This religious novel follows the lives of twins Connie and Donnie Slocum, their divorced mother and father, and Connie's romantic interests, Ralph and Larry, as Connie becomes a devout Christian. As Connie walks “in straight paths” after her conversion, even through difficult times, her life and the lives of her friends and family are significantly impacted.Fiery-tempered Connie Slocum is unrelentingly teased by her mischievous twin brother, Donnie, during their growing-up years. Their mother is often frustrated in her attempt to control the constant bickerings and blames her troubles on their father, who left her, when the twins were babies, for his red-haired secretary. Donnie and Connie had a very limited relationship with their father, who later left his secretary for another woman.Embittered by the reverses and heartaches of life, Mrs. Slocum reared her children entirely apart from any church affiliation. But the faithful witnessing of a lay member of a small church. Mrs. Flowers, in their community caused Connie to become interested in spiritual things.Connie's new church interest caused conflicts in her home with her mother and twin brother. It also created difficulty in her relationship with Ralph, Donnie's best friend with whom Connie had become romantically involved. She was unable to interest them in going to church with her, and was discouraged by them from going to her small church. Her differences with Ralph over her church contributed to the breakup of their relationship although they remained friends. In spite of this, Connie continued her spiritual pursuit at the small church and accepted Christ. This led to her ultimately deciding to go to a Bible College with her church friend, Judy, in spite of concerns about the impact of leaving her mother at home. She was also concerned about the cost of her college education, but her prayers resulted in her needs being met in unexpected ways She also met and established a romantic relationship with Larry there even though she stilll maintained some feelings for Ralph.While away from home, Connie remained concerned about her mother and Donnie. She was especially concerned about Donnie's partying and alcoholic tendencies while at college. She continued to pray for their salvation. .She was very encouraged when she received a letter from her mother saying she missed Connie, and promised her that she would go to church with Mrs, Flowers. Shortly thereafter, she received a call from her mother telling Connie she had accepted Christ. Connie was so thankful to hear that her prayers had been answered. Unfortunately, she also found out that Donnie had been in an automobile accident with friend Ralph, and that Donnie was unconscious, in critical condition. Ralph was also hospitalized. Both were intoxicated and driver Ralph had received a DWI citation. Connie was extremely concerned about Donnie since she knew he was not prepared to meet his maker.Connie's prayers were answered when Donnie finally recovered. Connie was able to return to Bible College and was interested in re-connecting with Larry but found out he was dating someone else. Connie was baffled that Larry apparently had no interest in her any longer – she would like to be his “steady girl”. A missionary convention was held at the Bible College, soliciting missionaries for New Guinea. This convention changed Connie's life, as she responded to a call to the mission field in spite of concerns about being away from her family. She remembered her promise to God when she was saved that she would follow Him “in straight paths” - “I'll go anywhere you want to send me”.Shortly afterwards, she discovered that Larry had also responded to the mission call in New Guinea as a result of the missionary convention. This re-kindled the relationship between Connie and Larry. She could now see Larry's love for her in his eyes.Through Connie's experience, she discovered that the straight path of righteousness leads through trials, tests, heartache, persecution, separation, and loneliness. But, on the other hand, in this realistic story written especially for young people, you will discover with Connie that the way to full surrender to God is the only path to true joy, peace, satisfaction and a useful, happy life.

