"Finding God Beneath The Ashes" is unique in style. Each chapter has a section of Bible verses in a poetic form, with occasional comments to encourage or explain, placed like stepping stones across a flowing mountain stream. A foundation for the book is laid by presenting quotes from the Founding Fathers, their acknowledging their need of God in giving birth to our nation. When all seemed lost, they called upon God In our nation's first stepping stones they wrote the words, "We are endowed by our Creator with certain inalienable rights " This book is to help you to recover that God In the dangers of our present time, in the aftermath of the ashes of 9/11, where and how are we to find God? It is written with the purpose of helping you to discover God by pondering Biblical themes and comments as helps to you along the way. The verses were collected much the way you would gather brightly colored leaves on a Fall day, freely picking and choosing leaves of different shapes, colors and sizes. The collection then is gathered into clusters about God to speak to your mind and heart. This Book is not intended to be a quick read. It's like a walk in the woods. It's sitting on a ledge, looking across a great canyon. In places, it is a trip down the rapids. It's a place where you can argue with God about what is written, a place to share your sorrow or loss, where you can cry out, "why?" It is a place where you can find quiet pastures along a gently flowing stream, or safety through the valleys of the shadows of death. It's designed to help you find the peace of God. This book begins with the silence of God before time or space through His mighty words and deeds in history. From beginning to end it covers the major themes: God in the chaos of the beginning, His giving of safe boundaries for living, the strong things God stands for like love and justice. The book introduces you to the names of God which will show you what He is really like, what we are to call Him‐ His name introduces Him to us and the wonder of who He is. We come to Jesus as our Friend. Like the fireman at 9/11 He gave His life in the smoke and ashes to save us. In Jesus we see God come down to earth. The ending of the book gives lines from the poetry of The Psalms with indicated places to pause and be alone with God and with your own thoughts without comments by the writer. What else can you expect from within these pages? You can expect explanations on how the Bible is put together, illustrations and examples from the lives of people who are living their faith with others, how to live out the model of Jesus through friendship with others. The Book can be used over and over again, a chapter at a time‐ a section now and then. It can be used with others in groups or with just two or three together. It's a book designed for you, a place to find God in the dangers, brokenness, in the joys and in the ashes of living.
