Randy Alcorn's Blog, page 175

A Letter to Those Struggling with Eating Disorders

When I was twenty years old and in Bible college, and had known Jesus for just five years, I worked with junior highers and high schoolers at my church. A young girl came to me who was starving herself to death, because she thought she was fat. She wasn’t. She was thin. It didn’t make sense. I tried to talk her out of it. Of course, I failed.

I did research and asked around because I'd never heard of anything like this. Information was hard to find, in that pre-internet era, but I found a few articles on anorexia nervosa and eating disorders and in a matter of weeks I was awakened to a world that I'd never known. Since that time, forty years ago, people know a lot more, and tragically, countless girls and women have continued to suffer. 

I was deeply touched by this wonderful article from Emily T. Wierenga:

An Open Letter to My Friends Struggling with Eating Disorders

Dear friend,

I want to take you back 20 years, to when I am thirteen years old.

I am a pastor’s kid standing in a hospital room with clumps of hair in my hand.

My nails are splintered, and you can see the outline of my braces through my cheeks.

I weigh sixty pounds.

The room smells like Lysol. Nurses say I’m dying.

I was brushing my hair when it started to fall, and I tried to catch all the falling pieces and put them back on my head.

Today I ate for the first time in four years — truly ate, everything on my plate, everything they put before me — because even though I still don’t think I have anorexia, I know this isn’t normal.

To be purple from hypothermia and unable to run or lift objects, and to have your friends cry when they see you. This is not normal.

It will be another twenty years before I can admit to having a mental illness, but today is a start. Because I saw her on the way to the hospital. A woman, jogging, and she was muscular and the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen. She seemed fully alive.

And I realized, then, in that moment, that I was hungry for more than food.

I had been starving long before I ever refused my first meal.

Read the rest on DesiringGod.org

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Children Learn from Our Example… For Better or For Worse

This 60 second video is very powerful, though I’m well aware parts of it could be offensive to some. I hate to see a child making an obscene gesture (or smoking for that matter), but in the context of the vital message it’s conveying, I think it’s worth posting, shock value and all. (Please don’t watch it if my description of the contents makes it unacceptable.)  While I wish the video conveyed a few more positive examples at the end, it does enough to show there’s a completely different way to influence children.

This reminds me of what Albert Schweitzer said: “There are only three ways to teach a child. The first is by example, the second is by example, the third is by example.”

Whether consciously or not, we continuously train our children, engraving our values in them as if drawing with a stick in wet cement. Children learn most effectively not just from what we say, but from what we do. Our actions speak louder than our words. (Sometimes so loudly our children can’t hear a word we’re saying!)

The lesson is this: sometimes our children will fail to listen to us; rarely will they fail to imitate us.

As parents and mentors of children and young adults, may we seek to follow the example of the Apostle Paul, who lived in such a way that he could say: “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1).

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Entrusting Ourselves to Him Who Judges Justly

Suffering is bad. Unjust suffering seems, at times, intolerable. It is not just painful; it is wrong.

Twenty years ago, I was named in an unwarranted lawsuit. In court, some of the plaintiffs—the owner and staff of an abortion clinic—falsely accused me and others of yelling and swearing at women, calling them names, and putting our hands on them as they attempted to enter the abortion clinic. When a Portlandpastor testified that he had watched as we quietly and peacefully stood in front of the door, blocking access to the place where innocent children were being killed, the judge’s anger erupted. Finally the judge issued a directed verdict. He told the jury they must find us guilty and choose a punitive amount sufficient to deter us from ever coming to the clinic again. The judgment against us was $8.2 million, the largest in history against a group of peaceful protesters.

My single greatest encouragement during that time was 1 Peter 2, which says of Jesus, “When he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly” (verse 23).

Here's the larger context of that verse:

Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God. But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth. When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly” (1 Pet 2:18-23)

Repeatedly I reminded myself that there is only one Judge, only one Supreme Court of the universe. Ultimately it was not the unrighteous judge sitting before us but God himself whom I would answer to. And in the end, not in this life but in the life to come, that one Righteous Judge would make all things right.

