God’s Book – Part 1 (Or Do You Have a Model Apartment?)
God’s Book – Part 2 (Or The Great Liberator)
By Freda Gower Ward

     Let me start out by saying that Freda Gower Ward is perhaps the funniest person I’ve ever known. She has a way of making me feel funny, too. Not the kind of funny that you feel when the next door neighbor goes outside without his robe closed; it’s the kind of funny you feel when Lucy stuffs candy in her mouth as she works with Ethel on the candy-wrapping assembly line.

      Freda sends me all her books to review because I asked her to. They’re just that good. The latest one was titled “God’s Book.” Usually, I devour Freda’s books as soon as they arrive. This time, however, because of some publishing deadlines of my own, it landed on my “waiting to be reviewed” shelf. When Freda asked about the reviews she was waiting for, I checked my shelf, somewhat confused because she asked about “God’s Book Part 1” and “God’s Book Part 2.” I only remembered receiving one “God’s Book.” A quick search through my books one evening assured me that I had “God’s Book Part One.” I had another package from Freda that had a label on it that said something about God’s Book, so I figured everything was okay. However, when I went back to retrieve the book, I could only find “God’s Book Part 2”! Where was Part 1? I was certain I’d seen it. I checked the book still in the envelope, but that was something entirely different.

      After spending one entire evening and most of the next morning tearing my house apart, I finally gave in and e-mailed Freda, ashamed to admit that I’d lost “God’s Book Part 1.” (Sounds kind of sacrilegious!) She wrote me right back. If it were possible to hear snickering in an e-mail, I’m sure my ears would have been burning. She told me to turn the book over because “The two parts are in the same book, just upside down from each other because that's what Jesus and his publicists did—turn the world upside down.” Of course when I turned the book over, there was Part 1. After admitting to her that I’d been searching through everything trying to find Part 1, she wrote this: “Nancy, you are toooo funny!” (I’m afraid to ask whether it’s the open robe funny or the Lucy funny. It’s probably better if I don’t know.)

    Well, wish I had time to talk about the book, but….just kidding.

     God’s Book Part 1 and Part 2 are Freda’s version of the Old and New Testaments. It is funny, it is inspirational, and it packs a lot of truth. Freda cuts to the heart of our hearts. She makes us laugh, she makes us think, and she reminds us of God’s great love for us. She also reminds us that if we are made in God’s image, He must have a great sense of humor. That makes me feel better.

     God’s Book Part 1 and Part 2 is one of the best things Freda Gower Ward has ever written.

     Please just remember to turn the book over…

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