Creationists and evolutionists are like oil and water. Even though they are looking at the same evidence, they are each working with a set of pre-conceived ideas that create the controversy — did God create the world according to the book of Genesis in the Bible, or did it slowly evolve without a creator?
Donald James Parker, who moved from Washington state to Fairfield Glade six months ago, has been planted squarely in the middle of this controversy through 11 books. Deviating from that theme, the author has recently completed a screenplay and is now at work on a movie about drug and alcohol rehabilitation.
Parker was born and raised in Madison, South Dakota.
"In a past life I was a junior high and high school English teacher," he states. "I loved teaching literature and loved being able to read books I could recommend to my students. One of my favorite sayings is 'He that won't read good books is no better off than he that can't.'"
He moved to Washington state when he was 31 years old and lived there for 30 years. During that time, he worked as a computer programmer for such greats as Microsoft, Paccar (they build Peterbilt and Kenworth semi-trucks), and Frank Russell (of the stock market's Frank Russell Index). He continues working full-time out of his home doing programming for a South Dakota firm.
His two 20-something daughters still live in Washington state, he says with a slight downturn of the mouth, but insists he loves Fairfield Glade. He is particularly fond of all the freedom to ride his bike in the community.
Parker started writing for real in 2006, and belongs to several writer's groups. In his five-book Masterson Family Series, he sets the stage to confront the controversy of evolution vs. creation through an eighth-grade boy's motivation to see his high school basketball team take the state championship when his class becomes high schoolers. The basketball boys sign a commitment to that end, thus, the name of the book, The Bulldog Compact.
The story continues through the next four books as the boy grows to a man, has a family, and the motivations of his daughter to stand up for creationism, and then her atheist boyfriend's search for the truth during their college years. The other four books in the Masterson Family Series are Dust in the Wind, All the Voices in the Wind, All the Stillness of the Wind, and All the Fury of the Wind.
"I didn't have the credentials to approach this any other way than through fiction," says Parker. No one would have paid attention to him in the scientific world, he feels. Parker is a computer programmer by profession, not a "science guy." But he has felt a clear leading from God to use his journalistic talents to create books on the subject using clear biblical references.
At the moment, Parker is looking for support for the movie he plans to make. "I have written a movie script about the Mission Bible Training Center. It's a drug and alcohol center that is Bible based." There is a facility in Crossville, and there are 15 spread out across the country. The movie is Parker's way of raising funds for the training center, which survives strictly on unsolicited donations.
"I want to tell the story about a couple of people who went through this facility, where people come seeking help and stay to help others," he states. "There is a romance element woven into the story and a sub-theme of the pastor who leaves a ritzy church to become the director of the mission, where he learns the true gospel of Jesus Christ — and how to love people.
"I want to produce it locally, shooting scenes in the community. I'm hoping, since it will use the names of Crossville and Fairfield Glade, there will be some positive value for the community.
"If anyone is interested in being a part of it, I'm looking for cameramen, actors and actresses (preferably those who can pass for age 30 and younger), makeup people, costume designers, and financial support. Just send an email to me at djp@donaldjamesparker.com and put 'movie' in the subject line," states Parker. Provide your name, phone number, age, what talents/abilities you possess, or that you want to support the movie financially. He will contact you to arrange auditions, etc.
Parker's books are available on amazon.com for $11; a Kindle version is available for $2.99; or you can order a book from Parker directly at www.donaldjamesparker.com, for $8.
Additional book titles written by Donald James Parker include Against the Twilight, Angels of Interstate 29, Homeless Like Me, Love Waits, Reforming the Potter's Clay, and Silver Wind.
Lifestyles
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Donald James Parker
Parker plans drug/alcohol rehab movie after writing 11 books
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