The Power of Imagination Our imaginations are often treated as relics of our childhood. We are told to grow up and leave that sense of awe and wonder behind. What if these modernistic tendencies were entirely wrong? What if we were meant to live enchanted lives, seeing the world with the joy and amazement? This collection of essays, stories, and poems is meant to explore the power of the imagination and its unique connection to our human nature. Contributors "Imagination and Its Role in Faith" by C.M. Alvarez. An essay on how imagination open the mind to faith. "We Have Sinned and Grown Old: A Reflection on Imagination and Motherhood" by Nicole Howe. An essay on the innocence of youthful wonder. "Messiah" by Adam L. Brackin. A short story of a voyage to Paradise. "Awe" by Annie Nardone. A poem regarding a sense of wonder. "The Adventures of Asher Svenson, Story Two: A Feast of Fishes" by Lucas Holt. The second installment with the tale of Asher Svenson and his adventures at the seashore. "Reviving a Sacred Imagination" by Annie Crawford. An essay on the way reason and imagination are both necessary for discipleship. "Light in the Darkness" by Korine Martinez. A short story about striving against evil. Inspired by the true story of Charlotte Thomason. "Imagining Conversion" by Josiah Peterson. An essay regarding the way conversion stories change lives. "God, the Playwright" by Donald W. Catchings, Jr. A poem on the Gospel as an imaginative masterpiece. "The Armor of the Dragon: Chapter One - What Grew in the Garden" by Daniel Asperheim. A short story on the beginning of a magical adventure. "Re-Enchanting the World: A Tale of Two Paradigms" by Josh Herring. An essay on overcoming our modern disenchantment. "Celestial Rodeo" by Daniel Ray. A short story on the importance of humility. "The Imaginative Power of Sub-Creation" by Zak Schmoll. An essay reflecting on why we love Tolkien's stories. Cover art by Virginia de la Lastra Volume 2, Issue 1, Spring 2019 ​​​​​​​198 pages

Planting the Seeds of Imagination Holly Ordway has established herself as one of the preeminent voices in the field of cultural apologetics. Her ability to engage with the imagination is clearly demonstrated through her own scholarly work, most recently the paradigm-shifting Tolkien's Modern Reading, but her influence was critical in the founding of An Unexpected Journal as well. This collection of essays, poetry, and stories demonstrates her wide-ranging impact that is truly bearing a fruitful harvest. Contributors "Maps," My Map by Jesse W. Baker on the importance of poetry. "Contrary Winds: Tolkien's Priority of Faith and Family" by Donald W. Catchings, Jr. on Tolkien's personal values, and "The Call" on the teacher's call. A review of Tolkien's Modern Reading by Annie Crawford "Drawing the Drawing Out of Me" by Virginia de la Lastra on a pleasant surprise. "Ordway's Myth-Busting Research: Tolkien's Modern Reading (A Review)" by Ryan Grube on a paradigm shift. "Poetry as Prayer, Imagination the Spark to Worship and Service: Ordway's Review of Gerard Manley Hopkins in Word on Fire's Ignatian Collection" by Seth Myers on contemplation, poetry, and missionizing. "A Passage to Something Better" by Annie Nardone on Tolkien's approach to virtue. An interview with Holly Ordway "Middle-earth and the Middle Ages" by Joseph Pearceon the influence of Beowulf. "Dr. Ordway's Visual Guide to Paragraph Structure" by Josiah Peterson on creating meaning. "Lost and Found" by Theresa Pihl on changing perspective; "Learning Writing at Writespace" by Jamie Danielle Portwood on the importance of community. "Gandalf: The Prophetic Mentor" by Zak Schmoll on the Defeat of Sauron. "A Case of Mistaken Identity" by Jason M. Smith on our great misconception. "Peak Middle-earth: Why Mount Doom is not the Climax of The Lord of the Rings" by Michael Ward "Echo and Narcissus" by Clark Weidner on the goodness of reality. "Some Real Magic: Taliessin Lectureth in the School of the Poets" and "The Challenge of 'The Republic'" by Donald T. Williams on poetic imagination. "Unveiling Reality Through the Imagination" by Jared Zimmerer on a strategy to fight meaninglessness. Cover Illustration by Virginia de la Lastra Advent 2021, Volume 4, Issue 4 270 pages

