A New Kind of Normal: Hope-Filled Choices When Life Turns Upside Down

Author - Carol Kent ... [Goo?] [Posters]

This Hardcover Book item from Thomas Nelson was reviewed on 10-Dec-2008.

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1) Hardcover Book A New Kind of Normal: Hope-Filled Choices When Life Turns Upside Down by Thomas Nelson. Once again Carol Kent pours out her heart full of hurt, disappointment and a mother´s love. She reveals God´s grace and hope during the most difficult trials of life. Not only does she share what she and her family continue to experience after her beloved son was sentenced to life in prison for the unthinkable, but she also shares stories from other women that have had their world turned upside down. She shares how she has learned to deal with and slowly accept her "new normal." She honestly shares her anger with God, as well as her deep and growing faith that He is still in control even when everything seems out of her control. It is a perfect complement book to "When I Lay My Isaac Down" where she shares her very personal struggle with the murder, trial and conviction of her only son.¤

2) Hardcover Book A New Kind of Normal: Hope-Filled Choices When Life Turns Upside Down by Thomas Nelson. In October 1999, bestselling author and speaker Carol Kent received the phone call that would forever alter her and her family´s definition of normal. Kent´s son, a naval academy graduate, shot and killed his wife´s ex-husband in public view to protect his two stepdaughters from possible abuse. In the aftermath of this unthinkable tragedy, Kent wrote the award-winning book when i lay my isaac down, which carefully detailed the events surrounding the murder and the Kent family´s journey through grief and despair as their son is eventually sentenced to life incarceration.

In this new text, Kent explores the last seven years in great detail and offers readers a transparent, heartrending glimpse into what this family has endured and how God has reached down and invited them to embrace this "new kind of normal" existence through His strength. Kent begins her family´s saga with a brief primer on how they got to where they are now, starting with her son Jason´s crime in 1999. She quickly transitions into their move from Michigan to Florida in order to be close to Jason for weekend and holiday visitation at the prison where he is an inmate.

In topical fashion, Kent inspires readers to examine their pain, disappointment and hurt through the lens of God´s eternal perspective. She very ably challenges Christians who have experienced despair, doubt, suffering, disappointment, sorrow, loss and hopelessness to instead choose to respond to these life-derailing roadblocks with trust, perseverance, gratitude, vulnerability, relinquishment, forgiveness and purposeful action. Kent weaves the biblical story of Mary, the mother of Jesus, and her example to trust God despite outward and very often nonsensical circumstances into the bulk of the text. Each chapter also includes intriguing and relatable stories from other families who have faced the unthinkable in their lives and have survived.

Throughout the book, readers will discover a single underlying thread that ties each principle into a grand scheme of faith-driven response. No matter what the specifics, Kent tells fellow sufferers that Christians have a choice to make. Every day, writes the author, she and her husband have to choose to trust God despite outward dismal circumstances. Every hour they have to choose to believe that there is a purpose far greater than their eyes and minds can conceive and that God is intimately involved and actively participating in this life drama. There is nothing she wants more than her "...peaceful, comfortable, convenient, normal life back."

Instead, Kent understands that this "new kind of normal," when soundly embraced by faith, becomes "...the most empowering choice you will ever make." Though it is "...sticky, uncomfortable, agitating, and difficult," it will change not only your life but also everyone whose life you touch. And, writes the author, those who realize that God´s intimate powerful care enables them to live one day at a time will be "splashing hope" into the lives of others because of their intimate relationship with the "Source of hope."

--- Reviewed by Michele Howe¤

3) Hardcover Book A New Kind of Normal: Hope-Filled Choices When Life Turns Upside Down by Thomas Nelson. This book is wonderful. If you are struggling with a life altering change, this book is very helpful. Ms. Kent helped me quantify what I was feeling, and gave me practical steps for embracing my new normal. This book gave me hope for my new normal.¤

4) Hardcover Book A New Kind of Normal: Hope-Filled Choices When Life Turns Upside Down by Thomas Nelson. After reading all of the reviews, it´s understandable the feelings that come out of a situation like this. I never got the impression that Carol and her huband expect to get a lighter sentence. I belive that they have come to terms with the situation itself. I think the problem comes in with the criminal justice system itself. I don´t see child abusers and sex offenders getting a harsh enough sentence and they have LONG rap sheets...it never seems fair, but either way I think we can all learn something from this situation, and I think that is her point in writing the book and speaking about it. Awful situtions happen in the world every day and coming to terms with it and helping others in similar situaions is the best we can do -with God´s help - and I think that is the point of the book and she did that wonderfully.¤

5) Hardcover Book A New Kind of Normal: Hope-Filled Choices When Life Turns Upside Down by Thomas Nelson. This was a great book. There is so much that God can do if we look to him for guidance and control of all aspects of our lives.¤

6) Hardcover Book A New Kind of Normal: Hope-Filled Choices When Life Turns Upside Down by Thomas Nelson.

Carol Kent has lived every parent´s nightmare. After her only son was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, Carol´s life took a permanent detour. She and her husband, Gene, have been adjusting ever since, moving to Florida to be near the prison, starting a new ministry for prison inmates and their families, and sharing the faithfulness of God with anyone who will listen.

A New Kind of Normal begins with the story of that horrible night when Carol and Gene learned their son had been arrested, but it doesn´t end there. In fact, Carol knows what it means to live with an unthinkable circumstance that will never change-and to still make hope-filled choices. Through the eight chapters in this book, Carol will use their own story, the story of Mary mother of Jesus, and stories of women who have experienced their own "new normal" to share how God has led them to choose life, gratitude, vulnerability, involvement, forgiveness, trust, and action.

Page Updated: Robert N. Goolsby, 7-Jan-2009, , 430-370-071-121-431-8WB-8

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