Celebrating the Living Witness of People and Places of the Christian Faith Saints and sanctuaries are critical parts of the Christian experience. We learn from those who have gone before or walk alongside us. When the mission becomes exhausting, we search for havens where we can recover and find the encouragement we need to continue. This issue seeks to celebrate the Christian journey; it considers many people who have traveled in ways we can learn from and the places that supported them as they carried on. Contributors "Prelude"" Sharon Jones on a Moment of Brightness "Saints, Suffering, and Sanctuaries from Around the World: Japan, Korea, and China"" Seth Myers on Christian Heroes in Asia "Cathedral Cosmos: A Glance Heavenward into the Medieval Model": Jason Monroe on Avoiding Chronological Snobbery "From Jokers to Fools: The Fire of Notre Dame as a Call to Holiness": Megan Joy Rials on Modernity, Architecture, and Hope "Mission San José y San Miguel de Aguayo": Donald Catchings on Experiencing Sanctuary "The Holy Dead: Saints as Sanctuaries": Joe Ricke on Physicality and Spirituality "Sestina for Miracle-Seekers" Mary Lou Cornish on Overcoming False Piety "Shelter in the Vine: An Unexpected Sanctuary": Charlotte Thomason on a Spiritual Haven "Sanctuaries for the Suffering: Trauma and Imagination in Apologetics": Jesse Childress on Psychological Elements That Influence Worldviews "Fire and Water: Three Kwansabas": Theresa Pihl on Memories of Ugandan Martyrs "Adventure & Faith: Lessons from the Life of St. Brendan the Navigator and Bilbo Baggins": Ted Wright on Voyages and Ventures "Rest and Reemergence: Rivendell As a Sanctuary": Zak Schmoll on Healing and Pressing on "Unforsaken: Fantasy, Providence, and the Silence of God": Clayton R. Conder on Finding Clarity through the Strange "Ode to Francis": John Tuttle on a Saint to Study "But It’s Not Fair": Annie Nardone on Lessons from Boethius "The Offering of St. Ignatius": Annie Crawford on Enduring Pain for God’s Glory "The Kingdom of Kings and Queens: A Parable": Jesse Baker on a Transformational Encounter "The Voyage of the Titan": Zak Schmoll on Wanting Something Better Cover Art Our cover illustration was created by Chilean artist, apologist, and physician Virginia de la Lastra. The stained glass panel illustrates the beginning of the Great Struggle with the Fall and the saints which led the charge when the tide began to turn in the Great Reversal: Joseph, Mary, and John the Baptist. Spring 2022 Volume 5, Issue 1 270 pages

Celebrating the Living Witness of People and Places of the Christian Faith Saints and sanctuaries are critical parts of the Christian experience. We learn from those who have gone before or walk alongside us. When the mission becomes exhausting, we search for havens where we can recover and find the encouragement we need to continue. This issue seeks to celebrate the Christian journey; it considers many people who have traveled in ways we can learn from and the places that supported them as they carried on. Contributors "Prelude"" Sharon Jones on a Moment of Brightness "Saints, Suffering, and Sanctuaries from Around the World: Japan, Korea, and China"" Seth Myers on Christian Heroes in Asia "Cathedral Cosmos: A Glance Heavenward into the Medieval Model" Jason Monroe on Avoiding Chronological Snobbery "From Jokers to Fools: The Fire of Notre Dame as a Call to Holiness" Megan Joy Rials on Modernity, Architecture, and Hope "Mission San José y San Miguel de Aguayo" Donald Catchings on Experiencing Sanctuary "The Holy Dead: Saints as Sanctuaries" Joe Ricke on Physicality and Spirituality "Sestina for Miracle-Seekers" Mary Lou Cornish on Overcoming False Piety "Shelter in the Vine: An Unexpected Sanctuary" Charlotte Thomason on a Spiritual Haven "Sanctuaries for the Suffering: Trauma and Imagination in Apologetics" Jesse Childress on Psychological Elements That Influence Worldviews "Fire and Water: Three Kwansabas" Theresa Pihl on Memories of Ugandan Martyrs "Adventure & Faith: Lessons from the Life of St. Brendan the Navigator and Bilbo Baggins" Ted Wright on Voyages and Ventures "Rest and Reemergence: Rivendell As a Sanctuary" Zak Schmoll on Healing and Pressing on "Unforsaken: Fantasy, Providence, and the Silence of God" Clayton R. Conder on Finding Clarity through the Strange "Ode to Francis" John Tuttle on a Saint to Study "But It's Not Fair" Annie Nardone on Lessons from Boethius "The Offering of St. Ignatius" Annie Crawford on Enduring Pain for God's Glory "The Kingdom of Kings and Queens: A Parable" Jesse Baker on a Transformational Encounter "The Voyage of the Titan" Zak Schmoll on Wanting Something Better Cover Art Our cover illustration was created by Chilean artist, apologist, and physician Virginia de la Lastra. The stained glass panel illustrates the beginning of the Great Struggle with the Fall and the saints which led the charge when the tide began to turn in the Great Reversal: Joseph, Mary, and John the Baptist. Spring 2022 Volume 5, Issue 1 300 pages

