An Unexpected Journal: The Worlds of Tolkien: Explore the imagination and joy in the worlds created by J.R.R. Tolkien
About this ebook
In this collection of essays, short stories, and poems, we explore the magic of Tolkien’s works that defined high fantasy and illustrate the underlying Christian themes that are so essential to the joy his work brings.
Contributors:
C.M. Alvarez: "Melchizedek, Bombadil, and the Numinous in The Lord of the Rings," an essay on the parallels between the mysterious figures found in the Bible and The Lord of the Rings and what they represent.
Donald W. Catchings, Jr.: "The Hero from Bagshot Row," a poem dedicated to the heroism of Sam in The Lord of the Rings.
Annie Crawford: "Courage at the Crossroads" on how the journey of the Fellowship illustrates the truth of the Gospel message.
S. Dorman: "The Common Good in Tolkien's Rural Communities," an essay on the importance of community drawing from illustrations in The Lord of the Rings by Tolkien and In Search of the Common Good: Christian Fidelity in a Fractured World by Jake Meador.
Karise Gililland: "One Theme to Rule Them All," an essay on a collection of Catholic essays in Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings.
Korine Martinez: "Awakening Joy," an essay on the Christ-inspired joy which infuses The Lord of the Rings
Seth Myers: "Tolkien and Miyazaki: Princess Mononoke and The Lord of the Rings in Conversation," an essay on the fight against evil in The Lord of the Rings by Tolkien and the animated film, Princess Mononoke.
Annie Nardone: "Finishing Well," an essay on purpose as illustrated in "Leaf by Niggle;" "The Finished Work," a sonnet based on "Leaf by Niggle;" and "A Passage to Something Better," an essay on death in The Lord of the Rings.
Josiah Peterson: "Supernatural Words" on the importance of language in the creation of Tolkien's Middle-earth.
George Scondras: "Melkor and Illuvatar" on the Christian hope in The Silmarillion.
Zak Schmoll: "The Beauty of a Growing Friendship," an essay on the importance of fellowship and community illustrated in The Lord of the Rings and a book review on An Encouraging Thought
Clark Weidner: "Tom Bombadil: The Value of an Enigma," an essay on the importance of mystery.
Donald T. Williams: "Loth Lorien" and "To J.R.R. Tolkien, poems inspired by Tolkien's work.
About An Unexpected Journal
An Unexpected Journal is a quarterly publication that presents the truth of Christianity using reason and imagination.
Spring 2020, Volume 3, Issue 1
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.
Donald W. Catchings, Jr. is Founder and Board Chair of Street Light Inc. and Pastor of The True Light Church in Conroe, Texas since 2009. Also, Donald is a Literature and Theology teacher at Kepler Education (kepler.education). As a writer, Donald regularly contributes to An Unexpected Journal and his own blog: www.donaldwcatchingsjr.com. Donald recently released Joy Through a Wardrobe — a book of poetry and reflections on C. S. Lewis’s The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. It is available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, wipfandstock.com, and more.
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.
S. Dorman’s essays have appeared in print publications such as Mythlore and Caleum et Terra, and online in Mere Orthodoxy and Superversive Inklings. She writes allusive biblical fan fiction, satire, and rural town-in-transition Maine novels, achieved an MA in humanities from California State University, Dominguez Hills, and has authored Maine creative nonfiction, Maine Metaphor, published in series by Wipf & Stock.
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.
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
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.
George Scondras is an artist with many attempts and few successes, a plight that is analogous to the Christian journey. He looks forward to an eternity of joy in the luminous presence of his Creator. He lives in the hills of north Georgia with his wife and children. He is currently working on a PhD in Christianity and the Arts from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.
Zak Schmoll is the founder of Entering the Public Square (www.enteringthepublicsquare.
Clark Weidner is the founder of Solid Faith: A Podcast, blog, vlog, and Christian apologetics website. He is currently pursuing a Masters degree in Cultural Apologetics from Houston Baptist University. He holds a blue belt in jiu jitsu and plenty of scars from years of skateboarding. He met his wife Amber in a Lord of the Rings book club and now they have a dog named Thanos (due to their love of comics).
Donald T. Williams, PhD, is a border dweller, permanently camped out on the borders between theology and literatyre, serious scholarship and pastoral ministry, Narnia and Middle Earth. He serves as R. A. Forrest Scholar at Toccoa Falls College and is the author of Deeper Magic: The Theology behind the Writings of C. S. Lewis (Baltimore: Square Halo Press, 2016).
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.
