To become a hero following your God-given destiny, you’d best stay out of jail.[1. Photo by Saad Chaudhry [https://unsplash.com/@saadchdhry?utm_content=creditCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash] on Unsplash [https://unsplash.com/photos/silhouette-of-padlock-on-window-AqHIWSsF24I?utm_content=creditCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash].] Yet some Christian heroes do get caught in bad habits that keep them pacing in their tiny cells rather than practicing wise discipline as they go on adventures. How do Christian creators, in particular, fall into the traps of “cage stages”?

Episode sponsors

 1. Enclave Publishing: Beneath False Stars by S. D. Grimm [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/oasis-family-media/]
 2. Outlaw Blood by Noah J. Matthews [https://lorehaven.com/sponsnors/noah-j-matthews]
 3. The Tixie Chronicles by Jack Borden [https://lorehaven.com/sponsnors/jack-borden]

Mission update

 * New at Lorehaven: weekly reviews, Jenneth’s Light of the World review [https://lorehaven.com/light-of-the-world-shows-jesus-as-a-friend-to-children/]
 * Subscribe free [https://lorehaven.com/subscribe] to get updates and join the Lorehaven Guild [https://lorehaven.com/lorehaven-guild/]

Concession stand

 * Some people and personalities are more prone to certain obsessions.
 * Here we make no judgment about motivations; these things happen.
 * Seeing someone in a “cage” should prompt pity, not anger or mockery.
 * Still, you may want to keep a distance from cages or point the way out.

1. ‘Everything is about my distinct doctrines’!

 * This is the original “cage stage,” referring to folks who find “Calvinism.”
 * That’s a nickname for a particular Christian view of God’s sovereignty.
 * It’s often tied with strong beliefs about local church leadership.
 * The late R. C. Sproul, himself a Reformed teacher, wrote in 2013 [https://learn.ligonier.org/articles/escaping-cage-stage]:

My friend Michael Horton often comments on the phenomenon of “cage-stage Calvinism,” that strange malady that seems to afflict so many people who have just seen the truth of the Reformed doctrines of grace. We’ve all known one of these “cage-stage Calvinists.” Many of us were even one of them when we were first convinced of God’s sovereignty in salvation.

Cage-stage Calvinists are identifiable by their insistence on turning every discussion into an argument for limited atonement or for making it their personal mission to ensure everyone they know hears—often quite loudly—the truths of divine election. Now, having a zeal for the truth is always commendable. But a zeal for the truth that manifests itself in obnoxiousness won’t convince anyone of the biblical truth of Reformed theology. As many of us can attest from personal experience, it will actually push them away.[1. R. C. Sproul, “Escaping the ‘Cage Stage’ [https://learn.ligonier.org/articles/escaping-cage-stage],” Ligonier Ministries, Nov. 24, 2013.]

 * But we’ve known folks who found any new beliefs and became intense.
 * Sometimes it feels like a fandom, often associated with famous leaders.
 * In fact, you may have this story when you found Jesus or a new church.
 * But what feels new and thrilling to you may be dull or familiar to others.
 * It’s a challenge to preserve our enthusiasm while also respecting others.

2. ‘Everything is about this fandom I found!’

 * This one covers a wide spectrum, including Christian doctrine fandoms.
 * But this also covers fantasy franchises, authors, worlds, games, hobbies.
 * Stephe

279. Which Top Three ‘Cage Stages’ Trap Christian Creators?

Here in the U.S., we just had Labor Day, meant to mark the actions of hard-working Americans. And right now many Christian families honor the work of Christian heroes who are now at rest, such as pastor John MacArthur and Focus on the Family founder Dr. James Dobson. Many fantastical stories wouldn’t be here without faithful Christians. When they pass on, and people discuss and debate their legacies, how can we best honor their labors?

