Same Kind Of Different As MeSpiritual Fact With Spiritual Fiction
I picked up the book Same Kind of Different as Me in a bookstore mainly because of the cover. It appealed to me because of the obvious twist in the title wording, and also because the title is written as if it was printed by a child. I fully expected it to be a book about a child (or children) and honestly thought that it would be a fiction novel. I really need to pay closer attention, as the top byline states New York Times Bestseller and Amazing True Story. I dont regret taking it with me, as it is a very good book in fact I purchased their next book What Difference do it Make? on my next visit to the bookstore, however I have yet to read it.
This book was written by Ron Hall & Denver Moore with Lynn Vincent. The description on the cover reads a modern-day slave, an international art dealer, and the unlikely woman who bound them together. This is the true story of how these three people came into each others lives, and how the resulting friendship, love, compassion and forgiveness changes each of them profoundly. In the title of this article I added with Spiritual Fiction as there are a few instances where you have to believe in spirits. Without concrete proof of these occurrences, I feel that the reader needs a heads up before accepting the entire story as spiritual fact.
Denver Moore is an African-American, the modern-day slave who was raised in the cotton fields in Louisiana in the 1930s and 1940s. Although slavery had long since been abolished, Denver relates that although it wasnt called slavery, black people in that area still worked for white people (who owned the fields) and were slaves in every other sense of the word. Despite being free to move on to wherever they pleased, they were trapped by their lack of education and the inability (or lack of opportunity) to learn how to do anything else. Denver eked out a miserable living for almost fifty years, experiencing family tragedy and what today would amount to being a foster child for most of his childhood.
Ron Hall is the international art dealer and his wife Deborah (Miss Debbie to Denver) is the unlikely woman who bound them together. Although not born wealthy, a series of fortunate events in his career in international art provided them with a very comfortable standard of living. Compared to Denvers hand to mouth existence, the contrast between the two parties and how they interact provides an interesting and thought provoking read.
When Denver is in his 50s, he hops a rail car out of Louisiana and begins a life of homelessness. He drifts from town to town for an extended period of time, and eventually settles in Fort Worth, Texas, although still homeless. Part of Denvers routine is to attend a mission for the homeless in Fort Worth. By attend I mean he shows up to get a meal when one is available and to take any shelter that they could offer. Although it is a Christian Mission, Denver is about as far away from God and religion as a man could possibly be.
Ron and Deborah Hall are invited to volunteer at the Union Gospel Mission. Whether they feel it is their Christian duty, or they are doing it out of a perceived obligation because of their good fortune really makes no difference. They agree to help out and initially start by helping with supper every Tuesday. They encounter the clich of the destitute homeless men (and women), single mothers with their children, alcoholics, drug addicts, drifters you name it and they saw it. Among these people they are trying to help is Denver a large black man with his own addiction problems, anger and an unapproachable demeanor designed purposely to keep people away from him.
Initially, Deborah is the main reason that they continue to help at the mission. Ron is more reluctant, and I imagine that had Deborah decided to quit at any time, Ron would have brought their car around and opened the door for her to get in. This is not a judgment against Ron in any way it takes a great amount of courage and fortitude to work with these people, and not everyone has the strength to persevere. As they become regulars at the mission, they begin to notice Denver is also a regular and eventually Deborah challenges Ron to become his friend.
The book begins with an overview of the lives led by Denver and the Halls prior to their meeting. It is written from the viewpoint of first Denver, and then Ron alternating throughout the book. At first this was a bit confusing, however once I realized the format it was easy to continue and hard to put down. The continuation of their relationship once they meet and the challenges they face coming from two completely different backgrounds is well presented and explained. Added to this are the normal day to day issues that each of us have to face. Ultimately Deborah faces a major health crisis which tests their courage and resolve, yet ultimately cements their friendship and binds them together permanently.
There are a couple of things in the book that cause me to question the events as portrayed. In one instance, Denver is visited by a spirit (I wont say who) and although I believe that he believes, this type of experience sometimes causes people to doubt the rest of the story. In another episode, Ron and Denver encounter an entity in a Louisiana swamp that they claim to have heard, however they do not actually see anything. Again, it is their word and I dont doubt their sincerity however there is no way to prove or disprove these events. In spite of these you can still read this book and come away with a very good feeling of faith, hope, charity and deep spiritual well-being.
I would highly recommend this book for anyone interested in an uplifting, motivational true story. It is well-written and has been researched quite thoroughly to provide as much detail as possible to verify that the facts are presented accurately. An item or addendum that I would have liked to read about was how Denver contributed his side of the story as he is unable to read or write. It was probably as simple as interviewing and recording him, however I would have been interested in how that process evolved. Perhaps it will be included in their next book which I will be reading shortly.
