The Author Behind the Story Series - Craig von Buseck

As I see snow falling in the mountains...on TV, and I witness Christmas decorations popping up all around me, I'm reminded of how much I live in the south. Eighty-six degrees today for a high. Nov. 8. But alas, a cold front in on the way. Break out the parkas. It will drop all the way to 79 by Friday. Brrr...or is it Grrr? 

Nevertheless, we are going to plug ahead with life and welcome a special guest to our big Florida front porch. Pull up a chair and help me welcome author, screenplay writer, radio personality, and speaker, Dr. Craig von Buseck!

Craig, it is a pleasure having you here on our Author Behind the Story Series! Could you tell us a little about yourself? Something to get us kickstarted? 

Dr. Craig von Buseck is a published author and a writer for Inspiration.org, the website of Inspiration Ministries. He is a contributing writer for CBN.com, MTL Magazine, and Generals.org. He is a regular guest on Susie Larson’s “Live the Promise” program on Faith Radio Network. He holds a Doctor of Ministry and an MA in Religious Journalism from Regent University, and a BA in Speech
Communication from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania.

Craig’s most recent book is “Nobody Knows: The Harry T. Burleigh Story”. Craig is also the author of "Praying the News: Your Prayers Are More Powerful Than You Know", co-written by 700 Club co-host Wendy Griffith; “NetCasters: Using the Internet to Make Fishers of Men”; “Seven Keys to Hearing God’s Voice”; along with other ghost-written books. He has just completed a biography examining the Zionist Movement and the life of President Harry S. Truman to commemorate the 100^th anniversary of the Balfour Declaration and the 70^th Anniversary of the birth of Israel. This new book, “I Am Cyrus: Harry S. Truman and the Rebirth of Israel”, will be released soon.

That is so cool. Very intriguing title for your latest, soon-to-be-released book. Now, before you ever got a notion of becoming a writer/author, how old were you, and what were you doing in that time of your life?

During my high school years I attended a church where the youth group sat together in the balcony. During many of the sermons I could “see” what the pastor was describing in my imagination as though I was watching a movie. I determined then and there that I would spend my life as a storyteller. Over the years I have told these stories through the written word in articles and books, through songs, and also through TV and film. 

I know you mentioned some of this above, but what educational background do you have?

I did a joint degree between journalism and divinity for my Master’s program at Regent University. I was attracted to Regent University because of its reputation for academic and artistic excellence and also its commitment to biblical orthodoxy.

A decade later I returned to Regent to complete a Doctor of Ministry.

I attended Edinboro University of Pennsylvania because it was affordable and it had a strong communication program. I attended Strong Vincent High School because it was a block away from my home.

Nothing like close proximity to help further an education. Are you married? Single? Have kids?

Single with three kids in their 20s.

I’m going to give you a shotgun list of favorites. List your favorite in each category and then tell us in one sentence why it is your favorite.

Favorite Food: Steak, loaded baked potato, and salad with extra blue cheese dressing.

Favorite Drink: Sparkling Ice Tangerine

Favorite Song: Be Thou My Vision

Favorite Non-Fiction Book (other than your own & besides the Bible): “Unbroken” by Laura Hillenbrand

Favorite Bible Verse: The steps of the godly are directed by the LORD. He delights in every detail of their lives. (Ps. 37:23, NLT)

Favorite Movie: Seabiscuit

Favorite Actor or Actress: Jeff Bridges

Favorite Novel (other than your own): “Rhett Butler’s People” by Donald McCraig

Favorite Novelist/Narrative Biographer (other than you): Laura Hillenbrand

Favorite Sport: Baseball

Favorite Team (Can be any sport, any level): Pittsburgh Pirates

Favorite Subject in School Growing Up: History

Favorite Subject Now: History

Favorite Teacher in School: Dr. Bob Slosser

Favorite Time of the Year: Autumn

Favorite Place to Vacation: Hawaii

If you had one person you could meet (think outside the Bible here) and could spend as much time as you wanted with that individual, who would it be?

Abraham Lincoln – one of the wisest and one of the most compassionate presidents we have ever had, I would love to spend time talking with Lincoln to learn of his worldview, his core beliefs, his method of coming to a decision, and why he chose to do some of the things he did in life and as president.

“Nobody Knows:
The Harry T. Burleigh Story”

I agree. He would be an interesting person to talk to. If you had one person you could meet (think ONLY Bible characters here) and could spend as much time as you wanted with that individual, who would it be besides Jesus?

