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"The Fate of Transport 80-14" by Allen Steadham is a short story which is part of INTO THE UNKNOWN: An Ambassador International Science Fiction Anthology. The anthology is scheduled for release later in 2021.
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This is a book trailer for my Christian dystopian science fiction short story called "Singularity of Purpose." I wrote this in January 2019. It is the introduction to a future series.
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Every author has themes that run throughout their books. Some choose political themes, others choose more down-to-Earth themes like coming-of-age, the hero's journey or overcoming adversity. As a Christian author, I have themes that run through all my novels as well.


THEME 1: CHRIST IS ALWAYS THE ANSWER

Whether in Mindfire or the Jordan of Algoran series, the protagonists face incredible challenges and hurtles to overcome. Things look bleak, but hope arises in turning to Jesus Christ and submitting to God's will.

I have been happy to present this theme because it works in real life, too. We all face difficulties and we don't always have the means to overcome things on our own. We may have financial or medical problems or we may be lonely or depressed. We're human, so we have to deal with each day as it comes.

But we don't have to deal with it alone. We may be separated from loved ones by time and distance, but God is everywhere. And we can have His help. All we have to do is turn to our Savior, Jesus Christ. We don't have to say much or even talk out loud. All we have to do is think of Jesus and say or think "Jesus, please help me!"


Hebrews 4: 14-16 (King James Version) reads:

Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.


THEME 2: ADOPTION

Leia Hamilton, the lead protagonist in Mindfire, is adopted by her father's wife. Sue Hamilton helped raise Leia since birth and has developed a deep bond with her adoptive daughter.

In the Jordan of Algoran series, Jordan and her mother were adopted into the Mokta tribe after they were abducted to Algoran and marooned there. They had to learn the language and culture from alien beings on another planet. But they were accepted and even willingly assimilated into that community. The tribe's culture and people became an integral part of their lives.

I support adoption. And while I have not personally adopted or fostered any children, I think it is wonderful. It takes a special kind of loving heart to want to care for others and bring them into their home.

The Bible speaks of literal and spiritual adoption.


Romans 8: 15-18 (KJV) reads:

For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.


THEME 3: TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE

I believe in traditional marriage between a biological man and a biological woman. I recognize that the law allows for other forms of marriage. And I harbor no negativity towards anyone in any form of marriage. But God created marriage. Holy Matrimony is something only He can define.


Genesis 2: 20-24 (KJV) reads:

And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him.

And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;

And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.

And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.

Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.


In Mark 10: 6-9 (KJV), Jesus said:

But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female.

For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife;

And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh.

What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.


THEME 4: PRO-LIFE

My books will always be Pro-Life. I believe life is precious because all life was created by God. This is one of the reasons I support adoption and foster care. Through the Bible, God has said a lot about LIFE, even in the womb.


Jeremiah 1: 4-5 (KJV) reads:

Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.


Psalms 127: 3 (KJV) reads:

Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.


John 1: 1-4 (KJV) reads:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

The same was in the beginning with God.

All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

In him was life; and the life was the light of men.


Genesis 25: 20-24 (KJV) reads:

And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah to wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padanaram, the sister to Laban the Syrian.

And Isaac intreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren: and the LORD was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived.

And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to enquire of the LORD.

And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.

And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb.


In Mindfire, Leia was born because of her father's efforts to convince her biological mother to continue the pregnancy and give birth to her. He then raised Leia to adulthood with his wife, Sue. Upon learning all this, Leia is profoundly affected.


OTHER THEMES

I have other minor themes that also weave through my stories, but the ones I highlighted here are the main ones. And these are the four that will likely find their way into my future works. In my opinion, these are what that can make a difference in people's lives.
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While there are many deep divisions of thought and opinion, both in the United States and around the world, there is one thing we can depend on: God is real. He is eternal, unchanging, holy and the source of all love and everything good. We can call on Him and depend on Him, no matter the circumstances.

I recently finished reading Job in the Old Testament. I will always be amazed by God's response to Job:


Job 38: 22-38 (King James Version - KJV)

Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail, which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war? By what way is the light parted, which scattereth the east wind upon the earth?

