A chilling conclusion that ultimately points to Hope: "Godless" by Dobson & Bruner

about the book...

The nightmares have returned. Something, or someone, wants to drag Julia Davidson back into a dreadful conflict she assumed was a distant memory. Was this, like before, the echo of another person's dream? Is she responsible to rescue faces she doesn't recognize but can't forget? Do the murky images suggest she has a part to play in whatever ominous events lie ahead?

Things are finally looking up for Matthew Adams. As the top earner at MedCom Associates he has started to crawl out of the financial hole created during his "dark days." And now, out of the blue, a mysterious woman invites him to join a confidential research initiative. She says it will ease the mounting economic crisis. But at what cost to Matthew's fragile sanity, and his tortured soul?

Pastor Alex Ware faces a serious problem. The honeymoon period at Christ Community Church has ended. The finance committee says they can't afford another year of dwindling income and dismal growth. The board wants action, now! Aging parishioners would gladly allocate a portion of their estate to help. But only if Alex stops condemning the transition industry and starts affirming what the Youth Initiative calls "our heroic volunteers."

In Fatherless and Childless, Dr. James Dobson and Kurt Bruner depicted a time in which present-day trends come to sinister fruition. This eagerly awaited conclusion vividly imagines what happens when God's image on earth is exchanged for the horrors of a GODLESS world.

 

my review....

Dobson and Bruner return in fine form with the conclusion to their series, "Godless". With mounting tension, the authors explore a world where all truth is relative and God seems to be no more, where the young encourage their elderly parents to commit suicide and call it "heroism", where the idea of having children naturally is looked upon with derision. I loved becoming reacquainted with the characters from the first two books (Fatherless and Childless), but most loved the character of Pastor Alex Ware as he finds himself facing the temptation to compromise - and finds himself giving in. How many of us have faced similar situations and sat by silent? Yet over the course of the story Alex rises up to face his challenges head on, and you can't help but respect his courage. The misguided Matthew Adams also returns and we find him in one chilling predicament after another, to the point of being sickened by his actions. And yet there is a lesson to be seen there too as we see the outcome of his choices. There were many moments of the story where a feeling of hopelessness pervades the scenes. Yet this makes the end all the more sweeter as we see characters take a stand with courage. It would be impossible to read this book and indeed the prior two as well, and not walk away with a different view on our society. The discouraging scenarios described in this book do not have to become reality. Rather, like the characters depicted by Dobson and Bruner, we can make the choice to stand up for truth, and offer a future of freedom to those around us, a future where children and family are celebrated, where life is respected and honoured. May all of us rise up to that challenge!

Godless is action-packed drama at its best, combining an exciting plot with inspiring characters. If you haven't yet picked up the first two books in the series, I encourage you to do so and read all three from start to finish. It is time well spent! I award this book 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Book has been provided courtesy of Hachette Book Group Canada, for the purposes of this unbiased review.

about the authors...

Dr. James Dobson is the Founder and President of Family Talk, a nonprofit organization that produces his radio program, "Family Talk with Dr. James Dobson." He is the author of more than 30 books dedicated to the preservation of the family. He has been active in governmental affairs and has advised three U.S. presidents on family matters. Dr. Dobson is married to Shirley and they have two grown children, Danae and Ryan, and two grandchildren. The Dobsons reside in Colorado Springs, CO.


Kurt Bruner serves as Pastor of Spiritual Formation at Lake Pointe Church and on the adjunct faculty of Dallas Theological Seminary. A graduate of Talbot Seminary and former Vice President with Focus on the Family, Kurt led the teams creating films, magazines, books, and radio drama. As President of HomePointe Inc., he helps local church leaders create an ongoing culture of intentional families. Kurt is the best-selling author of more than a dozen books. Kurt and his wife, Olivia, live in Rockwall, Texas.

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