Barnabas – one of the most important of the early disciples, and one of the most overlooked. Barnabas embraced Saul (Paul) when the apostles were afraid of him; When the Holy Spirit was poured out on the Gentiles in Antioch, Barnabas remembered the call Saul received on the road to Damascus to minister to the Gentiles. Barnabas traveled to the desert to find Saul and bring him to minister with him in Antioch; Later the Holy Spirit separated Barnabas and Saul for their first missionary journey. In the midst of that ministry trip Barnabas stepped back and allowed Saul to step fully into his ministry to the Gentiles. Luke begins the 13^th chapter of Acts by identifying “Barnabas and Saul”, then he ends that same chapter identifying “Paul and Barnabas” – highlighting the changed that had occurred in Paul’s life and ministry, which came in large measure due to the love and maturity of Barnabas; Later Paul and Barnabas have a falling out over the immature actions of John Mark. Barnabas chose to go after John Mark and disciple him further, while Paul cut them both off and chose Silas as a new ministry partner. Later John Mark re-emerges as the ministry partner of Peter and pens the Gospel that bears his name, which was dictated by the apostle. In an amazing twist, at the end of his life Paul calls for John Mark to come and visit him and expresses his admiration for him. All these things occurred because of this giant of the faith, Barnabas.

Besides the usual things authors face, has there been an unusual event that changed your perspective about being an author?

I started at Regent in the Divinity School, but I knew writing would be a part of my ministry. Someone recommended the class “The Craft of Good Writing” as an elective. The course was taught by Dr. Bob Slosser, who had been an editor with the New York Times before moving to Virginia to help build Regent University. Throughout the semester Bob continued to drive home the idea, “make writing your ministry, not just your career.” This message resonated with me and I spoke to Dr. Slosser about my idea of pursuing a joint degree. I’ll never forget his response: “There are a lot of ‘right-thinking’ pastors, missionaries, and Bible school professors out there, but there are not a lot of ‘right-thinking’ writers and communicators. If you feel God calling you to this I want to support you in that decision.” I graduated with a joint-degree and my Master’s thesis would later be published by Baker books as “Nobody Knows: The Harry T. Burleigh Story.”

"Right-thinking" writers are definitely something of which the world needs more. I heard someone say that we have been great at being salt and light, but unfortunately, the salt has lived in the mine and the light has remained in the light bulb factory. So, besides becoming an author, what’s the craziest thing you have ever done?     

During my freshman year of college I jumped off a 3-story cliff into an abandoned quarry without first checking to see how deep the water was. Dumb. Fun at the time, but dumb.

Why do you live where you live?

I recently moved to the Charlotte, North Carolina area to work for Inspiration.org, the website of Inspiration Ministries. My Family used to take vacations in the Charlotte area and so I’ve loved this region since I was a kid. I was thrilled when God opened the door for me to do media ministry in one of my favorite places in America. Inspiration Ministries, the parent company of Inspiration TV and the INSP cable network, is located just a few miles south of Charlotte across the line in South Carolina. I chose to live on the South Carolina side, which is a both urban and rural. It is a beautiful area with rolling hills, pine forests, a river and lakes.

We have some good friends who live in Rock Hill, which must be a hop, skip, and a jump away from you. They pastor a church there. Small world, huh? 

We know “Readers are leaders, and leaders are readers.” Is there a book you’ve read in the past five years or so that has helped you become a better you? If so, which one was it, and how did it affect your life?

In the groundbreaking book, “Discipling Nations”, Darrow Miller comments on Romans 8:19-22, “The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.”

Miller gives this optimistic interpretation. “Here we learn several critical facts: (1) creation’s fate and ours are inextricably bound together; (2) God’s work of restoring all things to Himself is a process, a story, that will one day be consummated; (3) man has been commissioned to be a part of that process; and, by extension (4) science and technology are tools in this process.” He doesn’t think it is getting darker and darker in the world and that the Devil is alive and well on planet Earth. He agrees with Larry Tomczak’s observation, “The Devil may be alive, but he’s not doing well. In fact he knows his time is short.”

Now is the time for the Church to rise up into its proper place of dominion and creativity – believing God for strategies to reach the nations with the Gospel so that all may know of God’s plan of salvation. Jesus said, “…the Kingdom of God suffers violence and those who take it, take it by force.” It is time for the Church to take possession of all that has been promised to us and like Caleb said to Joshua, declare that, “I am as strong this day as on the day that Moses sent me; just as my strength was then, so now is my strength for war, both for going out and for coming in. Now therefore, give me this mountain of which the Lord spoke in that day” (Jos 14:11-12 NKJV).  In Christ and for the Church and the world, relying on the leading and creativity of the Holy Spirit, and using the dynamic tools on the Internet and through digital technology, I believe the best is yet to come.

