A Brand New Christmas Gift

Looking for that perfect and unique Christmas gift for family and friends? OK, this may not be subtle, but I am offering you a special deal on MY NEW BOOK!

Book 2 of the Living Between the Ditches series, When Christ Sets You Free, is available from the bookstore at crossbooks.com.

As a special introductory offer, I am making the book available at the author’s discount. Contact me soon and you will receive your book in time for holiday gift giving.

The new story of Parker Hamilton connects readers with favorite characters from Book 1, When God Makes No Sense, without confusing readers who have not read it. Preview the Prologue below.

Prologue

Parker Sloan Hamilton waited outside the Orlando bus station. He had
been released from prison 128 minutes ago and already felt the insecurity of
freedom. The overcast sky and threatening rain dampened what should have
been a joyful occasion.

In his mind he had pictured this day full of sunshine with a blue sky
and fluffy clouds. A circle of family and friends would meet him, with Gram
Sloan leading the way. After a round of hugs, they would whisk him away to
a new life. All that would be missing was a brass band playing “Glory, Glory,
Hallelujah.”

But no one was here. Not even the couple that ran the halfway house to
which he’d been mandated for supervised release.
Parker shuffled his feet and thought. He had the clothes on his back—the
ones he had worn in to prison that cold December day almost two years ago.
He had a small collection of bills—his entire savings from money he hadn’t
spent at the prison commissary. He could make a call inside the bus station.
But who would he call?

He had the phone number of that couple somewhere in a pocket. They
obviously weren’t going to show. Story of his life. Chaplain Jake Thomas had
told him one source of help was available 24/7. Parker had come to depend
heavily on that source and had never yet received a busy signal.
Parker was in the process of bowing his head when an older Ford sedan
rounded the corner and pulled up beside him. “Hey,” an African-American
giant of a fellow hollered. “You Parker?”

One of the fastest answers to a prayer not yet prayed, Parker thought.
“Yeah, I’m Parker.” He climbed into the car and sped away with someone
he’d never met.

*******

The passengers rode in silence for several minutes as the car wound through
traffic and merged onto the interstate. Parker felt a cold sweat cover his body
as he gripped the seat cushion. Slow down, he thought. All I need is to be
stopped by the cops.

Once in the flow of traffic, Parker felt his heart rate go down and his
breathing normalize. He hadn’t been in a car in two years. Maybe he was a
little edgy. His gaze turned to his seatmate. The burly man returned his glance
and spoke in a surprisingly gentle voice. “How’re you doin’, man?”

“Good,” Parker lied a little.

“My name’s Xander. But you can call me anything if it’s dinner time.” He
laughed heartily at his own joke.

“I’m Parker. Parker Hamilton. But then, you knew that.”


“Not too many guys named Parker hangin’ around outside a bus station.”
Again he laughed. Parker eased back a bit into his seat.

“I know you expected Mr. Connor to pick you up, but he had to go to the
hospital,” Xander continued.

Parker’s eyebrows shot up.

“Seems Miss Amber showed up unexpectedly.”

Parker’s imagination was in full gear. Who was Miss Amber? A jilted
girlfriend of a resident at the halfway house? Had a brawl broken out? Was it
serious enough to send someone to the hospital?

“Sorry to hear that,” Parker mumbled, fear creeping back up his spine.
Xander looked puzzled, then laughed again. “No, man, you got it wrong.
You see, Mr. Connor’s wife, Mrs. Megan, she just had her daughter this
morning—named her Amber Alise. I got to visit them on the way to get you.
My, my, my! Curly black hair, just like her Mom. They goin’ to have to lock
that child up when she’s a teenager,” Xander chuckled.

“I didn’t know Mrs. Megan was expecting.” Parker felt a little foolish.

“She sure wasn’t expectin’ three weeks early! Man, I been up since 4 a.m.
The whole place was buzzin’. Nobody was prepared to welcome Miss Amber
yet. Her grandma won’t get here until day after tomorrow. So, I’m kind of
in charge of the place for a while. You’re goin’ to have to eat my cookin’ this
week,” Xander grinned.

Parker wanted to be annoyed by the man’s humor. He certainly didn’t
share his jovial mood. However, Xander’s easy, relaxed manner had a calming
effect. Maybe this new place would be halfway decent.
Parker caught himself grinning at his pun. Halfway decent. What more
could a guy expect from a halfway house?

*******

Xander pulled off the highway and wound through several major intersections
before turning into an older neighborhood of Orlando. Large leafy trees and
well-kept lawns, newly painted exteriors and an occasional renovated home
told the story of a once inner city neighborhood revitalized by new families
moving into the area.

Xander pulled into the driveway of a white, shingled two storied house with
green shutters. Parker could see a light on in an upstairs window. “We’re here,”
Xander announced as he turned off the motor. As Parker fiddled with his seat
belt, Xander loped through a light rain to the front door and had it unlocked
before Parker was out of the car.

“Come on in,” Xander said. “We’ ll get you outfitted with some clothes
and stuff .” He took Parker through a large living and dining area, past the
kitchen, and into a storage area where shelves were filled with men’s clothing,
sized and neatly stacked, along with toiletries, tennis shoes, and rolled socks.
Parker immediately went to work finding his sizes and putting items into a
cardboard box Xander provided.

“Get what you need for the next few days,” he said as he headed for the
kitchen. “Dinner will be ready in thirty minutes. You best be on time. It’s one
of the rules around here. The guy upstairs will show you your space.”

Parker finished filling his box, grabbing several extra containers of
shampoo, deodorant, and toothpaste in case his fellow residents lived by the
prison rule, “What’s yours is mine, and I’ll take it.” He found a back stairwell
to the second floor. At the top of the steps, he stopped and took a breath. He
wasn’t exactly looking forward to sharing space with anyone, much less former
inmates. Not that he could talk.

Chaplain Jake, who had recommended this place, was certain Parker would
fit in. Residents had to fill out an application and meet specific requirements:
participation in chapel worship services and Bible study groups, completion of
the prison’s drug rehabilitation program and/or therapeutic support groups,
job skill training classes or a prison job, reasonably clean disciplinary record,
and—most of all—a desire for a new and different kind of lifestyle.

Parker had a coveted spot, he knew. Several of his friends from the prison
chapel were waiting for just such an opportunity. He had to make the most of
these next six months. Slowly he pushed open the door to the second floor—the
door to his new future.
*******

Find out how Parker’s story will help you discover how to experience freedom in Christ as a lifestyle. Order now to receive your book in time for Christmas!