Episode sponsors

 1. Enclave Publishing: Beneath False Stars by S. D. Grimm [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/oasis-family-media/]
 2. Outlaw Blood by Noah J. Matthews [https://lorehaven.com/sponsnors/noah-j-matthews]
 3. The Tixie Chronicles by Jack Borden [https://lorehaven.com/sponsnors/jack-borden]

Mission update

 * Lorehaven new reviews: The Heart of the King [https://lorehaven.com/reviews/the-heart-of-the-king/] and Beneath False Stars [https://lorehaven.com/reviews/beneath-false-stars]
 * Subscribe free [https://lorehaven.com/subscribe] to get updates and join the Lorehaven Guild [https://lorehaven.com/lorehaven-guild/]

Quotes and notes

 * “John MacArthur, Fiery Preacher and Culture Warrior, Dies at 86 [https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/15/us/john-macarthur-dead.html],” Ruth Graham at The New York Times, July 15, 2025
 * “James Dobson Was My Horror, and Yours [https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/james-dobson-was-my-horror-and-yours.html],” Sarah Jones at New York Magazine, Aug. 27, 2025 (only six days after Dobson’s Aug. 21 death)

Naiveté is not a trait to be cultivated in our children. Prudishness is foolish immaturity. It leaves our children gullible and vulnerable. The naïve are the easiest targets for the seductive wiles of temptation. Throughout the book of Proverbs, the naïve (“simple” in many translations) are held up as negative examples. It is a grave mistake to think of our children as little angels who need to be handled delicately so they don’t get corrupted. Rather, they are corrupt little sinners who need to be led to righteousness.

“Treating the Symptoms, Not the Sin [https://www.gty.org/library/blog/B150508],” John MacArthur sermon dated May 8, 2015

It began as an experiment. In 1986 Dr. James Dobson of Focus on the Family wanted to produce a high-quality drama series for the radio. He hoped that it would appeal to Christians looking for alternatives to Saturday morning cartoons or simply families in search of wholesome entertainment. Steve Harris and Phil Lollar, the show’s creators, brainstormed what the series could be. They decided that it should be set in a small town (called Odyssey) somewhere in the Midwest and hearken to the golden age of radio without sounding dated.

In 1987, a 13-week test series was aired on the Focus on the Family broadcast. It was called Family Portraits and chronicled the lives and times of Odyssey residents — including John Whittaker and a special “soda shop and discovery emporium” called Whit’s End.

Audience response was so favorable that Focus went one step further and created the weekly radio program that would eventually be called Adventures in Odyssey.

“The History of Adventures in Odyssey [https://web.archive.org/web/20110720231938/http:/www.whitsend.org/aboutshow/History.aspx],” WhitsEnd.org, undated article now archived

1. We love ‘small’ and ‘big’ Christian heroes

 * Big heroes take big risks to meet big needs during big moments.
 * They’re truly multi-talented, often skilled with speaking and writing.
 * Best of all, despite their flaws, th

278. When Christian Heroes Die, How Can We Debate and Honor Their Work?

So many books, so little time, space, and money. Many fans love collect physical copies of their favorite stories, often so much that they run out of bookshelf space. (Stephen and Zack are in this situation!) Now that we have audiobook and digital copies, isn’t book collection a waste of resources?

Episode sponsors

 1. Oasis Family Media [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/realm-makers] presents “1232” dramatic audio podcast [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/audio-drama-podcast-1232/]
 2. The Waymaker’s Foresight by Dan Megill [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/dan-megill/]
 3. The Pop Culture Parent by Ted Turnau, E. Stephen Burnett, Dr. Jared Moore [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/the-pop-culture-parent/]

Mission update

 * New at Lorehaven: reviews for The Heart of the King [https://lorehaven.com/reviews/the-heart-of-the-king/] and Beneath False Stars [https://lorehaven.com/reviews/beneath-false-stars]
 * Subscribe free [https://lorehaven.com/subscribe] to get updates and join the Lorehaven Guild [https://lorehaven.com/lorehaven-guild/]

Concessions:

 * This is about culture in general, not Christian families or homeschoolers.
 * Not focused on this episode about the recent trends of books that are turning away prospective male readers.

