Can You Be Better than the Bible?

 by Dina Sleiman

I have an odd question today. Can you be better than the Bible? I suppose most Christians would summarily respond "no, of course not." Yet often people's lives and theology seem to suggest that they secretly think yes. What is it with Christians trying to sanitize everything and pretty it up and make it nice? The Bible isn't always nice. Recently during our morning devotionals I read the scripture in Galatians where Paul suggests that the circumcision advocates go all the way and chop off a certain key body part. LOL. I looked at my thirteen-year-old son and said, "I guess Paul was throwing a bit of a temper tantrum." And as a popular facebook meme suggests, when asked, "What would Jesus do?"--throwing over tables is an option.

Here's the thing. The Bible is not always neat and pretty and tied up with a bow. Sometimes daughter-in-laws seduce father-in-laws. Prostitutes make it into the lineage of Jesus. Men who are said to be after God's own heart also commit adultery and murder. Prophets smear poop on things. Then there's the Song of Solomon, a rather erotic book that I sometimes wonder if Christian parents even allow their kids to read.

I recently saw a facebook post by a fellow author asking someone to explain to her why Ruth lay down at Boaz's feet. She said this seemed rather risky and risque, and of course twenty or so comments tried to explain why it wasn't. Eventually I couldn't take it any longer and replied, "I think it was risky and risque, and I think God has a message for us in that."

If the Bible is indeed (as we claim we believe) God's inspired Word to mankind, then we need to accept all of it, even when it's messy. And if it is indeed God's inspired Word, we can't be "better" than the behavior recommended in it. Of course I'm not talking about bad behavior of specific individuals, but rather the Bible's prescribed behavior, particularly in the New Testament. When we try to be better, nicer, more pure, and more sanitized than the Bible itself, what we actually are is out of balance.

Tweet: We can't be better than the Bible, we can only be out of balance. And out of balance is just plain wrong. ~ Dina Sleiman

For example, while certain aspects of life like drinking alcohol or dancing can in some cases lead to sinful behavior, the Bible never says that either of these are sinful. Still, some denominations of Christianity try to turn them into sins. If someone chooses not to drink alcohol, that can be a wise decision, but if they judge others and treat it like a sin, they're out of balance. When they contrive elaborate theologies of why the wine Jesus turned the water into wasn't really wine, they're out of balance. And when you're out of balance, another word for that is: WRONG!

Paul says it is for freedom we've been made free. Satan wants us bound, God wants us to feel free to enjoy life so long as we follow the Spirit and stay within certain general guidelines. Getting drunk is a sin. Drinking wine is allowed if you can do it with self-control. Dancing with an intentional goal of seducing anyone but your own spouse would reasonably seem to fall outside of those prescribed guidelines (although I don't think it's anyone's job to judge the motives of another persons heart), but dancing as worship is encouraged, and dancing to enjoy life and music and community is fine.

Or let's take kissing before marriage. The Bible never says it's wrong, yet some Christians today treat it like a sin, or a lack of purity. The Bible DOES say not to have sex outside of marriage, and yes, excessive and indiscriminate kissing could lead one down a wrong path. But that doesn't make kissing before marriage a sin. You can't just go around making up sins for expediency. The same goes for dating. Adult Christians should feel free to make those sorts of choices for themselves and not be judged by other Christians.

Again, remember that when we try to be better than the Bible, something is dangerously off course. I have an acquaintance who recently wrote a book called Courtship in Crisis about the problem's within the new Christian courtship movement. Here's my thoughts on the issue. When young men and women are taught to feel impure every time their bodies experience natural, God-ordained sensations, they are being set up for problems later on in their marriages. How are they supposed to magically retrain their minds in one brief ceremony to enjoy what has been causing them perpetual guilt and turmoil for years? Guilt and turmoil that the Bible doesn't require.

Feelings aren't sin. Physical sensations aren't sin. What we do with those feelings and sensations determine our sinfulness or righteousness. If we choose to revel in them and fantasize over them, or worse yet to dive into them, that is very different than experiencing them and then making good decisions concerning them. It's very different than saying, "Dear Father God, I'm having these feelings and don't know what to do with them. Please guide me through this situation."

And even when we make poor decisions, God is there to forgive and restore us.

