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Synopsis
"Daddy, if I was killed, would you still be able to find me?" Three-year-old Jonathan Biebel innocently asked his father this question one summer day. Shortly thereafter, he was stricken with a mysterious disease that led to his death. Emotionally, physically, and spiritually devastated by the sudden loss of the little boy he loved more than words could say, Rev. David Biebel questioned his self-worth, his ministry, even the very foundations of his faith. In the midst of his anguish and sorrow, the minister searched for God's justice while relieving his suffering by carefully recording his feelings, questions, guilt, and the anger and bitterness building inside him. What emerges is an intensely personal story of one man's struggle to understand some of life's deepest questions. Both touching and inspiring, JONATHAN, You Left Too Soon offers strength and reassurance to those who hurt, encouraging them to ruthlessly tell the truth on their journey through brokenness toward a greater sense of wholeness. Original foreword: Many years ago I discovered the truth that Joseph Parker, a gifted, godly, British pastor of the nineteenth century, believed so firmly: "Preach to the suffering and you will never lack a congregation. There's a broken heart in every pew." This is good counsel not only for preachers but also for writers. Grief, heartache, and loss are common denominators for all humanity. Anyone who writes about such needs has the immediate attention of most readers. This is especially true when the object of sorrow is a child. This is a book about all that and more. Much more. Three-year-old Jonathan Biebel was taken from his parents..... Death, our oldest enemy, came like an uninvited guest and swiftly swept Jonathan from their arms. Stunned yet courageous, this pastor recorded his feelings, his questions, his guilt, his struggles, and even his bitterness. As you read his words, you will nod with understanding and weep with compassion. Your heart will beat heavily as you identify with his profound sense of loss. But beyond the chords of emotion this book will surely strike, you will appreciate the author's comments and convictions on grief. Not since Joe Bayly's A View From the Hearse have I found myself more in agreement. To this author, grief is real; it dare not be denied or ignored. Yet, its wounds must be handled with care and given time to heal. Preserving us from pious platitudes and empty cliches, David Biebel says it straight and he says it well. Best of all, he doesn't attempt to answer all the whys. Old Joseph Parker would have appreciated David's style and content. I certainly do. So will you. - Charles R. SwindollBook Details
Published
February 1, 2013
Publisher
Healthy Life Press
Pages
160
Format
Paperback
ISBN
9781939267023