Cliff Graham's Blog

Back in service

I've been overloaded with military work the past month, but I am going to try to climb back in the loop with the blogging because there is a lot going on and I want to start updating more frequently. Look for more news soon.

Until then, the Amazon.com pre-order is up for the new DAY OF WAR. The cover you see there is not the final version, but at least it can be ordered now. Upon release in April it will be available in stores everywhere, but we're hoping to get work out early with pre-orders. It's been dramatically updated and improved, I think, and worth another look if you enjoyed the first one.

In the southeast

I'm enjoying my time at Fort Jackson as much as can be expected. Army training environments are never exactly the most fun you will have in a year, but they're always beneficial. I've had a blast meeting a bunch of other chaplains and getting to know them.

And although I miss my family a great deal, our perspective is shaped by the fact that I could be deployed overseas for a year, so it's not all that bad.

I'll begin regular blogging again when I am done in December, I simply don't have the time right now while juggling all of the various training events during the day and civilian writing commitments on weekends. But it will be great to dig into how warriors are spiritually nurtured when I get back.

One thing I have neglected to mention to everyone is that I do consulting and conceptual editorial work in addition to my own writing. If you are a budding writer and are looking for professional help, feel free to contact me at lionofwarauthor@gmail.com

The power of fellowship

I had a great evening, along with my platoon, with Chaplain (COL) Bart Physioc and his wife. He is the installation chaplain for Fort Jackson, SC. He basically oversees all of the spiritual support to basic training soldiers in the army who enter at this location.

(Side note: For those wondering what in the world I am doing, I am at the Army Chaplain Center and School for some training until December)

They had about twenty of us over there, and it was a terrific evening of fellowship. There are probably few things more effective to bring the hope that we have in the Lord than opening a home and breaking bread together. It spoke to all of us very deeply, especially those of us who are away from home for a while.

How often do you find time to break bread with others? I don't just mean communion, but actually opening your home and sharing a meal? I imagine that David and his guys tossed chunks of meat and bread to each other around campfires. There's something about sharing food that is just...holy.

DAY OF WAR is not available yet

I've been getting a steady stream of emails regarding where people can buy DAY OF WAR. I am thrilled to see the new interest generated by the upcoming movies, but unfortunately the original version is out of print.

Zondervan will be releasing it in May. The version you are seeing (including the cover) when you search Amazon and other sites is the old version. It is not available, so please don't order from someone who says they have it--because they don't. At least, not officially (or legally)...

Stop criticizing long enough to think

The market is becoming overloaded with books about former fundamentalist Christian youths who now believe they have found the answer. The answer to what? Who knows. They just complain long enough that they are thought of as enlightened.

It's a tired trick. I sympathize as much as anyone with young people who became embittered because of all of the needless religious slavery that existed for many years in this country. Way too many rules existed about who loved Jesus and who didn't, and the chi...

Now in the HOLLYWOOD REPORTER

Happy to see the coverage of DAY OF WAR in the Hollywood Reporter today. I'm finally able to mention that John Fusco is indeed the screenwriter. He's a terrific guy and incredibly friendly, and most importantly, he "gets" it. I am looking forward to everyone seeing his work on this material.

Here is the link to the story. 

Just a reminder

Those of you who pre-ordered copies of book 2 in the series will still be getting them--because of the publisher change we needed to push back the date of availability, but you will still be getting signed copies.

Feel free to email with any questions.

Burning the Qur'an

Of course, this is a completely terrible idea. The international community has rightfully condemned the act, and the the thirty or so wackos and their pastor are being called on it.

It does raise larger concerns, though.

Why such an explosion over thirty backwater fundamentalists?
What they intend to do is horrible on a lot of levels, not the least of which is needlessly endangering people everywhere who might suffer Muslim wrath. But almost as concerning was how hard our hysterical media cultur...

Things that go bump

When I was little, it was my dad who got up to investigate the strange bump in the night. There was no debate or discussion about gender roles or equal rights. My mom personifies the "strong woman," but when something went bump, dad went to check it out.

Now that I have been a father for a few years, I finally get it. When something goes bump in the night, I get up and check it out. My wife waits safely in our bedroom for me to return, not because I have oppressed her or want to keep her...

Feeling the land

I always knew that I wanted to walk the deserts and mountains of Israel before finishing the process on this first LION OF WAR book. Due to our miraculous Internet age and the availability of high quality research, it is entirely possible to write a historically knowledgeable and effective Bible-based story without having ever been there.

That said, as I suspected, I couldn't really feel it before now. It bled through my fingers onto the page as best it could, but it wasn't until I stood on Ma...