J.R.R. Tolkien was the British author who fired the imagination of a generation with his beloved works: The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. In this collection of essays, short stories, and poems, we explore the magic of Tolkien’s works that defined high fantasy and illustrate the underlying Christian themes that are so essential to the joy his work brings. Contributors: C.M. Alvarez: "Melchizedek, Bombadil, and the Numinous in The Lord of the Rings," an essay on the parallels between the mysterious figures found in the Bible and The Lord of the Rings and what they represent. Donald W. Catchings, Jr.: "The Hero from Bagshot Row," a poem dedicated to the heroism of Sam in The Lord of the Rings. Annie Crawford: "Courage at the Crossroads" on how the journey of the Fellowship illustrates the truth of the Gospel message. S. Dorman: "The Common Good in Tolkien's Rural Communities," an essay on the importance of community drawing from illustrations in The Lord of the Rings by Tolkien and In Search of the Common Good: Christian Fidelity in a Fractured World by Jake Meador. Karise Gililland: "One Theme to Rule Them All," an essay on a collection of Catholic essays in Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings. Korine Martinez: "Awakening Joy," an essay on the Christ-inspired joy which infuses The Lord of the Rings Seth Myers: "Tolkien and Miyazaki: Princess Mononoke and The Lord of the Rings in Conversation," an essay on the fight against evil in The Lord of the Rings by Tolkien and the animated film, Princess Mononoke. Annie Nardone: "Finishing Well," an essay on purpose as illustrated in "Leaf by Niggle;" "The Finished Work," a sonnet based on "Leaf by Niggle;" and "A Passage to Something Better," an essay on death in The Lord of the Rings. Josiah Peterson: "Supernatural Words" on the importance of language in the creation of Tolkien's Middle-earth. George Scondras: "Melkor and Illuvatar" on the Christian hope in The Silmarillion. Zak Schmoll: "The Beauty of a Growing Friendship," an essay on the importance of fellowship and community illustrated in The Lord of the Rings and a book review on An Encouraging Thought Clark Weidner: "Tom Bombadil: The Value of an Enigma," an essay on the importance of mystery. Donald T. Williams: "Loth Lorien" and "To J.R.R. Tolkien, poems inspired by Tolkien's work. About An Unexpected Journal An Unexpected Journal is a quarterly publication that presents the truth of Christianity using reason and imagination. Spring 2020, Volume 3, Issue 1

Mystery: Detecting Truth in the Darkness A good mystery brings the reader into the mind of the detective: searching for clues, questioning suspects, and coming to conclusions. We like to play along, hoping to crack the case before the ultimate reveal. In a way, it feels like our real lives as we try to piece together the parts of our existence and discover what they mean. That is why mysteries are the perfect playground for the cultural apologist who seeks to explain what the facts about our world actually mean. Contributors “The Gospel of Murder” by Annie Nardone on Human Darkness “Serial, Healing and the Silence of God: The Hunger for Order and Truth in a Postmodern Mystery” by Erica Milecki McMillan on Seeking Truth “Light for the Seekers” by Sojourner Howfree on the Inquisitive Mind “An Elementary History of Deduction” by Seth Myers on the History of the Genre “The Secret of Father Brown” by G.K. Chesterton on Detective Methodology “The Inheritance of Hiram Percy Maxim” by Brian Melton on Consequences “Rationalism, Meaning, & Love: