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Critically acclaimed author Steven James has written more than thirty books, including Story, A Heart Exposed, and the bestselling Patrick Bowers thriller series. He is considered one of the nation's most innovative storytellers and versatile authors, and is a contributing editor to Writer's Digest. Steven lives in Tennessee with his wife and three daughters.
Steven James in his new book,, “Story” by Revell explores Our Journey of Heartache and Grace from Eden to Evermore.
From the Back Cover: Recapture the mystery of God’s story
With stunning imagery, powerful poetry, and real-life drama, Story is an inspiring journey from the creation of the world to eternity and everything in between. Consummate storyteller Steven James threads together familiar scenes from Scripture that will awaken your faith and inspire you to live in the reality of Christ’s sacrifice. As he untangles the intricacies of the whole story of the Bible, you will rediscover the majesty and the mystery you’ve been missing.
In “Story” Steven James takes on the task of telling us thirty Bible stories from Creation to Revelation that all fit together to give us a clearer picture of what the Bible is trying to tell us. God is trying to tell us that His story is all one story. Mr. James tells us you can’t have the resurrection without the cross, You can’t have the cross without the birth in Bethlehem and you can’t have the birth without the Garden Of Eden. The Bible is one big narrative and Mr. James, in his thirty stories, shows us how this narrative all comes together. These are remarkable stories that enhance what the Bible tells us and gives us a deeper appreciation of the events depicted. “Story” is not a book that should be read in an hour, if you do you will miss all the flavor of these stories. “Story” also is not a book that will be read once and then put on the shelf. On the contrary it is a book that will be referred back to over and over again. I liked this book a lot and recommend it highly! I think you will enjoy it as well and give it as gifts to your friends and loved ones. They will enjoy it and always remember you every time they read it.
If you missed the interview for “The Knight”, a different series from Steven James, and/or would like to hear the previous interview where we discussed the first two books and would like to listen to it and/or listen to interviews with other authors and professionals please go to Kingdom Highlights where they are available On Demand.
To listen to 24 hours a day non-stop Christian music please visit our internet radio station Kingdom Airwaves
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Available August 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
HeartofaBookWorm
Posted August 30, 2012
I began reading books authored by Steven James a little over a year ago. He captivated me with his Suspense filled "Patrick Bowers series." These books and Steven James quickly joined my "favorites" list. Having said this, I must share my Surprise in reading "STORY". The Patrick Bowers Series are without a doubt, some of the best psychological thrillers, I have EVER READ! At times, they can be very graphic, to say the least.
When I heard Mr. James had released Story, and read the prompt, I could not wait to be able to read this! I wondered just how Mr. James would introduce his readers to this whole new realm of writing. He shared the intimacy of Gods Word along with his own experiences in comparison to the Scriptures. At times, the simplicity of sharing his thoughts and his heart toward the Lord and HIS Word would leave me in awe, having to just ponder all he shared. His Love for Jesus and the depth of his Faith comes through on every single page. His Joy shines as well as Mr. James' can take you from being very near to tears to laughing and relating to the circumstance he finds himself in.
Thank you Mr. James for allowing your fans to see this side of you. The On Fire, Lover of Jesus, whose Trust is unwavering and Faith is unshakable!
On the Back of your Book, it reads "Recapture the Mystery of God's Story" ~ In the pages of this book, God has recaptured ME and HIS Word is Alive in so many new ways! Thank You!
There really aren't enough ♥'s to rate this one but 5 ♥'s being the most I can give--Well, 5 ♥'s it is!!
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
Thank you Donna and Revell, a Division of Baker Publishing Group for allowing me this amazing STORY by Steven James in exchange for my honest review.
THESELF-TAUGHTCOOK
Posted August 28, 2012
Imagine a Story that begins before the Beginning and has no End; that begins in total Darkness and ends with total Light. It's a Story of absolute Love vs. absolute evil; the ultimate "happily ever after", where ever after never ends. It's the Story of Stories, and the beautiful thing is that it's all true.
Steven James has done something no one else has done, to my knowledge, at least. He has taken the Bible and the complete story of Grace and Salvation and told it in story form. Interwoven with his own poetry, he writes with descriptive prose that at times is beautiful and at times so open and honest that it hurts to read.
"oh, in the beginning, when you were alone,
did you dream of someone like me?
in the beginning, from soil and stone,
when you breathed out a world to be . . .
did you dream a great dream,
did it glisten and gleam,
for all of the angels to see?
in the beginning, in the depths of your heart,
were you thinking, already, of me?
significance."
As the story progresses through the ages, the poetry reflects the changes brought about by sin and evil. But then a sacrifice was offered to break the chains, but man's betrayal was instrumental in the sacrifice, and the author explores his own continued betrayal.
"judas betrayed you for thirty pieces of silver.
forgive me for all the times i've done it
for free.
yet you've chosen to call me friend.
help me to live like it.
i'm both captured and set free by
the mystery of your love.
enigma."
