Blog Archives
The Invisible Soul: Rise Up
George W. Beasley’s The Invisible Soul: Rise Up, in its second edition, is a Christian memoir about childhood abuse, concealed emotional suffering, and the relationships through which he comes to understand healing. Beasley traces his life from a violent home and placements in children’s homes to marriage, fatherhood, and ministry. The title names the private world of fear, guilt, and condemnation that persists beneath an outwardly capable, cheerful identity. He captures that division in a sentence that gives the book much of its emotional clarity: “A smile was a mask, a laugh was a cry and a hug was a separation from all truth.” His account examines how a person can build a loving family and serve others while continuing to carry experiences he’s scarcely able to describe.
The second edition’s inclusion of court and social-service records adds a valuable documentary dimension. These reports show a child seeking acceptance, struggling with his circumstances, and gradually responding to adults who invest time in him. Read alongside Beasley’s memories, they give readers two perspectives on the same boy: the observations recorded by professionals and the fear he remembers living through. His descriptions of confinement, hunger, and violence are explicit, and their cumulative effect establishes the severity of the childhood he survived. Equally significant is his recognition of the counselors, house parents, and friends who offered stability. The book’s attention to these people gives its account of recovery substance, showing how practical care and sustained involvement become part of a life long before their significance is fully understood.
The narrative becomes especially engaging when water skiing connects Beasley’s family life with his work for In His Wakes. What begins as a source of pleasure and temporary relief develops into a ministry that brings him into contact with children whose expressions and stories recall his own. These encounters make the book’s recurring images of mirrors and reflections concrete: he recognizes his hidden pain through other people. The movement between exhilaration on the water, difficult conversations, and exhaustion after ministry events gives this section emotional complexity. His wife, Lisa, provides continuity throughout, offering affection and a place where he can speak and grieve. Beasley’s growing willingness to tell his story, together with the support of his family and ministry colleagues, makes healing a process readers can follow through specific relationships and events.
Beasley writes with the directness of spoken testimony, frequently addressing readers and interpreting his experiences through passages from The Message. That approach creates intimacy and makes his evangelical purpose clear. Repeated lists of painful emotions and frequent assurances of victory sometimes slow the narrative; the strongest passages allow a scene or conversation to carry the meaning. His firm convictions about divine sovereignty and healing also shape the book’s appeal, particularly for readers who share his Christian framework. Its concluding emphasis on humility, trust, and forgiveness gathers the personal history into an invitation to live differently. “You can never forget, but you can forgive,” he writes, expressing a distinction central to his understanding of recovery. The Invisible Soul offers a candid account of the lasting effects of abuse and a deeply personal interpretation of how faith, love, and service can reshape a survivor’s relationship with his past.
Pages: 118 | ASIN : B094YWMN54
Intervention in Church Conflict
Dorothy R. Dann’s Intervention in Church Conflict is a practical theological case study of congregational healing. Adapted from her Doctor of Ministry project, the book recounts Dann’s appointment to a divided church and her development of an intervention model combining family systems theory, narrative therapy, pastoral care, and biblical reflection. Its central premise is that a congregation should be understood as a living network of relationships rather than a collection of isolated individuals. Accordingly, conflict becomes a systemic condition shaped by history, anxiety, leadership patterns, and the stories members tell about their common life. Dann’s stated goal is to help congregations develop internal resources that can stabilize their relationships and support a healthier future.
The book’s strongest contribution is its integration of theory with a detailed account of ministry practice. Dann draws from writers such as Peter Steinke, Edwin Friedman, Ronald Richardson, Michael Nichols, Richard Schwartz, Paul Stevens, and Phil Collins, but she consistently translates their ideas into congregational terms. Concepts such as self-differentiation, emotional systems, shared leadership, and preferred narratives become concrete through listening sessions, leadership development, Bible study, planning exercises, and a weekend retreat. Her emphasis on “wholeness, not oneness” captures the model’s respect for difference within a connected community. Rather than seeking forced agreement, the intervention helps members recognize their distinct gifts, accept shared responsibility, and recover a common sense of mission.
