CHARLOTTE — In his latest book, “101 Surprising Facts About the Bible,” Rick Rotondi takes on the most famous, most translated book in history.
“The 101 Series is a series published by Saint Benedict Press. It’s a very engaging way to approach a subject in bite-sized pieces. You can get a great introduction to different subjects,” Rotondi explains.
“A lot of it is coming out of my work on a documentary series on Jesus called ‘Messiah’,” Rotondi adds. He has been working on the documentary for the past 18 months, which was filmed in the Holy Land and Rome and will be released this fall.
“It inspired me to research into the Bible and to share what I learned in this book,” he says.
To help readers explore the history and content of the Bible, Rotondi has divided the book into three parts: how the Bible was compiled, written and made; the prophecies of the Bible; and how the Bible speaks to us.
“The Bible is one book. What makes it one book? It is Christ. Christ provides that unity of Scripture. He is in the Old Testament and the New Testament,” Rotondi notes.
We see Him present in Genesis, in Exodus and in the prophets. That is the Road to Emmaus experience that the disciples had, he says. “That is really what I wanted to Give people; a Road to Emmaus experience.”
Rotondi provides a historical overview of the Bible, how the Bible has shaped civilization and culture. “It is the Bible that gives us respect for human dignity. It insists every human being is made in the image and likeness of God.”
He hopes anyone who is seeking sound, basic information to understand what the Bible is, where it comes from and how it has shaped history and the Christian faith, will take the time to explore the story of the Bible shared in this book.
Rotondi also hopes that readers take away a sense that Christ is the whole purpose of creation, that God is revealing Christ to us from the very beginning and that this is the way so we can know and love Him.
“God also wants to speak to us, but we need to dwell on His words, which is Scripture. He can draw our attention to passages that have meaning in particular times of our lives. It’s all about Christ, and it is all about God speaking to us. We need the Bible for that,” he says.
No one should be afraid of reading the Bible more often and more deeply, he emphasizes. “Biblical literacy is so crucial. We have forgotten about that in our age. We have lost the Bible as part of our culture. We need it.”
Even for people who are not believers, he says, “They need it because you can’t understand our history without it.”
“We should know the Bible as literature, and then as Catholics and Christians, we should know it more deeply as the Word of God,” he says. “It is a unifying text for us all.”
— SueAnn Howell, senior reporter
Order a copy
At www.tanbooks.com: Get a copy of “101 Surprising Facts About the Bible”
HARRISBURG — Ray Haywood did not set out in life to be an author. This husband, father and parishioner of St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Charlotte is a car salesman. But something happened in 2015 that propelled him to pen a book encouraging men to be godly influences in their families.
The book, “Tools to Ready the Journey: A Father’s Guide to a Faith-Filled Family,” was released on the feast of St. Joseph, March 19.
The book stems from a private revelation Haywood experienced, in the form of a weeping crucifix in his office at the car dealership. He purchased the handmade crucifix made of fish bone on vacation in June 2015 in Mexico, and after hanging it in his office that October, he noticed moisture dripping from it.
Haywood consulted his parish’s priests, who encouraged him to pray and contemplate the meaning of this private revelation.
Shortly afterward, he recalls, “I woke up with an overwhelming feeling that I had to write a book. Within a matter of 10 minutes, the title of the book and all of the chapters were outlined. I felt overwhelmed with the knowledge of the content that needed to be shared, as if every experience up to that point in my life was with this one purpose in mind.”
In his search for answers regarding this experience, Haywood says, “I have always been led to encouragement – encouragement to reach into the lives of men and share with them the value of leading their family’s faith journey by building the foundation of faith found in the New Covenant and in the sacraments shared in our one, holy, Catholic and apostolic Church’s teachings.”
He explains that at the time of his prayer to strengthen his family’s faith, it had stopped at that – his family. “Through a moment of grace, I realized God’s intent within my prayer was to reach into and strengthen His/our faith-filled family,” he says.
In writing this book Haywood felt an undeniable call to action to reach into the hearts of young men and fathers who are building the foundation of faith within their families.
“I felt a clear calling to share life lessons and competencies to help guide the way of young men to a clearer perspective of a father’s rightful place within the faith-filled family – to give clarity among all the confusion this world places before them as stumbling blocks,” he explains.
In his book, Haywood says, “As fathers, we must understand and accept that every decision and position we take, through our words and actions, affect our families. If we become complacent to what society dictates as acceptable, then we separate our families from our foundation of faith.
“If we fail to challenge false truths, perceived as reality for those living in and of this world, and we fail to protect our families from the many worldly causes that try to capture their hearts, then they will lose their way as they face the world on their own.”
The book consists of 13 chapters, a study guide and other resources including a website and Facebook page designed to generate conversation and encouragement among fathers.
Says Haywood, “It is now time to reach into the hearts of young men and fathers and challenge them in humility to seek out truth, to understand truth as it is shared, and to take their rightful place within the family they are held accountable by God to lead. Before we can lead, we must first follow.”
— SueAnn Howell, senior reporter
For more information
At www.trjfathersguide.com: Learn more about “Tools to Ready the Journey: A Father’s Guide to a Faith-Filled Family.” It is available in hardcover, paperback and as a Kindle eBook online at www.amazon.com.