Slumber of Christianity - Ted Dekker

Writing is a journey of communication for me.  I write as a form of worship, because it is through writing that I am able to express myself to Elyon and He is able to express Himself to me.  I am also always reading.  I read because for as long as I can remember, I have dreamed of a perfect world...a world that could take me away from the nightmares of my childhood.  I started reading when I was 3, and I was instantly taken by the possibility of escaping into a story.  Although I was taught, growing up, that there was a Heaven that we would go to when we died, it wasn't something I longed for; but instead, I longed for what I could come up with because I didn't understand the perfection of Heaven.  When I was saved in college, a perfect world took on a new meaning for me.  I understood that there was a perfect Heaven that I would go to; but until recently, I only longed for Heaven during the hardest times.  I would wish I could escape and go to Heaven.  But I didn't long for Heaven all the time.  I longed for life here more.  I was seeking satisfaction here, even after I knew Christ.  I slipped into a slumber.  As a Christian adult, my tastes for story have expanded and become more complex.  I am constantly reading stories of good verses evil and other worlds.

I just finished reading Slumber of Christianity, a non-fiction book by Ted Dekker.  Ted seeks to waken the followers of Christ, to the reality and perfection of the eternity that awaits us.  I see my stories from a whole new light now.  Something that I have learned from Ted Dekker ever since I started reading his books, is that my desire for a perfect world is instilled in me by God because I was actually created for a perfect world; but the fall destroyed that perfection.  Now we still have hope because although our world has been corrupted, we know that we have that perfection awaiting us, after we offer our lives to Christ as living sacrifices.  I've discovered in Slumber of Christianity, that the stories that I read strengthen my imagination and trigger a greater desire for my future eternity.  After reading this book, I have a new desire.  I am more than ready to go to Heaven as soon as He will allow me! 

The Blood Book - Ted Dekker

Two years ago, I entered into a world like no other...a world that can exist only in our imaginations...a beautiful reminder of a much more perfect world that we await after this life.  This world makes the beautiful worlds of Narnia and Middle Earth look like simplistic dreams in comparison.  This world is called Other Earth.  The year...is 4036. 

Back in 2010, we met a man named Thomas Hunter who entered into Other Earth in a dream.  Soon, he couldn't determine which world was the dream and which was reality.  When he fell asleep in one world, he woke up in another.  While Ancient Earth and the horrible reality of a disease that could kill out humanity certainly felt real when he was there, Other Earth felt more real than he could imagine.  In Other Earth, the spiritual is made physical.  Elyon is active in Other Earth as a boy, a man, a lion, and a lamb.  He plays with the people of Other Earth, and sometimes even turns the world upside down for their enjoyment.  Elyon has begun this new earth, after the great apocalypse that took place sometime between the years 2030 and 2040.  The earth holds magical fruit that heals, refreshes, and satisfies, and the most beautiful living water in the green lakes--Elyon's water.  But evil is being kept at bay in the Black Forest, and it is destined to return to destroy Other Earth when the firstborn drinks the water of Teeleh, a black bat also known as Satan.  The Shataiki bats (known as demons in our world), take over Other Earth, and the beautiful, white Roush bats (known as the messengers of God) disappear, and the spiritual is no longer as physical as the people would like; but Elyon promised to provide a solution in one fell swoop.
The horde (a physically and spiritually diseased people) have taken over parts of Other Earth and Elyon has promised to save His people when all hope seems to be lost.

So begins a story for the ages.  This story consists of 16 books going in different directions.  Ted Dekker has provided us with different sub-series of what is now known as the Books of History Chronicles, so that we can satisfy our craving to know more about Other Earth.  Recently, Ted ran a campaign called Share the Love, which allowed participants to receive a copy of the never before published, Blood Book, as well as copies of never published, Genesis and signed advanced copies of Forbidden, which will be released in September 2011.  Blood Book and Genesis are not set to ever be available to the public, but are meant to be a reward to those who participated in this campaign.  1000 copies were released and I was lucky enough to be one of the 1000.

The Blood Book allows the reader to discover the answers to many questions regarding Other Earth, including the connection between Roush and Shataiki and Teeleh's plan to destroy humanity and keep them separated from Elyon--as well as a unique look into journals of Ba'al, the shataiki queen Marsuuv, and, of course, Thomas Hunter.  The journals of Thomas Hunter gave me a whole new outlook on Other Earth and the journal of Marsuuv was a much needed and disturbing reminder of the harsh reality that religion is destroying our world and keeping us away from Elyon. 

I won't reveal much about the Blood Book, since most fans will never have the opportunity to read it, but I feel blessed to have had the opportunity to participate and I wanted to share a review of some kind!  The Blood Book exceeded my expectations and left me wanting even more!  I hope Ted will find other connections and continue the Books of History Chronicles, even though it is currently said to be over.

Forbidden (Book 1 of the Books of Mortals)

I was given the wonderful privilege of reading an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) of Forbidden, which will be released in September 2011! Ted Dekker and Tosca Lee have created a world like no other.  In this world, every human being is living what they believe is life--but what they don't know is that they are actually dead.  Rom Sebastian was satisfied with the way his life was going--with the exception of the fear that controlled him every day; but he was pleased with the order of the earth, where no emotion (other than fear) existed to cause chaos in what they believed was as close to earthly perfection as possible.  According to the way the legends described emotions, they were dangerous; but Rom's life is turned upside down when he receives a vial of blood with a message from a crazy old man who claims to know the truth about what happened to Rom's father.  Once Rom drinks one serving of the blood, he begins a journey that he could have never anticipated--a journey of the discovery of happiness and love...but will greed, anger, and hate stand in his way when they also erupt from the same blood? 

Is the chaos that erupts worth the love that is discovered? What does being human truly mean? Is it better to follow an old order or the new?

After reading Forbidden, there are 2 things I am sure of: 1)The Sovereign is my Master--not the sovereign that the world has to offer, but the Sovereign of the world; and 2) I am mortal; and I await the One who will one day return as "a warrior dressed in a robe of red. White, dipped in blood. His own."

Members of the Circle: Soon you will find yourselves to be mortals. Your task now is to be alive...be keepers of the hope that we carry. Forbidden is exceptional! As members of the Circle, you will be consumed by the world that Ted Dekker and Tosca Lee have created! Like Other Earth, it is a world that is difficult to even dream of and you will find yourself wanting to know more with every word. But unlike Other Earth, it is a world where love is forbidden. Discover yourself. Discover your mission. Discover love. Dive deep.