Book Review: Same Kind of Different As Me by Ron Hall and Denver Moore with Lynn Vincent

I received this book to review from Thomas Nelson publishers and I have to say that this is by far the best book I have reviewed since joining Booksneeze.  Thank you so much to Thomas Nelson for the honor.  This is my opinion.  I have not been paid for this review.

Book Description:

In this unforgettable story, we are first introduced to Denver, an uneducated black man living in poverty as a modern day slave.  The essence of his life is back breaking labor, unimaginable poverty, prejudice, and hopeless for anything better.  After finally escaping in a train boxcar, he spends the next 18 years of his life homeless.  To survive street life, he becomes hard and cruel.  But in his heart, Denver was storing a treasure of wisdom that God would later use in his life.  We are also introduced to Ron Hall, a wealthy art dealer who although a christian had no desire to be around homeless people.  He preferred a lifestyle of  luxary cars, large houses, and designer clothes.  However Ron's wife Deborah was listening, praying, and obeying God as He linked all of their lives together in a story only God could write full of redemption, repentance, and amazing grace. 

 

 

I could not put this book down.  And when I did put it down, I was still thinking about it.  Denver's story was heartbreaking.  And I found it would have been really easy to judge Ron for his prejudice and lack of compassion.  Deborah was inspiring.  

 

 As I thought about the book I realized that those who are christians are much like all three:  Denver, Ron, and Deborah.  We are all slaves to sin until we are redeemed and then we sometimes still have areas where we are in chains.  We all have the capacity for sin and sometimes the depths of our own depravity repulses us when it surfaces.  And lastly we all have the ability to walk with God and follow Him closely. 

 

I am thankful that Denver and Ron shared their stories with the world.  I am deeply moved.