Exalted Father is the story of the life of a man treasured and honored as the father of the world’s three greatest religions, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. It is the story of Abraham, a human being struggling with the daily issues of life, searching for the meaning of life. Therefore, it is everyone’s story. As it is recorded, Abraham “went out not knowing where he was to go,” traveling from Ur of the Chaldeans to the land of promise. Abraham went out by faith, a reminder that we, too, walk, not by sight, but by faith.

Exalted Father is the story of the life of a man treasured and honored as the father of the world’s three greatest religions, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. It is the story of Abraham, a human being struggling with the daily issues of life, searching for the meaning of life. Therefore, it is everyone’s story. As it is recorded, Abraham “went out not knowing where he was to go,” traveling from Ur of the Chaldeans to the land of promise. Abraham went out by faith, a reminder that we, too, walk, not by sight, but by faith.

Exalted Father is the story of the life of a man treasured and honored as the father of the world’s three greatest religions, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. It is the story of Abraham, a human being struggling with the daily issues of life, searching for the meaning of life. Therefore, it is everyone’s story. As it is recorded, Abraham “went out not knowing where he was to go,” traveling from Ur of the Chaldeans to the land of promise. Abraham went out by faith, a reminder that we, too, walk, not by sight, but by faith.

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Ida Danced At His Hanging

A novel By Joe Neil Steward

 Copyright 1992-1999

Ida danced At His hanging is timely because of recent activities by political leaders and their blatant disregard for traditional values.  It will appeal to women and men alike, which is unusual for a book that at first glance could be dismissed as-just a western.  I have asked several people to read it, their response could be summed up by one womans statement, I dont read westerns, but this is about people, I loved it!  It is not just a western, it is a character study of real people who love, hate, forgive, get it all, lose it all, and regret that they have passed over a relationship for one that promised security, only to have security ripped from them and have to start over as shop worn goods.  It is an example that the foulest of men can cloak vileness in the most appealing and respected of pretenses, and God can change that man, and make him finally, what he pretended to be.

Ida Danced At His Hanging would appeal to the Christian audience, but also to the same extensive audience Lonesome Dove captured.

                               Ida Danced at His Hanging summery:

A shirttail outfit made up of men and boys, who each have compelling reasons for leaving Texas, have built a small ranch near Kalispell, in western Montana.

Asked if he wants to go along with a posse, Ron Neil casually answers, Why not?  Small things like that change lives.  The friend who asked him is shot protecting him, and Ron kills three men.

Life has made Ron Neil the kind of man a friend once described this way,  Ron, what ever youve been given to do, its got donemaybe not always right, but it got done.

The county sheriff, Lon Daton, takes Ron on as a deputy.  Marith Campbell, the girl Ron has tried to court, becomes engaged Christmas eve, his first night on duty.  With his mind preoccupied about losing her, Ron is shot in the neck.  It takes several months for him to regain the use of his limbs.  When he does, he has changed from a man who never believed in God, because his Daddy didntalthough that was the only thing they agreed onto a man who not only believes in God, he believes in a personal God who died in his place-- Jesus Christ.

When this kind of a man confronts a man of wealth, position, and pseudo Christianity-- hes a deacon-- who uses his religious pretensions to hide his more deadly practices, what do you think will happen?  You can find out by reading Ida Danced At His Hanging.

Ida Danced At His Hanging

A novel By Joe Neil Steward

 Copyright 1992-1999

Ida danced At His hanging is timely because of recent activities by political leaders and their blatant disregard for traditional values.  It will appeal to women and men alike, which is unusual for a book that at first glance could be dismissed as-just a western.  I have asked several people to read it, their response could be summed up by one womans statement, I dont read westerns, but this is about people, I loved it!  It is not just a western, it is a character study of real people who love, hate, forgive, get it all, lose it all, and regret that they have passed over a relationship for one that promised security, only to have security ripped from them and have to start over as shop worn goods.  It is an example that the foulest of men can cloak vileness in the most appealing and respected of pretenses, and God can change that man, and make him finally, what he pretended to be.

Ida Danced At His Hanging would appeal to the Christian audience, but also to the same extensive audience Lonesome Dove captured.

                               Ida Danced at His Hanging summery:

A shirttail outfit made up of men and boys, who each have compelling reasons for leaving Texas, have built a small ranch near Kalispell, in western Montana.

Asked if he wants to go along with a posse, Ron Neil casually answers, Why not?  Small things like that change lives.  The friend who asked him is shot protecting him, and Ron kills three men.

Life has made Ron Neil the kind of man a friend once described this way,  Ron, what ever youve been given to do, its got donemaybe not always right, but it got done.

The county sheriff, Lon Daton, takes Ron on as a deputy.  Marith Campbell, the girl Ron has tried to court, becomes engaged Christmas eve, his first night on duty.  With his mind preoccupied about losing her, Ron is shot in the neck.  It takes several months for him to regain the use of his limbs.  When he does, he has changed from a man who never believed in God, because his Daddy didntalthough that was the only thing they agreed onto a man who not only believes in God, he believes in a personal God who died in his place-- Jesus Christ.

When this kind of a man confronts a man of wealth, position, and pseudo Christianity-- hes a deacon-- who uses his religious pretensions to hide his more deadly practices, what do you think will happen?  You can find out by reading Ida Danced At His Hanging.