1. Physical books make a wise investment.

 * Judas Iscariot, kinda: “These books could have been sold and the money given to the poor.”
 * Reading a book is more work than watching a movie or enjoying some other form of entertainment, so people have high expectations. And too many books have disappointed, browbeat, or lectured them. Many people are right to be skeptical that a book will be worth their money.
 * “We’re basically after Joe’s beer money, and Joe likes his beer, so you better make sure that what you give him is at least as pleasurable to him as having his six-pack of beer would be.” — Jerry Pournelle
 * You can always make more money, though. And more importantly, you can make a book budget. There’s also the library.
 * Another concern is that reading books, especially speculative fiction, will not help us get the jobs that make enough money.
 * But every job requires communication and people skills, and this is a skill best learned through a novel.
 * “According to the neuroscientist Maryanne Wolf, so-called deep reading—sustained immersion in a text—stimulates a number of valuable mental habits, including critical thinking and self-reflection, in ways that skimming or reading in short bursts does not.”

Zackary Russell’s central bookshelf, as of August 2025

2. Physical books really should take up space.

 * Why own physical books when you can erase

277. Isn’t Physical Book Collection a Waste of Resources?

Over summer and school seasons alike, many Christian parents want books for their kids that don’t have things like “Agenda” or “Wokeness.”[1. Photo by Steve Johnson [https://unsplash.com/@steve_j?utm_content=creditCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash] on Unsplash [https://unsplash.com/photos/multicolored-abstract-painting-JLfem8ViKVA?utm_content=creditCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash].] But in our zeal to keep bad, poisonous content out of books, might we miss our children’s more important need to enjoy good, nutritious content in our fantastical fiction?

Episode sponsors

 1. Enclave Publishing: Winter’s Chill by Morgan L. Busse [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/realm-makers]
 2. The Waymaker’s Foresight by Dan Megill [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/dan-megill/]
 3. Above the Circle of Earth by E. Stephen Burnett [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/above-the-circle-of-earth/]

Mission update

 * New at Lorehaven: reviews of Illuminary [https://lorehaven.com/reviews/illuminary/] and The Heart of the King [https://lorehaven.com/reviews/the-heart-of-the-king]
 * Subscribe free [https://lorehaven.com/subscribe] to get updates and join the Lorehaven Guild [https://lorehaven.com/lorehaven-guild/]

1. Yes, kids need books that repeat truth!

 * No one should pretend many general market books aren’t “woke,” etc.
 * There has been a vast effort to get this ideology into content for kids.
 * So it’s a great starting point to ask about “agenda.” But don’t stop there.
 * If you do stop there, then you might accept books that share half-truths.
 * Or they may be free of one “agenda” while smuggling in other deceptions.
 * Rainbows may hide lies, but black-and-white stories may do the same!

2. But kids also need books that are good.

 * If we want books that are “free of poison,” that’s a very low bar to clear.
 * What about books that are well-made? Timeless or have potential to be?
 * Ask if any book also has quality level matching what kids want or need.
 * Consider: books made by honest creators, not committee-generated stuff.
 * Also: books that show real heroes, yet with realistic (kid appropriate) flaws.
 * Rainbows might be used for evil ends, but look for good reflections of light!

3. And kids need books that celebrate beauty.

 * Good books have truth/goodness; great ones also honor God’s creation.
 * If “beauty” seems too high-falutin’, just hear that word as healthy emotion.
 * Great books capture all the human experience, with sufferings and joys.
 * They’ll also show the wonders of God’s world and our creations in here.
 * Even better, they’ll hearken to the restored paradise awaiting His people.
 * Rainbows get used to honor ugliness, but God made them for His glory!

Com station

Top question for listeners

 * What truthful, good, and beautiful books did you enjoy growing up?

Next on Fantastical Truth

So many books, so little time, space, and money. Many fans love collect physical copies of their favorite stories, often so much that they run out of bookshelf space. (Stephen and Zack are in this situation!)  With the availability of audiobook and digital copies, isn’t book collection a waste of resources?

276. How Can Parents Find Books That Aren’t Just ‘Not Woke’ But Are Actually Good?

We’ve just seen the end of this year’s summer blockbuster movie season, such as it was. Most of the drama was about the movies rather than in the movies. Fans debate whether stories should be lighter, focusing on “fun” with simple virtues, as opposed to heavier stories with “serious” ideas. Right now it seems Team Light Stories is winning over Team Heavy Stories—and yet nobody is really winning at the box office. How can Christian fans engage stories that are light versus heavy?