Of course I realize that some of my readers are teens, and so I remind you that children are instructed by the Bible to obey their parents. That message is clear. And adult children must still show their parents honor and respect, but they must also make their own decisions before God and take responsibility for their own choices.

On the flip side, to parents and church leaders I would say this. I grew up in the church, and trust me, kids who grow up in the church have excellent "b.s." detectors. They know when the adults in their lives are giving them rules that go beyond the Bible. And all that serves to do is undermine their credibility. When people try to make rock music, black fingernails, blue hair, and the like into "sin," they risk pushing others away from the true gospel message of freedom, grace, and redemption.

Okay, I may have fallen into rambling a bit, but this has been niggling at me for a while. So here's what it all comes back to. Can you be better than the Bible? No. Not if you believe it's truly God's Holy Word, as we Christians claim to believe it is. So let's get real, authentic, maybe a little vulnerable. Let's stop living nice, safe, clean, pretty lives and not be afraid of the riskier existence of walking by the Spirit of God. Let's present a version of Christianity to the world that is not based on rules and limits, but on the immeasurable gift of God.

We can't be better than the Bible, we can only be out of balance. And out of balance is just plain wrong.

We're All In This Together

The past year has been a tough one. There's no way I would have gotten through it if not for the support of my friends and family. So it seems like a good time to pull this post out of the Inky Archives. Originally published in August 2011, it means more to me now than ever.

by Jennifer AlLee

Human contact. It’s one of those essentials of life that we often overlook. Oh sure, we have contact with our immediate families, but that’s not always enough for every situation.

Take the writer, for example.

Writer’s think differently than normal people. We see what ifs everywhere. We hear the voices of our characters talking to us… and we talk back. We also deal with more assaults to our self-esteem and emotions than you’d think. Often, they come from outside sources, but just as often, they come from ourselves. Talking to a spouse might help, depending on the severity of the situation. Nine times out of ten, the non-writing spouse won’t understand why it’s a big deal.

So what’s a writer to do when she feels particularly vulnerable, her armor more dented than the surface of the moon? Reach out to the only people who truly understand her: writing friends.

You can take the word “writer” and substitute any other you choose: Secretary, CEO, pastor, teacher, stay-at-home mom, dental hygienist, and on and on and on. Sometimes, the only way to get out of the doldrums is to have your friends pull you out. And the best friends for the job are the ones who know what you’re going through.

Of course, God knows this.

And let us consider one another in order 
to stir up love and good works, 

not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, 

as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, 

and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. 

(Hebrews 10:24-25, NLT) 

He’s talking to members of the early Christian church. There was a bunch who really needed to band together. They were persecuted. They faced attacks on a daily basis. Who else but another Christian would understand? Notice, He doesn't tell them to get together and pretend that nothing bad has happened. He doesn't tell them to ignore each other’s pain. He tells them to exhort each other, lift each other up.

In our modern world of emails, Facebook, and such, there’s no excuse for being alone. A timely email message from a friend across the country means just as much as going out for coffee and a chat with your friend from across town. Take some time to reach out today, whether you need to be uplifted, or you think of someone else who could use an emotional boost.

 We’re all in this together.




JENNIFER ALLEE was born in Hollywood, California, and spent her first ten years living above a mortuary one block away from the famous intersection of Hollywood & Vine. Now she lives in the grace-filled city of Las Vegas, which just goes to prove she’s been blessed with a unique life. When she’s not busy spinning tales, she enjoys playing games with friends, attending live theater and movies, and singing at the top of her lungs to whatever happens to be playing on the car radio. Although she’s thrilled to be living out her lifelong dream of being a novelist, she considers raising her son to be her greatest creative accomplishment. She's a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Romance Writers of America, and Christian Authors Network. Her novels include The Pastor’s Wife, The Mother Road, A Wild Goose Chase Christmas, Last Family Standing, and Vinnie's Diner from Abingdon Press; Diamond in the Rough, Vanishing Act, and Curtain Call from Whitaker House and co-written with Lisa Karon Richardson; the novella Comfort and Joy in the Christmas anthology, Mistletoe Memories from Barbour; and A Worthy Suitor from Harlequin's Heartsong Presents.

The Truth Indicator

By Niki Turner

I've got an idea for a spec fiction novel... It's about Christians who have "truth indicators" embedded in their heads. Or necks. Or arms. Or somewhere. Truth indicators that would flash, or chime, or set off a siren whenever we encounter a falsehood, letting us know deception is afoot.

