliterative mouthful!) on sale for $2.99. OR...buy directly from my bookshop for $1.Ancient evil. Modern terror.When hell is unleashed on Halloween, it wears the mask of man and mystery alike. And the Church’s special agents are ensnared in a devilish scheme woven from the darkest strands of history. As the threads of past and present intertwine, every revelation propels the agents closer to a climax that will sear itself into your nightmares.Whispers of Stephen King and echoes of Frank Peretti haunt every page, crafting a soul-stirring collision between the diabolical and the divine that will keep you up at night! ⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆ “A great scary Religious thriller about Occult!!” ~ Reader ReviewFor a spooky thrill on the cheap, jump to your retailer of choice to start the page-turning, heart-thumping ride! But hurry: the sale ends when the candy's gone at the stroke of midnight on Oct 31, 2023.Then come back to enjoy the behind-the-scenes commentary to one of my more frightening stories. I hope it inspires and offers a bit of insight for the journey of faith as much as the story offers thrilling entertainment for your week :)J. A. Bouma believes nobody should have to read bad religious fiction—whether it’s cheesy plots with pat answers or misrepresentations of the Christian faith and the Bible. So he tells compelling, propulsive stories that thrill as much as inspire, while offering a dose of insight along the way. Available at most online retailers and direct: shop.jabouma.com. Get full access to Religion & Fiction Newsletter at bouma.substack.com/subscribe

Today’s episode was meant to set this space on surer footing the next few months with some deeper dives into religious fiction — but the past few weeks have been crazy! With falling under the weather and finishing an 8-month multi-book project, then starting my next thriller…I fell behind and am still climbing up to the surface.So I’m giving you another AI-narrated short story from my Order of Thaddeus action-adventure thriller series. It’s actually quite a good listen, featuring a lovely female voice courtesy of Google AI :) The story is from Martyrs Bones, a collection of five original short stories, giving readers page-turning, thrilling rides with mysterious turns. Grab it direct for a few bucks for this week with the 30% off coupon code THANKS30.This story connects to a rather remarkable pair of women mostly forgotten from Church history — until Naomi Torres unearths something that connects to their memory. Like many of my books, things go sideways quickly and she’s forced to fight for that memory. Next week we’ll get back to sitting at the intersection of the sacred and story — and I’ve got a few ideas I’m toying with to help get us thinking about that intersection. Stay tuned :)If you like the story and want the full collection of original short stories, grab Martyrs Book at most online retailers or buy the ebook direct from my bookshop at 30% off with code THANKS30.J. A. Bouma believes nobody should have to read bad religious fiction—whether it’s cheesy plots with pat answers or misrepresentations of the Christian faith and the Bible. So he tells compelling, propulsive stories that thrill as much as inspire, while offering a dose of insight along the way. Available at most online retailers and direct: shop.jabouma.com. Get full access to Religion & Fiction Newsletter at bouma.substack.com/subscribe

Because my Kickstarter launching the last part to my End Times Chronicles sci-fi series ENDS TOMORROW, I thought I would drop one final Religion + Fiction Podcast episode exploring the theology behind my own apocalyptic series.Because this modern end times series is not yo mama’s end times series :)While major blockbusters suppose Christians will be taken from Earth in a secret snatching just before those apocalyptic events of the Great Tribulation unfold, I (and frankly the historic Church) suppose otherwise.Start the apocalyptic adventure >>> www.endtimesworld.comThis episode will give you the theological background to the series if you’re still wondering what the adventure is all about, especially how I approach the enigmatic events of the Book of Revelation — from a rising apostasy that ravages the Church to a rising apocalypse that destroys the world.And of course how to survive a rising Antichrist and the persecution he bears pressuring believers to abandon their faithful allegiance to Christ and submit to the Red Dragon in order to survive.Survival will hinge on the Resistance, which is the only way during these last days. Allegiance to Christ will be challenged. But through it all, victory is assured — for Christ will triumph over his enemies, and the Church’s!Don’t worry: this isn’t a heavy theological deep-dive! The episode will help you frame John’s Apocalypse for yourself, even if you don’t read my own fictional portrayal of it. So if you’ve always wanted to understand how the end of the world as we know it unfolds, take a listen! And if you’re curious, one of the major influences on my own understand is George Ladd’s A Commentary on the Revelation of John.The End Times Chronicles saga captures the heart of the Church's mission in these last days — offering a unique, page-turning adventure that not only entertains through thrilling action and mysterious suspense, but explores the urgency of our own day and inspires for the journey of faith.Enjoy the episode taking a final behind-the-scenes peek into my own end times series! If you missed the previous two, check out the inspiration behind the series and get to know the heroes of the SEPIO Resistance!If you’re interested in a modern take on the apocalypse, follow the Kickstarter story project and start the adventure for as little as $5. Tomorrow is the last day to grab exclusives to the campaign, so dive into the apocalyptic adventure today!J. A. Bouma believes nobody should have to read bad religious fiction—whether it’s cheesy plots with pat answers or misrepresentations of the Christian faith and the Bible. So he tells compelling, propulsive stories that thrill as much as inspire, while offering a dose of insight along the way. Available at most online retailers and direct: shop.jabouma.com. Get full access to Religion & Fiction Newsletter at bouma.substack.com/subscribe

Last week my Kickstarter dropped launching the last part to my End Times Chronicles sci-fi series. And a few days later it funded! So everyone who backs will get their rewards — along with a little giveaway I’ve got going on you’ll want in on.Here's the deal: Back one of the rewards at $5 or more to be entered into a raffle for one new Kindle Fire HD 8. This flash funding goal ends on Saturday, 4/8/23, at 11:59 p.m. EST. Get the details at the project page:Grab the flash giveaway >>> www.endtimesworld.comI launched the giveaway as a flash funding goal to carry the story project across the finish line — which it definitely helped! But also because it was my birthday, and I figured the theme of middle age and the apocalypse went well together! (KIDDING for all you fellow over-the-hillers!)Anyway, if you haven't entered the end times series yet, backing the "Episode 1 eBook from Season 1 or 2" reward is the way in, where you can let me know the first book in the first part, Apostasy Rising, is where you're at when the campaign funds. Or grab the entire saga for a thrilling adventure through the events of the book of Revelation. Audiobooks, signed paperbacks, and exclusive hardcovers are also available.This episode will give you a bit more background to the series if you’re still wondering what the adventure is all about, especially the characters that struggle to survive the events of the Book of Revelation.Because let’s face it: Characters make stories sing. And if you're anything like me, you read for the characters. No matter how good the writing is, if the characters aren't relatable or believable and if they aren't people you'd want to hang out with on a Saturday night, why bother? Over the past 5 years I've come to love the characters that populate the series. It's a diverse cast of unlikely heroes that reflect the wisdom that the Church's future is global.And one of the biggest team of heroes is the Resistance. End Times Chronicles is an adventure through the events of the Book of Revelation that explores a future world under the sort of totalitarianism the Church will face during the Great Tribulation. So I drew from the sort of resistance Eastern Europeans in particular offered last century, and let their wisdom and insight into faithful living help my characters survive.I explain some of that inspiration in this episode along with the heroes (and some villains) that make this end times series what it is.The End Times Chronicles saga captures the heart of the Church's mission in these last days — offering a unique, page-turning adventure that not only entertains through thrilling action and mysterious suspense, but explores the urgency of our own day and inspires for the journey of faith.Enjoy the episode taking a second behind-the-scenes peek into my own end times series! If you’re interested in a modern take on the apocalypse, follow the Kickstarter story project and get in on the Kindle Fire giveaway by backing as little as $5. That flash goal ends Saturday, so get in on the giveaway today!J. A. Bouma believes nobody should have to read bad religious fiction—whether it’s cheesy plots with pat answers or misrepresentations of the Christian faith and the Bible. So he tells compelling, propulsive stories that thrill as much as inspire, while offering a dose of insight along the way. Available at most online retailers and direct: shop.jabouma.com. Get full access to Religion & Fiction Newsletter at bouma.substack.com/subscribe