Mystery: Detecting Truth in the Darkness A good mystery brings the reader into the mind of the detective: searching for clues, questioning suspects, and coming to conclusions. We like to play along, hoping to crack the case before the ultimate reveal. In a way, it feels like our real lives as we try to piece together the parts of our existence and discover what they mean. That is why mysteries are the perfect playground for the cultural apologist who seeks to explain what the facts about our world actually mean. Contributors “The Gospel of Murder” by Annie Nardone on Human Darkness “Serial, Healing and the Silence of God: The Hunger for Order and Truth in a Postmodern Mystery” by Erica Milecki McMillan on Seeking Truth “Light for the Seekers” by Sojourner Howfree on the Inquisitive Mind “An Elementary History of Deduction” by Seth Myers on the History of the Genre “The Secret of Father Brown” by G.K. Chesterton on Detective Methodology “The Inheritance of Hiram Percy Maxim” by Brian Melton on Consequences “Rationalism, Meaning, & Love: Sherlock’s Ethos as a Key to Unlock All Mysteries” by Jasmin Biggs on the Pursuit of Truth “What Mean These Stones? Archaeology, Poetry & Mystery” by Ted W. Wright on Excavating Humanity “Gizem Dagl” by Karise Gilliland on the Mountain of Mystery “Agatha Christie and Worshiping False Gods” by Jacqueline Wilson on Self-Examination “God as Revealer of Mysteries and Fountain of Love” by Jesse W. Baker on Divine Revelation “The Mystery of Our History: How Knowledge of the Church Fathers Can Strengthen the Church” by Kimberly Hyland on the Importance of the Past “The Mystery of Love” by Donald Catchings on Defining Love “Time Warping With God” by Tim Mcguire on Dreaming “Mystery and Meaning in the Multiverse: Everything Everywhere All at Once” by Seth Myers on Searching Through the Chaos “Book Review: The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency Series by Alexander McCall Smith” by Rebekah Valerius on a Wise Lady Detective Volume 6, Issue 1, Spring 2023 240 pages Cover illustration by Virginia de la Lastra

Finding Joy in All Circumstances In a world chasing happiness, how does one find true joy? In a faith that promises joy as one of its benefits (Galatians 5:22), Christians should have the market cornered on joy, but do we? What is the original meaning of joy and what is the use of it? In this issue, contributors share examples of joy, some hard-won and at the end of a trial. We hope these pieces will help you find the definition of joy in your own life. Contributors “Review of What is Heaven Like? By Richard Eng”: Jasmin Biggs on the theological truths found in a children’s book. “Again I Say: An Excerpt From In Their Mother's Arms”: a novel excerpt by Donald W. Catchings, Jr. on a post-apocalyptic dystopia. “Joy and the Mind of the Reader”: Annie Crawford on why we should read. “Meticulous Mycologist: How Beatrix Potter Inspired C.S. Lewis”: Carrie Eben on joy in Beatrix Potter. Poems “Broken Blessings” and “Jubilee”: Joshua S. Fullman on God’s gifts. Poems “Home at Last” and “Song of Songs”: Ann Gauger on longing and love. “Joy - Brief”: Soujourna Howard on joy through pain. “The Shoes”: a short story by Kim Jacobson on finding spiritual joy. “Joy, Hedonism, and Scientific Utopia”: Jason Monroe on a truly good life. “Joy as Life’s Fuel”: Seth Myers the pursuit of joy. “Joy in the Mystery”: Annie Nardone on joy and donegality. “Review: Mere Evangelism”: Josiah Peterson on a new work on C.S. Lewis. “The Crown Because of the Cross: The Inseparability of Suffering and Joy in the Thought of C.S. Lewis”: Megan Joy Rials on suffering and joy and “A Review of A Green and Ancient Light by Frederic S. Durbin” on a worthy successor to C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. “Gratitude and the Happiness Machine”: Zak Schmoll on the root of joy. “Father Stu: A Story of Faith and Flaws, of Dreams and Determination”: John P. Tuttle on an authentic biopic. Poems “Joy's Arrival” and “Hidden in the Boughs”: Sarah Waters on coming together. “Joy (And Truth and Love): Some Johannine and Pastoral Reflections”: Donald Williams on a Johannine look at joy. Photography contributions by Tommy Darin Liskey .Cover Art Our cover illustration was created by Chilean artist, apologist, and physician Virginia de la Lastra. Fall 2022 Volume 5, Issue 3 240 pages

