The Designer Bag at the Garbage Dump: A Novel

It's a Wonderful Life meets The ShackJulie, a self-centered "Christian" headed for a shopping binge to New York finds herself sitting next to Jesus on the train. Her charmed life is shattered when she gets off in India and realizes that she must rescue 12 "filthy orphans" living in a garbage dump before she can return to her family.Each day brings overwhelming challenges of living on the street. While squatting in an alley, going to the bathroom, an orphan, Ravi, steals her designer purse. Ravi, who speaks English, holds the key to her communicating with the orphans.Can she protect the orphans from a predator who steals and maims children and sends them out to beg? How will God provide food when her wallet is stolen? Can she find safe homes for these needy orphans?As she begrudgingly rescues the orphans the Lord uses them to rescue her from her own cold heart. Watching Jesus slowly change Julie, this self-focused woman, will surely give us all hope for the future. Review An imaginative journey of the heart--full of action and surprises. An unlikely heroine's change of heart brings redemption, joy, and justice to others.     --Bonnie Chavda, Senior Pastor, All Nations Church From the Inside Flap From the author: OK, I substituted theForeword for the inside cover--so sue me!Powerful teaching can be hidden in stories. This is why Jesus taught in parables. You hold in your hand the story that highlights truths we need to embrace in our journey to die to ourselves. Though slow and painful, it is necessary in order to totally live for Him. I have learned through the years that setting our heart to obey Him 98% does not leave us with vibrant spirit. But, giving 100% of ourselves brings 100% of Him. What anincredible exchange!Learn about the struggle for total surrender by watching Julie's life and read the rich rewards that come to her as a result: intimacy with the Lord, a change in perspectives and priorities, a love for people, a healed heart, relational changes, joy and the alleviation of stress anddisease.The second theme of this book is our attitude toward the poor. Reading this book will give an increased inspiration and vision to touch the poor. I challenge you to grapple with the issue of what it looks like to live a simple lifestyle in our western, affluent consumer-oriented culture. Do our checkbooks distinguish us from our unsaved neighbors? Is most of our time consumed by our work in order to pay for more possessions? Beloved, it is best to settle these issues now, not tomorrow or in ten years. Read, learn, be inspired and be change by His abundant grace!Mike Bickle, DirectorInternational House of PrayerKansas City, Missouri About the Author I'm sorry the internet is all that's available; I wish we could chat over a cup of chai and chocolate cookies. But since we can't, here's a little info about me. Here's the boring part: live in KC, MO, blah, blah, blah, award-winning humor author and ghost writer, blah, blah, blah.Mildly interesting stuff about me:A: I enjoy: *Humor! *Reading (OK,it's an addiction) *My Australian Shepherd, Rex (a.k.a., "the Rexer Doggie"). *Garage sales and thrift stores (I LOVE a bargain) *The clear blue water of the tropics and the exquisitely beautiful fish that reside there *Good conversations *Miracle Whip (not mayo) *Tea (not coffee) *Milk chocolate (not dark) *Funny quotes-my current favorite: "DESTINED FOR GREATNESS-Just pacing myself." I dislike: *Snakes *House cleaning (If you're allergic to dust you would die at my house) *Cooked turnips (but I like them raw) *Cold temperatures (Anything below 72 and I'm dressing in layers) *Horseradish, wasabi, hot peppers, anything hotter than mild sauce at Taco Bell *Waste of any kind *Arrogant people with Y chromosomes