OK, it's not an idea for a novel, it's a daydream, or maybe just wishful thinking. But it's not totally unrealistic according to the Bible.

When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. (John 16:13)

As Christians indwelt by the Holy Spirit of the Living God we should be able to ferret out lies when we come across them. We should be alert to deception. And we should be actively in search of truth with the help of the Holy Spirit.

And yet it seems we're often among the most gullible... the first to share "clickbait," the easiest to offend, the ones who read and believe the junk e-mail. There's something wrong with that.

We've been given the ultimate "truth-o-meter" in the form of the Holy Spirit. We should be the first ones to spot deception, the first to point out a trick, the ones who can discern lies and reveal the truth in every situation. It's practically a superpower! We're called to be a light in a dark place... why are we so often surprised by the darkness?

Here's my prayer for myself and all my friends...

May we, every time we open our email, or our Facebook account, or Twitter, or watch the news, or read the newspaper, or whatever passes before our eyes, be alert and aware of the most Holy Spirit of Truth who lives within us, leading us and guiding us, separating truth from deception on every level. And may we be bold (and kind at the same time), in declaring and distributing the truth and in denouncing deception. May we be carriers of truth in all that we do!

Niki Turner is a novelist, journalist, blogger, and the production manager for the Rio Blanco Herald Times weekly newspaper, one of the oldest continuously operating newspapers in Colorado. Her first completed manuscript earned second place in the Touched By Love 2009 contemporary category romance contest. She also blogs at www.nikiturner.net.

Niki is a Colorado native who grew up in Glenwood Springs—home of the world’s largest hot springs pool. She married her high school sweetheart 25 years ago. They have four children, four grandchildren, and two West Highland White Terriers.

In 2014, she published “Sadie’s Gift” as one of the Christmas Traditions novella collection with eight other authors.  The Skiing Suitor, one of the Love’s Sporting Chance series published by Forget-Me-Not Romances, released in August 2015. Her most recent project, “Santiago Sol,” was published by Pelican Book Group as part of the Passport to Romance novella collection. She’s currently working on a new novella for Whitefire Publishing and another one for Barbour House.

Leopard's Heart by Kimberly A. Rogers

I’m delighted to have Kimberly A. Rogers as my guest today. Kimberly has just released the first full-length novel in her Therian Way urban fantasy series, Leopard’s Heart.

DeAnna: So tell us a little bit about yourself.
Kimberly: Thanks for having me here. I’m a graduate student at Liberty University working on a Master of Religious Education. Other than that I spend most of my days (or nights) writing.

DeAnna: You’re a night person like me. So when did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
Kimberly: I’ve been writing for years. I first dabbled in writing stories when I was very young, eight or nine, but I didn’t decide to pursue a writing career until I was about sixteen.

DeAnna: That’s wonderful training for becoming an author. Now tell us about Leopard's Heart. That cover is just gorgeous!
Kimberly: Leopard’s Heart is Book One of The Therian Way. It picks up about five months after the events of the prequel, Tiger’s Paw, and deals with the aftermath. The main focus is on the hunt for assassins who are targeting the American president and also dealing with the rising tensions between pureblood Therians and those who are Elf-born, all of which contribute to the threat of revealing the existence of the Therian Way. However, Baran and Raina’s relationship with each other since they keep getting thrown together is also an important piece of the plot.

DeAnna: I really enjoyed reading the book. The interaction of your hero and heroine is intriguing and complex and often hilarious. Where did you get your inspiration for the book?
Kimberly: I always loved the idea of dealing with hidden races and the problems faced by the very strict and stoic character when paired with the wild, devil-may-care character. Leopard’s Heart deals with the complications of the situation when being addressed by these two very different characters who are also stubborn, unwilling to give ground, and definitely unwilling to admit if they start to care about each other (the horrors!).
Baran and Raina are polar opposites in a lot of ways but they have an awesome dynamic together that I love working with in stories. They don’t make things easy for each other, themselves, or me, but they’re definitely worth the crazy ride.

DeAnna: What do you hope readers remember from this story?
Kimberly: I hope they remember the characters. Baran and Raina have a journey together that is strengthened or weakened by their own choices but they also are determined to do the right thing no matter the sacrifice required.

