Current Projects

I am not a novelist, so this project is an ambition driven by my desire to share theological truth within the context of an imagined story that can be placed alongside the story of Moses and the Exodus.

Tovven the Keeper of Stories

A Theological Novel

This current project is my first novel. It is a rather ambitious effort and I do not expect to complete it until I am living a more settled life. However, using this genre enables an interpretive theological reading of the Exodus story within the context of a delightfully imaginative and theologically innovative side story. The story takes place during the plagues upon Egypt. It is a story of the Israelite slaves learning from an aged stone cutter named Tovven. The characters of the story all flow from this slave family and its patriarch. Tovven is old and unable to work. However, he is a keeper of Israel’s stories, and learned to read and write during his time working for a Phoenician trader living in Egypt. His students seek to understand the events of the exodus and are the eyes, ears, and feet of Tovven. His grandson, Mishphat, is one of his students. Tovven’s son, Yahleph, is an intelligent leader of courage who suffers the wrath of the taskmasters to protect the people.

As the story of the Exodus unfolds, romance and love, suspense and wonder, adventure and danger, all take place in this growing community of slaves who are the people of God.

An Excerpt from Tovven the Keeper of Stories

A River of Blood

    “Tovven, Tovven,” the sound of many voices crying out his name awakened the old stone cutter from his sleep. With a groan he lifted himself from his bed and knew in his heart that something grander than serpents and stick tricks had happened. A shiver of divine presence ran up his spine, a grin of expectation and confidence appeared on his face. Tonight the keeper of stories will have the story brought to him. Tonight the storyteller will enter the story as a messenger, an interpreter of meaning. He felt some camaraderie with the two old men that had challenged Pharaoh’s power over the Ivrim (the human beings).  Tovven’s mind filled with thoughts, each one being measured by his many years of learning to instruct the Ivrim in goodness through stories. “Old men with sticks…”, he thought as he grabbed his own staff on the way out his door, “…this is where I will begin.”

      “What is it my friends, why have you awakened me?” The people were all speaking at once and the old man could not hear well enough to discern a single word in the humming clamor. Tovven raised his hand and the crowd grew silent. There was an eager youth, full of vigor and longing to participate in the momentous events, he caught Tovven’s eye. He was not one of Tovven’s regular group of listeners and students. Tovven spoke, “What is your name young man?” He responded, “I am Qolam.” Leaning on his staff and looking a little disheveled Tovven said, “Well Qolam, why have all of you awakened me from my rest?”