In fact, the injustice against Jesus spoken of in 1 Peter 2 culminated in His crucifixion, a hideous injustice that makes all others pale in comparison. And it was the undeserved suffering of Christ on the cross that brought about my redemption. Had He not suffered unjustly on my behalf, and done so with His eyes on His Father, I would be spending eternity in Hell, along with you and everyone else.

During difficult and unjust times, may we follow Christ’s example and entrust ourselves to God, the just Judge.

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In Heaven, Can There Be Thrills without Risk?

A sincere young man told me that no matter what I might say, Heaven must be boring. Why? “Because you can’t appreciate good without bad, light without darkness, or safety without danger. If Heaven is safe, if there’s no risk, it has to be boring.”

His first mistake was assuming there’s no good without bad. God said Earth was “very good” before there was sin or anything bad (Genesis 1:31). Adam and Eve enjoyed Eden’s goodness before experiencing the badness of sin. This young man’s next mistake was believing that a person has to currently see evil at work to appreciate good and to currently be in danger to appreciate safety.

My father lived through the Great Depression. He told me stories of sleeping outside in the cold, covered only with newspaper. Dad first told me these stories fifty years after the fact. He’d been able to sleep inside for half a century, but he vividly remembered the hard times. Suppose someone had said to him, “You can’t appreciate having a warm fire and a warm bed unless there’s the threat of sleeping out in the cold tonight.” He’d say, “You think I’ll ever forget those days?” His memories didn’t make him miserable; they made him grateful.

After our bodily resurrection, we’ll still remember the darkness and dangers of this life. We’ll contrast our past experiences with the light and safety of the New Earth, and we’ll be profoundly grateful.

The same young man went on to say, “I like mountain climbing and extreme sports. I enjoy working hard and sweating. But there won’t be any challenges in Heaven. If there’s no risk of falling and dying, it can’t be really fun.”

Where does Scripture say there won’t be challenges or hard work in Heaven? Were there no challenges in Eden? The Bible says there will be no more evil or suffering—not that there won’t be challenges.

Did Adam and Eve work hard? Did they sweat and get sore? Everyone who enjoys sports knows that there’s a “good tired” and a “good sore.” It’s satisfying. It’s part of knowing you’ve stretched yourself. Why wouldn’t our resurrection bodies sweat? God didn’t create sweat glands after the Fall, did he?

Why couldn’t we tumble while climbing on the New Earth? Won’t there be gravity? Adam and Eve couldn’t die, but couldn’t they skin their knees? God didn’t originally create bodies without nerve endings, did he? Perhaps they could fall, do minor damage, and then heal quickly. We’re told that on the New Earth there’ll be no more death, crying, or pain (Revelation 21:4). But we’re also told, “The leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations” (Revelation 22:2). No one will suffer or die on the New Earth, but this passage suggests that there might be enough minor damage to require healing.

But even if there’s absolutely no injury, fear of injury and death aren’t essential to excitement, are they? If you knew that in thirty years there hadn’t been a single fatality on a roller coaster, couldn’t you still be thrilled by the ride? When our daughters were small, they experienced the thrill of rides at the fair as I held them tightly. The fun was in moving fast, spinning around, feeling the wind on their faces. In the same way, couldn’t we parachute from a plane and have an exhilarating free fall even if we knew there was a zero percent chance of dying? (Some of us might consider that more fun, not less.)

I believe our resurrection bodies will have adrenaline and the ability to feel. On the New Earth we may experience adventures that make our current mountain climbs, surfing, skydiving, and upside-down roller coaster rides seem tame. Why do I say this? It’s more than wishful thinking. It’s an argument from design. We take pleasure in exhilarating experiences not because of sin but because God wired us this way. We weren’t made to sit all day in dark rooms, watching actors pretend to live and athletes do what we can’t. We were made to live vibrant lives. Some of us are physically limited, and others are emotionally unable to handle too much excitement. But those are just temporary conditions. There’s a new world coming—and a new us.

Because God’s design wasn’t an accident—because he doesn’t make mistakes—we can be sure that excitement and exhilaration will be more, not less, a part of our experience in Heaven than it is now.

