Living life, exploring faith in small-town America

Previously published as He Will Direct Your Paths © 2022 by J. A. Bouma

Like all small towns, Mill Creek Junction is served by a small-town pastor. Not just any pastor. One who can help shepherd the good Junction folks through life's ups and downs. His name is Peter Daniel Young.

He originally appeared in the spiritual coming of age series Faith Reimagined. He's since grown from a young adult navigating all sorts of questions about faith, life, and everything in between. Now he's struggling to help others navigate the same path.

The first story comes from a few chapters in the first book in the series featuring our protagonist, A Reimagined Faith. This is part of the backstory of our small-town pastor's life, and faith when he is in crisis. Story two is the transition point, where Peter looks to take over for the Rev, the Junction's long-time pastor who is retiring. It's a sweet story of generational transitions.

In the third story, Peter is catapulted into one of my religious-conspiracy thrillers, Deadly Hope. He's started pastoring his small-town church when a big-time pair of faith healers moved into town—and he is instantly suspicious of their brand of Christianity. The fourth story is a deep one, where Pastor

Peter has both the privilege and gut-wrenching experience of presiding over the funeral of a thirtysomething young husband and father. Finally, hosting the Junction's Election Day polling station, Peter meets up with some new friends and ends up preaching to himself about what's important as a citizen of both heaven and earth.

The Book of Proverbs has a pithy nugget of wisdom: "In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your paths." The Lord is ready, willing, and able to direct our path-each step of the way.

We're all on a journey, trying to figure out and navigate this thing called life, usually stumbling along the way. That's Peter's story, and what he discovers is what the proverb reminds us.

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