The Talk Place

I'm excited about my latest project for GRN. It involves re-writing some Bible stories for children in a way that is fresh and has not yet been done. As a writer of fiction, I find this project filled with promise and creativity.

 For me, it is of the utmost importance that these stories are written in a way which will continue to honour God's word for what it is; truth, the voice of God to us. Whilst I will use creative licence to tell these stories, I will ensure that the message is kept in it's entirety, and that God is represented true to character. The Bible is already perfection and I can do nothing but cheapen it if I make the assumption that I can "improve" upon it.

 Part of the problem in the culture of children today, including churched children, is their exposure to films and stories of a violent, negative and even sexual nature. Children become desensitised and expect first-class entertainment the whole way. They see the Bible as boring and irrelevant. The thing that many are missing, is the very content of the Bible. If kids want bloody; read the Bible. If kids want violent; read the Bible. If kids want first-class entertainment, with a message that offers life, hope and salvation; read the Bible. There is nothing fluffy and fuzzy about the Bible. It exposes the sin in man as nothing else can do; it describes our true condition, our future, our motives, our end as nothing else can. It is eye-opening and startling as no other book, movie or TV program. The Bible contains it all, whilst offering eternal life with out-stretched arms.

As Christians, we may feel as though we are competing with the secular world when it comes to encouraging our kids to read the Bible. Truly, there is no competition. There is nothing that even comes close to the Bible, no matter how many copies are sold. We need to teach our children a love for the Bible and re-introduce them to the real heroes in our history. Pokemon has nothing on Moses. Yugioh doesn't stand a chance against the prayers of Elijah. Every super-hero stacked up against the Saviour of the Universe is useless in their quest to save man from the pit. The Bible is filled with real life heroes that our children can aspire to. They are men and women of old who were weak and broken, yet placed their trust in a God who is all-powerful. That same God moved them to commit mighty feats, such as parting the ocean and walking through. The Bible titillates every part of our imagination and leaves us sighing with relief and thankfulness that the Lord Almighty wants to be our God on a personal, intimate level.

Whilst we must appeal to the children's imaginations and wonderings, we must be true to the Bible and the characters it contains. I don't think I could ever find a story as engrossing and breath taking as Elijah and the prophets of Baal. I can remember sharing that story, read straight from the New King James Bible during a sermon one day, and every single person in that church was on the edge of their seat. It is a story of life and passion and intensity. How can you improve upon that? It really doesn't need improving at all.

 I will retell the stories so that a fresh fascination can again be inspired, but as I do I will sit and marvel as I read through God's word. My heart will pound in my chest and I will forget to take a breath every now and then as I reacquaint myself with those marvellous tales of our history. Our God is a storyteller from the absolute beginning and I am blessed to share a part of that with Him.