In the second book of the Brimstone Legacy series, Brimstone Biblical Academy’s accreditation status has been called into question by the local Board of Education, and so by recommendation of the State Superintendent, Mrs. Megan Tenser has been sent to insure the students are receiving proper instruction in mathematics. The problem; her husband is a member of a secret society, and the whole school has been made aware of it by the Principal.

Check out the following excerpt:

“Megan,” Pastor Cooper said in a very stern voice, “these students have been storming this office all morning long, and it’s only your first day here. Could you please explain to us what in the world is going on?”

“Chairman Cooper, Principal Praiseworthy, please let me explain. This morning I gave the Algebra I students a simple assessment to see how much they knew coming into the class. They don’t even have an inkling what constitutes a simple algebraic equation. Do you really expect them to go on to college and be successful with math?”

“Well, yes, we do. We’ve had tons of students go on and be quite successful at Millstone, as well as other prominent Bible colleges in the area.”

“Yes, I understand, but what about those students who want to go on to public colleges and universities?”

“We don’t encourage that here,” Principal Praiseworthy folded his arms in disapproval.”

“What? So you are telling me you want to keep them shielded from the real world their whole lives? Mrs. Tenser got on the defensive. “What are they going to think when they do finally have to enter the real world?”

“They’ll have a good, solid biblical foundation to fall back on,” Pastor Cooper chimed in,…

“Somehow I just don’t call jumping up and down in your seat and flapping your Bible around like a raving lunatic a good solid biblical foundation,” Mrs. Tenser placed her hands on her hips. “That was very disconcerting. – And all those horrible things they said about my husband! (who is involved in a Secret Society) I couldn’t even begin to imagine who is feeding them all this…oh, I don’t know. I mean, come on, they’re just kids!- Seriously, what do you think you are doing? Raising the next generation of conspiracy theorists?” (pp. 105-106 Brimstone Biblical Academy and the Great Disappointment)

and another excerpt:

“Mrs. Tenser, is it true that your husband has a meeting tomorrow night?” Thomas James interrupted Mrs. Tenser’s concentration as she was writing on the board.

“Huh?” Mrs. Tenser spun around.

“You know; the secret society. The video we watched last week said they meet every other Tuesday.”

“Now tell me what does this have to do with math?” Mrs. Tenser was beyond annoyed.

“Well, the video said they were obsessed with something called ‘sacred geometry.’ That’s math, right?”

“Nice try, Cooper.”

“So I take it this means we no longer have to take geometry when we get to high school?” Benny Bastion was dead serious, “Now that we know it is clearly of the devil.”

“I give up,” Mrs. Tenser shook her head. “I’d hate to see what happens when you kids get out into the real world. Now, let’s try to focus on the task at hand, for once in our lives.” (page 128 Brimstone Biblical Academy and the Great Disappointment)

To purchase the book:

http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/brimstone-biblical-academy-and-the-great-disappointment/18769528?productTrackingContext=search_results/search_shelf/center/2

I am no stranger to any of this. Growing up Christian fundamentalist, I was always in a state of uncertainty about my eternal salvation, whether it was fear of waking up one morning and finding my parents gone in the Rapture or fear of committing the unpardonable sin (funny thing, no one could ever define exactly what that was). And three years of attending an “ultra-fundy school” in junior high really didn’t help the equation.

So, here I am in my early 30′s, and trying to make sense out of all of this. So, what do you do? Write, not one, but two books. In fact, to my surprise, it’s developing into a series, The Brimstone Legacy. And believe me, I am finding healing through this and having so much fun writing this at the same time! In this series, the kids find themselves going through similar struggles that I experienced during my time at “Brimstone Biblical Academy,” as I now refer to the school.

In the first book, the main character Colleen Sutherland, a sixth grader, finds herself a “newbie” transfer student to Brimstone Academy, much like I was at her age, and she is in for the shock of her life, as she encounters a whole new approach to being Christian; including strict dress codes, new abrasive witnessing techniques and strange end times predictions, as the school cancels all instruction to prepare for Rapture, scheduled to take place over Christmas break.

The second book is told from Lisa Carter’s perspective. Lisa is the popular girl who is the perfect poster child for Brimstone Biblical Academy, but after the Rapture does not occur as predicted over Christmas break, the reader is able to see her own transparency as she fights her way through her own private doubts and fears.  Her story serves to demonstrate the fact that the grass is not always greener on the other side and following all of the rules is no sure indication of being spiritually in control of your own eternal destiny.

While these books deal with some very difficult spiritual themes that may even seem to verge on the “blasphemous” side of things,  there is no blasphemy intended here, only a satirical, parody-like exaggerated critique of some of the absurdities I encountered along the way.  It’s taken a long time to sort though this, but I’ve managed. There are so many of us out there, raised fundamentalist, who are, I am sure in the same boat. We each have to achieve our own peace with our Creator, on our own terms… Certainly God must understand.

To purchase the Brimstone Legacy: The Misadventures of Brimstone Biblical Academy:

http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/the-brimstone-legacy-the-misadventures-of-brimstone-biblical-academy/5402812?productTrackingContext=search_results/search_shelf/center/1

Or to purchase the newly-released sequel, Brimstone Biblical Academy and the Great Disappointment:

http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/brimstone-biblical-academy-and-the-great-disappointment/18769528?productTrackingContext=search_results/search_shelf/center/2

Enjoy!

The kids from Brimstone Biblical Academy are back and more zealous than ever. Devastated the Rapture did not occur as predicated over Christmas break, the Brimstone kids find themselves back in the classroom and ready to learn…well sort of. But to Lisa Carter’s shock and dismay, not all the kids have returned to school. Is it possible the Rapture actually did occur and they missed it? And furthermore, is she the one to blame? After all, she truly believes she committed the unpardonable sin, and she alone must face the consequences. Will she ever dig her way out of this one and save Brimstone Biblical Academy from the plagues prophesied in Revelation?

…It’s the Second Coming of the Brimstone Legacy!

Check it out!  http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/brimstone-biblical-academy-and-the-great-disappointment/18769528?productTrackingContext=search_results/search_shelf/center/1