An Unexpected Journal: Courage, Strength, & Hope: An Apologetic View on on the Redemptive Power of Stories
About this ebook
It is in the dark times and in moments of weakness that stories of courage and strength, those which promise hope, have the most value. This issue explores the redemptive power of stories and their ability to impact and transform.
Contributors:
C.M. Alvarez: “Hope, Life, and the Fountain of Trevi,” a reflection on the enduring draw of the famous fountain; “Lava: A Story of Love and Hope” on the deeper meanings found within the Pixar short; and “The Making of a Hero,” a commentary on the forms of courage and an illustration of its development found in C.S. Lewis’s “Till We Have Faces” and the film, “Dear Frankie” directed by Shona Auerbach.
Karise Gililland: “Relict,” a poem on the transition from bewildered suffering to active hope.
Lucas W. Holt: “The Adventures of Asher Svenson: Story One: The Secret Wood,” a short story on the Mystery of the Forest.
Nicole Howe: “A Reason for Our Hope: The Role of Fairy Stories in Christian Apologetics,” an essay on why fairy stories matter.
Jason Monroe: “The Lord of the Rings and Consolation Concerning Death” on the central theme of J. R. R. Tolkien’s masterpiece.
Annie Nardone: “The Power in Pain” on the first-hand experience of pain.
Seth Myers: “Tales of Courage and Hope: Black Panther in Middle Earth and Narnia” on the connections from Oxford to Hollywood; and
“Tales of Courage and Hope: Hamilton in Middle Earth and Narnia: Part One & Part Two” on the connections from Oxford to Broadway.
Josiah Peterson: “The Homeric Versus the Christian Ideal of Man” on contrasting the nature of humanity
Daniel Ray: “Courage in the Cosmos” on the Boldness of Our Story.
Zak Schmoll: “The Heroism of the Ordinary in The Lord of the Rings” on the character of Samwise Gamgee.
About the author
Carla Alvarez is a mother to three and a graduate of HBU's Masters in Apologetics program. Her philosophy in both business and apologetics is if what we think affects what we do, then the "how" is just as important as the "what." As actions have a lasting impact, it is of utmost importance to develop right thoughts. She creates effective communications for clients at Legacy Marketing (www.legacymarketingservices.
Karise Gililland is a coach by day, writer by night, 24-hour-a-day mama of two! She holds a BA in English from Southern Methodist University and a Masters in Apologetics from Houston Baptist University.
Lucas W. Holt is the founder of Pelican Poetry, a literary platform dedicated to perceiving truth through the poetic imagination. He lives and works in Portland, Oregon, where he enjoys hiking, drinking coffee, and exploring the wonders of the Pacific Northwest.
Nicole Howe is a wife and homeschooling mother of four and currently resides in Illinois. She is scheduled to graduate with a Masters of Apologetics from Houston Baptist University this fall. When she isn't writing, she enjoys cooking, exploring nature, and performing improv comedy at her local theater.
Jason holds a B.A. from York College in York, NE, where he studied English and Psychology. He also recently completed his M.A. in Christian Apologetics from Houston Baptist University. Along with research and writing, Jason plays drums in a band and works in the mental health field. He grew up in Pierre, SD and currently lives in Spearfish, SD. In his spare time, he does a lot of outdoors activities in the Black Hills area and volunteers at his local parish.
Seth Myers completed his MA in Cultural Apologetics from Houston Baptist University in 2017. As a power systems engineer, he has been involved with transformer diagnostics and rural electrification projects by partnering with NGOs in West Africa. A volunteer with international students through local churches, he enjoys conversations with friends from all cultures. He considers himself rich in friendships across time and space, including but not limited to C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, Bede the Venerable, Augustine, Ravi Zacharias & friends, and many student friends (chess-playing when possible, but not required) typically from throughout Asia. He has recently begun taking online courses in Faulkner University’s Doctor of Humanities program.
Annie Nardone is a two-year C. S. Lewis Institute Fellow and is currently reading for her Master of Arts in Cultural Apologetics from Houston Baptist University. Her feet are firmly planted in Rohan, Narnia, and Hogwarts, far fairer lands than this. She has researched, photographed, and written a cookbook of historically accurate recipes covering the time between 64 A.D through the Medieval age. Annie resides in Virginia with her fandom-loving family and three sphynx cats who read with her daily but really don't give a tick about her ramblings regarding any of it.
Josiah Peterson is debate coach and instructor of rhetoric at the King’s College and is enrolled in HBU’s MAA program in Cultural Apologetics. He lives in New York with his wife Rachelle and daughter Hosanna. His primary scholarly interest is in the work of C.S. Lewis.
Daniel was the second graduate right behind Zak from the on-line MA in Christian apologetics from Houston Baptist University. He has taught elementary, middle and high school, and is a co-editor of a forthcoming book The Story of the Cosmos (Harvest House, August 2019), a collection of essays from astronomers, a theologian or two, astrophysicists, literary scholars and laymen, each sharing their insights about the glory the heavens declare. He is also the cohost of a little podcast called "Good Heavens! A Podcast about the Universe with Wayne and Dan." In his spare time, Daniel runs, reads, writes, stargazes, and bakes apple pie from scratch.
Find Dan's podcast at https://www.patreon.com/
Zak Schmoll is the founder of Entering the Public Square (www.enteringthepublicsquare.
Virginia de la Lastra is a physician, illustrator, and apologist. In 2015, while studying a Master’s degree in Apologetics at HBU, she discovered a love for drawing and has been doing it ever since. She has illustrated several books, and she regularly illustrates for The Society of Gilbert Keith Chesterton, An Unexpected Journal, Teen STAR, and of course, for her medical students, nieces, nephews and little neighbors.
