Customer Reviews

The Shepherds' Prayer: A Christmas Novel

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THE SHEPHERD'S PRAYER tells the story of Jesus' birth from the viewpoint of nearby shepherds who were first-hand observers of the wondrous heavenly visitation surrounding the events of the day.

How would simple herdsmen have reacted to an angelic visit, heaven opening up and bursting forth upon the countryside and the Lord, Himself, lying as a vulnerable baby in a rude cattle stall? Herod's atrocities, the bitterness of the bereaved parents, the shunning of the Jews which would eventually cost Jesus his life, are all tenderly but faithfully depicted in this simple story.

There are a few contemporary Christian authors who have a gift for retelling familiar Bible stories from a different perspective and engaging the reader in a compelling, interesting, simple way: Gene Edwards, Philip Yancy, and now, Richard Barry are certainly among those.

SHEPHERD's PRAYER is also a reminder that all believers have a place in the royal lineage in the kingdom of God. Through Jesus to Abraham, today's faithful are partakers of this wonderful story and heirs to the stable as well as to the heavenly realm.

This is a sweet story for all ages.

Wow! This thought-provoking novel took me on a spiritual journey down a path that I'd never considered before. As many encounters as I've had with the Christmas story, it never occurred to me how the event affected the people of Bethlehem. Told from the perspective of the community who lost their young sons in the Slaughter of the Innocents gave a heartwrenching humanity to the story and a deeper understanding into why Jesus faced so much resistance throughout His mission. The book is written with extraordinary attention to detail, masterfully drawing the reader into the setting alongside the shepherds who witnessed the event, inspiring the powerful emotions of actually being in that time and place. Long after the final pages were read, I remained in a reflective state of peaceful spirituality. Don't let the small size of this book fool you, as it packs a tremendous punch! It will surely touch your heart.

Inspirational Reading
(A Review of Richard M. Barry's "The Shepherds' Prayer")



Inspirational Christian fiction can cause the human mind to be reenergized and refocused on the spiritual realm beyond one's earthly eyesight.

Such is indeed the case with "The Shepherds' Prayer" by Richard M. Barry. This book, dealing with the birth of Christ and King Herod's attempt at murdering the Savior as an infant, is an easy read for all ages. It is a story that reinforces the tenets of the Christian faith, while at the same time provides the reader with some interesting plot twist and emotional struggle.

One of my favorite Ernest Hemingway books is "The Old Man and the Sea." The classic novel keeps the story simple but interesting and flowing. "The Shepherd's Prayer" does the same. The dialogue is simple, but it makes the story more solid.

As the main character, Anam, searches for clues to his past and its relation to the virgin birth of the Messiah, I found myself rooting for him to succeed. At the same time, I was full of intrigue as to what each new piece of information would lead Anam to do. Would he stop digging up clues? Would he ever feel like he had reached the conclusion of his investigation? It was hard to stop reading this well-penned novel (or novella, possibly).

This work reminds us that it is not always easy to follow the will of God - to believe the prophecies and the guidance God's holy word provides. Many characters in this narrative have their faith tested by amazing sacrifices. Their steadfast service to the Lord is a stirring dose of medicine to the complacent Christian or nonbeliever who happens across Barry's fictional anecdote.

I have read some reviews that have shown disfavor on this story for being only 123 pages in length. I think it is a blessing that so much wise and spiritual guidance is placed in such a short manuscript. In today's busy world, a book such as "The Shepherds' Prayer" will be read by more individuals, maybe even many who have never read such material.

Christian fiction has been on the rise for quite some time now; "The Shepherds' Prayer" is a great addition to this up and coming literary revolution. It is also the type of book that people will definitely buy in bulk to give to friends and relatives.

Anam believes angels, at times, are watching over him, keeping him safe from pitfalls and destruction. In many ways, this book, "The Shepherds' Prayer", makes me wonder if Barry should include "Heaven's Holy Angels" as the coauthor of his fine piece of literary work...


See ya next review.

The Shepherd's Prayer reminds me of the classic "The Other Wise Man" by Henry Van Dyke...a simple tale showing another perspective of Jesus' birth and life. Richard Barry tells the story of the Shepherds' experience of the nativity, focusing on the angels' appearing, their proclamation and the visit to the manger.

The story immediately captures the reader's interest and attention as a mother frantically rides into the Judean wilderness to escape Herod's henchmen butchering the babes in Bethlehem. He then tells a magnificently simple, profound story of a young man searching for his identity and for the significance of a man named Jesus born 30 years earlier.

Richard Barry captures the aurora surrounding the angels visit to the shepherds and their visit to the manger. What really speaks to the reader is a visit by Jesus 30 years later to the same shepherds and to the main character who finally finds his identity and heritage.

The Shepherd's Prayer is sure to become a favorite of mine to give to others at Christmas or Easter. It is a short but powerful book proclaiming the miracle of Jesus' birth and life, as well as telling of the tragedy surrounding his birth in Bethlehem.

The Spirit of Christmas speaks through this book and I think touches every reader's heart. Any member of family can read it and appreciate the story.
Shakespeare On Spirituality: Life-Changing Wisdom from Shakespeare's Plays

The Shepherd's Prayer is a superb novel about the Christmas story from two rarely considered perspectives.

