A Unique Retelling of the Gospel Stories
Christian fiction author Steve Hammond’s Rock Johnson Stories are a reimagining of different Gospel stories in a New England setting. These tales feature Maine Messiah Joshua, or Josh for short, a Jesus Christ hailing from the Pine Tree State. Learn more about Steve’s fresh and humorous take on many Gospel stories.
The Humble Beginnings of the Premise for Rock Johnson Tales
It all started when Steve was a fresh seminary graduate preparing a Sunday School lesson from John 1:35–42. The passage was simply about Simon Bar-Jonah, or son of John, being brought by his brother Andrew to meet Jesus and where Jesus immediately gives Simon the nickname: "Peter," which means stone or rock.
A number of details came togehter in Steve’s mind and hit him with this realization: Simon Peter could be the proverbial Down-East fisherman. First off, he's obviously a fisherman; secondly, fishermen love nicknames and Rock is a good one; thirdly, both a man from Galilee and a man from the coast of Maine might well talk with a distinct accent. And, last but not least, a true rendering of Rock's last name would be Johnson. This would put him in good company with nearly half of the founding families of Bailey Island, in Casco Bay, Maine, where the author places many of the stories. (Four out of ten founding families on Bailey Island were Johnsons.) With this, Rock Johnson was born.
A number of details came togehter in Steve’s mind and hit him with this realization: Simon Peter could be the proverbial Down-East fisherman. First off, he's obviously a fisherman; secondly, fishermen love nicknames and Rock is a good one; thirdly, both a man from Galilee and a man from the coast of Maine might well talk with a distinct accent. And, last but not least, a true rendering of Rock's last name would be Johnson. This would put him in good company with nearly half of the founding families of Bailey Island, in Casco Bay, Maine, where the author places many of the stories. (Four out of ten founding families on Bailey Island were Johnsons.) With this, Rock Johnson was born.
The Very First Rock Johnson Story
So, in 1984, Steve reimagined the apostle Peter in John 1:35–42 as being Rock Johnson and crafted a four-minute tale from this Maine fisherman’s perspective of that introductory story. But instead of it being set in the Middle East, he set it in Down East, Maine.
Steve then told this story to his Sunday School class, using a Marshal Dodge imitation along with familiar, local references to get into the passage being studied. His unique adaptation of the Bible’s story helped give the sense of it being not so far away and not so long ago. It also served to remind everyone that God sent His Son to walk among ordinary, down to earth people.
Steve's Wicked Writer’s Block
For some reason, Steve’s first Rock Johnson story was almost his last. He tried to write another one, but something just wasn't the same. So, he would simply tell this one tale every once in a while for special occasions. Years later, on one of those occasions, while living and serving in New Hampshire, a fellow pastor heard the story and invited him to speak at their church despite the short length of the tale to be shared.
This opportunity inspired Steve to write a few more Rock Johnson tales that showcase a Maine Jesus undertaking his ministry in the Down East instead of the Middle East. All the stories went over very well. After that the door was opened for more and more stories to come.
The Let Me Tell Ya Project
Overall, this has been a long project in the making. Aside from reciting the Rock Johnson tales live, Steve also made two storytelling CDs about them. He then decided to put everything in a book to tell the Gospels' overall story with cohesive consistency. However, translating his storytelling magic from an engaging performance you hear into captivating words you read was a challenging endeavor. It's not necessarily easy to translate Jesus from the Middle East to Down East. Yet, isn't that akin to what preachers of the Gospel are called to do, in one way or another, in taking Him to the ends of the earth? The result, in this case, was Let Me Tell Ya: Stories of the Maine Messiah, a humorous, tongue-in-cheek, yet serious and endearing book containing Steve's many Rock Johnson tales.
Steve’s Hope for the Readers
While the book has forced retelling of names, geography, and mirror-imaged miracles from the Bible’s Gospel stories, the Rock Johnson tales aim to highlight the spirit of Gospel truths intended for all the world — even the ends of Maine. Steve hopes to deliver you a fresh take on the true story of Jesus, igniting a sense of wonder within readers about the Messiah who walked the earth with real fishermen, real tax collectors, and other ordinary people. And for those who have heard Steve's presentations in part, this book will be a great way to gain the greater story from end to end.
To order...
As of 11/11/24 a number of typos have been fixed, as well as some improvements in texts. The paperback also is available. If you click on the "Buy Now" button it will take you to the paperback. That price should be $15.50. The hardcover is very well done, but about $10 more.