Cry Elshaddai

Book excerpt: Tyrone sits at a table cutting a key of cocaine. As he picks up a razor blade, it turns into a hundred dollar bill, and in his other hand is a knot. It looks as though he has been counting it. Unfortunately, the sight of it seems to disgust him, and he throws all of it across the table. The hundreds and twenties fall across the newly cut snow. He sits staring at the money. Suddenly, someone grabs his shirt, and he is back in his old bedroom. The strong hands of the figure slam him against his dresser, and he is eye to eye with the person that he soon realizes is his father. And with one powerful blow of his father's fist, Tyrone is knocked to the floor. He shields himself from anymore blows, but things become dark, and Tyrone feels it is safe to take his arms away from his face, but when he does, he finds himself outside the Pastor's Study at church. He slowly opens the door in time to see his father hit his mother, and though he has only punched her, his mother lies on the floor twisted in an odd position. Her face is white and her eyes are filled with fear as they gaze at him. He rushes to his mother's aid yelling at his father, but his father backhands him. And even though it stings hard enough for him to cry, he is not knocked down. He comes back with his fist across the Pastor's face, and they begin to fight. Members from the congregation barge in and begin to separate them, but The Reverend gets in one last hit. Tyrone is knocked to the floor as the scene around him becomes black. Tyrone begins to desperately wish that he could see where he is. Suddenly, an orangish red glow begins to brighten the area, and Tyrone feels the stinging swelling of his face and the blood that seems to be streaming from his lower lip, nose, and just above his right eye. He looks around realizing he is in a cave. He stands up, but as he does, the rocks catch fire and flames begin to spring up and cover the walls. Feeling the intense heat surrounding and engulfing him, he raises his hands in the air and screams for help. READER'S REVIEW OF CRY ELSHADDAI I had the pleasure of reading the new book by Léona, Cry Elshaddai. Certainly I expected the book to have a spiritual tilt on it just based on the title. However, I was totally surprised to find that the book contained such spiritual content. I picked the book up on Thursday night half expecting to read a few pages and put it down beside the other three or four books that I am currently in the process of reading. I was pleasantly surprised that this book did more than hold my interest. I was not able to put it down until I had read it from cover to cover. I recommend this book to every young person who is living in this world and unsure of how to proceed, as it relates to making a commitment to Christ. This book speaks to the very real issues plaguing our young people today. The pressures of society, the pressures of home life, the very pressures of the "Church" in their lives. What decisions will they make when all the chips are down. It was a delightful story. I know of quite a few young people who are living it today. It is a must read, with a surprising ending. --Rev. Vanessa Alford, Pastor Maranatha Bible Fellowship CC Church Baltimore, Maryland