Skydiving without a parachute? Maybe, maybe not. Scuba diving without an air tank? I hope so. Will we be able to tolerate diving to depths of hundreds of feet without special equipment? We know that our resurrection bodies will be superior. Won’t it be fantastic to test their limits and to invent new technologies that extend our ability to explore and enjoy God in the mighty realms he makes?

Those who know God and believe his promise of bodily resurrection can dream great dreams.

One day we will live those dreams.

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Fourteen Lessons on Prayer from Daniel 9-10

1. Position yourself for prayer by reading Scripture first.

“In the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, understood from the Scriptures, according to the word of the LORD given to Jeremiah the prophet, that the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy years” (v. 2).

2. Follow Scripture’s lead toward what you should pray for. (If prayer’s the train, make Scripture the rails.) 

“So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition...” (v. 3)

3. Pray humbly, recognizing your utter unworthiness before an all-holy God. 

“...prayer and petition in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes.” (v. 3) 

4. Begin by praising God for His attributes, His greatness and faithfulness. Let God’s character provide the context for prayer, so He’s the center of gravity, not you.

“I prayed to the LORD my God and confessed: ‘O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with all who love him and obey his commands...’“ (v. 4)

5. Confess your sins, taking full responsibility, without rationalization, spin or self-exemption. 

“We have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away from your commands and laws.” (v. 5-6) 

6. Permeate prayer with affirmations of God’s amazing grace and your profound gratitude—never asking for what you deserve, but thanking Him that He’s given you infinitely better than you deserve.

“Lord, you are righteous but we are covered with shame...you have scattered us because of our unfaithfulness to you...we and our kings, our princes and our fathers are covered with shame because we have sinned against you. The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled; we have not obeyed...All Israel has transgressed your Law and turned away, refusing to obey you.” (v. 7-11a) 

7. Before bringing your requests, repeatedly affirm God’s worthiness and your unworthiness—never forget who you are, and Who you’re talking to.

“Therefore the curses and sworn judgments written in the law of Moses...have been poured out on us, because we have sinned against you! You have fulfilled the words spoken...by bringing upon us great disaster...just as it is written in the law of Moses, all this disaster has come upon us.” (v. 11b-12a) 

8. Never blame God for sin, its consequences or for life’s hardships.

“Under the whole heaven nothing has ever been done like what has been done to Jerusalem. Just as it is written in the Law of Moses, all this disaster has come upon us, yet we have not sought the favor of the LORD by turning from our sins and giving attention to your truth. The LORD did not hesitate to bring the disaster upon us, for the LORD is righteous in everything; yet we have not obeyed him.” (v. 12b-14) 

9. Make requests in light of God’s past acts of faithfulness. Rehearse those acts to God, as demonstrated in Scripture, history, and your own personal and family life. 

“Now, O Lord our God, who brought your people out of Egypt with a mighty hand and who made for yourself a name that endures to this day, we have sinned and done wrong. O Lord, in keeping with all your righteous acts, turn away your anger and your wrath from Jerusalem...” (v. 15-16) 

10. Pray for God’s sake, His glory, and His reputation, reminding yourself it’s all about Him, not you. 

“Our sins and the iniquities of our fathers have made Jerusalem and your people an object of scorn to all those around us. Now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of your servant. For your sake, O Lord, look with favor on your desolate sanctuary. Give ear, O God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name. ...O Lord, listen! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, hear and act! For your sake, O my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name.” (v. 17-19)

11. Pray with a heartfelt recognition of God’s undeserved grace on behalf of you and others. 

“We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy.” (v.18) 

12. God hears our prayers and starts responding to them (when we pray with Daniel’s attitude and perspective) before we can see results, and even when we can’t see results at all. 

“While I was still in prayer Gabriel the man came to me in swift flight. “I have come to give you insight and understanding. As soon as you began to pray, an answer was given...which I have come to tell you, for you are highly esteemed.” (v. 21-23) 

13. God deploys angels on missions in response to humble, biblically-based, God-centered prayers. 

“I, Daniel, mourned for three weeks...I looked and there was a man...”I have been sent to you”...Then he continued, ‘Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them.’“ (10:12) 

14. Prayer mobilizes righteous angels, who engage in intense turf warfare against fallen angels, with kingdom claims at stake. Answers to prayer may be hastened or delayed as a result of this warfare. 

