FAITHFUL OBSERVATIONS

In this lenten season, this seems to be the time to look forward to Easter and the saving grace of Jesus Christ on the Cross.

David Green, founder of Hobby Lobby, sent a letter to all of their employees that quoted Billy Graham: “We serve a God who will Guide us through this storm, who will Guard us as we travel to places never seen before, and who, as result of this experience, will Groom us to be better than we could ever thought possible before now.”

As we pray together this Sunday at 3 p.m., let us join knowing God will Guide us, Guard us and Groom us through this time.

We have highlighted the novel “The List” this past year, which was written jointly by Bill Perkins and Buck Storm. The novel covered the people and events covering the three years of Jesus’ ministry.

This book was widely received and praised as a faithful portrayal of that period and confirmed the prophecies in the Old Testament that clearly told of the coming Messiah. This new novel continues the story and covers that period from the day of resurrection through Pentecost and continues the theme of prophecy fulfilled. We had an opportunity recently to have a deeper conversation with Buck Storm.

Buck is a critically acclaimed author and musician and, in fact, many people might know Buck more as a musician and worship leader in the area rather than an author. Buck has written three other books prior to The List, including “Finding Jesus in Israel: Through the Holy Land on the Road Less Traveled,”” Truck Stop Jesus” and “The Miracle Man.” We started with some questions to get to know Buck better.

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Buck, first tell us a bit about yourself and how you became a song writer and novelist.

My wife Michelle and I have been married for 30 years and have two married children and one grandchild. I have always loved music but also had a love of reading. I loved reading about everything and a natural curiosity that led me to writing. This writing has also led me to share the Gospel and good news of Christ. As we look at the fruit of the spirit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness and self control, this is how we should conduct ourselves.

Almost everywhere I look in the world today I see the opposite of every one of these attributes. Culture, entertainment, politics, and sadly — and sometimes most glaringly — the Church. Why? He is so close. Why do we insist on seeking and glorifying the carnage of chaos when peace is right here? Why turn our backs on the God Who loves us and wants only the best for us?

This is the message I hope is presented in my writing.

Your first book, The List, was a joint effort with Bill Perkins and this sequel will be you alone. Why the difference?

Bill is the founder and president of Compass International and approached me with the idea of a novel that would tell the Christ Story in a new and different way — from a first century Jewish perspective through the eyes of two powerful Sanhedrin members. It was a great idea and the novel accomplished that. Bill is also a very busy person leading Bible-oriented trips and conferences and when I decided on the sequel, Bill gave me his blessing to continue the story on my own. Bill is a serious Bible student and has assisted always on the cultural, historical and biblical texts but turned the writing over to me.

What do you hope that your readers will see as they read this new work?

These books present the Gospels from a first-person perspective as the characters realize the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy being fulfilled. As with the The List, we have a study guide included in this book that guides the reader in the historical proof of the Bible. The proof that the Bible is a supernatural book from God is overwhelming. Sixty-six books by 40 authors that blend perfectly with the same story is overwhelming evidence and this book presents a part of that story.

You have another book that has just been released, “The Beautiful Ashes of Gomez Gomez.” Tell us about that also. The title alone is intriguing!

This book has just been released and here is the edited introduction: When his wife, Angel, is killed in a head-on collision, Gomez Gomez feels he can’t go on — so he doesn’t. He spends his days in the bushes next to the crash site drinking Thunderbird wine, and his nights cradling a coffee can full of Angel’s ashes. Slow, sure suicide, with no one for company but the snakes, Elvis’s ghost, and a strange kid named Bones.

Across town, Father Jake Morales plays it safe, haunted by memories of the woman he left behind, hiding his guilt, loss, and love behind a thick wall of cassock and ritual. Then a shady business deal threatens the town — and his good friend Gomez Gomez — and Father Jake can’t just stand by and watch. But what happens when the rescuer is the one in need of saving?

The Beautiful Ashes of Gomez Gomez is quirky, heartfelt, and deeply human. Lives and hopes collide in the town of Paradise, stretching across decades and continents in this epic story of forgiveness, redemption, and love.

It is a different book than many others but the story is a good one! It is the never-ending story of Jesus Christ and His Grace.

Buck, this has been a fascinating interview. If people want more information about your books, and music, how do they find out?

First, we will be doing a book signing on April 1 at Studio 107 at 503 E. Sherman in Coeur d’Alene from 4-7 p.m. They can contact us by going to our website https://buckstorm.com. Our books are also available at the Sower bookstore or Amazon.