Keating: Economics and Timely Fiction

Keating, Ray. Under the Golden Dome: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel (The Pastor Stephen Grant Series). Long Island: Keating Reports, 2023. 188 Pages. Paper. $21.99. (Also available signed and in bundles at author site) (https://raykeatingonline.com/products/underthegoldendome

Keating, Ray. For Better, For Worse: A Pastor Stephen Grant Short Story (The Pastor Stephen Grant Series). Long Island: Keating Reports, 2023. 96 Pages. Paper. $12.99. (Also available signed and in bundles at author site) https://raykeatingonline.com/products/forbetterforworse

Keating, Ray. Christmas Bells at St. Mary's: A Pastor Stephen Grant Short Story From the pages of Pastor Stephen Grant's Journal (The Pastor Stephen Grant Series). Long Island: Keating Reports, 2023. 114 Pages. Paper. $12.99. (Also available signed and in bundles at author site) https://raykeatingonline.com/products/christmasbells

Keating, Ray. The Weekly Economist II: 52 More Quick Reads to Help You Think Like an Economist. Long Island: Keating Reports, 2023. 216 Pages. Paper.  $17.99. Kindle Available. (Also available signed and in bundles at author site)  
https://raykeatingonline.com/products/theweeklyeconomist2

If you're looking for gift books for Christmas, consider these titles from Ray Keating.

Let's talk about his three recent Stephen Grant adventures first.

Under the Golden Dome: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel by Ray Keating

Pastor Stephen Grant and his wife, economist Jennifer Grant, are invited to a conference at the University of Notre Dame. While they look forward to speaking at the same gathering, unexpected dangers materialize, fueled by distorted, political impulses among some in the Church. (Author Website)

A conference at the University of Notre Dame is filled with intrigue, a former girlfriend, and a professor-turned-terrorist in Stephen Grant's seventeenth adventure. From a Lutheran seminary, to South Bend and the Vatican, author Ray Keating delivers adventure in another theological thriller, Under the Golden Dome. His cast of characters keeps expanding, both in number, depth, and authentic character development. Recommended!

For Better, For Worse: A Pastor Stephen Grant Short Story 

From Finland to California, the action, suspense and intrigue don't let up. Pastor Stephen Grant arrives in California to officiate at the wedding of two friends. But the past reaches out to disrupt the festivities. Can Grant and his former CIA colleagues stop an attack by a team of killers sent by a powerful figure bent on revenge? (Author website)

Stephen Grant Short Stories by Ray Keating are the perfect, satisfying read you can finish in one sitting. I had not expected to appreciate pre-marital Christian preparation for marriage in a fictional story. Pastor Stephen Grant demonstrates his pastoral experience and protective expertise in his eighteenth installment, For Better, For Worse. Recommended.

Christmas Bells at St. Mary’s: A Pastor Stephen Grant Short Story 

If you appreciate the spirit captured by many classic Christmas films, then you’re just like Pastor Stephen Grant … and you’ll enjoy this latest adventure. From the pages of his own journal, Pastor Grant paints a picture of Christmas at St. Mary’s Lutheran Church, emphasizing gratitude for family; for a new clergy friend; for a special handbell concert; and yes, for movies of the season. But danger also lurks, and sin, justice, forgiveness, suffering, sacrifice and salvation mix together in a rare way. (Author Website)

Also a short story, Pastor Stephen Grant himself narrates Christmas Bells at St. Mary's as excerpts from his own journal. The first-person approach is compelling, engaging, and vulnerable. We learn more about Grant's hopes and fears, his approach to life and faith, and a seasonal tale that will be worth re-reading even as we rewatch the same Christmas season movies he does. Recommended.

We return to Keating's expertise in economics in his sequel to The Weekly Economist. 

The Weekly Economist II: 52 More Quick Reads to Help You Think Like an Economist 

Ray Keating is back to help you figure out what makes economic sense and what doesn’t with 52 more quick reads on key topics related to the economy. Keating is a leading economist on small business and entrepreneurship.

This is the second book in The Weekly Economist series meant to help you to think more like an economist by taking just a few minutes for a quick read each week. (Author website)

Keating excels at explaining complex topics in an approachable way and giving the necessary complex explanations for seemingly-simple concepts that are unfortunately almost universally misunderstood. Learn from a subject-matter expert about different schools of economics, better understand historical economic events, and hear him out on why so many clergy get the economy wrong. Recommended!

We were saddened that Ray Keating's recent fiction Kickstarter did not fully fund, yet we are heartened that the new and continued series included will eventually see print and kindle editions. In more good news, a third volume of The Weekly Economist will be on its way soon.

Rev. Paul J Cain is Senior Pastor of Immanuel, Sheridan, Wyoming, Headmaster Emeritus and Instructor of Liberal Arts at Martin Luther Grammar School and Immanuel Academy, a member of the Board of Directors of the Consortium for Classical Lutheran Education, First Vice-President of the Wyoming District of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod and Chairman of its Board of Directors, Rhetoric Teacher for Wittenberg Academy, a regent for Luther Classical College, a Director for Steadfast Lutherans and Associate Editor of Curriculum for Steadfast Press, and Editor of Lutheran Book Review.   He has served as an LCMS Circuit Visitor, District Worship Chairman, District Evangelism Chairman, District Education Chairman/NLSA Commissioner, and District Secretary. A graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Rev. Cain is a contributor to Lutheran Service Book, Lutheranism 101, the LSB Hymnal Companion hymn and liturgy volumes, and is the author of 5 Things You Can Do to Make Our Congregation a Caring Church. He is an occasional guest on KFUO radio. He has previously served Emmanuel, Green River, WY and Trinity, Morrill, NE. Rev. Cain is married to Ann and loves reading and listening to, composing, teaching, and making music.