Talent For A Mission: Chapter Four (Part Two)

In the previous post dealing with Part One of Chapter Four of Talent For A Mission, I posted how The Prodigal Band Trilogy used the three novels within the trilogy to encapsulate the Gospel of Luke Chapter 15 Parable of the Prodigal Son. The first of the trilogy novels, Battle of the Band, relates to the first three verses of the parable: how the ‘riotous living’ of the six members of a top-rated late-80s and 90s rock band ‘wasted’ their lives and true selves, which led to heart attacks of two of the band members in the novel’s climax, leading them to realize they needed to ‘change their ways.’

In Part Two, I will post how the second novel of the trilogy, The Prophesied Band, shows and tells them giving up their ‘wasted ways’ as a beginning to them ‘returning to their father.’ This novel climaxes with the spirits of Good telling them how they will accomplish this ‘return.’ But they still have real issues they’ll have to deal with, as did the prodigal son, as seen in the continued parable below. Part Three deals with what those spirits of Good tell them so that they can choose, or not choose, to ‘return to their father.’ Since I did not want to make this post very long, I will post this ‘spirits of Good’ part right before Christmas.

Part One featured Luke 15:11-13. Part Two features Luke 5:14-17, below—

{15:14} And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.

{15:15} And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.

{15:16} And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.

{15:17} And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!

I will only feature one snippet showing the spiritual “hunger” the six band members experience due to their “riotous living” and the consequences, both physical and spiritual, of that lifestyle. In Chapter Four of The Prophesied Band, band singer Erik and bassist Keith—who nearly died of heart attacks in the final climax chapter of Battle of the Band, realize the “hunger” for meaningful lives as not only members of ‘the band of the 90s,’ but as husbands and fathers, as well as their true selves outside of the celebrity spotlights—for they both know it will take a bit of time to physically recover (and later, they have their Asia-Pacific Island tour rescheduled over it). They discuss this “hunger” while recovering in a private hospital in the town they grew up in, Walltown.

Continue reading “Talent For A Mission: Chapter Four (Part Two)”

Talent For A Mission: Chapter Four (Part One)

Folks, this trilogy is called The Prodigal Band Trilogy for a reason! And the reason is this: the parable within the Gospels spoken to the Apostles by Christ Himself that gave the most inspiration to this trilogy was the Parable of the Prodigal (Lost) Son within the Gospel of Luke Chapter 15. This parable has been, during my entire life, one of my favorite parables. My other two favorite parables have also been referenced in my Biblical References Snippet posts—the Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard and the Parable of the Talents. All three work together to impart my mission message, but it made more sense to me, what with my trilogy about a rock band that gains fame and fortune but loses their ‘souls’ so to speak, to call this the Prodigal Band Trilogy, where the ‘prodigal band’ meets (spiritually) the ‘prodigal son.’

Before I go on and repeat posting parts of the Parable of the Prodigal Son which was posted in Chapter Three, let me explain the meanings of prodigal and prodigy. The ‘prodigal son’ is ‘lost’ because of wasteful extravagance. He is wasting his ‘inheritance,’ or (in the case of my prodigal band members) ‘talents.’ Three of the band members, singer Erik, bassist Keith, and keyboard synthist Bry, are also child prodigies, possessing ‘extraordinary talent’ at singing and music playing as children through inheritance from ancestors. Instead of throwing their given talents into classical music or opera singing where they could make good incomes, they instead choose rock stardom, as they could then acquire extravagant fame and especially fortune. And we all know the lifestyles of rock stars, right? Sex, drugs, and rock and roll…

In part one of this “prodigal son meets prodigal band” set of posts is explained the first part of the parable, verses 11 through 13, the ‘riotous living’ part, and Chapter Six of Battle of the Band is loaded with these scenes. The prodigal band is partying at an estate outside of the fictitious California coastal city of Richmont, which is considered a hotbed of occultism. The estate called Hellside Horror House is owned by a horror TV channel couple that host a horror TV show, Andre` and Cheetah. Along with the band are fellow rockers, celebrities and groupies that are also witches.