“But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia. Now I have come [in response to prayer, having been immediately dispatched, but delayed three weeks in warfare]...Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the King of Persia...Soon I will return to fight against the prince of Persia, and when I go, the prince of Greece will come...No one supports me against them except Michael, your prince...” (10:13-14, 20-21)

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The Lion’s Claws

In C. S. Lewis’s The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, Eustace Clarence Scrubb describes to Edmund how terrible it felt when Aslan, the Lion and Christ-figure, changed him from the dragon he’d become to the boy he was intended to be.

“The very first tear he made was so deep that I thought it had gone right into my heart. And when he began pulling the skin off, it hurt worse than anything I’ve ever felt. The only thing that made me able to bear it was just the pleasure of feeling the stuff peel off. You know—if you’ve ever picked the scab off a sore place. It hurts like billy-oh but it is such fun to see it coming away.”

“I know exactly what you mean,” said Edmund.

“Well, he peeled the beastly stuff right off—just as I thought I’d done it myself the other three times, only they hadn’t hurt—and there it was lying on the grass: only ever so much thicker, and darker, and more knobbly-looking than the others had been. And there was I as smooth and soft as a peeled switch and smaller than I had been. Then he caught hold of me— I didn’t like that much for I was very tender underneath now that I’d no skin on—and threw me into the water. It smarted like anything but only for a moment. After that it became perfectly delicious and as soon as I started swimming and splashing I found that all the pain had gone from my arm. And then I saw why. I’d turned into a boy again.”

I too have felt the claws of the Lion of Judah. I can tell you, it hurts. But I would rather be hurt by my God as He cleanses and heals me than to slowly die without His cleansing and healing because I’ve tried to protect myself from being hurt.

Eustace ends up loving the Lion who inflicted the pain. Through his anguish, the boy came to trust Aslan’s good intentions and love. So will we, in the end. But let’s not wait. The sooner we come to trust His goodness, the lighter the pain—no matter how great—we bear.

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The Power of One-on-One and Thoughts on “Natural-Born Evangelists”

My friend Jim Stump has a new book out, released earlier this year, called The Power of One-on-One: Discovering the Joy and Satisfaction of Mentoring Others:

When Jesus walked the earth, he focused his energies not on filling stadiums but on twelve handpicked disciples whom he mentored and equipped to carry our ministries of their own. For the past forty years, Jim Stump could often be found sitting in a cafe on the Stanford University campus, chatting with some of the most talented athletes in the world, getting to know them, walking with them, sharing his life with them, and loving them. He understands that the best way to have an eternal impact on the world is to develop deep and meaningful relationships with a handful of people.

With engaging personal stories and examples from the life of Jesus, Jim Stump shows you how to develop rich mentoring relationships with the people in your life, providing simple steps toward sharing faith and life with those you care about.

Jim Stump is the real deal. I love who he is and what he does. Jim’s brother John is a friend, and John’s son Dan, Jim’s nephew, married my daughter Angela. I couldn’t be happier to have grandsons with the last name Stump. Jim and I don’t exchange Christmas gifts (you first, Jim), but I hear great reports about him at family gatherings.

Years ago, when I first spent time with Jim, I was struck with his genuineness. He’s all about Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit, who alone can draw hearts to God.

I’ve read books about evangelism that credit a technique. Jim credits the gospel and the power of God. It’s a relief to know the work of salvation can’t be done by us. We’re “just” the messengers . . . but what a job!

I appreciate how Jim models loving people and investing in them. He doesn’t want them just to go through the motions, but to follow Christ with abandonment for a lifetime. And he’s there to help them do just that.

When it comes to sharing the gospel, Jim seems to be a natural. But this kind of “natural” is not like a fish swimming. It’s like a veteran tennis player swinging a racquet. A fish may be born swimming, but a tennis player wasn’t born holding a racquet. He was coached and corrected, and he worked hard to achieve that “natural” swing. I was encouraged to learn it was once difficult for Jim to share his faith!

