The Superman & Samwise Revival
July Newsletter
Hey there everyone,
I truly hope you all are having a happy and fun-filled July so far.
Ours has been sad for the most part. I’ll just go ahead and get this part out of the way instead of waiting till later. Despite our best efforts, Stanley relapsed at the end of June (a few days after I sent the June Newsletter) and we had to make the extremely heartbreaking decision to let him go on July 4th.
He had been admitted to the hospital again and we were told there was no long term solution to his problem—causing him to be in and out of the hospital for the rest of his life (which wouldn’t be much longer). So we decided to bring him home and have his final days be with us and his siblings, then bringing in Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice to give him a peaceful passing in our living room surrounded by familiarity and his family.
The ceremony we gave him was absolutely heartbreaking, but so beautiful. Lap of Love gave us the goodbye Stanley deserved and it allowed the other kitties (especially his brother, Niko who was so bonded to him) to be a part of it all so they could understand he was passing away. We will dearly miss our sweet boy so much and have made a memorial for him with his urn in our living room next to our Luna who passed suddenly back in 2023. If you’re the praying kind, we would appreciate yours because right now is certainly a somber season.
But in our somberness, we’ve seen the sweet rays of joy as friends and family have surrounded us and deeply loved us well during this difficult time. And that’s what I really want to talk about this month.
The term revival has a bad rap these days and understandably so.
It seems like so often (and for decades now) it’s just become a cliché marketing scheme for churches or Christian public speakers to schedule a week long preaching/worship event or a nationwide tour. But the true definition of a revival is something no man can create.
Biblical revival is a God-initiated awakening of spiritual life among his people, marked by repentance (turning away from something), renewed loved for God, obedience to the contextual understanding of scripture, and a passion for holiness and mission that is rooted in Jesus’ teachings found in the gospels.
So when I use the term “revival” in this newsletter, this is the definition I’m talking about. And the revival in question is one of kindness, compassion, empathy, love, and truth-seeking justice. It’s one of friendship.
For too long in America we’ve lost what real friendship looks like. There’s an entire generation of people right now who are waking up to the horrifying fact that they don’t actually have friends. Friendship has been chalked up to just surface level common interests/work environments and/or jokes being shared, or even just knowing someone online whose historically agreed with you. And let me be very clear here, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with those things. They can certainly be a part of friendship, but those things in and of themselves makes someone your acquaintance, not your friend.
One of the songs/videos I love to laugh at/with and sing randomly is “Jesus Is A Friend of Mine” by the cringy Christian band, Sonseed. Seriously if you’ve never seen the video, PLEASE do yourself a favor and click on that link. It’s the best thing ever. But underneath all that polyester, bad lyrics, and horrible dancing, there’s some real truth there. Jesus was the perfect embodiment of friendship—not just to his close inner circle, but to humanity in general. He healed the sick. He cast out demons. He compassionately instructed people on how to get on the correct path of life with God. He empathetically wept with friends and family when they were in pain. He called out the corrupt and he intimidated the powerful simply by offering people hope in something other than the religious and political persecution they were imprisoned by. He stood up for real truth and justice and gave something to humanity that no one had ever given before—the Spirit of God—a true revival.
This past weekend Robyn and I went to see the new Superman movie. Folks, its so good. While many rightwing extremists are blasting it and calling it “woke”, all it does is just bring the character back to his wholesome roots—which is all about kindness, compassion, and fighting for truth, justice, and a better tomorrow. Clark is a real human who loves people (yes, even his enemies) and doesn’t wish harm upon anyone, but will fight for what’s right when the time calls for it. And ultimately, he’s the best friend you could ever ask for—someone who will stop at nothing to help you’re down on your luck or in danger, simply because that’s just who he is.
“You think everything and everyone is beautiful,” says Lois Lane in the movie. And Clark’s response? “Maybe that’s the real punk rock?”
There’s another figure in fiction that reminded me of the demeanor Superman has in James Gunn’s movie: Samwise Gamgee from LOTR. While Sam doesn’t have superpowers (but he has a frying pan gosh darnit!), he certainly has the heart of a superhero. And I firmly believe he’s the best friend anyone could find in all of literature. He is always there to help Frodo carry the weight of the One Ring. He’s constantly making sure Frodo is doing okay and bearing the burden that comes with such a heavy load. Sam’s even willing to fight for Frodo’s safety and wellbeing, even when Frodo has believed a lie and betrayed Sam’s friendship deeply.
As a recovering addict, I have found friendships that are this deep. I have witnessed people go above and beyond to not only extend grace, but to get in the mess and help others who are struggling and/or even losing battle after battle with the vices that have rooted themselves in the person’s life sometimes since a very early age in childhood. And, as I said earlier, in our own more recent tragedy, Robyn and I have seen the comforting power of friendship rescue us in moments of utter heartbreak.
