Home » Posts tagged 'tribes'
Tag Archives: tribes
A Truth Revealed–ambition and revenge
A Truth Revealed
By Tracie Peterson
At age twelve, Laura Evans lost her mother to consumption in 1858. Her father, Granite Evans, who became her long distance hero, immediately sent her to boarding school. After ten years apart, she finally rejoins him in Cheyenne in the Wyoming territory which was a rough area at that time. Does Laura really know the man she has put on a pedestal for so many years? Is he the gracious, generous man the townspeople admire so much? He doesn’t hide his political ambitions, but is there a limit to what he will do to become governor of the territory or even president of the U.S.?
Wilson Porter is a young minister hoping for a government appointment to work with the Indians in the area. Until treaties can be sorted out, Wilson is employed in a local furniture shop using his woodworking skills to provide a living. When his father dies unexpectedly, Wilson encourages his mother and sister to travel to Cheyenne to be closer to him. Sadly, tragedy strikes the family again in several ways. When Wilson is injured, Laura takes him into her father’s home and nurses him back to health. They come to know each other better, but they also learn about an evil side of Cheyenne.
One of the main plot threads is faith in God. Both Laura and Wilson attend church, but Granite refuses. He blames God for his wife’s death. Wilson also has some questions of faith that he has to work through. Meanwhile, Laura finds support from a group of ladies at church who meet weekly to pray and work on handicrafts.
The characters have depth, and the setting seems true to the Cheyenne area during Wyoming’s territorial days. The Christian faith is consistently woven into the story as many of the characters look to God for strength and wisdom. Life is not a smooth path as the characters endure some very difficult challenges. The author has Laura attend a women’s college in Tennessee which actually existed and added realism to the skills and knowledge Laura had that would have been unusual for a woman during that time period. The theme of evil versus good permeates the novel. I enjoyed this book and am planning to return to the series to pick up the second book in the series which focuses on Laura’s friend Melody.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Rating: 4/5
Category: Christian, Historical Fiction, Romance
Notes: #3 in The Heart of Cheyenne series. The background is fully explained and in good order; it can definitely be enjoyed as a standalone. There is an overlap of characters but there are central protagonists specific to each book.
Publication: November 5, 2024—Bethany House
Memorable Lines:
Rejections from the doctors, church, and family had left Granite hard and angry, and when his beloved wife died, he vowed to make a success of himself in such a way that he could get back at those who had denied her help.
“Evil men will always do evil things, and, yes, there will be times when we suffer the effects, even as God’s beloved children. However, I still believe in His love and goodness.”
“But you know, life is a risk. Every day presents new challenges and heartache. But it also allows for happiness and good gifts. And no matter which come our way, God is there to help us through.”
Becoming Elisabeth Elliot–missionary seeking to obey
Becoming Elisabeth Elliot
by Ellen Vaughn
[No spoilers in this review.]
There are some biographies so full of facts that they are boring. There, I’ve said it! Becoming Elisabeth Elliot, thankfully, is not that kind of biography. Many readers may be familiar with the basic story of Jim and Elisabeth Elliot, missionaries to Ecuador to try to reach the Waodanis. This tribe had only experienced violent conflict with the outside world. Jim and Elisabeth (a.k.a. Betty) were determined to decipher the Waodani language so they could translate portions of the Bible to the native language as well as make friends with the people and introduce them to Jesus.
The basic story of their experiences are recorded in Elisabeth Elliot’s book Through Gates of Splendor. That same information appears in this authorized biography Becoming Elisabeth Elliot, but this book focuses on the first third of Elisabeth’s life and her preparation for whatever God called her to do. The author was given access to Elisabeth’s many private journals and interviewed people who were a part of her life in various ways. We are able to delve into Elisabeth’s thoughts as she poured out her soul in her journal disclosing her primary goal, to be obedient to God. We learn of her pain and suffering before, during, and after a major crushing event in her life. Her early years and education are discussed from the viewpoint of how they impacted her relationships with God, family, and friends. Then we learn how she matures in her faith, never seeking weak Christian platitudes but struggling to understand God and His plan. She has a lot of difficult seasons of waiting as she seeks God’s will and learns first hand that the question of why something happens may never be answered on Earth. The important question is not “why,” but “what”—what does God want me to do? What is the next step?
Well researched and well written, Becoming Elisabeth Elliot is a masterful biography and a page turner. It can be read as a historical document showcasing a woman who achieved fame as a missionary, prolific author, speaker, translator, professor, and radio broadcaster. It can also be read and studied by those who want to learn from Elliot’s experiences and spiritual insights to further their own personal journeys in drawing closer to God and obeying Him in following in the footsteps of Jesus.
Rating: 5/5
Category: Biography, Nonfiction, Christian
Notes: 1. Each chapter begins with a quote by various authors. They are always apropos to the chapter and worthy of pondering.
2. The book includes a Foreword by Joni Eareckson Tada, an Epilogue, and Footnotes.
3. The author has written the second in a series of three planned books to provide a complete telling of Elisabeth’s life. Being Elisabeth Elliot, which covers Elisabeth’s later years, will be published on September 12, 2023.
Publication: 2020—B&H Publishing Group
Memorable Lines:
And Eugenia had nearly vomited when Betty gave her some vegetable soup; she had absolutely recoiled at the taste of fudge. Well, Betty thought, it was just another vivid reminder that one could not assume that everyone thought and felt just like North Americans.
To opine about what God is up to in terms of results, can stray into the realm of hubris, or faithlessness. If we must see that there are worthy results in order to come to peace about what God has done or allowed, then we have no faith.
And suffering is one of God’s sanctifying tools. God is not a cosmic plumber who shows up to make things run smoothly for us. When He doesn’t fix broken situations in our lives, it’s usually because He is fixing us through them.
education pathways 