Sherlock’s Ethos as a Key to Unlock All Mysteries” by Jasmin Biggs on the Pursuit of Truth “What Mean These Stones? Archaeology, Poetry & Mystery” by Ted W. Wright on Excavating Humanity “Gizem Dagl” by Karise Gilliland on the Mountain of Mystery “Agatha Christie and Worshiping False Gods” by Jacqueline Wilson on Self-Examination “God as Revealer of Mysteries and Fountain of Love” by Jesse W. Baker on Divine Revelation “The Mystery of Our History: How Knowledge of the Church Fathers Can Strengthen the Church” by Kimberly Hyland on the Importance of the Past “The Mystery of Love” by Donald Catchings on Defining Love “Time Warping With God” by Tim Mcguire on Dreaming “Mystery and Meaning in the Multiverse: Everything Everywhere All at Once” by Seth Myers on Searching Through the Chaos “Book Review: The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency Series by Alexander McCall Smith” by Rebekah Valerius on a Wise Lady Detective Volume 6, Issue 1, Spring 2023 240 pages Cover illustration by Virginia de la Lastra

Celebrating the Works of George MacDonald George MacDonald inspired the imaginative visions of C.S. Lewis, G.K. Chesterton, J.R.R. Tolkien, and so many others. He presents the reader with an enchanted world that is richer than the flattened world of materialism that defines reality for so many. Through this volume, we hope to invite the reader into the world of fantasy en route to discovering a true reality. Take a tour of the books of this classic Christian author, from his christian fantasy novels for both children and adults as well as his theological works. Contributors: Donald W. Catchings Jr.: "A Heavenly Guide: Lewis's 'Teacher' in The Great Divorce," a poem on the wise Scotsman. G.K. Chesterton: "On George MacDonald," a reflection by Chesterton on one of his favorite authors. Kelly Lehtonen: "Romanticism, the Marble Lady, and the Orders of Longing in Phantastes" on MacDonald's Christian view of human nature. George MacDonald: "The Imagination: Its Function and Its Culture," a fully annotated version of this classic essay on the important of imagination with George MacDonald's original notes. Jason Monroe: "Fight the Miserable Things: Reflections on the Joy in At the Back of the North Wind" on regaining joy with imagination. Seth Myers: Seth Myers: "Phantastes: Enchanting Beauty and Sacrificial Love" on joy, hope, and faith illustrated in MacDonald's classic fantasy novel; "Lilith and The Queen's Gambit: Two Ingenue Who Learn Love Through Sacrifice" on growing with community; and "From MacDonald to Magical Realism: Faith and Fantasy with Romantics, Marquez, Murakami, and Van Halen" on MacDonald's influence on fantasy for adults. Annie Nardone: "The Richness of Plain Talk: Interview with David Jack on Translating the Beauty of George MacDonald" on language and literature. Daniel Ray: "Old MacDonald's Dish: A Hearty Serving of George MacDonald's Thoughts on the Imagination and Its Relevance to Contemporary Apologetics," an essay on why the writing of George MacDonald matters. Megan Joy Rials: "The Lizard or the Stallion? George MacDonald on the Retroactivity of Heaven and Hell in The Great Divorce" on Lewis's choice of guide. George Scondras: "Good Enough to Believe In: George MacDonald and the Knowledge of the Ineffable" on justified belief in God. Aaron Stephens: "MacDonald, George," a poem on the border of Fairyland. John P. Tuttle: "Aëranths, Angels, and Allegory" on allegory in The Golden Key. Advent 2020 Volume 3, Issue 4 300 pages

