Chasing the Lion

Chasing the Lion by Nancy Kimball
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Jonathan Tarquinius will steal your heart from the moment you meet him as a fatherless boy of twelve trying to escape the village bullies, to the sixteen-year-old son of a nobleman sold into slavery by his cruel step-brother, and finally as the brave gladiator destined against all odds to become the champion of Rome.

As you read Jonathan’s story, you’ll share in his resentment and fury toward those who have wronged him, tortured him, used him—from the lust-hungry wife of his master, to his greed-filled owner, and the blood-thirsty crowds that throng the auditorium. You’ll weep for him. You’ll love with him.

But will he ever find his way back to his father and home? To the woman he loves? To freedom?
Amongst the injustice, hatred, envy, and lust, Award-winning author, Nancy Kimball, weaves the beautiful story of redemption. The scarlet thread is intertwined in the narrative and dialogue of Jonathan’s childhood memories; through the love of a young slave girl who fight after fight faithfully tends his injuries and pours salve onto his wounded soul; and in the sacrificial death of a worthy opponent. No greater love has a man than to lay down his life for a friend.

Set in ancient Rome in the era of gladiators and slaves, Chasing the Lion is an epic novel written in beautiful prose. For me, every word has been a sumptuous feast and I’ve not wanted this banquet to end. Well done, Nancy. I’m so proud to call you my friend.


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BACK HOME AND COUNTING MY BLESSINGS

One night, about four weeks ago, I was uploading photos to my Facebook profile of the Re-birth Romania outreach way into the early hours of the morning. Seeing the pictures stirred memories in my mind. Way into the following day I reflected on these thoughts and realised just how much I have to be thankful for.

Just earlier that night, I’d been complaining of how cold our house was because in sunny South Africa we don’t have double-glazing on our windows like they do in Europe. To us it was quite chilly, with the winter temperature dropping to around zero that night. But God reminded me of the families in Dallas, the gypsy community we’d spent the previous week in helping to build houses. He reminded me of the Romanian winters where temperatures drop to negative 25 Celcius. And He reminded me that these gypsies too have single glazing in their homes. And they don’t have electricity to enjoy the comforts of heaters or electric blankets, or hot showers when they get cold. I was humbled, and so and thankful for all that God has provided for my family and I.

My thoughts drifted to the nearly 600 emails – half of them probably junk mail – that I needed to sift though after having been away from work for a month. Once again, God reminded me of the men, women and children in Dallas who have to rummage through hundreds of pieces of garbage every day in heat of over 40 degrees C, or in cold up to negative 25, to find recyclable items so they can make enough to buy food for the day for their families. Again, I was humbled and thankful for my temperature-controlled office, my wonderful boss and colleagues, and a healthy paycheque at the end of every month. And I was thankful for God’s goodness and provision in my life.

 

Let me challenge you, as I was challenged. Do you recognise the blessings of God in your life? Are you truly thankful for them? And are you doing something to make a difference in the lives of those who don’t seem to have much to rejoice about?

Yes, I know there are too many needs in the world for us to meet them all, but we can still make a difference, even if it’s just in one family’s life – we did! So don’t get discouraged by all the needs in the world, rather make of point of being the difference each day.

Re-birth Romania Team: (Back) Samuel,
(Front) Paiivi, Marion, Noel, Tiia, Kyle, Christo, Sara

From South Africa thinking about Romania with love

 

Marion

Lamentations 3v22-23: “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”