On the surface, nothing seems to change in this dull town-yet God always works beneath the surface. As a child, Ruthie was shunned by the local congregation after a scandal involving her parents.
Thirteen years later, her interest in an attractive single minister is bitterly opposed - unearthing a string of secrets which threaten to turn the church, the town, and her world upside down.
Plunging deep into the waters of shame, forgiveness, and restoration, Varina Denman's contemporary novel will resonate with every woman who's experienced a loss of heart...and a thirst for hope.
My Thoughts:
“We simply think our young man ought to spend
more time with those inside the church than those outside. No matter who they are.” (p. 285)
“God is capable of forgiving the darkest
sins, and He expects us to do the same.”
(p. 390)
Varina
Dneman’s debut novel, Jaded, could have been taken from my own life
story. These opening quotes sum up the
vast ocean that divides congregations – small or large – when the spirit of
religion takes the place of a heart of forgiveness. It is little wonder Ruthie and her family
have little to do with the church who practically labeled them unclean and
shoved them to the outer reaches of the town’s community. It is also little wonder that Ruthie and her
family are immediately skeptical of the new pastor and his rather
non-traditional family. Finally, it is
very little wonder that the town of Trapp isn’t prepared for what the love of
God can unleash in the hearts of people who are thirsty for the love and
forgiveness that only God can bring about in the hearts of this very Jaded community.
The
unforgiving, judgmental hearts of the people of Trapp have taken refuge in the
lie of the enemy and believed that they have only the best intentions for the
people of the town. The truth is, they
are just trying to cover their own sin be crucifying one of their own when the
opportunity presents itself. They will
do almost anything to keep their secrets, including firing the new preacher
when they begin to witness the powerful transformation that forgiveness begins
to bring about in the lives of some of their most jaded town members.
I’ve seen
this entire fictional tale lived out in bold color a few times in my almost 48
years on this earth. I’ve seen families –
both blood related and spiritually birthed – torn to bits by those who allow the
spirit of religion to reign in their hearts.
I’ve also seen the transformational power of God’s love and forgiveness
mend those broken hearts. Not without a
great cost, but the healing does come in time.
This is a beautiful story that captures all of the nuances of a small
town and the intricacies requires to untangle the mess that has bound the
residents of Trapp for decades.
It’s time to
walk in the freedom of forgiveness, dear readers. Won’t you join Ruthie on her journey? A thought-provoking, well-written story that
I recommend for those who want to be transformed by the love of Christ.
About the Author:
Varina Denman writes stories about the unique struggles women face. She teaches creative writing and literature, volunteers in her local cooperative, and is a home educator to her five children. She resides with her family in North Texas. This is her first novel.
No comments:
Post a Comment