Introduction 

With the turning of the month, I am happy to announce that my third Gathering of Misfits novel is live! Chris and Sylvia tells of the growing relationship between the local ER surgeon (white) and the leader of the Ark refuge household (black).

Acceptance of Flaws

As an alcoholic, Chris doesn’t like that Sylvia occasionally enjoys an stiff drink or two. He objects to the vile stuff being present in a household where refugees might be tempted (as he would be) or might be triggered by someone’s use of it.

As a teacher and counselor, Sylvia abhors the legal prostitution going on across the street in Keller’s Tavern. She objects to Steve occasionally using the services of one of the pole dancers. She also doesn’t like that he supports the tavern owner’s love for her seventeen- year-old friend and fellow worship leader. Chris urges her to trust Holy Spirit to turn Steve into a man who can marry Phoebe with their blessing.

Relationship Building, Signs and Wonders

These two build a relationship on praying for each other’s work in the community and their mutual interest in Tai Chi as a defensive martial art. Together with one of Sylvia’s refugees, they build a Kingdom- building relationship with a young, unmarried couple who have two boys.

In the third evangelistic meeting, signs and wonders bring about the reconstruction of a woman’s breasts after being healed of cancer. They also see the reconstruction of the heart of a man shot while protecting the evangelist.

The novel ends with two weddings and a birth.

Questions 

Have you heard stories of body parts being miraculously restored in people’s bodies? Can you believe them?

Do you believe two people can let go of their idol pleasures for the sake of their relationship? Could you accept and pray for someone struggling to let go of such pleasures?