Dann’s narrative of the leadership retreat gives the book much of its practical value. Participants examined the congregation’s history, assessed existing ministries, identified strengths, and began constructing a more hopeful account of their future. The process encouraged leaders to separate the church’s identity from its conflict-saturated story. One participant observed, “We realized that we were far better off than we had originally thought,” a statement that illustrates the intervention’s central movement from discouragement toward recognition of existing capacity. The reported results include better-attended meetings, clearer priorities, renewed lay leadership, expanded youth and adult ministries, greater openness in discussion, and increased confidence in the congregation’s mission. These outcomes make the book useful as both a ministry narrative and an adaptable resource for organizational leaders.
The book’s academic origins remain visible in its repeated explanations, extensive summaries of supporting authors, and careful documentation of the project’s stages. This structure gives readers a transparent view of how the intervention was conceived, implemented, and evaluated. The final model gathers the book’s insights into a sequence of practices: create safety, remain present and nonreactive, listen for systemic patterns, make room for a preferred story, support transformation, record appropriate plans, and equip laypeople for mission. Dann’s most persuasive insight is that constructive change begins when leaders shift attention from blame to responsibility, motivation, and available strengths. Intervention in Church Conflict is therefore a thoughtful professional resource for pastors, counselors, mediators, and church leaders who want to understand conflict as a relational reality and guide communities toward renewed purpose.
Pages: 97 | ASIN : B0CW1L7FG2
Intervention in Church Conflict
In Intervention in Church Conflict, Dorothy R. Dann shares her personal and professional journey of navigating congregational conflict using a blend of narrative therapy and family systems theory. Rooted in her doctoral work and lived pastoral experience, the book recounts how she developed and applied a model for healing a divided church community. Through a series of phases, listening, externalizing, deconstructing, and rewriting, the intervention unfolds with theological grounding, leadership development, and a commitment to wholeness. The book is part memoir, part field guide, and part theological reflection.
This book was a surprisingly emotional experience for me. I expected an academic treatment, something heavy with theory and light on humanity. But Dann writes with a raw honesty that caught me off guard. Her vulnerability and deep compassion for the congregation she served shine through every page. I could feel her struggle to hold steady as a new pastor, tasked with helping a broken community rediscover itself. The writing is accessible, even when she’s discussing dense theoretical concepts. What really struck me was her belief that healing begins with storytelling, not fixing, not diagnosing, but listening. That resonated with me. It reminded me that leadership isn’t about having the answers but about being present in the hard moments.
Some chapters, particularly those summarizing academic sources, felt like detours from the gripping story of the actual church intervention. I found myself craving more narrative and fewer summaries of systems theory. Still, the theory has its place, and I get why she included it. For a pastor or counselor walking into their own conflict zone, those resources might be lifelines. The blend of scholarship and heart is ultimately what gives the book its depth. I just wished for more moments where the personal story took center stage, because when it did, it sang.
I’d wholeheartedly recommend this book to pastors, seminarians, church leaders, and anyone trying to navigate messy group dynamics, whether in faith communities or elsewhere. It’s especially valuable for those who feel in over their heads but want to walk with integrity and love through tough seasons. This book doesn’t offer quick fixes. It’s not a how-to manual with step-by-step guarantees. But what it does offer is wisdom, humility, and hope, and sometimes that’s exactly what you need when all you see is conflict.
Pages: 97 | ASIN : B0CW1L7FG2
Washing The Inside Of The Cup
Cheryl Lynn’s Washing the Inside of the Cup is a heartfelt, faith-driven memoir chronicling her spiritual transformation from a life scarred by emotional and spiritual abuse to one rooted in unshakeable peace through total surrender to God. Through deeply personal stories, scripture, and divine encounters, Lynn walks readers through the trials she endured, the grace she embraced, and the vision she ultimately received. Her central message is clear: a life wholly committed to the Lord—mind, body, and spirit—can be one of supernatural peace, clarity, and divine intimacy.
What struck me most about this book was its raw honesty. The account of her abusive marriage is especially poignant. Her decision to surrender her whole heart to God—not merely attend church or read the Bible, but to give herself completely—marks a powerful turning point in the book.
But the most unforgettable part, by far, was her vision of Jesus. She describes being surrounded by blessings and then hearing the Lord speak behind her: “Remember, your eyes belong to me, not on the blessings.” That moment was so vivid. Her description of falling to her knees in awe—unable to even look at Him—transcends the page.
