Here's the audio for the interview that Joanna White and I had with Parker J Cole on the Write Stuff Radio podcast earlier this week! We discussed the Lights in a Dark Sky anthology. The audio was used with permission from Parker J. Cole.

Sometimes, I think it’s good to stop and reflect on simple truths. My most recent reflections have concerned how alive and active God is today. I think it’s too easy to only see God as “the God of the Bible.” The Bible speaks the most about God and God even speaks many times in the Bible. But I find that view too confining for this ever-present, omnipotent, and all-powerful God that I love and serve. God inspired men to write the Bible, but His existence, scope, and power are not limited to the pages of any book, no matter what that book is.

God gave us the Bible to introduce us to Him and a fraction of the many things He has done throughout history. The Bible shows us who He is and what He expects. It is His Living Word. In it, He demonstrated His Holiness, Mercy, and Grace towards us. And the Bible documents the way God paved the way for Christian salvation. He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, on a rescue mission to Earth to provide a way for us to be freed from the penalty of sin and restore our connection to God through His Holy Spirit.

As powerful as that is, it’s just the beginning, in my opinion. When we confess our sins, acknowledge Jesus Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection, and enter into a personal relationship with Him, we can experience the Lord’s presence in our daily lives.

We can pray to God and Jesus relays our prayers to God. Sometimes we will receive answers to those prayers right away and sometimes, it may take years. We may even learn down the road that a “no” was the best answer we could have possibly received. God is always looking out for us, and everything He does works towards our good, whether we understand it or not.

And our relationship with Him is not limited to prayer. God sends His angels to intervene on our behalf, either protecting us from harm or lessening harm that could have been far worse. God softens people’s hearts to become more compassionate and He inspires people to help others, whether they know those people or not. And God, through Jesus Christ, has promised to be with us through life’s storms.

God has mercy on who He will have mercy, including Christians and non-Christians. God is the original Judge and Arbiter of Truth because He is the only One worthy of that position. He is holy and there is no one like Him.

Romans 9: 14-18 (King James Version = KJV) reads:

What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.

For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.

So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.

Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.

And in Matthew 5: 43-45 (KJV), Jesus said:

Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.

But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

Everyone has the opportunity to know and experience the love and peace of God through His Son, Jesus Christ. And that personal relationship can be deep and extremely fulfilling. Despite all of us humans being mortal and imperfect, we can find a true friend in Jnesus Christ and meaningful purpose in our mortal lives. We will still face hardships, challenges, pains, and losses, but we can face it with the presence of a Savior who can see us through it all. And then, at the end of our lives, whenever that happens to be, if we persevere and strive to keep His commandments, we can join Him in Heaven and experience joy and peace throughout eternity, gratefully praising God with the other saints.

Personally, I find great comfort in realizing all the blessings I have already received here on Earth: my wife, my children, my extended family, and my family-in-Christ, not to mention all the good things that He has allowed me to experience, including inspiring my creativity for Him as an author and musician.

I also have discernment of truth through the Holy Spirit and I have confidence in Him. With the Lord's help, I am not swayed by the aspects of this world which work against His Word, the Holy Bible. I have the assurance that, in making every effort to serve my Lord and Savior and follow His commandments, I will see Jesus in peace in Heaven one day. And I look forward to that. It gives me hope and inspires me to make the most of my time on Earth.

In conclusion, Revelation 21: 1-8 (KJV) gives hope and a warning about the future:

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.

He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

"Light of Life" was one of the first Christian music songs I wrote back in 1999. It's a testimony, a prayer-like song. I played the electric guitar, electric bass guitar and sang on this one. I made a quick music remix and put together a lyric video to go with it. I hope you enjoy it!

This is the second video in a new series called Due East Re-View. Due East was an award-winning Christian slice-of-life webcomic co-written by me and my wife, Angel Steadham with art by me. It ran from 2007 until 2009 on The Duck Webcomics and is now available in its entirety for free on Comic Fury.

This is the first video in a new series called Due East Re-View. Due East was an award-winning Christian slice-of-life webcomic co-written by me and my wife, Angel Steadham with art by me. It ran from 2007 until 2009 on The Duck Webcomics and is now available in its entirety for free on Comic Fury.

My interview with Parker J. Cole on the Write Stuff Radio podcast aired this Tuesday, August 16, 2022. We discussed The Former Things and how it is a non-formulaic Christian Romance novel. You can listen to it on the embedded player below. Check it out! Feedback welcome.