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What Difference Do It Make?: Stories of Hope and Healing
| Our Price |
£ 9.34
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| Retail Value |
£ 10.99 |
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£ 1.65 (15%) |
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| Item Number |
605885 |
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Available on the Internet only.
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Item description for What Difference Do It Make?: Stories of Hope and Healing by Ron Hall, Denver Moore & Lynn Vincent...
Overview
The authors of the New York Times best seller Same Kind of Different as Me offer new reflections and stories of hope and healing, covering such topics as faith, friendship, community outreach, and much more. Original.
Publishers Description
New thoughts and reflections from the authors of the inspirational New York Times bestseller Same Kind of Different as Me. The more than four hundred thousand readers stirred by the story of Ron Hall and Denver Moore will resonate with the all new, stand-alone true stories of hope and healing offered in this intimate, authentic follow-up to the New York Times bestseller Same Kind of Different as Me. With new "Denverisms" and reflections from Denver on his personal dealings with homelessness and disrespect from others, additional insights from Ron on what we can learn from people not like us and from those dealing with a terminal illness, and the stories of readers who have been impacted by the book's central themes, this inspirational reader will generate a host of new fans. Topics include: - Faith and friendship
- Racial reconciliation
- Community outreach
- Compassion
- Healing
Book also includes for the first time samples of Denver's paintings. |
Item Specifications...
Studio: Thomas Nelson
Pages 203
Dimensions: Length: 0.75" Width: 5.75" Height: 8"
Weight: 0.75 lbs.
Binding Hardcover
Release Date Sep 1, 2009
Publisher Thomas Nelson
ISBN 0849920191
ISBN13 9780849920196
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Availability 27 units.
Availability accurate as of May 23, 2012 09:06.
Usually ships within one to two business days from Carlisle, UK.
Orders shipping to an address other than a confirmed Credit Card / Paypal Billing address may incur and additional processing delay.
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More About Ron Hall, Denver Moore & Lynn Vincent
Product Categories
Christian Product Categories
Books > Christian Living > Spiritual Growth > General
Books > Inspiration > Motivation > General
Reviews - What do customers think about What Difference Do It Make??
 | VERY good ideology; a bit lacking on the literature Jan 29, 2010 |
This is one of those products that's hard to review, because the ideology is superb and it represents an incredible achievement, but as a book itself there are a few quirks that are hard to overlook. WDDIM is a series of brief snippets written by various people associated with the homeless relief efforts of the previous "Same Kind of Different as Me." Each soliloquy is distinct--there is no connection between chapters, and no plotline tying it together. Approach it as a collage of journal entries, and you'll "get" the book better.
As literature, I have to agree with other reviews that it does seem a bit rushed; occasional typos and an unexplained accumulation of tales relating to people who are not primary characters and have no familiarity to the reader are two examples. But setting aside the notion of a "book review," one cannot deny that there is a real authenticity about the work. It is innocent, heartfelt, and has no hints of being about money, fame, or celebrity sensation. I've been worried about the effects of this fame on Denver, the iconic "old Black folk prophet" that so many books, films, and TV shows love to create, but it seems he is able to remain pure in heart through it all. Perhaps Denver is a bit TOO romanticized at times; he is never found saying anything that's not saturated with "folklore wisdom," like the Morgan Freeman or the Kicking Bird ("Dances with Wolves") characters who are just charming with their heart-warming simple profundity. But all of that aside, it's clear that the author, Ron, adores Denver with a true and humble affection and respect, and that the product of this bond is the astonishing progress made in helping--not merely "blessing"--the homeless in Fort Worth, Texas.
