Monday, December 20, 2010

The Damascus Way by Davis Bunn and Janette Oke - Reviewed


About the Book: (from the publisher)
The fledgling church is being scattered by persecution.•
It is spearheaded by a fanatical young Pharisee who does not realize he is unwittingly aiding a divine mandate to spread the truth "unto the ends of the earth..."


Young Julia has everything money can buy—except for acceptance by either Gentiles or Judeans in Tiberias. When she discovers the secret her beloved Greek father has kept all these years, she is devastated. Julia and her Hebrew mother are indeed less than second-class citizens. Her future is dark with clouds of uncertainty.


Jacob, Abigail's brother, is now a young man attempting to find his own place among the community of believers. Does it mean trading away the exhilaration and adventure of his current profession as a caravan guard? Hired by Julia's father to protect a wealthy merchant's caravans on the secretive "Frankincense Trail," Jacob also reluctantly takes on the perilous responsibility of passing letters and messages between communities of believers now dispersed across the land. He is alarmed to discover that Julia, hardly more than a girl, is also a courier. Can their initial mistrust be put aside to accomplish their mission?


An earthshaking encounter on the way to Damascus has repercussions far beyond the lives of Julia and Jacob.

My Thoughts:

Once again I have been transported back in time to the land of Jerusalem, Tiberius and Damascus. I have met Julia and her heartbroken mother as they anxiously await the arrival of Julia’s father, Jamal as he visits between caravan routes. The Damascus Way takes the reader deep into the heart of the ancient trade routes and the dangers, risks and vigilant lifestyle of those who spend their lives transporting valuable trade goods throughout the ancient Middle East. Alongside the merchant trade routes and all of its mystery, danger and adventure, the readers also experience anew the persecution of the early church. As the followers of The Way increase in number after Jesus’ resurrection, the Temple guards and Roman soldiers become ever more intent on destroying this threat to their power. Leading the persecution efforts is none other than Saul.


My heart alternately soared and ached as I lived life alongside the early believers. Julia, Zoe, Abigail, Jacob, and Linux are but a few of the characters that you will spend time with during this very special time in history. The followers of Christ are busy transforming lives, performing miracles and growing the early church as they try to meet together in safety. Couriers operate in stealth among the followers to make sure that the Word of God is spread to everyone regardless of ethnic or social background. Truly, Christ’s ministry transformed the world in miraculous ways!


Truly, much is to be learned as we are called to remember the persecution of the early church and the work of the apostles and early disciples. The Acts of Faith series is one of the most powerful and special biblical history series I’ve ever read, and I can’t begin to recommend it highly enough!!



You can read my reviews of the first two books in this fabulous series by clicking on the links below:
The Hidden Flame
The Centurion's Wife


About the Authors:
Davis Bunn is an award-winning novelist whose audience spans reading genres from high drama and action thrillers to heartwarming relationship stories, in both contemporary and historical settings. He and his wife, Isabella, make their home in Florida for some of each year, and spend the rest near Oxford, England, where they each teach and write. Visit Davis' Web site at www.davisbunn.com

Janette Oke (pronounced "oak") pioneered inspirational fiction and is the leading author in the category today. Love Comes Softly, her first novel, has sold over one million copies. Janette is now the bestselling author of over 70 books, 32 of which have been translated into fourteen languages. Her books have sold over 22 million copies.


Janette receives fan mail from all over the world and answers each letter personally. She received the 1992 President's Award from the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association for her significant contribution to Christian fiction, the 1999 CBA Life Impact Award and has been awarded the Gold Medallion Award for fiction. Janette and her husband, Edward, have four grown children and enjoy their many grandchildren. They make their home in Canada.

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