Yesterday my Kickstarter dropped launching my End Times Chronicles sci-fi series. I’ve been pleased with the response so far and look forward to introducing new readers to a modern end times series that makes sense of our world while also bringing the saga to a close for fans with Season 3 Antichrist Rising.Lots of early discounts that end TOMORROW — from ebooks and audiobooks to signed paperbacks and exclusive signed hardcovers. Whether you want an epic 12-book read through the end times in a future world that feels like our own, or want to sample a single book from the first story season, I’ve got you covered.Follow the Kickstarter >>> www.endtimesworld.comIn this episode, I’m starting a 3-part series giving you a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the intersection of the sacred and apocalyptic story from an authors perspective: * Starting with the inspiration behind the End Times Chronicles that unfolds an epic adventure through the events of the Book of Revelation* Diving into the futuristic story world set 100 years into the future, and why I made that specific choice instead of, say 1000 years off * And explaining a central story element to the series that sets it apart from other end times series: time travel.In the weeks leading up to this launch, I’ve engaged a bit of this apocalyptic intersection of the sacred and story by diving into the cultural and literary then theological context of the multi-million bestseller Left Behind series. It’s a take on the Book of Revelation that envisions a secret snatching of true Christians before the Great Tribulation unfolds and the Antichrist rises.My series takes a different approach. The End Times Chronicles saga captures the heart of the Church's mission in these last days — offering a unique, page-turning adventure that not only entertains through thrilling action and mysterious suspense, but explores the urgency of our own day and inspires for the journey of faith.Enjoy the episode taking a behind-the-scenes peek into my own end times series! If you’re interested in a modern take on the apocalypse, follow the Kickstarter story project with mega deals that let you gab the series at a nice discount ending 3/30/23.J. A. Bouma believes nobody should have to read bad religious fiction—whether it’s cheesy plots with pat answers or misrepresentations of the Christian faith and the Bible. So he tells compelling, propulsive stories that thrill as much as inspire, while offering a dose of insight along the way. Available at most online retailers and direct: shop.jabouma.com. Get full access to Religion & Fiction Newsletter at bouma.substack.com/subscribe

The Left Behind series has sold 80 million books across the 16-book epic end-times sage.Which I’ve finally been reading the past few weeks.I wasn’t a reader when it original came out 25 years ago, but I also didn’t want reading it to influence the writing of my own end times adventure series. Now that I’m finished with that 12th and final episode, I thought I would read book 1 in the run-up to the launch of End Times Chronicles.It’s been a good read. And an interesting one. Especially given the theological context surrounding the story.Because I want to engage like-minded religious fiction readers and explore the intersection of the sacred and story, I thought I would dive into this religious fiction phenomenon. Last week I laid out a bit of the historical and literary context of the story, and some of what I’ve appreciated about both related to the book(s).This week we’re getting theological :) Like diving into the meaning of “the rapture” and Great Tribulation, and where Left Behind theology came from. If you’ve ever wondered about the main premise of the book — that millions of people are left behind, while a whole bunch of people are disapperated — then take a listen. No critique here. Just a bit of a deep dive into the ideas behind the story.And if you’ve ever wondered about an alternative to the rapture theology of Left Behind, next week I will offer a bit more interaction between those ideas and the ones that are central to my own end times apocalyptic series. I diverge from the authors’ perspective on the Book of Revelation and those end-times events, and you’ll see why and what others have said about the end of the world as we know it.Don’t worry, these aren’t take-down, smack-down episodes. Just a way to engage a wildly popular apocalyptic series during what seem like apocalyptic times :) Should be fun!Question: Have you read the series? If so, what did you think of it? Did it impact your own spiritual journey at all? So far, I’m almost finished with it, and as a Christian I have appreciated their interest in people who say they are Christians to take their faith seriously. It’s also interesting as a writer to see how they weaved their theological perspective on the end times into the story line — and even promoted their view through the characters and events. Always interested in the bigger picture behind stories, whether told by Christians or not. Which is why I’ve been poking behind the curtain these few weeks. Check it out and let me know what you think!Very soon I am launching Antichrist Rising with a fun Kickstarter campaign that will get you mega discounts on ebooks and audiobooks, signed paperbacks and exclusive hardcovers, AND some pretty sweet End Times swag.These are the final 4 books in the fast-paced 12-book adventure living the events from the Book of Revelation in the inventive global apocalyptic science fiction time-travel saga you may not even know about :)Follow along >>> www.endtimesworld.comANNND because I think you all are pretty swell, I’m giving my superfans an EXCLUSIVE 50% off the series buying direct from my bookstore through the weekend. You can grab them on most online retailers for every ereading device, but CLICK HERE and drop discount code ENDTIMES50 at checkout to start the saga now on the cheap.J. A. Bouma believes nobody should have to read bad religious fiction—whether it’s cheesy plots with pat answers or misrepresentations of the Christian faith and the Bible. So he tells compelling, propulsive stories that thrill as much as inspire, while offering a dose of insight along the way. Available at most online retailers and direct: shop.jabouma.com. Get full access to Religion & Fiction Newsletter at bouma.substack.com/subscribe

The Left Behind series has sold 80 million books across the 16-book epic end-times sage.Which I’m now just reading :)Mostly because I wasn’t a reader when it original came out 25 years ago, but also because I didn’t want it to influence the writing of my own end times adventure series. Now that I’m finished with that 12th and final episode, I thought I would read book 1 in the run-up to the launch of End Times Chronicles.And I’ve got thoughts!Because I want to engage like-minded religious fiction readers and explore the intersection of the sacred and story, I thought I would dive into this religious fiction phenomenon. First up: the historical and literary context of the story, and some of what I’ve appreciated about both related to the book(s).Next week I’ll dive into the theological context, especially since I diverge from the authors’ perspective on the Book of Revelation and the events of the End Times. Don’t worry, these aren’t take-down, smack-down episodes. Just a way to engage a wildly popular apocalyptic series during what seem like apocalyptic times :) Should be fun!And sorry to disappoint, but neither Kirk Cameron nor Nicholas Cage make a guest appearance. Maybe next episode ;0Question: Have you read the series? If so, what did you think of it? Did it impact your own spiritual journey at all? So far, I’m engaged with the story and am interested how the authors connect it to their perspective on Revelation events. And because I’m a religious writer, I’m always interested in what’s behind stories. Which is why I’m poking behind the curtain the next few weeks. Check it out and let me know what you think!Very soon I am launching Antichrist Rising with a fun Kickstarter campaign that will get you mega discounts on ebooks and audiobooks, signed paperbacks and exclusive hardcovers, AND some pretty sweet End Times swag.These are the final 4 books in the fast-paced 12-book adventure living the events from the Book of Revelation in the inventive global apocalyptic science fiction time-travel saga you may not even know about :)Follow along >>> www.endtimesworld.comANNND because I think you all are pretty swell, I’m giving my superfans an EXCLUSIVE 50% off the series buying direct from my bookstore. You can grab them on most online retailers for every ereading device, but CLICK HERE and drop discount code ENDTIMES50 at checkout to start the saga now on the cheap.J. A. Bouma believes nobody should have to read bad religious fiction—whether it’s cheesy plots with pat answers or misrepresentations of the Christian faith and the Bible. So he tells compelling, propulsive stories that thrill as much as inspire, while offering a dose of insight along the way. Available at most online retailers and direct: shop.jabouma.com. Get full access to Religion & Fiction Newsletter at bouma.substack.com/subscribe

We’re taking a break from my commentary on the intersection of the sacred and story with a special narration of the first few chapters in Apostasy Rising, Episode 1 of Season 1. It is the first book in my epic science fiction saga, End Times Chronicles that will finally wrap up with the last story season 3.Very soon I am launching Antichrist Rising with a fun Kickstarter campaign that will get you mega discounts on ebooks and audiobooks, signed paperbacks and exclusive hardcovers, AND some pretty sweet End Times swag.These are the final 4 books in the fast-paced 12-book adventure living the events from the Book of Revelation in the inventive global apocalyptic science fiction time-travel saga you may not even know about :)Follow along >>> www.endtimesworld.comANNND because I think you all are pretty swell, I’m giving my superfans an EXCLUSIVE 50% off the series buying direct from my bookstore. You can grab them on most online retailers for every ereading device, but CLICK HERE and drop discount code ENDTIMES50 at checkout to start the saga now on the cheap.While the Order of Thaddeus and SEPIO are my main series, a few years ago I wondered what it would be like to live through the events of the Book of Revelation.You know: the Apocalypse.This is NOT your '90s variety of Rapture fiction. It follows the struggles of faithful men and women of the SEPIO Resistance (yup, the Order rises 100 years later!) who cling to the hope of Christ's return during these dark end-times days.Friends will suffer under persecution. Lovers will be separated and find the unexpected. Survival will hinge on the Resistance, which is the only way during these last days.I'll have more to share when I launch, but in the meantime, if you...* love epic sagas set in a future world with political and religious intrigue joined by techno-social change that feels close to home* are obsessed with diverse casts of unlikely heroes thrown into extraordinary events of survival* and want a modern take on the Left Behind series that makes the End Times come alive and offers a way to be Christian in these last days…then End Times Chronicles is the perfect series for you!Antichrist Rising is some of my most important work of transformational fiction, imagining the urgent, prophetic call on all believers to live not by lies, to resist the Regime in all its (modern) forms, and to keep the faith — even in the face of persecution, even unto death.Resistance is the only way. Resistance is victory. Resistance is now!I will return next week with the first in a few podcast episodes exploring the intersection of the apocalypse and fiction. In the meantime, enjoy these first chapters in audio, and look for the final story season of End Times Chronicles to launch soon. It'll be a fun few weeks you won't want to miss!I’m giving my superfans an EXCLUSIVE 50% off the series buying direct from my bookstore. You can grab the series from most online retailers for every ereading device, but CLICK HERE and drop discount code ENDTIMES50 at checkout to start the saga now on the cheap. Get full access to Religion & Fiction Newsletter at bouma.substack.com/subscribe

