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Blurring The Lines
What are you willing to sell your soul for? Drugs, money, sex, faith, and truth intersect in this intriguing novel by Jerry Zehr. Blurring the Lines tells the story of Thomas, a driven young actor struggling to break into the entertainment industry in LA. Thomas’ conservative Amish heritage and his overwhelming desire to succeed continuously collide. His success, his survival and his soul, are at stake as he struggles to determine his life’s purpose.
200 pages, Paperback
First published May 19, 2011
1 person is currently reading
107 people want to read
About the author
Jerry Zehr
3 books24 followers Jerry Zehr is an ordained minister and has been a leader in Interfaith ministries for over 30 years. He has helped to create four interfaith organizations, including the Carmel Interfaith Alliance and the Indiana Multifaith Network. Jerry and his wife Diane have been married for over 37 years with two daughters and two grandchildren.
Jerry leads workshops, retreats, and has spoken at events on different aspects of Walking the Enlightened Path, Developing Inner Peace, Learning to Forgive, and Building Understandings of Different Faith Traditions.
Before Jerry went into the ministry, he was an Equity Actor performing in over 50 musicals and dramas. His novel"Blurring the Lines " tells of his experience in the entertainment business in Los Angeles, California. The theme running through the book is "What Are You Willing to Sell Your Soul For?"
Jerry has a Degree in Speech and Theater from Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana, and a Masters's of Divinity degree from Christian Theological Seminary, Indianapolis, Indiana. He has been married to Diane for 37 years and has two children and two grandchildren.
Jerry leads workshops, retreats, and has spoken at events on different aspects of Walking the Enlightened Path, Developing Inner Peace, Learning to Forgive, and Building Understandings of Different Faith Traditions.
Before Jerry went into the ministry, he was an Equity Actor performing in over 50 musicals and dramas. His novel"Blurring the Lines " tells of his experience in the entertainment business in Los Angeles, California. The theme running through the book is "What Are You Willing to Sell Your Soul For?"
Jerry has a Degree in Speech and Theater from Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana, and a Masters's of Divinity degree from Christian Theological Seminary, Indianapolis, Indiana. He has been married to Diane for 37 years and has two children and two grandchildren.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
May 4, 2012
In his new book, *Blurring the Lines*, Jerry Zehr gives us a peek inside mind of Thomas Anderson, a young man on a journey of self-discovery that leads him from the promise of Hollywood's bright lights to the seedy underbelly of the drug scene in the late 1970s. The thoughtfulness with which Zehr draws Thomas's struggles invites the reader to confront what it means to find one's identity far from home, as well as to consider the way spirituality both consoles and challenges us. In *Blurring the Lines* Zehr evinces a sure grasp of a variety of spiritual traditions, as well as a sense that we all have something to learn from one another.
July 8, 2013
Blurring the Lines
By Jerry Zehr
Thomas Anderson questions his rigid Amish background and heads to Los Angeles to pursue his love of performing as an actor and standup comic. His naivety gets him into almost instant trouble.
He applies for a job in a hotel right next to the famous The Hilton, but not in its league. Upon meeting the manager, James Cain, he receives guidance on many levels. Mr. Cain takes Thomas under his wing almost like a guardian angel, introducing him to a small close-knit group of friends of all races and religions. They believe in theosis . . .”personal communion with God, face to face . . . engaging in and sharing of God's divinity.” Thomas embraces the theory but like Adam in the Garden of Eden, the temptations of evil call his name — and he succumbs.
As he manages to get deeper into trouble, especially as a drug runner for a mafia-type Hench man, it's always Mr. Cain who seems to lift him up before he hits rock bottom. This is a well-paced, poignant satisfying novel, “written for anyone who is trying to make sense of their beliefs in God, science and the world.” Will Thomas succeed or will the temptations that surround him seduce him into to surfeiting his good intentions as well as his integrity, and perhaps his life?
Author Jerry Zehr, an equity actor, as well as minister and avid poker player, writes a novel that reads almost like a memoir. He shows the struggle of a young man searching for himself and his soul before he loses both. The author lets his readers who enjoyed this book know that Thomas’s story “has just begun”. Look for the sequel, “Rearranging the Lines” which will be available soon, to follow the saga of an engaging young man trying to find himself and his place in the world.
