In Everything Give Thanks
Terry Barnes
Tyndale, Jul 2007, $12.99
ISBN: 9781414313016

Fifteen years old Matt Collins loved his dad Tommy, who was wounded at Iwo Jima where he found Jesus. His dad loved watching Matt run cross country and attending the Bethel Baptist Church service with his family. So Matt questions why God failed a man like his father, who loved the Lord deep in his soul; why allow a drunk to kill him in that horrible car accident. The grieving teen vows God will no longer be in his life.

Cerebral palsy sufferer Wade Hampton and his family move next door to Matt. Wade wants to become best friends with Matt, who wants nothing to do with the stuttering dork especially since the newcomer wants to become a preacher. As school bullies pick on Wade, Matt begins to wonder how his handicapped neighbor, who was dealt a bad hand by the Lord, can believe like his dad did so strongly in God.

Matt is the key to this superb inspirational tale as his first person account of how he feels seems raw and real especially when he questions God with the whys. Readers will hope he finds solace as his grief is hurting him. Wade is also a wonderful character who will have the audience marvel at the strength of his conviction in the Lord including overcoming his so called handicap. Terry Barnes provides a thought provoking tale that will lead fans to understand how much greatness we all have and thereby IN EVERYTHING GIVE THANKS.

Harriet Klausner