We Can All Learn Something from Katie Brandt by H.L. Wegley

A guest post by H.L. Wegley

It is much harder to defend one’s worldview against attacks than it is to sit back and take pot shots at someone else’s beliefs. This is probably why Christians tend to have deep, worldview discussions more within the safe walls of our fortresses, with other Christians, rather than out in the world, in the marketplace of ideas. It’s intimidating to think about preparing to give a reason for our faith to anyone who asks (1 Peter 3:15). But, should it be, really?

In my story, Triple Threat, Katie Brandt is strongly drawn to a young man, Joshua West, who claims to be an agnostic. When the subject of her faith comes up, Josh throws questions at her, tons of questions throughout the book, often in an argumentative manner. In fact, by the end of the story, he covers all of the major objections to Christianity that non-believers raise. Katie answers Josh’s questions, always trying to steer him to the real underlying issue, the thing that Josh needs most to understand.

Though Katie has an IQ of over 180, we can all do what she does, because she actually handles only 5 basic issues: the nature of truth, the problem of evil, the role and result of God’s love, human depravity thus the need for forgiveness, the necessity for an infinite being (God) to reach out to finite creatures or they can never know God. Along the way, Katie touches upon a few other issues, such as the reliability of the scriptures. She doesn’t use the abstract words I alluded to, such as human depravity. Rather, Katie accomplishes this in conversational English in the dialogue of Triple Threat.

The Word of God is powerful, but there are people who will disregard everything we say if that’s where we start. The Apostle Paul, in Acts 17, when he met with the Greek philosophers in the Areopagus, started with their culture and writings, the common ground, then bridged from the Greek philosophers’ culture to the gospel by showing how God’s Word answered questions raised by their own beliefs. Finding the common ground is something missionaries must do every time the gospel is taken to a new people group, and it’s what Katie did with Josh.

Triple Threat is a fun read. It’s informative, but always in an entertaining way. And we can all learn from Katie Brandt, the remarkable young woman who is not afraid to defend her faith in the spirit of 1 Peter 3:15 – Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect… (NIV)

About Triple Threat

Brilliant, beautiful, 21-year-old Katie Brandt, PhD candidate and woman of faith, detects a deadly conspiracy. Suspecting it’s only the tip of an iceberg, she dives in, pulling fellow grad student, Joshua West, with her into a high-risk investigation of a cyber-terrorist plot. Damaged by the foster-care system, Katie takes huge risks to win acceptance and love. But when she risks Josh’s life, an agnostic, who isn’t prepared to die, she fears her mistake might have eternal consequences for Josh, a mistake that could break Katie’s heart, a heart rapidly falling for Josh.

Will Katie and Josh survive the investigation? If they do, can they ever span the chasm of divergent worldviews that separates them? How can they awaken a dozing nation to a three-pronged danger that threatens its very existence?

Triple Threat, an adventure that spans the Pacific Northwest from the shores of the Olympic Peninsula to the mountains of Whistler, BC, a conspiracy you might read in tomorrow’s paper, but pray you never will.

You can buy Triple Threat at:

Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23437490-triple-threat

Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Triple-Threat-Pure-Genius-Book-ebook/dp/B00OEMO7UY/

Barnes & Noble:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/triple-threat-hl-wegley/1120629453?ean=9781611163827

Christianbook.com:

http://www.christianbook.com/triple-threat-ebook-h-l-wegley/9781611163810/pd/73287EB?event=ESRCN

Pelican Book Group:

http://pelicanbookgroup.com/ec/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=37_47&products_id=613

About H.L. Wegley

H.L. Wegley served in the USAF as an Intelligence Analyst and a Weather Officer. In civilian life he performed research in atmospheric physics. After earning an MS in Computer Science, he worked 20+ years in systems development at Boeing before retiring near Seattle, where he and his wife of 48 years enjoy small-group ministry, grandchildren, hiking on the Olympic Peninsula, snorkeling Maui whenever possible, and where he writes inspirational thrillers and romantic suspense novels. He has a contracted 4-book, Christian-thriller-series with Pelican Book Group. He is currently finishing his 8^th novel.

You can find him at:

His Web Site: http://hlwegley.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HLWegley

Twitter: https://twitter.com/hlwegley