Micki Peluso: writer, journalist, and author of . . . And the Whippoorwill Sang
By Jerry Zehr
Thomas Anderson questions his rigid Amish background and heads to Los Angeles to pursue his love of performing as an actor and standup comic. His naivety gets him into almost instant trouble.
He applies for a job in a hotel right next to the famous The Hilton, but not in its league. Upon meeting the manager, James Cain, he receives guidance on many levels. Mr. Cain takes Thomas under his wing almost like a guardian angel, introducing him to a small close-knit group of friends of all races and religions. They believe in theosis . . .”personal communion with God, face to face . . . engaging in and sharing of God's divinity.” Thomas embraces the theory but like Adam in the Garden of Eden, the temptations of evil call his name — and he succumbs.
As he manages to get deeper into trouble, especially as a drug runner for a mafia-type Hench man, it's always Mr. Cain who seems to lift him up before he hits rock bottom. This is a well-paced, poignant satisfying novel, “written for anyone who is trying to make sense of their beliefs in God, science and the world.” Will Thomas succeed or will the temptations that surround him seduce him into to surfeiting his good intentions as well as his integrity, and perhaps his life?
Author Jerry Zehr, an equity actor, as well as minister and avid poker player, writes a novel that reads almost like a memoir. He shows the struggle of a young man searching for himself and his soul before he loses both. The author lets his readers who enjoyed this book know that Thomas’s story “has just begun”. Look for the sequel, “Rearranging the Lines” which will be available soon, to follow the saga of an engaging young man trying to find himself and his place in the world.
Micki Peluso: writer, journalist, and author of . . . And the Whippoorwill Sang
January 23, 2013
I don’t normally read Young Adult books, but this short and thought-provoking book is an excellent introduction for Young Adults on the importance of recognising that one’s faith in God is not necessarily restricted to the religion in which one was raised. Thomas, a young man from a strict religious background, goes off the rails when he heads to LA to fulfil his ambitions. Luckily, the Christ-like figure of his mysterious boss, Mr C, is there to act as a moral compass.
The strength of the story lies in the author’s ability to weave a very real story of a young man’s struggle to be good in a world in which it’s all too easy to be bad. Thomas’ struggle could be any young person who longs to make it rich quick at the expense of a relationship with God. Zehr’s open-minded approach to different faiths is appealing and well-integrated into the main plot.
BLURRING THE LINES is slow to start, and at times there is some repetition (for example, in the dialogue with between Thomas and his girlfriend Jennifer), but the formatting was clean and the book an easy, enjoyable read.
Thomas’ journey appears set to continue in future stories and it’ll be interesting to see how the mysterious Mr C (whose foster parents were Marie & Jose – I couldn’t help wondering if there’s a significance to these names, given Mr C’s Christ-like attributes!) helps Thomas evolve towards his personal theosis: finding the Divine Grace that will transform him spiritually.
Because there is no sermonising and no judgement of young Thomas’s mistakes, and the spiritual questioning is simply stated, BLURRING THE LINES is an important story for young adults who are searching for a faith that will sustain them in today’s dangerously materialistic world.
The strength of the story lies in the author’s ability to weave a very real story of a young man’s struggle to be good in a world in which it’s all too easy to be bad. Thomas’ struggle could be any young person who longs to make it rich quick at the expense of a relationship with God. Zehr’s open-minded approach to different faiths is appealing and well-integrated into the main plot.
BLURRING THE LINES is slow to start, and at times there is some repetition (for example, in the dialogue with between Thomas and his girlfriend Jennifer), but the formatting was clean and the book an easy, enjoyable read.
Thomas’ journey appears set to continue in future stories and it’ll be interesting to see how the mysterious Mr C (whose foster parents were Marie & Jose – I couldn’t help wondering if there’s a significance to these names, given Mr C’s Christ-like attributes!) helps Thomas evolve towards his personal theosis: finding the Divine Grace that will transform him spiritually.
Because there is no sermonising and no judgement of young Thomas’s mistakes, and the spiritual questioning is simply stated, BLURRING THE LINES is an important story for young adults who are searching for a faith that will sustain them in today’s dangerously materialistic world.
May 12, 2012
Fun, short little book! Thomas, a naive young man from an Amish heritage, moves to Los Angeles hoping to pursue a career in acting. The Amish connection isn't overplayed; Thomas is a pretty normal fellow, but breaking into this business is tough, and earning enough money on the side to survive proves difficult. He falls in with the wrong crowd, and his innocence plays against him until his experiences begin to bring more than shame; they land him in danger, both for his life and with the law.