But why am I calling this a revival?
Samwise is a very old character and it’s been over 20 years since the movies came out. Superman just came out this past weekend so isn’t it just a fad or temporary high? I call it a revival because the spirit…dare I say the Holy Spirit that these two characters embody is exactly what I’m seeing sweeping through my country right now. To be sure, I’m seeing a lot of ugliness and hate, but alongside that, I’m seeing a revival that emphasizes the importance of love, compassion, and empathy. It’s causing people to reject or repent (turn away) from cynicism and spiritual complacency. It reveals the harmful marriage of political identity and religion that many evangelicals have embraced, all the while pointing people (religious and non-religious alike) to something greater—that truest friend, Jesus, and not the façade that has stood in his stead for so long.
I think in seasons such as this, where hatred and prejudice are in a position of authority, we begin to see the importance of true friendship. God seems to use the hatred and prejudice to course correct those who would follow him into a holier direction. We begin to see how cynicism and hate may tantalizing at times, but, as Superman says, the real punk rock is kindness, compassion, and empathy—and fighting for those who can’t fight for themselves. Or as Jesus says in the gospels, serve the poor (Matthew 25:31-46, Luke 12:33-34, Matthew 19:21, Luke 14:12-14) Or as James says in his namesake letter when he tells us to care for the widow and the orphan, (James 1:27). Sometimes the fight looks like marching in the street and holding a sign or hiding someone in your basement so they aren’t taken away to a concentration camp. While other times it looks like cutting your friend’s grass because he’s disabled and can’t do it himself.
All of these things reflect the heart of Jesus towards humanity. And while, no, these things don’t give salvation of one’s soul, they certainly paint a truer picture of the one who offers it.
So by all means, get caught up in this revival of the Spirit of kindness, generosity, compassion, and genuine love. You never know where it may sweep you off to.
What Am I Up To?
TIS TIME!!!!
The date is official and we launch the Kickstarter campaign for Memoirs of an Angel: The Grey Pilgrim (Unabridged Audiobook) on 8/12/2025, folks!!!
To save a possessed boy from the clutches of The Dark Kingdom, two angels must enter the boy’s mind and face the demon infesting him.
Book One of The Cosmic Wheel
Unabridged Audiobook written by Brian Rodman and narrated by Gerald Hill
Genre: Dark Fantasy/Sword & Sorcery/Sci-Fi/Cosmic Horror
16+ hours
Digital audiobook file (paired with multiple physical collectors items if chosen)
Comparable to Lord of The Rings/H.P. Lovecraft/The Exorcist
For Mature Readers
(No A.I. was used in creating this audiobook)
For those who don’t know, we’ve got the amazingly talented voice actor, Gerald Hill to narrate the book! Gerald is an American voice actor, best known for his roles as Justice in the award winning video game My Time at Sandrock; and as Frank Wright in the multi-award winning audio drama Liars & Leeches.
Gerald is also a friend of mine and has been a supporter of Memoirs of an Angel and my other work for years.
If you want to hear what’s in store, check this out!!
THE PRE-LAUNCH PAGE IS NOW OPEN!!! SO HEAD HERE TO BE NOTIFIED THE MINTUE WE LAUNCH THE CAMPAIGN!!!
I’ve wanted to do an audiobook for so long, you all and now that the novel is finished and out there, it gives us a chance to get this story out to so many folks who don’t enjoy the traditional reading process. So please, consider helping us fund this campaign and bring this audiobook to life. We have so many cool rewards too. I can’t wait for you to see what we have in store!!
Many folks have asked for more of The Nebulizer, and while issue three is coming out after The Mysterious Adventures of Eula McDowell is published, I have something to offer you in the meantime ;)
The Nebulizer Comic Strip has launched on Patreon for ALL MEMBERS (that’s right including the free ones). Conner and Albi have found themselves in our reality and are engaging with the culture in some really funny ways. So head here if you wanna join the fun!!
Also on Patreon is the recurring episodes of The Mysterious Adventures of Eula McDowell!!
We’ve completely wrapped up the Prologue and all fourteen parts of The Dybbuk Box (written by Brian K. Morris and myself) rough draft. And this week we just dropped Part Three of the second episode of the book, “Trestle by Moonlight” (written by Clyde Hall and myself). It’s such an honor to work with these two dear friends and award winning authors!! So head here if you want to get these stories dropped in your email once a week for less than a cup of coffee a month!!
Well, folks that’s it for me this month. I hope you all have a great rest of your July and I’ll see you again in August when we launch the Kickstarter!!
Be good people!
-Brian
🙏🙏🙏