Here is the parable in the Gospel of Luke chapter 15, verses 11-13, “the riotous living” part, and then three snippets from the first trilogy novel, Battle of the Band.

{15:11} And he said, A certain man had two sons:

{15:12} And the younger of them said to [his] father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth [to me.] And he divided unto them [his] living.

{15:13} And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.

Continue reading “Talent For A Mission: Chapter Four (Part One)”

Talent For A Mission: Chapter Three

Chapter Three of Talent For A Mission (© 2023 Deborah Lagarde) is posted in its entirety in this post since it is a short chapter and is based on the Gospel of Luke Chapter 15 Parable of the Prodigal Son that my The Prodigal Band Trilogy is based upon. Below is the entire Chapter Three of Talent For A Mission:

Continue reading “Talent For A Mission: Chapter Three”

Talent For A Mission, Chapter Two (Part Three)—My Personal ‘Why’ Continued—Why Fiction?

In this continuation of Chapter Two of Talent For A Mission (© 2023 Deborah Lagarde), I explain why I have used fiction to carry out my own ‘mission of God’ instead of non-fiction…with this non-fiction ‘guide’ being an exception, so far. Below is Part Three of the ‘why’ scenario in Chapter Two:

Continue reading “Talent For A Mission, Chapter Two (Part Three)—My Personal ‘Why’ Continued—Why Fiction?”

Talent For A Mission, Chapter Two (Part Two)—My Personal ‘Why’ Continued, A ‘Born Again’ Event

I know this post is a bit late, but things happen. Below is a continuation of the previous post from Talent For A Mission, Chapter Two, copyright © 2023 Deborah Lagarde, which tells why I chose to believe on Christ.

Continue reading “Talent For A Mission, Chapter Two (Part Two)—My Personal ‘Why’ Continued, A ‘Born Again’ Event”

Talent For A Mission, Chapter Two (Part One)–My Personal “Why”

This next post from Talent For A Mission (copyright 2023 Deborah Lagarde) is from Chapter Two and goes into some detail as to why I chose to accept Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior–and Redeemer. Why redeemer? Because as with all humans beginning with Adam and Eve having been tempted by “the serpent” aka Satan to commit sin, that sin or sins–and remember, all humans fall short of the glory of God except for Christ as human–provide a “debt” so-to-speak that must be repented, then pardoned or paid-in-kind in order to reach Heaven to be with God. When Christ shed blood on the cross as a sacrifice, it was to REDEEM all sins of all people who repented of their sins and accepted Christ as Redeemer along with Savior. And, in this part one of Chapter Two, I explain some of the sins I did that had to be redeemed through repentance. And these weren’t typical sins, either, but serious ones in my opinion! But here is the weird aspect of this–while doing these sins, God STILL had my back and saved me from some possible death scenarios! And one wonders why I accepted Christ? Hmmm…

Below is the first part of Chapter Two, which is rather long and will be posted in three parts over November.

Continue reading “Talent For A Mission, Chapter Two (Part One)–My Personal “Why””

Talent For A Mission, Chapter One (Part Two)…The Why, Continued

I am posting the rest of Chapter One of Talent For A Mission today, Saturday, October 28, 2023 because my area will experience sudden winter-snow-freezing weather the last three days of October, and the power or the internet may go out. Further, it seems that the so-called “end times” are approaching faster and faster what with the Israel-Hamas-Middle East war and rumors of wars…a saying within the Bible Book of Revelation and also Gospels. Thus perhaps–folks, I do not trust the media, legacy or alternative anymore–the time is fast approaching where true believers on Christ must decide to ‘make disciples of all nations.’ And I must get this treatise or guide or whatever completed soon and then post on this site. From Chapter One of Talent For A Mission, copyright © 2023 by Deborah Lagarde:

So, below is the rest of Chapter One:

Continue reading “Talent For A Mission, Chapter One (Part Two)…The Why, Continued”

Talent For A Mission, Chapter One (Part One)…The Why

I am only providing, in this post, “the why” for this “guide” or “manual” as to why I think it might be a good idea for authors who claim to believe on Jesus Christ to use their writing “talent” to try to convince others of their own free will to repent of whatever sins and accept Christ as Lord and Savior–to be “born again.” That is, having been born of water (in the flesh), to be born “again” in the Spirit. And now is the time for me to present this “guide,” for it seems more and more as if the world has gone crazy, especially now with wars and rumors of wars in the Middle East. To the point where many preachers are now claiming we are either in “the end times” or fast approaching “the end times.”

