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Published Sunday, October 05, 2008 in Religion

Parable opens new location with Lucado book signing

By Megan Almon

The Times-Herald

The Sept. 27 soft opening at Parable Christian Bookstore's new Newnan Crossing Boulevard location drew quite a cast of local characters -- most of them lined up around the building to meet nationally-renown Christian author Max Lucado.

Lucado, who took a detour to the store's new locale during the traveling Women of Faith Conference's Atlanta stop, signed early releases of his latest book, "Cast of Characters," on the store's brand new, 2,600-square-foot patio.

Store owners Dennis and Debra Smith echoed one another when asked about the event's outcome -- "Wonderful," they exclaimed.

The pair received a stream of compliments from shoppers and droppers-by who took in the new store's layout, one for which the Smiths applied organization techniques to make shoppers' experiences better than their former location allowed.

The pair is especially proud of the store's large patio space. "We fully intend to utilize it as a gathering place," Dennis Smith said.

Though a "full-blown café" isn't on the agenda for the foreseeable future, the Smiths aren't opposed to the idea of guests sipping coffee and enjoying concerts and/or performances by local musicians, school choirs or bands, and others. The Smiths have already booked Hogansville-bred, Eva Mae LeFevre-style painist Mark Fuller, who will play on Nov. 28 from noon until 2 p.m.

For occasions such as Lucado's book-signing, the Smiths purchased a sturdy, attractive canopy to provide both comfort and ambiance in their outdoor space.

Lucado drew from the deep well of research he's done for past works to produce "Cast of Characters," a glimpse into the lives of 22 of the Bible's characters -- "common people in the hands of an uncommon God," as Lucado put it. The characters he explores include Mary, Peter, David, Joseph, The Samaritan Woman, Esther and many more.

"The Bible is a story of characters," Lucado said, explaining the choice of the title "Cast of Characters" was quite intentional.

Lucado himself identifies strongly with the story of King David, whose ups and downs gave his life "an endearing inconsistency." But through it all, "his heart longs for God, though his behavior never seems to catch up," Lucado said.

Lucado said the book exalts God as "the one who leads the cast."

The Bible is chock-full of the issues we still face in our daily lives today -- financial struggles, political change, storms of geography, theology, even personality, Lucado said. The compilation is a collection of stories we can relate to, the results many times simultaneously convicting and comforting.

"Life is full of changes," Lucado said. "God is that one unchanging center."

Throughout the Bible, the stories are tools -- "gifts" -- God uses to help us see his character.

"The Bible is populated by real people -- individuals find their stories in these stories," he said. "Stories move in, take up residence in our hearts. They stick with us."

Dennis Smith hopes Lucado's visit is the first of many in years to come.

"The most important thing to me is that Newnan has a Christian bookstore," Smith said. He and Debra purchased the store from the previous owner for that reason three years ago.

"We've had so many blessings," he said. "It's a ministry as well as a business."

He and Debra, as well as the store's staff, enjoy the "opportunity to recommend just the right book" -- thus the store's motto, "Sharing the love of God through the written word."

When the final "sprucing and finishing" of the move are taken care of, Smith said Parable will have a grand opening celebration that the community, of course, is invited to attend. In the meantime, the store has a ready supply of Lucado's "Cast of Characters," which officially released Thursday, in addition to its large selection of other merchandise.

Parable Christian Bookstore's previous location was off Highway 34, near Home Depot. Owner Dennis Smith is also the pastor of Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in Senoia.