While I enjoyed the memoir, the writing can feel repetitive at times, and the pace occasionally drifts, especially when recounting numerous personal miracles. But these are easy to overlook in light of Lynn’s sincerity. Her voice is clear and kind. She’s not preaching at you—she’s talking to you, like a big sister who’s been through fire and came out glowing with grace.
I would recommend Washing the Inside of the Cup to anyone walking through pain, especially Christian women facing spiritual exhaustion or abuse. It’s also a beautiful guide for anyone curious about what it means to truly “walk in the Spirit.” If you’ve ever asked, “Can God really speak to me?”—this book says yes. Loud and clear. And with love.
Pages: 79 | ASIN : B0D8S1KZ7G
Archie Bunker, Fred Flinstone, and Mr. Magoo
Alone at Home follows an elderly man’s solo escapades and everyday misadventures while his wife is away, leaving him with just her cat for company. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I wanted to write another story outside of my mystery/adventure series. Being a fan of Home Alone, I thought a senior citizen version would be interesting, especially if I could craft a character who was a blend of Archie Bunker, Fred Flinstone and bumbling Mr. Magoo. I love cats and decided to center a relationship around conflict with the cat, the nerighboe’s 8-year-old grandson and a couple of well-meaning, but intrusive neighbors. It’s a hilarious romp in the beginning of the book, leading up to Christmas Eve when it turns serious.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Relationships and a haunting memory that contributed to the main character’s grumpiness. The actual twist takes place on Christmas Eve when it changes to a story of redemption.
This is a fun and entertaining novel. Did you have fun writing it?
This was an enjoyable book to write as I drew on real life, humorous experiences from friends and relatives as well as my own clumsiness. My own interactions with my grandsons made their way into the book.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
Breakwater Bay will be out this spring. It’s a mystery/adventure primarily set in The Congo. Filled with peril, our protagonist, an investigative reporter, finds himself teamed up with an ex-Navy SEAL and a slippery-tongued British reporter as they fight disaster at every turn while trying to investigate a dark secret.
Author Links: Facebook | Website | Book Review
His days are filled with hilarious mishaps, from a battle of wits with a cheeky seagull to the relentless interruptions by neighbors. George’s quest for peace is perpetually sabotaged by the precocious grandson of the lady next door among other uproarious incidents.
“Alone At Home” is a heartwarming story of redemption. As George grapples with a haunting memory, he embarks on a journey of self-discovery. It’s a Christmas classic in the making, peppered with wit, the resilience of the human spirit, and the transformative power of forgiveness.
Alone At Home
Bob Adamov’s Alone at Home is a delightful and heartwarming story that combines humor, nostalgia, and everyday misadventures into a tale of an elderly man’s solo escapades while his wife is away. Set in the charming, oak-lined streets of Southport, North Carolina, the book captures the small-town spirit and a protagonist’s stubborn yet endearing quest for independence. George Ivers, the crotchety octogenarian left to his own devices, inadvertently stumbles through a series of hilarious situations that highlight his aversion to change and his begrudging love for his wife’s cat, Snookums.
One thing I loved about this book is its sheer ability to make me laugh out loud. The scene where George inflates an old pool, only to lose a battle of wits against a smug seagull, had me grinning from ear to ear. It’s so relatable; we’ve all had those moments where something as simple as a bird or broken chair becomes an unexpected foe. The physical comedy in these scenes is top-notch, and Adamov’s writing really brings it to life. George’s antics with his mischievous neighbor’s grandson, Hudson, further add to the humor, especially the “brain freeze” ice cream race. These moments felt both absurd and believable—a testament to Adamov’s skillful depiction of everyday chaos.
The writing captures not only humor but also a sense of melancholy. Beneath George’s gruff demeanor lies a man grappling with aging and longing for his past vitality. It’s these tender moments that make George more than just a comical old man; they make him deeply human. Adamov’s choice to weave humor with vulnerability is brilliant, making the story much richer. It’s impossible not to sympathize with George, even when he’s scheming against the cat or his noisy neighbors.
I’d recommend Alone at Home to anyone who loves character-driven, slice-of-life stories filled with humor and heart. It’s a light, enjoyable read that reminds us to find laughter in life’s absurdities and appreciate the quirks of those we hold dear. For anyone who’s ever dealt with an unruly pet or meddlesome neighbor, this book is a must-read.
Pages: 124 | ASIN : B0DP1GQY47
