Ain't No Valley - Book Review

Well you know the story... this is a book that I reviewed in 2004 while being the Baptist Host - Editor - Writer at another site. ........................................................................................................ This book is written in the form of a parable. ........................................................................ This book has three parts: ............................................................................................ The Invitation ........................................................................................................ The Preparation ....................................................................................................... The Wedding .......................................................................................................................................................................... The Parable of the Wedding Banquet.. Matthew 22:2-6, 8-10. ............................................................ Praise for Ain't No Vally, Foster's characters are unforgettable, full of life and charming.... Kweisi Mfume, President & CEO, NAACP .......................................................................................................... The lights shining on her were hot. It was good television. Pat Sajak is standing next to her. ........................ Vanna White is in front of her......................................................................................... This was her big chance. .............................................................................................. It was something that she had dreamed about for years, that she'd be on national television spinning the wheel. ....... Naomi picked her consonants and vowels. ............................................................................... She won one hundred thousand dollars! ................................................................................. Meemaw should never have volunteered to sew beads on Mary's wedding dress. ............................................ The wedding was coming so quickly. .................................................................................... Esther kept abreast of every space-age advance in straightening and coloring hair. .................................... Smitty had been part of the summer time charm of Big Esther's Beauty Shop a few years back. .......................... Smitty was Esther's husband. .......................................................................................... Meemaw is pulling out of the hedges and the highways. It's becoming like a family reunion, or one of those family-and friends days at church. The groom is from Africa, and he doesn't have many people coming. For some reason, he and Mary both have people that can't come for one reason or another. .......................................................... I want too thank you for letting me be mice (no misprint) self again. Sly Stone's lyrics ran through Anthony's mind. ..................................................................................................................... The Parable of the Wedding Banquet Matthew 22:8-12 .................................................................... The Parable of the Ten Virgins Matthew 25:1-13 ........................................................................ It was going to go crazy, she might as well go all the way. Naomi laughed to herself as she laid the map she had purchased out on the table top of the booth in front of her. .......................................................... The money from Wheel of Fortune was going to be a blessing. ......................................................... Ruthie tossed her stringy hair. Naomi noticed a tattoo on the girl's arm. It was a cross ringed with a crown. ............................................................................ Naomi hesitated and then followed. She watched as Ruthie unpacked the shoulder pack, gently patting each loaf of bread as she removed it. "Thank you, Jesus!" She whispered each time, and Naomi felt the same discomfort she had felt earlier. "Jesus is a friend of mine." ................................................................................ For the past two weeks or so - it could have been shorter or longer, Anthony had been going to the church and the hotel. ............................................................................................................... There was still no sighting of Sly Stone, but things weren't bad. ..................................................... He went to Evangel, he stayed at the hotel because he needed some kind of routine in his life. ........................ Pops told him keep looking. If you don't find what you're looking for, you for sure gonna find what you need. ......... We all know about the story of the prodigal son, don't we? ............................................................ The preacher was nodding as he spoke. The preacher waved his arms dramatically. He wanted it all, and he wanted it all now. "Daddy, give me everything that's due me. Give me all my gifts now." The congregation laughed with the preacher. "It makes you want to holler, throw up both your hands!" They all shook their heads and laughed. ..................... "So, the ungrateful young man goes off and lives a riotous life. Drinking." The congregation laughed as the preacher pretended to dance. "Til pretty soon all that he had was gone. You know the story: He found himself in mud, in slop, living with pigs. One day everything's fine. He's on top of the world - living in the palace, working in the big house. But before you know it, the brother is living in the pit. He's lost his luxury car and he doesn't even have a hoopty. He was eating caviar and drinking Dom Perignon, now he's fighting pirgs for slop... and the pigs are winning. ......... You looking for your great adventure. And the greatest adventure ain't about money. It's the story of the good king, and the evil prince who is willing to ruin the kingdom so he can have everything, and the good son willing to do anything to save his father's kingdom and all mankind. The greatest adventure is full of angels and evil -- it's a wild ride baby. ............................................................................................................ Luke 15:11-13 The Prodigal Son ........................................................................................ The Bible tells us God's ways not being our ways. And the author realized, the prize is not really money, cars, or VIP seats. That's not the prize. The prize is close relationship. God has enough to love everybody. ...................... Anthony was anxious about the wedding. ................................................................................ They were traveling on a bus to the wedding. .......................................................................... Naomi, Thelma, and Latrice - the bridesmaids were dressed in blue and white. .......................................... Sharon Ewell Foster, author, is a double Rita-Award finalist and Daily Guidepost Writer. She has found loyal fans that cross racial, religious, age and gender boundaries. A former U.S. Defense Department instructor, writer, logistician, and is also the author of Passing by Samaria. ......................................................................... I review books for publishing companies, publicists, authors, businesses and ministries.