Book review: From the Dark to the Dawn by Alicia A. Willis

Book review: 

From the Dark to the Dawn by Alicia A. Willis 

The first thing I can say about this book is “WOW!!” I am not usually a big fan of historical fiction, but this work blows that idea out of the water, drastically so.

When first receiving From the Dark to the Dawn in the mail and noticing the size of the book—424 pages to be exact—I was hopeful, but kinda daunted by its size. Not that I do not like big books, truth of the matter is I LOVE bog books, but the fiction books I have read that are of substantial size (over 200 pages, and some smaller books even) usually take quite awhile to develop the plot and characters, plus the author adds much filler information that doesn't necessarily apply directly to the plot's direction. I was sorely wrong. From the Dark to the Dawn was written extremely well that it holds you attention from page one until the end. Even after finishing the book I was not ready for it to end (if you're reading this Alicia, I'm up for a sequel!). There was hardly (if any) any “down time” in which Alicia just wrote to take up space and time to add pages, the plot kept driving on to the end.

 From the Dark to the Dawn is a tale with such life-like characters you will not soon forget them. The individual and collective, interwoven stories of each of the characters are very well developed and crafted that by the end of the book you feel that you know each character personally. Some books take either way to long to develop their characters, others are too hasty. Neither was the case with Alicia. Rather she developed the characters at a great pace, which is a reason why you will feel that you know the characters after finishing—and while reading—the book. Along with amazingly well developed and planned out characters and plot, there are several themes throughout the book that I found fascinating, which also give the story such powerful meaning. If you could pick just one theme that summarises the book's entirety it would be forgiveness, but there are so many other themes carefully woven that adds such splendor and life to the tale.

 In summary, I greatly enjoyed From the Dark to the Dawn. Someday, Lord willing, I hope to adapt the book into a movie. I do, however, have a caution about the book (one in which the author informs people of): the book does contain talk of and few times of actual slave-master persecution as well as alluded to aspects of Raman depravity. However, Alicia did well at writing in such a way that does not “glory” on the brutality and sin (as some authors, even Christian authors, do) and yet she did not gloss over it. I thought she handled the “scenes” very well with great Christian integrity. With that in mind, I still highly recommend From the Dark to the Dawn by Alicia A. Willis.

I saw Jesus today, but I was too busy to notice

An incident this evening God used to smack me upside the head has gotten me thinking and praying. Throughout the years I have heard a fair share of modern Christian music—contemporary Christian music, or CCM—to know where about much of the tone lies. I notice a common theme within the songs of wanting to have a personal experience with God: to feel Him, to see Him, and other temporal feelings. While the notions of deepening our relationship with our Savior is not a bad thing, it does seem that these songs focus upon the temporal senses as affirmation. Little is it realised, but we see Jesus quite often, all around us. As was my case today, society pushes us to cram our schedules so full that we are constantly running to the next thing, which results in that we often fail to see Jesus (preaching to myself here). On this particularly unparticular Wednesday, I was making a quick stop at Walmart on my way home from work for mom. While in the store she called for me to pick up some items for supper. My mind was far away thinking on getting supper items home for those preparing it and on all I am needing to do for tomorrow's lunch meeting with the local Chamber of Commerce. It was not until several miles down the road did the sight fully dawn upon me and cause great heaviness upon my heart and soul. At the corner near one of Walmart's exits--the one I used--stood a young couple—the wife by a landscaping bush keeping an eye on a baby and the husband was forefront holding a sign asking for help of some kind. As mentioned, I was “too busy” to even read what the sign said. For the rest of my trip home I could not stop thinking about the young couple and several passages of scripture. Matthew 25 in which Jesus tell us how to see Him is the first one that flood my mind:

“For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”

The second passage is much of the book of James, primarily the portions talking about our works are to manifest our faith.

“What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works”

(James 2:14-18).

NRA's caving to homosexuality: More at stake than just our second amendment rights

Gun-loving and American has become an inseparable duo much like peanut butter and jelly, such that you can hardly imagine one without the other. In the spirit of gun-loving, the National Rifle Association (NRA) has been a leading advocate and stronghold for political conservatives who are still attempting to hold on to any last shards of constitutional law remaining in our nation. All these patriotic sentiments came to crumbling halt with NRA's July issue of "America's First Freedom"--NRA's periodical. In the article, they show favorable sentiments and comments of the homosexual lifestyle. The article written about Chris Cheng, a NRA news commentator and competitive shooter, talks of Cheng's "coming out" announcing his homosexuality. The article mentions that Cheng wants "diversity to be a primary component of my contribution to the shooting community and the NRA" [“Top Shot” By Amber Wolfe. America’s First Freedom. July 2014. (pages 45-48)].

The predominant readers of the NRA are what is typically considered "conservative" and are, more often than not Republican in voting. As a brief aside, Republican and "conservative" have come to mean the same thing. While these ideologies are not wrong, per se. They do, however, have problematic ideologies.

The NRA along with their constituents who are of "conservative" leanings are American-loving and largely law-abiding citizens—in that they follow the United States Constitution. Moreover, this mindset tends to view the Constitution as the foundational source for law and justice. This mindset is largely prevalent among Christian "conservatives" as well. However, as Christians, we are to use the whole of Scripture—Old and New Testaments alike—for our foundational basis for law and justice. The Constitution must be understood through the lens of Scripture, this is how the Founding Fathers intended in their penning of American legislation.

With scripture laid down as our guiding source for law, liberty, and justice, it is imperative that we use it as such when we bring it to bear in our assessing of world events and other happenings, such as NRA's advocating homosexuality as a viable lifestyle. Not only is homosexuality an abomination to God and a heinous transgression of His law—which is the crux of the issue—but it also sets an unhealthily precedent and trajectory for further "conservative" groups to adopt this perversion as normal.

More often than not, "conservative" means that the politician or organization (e.g. NRA) does or does not advocate a, b, and c and that they also aren't as bad as the liberals opposing them—a "lesser of two evils" mentality, which was clearly displayed in the 2012 presidential election. When "Conservativism" alone becomes the guiding rule of law, we adopt a faulty scale that lacks a true, moral foundation. Our reason for withdrawing support for NRA lies not in its anti-Republican or its anti-conservative

standards. Rather, our withdrawal has to do with NRA’s standing contrary to what God has clearly established as wrong.

Our only hope for restoration is for Christians to unite under the banner of Christ's Law as our rule and guide for all of life—in family, in church, and in state. This division amongst the body of Christ is a leading reason why Satan has been able to have such great success in his attacking and destroying of denominations. Brothers and sisters, we must stand strong in the Lord by upholding his standard for right and wrong, which is only found in the Old and New Testaments of His Word, the Bible.

While I am not advocating a mass exodus from the NRA at this point, I do, however, strongly urge you to contact NRA voicing your support for Biblical marriage, especially if you are a member of NRA. Furthermore, I urge you share this news with others whom you know. Lord willing, we can effect a positive impact on NRA so that they retract their position in promoting homosexuality. If we do not stand up and speak out against the evil in our world, it is the same as showing our support for the evil. As Bonhoeffer put it, “Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.” We must act; we must speak up.

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” Eph 6:10-17