The protagonist, Anam, is a survivor of Herod's infamous slaughter of the innocents, where he sought to kill all male babies in the area where Jesus was born who might have been the much prophesied Messiah. Additionally, this story focuses on the viewpoint of the shepherds who proclaimed Christ's birth.

It is a well written book with very good character development. The author brings us a look at a very well known story through the eyes of those not usually given much consideration.

This story is exciting and hard to put down. Mr. Barry obviously has some solid talent both in terms of idea creation and writing. I hope that this is just the first of many novels from him.

I highly recommend this book for people of all ages and those who are Christians and those who are just seeking.

So many stories have been written about the birth of Christ that it seems unlikely that an author could write a book with a different slant about the Christmas story. However, Richard M. Barry does just that in this creative view of Christ's birth. His main characters are Anam, a young man whose mother died trying to save him from Herod's wrath during the Slaughter of the Innocents, and the shepherds who heard about Jesus from an angel sent by God. Barry's book not only tells the Christmas story in a creative way, but he makes it very human and believable by relating it through the eyes of his main characters. This book presents the Gospel in a new and different way and is recommended reading for believers and non-believers alike.

WOW!!! I drove to Wichita on Sunday so The Shepherds' Prayer on CD was my church this week. In case you weren't aware, it is difficult to drive at freeway speeds with eyes over-brimming with tears. John McDonough was a terrific choice as the reader. The total work was inspired and I thank you for it. It will certainly become part of our Christmas observances.

This is something special. Richard Barry put some thought into this, and the result has the reader thinking. It had me impressed! You have your stories of kings and knights in shining armor, but then at times, you have some simple shepherds. Were the shepherds really THAT important in the life and times of Jesus? Barry makes the case that they were, and they were in fact, the first to hear of the birth of Christ. So is that all there is to it? Are we reading about some Super-shepherds, or is there a little more to this then meets the eye. This IS more then meets the eye, it tugs at the heart!

It tells the story of Anam, who is an adopted son, and although loved deeply by his father, feels like an outcast. With his father's blessing, and a simple lambskin with an inscription, he goes to seek out answers. While he longs for simply a comfort, he gets harsh rebuke, and is forbidden to speak the name of Jesus. He encounters a people who remember the ghastly order of King Herod. They simply remember a massacre. Most claim it was provoked by one baby who would become king of all kings. His quest leads him to the hated shepherds, and he cautiously goes to them for answers. He goes to them, trusting them with everything he's ever held dear, in desire for a simple answer that might comfort him.

The ultimate question this asks is up to the reader. It is the simple challenge of what YOU will do with Jesus Christ? Will you believe, or will your heart reveal doubt? Are you a shepherd at heart? All a simple matter of child-like faith.

There is nothing perfect here, except for Jesus. There is no stunning conclusion, yet a satisfying conclusion to look forward to! A quick read, that tugs at the heart for quite some time. Great work by Richard Barry!

King Herod's order to kill the first-born among Jewish children in Bethlehem, told in Matthew 2: 16-18, is known as "the slaughter of the Holy Innocents." This still-chilling account has been a recent focal point in pop culture retellings of Jesus' birth and early life.

2006's Christmas hit film "Nativity Story" starts with the soldiers' organized, savage attack before rewinding to the Annunciation, birth of Christ and heroic escape into Egypt. Anne Rice's richly detailed best-seller "Out of Egypt," returns Jesus from that exile with his family. He vaguely understands His purpose and back history, recoiling with tears and horror at the fear, murder and savagery His foretold birth inspired.

In Richard Barry's swift, compelling "Shepherd's Prayer," the Nativity and the genocidal act which followed starts a story of self-discovery. Anam, a literally nameless man, grows up an outsider within a loving family until he discovers his mother gave her love and life to save him from Herod's soldiers. He takes this truth (and a cryptically inscribed lambskin) back to Bethlehem 30 years after leaving to learn more about Jesus and, by extension, himself. He's helped by men Barry correctly calls "the greatest unsung heroes in the Bible" - shepherds who first knew and saw "the night of our dear Savior's birth." (The shepherd Eli's retelling of this night, which takes up most of the book's fifth chapter, is told with appropriate dismay and awe and is a highlight.)

Although Barry's character conversations are somewhat stilted, he convincingly demonstrates Bethlehem's fear and dread in recalling Herod's attack and the fulfilled prophecy they believed inspired it. He describes the town's ostracizing and attacking the shepherds, Anam's priest father and, 30 years later, Anam himself, showing how Jesus' later words, "I came not to bring peace, but a sword," would ring true from His first appearance on earth.

The first pages of the final chapter begin with Anam telling a shepherd, "Tonight, all our prayers will be answered." Without revealing the climax, Anam and the shepherds who helped him discover his history have their mission validated, and their faith and awe fulfilled and rewarded in their hearing.

"Shepherd's Prayer" is thought-provoking across its 120 pages, using often overlooked Gospel passages toward a plausible story of faith and personal belonging. It's a worthy, if minor, side trip from the beloved Nativity story, and recommended for a quick spiritual Christmas lift.

I read this twice, one for the head and once for the heart. A great story for any time of year. Reinforces the biblical passages while taking the reader on a journey. Also a great story for anyone with adopted children or those who foster children.