I think the book offers an interesting challenge. It will certainly become a darling shelf artifact of many, including those considered religious, wealthy, celebrity, or simply eager for a real tale of humanity. But that becomes the conundrum; even owning this book becomes a dangerous challenge to the reader: Okay, you adore the book. You gave it 5 stars on this site. You hope Oprah has Ron and Denver on her show. You've recommended it to your friends as a "wonderful" book. But what has it obligated you to DO to respond to the homeless? Denver writes in the book that merely studying good ideas isn't enough; he wants to know where people DO God's work. So it's not enough that we readers review the book; this book reviews US in return. I place this book alongside "This Flowing Toward Me" as one of those rare gems of writing that, flaws aside, asks the reader to act in response, not merely consider and recommend the good ideas they've sentimentally read within. | | |  | This book is DEFINITELY worth reading!!! Jan 21, 2010 |
| I honestly had no clue what this book was about when I requested it on the Vine program but I consider it a true GEM. A real gift to regular people, like me to open my eyes and provide insight and a different perspective to what others need and the various roads that possibly got them to where they are. I knew someone in my life previously who was both an alcoholic and drug addict who literally drained everyone around him. He eventually died as a result of his disease so I have to say after being drained myself from this person, I had a biased opinion of people on the streets who drink and do drugs and this book allowed me a different perspective and served as a great reminder to not pass judgement so quickly on another person. We can't ever assume what circumstances they are faced with and what it took to get them to where they are. I highly recommend this book and have recently purchased their first book. | | |  | A Cutesy, Tangled Follow-Up Jan 20, 2010 |
Those who read this review will need to separate two things:
A. Their feelings for the authors and their personal story. ~and~ B. The way this book is written and presented.
If readers can do this, a much better understanding of this review will result.
I have nothing against the people who put this book together or what religious message they are trying to present. The book, as far as it's intended content, is a would-be collection of feel-good homilies that speak about forgiveness and redemption, God's plan for them, the power of prayer and more. Nice stuff, all in all. However, I am torn between wanting to be polite (because it's a story of forgiveness and redemption, etc.) and wanting to basically take the authors to task. Why? Because "What Difference" is a tangled, self-congratulatory follow-up that seems like a cheap "gimme" to squeeze more money out of their first book's concept.
The writing is brief and poorly worded when Ron speaks and even more horrid when Denver does. Though we're supposed to realize Denver is a black man, do we also have to experience his street-cred ebonics, complete with the worst in "sho' 'nuff" stylings? I'm not sure who is insulted more, Denver, black people in general or anyone who reads this book. I think this approach was totally unnecessary.
Format-wise, this book suffers. The "vignettes" of other people are interspersed throughout on "parchment" pages (a gray rectangle resembling an old manuscript) and it's a stretch to make them line up with the rest of the book, especially when the font size is almost too small to read. I started to skim them halfway through the book, they just didn't seem to matter as much as the rest. And the presentation is too "cute" to be taken seriously.
On a personal note, one has to question the ethics of someone who is trying to spread a message of hope, yet gives his alcoholic father booze in order to win his affections. One can only wonder what AA would have to say about it.
This was not a book I enjoyed. It seemed like some kind of fiction wrought as reality and instead of giving me hope, it left me somewhat tired and bored.
| | | | Stories of Hope and Healing.. make a difference Jan 16, 2010 |
| I enjoyed this book it was a quick read with many stories in helping the homeless (not a handout per say) its foundation is basic.. help mankind where you can,.. be a humble servant with a giving heart and beyond it all love God. The stories are moving and sweet and the book would also make a great gift as well. It is hard to pin down just one so grab a cup of your favorite beverage sit in your favorite spot and let the stories grab your heart where they will.. | | |  | Trudged through it Jan 11, 2010 |
| Like others on here are saying-I wanted to like this book. I really felt like I should. What isn't to like about feel good stories about God, love, reconciliation, changed lives, and giving? It just didn't grab me. It's taken me forever to make it through what should've been a short read. There didn't seem to be any sort of connection to the stories and there was nothing to compel me to keep reading. This might be a book that I'd read a story from here or there when I was looking for something short or uplifting. | | | Write your own review about What Difference Do It Make?
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