We’re back with week 5 of the second Religion + Fiction Book Club, the final week! Thanks for your interest and for joining in the religious fiction fun. I’ve enjoyed it, and hopefully it has benefited your own spiritual journey. If you missed the introduction episode to more of the background behind the book, including my own spiritual journey that led to me writing it, you can listen to that episode HERE. Catch up with the first week and feel free to join in anytime, even though it is technically the last week.Here are links to past episodes:* Week 1 – Chapters 1-7* Week 2 – Chapters 8-12* Week 3 – Chapters 13-19* Week 4 – Chapters 20-26* Week 5 – Chapters 27-34Below are some of the questions I posed in the book club episode that I hope get you thinking about Peter Daniel Young’s story — and your own. Comment below or use the questions in a group or individual study to deepen your engagement with the story.Religion & Fiction Newsletter is a way for me to connect with like-minded readers. Subscribe to receive connect at the intersection of the sacred and story.Week 5 Thoughts + QuestionsAfter a sort of crisis of faith is sparked in Peter after being confronted with questions from friends he wasn’t prepared to answer, the tension and inner conflict is deepened with several relationships in his life — leading to a series of unfortunate personal events that take Peter back home.Chapter 27–28* When have you had loss on the scale that Peter did—whether losing a job or relationship, perhaps your health or even your faith? What was that like, and what brought you through?* After his own loss, Peter questions, “What’s next, Lord?” When have you similarly questioned your life direction? Where did you find answers, and what was waiting for you on the other side?The Labyrinth spiritual practice is a beautiful metaphor for our life with Christ and the life-journey he takes all of us on. There are no dead-ends, and the path always leads somewhere: to the middle, then back out again. Peter used this spiritual practice at a service at the Washington National Cathedral, something I myself had partaken of several times while living in DC.* What did Peter discover about his own spiritual and life journey while walking the spiritual practice? What might you learn from what he learned?* How about you: Take time tracing the contours of your own life, noting the highs and lows, the twists and turns — and the many ways Christ was with you through it all.Chapters 29* Why did Bryan McLaughlin say he launched out on reimagining the Christian faith? What lessons can we learn?* When it came to Peter’s own journey, Bryan encouraged him to “Keep at it, brother. It’ll be alright.” In what ways are you struggling to “keep at it” in your faith? Why should you follow this advice, both for you and others? Chapter 30–31* How do Bernie and Clint both represent two kinds of people that were part of this episode in Peter’s spiritual journey? Who have been your Bernies and Clints, and how did they impact your life? * Clint comes to a place where he recommits himself to Jesus. Have you come to that place yourself, like I did over 15 years ago? If so, what was that like? If you’re edging in that direction, perhaps Clint’s own self-confession in chapter 31 can help you frame your own.Chapter 32–34* Peter came to a fork in the road, having to choose between two options of where he thought the Lord might be taking him. What was it he identified might get in the way of him following the actual path Christ had laid out for him, rather than the one he wanted? How does this same barrier often impact our own life with Christ and spiritual journey?Before Peter left, he spent time reflecting in his barren apartment, and he prayed part of this prayer:“Lord, you know how crazy the year has been. The questions and doubts, the struggles, the fear. But through it all, I know you’ve been with me, guiding and directing my path as much as caring for me while walking it. As I look back I can see how true that is.”* Looking back on your own life with Christ, how have you seen evidence that he has been with you, guiding you, and directing you while walking the path he has laid out for you?* At the end of this first episode in Peter’s story, what is the biggest thing you’ve taken away when it comes to faith or life?Again, thanks for joining the book club. If you would like to continue Peter’s story, you can do that by picking up A Rediscovered Faith at most online retailers. Grab it direct from my bookstore at this link for less with a 25% discount using code BOOKCLUB25 at checkout.You can still join the discussion anytime, going at your own pace reading the book and listening to the episodes. Grab it for all ereaders at most online retailers if you’d like to join, or get it direct from my bookshop at 25% off with code BOOKCLUB25. For easy links:* Direct for $3.00 w/ Code* Amazon* Barnes and Noble* Apple Books* Google Play* KoboJ. A. Bouma believes nobody should have to read bad religious fiction—whether it’s cheesy plots with pat answers or misrepresentations of the Christian faith and the Bible. So he tells compelling, propulsive stories that thrill as much as inspire, while offering a dose of insight along the way. Available at most online retailers and direct: shop.jabouma.com. Get full access to Religion & Fiction Newsletter at bouma.substack.com/subscribe

We’re back with week 4 of the second Religion + Fiction Book Club! Thanks for your interest and for joining in the religious fiction fun. And apologies for the one-day delay. Things happen like snow days in Michigan with the kiddos home :) If you missed the introduction episode to more of the background behind the book, including my own spiritual journey that led to me writing it, you can listen to that episode HERE. Catch up with the first week and feel free to join in anytime.The schedule will run as follows with links to past episodes:* Week 1 – Chapters 1-7* Week 2 – Chapters 8-12* Week 3 – Chapters 13-19* Week 4 – Chapters 20-26* Week 5 – Chapters 27-34Below are some of the questions I posed in the book club episode that I hope get you thinking about Peter Daniel Young’s story — and your own. Comment below or use the questions in a group or individual study to deepen your engagement with the story.Religion & Fiction Newsletter is a way for me to connect with like-minded readers. Subscribe to receive connect at the intersection of the sacred and story.Week 4 Thoughts + QuestionsAfter a sort of crisis of faith is sparked in Peter after being confronted with questions from friends he wasn’t prepared to answer, the tension and inner conflict is deepened with several relationships in his life — including his ministry and his parents.Chapter 20–21* When was a time you were confronted about your own character, or even your spiritual direction? What was that like, and was it warranted? What happened as a result? How did it shape and change you?* What about a time you felt misunderstood and mischaracterized by the questions and push-back you were giving your faith? What happened, and how did you feel about it?Sometimes confrontation and even discipline is a necessary good for the sake of our Christian walk and spiritual journey. Bernie had some good advice for Peter when his own season of discipline came:“Think about Philippians 2. ‘Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.’”I sat up for Bernie’s impromptu sermon, letting Paul’s words sink deep.“It’s a double-sided coin, our transformation is. We’re told to work out our salvation—to do all we can to love God and love people, and with fear and trembling. But it doesn’t end there. We’re not alone! God is with us. He’s working on us. Not only is he helping us to want to love him and others. He’s helping us actually do it, to act on that desire. All so he can fulfill his good purpose—in us and through us and out into the world.”I sat up straighter, considering Bernie’s encouraging words.“Peter, God is with you. He’s working on you. He will help you want to love him and others, and he will help you do it. Again, I know!”* First, have you experienced a season of “discipline” or confrontation and correction — and was it a necessary good for the sake of your Christian walk and spiritual journey? What was that like, and what resulted from it?* If you are in the midst such a season, what do these words from both Paul and Bernie mean to you?Chapters 22-24There is a quote from the book Peter reads about Pastor Jack’s spiritual journey that resonates with him — it’s one I’ve resonated with when I first heard it from a mentor:“When Jesus came, he blew everything to pieces, and when I saw where the pieces landed, I knew I was free.”In other words, sometimes Jesus doesn’t merely come into our life and faith to caretake it: He comes to overhaul both!* How has Jesus blown up your life, your faith?* Where do you see him working now, changing things up and drawing you into a new direction of life with him?Often the greatest tension in our relationships when we confront and question deep questions about faith, life, and everything in between come from family, especially parents.* How has your family shaped your faith? What was your childhood faith like? How is it now similar to or different from that familial tradition?* Which characters do you relate to in Chapter 24: Peter or his parents? Are you the one butting up against familial tradition, or are you the one being pressed against? What has that been like?* Has such a struggle and directional shift come between you and your family, or other close relationships? If so, what has that been like? * How can we navigate our most personal relationships when we are struggling with deep questions or when we feel drawn in a new direction?Chapter 25* How did Logan’s own family past impact his ability to wrestle with deep questions of faith, life, and everything in between, especially throughout the book? What lessons can we take from that?* What does it do for you to know that even when faced with the resurrected Jesus in actual, physical, bodily form, some disciples doubted? What does it mean for our own questions that Jesus still used them to launch and grow his Church?Chapter 26* When have you experienced fallout from your own spiritual journey, and the tension that often brings with others? What happened on the other side?Again, thanks for joining the book club. Hope you can join next week!You can still join at anytime, going at your own pace reading the book and listening to the episodes. Grab it for all ereaders at most online retailers if you’d like to join, or get it direct from my bookshop at 25% off with code BOOKCLUB25. For easy links:* Direct for $3.00 w/ Code* Amazon* Barnes and Noble* Apple Books* Google Play* KoboJ. A. Bouma believes nobody should have to read bad religious fiction—whether it’s cheesy plots with pat answers or misrepresentations of the Christian faith and the Bible. So he tells compelling, propulsive stories that thrill as much as inspire, while offering a dose of insight along the way. Available at most online retailers and direct: shop.jabouma.com. Get full access to Religion & Fiction Newsletter at bouma.substack.com/subscribe