Mission update

 * New at Lorehaven: Marian’s article about K-Pop Demon Hunters [https://lorehaven.com/k-pop-demon-hunters-pits-singing-heroines-vs-monster-idols/]
 * New reviews: Unfixed by Amy L. Saunders [https://lorehaven.com/reviews/unfixed/], Illuminary by Chawna Shroeder [https://lorehaven.com/reviews/illuminary/]
 * Subscribe free [https://lorehaven.com/subscribe] to get updates and join the Lorehaven Guild [https://lorehaven.com/lorehaven-guild/]

Quotes and notes

 * “The Operating System Of Cyberpunk Fiction [https://zackaryrussell.com/the-operating-system-of-cyberpunk-fiction/],” Zackary Russell
 * “Screwtape Wants You to Think Only Horror is Real, but Joy is Sentimental [https://estephenburnett.lorehaven.com/screwtape-wants-you-to-think-only-horror-is-real-but-joy-is-sentimental/],” E. Stephen Burnett

1. Many fans favor light or fun colorful stories

 * By “light” or “fun,” we mean simpler/popular morals, lots of jokes, color.
 * We don’t mean flippant or crude stories, though some can tend this way.
 * These stories often embrace or lampshade long-familiar genre tropes.
 * They often get praised by fans and critics, but fail to set many records.
 * Lots of people liked the new Superman movie (but not Stephen or Zack).
 * And many people liked the new Fantastic Four (but it’s also struggling).
 * Neither film did better than most DC or Marvel films of the past, pre-2020 [https://www.outkick.com/analysis/superman-box-office-fizzles-out-securing-yet-another-hollywood-superhero-flop].
 * And yet more of the big franchises are choosing this creative direction.
 * Critics who want “realism” must recall that real people like lighter stories.
 * Maybe these fans tend to like simple reminders about simple ideas/truths.
 * When real life is a struggle, these fans like to escape into simpler stories.
 * These fans prefer plain “inspirational” figures over “aspirational” heroes.

2. Other fans enjoy heavier or serious stories

 * And by “heavier” or “serious” stories, we mean challenging, realistic tales.
 * We don’t mean nihilistic or deconstructive, though some tend this way.
 * These stories often embrace human tradition (a better version of “trope”).
 * They often find praised and criticism by fans and critics, and set records.
 * Fans loved the Star Wars Andor series and more-serious Marvel/DC stories.
 * And many people like Christopher Nolan’s many films, Dune, and similar.
 * But these stories (in books or cinema) often prove high-risk for many fans.
 * So they are playing better on less-expensive media, such as streaming TV.
 * Critics who want “fun” must recall that life isn’t like a shallow movie-land.
 * These fans may like complex reflections of many challenging ideas/truths.
 * When real life is a struggle, these fans like stories that provide answers.
 * These fans prefer “aspirational” heroes over plain “inspirational” figures.

3. More fans embrace light and heavy stories

 * A surprising amount of franchises insist on both approaches all at once.
 * Some moments are comedic/w

275. Why Do Fans Debate Light Stories vs. Heavy Stories?

Last month at the Realm Makers Expo [https://expo.realmmakers.com], we met many skilled Christian creators who are making amazing stories in books, games, and the visual arts. Yet some people believe all this stuff is pointless or outdated and will soon be replaced by so-called “AI art.” Are they right? Will computer-generated content outpace art made by humans? And is such a belief even biblically defensible?