Maybe. Maybe not. But whether we are coming close to “the end times” or not, it is still a good idea to follow what Christ told His Apostles upon His resurrection return (before going up to Heaven):  to make Disciples of all nations (as said in Matthew 28:19–“Go ye therefore and teach all nations…”). A “mission of God” so-to-speak. From Chapter One of Talent For A Mission, copyright © 2023 by Deborah Lagarde:

Continue reading “Talent For A Mission, Chapter One (Part One)…The Why”

Coming Next: Talent For A Mission

I am still working on completing Talent For A Mission, which is a manual or guide or encouragement…call it what you will…for Christian authors of (mostly) fiction novels or stories or short novels to use the “talent” God gave them to get the Word out about why one should consider or choose or ‘re-choose’ accepting Christ as Lord and Savior. To do what Christ (after His resurrection) told His apostles to do–make disciples of all nations (at the end of the Gospel of Matthew Chapter 28, for one).

The Prodigal Band Trilogy is based on the Luke 15 Parable of the Prodigal Son. Talent for a Mission is based on another parable, the Parable of the Talents, from the Gospel of Matthew 25: 14-30 (from the King James Bible PDF version):

{25:14} For [the kingdom of heaven is] as a man
travelling into a far country, [who] called his own servants,
and delivered unto them his goods. {25:15} And unto one
he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to
every man according to his several ability; and straightway
took his journey. {25:16} Then he that had received the five
talents went and traded with the same, and made [them]
other five talents. {25:17} And likewise he that [had
received] two, he also gained other two. {25:18} But he that
had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his
lord’s money. {25:19} After a long time the lord of those
servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. {25:20} And so
he that had received five talents came and brought other five
talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents:
behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.
{25:21} His lord said unto him, Well done, [thou] good and
faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I
will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the
joy of thy lord. {25:22} He also that had received two
talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two
talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.
{25:23} His lord said unto him, Well done, good and
faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I
will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the
joy of thy lord. {25:24} Then he which had received the one
talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard
man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering
where thou hast not strawed: {25:25} And I was afraid, and
went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, [there] thou hast
[that is] thine. {25:26} His lord answered and said unto
him, [Thou] wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that
I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not
strawed: {25:27} Thou oughtest therefore to have put my
money to the exchangers, and [then] at my coming I should
have received mine own with usury. {25:28} Take therefore
the talent from him, and give [it] unto him which hath ten
talents. {25:29} For unto every one that hath shall be given,
and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not
shall be taken away even that which he hath. {25:30} And
cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness

In other words, if God gave an author the talent to author for His purpose, then that author ought to use that talent in writing, to “make disciples of all nations,” and for other purposes promoting good as opposed to evil, or for the purpose of exposing evil (using fiction or non-fiction). That is the purpose of my writing a ‘manual’ so-to-speak, to promote the idea that if an author believes on Christ, then that author should perform that ‘mission’ that God gave him or her.

The next post will be the first chapter of Talent For A Mission, which tells why a Christian author should take that ‘mission,’ and why I was inspired to write this ‘manual’ in the first place. Cheers!

The Murder Rule FREE PDF Download is Here!

It is October 3, 2023, and I have finally added The Murder Rule to the site as a FREE PDF download as well as added the “widget” to the novel on the right sidebar. Both the “about” page and the download page have been added-see menu above. Included in the “about” page (The Murder Rule FREE PDF) are links to excerpts from the first chapters of Parts One, Two, and Three to begin reading the novel. Soon, snippets from The Murder Rule will be added to the snippet page listing snippets from The Prodigal Band Trilogy as well. And hopefully as soon as possible (I have been very busy on various things lately including vehicle issues), the Omega Books blog will also be updated.

Cheers!

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