Standing Strong
When the path is not clear, when temptation is near, when God speaks in a whisper you can barely hear...
ISBN
9780997674729
Softcover, 331 pp
$13.99
Having just confessed his sins to his priest--more sins than a kid his age should have--Jarret jumps in his Chrysler 300 and races to the outskirts of town. Emotion overwhelming him, he pulls off the road and flings himself face down behind an outcropping of rocks. Ever since that life-changing night in the canyon, Jarret has felt the presence of the Lord in his soul. Now that presence is fading. Is it his fault? How will he remain faithful without it when he still struggles against the same temptations?
Meanwhile his twin brother, Keefe, questions whether he has a calling to religious life. He's gone along with Jarret's bad schemes for years. Is he worthy of such a calling? What would he have to give up to pursue a vocation? Keefe reads everything he can about St. Francis and the Franciscans, but he’s afraid to talk to his father about the Franciscans' upcoming discernment retreat because his father seems closed to faith. Is he ready to go all in?
"In a society where many sell themselves short in striving for greatness and virtue, Theresa Linden's Standing Strong continues to exemplify how relatable members of the West family are to us, and moreover, how untiring is the pursuit of our merciful Lord in His quest to give us every good thing when our soul is free to receive Him. 'God enriches the soul which empties itself of everything.' ~Saint Pio of Pietrelcina"
~Brother Conrad Richardson, fbp, Franciscan Brothers of Peace
“Linden is a master at getting inside the heads of today's teenagers, and her own deep faith and love of God shine through and inspire on every page. After reading Standing Strong, your own spiritual life cannot but be strengthened, making you also want to stand strong for God. Highly recommended!”
~Susan Peek, author of fast-paced saint stories including The King's Prey
“Standing Strong refutes one-dimensional stereotypes and redefines the power of Bro. Recommended for teenage boys as well as for anyone who would like to fathom their world."