When you look for a new home, what are the things that are important to you?

Near water, surrounded by woods, comfortable, with its own movie theater, and a fully equipped kitchen. I like a combination of wood and stone both on the interior and exterior.

When you look for a new car, what are the things that are important to you?

My next vehicle is going to be a pickup truck. Since I live relatively close to some beautiful lakes I plan to  purchase a pontoon boat and I need a truck with enough power to haul it. I’d like a truck with four-doors to seat 4 or 5 people so I have room when my kids come to visit, or during vacations.

When you are looking for a book to read, what are the things that are important to you?

Like most things that I buy or consume, I do a decent amount of research before I buy a book. I want to know what both the critics and readers are saying. I look to see what kind of leaders have endorsed the book, both within the covers and in the press. I am not usually a person who will spontaneously pick up a book based on its cover. I have way too many books that I want to read in my own library. I don’t need to be adding books that I’m not sure are worth the time and expense.

What Bible scripture has impacted your life the most, and why?

In John 16:13, Jesus tells His disciples “When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth.” I often say, “I’m an amateur at life – this is the first time I’ve ever lived, so I need all the help I can get. From the time I was in high school I’ve relied on the leading of the Holy Spirit to “guide me into the truth.” So in high school, college, and graduate school I prayed before every test and before beginning any major paper or project, asking that the Holy Spirit would guide me into the truth. Throughout my career, when I begin a new book, movie script, article, or some other project I always ask for the guidance and anointing of the Holy Spirit – because apart from Him, I know I can do nothing of eternal significance.

I like that: "I'm an amateur at life-this is the first time I've ever lived..." Great line. 

Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers about you, or anything we didn’t cover?

The world celebrates three remarkable anniversaries this year: the 100^th Anniversary of the Balfour Declaration; the 70^th Anniversary of the U.N.’s vote on the partition of western Palestine; and the 70^th anniversary of the birth of the State of Israel. In this momentous year, watch for my new book I Am Cyrus – the remarkable story of Harry S. Truman and his part in the rebirth of Israel. I have also recently completed a screenplay based on the true story of a young woman who survived the Holocaust. Watch for announcements on the progress of these two projects on my website, www.vonbuseck.com

  

The days are numbered. The world is in labor. That's for sure.

Craig, it has been wonderful having you as a guest in our Author Behind the Story Series. Your non-fiction prowess has helped to bring balance to this heavily-laden fiction blog series. :-)

Readers, want to find out more about Craig's ministry? You can find him at the following sites:

Website: www.vonbuseck.com

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

Twitter: http://twitter.com/craigvonbuseck

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4XngihXgoXse2Jrr4N5LpQ 

Featured Book: “Nobody Knows: The Harry T. Burleigh Story”

May God Bless You, and May You Bless God!

Until next time, 

Kevin

You can find Kevin's books at his website: www.ckevinthompson.com

Forbearing the Wicked Cants & Cabals - (A Seriously Write Blog Post)

Read: Psalm 100

It was a Tuesday. November 4, 2014. Approximately 8:30 PM.

I was watching television, and a commercial for a department store came on, depicting a woman wearing what was intended to be a Santa-like suit. It was red and white. Her surroundings were also red and white. The music playing had a “Carol of the Bells” feel to it.

Other similar ads followed. As they ended, I sat there, staring at the television. All I could think of was, “What happened to Thanksgiving?”

The next day, my wife and I stopped by a home improvement store. We strolled in the front door and were greeted by a display of huge (I mean, six feet in diameter and eight feet high kind of huge) inflatable “rubber duckies” donning Santa hats, a 20-foot high toy soldier, and various scenes from Disney and Charles Schultz surrounded by more innocuous and less definable renditions of Christmas lore.

The next morning, the last straw got tossed onto the proverbial camel’s back. The TV news anchor reported a large department store announcing its intentions to open earlier than ever on Thanksgiving Day.

Noon. They’re going to open at Noon.

As more and more advertisements arrive on the TV screen with single snowflakes, silly snowmen, and shaken snow globes, it actually makes me a little sad. As fall decorations dwindle to make room for more and more candy and costumes at Halloween and more gadgets and gizmos for Christmas, it causes me to pause.

