Showing results by author "Clive Johnson" in All Categories

A handsome young shepherd boy seems an unlikely choice for one who will one day become king of Israel. Yet, talented, wise, and brave, God’s chosen son David rises to be a worthy ruler, killing a giant, and dealing gently with a wayward king along the way. Follow his many adventures and strange path to fame in this, one of the best-loved among bible stories. This delightful retelling of the classic bible tale is told in the spirit of the countless storytellers who have enthralled audiences young and old throughout the centuries.

Together with three trusted friends, Daniel is taken into service in the court of the wicked King Nebuchadnezzar. When the king threatens to kill all sages and magicians in his kingdom following the failure of their kind to tell him what he had dreamed, Daniel bravely offers to face the king. Through some fancy footwork and close listening to God, Daniel wins over the king and rises to high office, while attracting the jealousy of others who are commanded to serve under him. A devious plot sees Daniel condemned to die in a den of lions. Will God save him from his terrifying prospect?

A beautiful orphan who becomes a queen, Esther risks her life out of her faithfulness to God and her people. Yet her bravery challenges the cunning of one of the most feared men in the kingdom. Will it be her head or his that ends up on top of a pole? This delightful retelling of the classic bible tale is told in the spirit of the countless storytellers who have enthralled audiences young and old throughout the centuries.

Ruth, a poor and humble servant girl, pledges her allegiance to her widowed mother-in-law, forsaking her own chance of happiness. Ruth faithfully follows her grieving relative across deserts, laboring in the lowliest occupations to earn their food. When the pair’s livelihood is threatened, her mother-in-law begs for her faithful companion to perform one final task that might ensure their safety.

God tells Jonah to warn the wicked people of the powerful city of Nineveh to change their ways. Fearing that what his Lord has asked him to do is beyond his strength, Jonah runs away. Arriving at a busy harbor, he is taken on board a ship that’s making ready to sail to a distant land. Yet, a terrifying storm, and a tumbling into the deep, dark waters of a violent sea await this cowardly traveler. Can Jonah survive the perils that befall him, or will God work a miracle that allows Jonah a second chance to go where God wants him to be?

Elijah bemoans that he is alone in proclaiming God’s warning to an evil people, yet never ceases to plead with his kinsfolk to turn back to God. Facing an evil king and queen, while suffering famine and ridicule, this great prophet of God stays faithful to his cause. Yet, what will be the fate of those who scheme against Elijah, and others who walk carefully along God’s holy path?

The displays of strength of the fearless judge Samson amaze all who meet him, yet his enemies become ever more desperate to discover the secret of this mighty man of God’s power. Will they succeed, or will they themselves be crushed by the might and faith of the man who they plot to kill? In this colorful tale of intrigue, scheming, and double-crossing, there are adventures aplenty to enjoy – and too, important lessons to be learned.

An enchanted garden, and the promise of heaven on earth. This is the setting for one of the greatest and best-known stories of all - how the Earth came to be, and the beautiful home that God gave to Adam and Eve. Yet, as is well known, when they insist on disobeying the God who created them, the fate of these original humans turns out to be one to be feared.

The people laughed at Noah when he set about building the biggest ark that the world had ever seen. Yet soon this faithful servant of God was soon shown not to be so foolish. Come settle inside the ark with Noah and his family, along with creatures of all kinds, as the unlikely creation prepares to set sail, and the rain begins to fall.

A beloved son, despite being left for dead by his evil brothers, survives imprisonment and enslavement in a foreign land to become the most favored among the Pharaoh’s advisors. Enjoy again this colorful tale of dreams, disaster, and treachery, as we see Joseph rise to become the hero of Egypt in a time of disaster, and learn from him the important lessons that his story still has to teach us today.

A delightful retelling of the classic tale of a poor miller's son, his cat, and all sorts of mischief and magic. A perfect story for bedtime!

A richly embroidered retelling of the classic tale from One Thousand and One Nights, imaginatively described for children.

What does it mean to be "spiritual"? For some, spirituality is at best a nebulous concept that's preferred by those who cannot accept the potential of science to one day explain everything, but for others, is at the core of what it means to be human. Taking a broad perspective, this thought-provoking book questions what being spiritual means for different people, explores the many different ways by which spirituality is expressed (unrestricted to the demands of having a religious faith), and considers ways to enjoy a so-called "spiritual experience".

Fairy Story Shorts offer beautiful retellings of traditional tales, and are especially suitable for playing for children at bedtime! This tale is taken from the collection Fairy Stories & Fairy Stories: Traditional Tales for Children, Contemporary Tales for Adults by Clive Johnson.

Fairy Story Shorts offer beautiful retellings of traditional tales and are especially suitable for playing for children at bedtime! This tale is taken from the collection Fairy Stories & Fairy Stories, Traditional Tales for Children, Contemporary Tales for Adults by Clive Johnson.

Fairy Story Shorts offer beautiful retellings of traditional tales, and are especially suitable for telling to children at bedtime! This tale is taken from the collection Fairy Stories and Fairy Stories: Traditional Tales for Children, Contemporary Tales for Adults by Clive Johnson, also published by Labyrinthe Press.

How might we conceive of God, a being who is both invisible and indescribable? Is it foolish or blasphemous to even try? If it is possible to find a meaningful way to picture the divine, how might this help us to connect with him, her or it, and might this lead us away from the main quest of mystics and spiritual seekers - to find God in the heart? An almost constant awareness of God's presence isn't the normal experience of most people. Many of us spend much of our lifetimes wondering what God is like....