Reading Shakespeare through a Christian Lens Not only huge English literature fans or apologetics aficionados will be delighted by this special Advent issue of An Unexpected Journal. The aim is to interest the scholar, yes, but also the general reader who has no special knowledge of English literature, Shakespeare, or apologetics. The defense of the Christian faith believes that no domain of human experience. All areas, including the history of ideas political, philosophical, scientific, and social, are fair game for apologetic research and discussion. All that we express in literature (especially the dramatic arts) deals with our experience, and experience is tied to the One who Makes, Redeems, and Sanctifies experience. With features from guest editors: Joe Ricke: "A Guide to Reading this Volume," "Introduction," "Against Pessimism: As You Like It (or Not)" Sarah R.A. Waters: "Lewis, Lear, and The Four Loves" As well as contributions from Shakespearean Scholars: Jem Bloomfield: "Disclosures of Form" John D. Cox: "Paradoxia Shakespeareana" Jack Heller: "Dogberry’s Inscrutable Grace in Much Ado about Nothing" Laura Higgins: "Shakespeare’s Hidden Ghosts" Crystal Hurd: "Ophelia" Corey Latta: "Hamlet’s Father" and "Othello" Tony Lawton and Editors: "Shakespeare and Cultural Apologetics" Tracy Manning and Editors: "An Interview with Tracy Manning" Louis Markos: "Letters From Shakespeare: Love" and "Letters From Shakespeare: Fools" D.S. Martin: "A Poem Emerging From An Epigraph Concerning Hamlet’s Indirection" G. Connor Salter: "Adaptation and Cultural Apologetics" John Stanifer: "Authorship: A Poetic Meditation" Jennifer Woodruff Tait: "Scripture" and "Jaques Tells His Story" Grace Tiffany: “Who is’t can read a woman?” Gary L. Tandy: “O, I have ta’en too little care of this” Including excerpts from the works of William Shakespeare: "Sonnet 55" "Cordelia To Lear" "Isabella’s Speech (On Mercy)" "Bottom’s Dream + Biblical Source" "On Mercy and Prejudice" "Sonnet 116" And commentary from classic authors: "On Shakespeare" by George MacDonald "On MacBeth" by G.K. Chesterton Erasmus On Fools "On Shakespeare" by John Milton 250 pages Volume 5, Issue 4 (Advent 2022)