We’re back with week 3 of the second Religion + Fiction Book Club! Thanks for your interest and for joining in the religious fiction fun.If you missed the introduction episode to more of the background behind the book, including my own spiritual journey that led to me writing it, you can listen to that episode HERE. Catch up with the first week and feel free to join in anytime.The schedule will run as follows with links to past episodes:* Week 1 – Chapters 1-7* Week 2 – Chapters 8-12* Week 3 – Chapters 13-19* Week 4 – Chapters 20-26* Week 5 – Chapters 27-34Below are some of the questions I posed in the book club episode that I hope get you thinking about Peter Daniel Young’s story — and your own. Comment below or use the questions in a group or individual study to deepen your engagement with the story.Religion & Fiction Newsletter is a way for me to connect with like-minded readers. Subscribe to receive connect at the intersection of the sacred and story.Week 3 Thoughts + QuestionsAfter a sort of crisis of faith is sparked in Peter after being confronted with questions from friends he wasn’t prepared to answer, the tension and inner conflict is deepened when his ministry puts on an event showcasing one of the greatest flashpoints for many people—the tension between faith and science.Chapter 13Leading up to his ministry event showcasing a debate on the origin of species, Peter is worried it will embarrass them and alienate the very students they are trying to reach. In fact, he thinks the whole way of going about it is wrongheaded. One of his co-workers, Tabitha, has some advice:“I look at some of the ways we’re going about it and sometimes I shake my head and wonder … But what I don’t do, Peter, is storm around like I’m God’s holy prophet sent to set this ministry straight or Dr. Harrison straight! Or denigrate good and godly men who are just doing and saying what they feel called to. And for God’s glory, I might add. Untold people have found a relationship with Jesus through their ministries. And I’d say that’s something to respect, not wag a finger at.”While Tabitha’s words stung, Peter also admitted she had a point, “And my pride had blinded me to the ways God had used Harrison and EE in the past. Boy was I jerk.”It’s easy to assume the traditional way of doing things is wrongheaded without appreciating the Church has been getting along just fine for 2000 years without us and our new, modern ideas.* What from tradition might we better appreciate and hold on to, as Tabitha suggested, appreciating how God has used the past for his glory? How do our attitudes about the newest, shiny idea on the ecclesial block impact what we perceive we need to let go and leave behind?Chapters 14-17Given the barriers that often exist for believers and nonbelievers alike surrounding the perceived conflict and tension between science and Christianity, I thought it a good way to work through those perceptions given my own struggles with this tension.* How have you yourself navigated this conflict or tension, the one between science and faith? Has the one impacted the other? Explain.* Why does Alfred Morris believe issues of human origins is crucial to the gospel, to the message of Christianity? Why might it indeed be important to this message about salvation through Jesus?* What do you make of Bryan McLaughlin’s perspective on Genesis 1, and how ancient Israelites might have understood the opening words “In the beginning God create…”? Does this perspective shift anything for you when it comes to the tension of faith and science?* What is meant by focusing on the that and the who of the creation narrative instead of the how of Genesis? What does such a focus do to the perceived tension of science and faith?* Does recognizing the importance of Genesis 1 and 2 as theological, rather than scientific, literature give you hope like Peter? Explain. How might such a framing—that the Scripture Story of our human origin is about who created us and that we were created, not how—help others who struggle to reconcile faith and science?Chapter 18* Peter wonders who his Neo is, who might come alongside him in his spiritual journey. Who is that for you? How might you come alongside someone else in your own life to help them wrestle through their questions?* He also wonders where God is taking him, what terra nova or new land the Spirit of God might be bringing him into. What about you: Where is the Lord taking you in your own spiritual journey; how is he working in your life? What are you leaving behind; where are you going?Chapter 19* Why is the Bible crucial for any discussion about what is and is not important about the Christian faith? What place does it have in your own spiritual journey answering such questions?* How is a discussion about the literal resurrection of Jesus relevant to a discussion about God’s literal creation of the world?Peter is learning that there’s a tension, or maybe more a spectrum, within the Christian faith between what’s real and what isn’t. It’s the difference between tents and tarps.* What does he mean by this, especially as an analogy to Christianity? * Which beliefs are “load-bearing columns” and which “are really just decorative studs”?* What poles should we be building our faith upon—which are you?Again, thanks for joining the book club. Hope you can join next week!You can still join at anytime, going at your own pace reading the book and listening to the episodes. Grab it for all ereaders at most online retailers if you’d like to join, or get it direct from my bookshop at 25% off with code BOOKCLUB25. For easy links:* Direct for $3.00 w/ Code* Amazon* Barnes and Noble* Apple Books* Google Play* KoboJ. A. Bouma believes nobody should have to read bad religious fiction—whether it’s cheesy plots with pat answers or misrepresentations of the Christian faith and the Bible. So he tells compelling, propulsive stories that thrill as much as inspire, while offering a dose of insight along the way. Available at most online retailers and direct: shop.jabouma.com. Get full access to Religion & Fiction Newsletter at bouma.substack.com/subscribe

We’re back with week 2 of the second Religion + Fiction Book Club! Thanks for your interest and for joining in the fun.If you missed the introduction episode to more of the background behind the book, including my own spiritual journey that led to me writing it, you can listen to that episode HERE. Catch up with the first week and feel free to join in anytime.The schedule will run as follows with links to past episodes:* Week 1 – Chapters 1-7* Week 2 – Chapters 8-12* Week 3 – Chapters 13-19* Week 4 – Chapters 20-26* Week 5 – Chapters 27-34Below are some of the questions I posed in the book club episode that I hope get you thinking about Peter Daniel Young’s story — and your own. Comment below or use the questions in a group or individual study to deepen your engagement with the story.Religion & Fiction Newsletter is a way for me to connect with like-minded readers. Subscribe to receive connect at the intersection of the sacred and story.Week 2 Thoughts + QuestionsAfter a sort of crisis of faith is sparked in Peter after being confronted with questions from friends he wasn’t prepared to answer, the tension and inner conflict is deepened on a work trip and then with a lunch discussion. All of which ratchets the external tension and conflict with relationships that wonder what on earth is going on with him and his faith. Peter’s wondering the same!Chapter 8* The main point of inner conflict and tension for Peter comes when he is confronted with this question: What is the gospel, what is the good news of Jesus and the essential message of the Christian faith?* How did Peter’s ministry and bosses answer this question? What issues did this answer stir in Peter, and how did it deepen his conflicting feelings about his faith?* How have you answered this question for yourself?* When have you questioned something at the heart of your faith? What was that like, what happened? How did others react to that questioning? How did you resolve it?* Because Peter was in ministry and felt he should have all the answers, he felt like a fraud when he began to questioning it all. Yet Ainsley suggested instead: “Or maybe you’re more authentic than you’ve ever been.” What did she mean by this? Why was she right?* What does it mean that we live in a post-Christian world? How have you seen this evident in your own community? How does this impact how we connect the Christian faith to our culture, as Peter began to consider?* Truth and power are two dynamic lenses through which postmodernism engages the deep questions of life. How have you seen this dynamic played out in our world, in your relationships? How might it impact Christianity, and the way it connects with culture?Chapters 9-11Because Peter is frustrated with how we’ve been living as Christians in a post-Christian, postmodern world, and how we share the Christian message, believing we need to rethink both, Ainsley suggests he should create an alternative to Everyday Evangelism. Pages 74-77 reflect this new way of thinking about and communicating the good news of the Christian story, which reflects my own thinking 20 years ago and even still as a minister.* How have you understood the Christian message and how has it been communicated to you? How have you yourself communicated it? How similar or different have both been to what Peter envisions?Peter’s reimagining his faith and pushback begins to raise questions with his boss, Roger. This reaction was something similar to what I myself experienced during my own crisis of faith.* When have you pushed back in similar ways against the way things have always been done in your church or faith community? What was that like, and what happened?One of the themes in these chapters is the generational tension between the traditional and emerging generations. Like Peter, I myself had a bit of a tone problem in my pushback, coming across as prideful and arrogant in my reimagining. Then again, I also encountered some of the entrenchment in traditionalism, like Peter with Roger.* What do you think both older generations and traditionalists, as well as younger and emerging generations need to keep in mind when it comes to issues of faith? How might they learn from one another?I have had many “Bernies” in my life, people who have walked with me and shaped my Christian life. These guides on the side are crucial for us as we grow in our faith.* Who has been your Bernie, the allies in your faith journey? How did they sit with you and your questions, how did they help you grow?* Are you a Bernie to someone? If so, who and how has that experience been? If not, how might it look to take on a “Timothy” as I mentioned, to intensionally come alongside someone in their spiritual journey?Chapter 12* Who among these characters in this chapter do you most relate to, especially in the way they question or push back against issues of faith? Explain.* What are some of major ways these characters are questioning their faith? Who have you known who has voiced similar questions, or what other ways have you found people pushing back against Christianity?* One of the key questions for any person is the same one Jesus asks in Mark 8: “Who do you say I [Jesus] am?” How would you answer that question? How did it provoke discussion among Peter and his friends? Before ending their lunch discussion, Peter has some parting words:“Thanks for sharing some of your story, Sam. And, guys, thanks for this. Thanks for your openness and honesty. Thanks for listening to each other, even though it might have been hard at times. Know that you’re not alone in your doubts. Know that Jesus can handle your doubts, that he invites you to explore those doubts. But also know that he is calling you out of doubt and into belief. But however long it takes you to get there, I totally believe he’s with you every step of the way.”* What are the doubts you yourself carry—whether about faith generally or Christianity specifically? How do you see Jesus walking alongside you through them right now? How might he be calling you into belief?Again, thanks for joining the book club. Hope you can join next week!You can still join at anytime, going at your own pace reading the book and listening to the episodes. Grab it for all ereaders at most online retailers if you’d like to join, or get it direct from my bookshop at 25% off with code BOOKCLUB25. For easy links:* Direct for $3.00 w/ Code* Amazon* Barnes and Noble* Apple Books* Google Play* KoboJ. A. Bouma believes nobody should have to read bad religious fiction—whether it’s cheesy plots with pat answers or misrepresentations of the Christian faith and the Bible. So he tells compelling, propulsive stories that thrill as much as inspire, while offering a dose of insight along the way. Available at most online retailers and direct: shop.jabouma.com. Get full access to Religion & Fiction Newsletter at bouma.substack.com/subscribe