Why? Because I see this push to expand consumerism as a microcosm of a greater, spiritual dilemma.

Thanksgiving overrun by self-absorption. A season of reflection overshadowed by months of days tainted by greed and avarice.

I realize the concept of a “Thanksgiving Day” is an American thing. The First Thanksgiving in 1621, when Edward Winslow spoke of “a bay full of lobsters,” his sentiments, written to Englanders back home, seemed to give us the heart of the pilgrims, despite the newer renditions offered in many elementary classrooms today, “These things I thought good to let you understand, being the truth of things as near as I could experimentally take knowledge of, and that you might on our behalf give God thanks who hath dealt so favorably with us (Bold added).”1

From George Washington’s urging in 1789 for an official day of thanksgiving and prayer (although an official day was never chosen or enacted) to the formal declaration by President Abraham Lincoln on October 3, 1863, expressing gratitude for the victory at Gettysburg and announcing an official federal holiday be celebrated every 4th Thursday of November, it has been in our American bones to give God thanks.

I also realize that greed and avarice attempting to envelope the Christmas season is nothing new. Charles Dickens made that loud and clear in December, 1843, with some of the most powerful words in fiction (in my humble opinion):

“God bless us every one!'' said Tiny Tim, the last of all.

He sat very close to his father's side upon his little stool. Bob held his withered little hand in his, as if he loved the child, and wished to keep him by his side, and dreaded that he might be taken from him.

“Spirit,” said Scrooge, with an interest he had never felt before, “tell me if Tiny Tim will live.”

“I see a vacant seat,” replied the Ghost, “in the poor chimney-corner, and a crutch without an owner, carefully preserved. If these shadows remain unaltered by the Future, the child will die.”

“No, no,” said Scrooge. “Oh, no, kind Spirit! say he will be spared.”

“If these shadows remain unaltered by the Future, none other of my race,” returned the Ghost, “will find him here. What then? If he be like to die, he had better do it, and decrease the surplus population.”

Scrooge hung his head to hear his own words quoted by the Spirit, and was overcome with penitence and grief.

“Man,” said the Ghost, “if man you be in heart, not adamant, forbear that wicked cant until you have discovered What the surplus is, and Where it is. Will you decide what men shall live, what men shall die? It may be, that in the sight of Heaven, you are more worthless and less fit to live than millions like this poor man's child. Oh God! to hear the Insect on the leaf pronouncing on the too much life among his hungry brothers in the dust!”2

As a writer, do I approach my writing like today’s department stores? Pushing, shoving, forcing my way in front of more and more eyeballs for the simple and sole purpose of selling my wares? And how am I perceived by the buying public, both Christian and non? Should my approach to the (in the words of Ebenezer Scrooge) “much buying and selling” look different, smell different, actually be different?

Or am I thankful? Thankful to be called a writer? Thankful to be published? Thankful to be called God’s child? And if being called God’s child was all I had—with my published books stripped and tossed into the fire (1 Cor. 3:10-15), would I be content and consider it a blessing? If God said, “Don’t write another word,” would I be happy? Would I be obedient?

King David, in Psalm 100, talks about a relationship with God as His people. God’s people entering the temple, ready for worship. God’s people walking into the outer courts full of thanksgiving. And if we remember well, when the “much buying and selling” encroached upon the Holy of Holies, it was the Lord Himself who overturned the tables and declared the guilty parties robbers in a den, possibly turning people away if they couldn’t purchase even a dove (Matt. 21:12-14; cf. Jer. 7:11).

Now that the “House of God” is in the hearts of men (1 Cor. 3:16), how much more poignant are the scenes in Psalm 100 and Matthew 21 for us? Especially as writers? As we lead readers to the throne of God, into the Holy of Holies, do we bring our sacrifices of praise and hearts of thanksgiving? Or do we sit at the gate, behind a table, with our coffers open wide, hands outstretched?

Now that you have passed the town of Thanksgiving, trekking the highway leading upward toward the temple we call Christmas, how much of the former have you packed in your spiritual suitcase for the trip to the latter?

Be truly thankful this holiday season.

And, as a Christian writer, the season never ends (Philippians 4:4-7).

_________________________________________

1Winslow, Edward. “A Letter Sent from New England,” A Journal of the Pilgrims at Plymouth. Ed: Dwight B. Heath. New York: Corinth Books, 1963. p. 82.

        

2Dickens, Charles. “A Christmas Carol.”

To see this article on the Seriously Write website, click on the link below:

Forbearing the Wicked Cants & Cabals