A full picture of Christ involves a juxtaposition of life and death, this moment and eternity, crucifixion and resurrection. Death and heaven and hell are only half of the picture. Many examine life only through a lens of death, as if life is only valuable as a tryout for the afterlife. Christ did speak to what would happen when we die, but he was also extraordinarily concerned with what can happen when we live. He focused often on the here and now of life, teaching that he came to give us life, and life abundantly.
The goal of this publication is to pursue a complete picture of Christ and life –- real, gritty, painful, wonderful, this-side-of-heaven life. In an effort to never offend, too many Christian publications fail to express the power of a real Christ in a real world, opting instead for clichés and placating expressions of the ideal. Relief seeks to bridge the gap between mainstream fiction and cotton-candy Christianity. Christ's goal was never to keep us sheltered and comfortable. He did not pull his punches. The primary measuring stick for good Christian writing cannot continue to be safety. It must be skill - the ability to expose what is real, express it eloquently, punch the reader.
For authors who cry out for a venue and readers who long for stories that don’t make them gag, we present Relief.
Relief: The amazing truth in life--there is a place outside of desperate pain, anxiety, and self-loathing. “Peace that passes understanding” has become cliché, but we can’t deny the truth of it.
Relief: An architectural term referring to a raised projection of figures or forms on a flat surface. It is an image of a reality caught halfway between 2D and 3D. In this way, relief is a metaphor for this world (made in the image of the kingdom), and for humanity (made in the image of God). It is a lot like our perspective, seeing only part of the picture, a reflection. And at a core level, that's what a great story, poem, photograph, or painting does; it provides a reflection of what is real. “For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known” (I Cor 13:12).
Relief: The amazing emotion experienced while sinking into a good book that is not only artistically strong, but also rings true to the spirit; the peace that stems from knowing that solid Christian artists will have one more outlet for expression among otherwise slim pickings.