Who hath divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters, or a way for the lightning of thunder; To cause it to rain on the earth, where no man is; on the wilderness, wherein there is no man; To satisfy the desolate and waste ground; and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth?

Hath the rain a father? or who hath begotten the drops of dew? Out of whose womb came the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who hath gendered it?
The waters are hid as with a stone, and the face of the deep is frozen.

Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion? Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons? Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth?

Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee? Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go and say unto thee, Here we are?

Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the heart? Who can number the clouds in wisdom? or who can stay the bottles of heaven, when the dust groweth into hardness, and the clods cleave fast together?


For what He is and what He can do, the Lord is beyond our comprehension. Yet based on examples in the Bible throughout history, and even through our continued existence as a human race, I believe it is undeniable that God loves us. We are His creations, beings given souls and the Breath of Life from God Himself.

We may come up with reasons to divide ourselves from one another, to see differences in each other based on our skin color, country of origin, belief systems (political or spiritual) and as many ultimately small reasons we can think up, but at the same time, we have undeniable things in common. We have the same basic biological and emotional needs. We all bleed red. We all have aspirations, passions and we all need hope to continue on in life.

Keeping this in mind, our divisions are only as relevant as we make them.

God, through His Own Example in Jesus Christ, showed us what unity is supposed to be: submission to God's Will for our lives.

Jesus was accused of being a devil, even though He was the Son of God and lived a sinless life. Though Jesus performed miracles, healed the sick, raised the dead, changed water to wine, and fed thousands with only a couple of loaves of bread and a few fish, people still people did not believe Jesus was who He said He was. The religious leaders called His claims of being the Son of God blasphemy and condemned Jesus.

Despite all that, He did not fight back, curse or put the blame on others. He willingly suffered wrongs beyond what we can imagine. Submitting to God's Will, Jesus took up His cross and allowed Himself to be the sacrifice for all of our sins. He died and was resurrected so the Holy Spirit could be sent to the world to provide us a path for salvation and peace.


I John 2: 1-6 (KJV) reads:

My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for our's only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.

He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.

He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

In addition, I John 2: 15 - 17 (KJV) reads:

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.


We can depend on the Lord to keep His Holy Word. It requires faith and patience that only the Holy Spirit can provide. But these gifts are available to us, we only have to call on Him and believe.

We don't have to be afraid in the face of uncertainty. No matter what concerns you — whether the pandemic or lockdowns, political unrest — or any other fear or concern, we can all find assurance in God's promises.


In John 16: 33 (KJV), Jesus said:

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
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We live in interesting times...

In my view, it is no longer a matter of whether the world we have always known is changing. It has changed and will continue to. I don't think I need to go into the specifics, as this has been publicly discussed at great length.

Despite these developments, I am not afraid and I have hope. My hope is not for which direction my country or the world will go from here, that will change from day to day. Instead, my hope is in God and His Son, Jesus Christ. So long as I place my trust in Him, the Holy Spirit will continue to guide me.

I will continue to serve my Lord however He wants me to. I will continue to write Christian fiction. I sent the manuscript for The Former Things to my publisher, Ambassador International, this week. And I will push forward on Book One of the Steam & Mettle series. I will perform with my wife in First Light wherever we are needed. My family and I will go to church and seek the Lord's will for our lives. And I will seek to have peace with everyone I encounter and to conform more to the image of Jesus Christ by His grace.

My prayers are for all of you. As always, I would appreciate your prayers and well wishes also.
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This is a personal video, not an author video. I was compelled to make this short video after the events — and reactions to those events — of January 6, 2021 in the USA.
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I made a Christmas-themed video, including a short reading from my Jordan's Arrow novel.
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My publisher Ambassador International has released a new YouTube book trailer for the Jordan of Algoran series. I think it's pretty incredible. I hope you like it, too!
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  • One winner will receive signed print copies of the entire Jordan of Algoran series (US only)

  • One winner will receive ebook copies of the entire Jordan of Algoran series (open internationally)

  • Ends October 29, 2020
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  • Enter below!

About the author

Allen Steadham is a nondenominational Christian. Happily interracially married since 1995 and the proud father of two sons and a daughter. He and his wife have been in the same Christian band since 1997. He plays electric bass, she plays strings, they both sing. It's all good.

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