Overall this is an excellent first book and I am looking forward to following their progress in their future endeavors.
Laughter and love,
Rick Fess
Same Kind of Different As Me Authors Ron Hall & Denver Moore with Lynn Vincent
Thomas Nelson www.thomasnelson.com
This book was written by Ron Hall & Denver Moore with Lynn Vincent. The description on the cover reads a modern-day slave, an international art dealer, and the unlikely woman who bound them together. This is the true story of how these three people came into each others lives, and how the resulting friendship, love, compassion and forgiveness changes each of them profoundly. In the title of this article I added with Spiritual Fiction as there are a few instances where you have to believe in spirits. Without concrete proof of these occurrences, I feel that the reader needs a heads up before accepting the entire story as spiritual fact.
Denver Moore is an African-American, the modern-day slave who was raised in the cotton fields in Louisiana in the 1930s and 1940s. Although slavery had long since been abolished, Denver relates that although it wasnt called slavery, black people in that area still worked for white people (who owned the fields) and were slaves in every other sense of the word. Despite being free to move on to wherever they pleased, they were trapped by their lack of education and the inability (or lack of opportunity) to learn how to do anything else. Denver eked out a miserable living for almost fifty years, experiencing family tragedy and what today would amount to being a foster child for most of his childhood.
Ron Hall is the international art dealer and his wife Deborah (Miss Debbie to Denver) is the unlikely woman who bound them together. Although not born wealthy, a series of fortunate events in his career in international art provided them with a very comfortable standard of living. Compared to Denvers hand to mouth existence, the contrast between the two parties and how they interact provides an interesting and thought provoking read.
When Denver is in his 50s, he hops a rail car out of Louisiana and begins a life of homelessness. He drifts from town to town for an extended period of time, and eventually settles in Fort Worth, Texas, although still homeless. Part of Denvers routine is to attend a mission for the homeless in Fort Worth. By attend I mean he shows up to get a meal when one is available and to take any shelter that they could offer. Although it is a Christian Mission, Denver is about as far away from God and religion as a man could possibly be.
Ron and Deborah Hall are invited to volunteer at the Union Gospel Mission. Whether they feel it is their Christian duty, or they are doing it out of a perceived obligation because of their good fortune really makes no difference. They agree to help out and initially start by helping with supper every Tuesday. They encounter the clich of the destitute homeless men (and women), single mothers with their children, alcoholics, drug addicts, drifters you name it and they saw it. Among these people they are trying to help is Denver a large black man with his own addiction problems, anger and an unapproachable demeanor designed purposely to keep people away from him.
Initially, Deborah is the main reason that they continue to help at the mission. Ron is more reluctant, and I imagine that had Deborah decided to quit at any time, Ron would have brought their car around and opened the door for her to get in. This is not a judgment against Ron in any way it takes a great amount of courage and fortitude to work with these people, and not everyone has the strength to persevere. As they become regulars at the mission, they begin to notice Denver is also a regular and eventually Deborah challenges Ron to become his friend.
The book begins with an overview of the lives led by Denver and the Halls prior to their meeting. It is written from the viewpoint of first Denver, and then Ron alternating throughout the book. At first this was a bit confusing, however once I realized the format it was easy to continue and hard to put down. The continuation of their relationship once they meet and the challenges they face coming from two completely different backgrounds is well presented and explained. Added to this are the normal day to day issues that each of us have to face. Ultimately Deborah faces a major health crisis which tests their courage and resolve, yet ultimately cements their friendship and binds them together permanently.
There are a couple of things in the book that cause me to question the events as portrayed. In one instance, Denver is visited by a spirit (I wont say who) and although I believe that he believes, this type of experience sometimes causes people to doubt the rest of the story. In another episode, Ron and Denver encounter an entity in a Louisiana swamp that they claim to have heard, however they do not actually see anything. Again, it is their word and I dont doubt their sincerity however there is no way to prove or disprove these events. In spite of these you can still read this book and come away with a very good feeling of faith, hope, charity and deep spiritual well-being.
I would highly recommend this book for anyone interested in an uplifting, motivational true story. It is well-written and has been researched quite thoroughly to provide as much detail as possible to verify that the facts are presented accurately. An item or addendum that I would have liked to read about was how Denver contributed his side of the story as he is unable to read or write. It was probably as simple as interviewing and recording him, however I would have been interested in how that process evolved. Perhaps it will be included in their next book which I will be reading shortly.
Overall this is an excellent first book and I am looking forward to following their progress in their future endeavors.
Laughter and love,
Rick Fess
Same Kind of Different As Me Authors Ron Hall & Denver Moore with Lynn Vincent
Thomas Nelson www.thomasnelson.com