This religious novel explores the journey of Dave Maddox “through troubled waters”. His life was shattered after his wife Carol was killed in an automobile accident while on their honeymoon. Even though his seemingly hopeless life was restored when he married Jennie Taylor and accepted Christ, he re-entered “troubled waters”, which were navigated only by commitment of a loving wife and prayer.Dave Maddox's dreams came to an abrupt halt when he had a serious automobile accident as he and his new bride Carol travelled to their honeymoon the day before Christmas. Carol had critical injuries and finally died of her injuries. This was devastating to Dave. He could only see an empty life, stretching endlessly – no wife, no home, no love, no happiness. He had especially bitter feelings towards Christmas since his accident happened the day before Christmas.While hospitalized, Dave observed that one of the nurses, Jennie Taylor, was very likable, caring, and wonderful with Carol. He also noticed that she prayed with Carol every day. After Carol died, Jennie had told Dave, “If I don't see you anymore, I will be praying for you”. Even though Dave attempted to go on with his life, his grief continued and his life continued to spiral further out of control. After Dave had gone to Joe's Bar, he woke up in jail and was told that he was found sitting on the curb bawling his heart out about “Carol”. Subsequently, when at the drug store, he ran into Jennie and asked her to call him sometime. Dave's lifestyle contributed to health issues and Dave was admitted to the hospital where Jennie worked. While in the hospital, he asked about Jennie but she was out sick at the time. He was very distraught that his life had gone “out of control”. When Rev. Smith, Jenny's pastor, came to visit Dave at the hospital, with Rev. Smith's encouragement, Dave repented of his sins and accepted Christ.When Dave later called Jennie's number to check on her, her mother answered and informed Dave that Jenny was in the hospital. When visiting her there, he told Jenny about Rev. Smith's visit to the hospital and his religious conversion. After Jennie's release from the hospital, they went on several dates. After several weeks, he proposed to her and she accepted. They later married in a quiet ceremony. As time went on, Jennie wanted to become more involved in activities that allowed her to witness for God. Dave, however, would not allow her to get involved in activities outside of the home. Dave began to stray from God and admitted to spiritual defeat. Meanwhile, Jennie became pregnant and gave birth to their beautiful daughter Joan. Dave's condition continued to worsen and he finally left the family. One day, Rev. Smith and his wife showed up to tell Jennie that Dave had been in a car wreck. Jennie went to the hospital and subsequently discovered that Dave was in the car with another woman that he had picked up at a bar – both were drunk at the time of the accident. When Jennie was very forgiving, although Dave had spurned God's love, Dave expressed to Jennie that he was “sick and tired” of the life he had lived and the grief he had caused Jennie and Joan. This led to Dave repenting again for his transgressions. He told Jennie that he would no longer hinder her from doing God's work. Dave returned home with Jennie and Joan shortly before Christmas. After a while, after Joan complained of a headache, she became very ill and had to be hospitalized. Jenny wondered if this was God's way of allowing Dave to realize the importance of achieving a fully sanctified Christian experience. Dave later left to go to a little roadside church to ask God to help him achieve this complete Christian experience. When Dave returned, he was apologetic for the way he had caused Jennie and Joan to suffer. Shortly thereafter, Dr. Spinks came in the room to tell Joan and Dave that Joan seemed to have recovered. In fact, he shared, that she had recovered much faster that he expected. He said he had no hope for recovery when she first came to the hospital.Meanwhile, sounds of “Silent Night, Holy Night” were coming from the hospital corridor. With his prior disdain for Chistmas, he knew then that he had indeed survived his passage “through troubled waters” and had finally obtained a full lasting Christian experience.

This religious novel explores the unusual juxtaposition of the lives of members of several Southern families, the “shackles” of alcoholism, and its extremely adverse impact on family and romantic relationships. It also demonstrates the power of prayer and conversion to Christianity and its positive effect in restoring damaged relationships by the resultant “shattered shackles”The lives of Jim Reid and his drinking buddy, John O'Banion, hit “rock bottom” in their marriages. Both started drinking at an early age. Jim was a habitual drunkard, poor provider, and often an absentee husband and father of 6 children. The oldest, Billy, disappeared and was never found. Jim was often unemployed and often slept in box cars, under bridges, in the back of saloons, or wherever he could find a place. When his wife Lola died, Jim stayed with the children for awhile but eventually alcoholism took its hold and Jim left his children on their own. While searching for the “man in black” who presided over the funeral of Lola, the children were discovered and went to live with Ben and Sarah Barton. It turned out that the “man in black” was actually the uncle of Sarah, Rev. Jack Delaney (“Uncle Jack”). He and wife, Mae, had raised Sarah and her sister, Bessie, after their parents were killed in an automobile accident. This led to the re-discovery of the children's father Jim, his conversion to Christianity after a young man handed him a tract containing Rev. Delaney's name, and the happy re-uniting with the children. Meanwhile, John was a terrible, mean husband to Alice, one of Jim's nieces. He had beat up his wife on occasion and had even pulled a gun on Alice's mother and “acted like a wild man”. John was re-united with his old drinking buddy, Jim, after John came to Rev. Delaney to preside over the funeral of the death of his newborn child. This eventually led to John seeking to have his “shackles” of alcoholism “shattered” through his pursuit of Christianity. Another family that incurred the “shackles” of alcoholism was the Greene family. Alton Greene discovered Jim passed out drunk in in alley, which led to Jim's hospitalization and dangerous illness for several days. Alton had serious alcoholism issues that eventually led to his commitment to a mental institution for 11 months. He and his twin brother, Bud, became hopeless alcoholics at barely 20 years old. Alton was devastated when Bud was killed when struck by an automobile, and even contemplated suicide. Their sister, Rachal, had an unfortunate romance unknowingly to a married man and had a child out of wedlock.Alton fell in love with Sarah's sister and a niece of Rev. Delaney, Bessie, and had several dates. He had initially seen her singing on the street about the love of God. Bessie was much younger than Alton and their romance was adversely impacted by Alton's alcoholism and the fact that he was not a Christian. Jim, meanwhile fell in love with Alton's sister, Rachal, but had to deal with the fact that, even though she was now a Christian, she had been an unwed mother.This religious novel explores the unusual juxtaposition of the lives of members of several Southern families, the “shackles” of alcoholism, and its extremely adverse impact on family and romantic relationships. It also demonstrates the power of prayer, coupled with acts of faith and coincidental events, in “shattering the shackles” of alcohol through Christian conversion, restoring damaged relationships, and changing lives forever.

