Bloggy Book Club and Sunday Salon

Same Kind of Different as Me by Ron Hall and Denver Moore with Lynn Vincent was Bloggy Book Club choice for January and I loved this book! I don't know how I missed this book when it was first published but I did... I am thinking it is Divine providence that I read it now.

My Husband and I work once a month at a Cafe for Homeless, the third Monday of every month is "our Monday." It is a wonderful organization and a privilege to be a part of a group that is doing something tangible for so many! There are important rules set in place for good reason however there have been long moments that I have struggled to not cross an important boundary...( another post!) It is in those moments I believe I find God because I want to find him.

This book tells the almost unbelievable story of Denver Moore who grew up on Plantations as really nothing more than an indentured slave, never having the opportunity for an education!

When I type this...I think...about my love of reading and Denver never having the opportunity to learn reading or writing and then I think...this happened in the United States of America!



It is the story of a beautiful marriage, full of life and it's struggles and the testimony of God's healing love. It's the story of a God's vision for His people as given to a woman who will be stricken with cancer and God not healing her! Finally, it's also the story of an unlikely friendship and a shared ministry!

I loved the way the story is written...alternating in first Denver's voice and then in Ron's...sharing their personal perspective and insight!



I had read peviously, the book No Experts Needed The Meaning of Life According to You by Louise Lewis and at the end of that book she asks us to define "What is the meaning of life?"

I have prayed about this...and I had my answer all along but I felt it wasn't "good enough!"

It is and this story convinced me of it!

For me the meaning of life...is to serve others! It gives me joy and I feel closer to God as I am serving!

Same kind of Different As Me ( at least the paperback edition) has questions answered by the authors...

One question that made me think...

In some communities, homelessness has reached epidemic status. What do you think is the ultimate solution to this problem? How has your perception of homelessness changed over the past few years?

Ron: In my opinion there is no solution to the homeless problem. However, there are many ways to improve the conditions for those who fall into that state: (1) Relationships build trust and trust leads to accountability. This is the point where lives can be changed; (2) Encourage and fund the reconciliation of families. The simple cost of a phone call and a bus ticket home have resulted in getting people off the streets and back at home. We have heard many stories like this from our readers; (3) My perception has changed greatly after knowing hundreds of homeless people and hearing their stories. Only by taking the time to listen can you discover that most homeless people started off in life much like everyone else but were often thrown off track by a tragedy and circumstances beyond their control. But by the grace of God, I avoided a similar fate.

Denver told me that faith-based organizations, government programs, and well-meaning individuals fed him and kept him alive for all those years on the street, but it was the love of Miss Debbie that caused him to want to make a change in his life.



Denver: God says the poor will always be with us. I don't believe there is a solution but if people were more like Miss Debbie, homeless folks would be treated better.

I enjoyed this book and I recommend it...it is told from a Christian perspective but I think others of different faiths would enjoy it!

This story is really about humanity and we are all humans!