These books cover areas of life other than chronic illnesses. We have read and especially enjoyed these books. We hope you do, too.
Same Kind of Different by Ron Hall and Denver Moore
A modern-day slave, an international art dealer, and the unlikely woman who bound them together. Such reads the tag-line for this book: Same Kind of Different As Me by Ron Hall and Denver Moore
Ron Hall is the eminently successful, millionaire art dealer, Denver Moore the modern-day slave, and Deborah, Ron’s wife, the woman who drew them together. The base of action is a Dallas-area homeless community.
Denver started life in Louisiana in a sharecropping family in the early 1930s. He relates horrendous details about that life. The conditions of that life were appalling; the sharecroppers’ plight truly was akin to slavery. Denver escaped in the early1960s, hopping a freight train, ending up in Dallas. But, as an illiterate, unskilled African American, he had little hope of gainful employment and wound up homeless.
Deborah had a heart for homeless people. She served food at the mission and branched out to help in other areas, earning respect and love from many, both the homeless and volunteers. At first, she had to compel Ron to work with her.
God sent her a vision about the homeless man, Denver, who was not a nice man. After Ron met Denver, their relationship gradually developed into a deep and abiding friendship.
Along the way, Deborah contracted terminal cancer. By this time, Ron, Debbie, and Denver had become close friends. Ron and Denver share their emotions journeying with her through this awful storm.
Some quotes to think about
Can a good and powerful God allow suffering?
C.S. Lewis says, “The tortures occur. If they are unnecessary, then there is no God, or a bad one. If there is a good God, then these tortures are necessary for no even moderately good Being could possibly inflict or permit them if they weren’t.” (p. 230)
Dealing with lack of healing:
“And I cannot mask my profound disappointment that God did not answer yes to our prayers for healing. I think He’s okay with that. One of the phrases we evangelicals like to throw around is that Christianity is ‘not a religion; it’s a relationship.’ I believe that, which is why I know that when my faith was shattered and I raged against Him, He still accepted me. And even though I have penciled a black mark in His column, I can be honest about it. That’s what a relationship is all about.” (p. 230)
A fascinating read about homelessness. If you’d like more information about homelessness and how you can help, check out the sequel, What Difference Do It Make?
Same Kind of Different As Me and What Difference Do It Make? are available at Amazon.