Episode sponsors

 1. Enclave Publishing: Winter’s Chill by Morgan L. Busse [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/realm-makers]
 2. The Waymaker’s Foresight by Dan Megill [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/dan-megill/]
 3. Above the Circle of Earth by E. Stephen Burnett [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/above-the-circle-of-earth/]

Mission update

 * New at Lorehaven: reviews of Winter’s Chill [https://lorehaven.com/reviews/winters-chill], upcoming Unfixed [https://lorehaven.com/reviews/unfixed/]
 * Also new at the site: Josiah DeGraaf’s take on the recent Superman movie [https://lorehaven.com/superman-2025-will-make-you-believe-a-man-can-be-earnest/]
 * Subscribe free [https://lorehaven.com/subscribe] to get updates and join the Lorehaven Guild [https://lorehaven.com/lorehaven-guild/]

Quotes and notes

“When you meet anything that’s going to be human and isn’t yet, or used to be human once and isn’t now, or ought to be human and isn’t, you keep your eyes on it and feel for your hatchet.”
—Mr. Beaver from C.S. Lewis’s The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

“Ginny! … Haven’t I taught you anything? What have I always told you? Never trust anything that can think for itself if you can’t see where it keeps its brain?”
—Arthur Weasley from J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

… Joshua did not draw back his hand with which he stretched out the javelin until he had devoted all the inhabitants of Ai to destruction.
—The Bible, Joshua 8:26 (ESV)

 * Ep 170. Will Artificial Intelligence Destroy Human Creativity? [https://lorehaven.com/podcast/170-will-artificial-intelligence-destroy-human-creativity/]
 * Showrunner: the “Netflix of AI” that would let people make their own TV shows [https://www.gamesradar.com/entertainment/tv/amazon-backs-a-new-service-described-as-the-netflix-of-ai-that-would-let-people-make-their-own-tv-shows-using-existing-ip/]
 * Build AI or Be Buried By Those Who Do [https://treeofwoe.substack.com/p/build-ai-or-be-buried-by-those-who]

Concession stand

 * This is a conversation for story fans, yet with some application for creators.
 * Stephen has and will use AI for databases and limited nonfiction research.
 * However, he still insists this “search engine” give reliable primary sources.
 * We at Lorehaven promote stories #

274. Why Shouldn’t AI-Generated Content Replace Human Stories?

As we’ve often heard, some modern films may feel difficult to enjoy! Yet today we celebrate famed animated tales of yore, including the artists behind classic characters like Cogsworth, Iago, Pumbaa, Pocahontas, Mulan, and Kronk … and now, coming this fall, the greatest Hero of all. Famed animators and twin brothers Tony and Tom Bancroft bring their magic to our studio in advance of their next feature film in cinemas, the traditionally animated Light of the World.

Episode sponsors

 1. Enclave Publishing: Winter’s Chill by Morgan L. Busse [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/realm-makers]
 2. The Company: Kingdom Writers, World Changers [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/the-company/]
 3. Above the Circle of Earth by E. Stephen Burnett [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/above-the-circle-of-earth/]

Mission update

 * Lorehaven reviews: recently Anointed [https://lorehaven.com/reviews/anointed/], Warsafe [https://lorehaven.com/review/warsafe], upcoming Winter’s Chill [https://lorehaven.com/review/winters-chill]
 * Subscribe free [https://lorehaven.com/subscribe] to get updates and join the Lorehaven Guild [https://lorehaven.com/lorehaven-guild/]

Backstory: Tony Bancroft

Tony Bancroft is a 2D animator with a passion for animating, directing, storytelling, creating, and teaching the next generation.

With over 30 years in the animation industry, Tony Bancroft has been creatively involved in almost every position making an animated film, video, commercial, or short film. His animation and directing skills have been sharpened and honed while working at Walt Disney Feature Animation, Sony Pictures, his own animation company, Toonacious Family Entertainment, and currently, as an independent contractor working with Disney, Warner Brothers, and many more.