I coached high school tennis for ten years. Coaches tell players to do seemingly unnatural things. Some players quickly conclude, “This doesn’t work,” and go back to their old habits. But unless they’re willing to work on the skills coaches offer, they won’t be great tennis players. It’s those willing to learn who receive huge payoffs.

Raised in an unbelieving home, I vividly remember coming to Christ as a teenager. I’ve had many experiences of sharing Jesus with people at schools, on planes, and on tennis courts. Some friends think I’m a natural-born evangelist. But I’m not! I find the hardest thing is choosing to open my mouth. Once I do, the Lord graciously gives me the words. Sharing my faith isn’t as “natural” for me as for Jim Stump, but it’s far more natural than it once was. For that I thank God.

I found The Power of One-on-One to be clear, direct, and refreshing. Reading it made me eager to be more intentional about sharing my faith and mentoring others.

Everyone we meet has exactly the same need—to know and follow Jesus Christ. He did the hard work of redemption. He calls us to do our part, one-on-one, sharing the Good News with those who desperately need him and helping them grow.

I enthusiastically encourage you to read Jim’s book. I guarantee it’s worth it!

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What Society Will Never Tell You: True Beauty Is Inner Beauty

If you frequent social media, perhaps you’ve seen singer Colbie Caillat’s music video for her song “Try,” in which she challenges society’s expectations of beauty for women.  The video, which features the singer and several other diverse women removing their makeup and ending the song as their natural selves, has gone viral since its release earlier this month, receiving over 13 million views.

Colbie Caillat’s song has hit a nerve with many women who struggle to live up to looking like society says they should. This issue is nothing new. Psychology Today compared the results of 1972 surveys and 1985 surveys on how people felt about their bodies and overall appearance. Over 50 percent more women were dissatisfied with their bodies in 1985 than in 1972. Though I can’t find a subsequent update of these particular surveys, various studies confirm that the trend has only continued. In our appearance-centered culture, where the appearance of youthfulness and outer beauty is held to with a white-knuckled grip, this increasing dissatisfaction is a major source of stress.

The mainstays of the American economy are self-improvement products such as makeup, perfume, soap, deodorant, clothing and spa treatments. Since women are the main buyers of self-improvement products, advertisements are geared to women. Advertising’s one purpose is, of course, to sell.

Ads must convince the consumer of her need. To do this, they must first persuade her that she is inadequate and incomplete without a particular product. Advertising preys upon, contributes to, and reinforces a woman’s poor self-image. As a result, powerful and disturbing feelings of inadequacy tug at a woman’s mind—and her wallet. She buys beauty in the form of body wash, attention in the form of perfume, romance in the form of shampoo.

Age spots, split ends, graying hair, and cellulite are fates worse than death, if media propaganda is right. Years ago, women, while conscious of their appearance, didn’t worry about age spots because, if they had them or even knew what they were, they weren’t bombarded with warnings about them. Maturity was part of life, nothing to be ashamed of, and most often a badge of honor. In many cultures gray hair is still regarded as a sign of wisdom.

It’s not enough for women to wash and brush their hair. Now they are expected to condition it, color it, perm it if it’s straight and straighten it if it’s curly, gel it, and cut it in fashionable ways. Woman has been recreated in the image of the Media god.

Facial surgeries, breast implants, and other non-accident-related cosmetic surgeries often betray a sad insecurity that will continue to plague a woman after the procedures are done. The woman who cannot accept her God-given features does not understand that God longs for her to cultivate her inner woman. By focusing on appearance and image rather than character and spirit, many women live in a world of superficiality that ultimately dooms their self-esteem because beauty, as they have wrongly defined it (in outer terms), will inevitably diminish.

Self-image should be based on what God’s Word says is true of us. The world says you are worth a certain amount because you look a certain way or can perform a certain way. God says you are valuable regardless of society’s standards.

Remind yourself of the true basis of your personal identity. Who you are is rooted in Christ and who He has made you, not in your outward appearance or performance. Rehearse the fact that the most important part of your life is the part that only God sees. His deepest concern is about the inner you. True beauty is inner beauty, and it does not diminish but deepens as you grow older and your friendship with Him develops.