Thomas is lucky, though, to have developed a special friendship with a man who encourages and provides spiritual guidance, while downplaying Thomas's mistakes. We can assume Thomas would drift ever deeper into darkness were it not for this mysterious acquaintance. The ending is surprising and memorable, though in retrospect, I really should have gathered enough clues during the story to guess the climax.
This is Christian literature, though Zehr's outlook is not conservative and the language is a bit rough. Part of Thomas's growing-up includes learning to look at God differently. Nothing monumental or overly deep, though, and the story's brevity prevents a fully-developed plot. This is a good book for teens.
On the downside, the book starts out in quite passive prose, so it doesn't grab you from the opening. Do keep reading! Also, I was given a pre-edited version, and a few editing and formatting corrections would be expected for the published version.
Thomas is lucky, though, to have developed a special friendship with a man who encourages and provides spiritual guidance, while downplaying Thomas's mistakes. We can assume Thomas would drift ever deeper into darkness were it not for this mysterious acquaintance. The ending is surprising and memorable, though in retrospect, I really should have gathered enough clues during the story to guess the climax.
This is Christian literature, though Zehr's outlook is not conservative and the language is a bit rough. Part of Thomas's growing-up includes learning to look at God differently. Nothing monumental or overly deep, though, and the story's brevity prevents a fully-developed plot. This is a good book for teens.
On the downside, the book starts out in quite passive prose, so it doesn't grab you from the opening. Do keep reading! Also, I was given a pre-edited version, and a few editing and formatting corrections would be expected for the published version.
September 11, 2012
Jerry Zehr's Blurring The Lines is an interesting, thought-provoking beautifully written novel. Jerry Zehr digs deep into the social fabric that makes America, along with the way that religion, of any kind, affects the way we see the world and live in it. Thomas leaves home to try and make his way in California as an actor. Coming from a sheltered background Thomas isn't prepared for the big city or the people there. Unlike others authors Jerry Zehr shows that the fall from grace is not all at once, but a slow process that happens one choice at a time. Through it all Thomas makes some real good friends and learns who he is as well as who God is. Blurring The Lines is truly written from the heart of author Jerry Zehr. Over the course of reading Blurring The Lines I became depressed to have it end. I was so thrilled to hear Jerry Zehr is writing Rearranging The Lines sequel to Blurring The Lines and cannot wait to hear the continued stories of the characters.
July 3, 2012
This book reminds me of an event that was popular when I was in college-- Theology on Tap-- where a Catholic priest would hang out at the bar, have a beer, and answer questions about theology...
The book Blurring the Lines is similarly insightful, intriguing, and unpretentious. Blurring the Lines is both fast-paced and deeply thoughtful. It tells the story of a young actor who is faced with difficult choices as he tries to break into the cut-throat entertainment industry. During his life journey, he learns valuable lessons about who he is as well as who God is... It's a crazy but powerful adventure!
I highly recommend it.
The book Blurring the Lines is similarly insightful, intriguing, and unpretentious. Blurring the Lines is both fast-paced and deeply thoughtful. It tells the story of a young actor who is faced with difficult choices as he tries to break into the cut-throat entertainment industry. During his life journey, he learns valuable lessons about who he is as well as who God is... It's a crazy but powerful adventure!
I highly recommend it.
June 5, 2012
Zehr is going to be known for his interesting and thought-provoking writings. In this unexpectedly beautiful novel, he digs deep into the social fabric that makes America, along with the way that religion, of any kind, affects the way we see the world. The character development is done like the best writers of the classics, making Thomas someone any reader could know personally. I'm looking forward to Zehr's following works, whether sequels to this book or even stand-alone writings. Great job, Jerry!
June 24, 2012
I'm not a big reader of fiction, but I want to commend Jerry taking up the task of writing fiction. This is a first novel and it has that sense to it, but he has tried to tell a good story that mixes in the challenge of living in this world, while seeking to be in touch with God. I may not follow him in his desire to mix his religious options (my sense of being interfaith is different), but he has attempted to provide a point of conversation on issues we need to discuss.
August 13, 2012
looking forward to the next book
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews