A) Is the look on my face in the thumbnail of today’s intro video not ridiculous?
B) I’m so thrilled to welcome author Harry Kraus to Tag(g)lines today. I’ve been a big fan of his books since the first one came out in 1994. I also think it’s incredibly cool that he’s a medical missionary…and manages to write books at the same time.
Harry’s latest book is called A Heartbeat Away, and I definitely encourage you to check it out. I checked Amazon.com just today and the Kindle version is only $2.99. Which means you’d basically be c-r-a-z-y not to zip over there as soon as you’re done reading Harry’s awesome post.
Reigning in Life
I seem to spend a lot of time in airports coming and going to crazy places, mostly in East Africa. And during one airport stop, as I read from the book of Romans, I was struck by the phrase: “reign in life” from Romans 5:17
What does “reigning in life” look like?
Let’s think a little about what it doesn’t look like and think about your basic Harry Kraus novel protagonist. The typical Kraus protagonist is someone in or around medicine, likely a surgeon, who encounters a conflict that forces them into a change that redefines their definition of “reigning in life.”
Surgeons are typically driven, successful, self-reliant, and confident and would define reigning in life in terms of powerful careers, money, and reputation.
Sounds like someone in need of grace!
Paul says that “reigning in life” is a result of receiving the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness. Wow. This is the exact opposite of my typical protagonist’s way of thinking.
You see, surgeons typically define their worth by performance. It’s the study-hard-lift-yourself-up-by-the-bootstraps approach to success. The Gospel, however, isn’t about the glories of self-effort and hard work. The Gospel isn’t about picking yourself up by your bootstraps; the Gospel says you don’t have any arms!
What I desire for my protagonists (and my readers) is for them to have an encounter with grace; an event that will upend their whole world, and have them struggling to trust when all of their performance props have fallen away.
I’m not trying to beat my readers over the head with a Gospel message; I simply want my readers to be absorbed into a thrilling story, and encounter grace with my protagonist in the process.
The internal character arc that chronicles the change from worth based on performance to a life touched by grace needs to parallel the external conflict arc made up of a significant problem that the protagonist needs to overcome. My job is to make the external story thrilling, and the internal story of consequence.
In my novel, A Heartbeat Away, my protagonist is a surgeon who undergoes significant change as a result of receiving a heart transplant. The external story is all about a murder mystery. The internal story is about an arrogant surgeon who thinks God’s rewards can be purchased changing into a woman humbled by an encounter with grace; a woman who goes from science to faith, from cold-hearted to loving. The internal and external components are parallel and linked, as the external drives the internal character arc.
What about you? Are you “reigning in life?”
Paul would ask it this way: “Have you received the abundance of grace?”
Harry Kraus, M.D., is a board-certified surgeon, medical missionary to East Africa, and accomplished writer of both non-fiction and fiction. Medical realism and gripping plotlines distinguish his writing, as he gets most of his ideas with a scalpel in hand. Dr. Kraus resides in Kenya with his wife Kris and the youngest of his three sons. Learn more about Dr. Kraus online at www.harrykraus.com.
More about Harry’s latest book: A Heartbeat AwayBrilliant surgeon Tori Taylor now finds herself on the other side of the operating table. After she nearly dies, a heart transplant saves her life—and sparks disturbing memories she can’t explain. Why is she remembering a murder she never witnessed? Her search for answers takes her down a dark and dangerous road. Will she discover the truth?
Comments 20
I was not familiar with Harry’s books until recently when I saw this one floating around and read the blurb. It completely intrigued me and hearing him talk about it does so even more. I loved the idea of a new heart – physically and spiritually and how it’s wrapped into this book. And I love suspense…and a great deal, so I think I’ll head over and snag it today. Don’t want to be labeled as “crazy”:)
I know, it does sound so intriguing, doesn’t it?! I’ve got it on my Kindle waiting to be read. 🙂
And okay, maybe “crazy” was a little harsh. But seriously, $2.99 is just too good to pass up!
Oh, I totally woulda said “crazy” too! Thanks for the heads-up. I ran and got it and am now waiting to read it.
Thank you Melissa for introducing me to Harry Kraus. I love the premise of A Heartbeat Away and I’m off now to purchase it!
Woohoo, hope you enjoy it! 🙂
I love the idea of reigning in life. So often I think people let life, and circumstances, define their existence, but God’s grace gives us the strength (and everything else we need) to take control of life and steer it in the direction we want it to go, hopefully based on God’s Word.
Melissa, thank you for introducing us to Harry. These books look amazing!
You’re welcome, Gabe! And amen!
Melissa,
I, too, LOVE Dr Kraus’ novels…Thanks for spotlighting him, and his work, on you blog.
Do you have a favourite novel written by him?
karenk
Hmm, my favorite of his novels…I really liked Could I Have This Dance…if I got the title right. 🙂 I’ve enjoyed all his novels, but for whatever reason, that’s always the one that stands out in my mind!
I definitely have a problem with defining myself by my performance, so this post resonated with me.
Your books look great, Harry!
Haha, and you know I’m you’re twin in the whole defining yourself by your performance thing, right? 🙂
Oh yes. 😉
Melissa!
I just snagged this book on my kindle a week or so ago and I’m excited to read it. Getting to know Harry here? And added bonus – makes me want to dig in even sooner!
Hubby and I were just talking this morning about receiving God’s grace being LITERALLY a choice of life over death, but how quickly and easily we fall into complacency or entitlement, or apathy, if we don’t intentionally remember the alternative, what we’d have if we didn’t have grace.
Good stuff.
Yeah, and the thing about that choice…we have to make it over and over again. I mean, there’s that moment in life when things click, when the reality of grace sets in…but then, it feels like I have to continue to choose, day after day… 🙂
Ooh, having just had my own medical mystery come out makes me want to jump right into this story. I absolutely loved Harry’s book, Breathing Grace.
I still need to read your book medical mystery, Sandra!! I can’t wait!
Great post! I love reading stories with characters who struggle, then learn to trust.
Trust is one of my absolute favorite themes in a book…mainly because it seems to be the theme of my life, too. 🙂
I love how Harry Kraus unpacked the phrase “reigning in life” — and discovered that grace was hidden inside.
Thanks for introducing me to his books — and to him, Melissa.
You’re welcome, Beth! It was an awesome post, for sure…still has me thinking…