DeAnna: What is your favorite scene/chapter from the book?
Kimberly: Oh that’s a tough question. However, I think there is one scene in particular that I love a little bit more than the others. Well, it’s actually a short chapter. It’s in Raina’s POV, which we did not have in the prequel, and it is a dinner scene with Baran after they’re returning from the Elven capital. I love the humor displayed in this scene with their teasing each other because Baran rarely gets in on the teasing action and it’s one of the places where we really see the potential for them when they’re not at loggerheads with each other.

DeAnna: That was a great scene. They’re so cute together. What inspires you to write?
Kimberly: There are always stories that need to be told, reminders of the light in the darkness. I love telling those stories. I can’t not write but I always want my stories to provide a refuge, a place where good triumphs over evil even when the world seems the opposite, a reminder of how God works through people in smaller ways as well as the big, sweeping miracles. For the Therian Way, in particular, I love taking the idea of shapeshifters and Elves and other creatures and monsters from myth and legend and plunking them in the middle of a world similar to our own. The “what if” factor is wonderful. And, I love providing a clean option for Christians who enjoy urban fantasy stories with adventure and romance and plot twists but don’t want to deal with the objectionable content that often shows up in secular stories.

DeAnna: Now that you’ve gone through the independent publishing process, what advice would you give writers who are just getting started?
Kimberly: Don’t give up. Finish the story. Don’t worry about making the first draft perfect. All you need to do is write the story, then you can go back over it and tweak or add or hack what you need. The most important thing is to get your story written. As I’m often told by my writing buddy, “You can’t fix nothing.” One more thing: Write what you love. I know everyone says it but it’s true. If you’re not passionate about your story and you’re only writing it because it’s the current trend, you’re doing yourself a disservice. Writing what you don’t care about is a chore and it shows in your work. Trust me. I’ve read enough books that I’ve seen the difference between stories the author was passionate about and those he or she wrote because it was required.

DeAnna: That’s very true. If you’re enjoying the story, your readers probably will, too. And what are you are working on now?
Kimberly: Right now, I’m working on several projects. First, I’m working on Wolf’s Path: Book Two of The Therian Way. I’m very excited about this one since Baran and Raina are going after the infamous Beast of Bray Road, which is one of my favorite cryptid legends. I’m also working on two fantasy romances: One deals with Centaurs and partially based off the book of Ruth, which has an excerpt in the back of Leopard’s Heart. The other is a medieval-esque fantasy romance, which is inspired in part by the legend of Cupid and Psyche as well as a touch of The Phantom of the Opera.

DeAnna: I’m always amazed at your productivity. Is there ever a time you’re not writing? If there is, what do you like to do?
Kimberly: Reading, of course. But, I also enjoy hand crafts such as knitting, crocheting, and cross stitch.

DeAnna: I love needlework, too! Where can readers find you on the internet?
Kimberly: They can find me on Twitter, my blog where I talk writing and also review fantasy books, and on facebook at my author page where I share news about sales and also share snippets of my works-in-progress. The links are below.
Thank you once again, DeAnna, for the opportunity to share about my book today. Now, please enjoy the interviews with Baran and Raina. They actually behaved themselves this time.

DeAnna: Oh, Baran’s rather formidable, isn’t he? So tell me, Baran, why are you such a stickler for the rules?
Baran: Because the rules are what protect us and everyone else who lives in our world. We’re Therians, we must keep ourselves from acting on animal instincts alone. Our code of life, the Therian Way, is the safeguard that prevents this loss of control if we adhere to it. Straying beyond the rules is very dangerous, not only to the one straying but also to the innocents around him or her. If we lost control and revealed our true natures to humans, we would not only be endangering our entire race through exposure but we could harm the people around us. That is why the rules are important. That is why I make it my practice to follow them as closely as possible.

DeAnna: That seems wise. And what is a perfect day for you?
Baran: A day without Fringe threat or disruptions. A day where I can fulfill my duties without anyone causing trouble and extra work.

DeAnna: You’re definitely all business, aren’t you? But I bet the right girl can bring out your fun side, too. What kind of mate are you looking for? Or are you too busy for that sort of thing?
Baran: I most certainly do not have the time to search for a mate. However, I would hope that she is a woman of honor and appreciates the Therian Way for its true purpose, especially if she is an Elf-born Therian and not pure Elven.