In a fast-paced society that prizes utilitarian productivity, leisure and play can be difficult to enjoy without guilt. Rather than resist this cultural tide, the church often inadvertently baptizes such workaholism, spiritualizes the idolatry of productivity, and participates in the functional desecration of the physical creation that God declared "good." But leisure is not only fun; it is essential for our spiritual health. This issue of An Unexpected Journal explores the theological and philosophical foundations for the sacredness of play, along with lighter reflections on how various sports, hobbies, and leisure activities reveal the goodness and character of God. Contributors “The Curse of Gnosticism and the Cure of Play: Why Leisure is Essential for Spiritual Health” - Jasmin Biggs on the Imago Dei & Its Implications for Play “Leisurely Rambles: Hiking & Birding as Sacred Play” - Annie Nardone on Hiking and Birding “Vortex” (Short Story) - Molly Hopkins on Workaholism “Taylor Swift, T.S. Eliot, and C.S. Lewis: Eras for the Ages” - Seth Myers on Taylor Swift’s Timeless Themes “The Arrow That is Not Aimed: Flow in the Art of Archery and Writing” - Megan Joy Rials on Archery and Writing “Leisure the Basis of Education: Applying the Sabbath Principle to the Classroom” -Alex Markos on Sabbath and Education “Fly Fishing and the Fall” - Jim Swayze on Fly Fishing “Obeying the Rules of the Game” - Zak Schmoll on Power Soccer “Sea Reflections” - Tiffany Kavedzic on God’s Character “Pursuing the Tempest: Why We Chase” - Zachary Biggs on Storm Chasing and Landscape Photography “How My Horse Taught Me to Be a Parent” - Annie Crawford on Horsemanship and Parenting “In The Image of a Playful God: Flourishing Through Playfulness And Connection” - Anna Beresford on Play & Connection “Bones Will Sing: Dance in Spiritual Formation” - Rachel Bruce Johnson on Incarnational Embodiment “Craft and Glory” - Molly Hopkins on Hobbies and Craftsmanship “Forgiveness in the Foam” (poem) - Dwayne Sheridan on Cosplay and Redemption “Take Me Out To The Ballgame: How Baseball Can Restore Our Senses And Our Souls” - Sandra G. Hicks on Baseball “Counterpunching Trials With Joy: Boxing As A Unique Parallel To Christian Sanctification” - Matthew Hill on Boxing “Kings Over Bishops: The Play of Chess in Late Medieval and Early Modern England as a Representation of the Relationship Between the Sacred and the Secular” - James L. Underwood on Chess and History “Bombs, Board Games, and Bede the Venerable: But Mostly Chess” - Seth Myers on Board Games and Chess Fall 2023; Volume 6, Issue 3. 310 pages Illustrator: Virginia de la Lastra

Celebrating the Prose, Poetry & Scholarship of King Arthur & Camelot King Arthur and his legendary Camelot inspire the reflection on the best of humanity and true virtue: faithful friends and comradery, chivalry, courtly love, perseverance to purpose, and the Divine fulfillment of a promise. The enduring appeal of Camelot is the Gospel message told within a Medieval tale: stories where agape love take form with a faithful company persevering to victory led by the King Who Came. The King Arthur Legendarium presents this timeless tale with new scholarship and new tales woven by modern creative members of the fellowship of beauty. Contributions & Contributors "Return to the Timeless Legend" by Annie Nardone, Issue Editor, on Revisiting Chivalry and Adventure "The Myth of Arthur" by G.K. Chesterton poetic honoring of King Arthur "Medieval Virtue: Arthur and Sir Gawain, Women and Men" by Seth Myers on Classical and Arthurian Virtue "True History of the Holy Grail" by Donald Williams, Issue Editor, on Galahad, Sola Gratia, and the Graal "To Help the Wrong'd" by Camilo Peralta on Sanctuary in Idylls of the King "Take Up the Tale" by Malcolm Guite on His Poetic Retelling of the Arthurian Epic "The Coming of Galahad" by Malcolm Guite Ballad of Galahad's Childhood "The Virtuous Arthur" by Josh P. Herring on Resolving a Tension Between C.S. Lewis and Spenser "Death and the Knight" by Roger Maxson on the True Knight and Victory over Death "Arthur and Abbey" by Elizabeth Martin on Edwin Austin Abbey's Galahad Mural Cycle "Avalon" by Justin Wiggins on The Sacred Isle of Avalon "Malory's Apocalyptic Vision" by Joshua S. Fullman on Malory's Le Morte D'arthur. "Galahad and the End of the Quest" by Junius Johnson on An Imagined Tale of Galahad "The Sword in the Stone - A Triolet" by Karise Gililland pens a Medieval Poem "Arthur & Regeneration in T.S. Eliot's Waste Land" by Seth Myers on The Search for Regeneration "Enid and Gereint" by John Tuttle on A Romance in Arthur's Kingdom "Always Once and Future" by Donald W. Catchings, Jr. on Arthur as Archetype "C.S. Lewis, Merlin, and Messy Apologetics" by Stephan Bedard on C.S. Lewis and Pragmatic Christian Apologetics "Faerie Queen and the Holy Knight Red Crosse" by Seth Myers on Red Crosse's Symbolic Virtue of Holiness Volume 6, Issue 2 Summer 2023 280 pages Cover illustration: Virginia de la Lastra

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