Today’s episode was meant to be the second week of the Religion & Fiction Book Club exploring the spiritual journey of Peter Daniel Young in A Reimagined Faith. I’ve caught a dreadful cold and am a bit under the weather, so I thought I would wait a week to give you the best experience rather than soldiering onward.Instead, I’m giving you an AI-narrated short story from my Order of Thaddeus action-adventure thriller series. It’s actually quite a good listen, featuring a lovely British female voice courtesy of Google AI :) The story is from Martyrs Bones, a collection of five original short stories, giving readers page-turning, thrilling rides with mysterious turns. Grab it direct for a few bucks for the next week.This story connects to a rather remarkable relic heist from history that has gone unsolved for years—until Celeste Bourne takes the reins! And finds herself face to face with an unexpected person from her past. I’ve fictionalized parts of it, but the underlying recent history surrounding the theft of Saint Polycarp’s relics is real.Next week we’ll get back to the week 2 of the Religion & Fiction Book Club exploring chapters 8–12 in A Reimagined Faith. Since we’re delayed a week, now would be the perfect time to join in! Take a listen to the first 2 episodes below:* Introduction* Week 1: Chapters 1–7If you want to join in, grab it in print and electronic formats at most online retailers if you’d like to join, or buy the ebook direct from my bookshop at 25% off with code BOOKCLUB25.J. A. Bouma believes nobody should have to read bad religious fiction—whether it’s cheesy plots with pat answers or misrepresentations of the Christian faith and the Bible. So he tells compelling, propulsive stories that thrill as much as inspire, while offering a dose of insight along the way. Available at most online retailers and direct: shop.jabouma.com. Get full access to Religion & Fiction Newsletter at bouma.substack.com/subscribe

Thrilled to launch week 1 of the second Religion + Fiction Book Club! Thanks for your interest and for joining in the fun.If you missed the introduction episode to more of the background behind the book, including my own spiritual journey that led to me writing it, you can listen to that episode HERE.The schedule will run as follows with links to past episodes:* Week 1 – Chapters 1-7* Week 2 – Chapters 8-12* Week 3 – Chapters 13-19* Week 4 – Chapters 20-26* Week 5 – Chapters 27-34Below are some of the questions I posed in our first book club episode that I hope get you thinking about Peter Daniel Young’s story — and your own.Week 1 Thoughts + QuestionsMuch of these first seven chapters reveal the tension Peter begins to feel with the faith he’s always known and what he is experiencing in relationship with other people who are asking tough questions — questions Peter himself begins to ask. And ones he doesn’t have answers for, leading to a crisis of faith.Prologue* When have you similarly experienced a dark night of the soul—especially the spiritual sort where the scaffolding of your faith sort of crumbled and didn’t hold their weight?All I knew was this: I couldn’t go back to where I was. Yet I didn’t have a clue where I was going.This is the story of my faith’s death and rebirth.This is my story reimagining the Christian faith.* Do you resonate with this in some way—not being able to stay put or go back, but also not sure where to go next in your faith? Or are you someone on the outside looking in at someone else’s spiritual struggles, and you’re not sure what to think? If so, explain.Chapter 1Roger, Bernie, Ainsley, Peggy, and Tabitha from Peter’s ministry, as well as a number of other people, form an important role in Peter’s journey — acting as both allies and antagonists along the way. * Who has been these sorts of people for you, especially the allies in your search for answers?Peter’s mention of the NIV and KJV translations of the Bible act as symbols for the past and present versions of faith Peter is wrestling with, and regarding the NIV, the modern translation, he says: “It’s what my students resonated with. It’s what I resonated with.” * What from the present issues of the Church do you yourself resonate with, compared to perhaps past ones?Chapter 2* The chapter opens with a revelation of some of Peter’s struggles with faith, from issues of creation to various religions. What are those for you, the things you struggle with about faith?* In this chapter you meet Clint, who acts as an inciting incident that sparks Peter’s shift. Who do you resonate with most between them—Clint, the doubter and questioner; or Peter, the guy without the answers sort of watching a crisis unfold, for Clint and himself? Why do you resonate with them?Chapter 3* Why do you suppose Peter seemed to resonate with the Prosurgent community so much? What did it offer him he wasn’t finding elsewhere?Chapters 4-5 Peter dives deeper into Prosurgent and his questions, and realizes what I realized for myself during a similar season: He needed help! He finds that in Darren Thomas. He is a composite of all the people who were crucial to helping me navigate my own crisis of faith and who sat with my questions.* Who has been your Darren? What was that like?* How can you be a Darren to someone else who is wrestling with deep questions of faith?Chapters 6-7One of the crucial pivot points in Peter’s journey is sparked by his Everyday Evangelism training, which gets him thinking (and re-thinking) the nature of the gospel, the good news about Jesus, the message of Christianity.* How would you define the gospel? How has it been framed and presented to you in the past, this good news of God’s love in Jesus Christ? * Do you resonate at all with Peter’s discomfort? Explain.At the start of chapter 7, and close of week 1, Peter wonders:Is this what the message of Christianity is all about? A sales pitch to get people to Heaven? Is this what the Church is all about? A force of salespeople trying to meet sales goals and benchmarks—all in the name of Jesus?* Have you yourself wondered the same, what the message of Christianity is all about? If so, what was that like? How have you come to understand that message, and how similar or different is it to what you had been told?Again, thanks for joining the book club. Hope you can join next week!You can still join at anytime, going at your own pace reading the book and listening to the episodes. Grab it for all ereaders at most online retailers if you’d like to join, or get it direct from my bookshop at 25% off with code BOOKCLUB25. For easy links:* Direct for $3.00 w/ Code* Amazon* Barnes and Noble* Apple Books* Google Play* KoboJ. A. Bouma believes nobody should have to read bad religious fiction—whether it’s cheesy plots with pat answers or misrepresentations of the Christian faith and the Bible. So he tells compelling, propulsive stories that thrill as much as inspire, while offering a dose of insight along the way. Available at most online retailers and direct: shop.jabouma.com. Get full access to Religion & Fiction Newsletter at bouma.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, I offer a bit of an introduction to the next Religion + Fiction Book Club: A Reimagined Faith, the first book in my spiritual coming-of-age series. It’s sort of a fictional account of my own spiritual journey told through the eyes of Peter Danial Young, and I thought it would make for a good new year read, a way to encourage your own religious life and spiritual journey at the start of 2023.Here’s the deal with the book club: starting next week for 5 weeks we’ll tackle the subject matter in the chapters, usually 6-7 chapters, in weekly podcast episodes. I’ll offer some behind-the-scenes glimpses into what went into that part of the story from my own journey as well as some questions to get you thinking about your own life using the unfolding narrative of Peter and his friends. The schedule will run as follows:* January 25 – Chapters 1-7* February 1 – Chapters 8-12* February 8 – Chapters 13-19* February 15 – Chapters 20-26* February 22 – Chapters 27-34You can buy it for all ereaders at most online retailers if you’d like to join, or get it direct from my bookshop at 25% off with code BOOKCLUB25. For easy links:* Direct for $3.00 w/ Code* Amazon* Barnes and Noble* Apple Books* Google Play* KoboBe sure to subscribe (totally FREE; no spam!) down below to receive email notifications for the weekly episodes. Or you can just bookmark this site and check back here at bouma.substack.com.To receive each episode, as well as a few other articles and free stories, join for free using your email address:It’s designed as a go-at-your-own pace sort of deal, whether on your own or with an actual book club group. Hopefully you’ll pop in with some interaction with my questions, or offer ones of your own. No pressure but I would love to hear how Peter’s story (and mine!) connects with your own. As I mention in the episode, the story in these pages is a work of fiction. Yet it is more true to life than I could have imagined on my own as it follows many of the same contours of the real lives of real people.Including my own.You see, this story is a spiritual coming-of-age story that loosely follows my own spiritual and Christian journey from almost 20 years ago (yeah, I’m old!) It follows the major plot points during a season of my life that followed a personal crisis of faith I experienced as a Christian twentysomething. So I wrote the book I wished I had and my parents had during this season of questioning and doubt. A book that would help me wade through my questions and confusion, a book that would offer some insights and direction—all so I could more authentically follow the One who died and gave himself up for me and passionately join his mission of rescue and re-creation in my world.I chose to tell my own spiritual coming of age story through a fictional lens to hopefully provoke a conversation about faith, life, and everything in between. It could very well have been a nonfiction memoir-style book, but I hope this way of sharing my own journey through fiction rang true, and there is resonance with it for those similarly wrestling with the essence of Christianity and its connection to life.Please know that I respect your journey and understand shades of it, and I’m deeply honored you’ve invited me along for the ride! Because I empathize with that journey, I wanted to write a set of books that offer my own story as a way to guide you along your own path of faith and life, offering what I hope are a few insights along the way. Perhaps the lessons I’ve learned will help. I hope the faith journey of Peter Daniel Young is a helpful one, a journey you’ll discover is less about him and more about the people he encounters along the way, and the Savior who is big enough to wade alongside us through our sea of questions and carry our boulder-sized doubts upon his shoulders. My hope is that you would learn what Peter begins to learn, and what I myself learned a decade ago: That it’s only in going backward that we can truly move forward in our spiritual journey.The book and the club will sort of pivot around this central, story question:What do you do when the faith you’ve always known no longer makes sense?(Cue the back book description…)That’s the haunting, confusing, unexpected question confronting twentysomething Peter Daniel Young after a friend doubts whether Christianity makes sense of life and has anything to offer. More troublesome yet: the right Christian answers Peter was trained to give since childhood are for questions no one is even asking—including his friend, and even himself.Which leaves him questioning what he’s always believed — leading to a crisis of faith the likes of which he has never before experienced.While not abandoning his childhood faith, Peter launches into a journey of exploration and discovery, reimagining faith for his world and questioning what the essence of the Christian message is in the first place. Along the way, he is confronted by rising doubts, encouraged by friends new and old, questioned by those close to him, and challenged to own his faith for himself.What he discovers is all at once terrifying and thrilling — for this story is the drama of his faith’s death and rebirth.Written in the self-discovery style of John Green’s coming of age stories, with shades of such classics as C. S. Lewis’s Mere Christianity and John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, A Reimagined Faith is the first story in a fresh, insightful spiritual coming of age series for a new generation wondering if the Christianity they’ve always known still matters in these dynamic times — and whether there might be something more to help make sense of life. Drawing from his own spiritual journey as a young adult, Bouma writes a stirring fable of resonance and truth for those wrestling with deep questions of faith, life, and everything in between.Whether you are facing your own crisis of faith and wondering whether Christianity still matters, or you know someone who is struggling themselves, discover along with Peter what the Christian message means for him, his family and friends, his life in the Church — and for you.Again, you can buy it for all ereaders at most online retailers if you’d like to join, or get it direct from my bookshop at 25% off with code BOOKCLUB25. For easy links:* Direct for $3.00 w/ Code* Amazon* Barnes and Noble* Apple Books* Google Play* KoboHope to see you along for the story ride starting next week!J. A. Bouma believes nobody should have to read bad religious fiction—whether it’s cheesy plots with pat answers or misrepresentations of the Christian faith and the Bible. So he tells compelling, propulsive stories that thrill as much as inspire, while offering a dose of insight along the way. Available at most online retailers and direct: shop.jabouma.com. Get full access to Religion & Fiction Newsletter at bouma.substack.com/subscribe