The imago Dei: Man as God’s Image Bearers “Let us make man in our image,” so begins the relationship between God and his image bearers, beings made in his own image. What does it mean to be God’s image bearer? In this issue on the imago Dei, we explore the ways man reflects God’s light. Contributors: Donald W. Catchings, Jr.: "Stained-glass Man," a poem on man's own image. Annie Crawford: "Gender and the Imago Dei: Together We Reflect the Image of God," an essay on marriage's divine purpose. L.B. Loftin: "Goodness, Truth, and Beauty," a poem on the glory of humanity. Christy Luis: "My Favorite Things" a short story on coming out of and into the fire. Annie Nardone: "Deepest Wonder, Remarkable Beauty: Sonnets in Praise of Life and the Imago Dei," an essay and sonnet on the miracles of life. Julie Miller: "Transhumanism and the Abolition of the Human Person," an essay on transhumanism's materialistic shortcomings. Megan Joy Rials: "Do You Long for Having Your Heart Interlinked?: The Imago Dei and Our Need for Relationships in the Blade Runner Universe," an essay on love, authenticity, and reality. Zak Schmoll: "A Silent Genocide: Disability and the Ongoing Consequences of Social Darwinism," an essay on the tragedy of eugenics. Jason Smith: "Worth Reading" an introduction to a new column coming to AUJ. John L. Weitzel: "Thorin and Bilbo: Image Bearers," an essay on heroism, the Old Testament, and God's will. Donald T. Williams: "Matrix of Meaning: Five Theses on Christianity and Culture," an essay on the relationship between human nature and creativity. Cover Illustration by Virginia De La Lastra Spring 2021 Volume 4, Issue 1 250 pages

A Garden of Medieval Minds The medieval period was a time of greats: great courage, great words, great light, and great darkness. The writers, philosophers, and artists of the time still touch and influence our lives today. This volume celebrates these masterpieces that merged the physical and the spiritual into meaningful, incandescent truth. Contributors: C.M. Alvarez: “Death, Grief, & Hope in Pearl” on progressing through grief as illustrated in the Gawain poet’s medieval poem Pearl. Donald W. Catchings, Jr.: “The Dream of the Crown,” a medieval inspired poem on the piercing of Christ’s brow and “Chronological Snobbery: In Reply to Contemporary Petrarchs” on valuing the past. Annie Crawford: “Hogwarts in History: The Neo-Medieval Vision of Harry Potter” on our love of the medieval and “Cosmos” on holy wonder. Alison Delong: “A Call to Lament: An Apologetic Study of the Anglo-Saxon Elegies” on comprehending struggle and responding to it. Karise Gililland: “Wearing One’s Habits: Aristotle, Aquinas, and the Making of a Virtuous Man” on the ancient and medieval views on cultivating goodness and “The Quest of the Golden Queen,” a heroic poem on the Lady and the dragon. Sandra G. Hicks: “Death and Redemption for the Modern Heart: What We Can Learn from the Anglo-Saxon Elegy” on Christ, the Warrior-King illustrated in the medieval elegy, “The Wanderer.” Alex Markos: “Christ, Our Hero at Calvary: Meaning and Metaphor in Beowulf and ‘The Dream of the Rood’” on understanding the resurrection. Korine Martinez: “An Unlikely Witness” on the perspective of the cross illustrated in The Dream of the Rood. Jacqueline Medcalf: “The Book of Kells,” a medieval influenced poem on seeing a wonder. Seth Myers: “Dante for Moderns” on serving our fellow man and “Francis of Assisi” on medieval relevance. Annie Nardone: “The Venerable Bede: Following the Medieval Christian Footpath” on preserving history and “Thomas Aquinas: Understanding Evil” on darkness and life. Cherish Nelson: “The Gravity of Sin: Truth in the Grotesque in Dante’s Inferno” on the depths of evil. Holly Ordway: “Memento Mori: A Reflection on ‘The Ruin’” on the question of progress. Ted Wright: “Hagia Sophia and the Evidential Power of Beauty: Divine Architecture as Apologetics” on truth in stone. About the Cover Our cover illustration was provided by Chilean artist, apologist, and physician Virginia De La Lastra depicting the vibrant imagery of medieval illuminations. Vigorous and verdant green life battles against the dragons symbolizing evil, while the peacocks give the promise of the hope and power of the resurrection. Fall 2020 Volume 3, Issue 3 310 pages