 * IG: @‌pumbaaguy [https://www.instagram.com/pumbaaguy/]
 * TonyBancroft.com [https://tonybancroft.com/]
 * Disney.Fandom.com Wiki: Tony Bancroft [https://disney.fandom.com/wiki/Tony_Bancroft]

Backstory: Tom Bancroft

Tom Bancroft has over 30 years of experience in the animation industry, much of which was for Walt Disney Featur

273. Could Jesus Redeem 2D Animated Films? | Light of the World with Tom and Tony Bancroft

Last week, Zackary Russell and E. Stephen Burnett celebrated the Realm Makers Expo![1. Photo by Felix Mooneeram [https://unsplash.com/@felixmooneeram?utm_content=creditCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash] on Unsplash [https://unsplash.com/photos/red-cinema-chair-evlkOfkQ5rE?utm_content=creditCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash].] That means this episode is another Stephen solo show. This one reveals a shocking truth: these days Stephen finds a lot more joy in books than he sees at the movie houses. Can fans, including Christians, help save the cinema from synthetic moralities, sloppy franchises, and scandalized/sillified superheroes?

Episode sponsors

 1. Oasis Family Media [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/realm-makers] presents “1232” dramatic audio podcast [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/audio-drama-podcast-1232/]
 2. The Company: Kingdom Writers, World Changers [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/the-company/]
 3. Above the Circle of Earth by E. Stephen Burnett [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/above-the-circle-of-earth/]

Mission update

 * Lorehaven reviews: new Anointed [https://lorehaven.com/reviews/anointed], upcoming Warsafe [https://lorehaven.com/reviews/warsafe]
 * Subscribe free [https://lorehaven.com/subscribe] to get updates and join the ever-growing Lorehaven Guild [https://lorehaven.com/lorehaven-guild/]

Quotes and notes: superheroic articles

 * ‘Batman v Superman’: An Exquisite Superhero Theodicy [https://lorehaven.com/specfaithreviews/batman-v-superman-an-exquisite-superhero-theodicy/]
 * Does ‘Guardians Of The Galaxy’ Use ‘Safe’ Bad Words? [https://lorehaven.com/speculativefaith/guardians-galaxy-use-safe-bad-words/]
 * Did Guardians Of The Galaxy 2 Fly or Flop? [https://lorehaven.com/speculativefaith/guardians-galaxy-2-fly-flop/]
 * Revealed: Here’s the Little Trap I Set to Expose Rotten Tomatoes [https://lorehaven.com/speculativefaith/revealed-heres-the-little-trap-i-set-to-expose-rotten-tomatoes/]
 * How Does #ReleaseTheSnyderCut Reveal Fandom’s Grace and Idolatry? [https://lorehaven.com/speculativefaith/how-does-releasethesnydercut-reveal-fandoms-grace-and-idolatry/]
 * ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ Hints at Redemption from Postmodern Pain [https://lorehaven.com/guardians-of-the-galaxy-vol-3-hints-at-redemption-from-postmodern-pain/]
 * ‘The Flash’ Ranks Characters Over Spectacle for a Surprisingly Heartfelt Speedrun [https://lorehaven.com/news/the-flash-ranks-characters-over-spectacle-for-a-surprisingly-heartfelt-speedrun/]

Quotes and notes: earlier podcast episodes

 * 17. What Can Christian Fans Learn From #ReleaseTheSnyderCut’s Success? [https://lorehaven.com/podcast/17-what-can-christian-fans-learn-from-release-the-snyder-cut-success/]

272. Can We Save Cinema from Sloppy Stories?

Christian missionaries have traveled oceans to strange new lands.[1. “Clayfire” game concept art is courtesy The Salvation Poem Project [https://salvationpoem.com/our-work/clayfire/].] They’ve smuggled Bibles into hostile territory. Someday they will even journey to space settlements. But what about today’s virtual mission fields in digital spaces, like gaming platforms and communities? Developer Brock Henderson with Christian Game Developers [https://www.cgdc.org/], whose conference teams up this month with Realm Makers [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/realm-makers], joins us to explore Kingdom service in these open worlds.