Today’s episode is a self-narrated short story from my Order of Thaddeus action-adventure thriller series. Martyrs Bones is a collection of five original short stories, giving readers page-turning, thrilling rides with mysterious turns. Grab it direct for a few bucks for the next week.This story features one of my fave characters: Matt Gapinski. He’s a former Marine, and a big, bumbly tedd-bear-of-a-guy who’s gone to venerate the apostle relics of Levi, known as Matthew. It’s a painful anniversary, and his boss, Silas Grey, suggests he takes a break in Northern Italy to process his past. From there, things get worse—“Always something!” as he loves to say—and in the end the Order agent saves the day.There is a bit of a spoiler from one of my middle books, Templars Rising, so if you haven’t read that yet—be warned! Otherwise, it’s a rollicking, inspiring story with Gapinski stumbling into a plot and discovering what’s important, about faith and life and everything in between.Also, in the introduction I talk a bit about the second Religion & Fiction Book Club that will start up in a few weeks. We’re going to take 5 weeks reading through one of my first books: A Reimagined Faith. It’s sort of a fictional account of my own spiritual journey, and I thought it would make for a good new year read. I’ll give more details next week and an introduction to the story and book club. You can buy it for all ereaders at most online retailers if you’d like to join, or get it direct from my bookshop at 25% off with code BOOKCLUB25.J. A. Bouma believes nobody should have to read bad religious fiction—whether it’s cheesy plots with pat answers or misrepresentations of the Christian faith and the Bible. So he tells compelling, propulsive stories that thrill as much as inspire, while offering a dose of insight along the way. Available at most online retailers and direct: shop.jabouma.com. Get full access to Religion & Fiction Newsletter at bouma.substack.com/subscribe