Happily for all mankind, there is a happily ever after possible, and the author shares this with the reader. This could easily be used to share the Gospel with someone unfamiliar with the Bible or who is uncomfortable with the traditional "trappings". But I also think that those of us who are , in the author's words, participants in the Story, can benefit from being reminded of the love extended to us through the ages. And, not only can it be a spiritual experience, but the book is just beautifully written. I will be recommending this to anyone who will listen.
5 stars
“Available August 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”
onedesertrose
Posted August 28, 2012
Steven James, in Story, writes the salvation story through his eyes as a
writer and believer from Eden to evermore. You will find the story line
to be unique to Steve, yet basically true to the Word. Sometimes he
gets you to asking more questions than you had before you opened his
book, but that is a good thing, as it stretches your own understanding
of God’s words. His literary license embellishes on the stories (as
Biblical fiction) versus the more concise version in the Bible. It’s
what brings the stories to life, similar to how Jesus told His stories
to make a point. You will see a different side of the author than you
do in his thrillers, such as The Pawn, The Pawn, etc. It’s just as
riveting and thorough, and his style is as rich and complete. His book
is filled with many of his original, personal poems that sink down into
your heart. Take the time to read them slowly to glean all he has to
say. Here are a few that spoke to me: 1. touching the unseen the path
is narrow, my heart is hard, guide my feet. break me, God, for i will
not bend, and i’m not shaped as i should be anymore. submission. 2.
touching the unseen the sweet wine of your blood is on my lips the
tender mystery of your body is on my tongue in the background of this
meal i can hear the desperate shrieks of the Egyptians and the gentle
whisper of death passing over the door frame of my soul. your heart was
broken on that cross, and your blood has soaked deeply into the wood of
my days. remembrance. 3. touching the unseen i was there– in your
heart on you mind within your love. i was there when they crucified my
lord. shivers. I do struggle with the author’s rendition of the whole
Godhead dying on the cross, as that to me denies the Trinity, mainly
because Jesus knew He was being forsaken by God since He was carrying
the load of our sins and punishment on Himself. Despite my
interpretation, The Story will help you find or rediscover the love of
God through His redemptive salvation story. This book was provided by
Donna Hausler of Revell, a division of Baker Publishing, in exchange for
my honest opinion. No monetary compensation was exchanged.
sunflower_faith
Posted August 27, 2012
Blend of poetry, journal like entries, a reflective story telling tone,
"Story: Our Journey of Heartache and Grace from Eden to
Evermore" by Steven James is a personal look through the whole
Bible; Blending familiar tales with writing that brings the reader in,
as if reading the personal journal of Steven James, I was captivated how
Steven was able to blend the modern with the ever-lasting, bringing to
life, the Bible. Not a usual commentary of the Bible,"Story: Our
Journey of Heartache and Grace from Eden to Evermore" is a 203
page, softcover personal insight, that for me, really just brought out
the poetry that is life and that is of the Bible. There is just a sense
of longing in Steven James book, a sense of humanity that creates a rich
and emotionally charged book that had me looking at the Bible in a whole
new life, in the backdrop of modern day experiences, reaching into the
past and looking toward the future. "Story: Our Journey of
Heartache and Grace from Eden to Evermore" reminds us in one part
of the book, "The story I see woven all throughout Scripture is a
tale of passion and sacrifice-not a deal brokered between a lawyer and a
judge. It was a gift given from a lover to his beloved in one final act
of sacrificial love, he offers his life so that she might live."
(from "Story: Our Journey of Heartache and Grace from Eden to
Evermore" ) I felt this book was very deep in how it really just
reaches into the Bible and pulling examples of familiar stories while
weaving those tales with not just personal anecdotes of experience, but
challenging the reader to look at those stories, against the backdrop of
contemporary society and with poetry that this thrown throughout the
book, really just making this a personal journey for not just the
writer, but to the readers, that he invites to read through this story
of "Heartache and Grace from Eden to Evermore". The writing
style is very free flowing yet structure, that sounds impossible, but it
reminded me so much of a journal that is written, with all the personal
emotions, and thoughts that reflects the author's own thoughts of
reading the Bible and just a real feel of wanting the reader to
understand, grasp and experience those very same feelings and insights
that he, himself experienced while reading the Bible. This is not a
simple, over the night, read or a book, just for vacation, but for those
who really want to see the human, living, and just emotional richness
that the Bible has to offer. If you are meeting Jesus for the first
time, or have known Him for a while, this is a book that just re-opens,
brings a new look at the Bible and takes the extraordinary to a whole
new level. ***Thank you to Revell for the opportunity to read and review
this complimentary copy***
Overview
With stunning imagery, powerful poetry, and real-life drama, Story is an inspiring journey from the creation of the world to eternity and everything in between. Consummate storyteller Steven James threads together familiar scenes from Scripture that will awaken your faith and inspire you to live in the reality of Christ's sacrifice. As he...