"Jesus said to him, "If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." Matthew 19:28
The above scripture embodies the premise of the book. What would it look like to surrender wholeheartedly and follow Christ? Would it actually mean giving up your home, possessions, money, talents and fame? This is exactly how Claire Adams, a renowned artist, interpreted this verse. Set in the small idyllic town of Steadfast, Kansas, whose mere name drew outsiders in who where seeking the perfect place to start over or run from their past. The book was filled with zany characters, including a library ghost, with various backgrounds and heartaches. The heart of the novel involved the nudges the Holy Spirit impressed upon the hearts of the protagonists, and how they responded, found healing and discovered a sense of belonging.
There were times I wanted to snatch the pen from the authors's hands and rewrite portions. Either the theology bothered me or the person's thinking troubled me. For this reason, I decided to order the other two books in the series. But, as always, those are the sections that provide opportunities for discussion among friends.