After a few weeks engaging C. S. Lewis’s first book in The Chronicles of Narnia with our Religion + Fiction Book Club, we’re taking a step back by engaging my own storytelling “why.”The episode explores some of my spiritual and professional background, along with two clear illustrations that paved the way for my own personal storytelling mission.Both Dan Brown and Ellen DeGeneres taught in different ways a crucial insight: the one with the best story wins. That’s our cultural moment. Arguments and facts don’t win the day. Stories do.That’s why I do what I do. Why I’m trying to do what I do by telling compelling, thrilling, entertaining stories that not only offer a bit of escape but also insight and inspiration for the journey.This episode gives you a glimpse into this personal storytelling why and what I learned from Dan and Ellen.In the outro I drop a hint at the next Religion + Fiction Book Club novel on the docket — which I thought would be perfect for the start of another year.J. A. Bouma believes nobody should have to read bad religious fiction—whether it’s cheesy plots with pat answers or misrepresentations of the Christian faith and the Bible. So he tells compelling, propulsive stories that thrill as much as inspire, while offering a dose of insight along the way. Available at most online retailers and direct: shop.jabouma.com. Get full access to Religion & Fiction Newsletter at bouma.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome to the final week five of the Religion + Fiction Book Club! We’re exploring chapters 15–17 this week in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. I won’t rehash here what I’ve explored above, but here is a bit about what we’ll cover, and some questions to consider for the book club.* Week 0 — An introduction* Week 1 — “Once there were four children…”* Week 2 — “Peter! Susan! It’s all true.”* Week 3 — “Who is Aslan?”* Week 4 — “Can anything be done to save Edmund?”* Week 5 — Deeper Magic from the Dawn of TimeWeek 5 Thoughts + QuestionsIn this final week we come to the end of the story and discover the end results of where we left off last week at chapter 14.Deeper Magic from the Dawn of TimeAfter Aslan’s sacrificial death for Edmund’s treachery, Susan and Lucy ‘held each other’s hands for mere loneliness and cried again; and then again were silent.’ (158)The scene is reminiscent of the scene at the cross of Christ, when all the hopes of the disciples were dashed—and really all those moments when it seems like the loneliness and hopelessness and horribleness is never going to end.Sort of like 2020!When have you had such an experience—when you feel as if nothing is ever going to happen again, that it is never going to be the same.? More MagicOf course, Aslan’s death isn’t the final word in the story—because he comes back. There is more magic to be had! As Aslan explains:“She would have known that when a willing victim who had committed no treachery was killed in a traitor’s stead, the Table would crack and Death itself would start working backward.” (163)The beauty of this story is the same beauty and majesty as the Christian story—that death in all its forms doesn’t have the final word in our story because of the resurrection.What do you think about the Christian belief in the resurrection of Jesus? What does it mean for the world—for you?Museums v. ZoosAslan’s resurrection doesn’t just have significance for him—it matters for all of Narnia.In chapter 16, we find the fruit of his resurrection, where the cold, stone statues become warm and living. And ‘the courtyard looked no longer like a MUSEUM, it looked more like a zoo.’ (168)Same with us thanks to the resurrection of Jesus Christ. We who are in Christ have passed from death to live—from a museum-life to a zoo-life!And just like Peter and Edmund, Lucy and Susan who find their true selves and identities and purpose thanks to Aslan’s words—we too find our life, our true selves, in Christ’s life, death and resurrection.Would love to hear your perspective on these questions and anything else in the first virtual lesson.Use the comment field down below to respond to the questions and my session, and feel free to add anything else I missed.Thanks for participating in my first Religion & Fiction Book Club! Hope to do it again soon 🙂Grace and peace,~jeremyJ. A. Bouma believes nobody should have to read bad religious fiction—whether it’s cheesy plots with pat answers or misrepresentations of the Christian faith and the Bible. So he tells compelling, propulsive stories that thrill as much as inspire, while offering a dose of insight along the way. Available at most online retailers and direct: shop.jabouma.com. Get full access to Religion & Fiction Newsletter at bouma.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome to week two of the Religion + Fiction Book Club! We’re exploring chapters 12–14 this week in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. I won’t rehash here what I’ve explored in the video above, but here is a bit about what we’ll cover, and some questions to consider for the book club.Book Club Episodes* Week 0 — An introduction* Week 1 — “Once there were four children…”* Week 2 — “Peter! Susan! It’s all true.”* Week 3 — “Who is Aslan?”* Week 4 — “Can anything be done to save Edmund?”* Week 5 — Deeper Magic from the Dawn of TimeReligion + Fiction Newsletter is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Week 4 Thoughts + QuestionsIt’s appropriate we’re exploring these chapters this week, because it’s Christmas in a few days! And the true meaning of Christmas—the reason for the season they say—is what these chapters represent.God showing up in our story to rescue us from the consequences of our rebellion—saving and forgiving us traitors, as Edmund was, by offering himself as our atoning sacrifice, as Aslan did.Edmund’s RedemptionRemarkably Edmund is saved by a rescue party, and when he meets Aslan in a face-to-face conversation, Aslan forgives him! He presents him to his brother and sisters, saying, “Here is your brother and—there is no need to talk to him about what is past” (139)The same is true if our own story. What’s past is past! As 2 Corinthians 5:17 reminds us, “if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”What does it mean to you that your own past is in the past?“Can anything be done to save Edmund?”Aslan is wondering where the 4th Son of Adam is and the Beaver explains “he betrayed them and joined the white witch” (128)Which of course we ourselves have in sinning—betraying God and running off and going astray, each to our own way as the book of Isaiah said.But all is not lost! For as Aslan says: “All shall be done. But it may be harder than you think.”And Aslan does all that can be done later on“You have a traitor there, Aslan…”Of course this traitor is Edmund. And according to the White Queen, every traitor belongs to her and is her lawful prey—she even has the right to kill them.This gets at our own condition, doesn’t it? The Bible reminds us in Romans that “all have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23)We’re all rebels—all traitors against God. And the wages for our rebellion, our sin is death—in all its forms.And here at the end of chapter it looks like all is lost. Looks like its hopeless. Lucy wonders “Can’t we do something about the Deep Magic? Isn’t there something you can work against it” (142)—which echoes our own longin for a fix.Thankfully, one showed up for Edmund; one showed up for us 2,000 years ago too!The Stone TableNow we come to the climax of the book—and really the climax of God’s own Story of Rescue—the sacrificial death of Aslan on the Stone Table, symbolizing Jesus’ own sacrifice on the cross for our own traitorous rebellion.In the session, I offer a powerful mashup of the clip of Aslan’s sacrifice from the movie version along with a re-telling of the narrative of Jesus’ death read by a survivor of World War II who faught in the Dutch Resistance Movement.What do you think about this sacrifice that Aslan offered on behalf of Edmund? What do you think about Jesus’ own sacrifice for the sins of the world—for your own sins, your rebellion against God and his way?Susan and Lucy believe all is lost in the death of Aslan. That the Queen has triumphed and Narnia is doomed.But of course, all is not lost—this story isn’t finished. And we’ll discover why and what happened in our final week of our virtual book club.Would love to hear your perspective on these questions and anything else in the virtual book club session.Use the comment field down below to respond to the questions and my session, and feel free to add anything else I missed.Next week, we will dive into 15–17. Hope to see you again next week, and feel free to pass this along to anyone else you know.Merry Christmas!~jeremyJ. A. Bouma believes nobody should have to read bad religious fiction—whether it’s cheesy plots with pat answers or misrepresentations of the Christian faith and the Bible. So he tells compelling, propulsive stories that thrill as much as inspire, while offering a dose of insight along the way. Available at most online retailers and direct: shop.jabouma.com. Get full access to Religion & Fiction Newsletter at bouma.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome to week three of the Religion + Fiction Book Club! We’re exploring chapters 8–11 this week in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. I won’t rehash here what I’ve explored in the episode, but here is a bit about what we’ll cover, and some questions to consider for the book club.Book Club Episodes* Week 0 — An introduction* Week 1 — “Once there were four children…”* Week 2 — “Peter! Susan! It’s all true.”* Week 3 — “Who is Aslan?”* Week 4 — “Can anything be done to save Edmund?”* Week 5 — Deeper Magic from the Dawn of TimeWeek 3 Thoughts + Questions“Who is Aslan?”These chapters bring us to the heart of the book, turning our attention to Aslan and all he means for Narnia and the children—as well as what and who he mans for us.Aslan is imagined as a sort of Christ figure. How would you answer the question: Who is Jesus?How does Luke 4:14–23 bring clarity to this question?“Safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he is good.What do you suppose is meant by this comment on Aslan by Mr. Beaver? Why us goodness better than safety?In what ways do we try to make Jesus himself safe? Why is his goodness, for us and our lives, better than safety?“Humans are both brilliant and bad.”This is how one theologian frames our human identity. We’re all Good Monsters! Turn on social media—Facebook, twitter, and you get the full spectrum of humanity, right? Both the good and the funny and kind and uplifting—and also the evil and not-so-funny and spiteful and wicked.Edmund sort of embodies this epic struggle between good and evil that plays itself out on both the world stage and individual human stages.And interestingly, the “mention of Aslan gave [Edmund] a mysterious and horrible feeling—just as it gave the others a mysterious and lovely feeling.” Why do you suppose this was? What does this tell us about our own epic battles and struggles with good and evil?“Looks as if her power is already crumbling”The week ends on an incredibly hopeful note: the arrival of Father Christmas and the impending doom of winter!How do you suppose Father Christmas symbolizes the weakening of the White Queen’s power over Narnia? Why is Christmas itself a symbol of everything being put to right?This world is not the way its supposed to be—as we remarked the first week. But we do have these glimmers of hope—the rushing water, the patches of grace, the dark green fir of a tree—we see all of this when the good news of rescue and recreation in Christ breaks into someones life.1 John reminds us, “the reason the Son of God, Jesus Christ, appeared was to destroy the devil’s work”In what ways have you seen glimmers of the devil’s work being destroyed in your own life, in your own world, through the power of Jesus’ good news?Next week we will discover more of what he means for this adjacent world of Narnia—and what Jesus means for us through his sacrificial work.Would love to hear your perspective on these questions and anything else in the first virtual lesson.Use the comment field down below to respond to the questions and my session, and feel free to add anything else I missed.Next week, we will dive into 12–14, which is timely given they cover the hope of Christmas and the reason for the season. Should be perfect inspiration for the week leading up to celebrating the birth of our own Aslan. Hope to see you again next week, and feel free to pass this along to anyone else you know.Grace and peace,~jeremyJ. A. Bouma believes nobody should have to read bad religious fiction—whether it’s cheesy plots with pat answers or misrepresentations of the Christian faith and the Bible. So he tells compelling, propulsive stories that thrill as much as inspire, while offering a dose of insight along the way. Available at most online retailers and direct: shop.jabouma.com. Get full access to Religion & Fiction Newsletter at bouma.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome to week two of the Religion + Fiction Book Club! We’re exploring chapters 5–7 this week in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. I won’t rehash here what I’ve explored in the video above, but here is a bit about what we’ll cover, and some questions to consider for the book club.Book Club Episodes* Week 0 — An introduction* Week 1 — “Once there were four children…”* Week 2 — “Peter! Susan! It’s all true.”* Week 3 — “Who is Aslan?”* Week 4 — “Can anything be done to save Edmund?”* Week 5 — Deeper Magic from the Dawn of TimeWeek 2 Thoughts + Questions“Peter! Susan! It’s all true.”Chapter 5 opens with Lucy telling of her experience with the adjacent world of Narnia. She faces skepticism and doubt from her family for her belief.Which in many ways can be compared to our own experience of faith, can’t it. When people disbelieve the truth of our own experience with Jesus and the Kingdom of Heaven.How have you yourself experienced the skepticism and doubts of others toward your faith?Liar, Lunatic, LordThe Professor (who is probably Lewis embodied in the story!) wonders: “How do you know that your sister’s story is not true?” (47) He goes on: “Either your sister is telling lies, or she is mad, or she is telling the truth (48).This gets at an argument Lewis makes about Jesus himself in other writings. His Liar, Lunatic, Lord paradigm is found in another famous book of his, Mere Christianity.He makes the point in that book in the same way he does in this one: Jesus (and our faith in him) is either a liar, a lunatic, or Lord—or faith is built on a lie, is crazy-talk, or reality.So who do you say Jesus is? How have you responded to the truth of His story? As Lucy, or Peter and Susan—even Edmund.The Temptation of Turkish DelightThe White Witch offers this to Edmund to win him over to his side. It is part of her magic, the “enchantment over the whole country so that it is always winter here and never Christmas” (page 59).She uses this magic in this way to specifically target Edmund in his weakest spot to draw him into her service. She uses it to tempt him—so the Turkish Delight in many ways is this symbol of sin and its hold over us.How have you experienced the truth of Turkish Delight? I share some of my own story and how the pull of sin has held sway over me.Turkish Delight is only part of a broader magic the over Narnia. As I read before from page 59—it is part of the “enchantment over the whole country so that it is always winter here and never Christmas”—thankfully that isn’t the end of the story!“Aslan is on the move!”The Narnia world speaks to something true of our own reality: the world is broken and busted, that we are broken and busted and rebels in desperate need of rescue. It is always winter and never Christmas!And yet—our rebellion against God which plunged the world and ourselves into chaos and confusion and death doesn’t have the final word in our story. Because “Aslan is on the move!”What do you make of this line? How does it fill the characters with hope—how does it fill you with hope?Of coure, Aslan is the Messianic character speaking to a truth about our own Messiah, Jesus. So I wonder, what does Jesus mean to you? What does that name and all he means—who he is, his love for you, what he did, dying on the cross and resurrecting to give you new life and hope and a future home with himself on a new earth?Next week we will meet this Aslan and discover more of who he is and what he means for this adjacent world of Narnia.Would love to hear your perspective on these questions and anything else in the first virtual lesson.Use the comment field down below to respond to the questions and my session, and feel free to add anything else I missed.Next week, we will dive into 5–7. Hope to see you again next week, and feel free to pass this along to anyone else you know.Grace and peace,~jeremyJ. A. Bouma believes nobody should have to read bad religious fiction—whether it’s cheesy plots with pat answers or misrepresentations of the Christian faith and the Bible. So he tells compelling, propulsive stories that thrill as much as inspire, while offering a dose of insight along the way. Available at most online retailers and direct: shop.jabouma.com. Get full access to Religion & Fiction Newsletter at bouma.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome to week one of the Religion + Fiction Book Club! We’re exploring chapters 1–4 this week in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. I originally ran this 5-week adventure through Narnia two years ago at my author website jabouma.com after Coronacrazy Year Zero. Figured people needed a bit of fantastical escape and inspiration to reflect on that glorious moment when God moved into our neighborhood going into the new year.I won’t rehash here what I’ve explored in the video above, but here is a bit about what we’ll cover, and some questions to consider for the book club.Book Club Episodes* Week 0 — An introduction* Week 1 — “Once there were four children…”* Week 2 — “Peter! Susan! It’s all true.”* Week 3 — “Who is Aslan?”* Week 4 — “Can anything be done to save Edmund?”* Week 5 — Deeper Magic from the Dawn of TimeWeek 1 Thoughts + QuestionsA Book for Kiddos and Kiddos-at-HeartIt’s fitting that we’re doing this club with Lewis’s book because it’s the 70th anniversary of the beloved story. I first discovered the book and series in 4th grade.What’s your relationship with this series? When and how did you discover it?I shared that I think I most relate to Edmund—what about you? Who do you most identify with in the story?“Once there were four Children…”It’s no small surprise that the main protagonists and heroes in the story are children. In fact, the youngest, Lucy, is the one who discovers the adjacent world.Why do you suppose that is, that children are at the center of this Good v. Evil fantasy—as well as other beloved ones, like the Harry Potter series?I make the point I can’t help but recall Jesus’ teachings on the value of children in the Gospel of Luke. How might Lucy reception of Narnia inform how we ourselves should receive the “adjacent world” in our own—what the Gospels call the Kingdom of Heaven?Into the Wardrobe we goFirst that there is a whole world adjacent to our own, which taps into our own longing for a reality beyond our own—doesn’t it?In what way does this adjacent world speak to our own longings for a world beyond our own?“Always winter and never Christmas…”This refrain is echoed throughout these first chapters from various characters and anchors the story in important wasy.What do you suppose this means? What does it mean to you—how have you yourself experienced the truth of this revelation?Daughters of Eve, Sons of AdamOne of the last things Lucy discovers in this chapter, as well as Edmund and the other children, is their idenity—who they are seems to be bigger and grander and more spectacular than they had imagined.In what way is this true of ourselve? What does the biblical storyline teach us about our own identities?Would love to hear your perspective on these questions and anything else in the first virtual lesson.Use the comment field down below to respond to the questions and my session, and feel free to add anything else I missed.Next week, we will dive into 5–7. Hope to see you again next week, and feel free to pass this along to anyone else you know.Grace and peace,~jeremyJ. A. Bouma believes nobody should have to read bad religious fiction—whether it’s cheesy plots with pat answers or misrepresentations of the Christian faith and the Bible. So he tells compelling, propulsive stories that thrill as much as inspire, while offering a dose of insight along the way. Available at most online retailers and direct: shop.jabouma.com. Get full access to Religion & Fiction Newsletter at bouma.substack.com/subscribe

Book Club Episodes* Week 0 — An introduction* Week 1 — “Once there were four children…”* Week 2 — “Peter! Susan! It’s all true.”I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty much over 2022!Between the ongoing corona-crazy, the election here in the States, and Comrade Crazy Pants doing his thing in Eastern Europe — I’m ready to drop 2022 and ask for a refund 🙂Can I get an ‘Amen’?If you’re like me, the way you got through this year is devouring story. In thinking of a way to end the year, I kept coming back to what has gotten me through and also to the ideas of ‘enchantment’ and ‘inspiration’ — I need a healthy dose of each these final weeks.And where better to find both than through the Chronicles of Narnia?So I’m spending the final two months reading my childhood favorite, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe — and I’d like to invite you along for the ride.Here’s the deal: I’m rockin’ out the rest of the year with a replay of my first ever RELIGION + FICTION BOOK CLUB!!! I originally ran the experiment at my author website, jabouma.com, and people seemed to resonate with it. So I thought I’d bring it back for an encore. We’ll see how it goes, but I’d love for you to join in the fun.Best of all: it’s totally free, with zero agendas and zero gimmicks here. Just trying to do my party to get us through the crazy with a dose if enchantment and inspiration for the journey.Hope you consider joining in the fun! Listen to this prequel episode introing me and some of my story along with what’s behind this book club.Here are the detailsThis is a 100% virtual book club that can be accessed anywhere in the world, anytime of the day. It’ll be guided by me (J.A. Bouma, aka Jeremy!) through pre-recorded audio and videos diving into the more sacred elements of C.S. Lewis’s beloved story for kiddos and kiddos-at-heart.Again, anyone can join (do invite your friends!) and it is 100% free; nothing to buy or sell.Some details:* Begins November 30 and ends December 28, 2022* Runs 5 weeks, every Wednesday* 30 minute audio + videos with thoughts and questions to go deeper in the story, offer insight into matters of faith, and inspire for the journey* Open comments for interaction* Buy the book today, whether ebook or print (here’s an easy link to Amazon if you need the ebook or print), and start diving into a story that will enchant as much as inspire for the journey of faithThe Schedule:* November 30 / Chapters 1–4* December 7/ Chapters 5–7* December 14 / Chapters 8–11* December 21 / Chapters 12–14* December 28 / Chapters 15–17Remember: this is totally free, there’s no catch or gimmick, and you’re invited!I know it may be a scary, frustrating time right now—feels like what C.S. Lewis himself voiced in the story: “Always winter and never Christmas.” But take heart: the hope and promise of this story and the Story of the Bible is that “Aslan is on the move”!I really hope you join in the 5-week fun and that this offers an enchanting, insightful way to end the year after so much crazy!Hope to see you in the club! You can check back here each Wednesday or sign up for emails of each post to be delivered to your inbox (no SPAM; promise!)Grace and peace these final weeks of 2022,~ jeremy Get full access to Religion & Fiction Newsletter at bouma.substack.com/subscribe