This religious novel, a sequel to In Straight Paths, follows the life of Donnie Slocum as he finds himself entangled in Satan's net. He faces seemingly insurmountable problems when drink and carelessness rob him of his job, his wife Sharon, and daughter Christy. Finally, when apparently at rock-bottom, God reached down and plucked him out the net and set his feet on the straight path.Donnie Slocum, twin to Connie in the book, In Straight Paths, finds himself entangled in Satan's net when he fails to heed his sister's pleadings to take the way of righteousness. He never meant to get so far away from God. At one time he had almost yielded. "I really want to change," he told Connie. Then he went back to college and his former companions. One thing led to another, and before long, he is faced with seemingly insurmountable problems. Drink and carelessness robbed him of his job, his lovely wife, Sharon, and his precious baby daughter, Christy. In desperation, after he lost his job, Donnie staged a holdup at a service station in order to get money to return to his hometown and his mother. There he is constantly reminded of God's claims upon his life, and his mother's prayers thwart his every attempt to find any measure of happiness in the ways of sin and disobedience to God's commands. Connie's letters telling of happiness working in primitive New Guinea with her husband, Larry, merely added to Donnie's frustration and misery. Always, she kept reminding him of her prayers for him. After returning home, he continued to miss Sharon and Christy greatly and felt terrible for his actions that led to Sharon leaving and filing for divorce. He tried to reconcile to no avail. Finally, when reconciliation appeared hopeless, he met Lisa Whitfield and became engaged to be married. His pending marriage to Lisa was met with disapproval by Donnie's mother, who believed that Donnie's marriage to Sharon was “until death do us part”. Even when it appeared that Donnie and Lisa would marry, Mrs. Slocum continued to pray for Donnie's and Sharon's reconciliation. Lisa's Christian parents felt similarly to Mrs. Slocum and joined with her to pray for God's resolution to this situation. Continual ongoing prayers were also issued for Donnie's Christian conversion.Just prior to Donnie's and Lisa's marriage, God answered their parents' prayers when Lisa was converted to Christianity and concluded that the marriage was not in God's will to proceed. Especially considering his prior marriage experience, this was difficult for Donnie to deal with.Even though Donnie had been successful to this time in his attempt to resist it all--the prayers, the letters, the pleadings of Christian friends, and the inner voice--God reached down and plucked him out of the net and set his feet on the straight path to salvation. His newfound Christian experience led him to make restitution for some of his prior transgressions, including the service station robbery, failure to pay rent and utilities, and theft from a friend. Donnie later felt called to the ministry even though he knew this would be difficult without his wife. He had continued to try to contact Sharon without success. He also felt conflicted about his call to the ministry and didn't know the best way to proceed. A chance encounter with a minister, Jim Chaney, who had stopped to help him when Donnie was stranded due to car problems, led to Donnie's first ministerial experience at a small church in Jennings. At a Sunday service, he discovered a cute little girl that reminded him of his daughter. When he asked her name, she remarkably said it was “Christy”, and that her mother's name was “Momma Sharon”. Someone with Christy confirmed that Christy and Sharon indeed now lived in Jennings and provided their address. Through this miraculous set of events, Donnie had re-discovered Christy and Sharon. After visiting Sharon, he was able to discuss his amazing life changes from his newfound Christian experience that made him a different person from the man that led to her leaving him in the first place. This resulted in the incredible reconciliation of Donnie and Sharon and a wonderful Christian experience for both..This Christian novel demonstrates that, when life situations seem the most hopeless, that prayer and trust in God can lead to miracles that far exceed human expectations.