Same Kind of Different As Me: A Modern-Day Slave, an International Art Dealer, and the Unlikely Woman Who Bound Them Together by Ron Hall, Denver Moore Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Same Kind of Different As Me: A Modern-Day Slave, an International Art Dealer, and the Unlikely Woman Who Bound Them Together
Book Review: Inspiring
Summary: 5 Stars
Wow. This was a powerful story on so many levels. It challenged me in my perceptions of people. It also convicted me about "catch and release" friendships. In ministry it is easy to view relationships as a means to share the gospel rather than a lifelong committment to a person. I don't think this is always wrong per-say, you can't be all things to everyone, but maybe God wants to do something more in both my life and the life of someone else. It is a powerful idea to start of thinking of truly loving and learning to trust to the point of becoming "family" with someone who is so much "the same kind of different" as me. I would highly recommend this book!Book Review: Get out the tissues!
Summary: 4 Stars
Ron's wife, Debbie Hall was a woman called of God to step outside the boundaries of $1000 per plate charity dinners and high society to take follow in Christ's steps and take His love to "the least of these". Devoting herself to working with the homeless community of Forth Worth, Texas, she related to those she met as individuals and people with a purpose, loving them for who they were.
This flowing, authentic love was much more difficult for her husband Ron Hall to grasp hold of. Coerced into joining his wife's ministering efforts, his initial attempts were stilted. Focused more upon assuaging guilt and generating a warm, fuzzy sense of do-gooding, it was only when his friendship with Denver Moore blossomed that he experienced the depths of true compassion.
Raised in informal, modern-day slavery, Moore worked hard growing and picking cotton until some time in his late twenties when he left the only life he knew in search of a better one. The new life he found resulted in thirty years on the streets, homeless and without work. Over these years he became angry, his heart hardened and he slipped into darkness.
When God placed the Halls in his life he resisted their tapping at his heart. Survival skills learned from years on the streets launched his automatic defense system. Through prayer, persistence and love the lives of these three individuals would weave a new story that would inspire and touch the lives of thousands.
While God's importance in this work is never minimized, no clear presentation of the gospel is present. There are also some experiences related that some readers might feel uncomfortable with; spirit visitations and visions are clearly a part of who Denver Moore is and his understanding of God. While these may appear as superstitious to many, it's likely that these beliefs are common to those with Denver's upbringing.
That being said, books like these aren't read to inform your theological position. Read it to see the joy and fruit of being Jesus' hands and feet in this world. Read it to learn about striving to serve Him with love and spreading that love to those who have fallen through the cracks. Read it to experience the deep love between a husband and wife, the power of God to soften and change hearts and His ability to take grief and use it as a seed that will grow, flower and touch the lives of many. A beautiful story that warms and wrenches the heart; you'll want tissues on hand for this one.
When asked if they had any additional thoughts on the book the authors responded:
"Ron: Most of our thoughts were included and the book was never meant to be a self-help or instructional book. Ours is merely a story about how a Godly woman with a dream followed it to the point where a city was changed. Denver and I are not preachers or teachers, but sinners with a story to tell.
Denver: I didn't have any thoughts for this book, I just told my story. I just want to encourage folks to be more like Miss Debbie."
I'd say that about sums it up.
Book Review: Powerful story of friendship and faith
Summary: 5 Stars
Same Kind of Different as Me by Ron Hall and Denver Moore is a different kind of love story. Two men, who couldn't be more different, are brought together by their love for one woman who has a powerful love for God. Ron Hall is a successful art dealer in Dallas, Texas when his wife, Deborah, hears a message from God to serve the homeless in a dilapidated shelter. He goes along with his wife, only for love of her. But when Deborah tells him that she has seen a vision of a man who will change the city with his wisdom, and that the man is Denver, one of the biggest, most frightening men in the shelter, Ron struggles to believe as well. Through Deborah, the two men become friends, of the forever kind, and God will use that friendship to change the city. This nonfiction tale of friendship is wonderfully written in alternately chapters in Ron and Denver's voices. Denver, who was a sharecropper in Louisiana, never learned to read or write, but has a deep sense of right and wrong, and he manages to teach Ron and Deborah both what true Christianity means. This is the kind of book that makes you long to have a deeper relationship with God so that you can see miracles the way these two men have. Denver says, "I'm just a nobody tryin' to tell everybody about the Somebody who can save everybody." Amen!Book Review: Two worlds collide...
Summary: 4 Stars
What a beautiful true story that transcends two worlds and brings us to the place where we are all the same - people made in the image of God. I was moved to tears more than once, I smiled, laughed and cringed as I read through this amazing tale. In one way it was shocking to see that in my lifetime there have been people living in the conditions of one man while others are living in the "lap of luxury". But not only did God have to bring them from two extremes and bring them together, but then a sad event unites them. This is a touching story that has pearls of wisdom and spiritual insight wrapped in a covering of a story that will keep you turning the pages for more. Highly recommended!Book Review: Wonderful inspiring story
Summary: 5 Stars
This book was chosen by my book club as I had never heard of, or have seen this book before. The story is about a homeless man and his relationship with an art dealer and his wife. It is told from both men's point of view and very inspiring. It opened my eyes to the prejudices of homelessness from both sides that we deal with every day. And it opens up our ideas of blessings and what is truly important in our lives. I highly recommend this book to everyone. It is also a wonderful book to discuss and you will think about this for a long time.