What’s all this God stuff about?

I am a Christian novelist who loves the science fiction genre.

The current UFO phenomenon especially intrigues me—UAPs (Unidentified Aerial Phenomena), extraterrestrial visitors, human abductions, alien technology. I am still a sceptic in this area, but some of the evidence out there can be compelling. As I’ve followed the stories—both factual and from entertainment—I have often wondered: What if there is other intelligent life in the universe, but what if that life was actually created by God?

What’s interesting is that a lot of the earliest science fiction presupposed just that. Check out some really old books or movies and that is what you will find. So, my perspective is not something new. I just thought it was high time to bring the speculative back into “speculative fiction,” and I believe my favorite genre is big enough to be inclusive of people who hold a biblical worldview.

While writing PLANET OF EDEN, my intent was not to be “preachy.” The presupposition–or foundation–is simply that God exists. From there, we just dive into a really interesting story. You certainly do not have to be a “religious person” to enjoy reading EDEN. My Christian readers will notice the implications peppered throughout. Others will appreciate that I didn’t take that too far.

I make no apologies for my worldview, though. Every artist puts some of himself or herself into their art. It’s expected. For those of you who are undecided about the big questions of life, I hope PLANET OF EDEN will expose you to an alternative view.

ANOTHER SIDE TO THE STORY

Many of us were raised by an educational system that taught we are nothing more than evolved animals. Naturalistic evolution and the assumption that it took millions of years for the universe, galaxies, planets, and life to evolve were presented to us as fact. Boomers, Gen X, and the Millennials, however, had access to an alternative view—that an all-powerful God created everything.

It all started with perfection. (Read about it in the first book of the Bible titled “Genesis.”) After His creation work, God planted a garden in a land called Eden. That is where he placed the first human couple, Adam and his wife Eve. There, they enjoyed an intimate relationship with their Creator. He was a Father to them, loving them and providing for their every need. They always had access to Him. He was never distant. He walked with them through lush gardens and taught them about whatever they wanted to know. In perfect joy, peace, and love, their lives were limitless.

To be real, love must be chosen. The Father chose to love His children no matter what, but they had to make the same decision. They were created with the freedom to choose God and eternal perfection, or choose distrust and certain death. Unfortunately, they doubted their Father when they should have just trusted Him, trading perfection for a lie and trading His love for a self-imposed separation from Him.

Still, the Father loved them and made a way for them to be reunited with Him through belief in His son Jesus. It’s the ultimate love story, and it makes a lot more sense than accepting a monkey as your ancient uncle and some sketchy “big bang” as the beginning of everything. In fact, far from being unprovable, there is plenty of evidence to back up this worldview—just as much, if not more, than the one that claims there is no God.

Unfortunately, we now live in a time where generations have been born with little or no knowledge of this alternative view. Boomers, Gen X, Millennials…you at least had some access to it from your parents, older family members, media, and neighborhood churches. But what about those in Gen Z and younger? Today, our culture teaches them that religion, the supernatural, and notions of God are old fashioned, unintelligent, and nothing but a crutch.

Funny. I could make the same case for evolution and atheism, which filled the vacuum when God was rejected. Such rejection seems to be a common theme since our beginning in Eden. We run. We reject. We try to go at it on our own. We say to God, “No, thanks. I’ll do this life on my own.” Or just as bad, we do use Him as a crutch when things get hard: “I don’t need you in my everyday life. If it gets too bad, though, I’ll give you a call.”

Or maybe we’ve been hurt so bad by life that we’ve given up on our Father altogether: “If you were real and you really cared about me, you wouldn’t have let this happen!” Yet it was us who walked away from Him.

Before you continue the rejection that started in Eden, my awesome searching friend, I want to give you some encouragement: Check it out for yourself. Ignore the labels. Put aside what you think you might know about Christians, churches, and the Bible. Before you dismiss me as just another well-meaning Bible-thumper with a nerd-like appreciation for Sci-fi, look at all the evidence. Because it’s there, and it’s beautiful.

CHECK IT OUT

Here are some links to information that will help you with your investigation:

• Feel like your life is a wreck? You’ve tried things your way for a long time and have only messed up your life and maybe even the lives of other people around you. You need HOPE. You need to know how to turn it around. Here’s how to get with God right away.
• Not sure God even exists? There is plenty of evidence. Here’s where to find God.
• Wondering if the Bible is true? Yes, you can actually trust this book. Here’s some info on the Bible.
• While you’re seeking, just ask God to reveal Himself to you. A simple prayer like “God, if you’re there, show yourself to me so I can believe” is the only invitation He needs. God will take you the rest of the way, and your life will be changed forever.

HERE FOR YOU

I’m not much different from you. I’ve had plenty of ups, downs, tragedies, mistakes, epic failures, dashed dreams, and have taken some nasty beatings from life. John Carter, the main character in Edgar Rice Burroughs’ Mars series of books, always said this when he was facing sure defeat: “I still live.”

I still live and always will, but not because of my own strength, talent, wit, or will. God is my Power Source. He can be yours, too. I don’t claim to have all the answers, but I know the One who does. I do have a degree in theology and some relevant life experience, though. So, please CONTACT ME if you would like to have a dialogue about anything I mentioned on this page.

There is so much more out there, my friend: answers, truth, certainty, love, eternity. You owe it to yourself to look into it. I believe in you.