DeAnna: Good qualities. What about Raina? What do you really think of her?
Baran: If she could bring herself to adhere to proper protocol for more than five minutes, she would be far more tolerable. However, she has her own code of honor, which I respect . . . even if it’s not as closely tied to the Therian Way as I think it should. She is one of the more reasonable Trackers I have worked with despite her tendency to treat matters with far more levity than the situation calls for.

DeAnna: Well, thank you for chatting with me. Now, Raina, it’s your turn. Tell me why you like your job? What don't you like about it?
Raina: I like being able to help people and protect those can’t protect themselves. *rolls her eyes* Oh, that’s an easy one. All that paperwork. It’s worse with joint missions, especially if the TDS is involved.

DeAnna: Oh, yes, the TDS. “Tall, dark and serious.” That describes Baran perfectly. Now how would you describe your ideal mate?
Raina: He would be protective, caring, a man of honor, trustworthy and (glances sideways at Baran) have a decent sense of humor.

DeAnna (also glancing at Baran): Well, good luck with that. He seems serious and sometimes a little bit angry. You generally seem more lighthearted. What makes you angry?
Raina: Having my family threatened, being accused of not following the Way just because I don’t follow every little bylaw to the letter, not being able to help someone because they refuse to be helped, and being manipulated. Oh, almost forgot, and being disrespected just because I’m not a pureblood Therian or because I’m a Tracker and not a soldier.

DeAnna: Sooooo . . . what do you really think of Baran?
Raina (smirking): Well, he’s a bit of a stick in the mud when it comes to rules and regulations and the whole proper protocol thing. But he does have his good points. He’s honorable and protective. He could use a sense of humor transplant, though.

DeAnna: Maybe yours will rub off on him. Thanks for talking to me, Raina and Baran. Thank you Kimberly for visiting the Inkwell, and best wishes on your new series and your writing career. You’re off to a wonderful start!

Leopard’s Heart: Book One of The Therian Way
An assassination attempt on the American president threatens to expose the existence of Therians to the Human world. Baran knows that the Fringe have become bold. In a race to find the next assassin before he strikes, Raina and Baran must travel from Washington D.C. to the Elven capital hidden in the Smokey Mountains.

Rising tensions between Therians who respect the centuries-old alliance with the Elves and Fringe sympathizers who clamor to sever all ties between the two peoples make the case and Baran's relationship with Raina even more difficult to navigate. Circumstances have forced them together, but is it only duty that drives his actions? Does Raina's heart belong to her old childhood sweetheart or is the Leopard's heart still to be won?
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Leopards-Heart-Book-One-Therian-ebook/dp/B0175P0WFA

Tiger’s Paw: A Novella – Prequel to The Therian Way
What if history didn’t quite play out the way we know it? What would stay the same? What would change? Even in a world where Elves and Humans coexist, there are secrets. Not all the old legends are accurate, but neither are they false. Hidden among the Humans are the Therians, those gifted with the ability to shift into beasts. How long they will remain unseen by Human eyes depends on how well they adhere to their code of life and honor – The Therian Way.

When secrecy is vital to survive among Humans and Elves, the Therian Way offers balance. The Fringe, a militant group of discontented Therians, threaten to expose their race to Mankind. It falls to General Baran to track down and remove the Fringe Nest before time runs out. Who can he trust when the fate of his people lies in the Tiger’s paw?
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Tigers-Paw-Novella-Therian-Way-ebook/dp/B00ZDDQIYG

Kimberly A. Rogers writes in-depth reviews of Christian and secular fantasy as well as articles for Christian fantasy writers at her blog So You Want to Write Christian Fantasy? Of course, only when not in the midst of writing papers and taking exams in the pursuit of her Masters in Religious Education. Kimberly lives in Virginia where the Blue Ridge Mountains add inspiration to an over-active imagination originally fueled by fantasy classics such as the works of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien.


Twitter: https://twitter.com/karogersauthor
Facebook Author Page:  https://www.facebook.com/Kimberly-A-Rogers-978024802257372/
Blog: https://kimberlyrogerscfwriter.wordpress.com/
Goodreads Series Page: https://www.goodreads.com/series/165568-the-therian-way