The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.Born in sin, but redeemed by the blood, John David Nightingale rejects his mother’s heritage and embraces his paternal grandfather’s faith. What price will he have to pay? Vietnam looms and his love, Hannah Rose, beckons, but the call of the Lord is so strong, David must answer.
John David’s Calling (The Revivalist Book 1)
By carylmcadoo
This book is about revival, Pentecostal, healing ministries, as David is called from his staunch sedate church of his grandfather who raised him, to the spirit led ministry style of his father who wasn’t in his life much as a child. He’s torn between obeying God and devotion to his grandfather. In the mix is a school girl he has his heart set on marrying when she’s finished high school. There are moments of crying both for praising the Lord and the suffering of someone, as well as several laugh out loud situations! This is a wonderful story of obeying God!
I loved this story so much. The time period is perfect and although I grew up in the 70’s I still remember some of the references the author makes. Like David , I had a Z28 Ccamero. It was a 1974 brand new blue turbo charged Z28. Oh my reading about his brings back memories. Marble Falls is very familiar to me since I live in Texas. Trust me when I say it is a place of beauty. As David graduates from high school he has many decisions to make. He knows God is calling him, but will he follow Him, or take a different route?
I loved how the author talks about the struggle David has trying to please everyone. It’s not easy to do that and sometimes we make the wrong choices. Can you remember a time when you didn’t listen to God? It was a time when the draft was in place and many young men were called up to serve. This time period has a lot of history and I loved how the author so eloquently shared it in the story.
Hannah sure is a hand full and has declared her feelings for John. I sense a bit of temptation creeping in and I sure hope David is strong enough to resist it. David is definitely a person to be around. He is devoted to the Lord and like all of us, struggles when God tells him to do something. I have argued with God many times, but in the end I had to obey Him. David has a servant’s heart just like David in the bible. Oh what a wonderful story the author has given us. I loved how she always puts in sweet southern sayings like,”Bless her pea- picking heart.”
Reading the story is so inspiring and I loved how David continues to listen to God. I loved the talks he has with God and the visions he is blessed with. The author describes the different denominations and I really enjoyed learning about them. David is continuing to get pressure from Hannah to get married. Will he be able to resist temptation and stay on course for what God has planned for Him? Hannah started to get on my nerves with her constant wanting to get married. I wanted to tell her to be quiet and wait on the Lord. She needs to trust what God has called David for and believe she will be there beside him when the time is right.
This book is one I didn’t want to end. I loved reading about David and his calling . He never gave up and always believed that Hannah would be by his side. Does she follow David when revival breaks out? What happens when David hears a call that requires him to go where few have been to minister? It is a beautiful story of following God’s call on your life and the blessings waiting for you as you obey.
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.
Another story that I really enjoyed featuring a Buckmeyer relative. This young man was true to his calling and the trials of his wanting to preach, college and wanting his young lady as a wife made for a trying few years. Family, faith and daily life made this a so true to life drama!
I received a copy to participate in a Celebrate Lit book tour. My review is voluntary.
I loved the character of John David, his girlfriend Heather left a bit to be desired, but I had to remind myself that she was really a child when this book began.
A young man who has chosen to follow his faith, and to do so causes rifts in his family. I could feel the power of his convictions, and he acts on them, and you’re going to love him as he goes about with life’s struggles.
He is a man who has a heart for God and lives his faith, and is listening to what he thinks God wants for him.
I’m happy that his is the start of a new series and can’t wait for more!
I received this book through Celebrate Lit Blogger Program, and was not required to give a positive review.
I really liked this book. Ms. McAdoo proved once again what a great story teller she is. I liked how David was determined not to make the mistakes his father and grandfather had made. He tried to live his life the way God wanted, and was willing to step out in faith when God told him to do something even if he didn’t know the reason. Hannah struck me as a bit of a spoiled brat at first, but she grew up and learned to listen to God as well. I thought this was a great book and I would recommend it.
I received a PDF copy of this book from the author and was not required to write a positive review.
Caryl, drew me into this story from page one as I was close to the same age as David when it began. This was a very turbulent time period for our age group. We were caught between the old and new ways, the Vietnam War conflict, the hippie movement, and the race to the moon, just to name a few. David had other issues pulling at him also, trying to please everyone, his calling to God, and his girlfriend Hannah. I felt for David and his struggles. Will David follow his call to God, his girlfriend Hannah, or fight for his Country? This story made me reflect, could I walk in David’s shoes? Would I have had that kind of strength?
I have to confess reading John David’s Calling was my introduction to Caryl McAdoo’s writing. Wow, I have really been missing the works of a great Christian historical storyteller. So I decided to see what else she has written and found out that John David’s story started out ten books ago in her Texas Romance Series. Caryl writes all of her stories as stand alone which is why one can read John David’s Calling without reading the Texas Romance Series. However, I am sure that I would have enjoyed this wonderful inspirational story even more if I had discovered Caryl McAdoo years ago and had read her Texas Romance Series first. Therefore, I am definitely going to read her Texas Romance Series so I get to know the Nightingale family history and reread John David’s Calling.
Along with the author I too felt it strange John David’s Calling is considered a historical novel which starts out in the late sixties, but then again we are in the 3rd Millennium now which is considered the contemporary era.
I received a complimentary copy of this book as part of the author’s Celebrate Lit book tour. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I love that this author incorporates God into her books. That makes them more meaningful to me. Her stories are always intriguing and I hate when the book ends.