An Unexpected Journal: Imagination: Exploring the power and impact of imagination and stories
About this ebook
Our imaginations are often treated as relics of our childhood. We are told to grow up and leave that sense of awe and wonder behind. What if these modernistic tendencies were entirely wrong? What if we were meant to live enchanted lives, seeing the world with the joy and amazement?
This collection of essays, stories, and poems is meant to explore the power of the imagination and its unique connection to our human nature.
Contributors
"Imagination and Its Role in Faith" by C.M. Alvarez. An essay on how imagination open the mind to faith.
"We Have Sinned and Grown Old: A Reflection on Imagination and Motherhood" by Nicole Howe. An essay on the innocence of youthful wonder.
"Messiah" by Adam L. Brackin. A short story of a voyage to Paradise.
"Awe" by Annie Nardone. A poem regarding a sense of wonder.
"The Adventures of Asher Svenson, Story Two: A Feast of Fishes" by Lucas Holt. The second installment with the tale of Asher Svenson and his adventures at the seashore.
"Reviving a Sacred Imagination" by Annie Crawford. An essay on the way reason and imagination are both necessary for discipleship.
"Light in the Darkness" by Korine Martinez. A short story about striving against evil. Inspired by the true story of Charlotte Thomason.
"Imagining Conversion" by Josiah Peterson. An essay regarding the way conversion stories change lives.
"God, the Playwright" by Donald W. Catchings, Jr. A poem on the Gospel as an imaginative masterpiece.
"The Armor of the Dragon: Chapter One - What Grew in the Garden" by Daniel Asperheim. A short story on the beginning of a magical adventure.
"Re-Enchanting the World: A Tale of Two Paradigms" by Josh Herring. An essay on overcoming our modern disenchantment.
"Celestial Rodeo" by Daniel Ray. A short story on the importance of humility.
"The Imaginative Power of Sub-Creation" by Zak Schmoll. An essay reflecting on why we love Tolkien's stories.
Cover art by Virginia de la Lastra
Volume 2, Issue 1, Spring 2019
198 pages
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.
Daniel Asperheim is a novelist, researcher, and EFL teacher. He currently lives in Japan with wife and daughter.
Adam L. Brackin, Ph.D. — Doc to his friends — is an independent media consultant, new-media apologist, writer, and sometimes professor. His teaching and research interests include: Social Media, Transmedia, and ARG; all forms of non-linear and interactive narrative; story mechanics models, and video game studies and design.
Donald W. Catchings, Jr. is a father of three—two girls and a boy—and has been married to his wife Rachel since 2008. Donald is Founder and Board Chair of Street Light Inc. and Pastor of The True Light Church in Conroe, Texas since 2009. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Biblical and Educational Studies from Liberty University and is currently enrolled in Houston Baptist University’s Apologetics program. Academically and creatively, most of Donald’s writing experience has been theological in nature; however, it is his desire to produce creative apologetic work that displays the power of friendship as defined in the Christian faith.
He is currently working on a broad spectrum of creative apologetic materials ranging from Children’s Literature to Historical Fiction that will promote Christian friendship. It is Donald’s goal, after completing his MAA with HBU, to pursue a MLitt in Bible and the Contemporary World from the University of St. Andrews and, eventually, to enroll in a Doctoral Program.
Annie Crawford lives in Austin, Texas with her husband and three teenage daughters. She currently homeschools, teaches humanities courses, and serves on the Faith & Culture team at Christ Church Anglican while working to complete a Masters of Apologetics at Houston Baptist University.
Josh Herring is a humanities instructor at Thales Academy Rolesville in North Carolina, and a doctoral student at Faulkner University. He writes for several outlets; his most recent work has been published in The Everyman, Public Discourse, The Imaginative Conservative, The Federalist, and the Journal of Faith and the Academy.
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 has a Masters of Apologetics from Houston Baptist University. When she isn't writing, she enjoys cooking, exploring nature, and performing improv comedy at her local theater.
Korine Martinez is a full-time High School English teacher and part-time writer. She holds a BS from Liberty University and an MA in Apologetics from Houston Baptist University.
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 heart is for Rohan, Narnia, and Hogwarts, far fairer lands than this. Annie researched, photographed, and wrote an historically accurate cookbook covering the time between 64 A.D. through the Medieval age. She also contributes and edits for An Unexpected Journal at www.anunexpectedjournal.com, and has been published online at Literary Life, and Bright Ideas Press. Annie resides in Virginia with her fandom-loving family and four 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, a blog founded on the sincere belief that every Christian should understand the importance of discussing Christianity in the marketplace of ideas. He earned his MA in Apologetics at Houston Baptist University and is currently a PhD student in Humanities at Faulkner University. His work has been featured on several websites including The Federalist, the Public Discourse and the Fourth World Journal.
