Ordinary People, Extraordinary Faith
Stories of Inspiration
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5.0 • 1 Rating
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- $7.99
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- $7.99
Publisher Description
In spite of a diving accident that has left her paralyzed for more than thirty years, Joni Eareckson Tada has been able to build a life of faith and purpose. The peace she has found as she confronts the painful realities of life as a quadriplegic has made her a hero to many people.
In Ordinary People, Extraordinary Faith, Joni lets us know who her heroes are. Inside she tells the stories of people who inspire her with their faith and courage. Although Joni has met many famous "heroes of the faith" through her ministry, the lives she shares here are not the Billy Grahams of the world. They are a mother, a housewife, a nursing home resident, a child. Some are missionaries or pastors; others are bank tellers or data entry clerks. All of these people have touched Joni's life and the lives of others as they found their faith rise to the occasion – to forgive an assailant, to find strength despite the debilitating effects of cerebral palsy, to choose love in the face of racial prejudice, and to discover in the midst of questioning that God Himself is the answer to all questions.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Over 30 years have passed since Tada (Diamonds in the Dust; More Precious Than Silver) became a quadriplegic as the result of a diving accident. Tada, who has inspired both the able-bodied and disabled for years, is the founder of Joni and Friends, a Christian organization that strives to meet the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of the disabled along with their families. Through this ministry, Tada has met thousands of ordinary people who have overcome extensive challenges; this book tells 12 remarkable stories of how faith in God transformed tragedy into hard-won triumph. Meet the beautiful Vicky Olivas, who was brutally shot and paralyzed in an attempted rape. The single mom struggled to make peace with not only her disability but the burning hatred she felt when her assailant served only three years in jail. Nine-year-old cerebral palsy sufferer Emily Shanahan has also learned to overcome her physical limitations through persistent prayer as she fights for acceptance in a regular school classroom. Another unknown hero, Barbara Carey Kolar, faced the accidental death of one son, the abandonment of her husband and the subsequent death of her daughter as she hung on to faith amidst questions and doubts. Tada's storytelling successfully woos readers with real-life tales of grief followed by unswerving devotion to God. In this gripping collection, readers witness the transfiguration of victims into victors.
