Jesus, My Father, the CIA, And Me - Book Review and Free Give Away

ADD THIS BOOK TO YOUR SUMMER READING LIST!

Skimming across my book choices, this title caught my eye. The content of the book; however, involves a slightly more difficult topic than what one might expect in a "memoir".

Mr. Cron presents a wonderfully witty and laugh-out-loud version of his life...Actually, this is only partly true. Though I did thoroughly enjoy his writing (...and I did laugh out loud at parts), Mr Cron touched my heart with his story.

He starts in his youth, creating a good base for understanding why he did what he did and what lessons he learned along the way. His father, being a significant influence to his choices, offered some wise advice: "Don't write checks against your life that you can't cover." (Good words to heed.)

Delving into the author's struggles, he reflects:

"There were kids in the Bowdoin Fellowship who were C.S.Lewis and Josh McDowell addicts, eager to develop a rational case for the faith so they could defend it against the intellectual objections of pagan professors. I wanted to fit in with them and enjoy discussing apologetics, but it was thin gruel to me. I didn't want to parse God--I wanted to be swept up in his glory. I didn't want to understand the Holy One; I wanted to be consumed in his oceanic love. I yearned for heaven, and as long as it remained beyond my reach, my life was tinged with disappointment.
      How could I know that my growing attachement to drinking was nothing more than a displaced longing for this kind of ecstatic experience of God?
      Besides, what would I have done differently if I'd known? I would have tried to figure out a way to have both Spirit and spirits. How else can I explain a twenty-year-old trying to swim in the depths of God, while clutching a glass of Scotch over his head?"

 From innocent childhood memories to not-so-innocent memories, Mr. Cron allows the reader into a world that many (many) people can relate to and how he managed to navigate through it with, and seemingly without, God.

Jesus, My Father, the CIA, And Me...A Memoir of Sorts by Ian Morgan Cron would be a great addition to your library...And, if you would like a free copy, I have one to give away. Please leave a comment describing your dad - in one word for a chance to win this copy. I will be sending out this book August 1st.

"Jesus, My Father, the CIA, And Me...A Memoir of Sorts has been provided courtesy of Thomas Nelson and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Thomas Nelson".

"Bastard!"

When the father looked at the son, he was angry and ready to release a string of hurtful profanities to put the arrogant little bastard in his place. "Bastard! Yes! ...That offspring cannot be mine."

Never will you ever hear those words from our Father in heaven. When you turn to Him, even after you have strayed from the faith, rebelled, and/or turned away from your Father's advice; He will receive you - with love.

The story of the prodigal son exemplifies this:

Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’“But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

“Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’ “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’ “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”
Luke 15:11-32