Adam Mitchell is on a journey, hoping to draw closer to God.His studies uncover truths that are not easily accepted byhimself and especially those around him. Truths that he hasbeen blinded to all along. His quest forces him to reevaluate what hethinks he knows about the Bible. Is it really God’s protected word? Oris there another side of it that has been overlooked? What he fi nds is aroad that leads him down a different path than he had expected. Andnow, he has to make a decision on how far he will go to follow what hehas learned. Is he strong enough? Can he release . . . the lies?

Adam Mitchell is on a journey, hoping to draw closer to God.His studies uncover truths that are not easily accepted byhimself and especially those around him. Truths that he hasbeen blinded to all along. His quest forces him to reevaluate what hethinks he knows about the Bible. Is it really God’s protected word? Oris there another side of it that has been overlooked? What he fi nds is aroad that leads him down a different path than he had expected. Andnow, he has to make a decision on how far he will go to follow what hehas learned. Is he strong enough? Can he release . . . the lies?

Adam Mitchell is on a journey, hoping to draw closer to God.His studies uncover truths that are not easily accepted byhimself and especially those around him. Truths that he hasbeen blinded to all along. His quest forces him to reevaluate what hethinks he knows about the Bible. Is it really God’s protected word? Oris there another side of it that has been overlooked? What he fi nds is aroad that leads him down a different path than he had expected. Andnow, he has to make a decision on how far he will go to follow what hehas learned. Is he strong enough? Can he release . . . the lies?

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“My beloved shall dwell in safety beside you; I shall cover you all the day long, and he shall dwell between your shoulders”. The deep, resonating voice, and the words he recognizes as the blessing Moses pronounced upon the tribe of Benjamin over five generations before, echo in Jonathan’s head as he herds his father’s cattle in from the summer grazing. He has suffered a terrible dream where the voice speaks to him after some unknown evil leads him to stand on the very brink of a precipice. Being the oldest son of Saul, the first king of Israel, and of the war like tribe of Benjamin, Jonathan has been reminded of his eminent future by his domineering father who sees his tender spirit as weakness; taught the laws of his God by an aging grandfather who believes it to be a remarkable attribute; and lovingly nurtured by a beautiful mother whom his father accuses of spoiling him. Coddled by a Moabite slave who not only delivered him, but also believes him to be pre-destined for greatness, he has survived a childhood fraught with the heartbreak, anger, and jealousy resulting from his father’s polygamous marriage. The setting is ancient Israel somewhere between 1150-1050 BC. Jonathan’s home is a gloomy stone fortress, located in the former Canaanite City of Gibeah. Casemated walls and a grand staircase lead to what the servants fearfully call the Lion’s Den, his father’s large, second story audience room. It has been twelve years since the Prophet Samuel anointed his father to be the first king of Israel. Twelve years that his mother has been unhappy and his father has been like a lion pacing a cage. With the advent of a young messenger sent to seek the assistance of King Saul because his city is under attack, his life seems catapulted into his nightmare. His father successfully rallies an army, wins a great victory, and is at last officially coroneted King. As Jonathan moves through the delicate web of choices that shape each of our destinies, he finds courage in his undying faith in the impossible and his hope in the promised rebuilding of Shiloh. Strangely, it is a horse that at last gives him the coveted respect of his father. A “devil” horse that his father secretly hopes will kill or maim him so that his more promising brother might become heir. Will Prince Jonathan’s stubborn obedience to God, and his longing to experience the true love seemingly lost to his parents, enable him to withstand his father’s jealous rages and planned marriage to the daughter of his evil counselor, or will he become the victim of the precipice in his dream?

Prince Jonathan has dared to marry Sarah without his parents knowing, and now he must go home and face his father. When Sarah insists that he take her with him, he doesn’t know that she has dreamed that his father kills him. He begrudgingly agrees, thinking he will lock her in his room once they reach the palace and go meet his father alone. Upon their arrival however, Jonathan realizes that not only their lives are in danger but also their marriage. Uncertainty once again grips his heart and he offers Sarah a bill of divorcement before their marriage is confirmed before his father’s kingdom.The setting is ancient Israel somewhere between 1150-1050 BC. Jonathan’s home is a gloomy stone fortress, located in the former Canaanite City of Gibeah. Casemated walls and a grand staircase lead to what the servants fearfully call the Lion’s Den, his father’s large, second story audience room. It is in this room that Jonathan introduces his wife to his parents, and is the place where he would have died had Sarah not been with him. “The beloved of the LORD shall dwell in safety beside you; and the LORD shall cover you all the day long, and he shall dwell between your shoulders.” The words of the Benjamite blessing, spoken by Moses over five generations before, continues to drift through Jonathan’s thoughts. When his grandfather dies suddenly, and his father’s mind continues to deteriorates into madness, Jonathan is convinced the blessing was meant as a promise to him. When his father does not obey God concerning the battle with Amalek, the prophet Samuel puts a curse upon the entire house of Saul. As Samuel gazes sadly into Jonathan’s eyes, he promises him that, if he continues to hope, Shiloh will come to sheol (the grave) and get him. When Jonathan learns that a very dear friend of his has been killed in this battle because Saul commanded him to scale a city wall in order to “test his God”, this promise seems all that the young prince has left to believe in. Close to despairing, he comes to the realization that Shiloh is not an altar or a building that can be destroyed by his enemies, whoever they are, but an individual hope in his heart, like the eternal flame at the altar. “Grandfather was right after all,” he tells his mother. “We must tell the next generation, and the next, and the next, until someday a worthy king shall come to deliver us.”