Holding Heaven: A Novella [Illustrated] [Hardcover]

Jerry Jenkins (Author), Ron DiCianni (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 4, 2005

Storyteller Jerry B. Jenkins and biblical artist Ron DiCianni transport you to the hardscrabble Middle East of the first century where you eavesdrop on interaction between a father and a son so profound that it will forever change how you view the Incarnation.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

JERRY JENKINS is the author of more than 100 books, including the best-selling Left Behind series, co-authored with Tim LaHaye. Jenkins owns Jenkins Entertainment, a filmmaking company in Los Angeles, as well as the Christian Writers Guild, an organization that trains professional Christian writers. He is a frequent guest on the Focus on the Family radio program and is a sought after speaker and humorist. He and his wife have three grown sons and two grandchildren.

RON DICIANNI has been an illustrator for over 30 years and is the creator of the best-selling work Spiritual Warfare. DiCianni’s self-stated mission is to Reclaim the Arts for Christ. He has illustrated and authored several best-selling projects and is currently working on a first-of-its-kind illustrated Bible. DiCianni currently lives in Southern California with his wife, Pat. They have two grown sons.

From AudioFile

In this one-hour narration of his own novella, Jerry Jenkins portrays the life of Jesus as told by his father, Joseph. Jenkins narrates with such intensity that it's easy to feel the excitement of the story as it progresses. One can also sense the incredible love between father and son. Beginning with Jesus's birth, through His childhood, manhood, and approaching crucifixion, Jesus and Joseph have many father-son conversations. This imaginative story relates these discussions, beginning with Joseph talking to the infant Jesus and ending with Jesus talking to Joseph when His father is on his deathbed. This remarkable perspective of a familiar story is well done and worth the hour of listening. N.L. © AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson (November 4, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 159145218X
• ISBN-13: 978-1591452188
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.7 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #710,849 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Dr. Jerry B. Jenkins, former vice president for publishing and currently writer-at-large for the Moody Bible Institute of Chicago, is the author of more than 160 books, including the 63,000,000-selling Left Behind series.

Also the former editor of Moody Magazine, Dr. Jenkins's writing has appeared in Time, Reader's Digest, Parade, Guideposts, and dozens of Christian periodicals. Jerry and Dr. Tim LaHaye were profiled in a May 24, 2004 cover story in Newsweek magazine entitled "The New Prophets of Revelation."

Jerry's non-fiction books include as-told-to biographies with Hank Aaron, Orel Hershiser, Walter Payton, Nolan Ryan, and many others.

Jenkins also assisted Dr. Billy Graham with his memoirs, Just As I Am, also a New York Times bestseller.

Jerry owns Jenkins Entertainment, a filmmaking company in Los Angeles, and also the Christian Writers Guild, which aims to train tomorrow's professional Christian writers and has nearly 2,000 members worldwide.

www.JerryJenkins.com
www.Jenkins-Entertainment.com
www.ChristianWritersGuild.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars superb tour-de-force, October 18, 2005

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Holding Heaven: A Novella (Hardcover)

A father sits up with his son late one night so the mother can get some rest and thirty years later that same son is staying with his dying father. These two men are extraordinary people because they are Joseph and Mary's son Jesus.

As a baby, Jesus had two types of crying, one when he is hungry and thirsty or needs changing and one that sounds like he is crying for mankind. It is an eerie sound but Joseph knows why Jesus is crying and accepts that he weeps for a sin-filled world. When Joseph is dying, he asks Jesus what is to become of him and he shows his earthly father what his heavenly father wants him to do. He will do it knowing that he will be betrayed. Joseph's hearts breaks when he learns this because he knows he will not be there to give his son his strength.

The love between Joseph and Jesus is so palpable that readers can feel it and the bond they share is that of an ordinary father and son even though Joseph knows Jesus is part Divine, sent by the one true God to save mankind. It is a beautiful story, one that will bring tears to the readers for Joseph's dying lament as much as for Christ's future suffering. This is very different than the Left Behind series but it is also a tour-de-force.

Harriet Klausner

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Both parents and children will enjoy this rendition of the Christmas story, December 20, 2005

By 

Christian Book Previews "Christian Book Previews" - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Holding Heaven: A Novella (Hardcover)

Holding Heaven, written by Jerry Jenkins and illustrated by Ron Dicianni, is the story of Jesus told by His earthly father, Joseph. It is a beautifully illustrated novella that would make a great Christmas present.

We don't know much about Joseph from the Scriptures, but we do know he must have been a very special man to be given the responsibility of raising God's Son. This novella shows us the wonder, but also the love that Joseph had for Jesus. Imagine having your son born in a stable. Imagine having smelly shepherds actually find your family in that stable. Imagine a poor family being visited and gifted by wealthy men from a far country. And imagine being visited four times by an angel to direct you as to where you should live.

Jenkins primarily uses Scripture interwoven with dialogue to make the story flow. DiCianni, famous for his artwork with spiritual warfare themes, provides dramatic paintings for illustration. Both parents and children will enjoy this rendition of the Christmas story. -- Linda Demorest, Christian Book Previews.com

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars heart touching, May 12, 2009

By 

Sharron Thompson (Oklahoma) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Holding Heaven: A Novella (Hardcover)

If you want to feel as though you are holding baby Jesus, this book is for you. This book introduces the reader to a real Mary and Joseph.