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The King’s Offer

Imagine a great and generous king. In the midst of his benevolent reign, he hears his subjects have revolted. He sends messengers to investigate. The rebels kill them. So he sends his own dear son, the prince. They murder him viciously, hanging his body on the city wall. 

What would you expect the king to do now? Send his armies and take revenge, naturally. Kill the rebels. Burn the villages to ashes. He has both the power and the right. 

But what if the king offered these criminals a full pardon? 

“I will accept my son—whom you murdered—as the payment for all your rebellion. You may go free. All I require is for you to admit your transgressions.”

We’d be stunned—blown away—to hear this, wouldn’t we? But the king’s not finished. 

“I invite any of you to come live in my palace, eat at my table and enjoy all the pleasures of my kingdom. And, I will adopt you as my own children and make you my heirs, so everything that’s mine will be yours forever.” 

Incredible.

Then he says, “I won’t force you to accept my offer. But the only alternative is spending the rest of your life in prison. The choice is yours.”

Can you imagine anyone responding, “How dare the king send anyone to prison? What a cruel tyrant!” 

This is God’s grace to us. If trying to comprehend it doesn’t stretch your brain, you just aren’t getting it. 

Because grace is so incomprehensible to us, we bootleg in conditions so we won’t look so bad and God’s offer won’t seem so counterintuitive. By the time we’re done qualifying the gospel, we’re no longer unworthy and powerless. We’re no longer wretches. And grace is no longer grace. The worst thing we can teach people is that they’re good without Jesus. The fact is, God doesn’t offer grace to good people, any more than doctors offer lifesaving surgery to healthy people. Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Luke 5:31-32).

Never believe anything about yourself or God that makes His grace to you seem anything less than astonishing. 

Because that’s exactly what it is.

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A 12-Year-Old Reviews My Graphic Novel, Eternity

Check out the following review of my graphic novel Eternity by 12-year-old Katy Williams, who I’m told writes her own blog, including book reviews, by herself, without assistance from adults. (In fact, since nearly everything I write gets edited, I get more assistance from adults than she does!)

My friend Roger Manning gave Katy the book and alerted me to her review, which became an instant favorite. I love her heart, her mind and her writing. I hope you’ll explore her website yourself, and maybe send your kids and grandkids there. We need more young people, and people of every age, like Katy.

Eternity by Randy Alcorn

For my birthday, I was given the book Eternity by Randy Alcorn. (Thank you, Mr. Manning!) Being an avid reader, I quickly dove into this book. Since I don't read comic books very often, I was rather skeptical. However, in a few minutes I was so enthralled that I don't think I would've noticed if the house were burning down!

Eternity illustrates the parable of the rich man and Lazarus through the eyes of the rich man's servant. It also tells of Jesus' teachings, crucifixion, and victory over sin and death. In this one hundred twenty plus page book, Mr. Alcorn skillfully weaves together two seemingly separate stories into an intriguing and thought provoking book. Some details and conversations have been added, but they fit with the time period, and aren't contrary to Scripture.

True to comic book style, Eternity is filled with wonderful illustrations, and amazing details. Another thing that I feel is very well portrayed is the emotion. Everything from the grief felt by Jesus' followers at his death, to the angels' righteous zeal for justice is captivating. Eternity doesn't give just the bare facts. While reading the book, I found it easy to understand what the characters were thinking, and the reasons behind their choices. Very few books I have read are able to do that. 

Eternity isn't just for believers. The story requires no foreknowledge of the Bible, and the Gospel is clearly presented at the end of the book.

Thanks, Katy, for the great review! I’m so glad you enjoyed the book. I have another graphic novel, about the Apostle Paul, that I just finished writing, and the artists are doing a terrific job on it right now! It will also be published by Kingstone, and I will be sure to send you a copy.

You might enjoy the two-minute trailer for Eternity also:

For readers, please also check out Katy’s thoughtful review of the popular song “Let It Go,” from the Disney movie “Frozen.” This is the kind of discernment we as believers should seek to cultivate.

Keep writing, Katy!!!!! And may many others follow your example.

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