Episode sponsors

 1. Enclave Publishing and Sky Turtle Press [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/oasis-family-media/] present Realm Makers Expo 2025 [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/realm-makers]
 2. The Company: Kingdom Writers, World Changers [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/the-company/]
 3. Above the Circle of Earth by E. Stephen Burnett [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/above-the-circle-of-earth/]

Mission update

 * Lorehaven reviews: new A Study of Shattered Spells [https://lorehaven.com/reviews/a-study-of-shattered-spells/], upcoming Anointed [https://lorehaven.com/reviews/anointed]
 * Subscribe free [https://lorehaven.com/subscribe] to get updates and join the ever-growing Lorehaven Guild [https://lorehaven.com/lorehaven-guild/]

Backstory: Brock Henderson

Brock Henderson is an Iowa-based game developer, designer, and missionary. He believes that video games are the preeminent art form of this century, with an ever-growing influence on our culture. His current work focuses on creating games that move beyond entertainment and spark connections between people. In his 15 years in game development, he has had the privilege of working on everything from the silly to the serious, shipping over 25 titles on nine platforms with more than 3 million downloads. He is the head of game development for the Salvation Poem Project [https://salvationpoem.com/] and the founder of PxlPug [https://pxlpug.com/]. He also serves as board president for the Christian Game Developers Community [https://www.cgdc.org/] and blogs and podcasts at Faith Forms [https://www.faithforms.games/].

 * Salvation Poem Project [https://salvationpoem.com/]
 * BrockHenderson.com [https://brockhenderson.com/]
 * FaithForms.games [https://www.faithforms.games/]

1. The mission of Christian Game Developers

 * More about the organization’s origin and purpose
 * History of the in-person conference for game creators
 * Origin of the Realm Makers [https://expo.realmmakers.com] teamup and expectations for this year

2. How indie games

271. How Do Christians Serve in Video Game Mission Fields? | with Brock Henderson

Today it appears cooler heads have cancelled the apocalypse.[1. Photo by Emanuel Kypreos [https://unsplash.com/@mankip67?utm_content=creditCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash] on Unsplash [https://unsplash.com/photos/a-large-cloud-of-smoke-is-billowing-out-of-the-sky-XySaPZljJ54?utm_content=creditCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash].] But were we ever really in that level of danger? This sense of dread feels new. But as C. S. Lewis once wrote, we must practice timeless wisdom when we’re living in an atomic age: “If we are all going to be destroyed by an atomic bomb, let that bomb when it comes find us doing sensible and human things praying, working, teaching, reading, listening to music, bathing the children, playing tennis, chatting to our friends over a pint and a game of darts.” Here and elsewhere, how does Lewis encourage us in the art of living and learning in wartime?

Episode sponsors

 1. Enclave Publishing: The Crier Stone by Lyndsey Lewellen [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/oasis-family-media/]
 2. Realm Makers Expo 2025 [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/realm-makers]
 3. The Company: Kingdom Writers, World Changers [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/the-company/]
 4. Above the Circle of Earth by E. Stephen Burnett [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/above-the-circle-of-earth/]

Mission update

 * Lorehaven reviews: The Crier Stone [https://lorehaven.com/reviews/the-crier-stone/], upcoming A Study of Shattered Spells [https://lorehaven.com/reviews/a-study-of-shattered-spells/]
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Prologue

 * Readers have an ongoing love/hate relationship with fictional wars.
 * We know war is terrible in reality, but without conflict, we have no story.
 * We’ll explore three ways people react to war, with Lewis’s clear responses.

1. We could retreat to pacifism.

 * As a teen, I met my first “pacifist,” an avuncular young fellow at a seminary.
 * Nice chap. Well-meant. Said he can’t defend his family against burglars.
 * Many listeners may feel similarly, and I do want to respect their thinking.
 * But it’s hard to respect someone’s “ethics” if they’re not from Scripture.
 * I feel the same way about war-obsessives (see chapter 2) as about this.
 * Yet we come to hear Lewis, like his essay “Why I Am Not a Pacifist” (video) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkVd8mlgb1w]:



 

To call [war] useless because it did not also cure slums and unemployment is like coming up to a man who has just succeeded in defending himself from a man-eating tiger and saying, “It’s no good, old chap. This hasn’t really cured your rheumatism!” On the test of fact, then, I find the Pacifist position weak. It seems to me that history is full of useful wars as well as of useless wars.

270. How Did C. S. Lewis Fight for Living and Learning in Wartime?

Explore the best Christian-made fantasy, sci-fi, and beyond, and apply these stories’ meanings in the real world Jesus calls us to serve.