Customer Reviews

What Difference Do It Make?: Stories of Hope and Healing

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I was lucky enough to receive an advance copy of Ron Hall and Denver Moore's new book. I read it in one sitting and turned the last page full of hope and promise.

In these days of demonizing politics, angry mobs, shouting congressmen and rising racial tension, "What Difference Do It Make?" offers an oasis of peace and good will. Although Hall told me this book seemed more difficult to write than "Same Kind of Different as Me," the struggle was not in vain.

You needn't have read "Same Kind of Different as Me" to appreciate "What Difference Do It Make?" Hall and Moore use back stories, share updates of their lives, while retaining the format used in SKoDaM - allowing each man to speak in his own voice and style.

Hall details the journey of his relationship with his alcoholic father. Moore delights readers with his keen recollections of his visit to White House, a kiss from former First Lady Barbara Bush and his meeting with President George W. Bush.

Hall told me the two men have raised over $32 million dollars for homeless projects, telling their story over 500 times in 200 cities during the past three years. They also witnessed the completion of the expansion project of the Union Gospel Mission in Fort Worth, where their incredible story began after Hall's late wife, Debbie, had a vision of the future - a future than included the forever friendship between the millionaire couple and the homeless man who would bring a great message of hope and healing to their city.

Woven between the updates are inspirational stories of people who are making a difference in their communities. Sorting through the thousands of e-mails from SKoDaM readers must have been a chore for the book's editors, but they did a good job in selecting moving stories that make the reader want to get up off the couch, roll up their sleeves and get to work making a difference themselves.

Hopefully, "What Difference Do It Make" will touch the lives of a whole new group of readers, sell a million copies, stay on the New York Times Bestseller list for 75 consecutive weeks like its predecessor and help advocates for the homeless to raise another $30 million across the country. The world needs more stories of courage, determination and the true meaning of unconditional love.

Well done, Ron and Denver, our good and faithful servants.

I have to be honest.

When I picked up the latest release from Ron Hall, Denver Moore, and Lynn Vincent, I was hesitant. Perhaps it was the subtitle: 'Stories of Hope and Healing'.

I thought I had 'Chicken Soup for the Social Justice Soul' on my hands.

Fortunately, first impressions -- in this case -- were entirely wrong.

What unfolds over the course of a quick 201-page read is a tightly written, compelling and transparent look at the genuine -- and inspiring -- momentum to address homelessness launched by the pair's first book, 'Same Kind of Different as Me'.

In little ways and in large, the authors detail their own stories and intersperse anecdotes from readers across the country, while continuing to challenge all of us to do more to address the often-ignored epidemic in our communities.

The authors, ever true to their convictions, don't pull any punches.

"It's important to draw a distinction between 'blessing' the homeless and 'helping' the homeless. I used to think I was helping by serving a meal or giving them some clothes, but I found out that for the most part I was just helping myself, making myself feel warm and fuzzy and philanthropic.

To be sure, it is a blessing to the homeless when they see people who care. But to really help, you've got to get down in the pit with people and stay with them until they find the strength to get on your shoulders and climb out." (Hall, p. 58)

That's what Ron and Dallas have done -- by giving money, time, and love to people who often don't reciprocate. Their challenge? That's okay. Do it anyway. It's the way God would want it.

To that end, the authors offer an interesting model in Chapter 25: a challenge to faith communities to enter into the life of a homeless individual strategically to bring sustainable life change in 30 days. The information is practical, yet cautious, like the wise advice of those who've been there, done that and learned along the way.

Many readers, however, will probably appreciate more the emphasis on individual responsibility highlighted and illustrated throughout this book. The stories are gritty, inspiring, well written and leave you with a sense of a greater movement -- a partnership -- of people committed to making a change in the here and now.

'What Difference Do It Make?' Apparently, plenty.

BONUSES: It was great to see full-color paintings by Denver Moore. Plus the book's last story -- involving a woman facing a similar fate as Ron's wife, Deborah, will leave most readers looking for ways to make the most of the time we have left this side of eternity.

In their follow up to Same Kind of Different As Me, Ron Hall and Denver Moore offer a look at what was going on in their lives while they were writing their breakout hit and what has happened to them afterward. It is also sprinkled with short stories of people the book has influenced, and the impact they have had on their community.

The book is written in the same style as Same Kind, with chapters alternating between Ron and Denver's point of view. Ron goes into more depth when describing his childhood, and also tells of his relationship with his father since the publication of his book.

The book is small and medium length, running only 201 pages. It almost feels like gift book, and really doesn't cover much new ground. The only thing that really keeps this book going is the touching sincerity of Ron Hall and Denver Moore. They truly love God, Deborah Hall, each other, and everyone they meet. Some of the words they speak in this book will truly move you. My only regret is that this book feels rushed to capitalize on the success of their previous book, but nevertheless, it does have some touching moments in it.

This book is a follow-up to the very successful "Same Kind of Different as Me". Contained in the book are stories of people that were touched by the original book and some of the actions they took to reach out to those that come from different backgrounds or socioeconomic backgrounds.

Unfortunately the book wasn't great. It seems like it was written very quickly and the parts of the story that were added really didn't cover much new ground. There wasn't a good story-like flow and it seemed very disjointed. The personal stories from readers of the original book were great and in my opinion were the best parts of the book. Had the authors collected more of these stories, they could have published them in a "Chicken Soup" style book and had a better product.

The book is not bad, but its not great. I would recommend borrowing it from a friend, but only if you read the original book and are curious to pick up more biographical information on Ron and Denver. The attempt to add to the original wasn't necessary and for me it seemed as if Ron was trying to make the story instead of allow the story to develop around him.

Warning: This book made me cry....buckets!!! From the beginning, I found myself with tears in my eyes.

I have heard of the book, Same Kind of Different as Me, but not yet had a chance to read it. What Difference Do It Make? is a follow-up of sorts to that book. It is not just a non-fiction work, but rather a true 'story' of how many lives can be changed by one woman's obedience to God.

Ron Hall and Denver Moore have spent the last several years developing a very strong friendship based on their shared love of God and a very special lady, Ron's wife, Deborah. Deborah reached out to the homeless at the Union Gospel Mission in Ft. Worth, Tx and simply brought husband Ron along. Deborah passed away from cancer but Ron and Denver have continued their friendship, written a book and now speak about homeless issues to various audiences.

This book, What Difference Do It Make?, highlights ways that other people reached out in their own neighborhoods and home towns after reading Same Kind of Different as Me. The subtitle, Stories of Hope and Healing,is definitely fitting. The true stories show how one person may not be able to change the world, but they can change one person that can start a chain of giving hope to the masses.

I could not pick just one story to highlight....too many of them tugged at my heart! However, I love Ron Hall's Thirty-Day Plan to End Homelessness! Do I think I can do it, or convince my friends or church to do it? I don't know. So, why do I like it?

I like the idea of being able to reach out to those 'less fortunate' than us without being judgemental. I will be honest, in my Dallas suburb, I don't see many homeless, but I do see those 'less fortunate'. I desire to have the freedom to just give...not expecting anything in return. If I give money and they blow it on alcohol, drugs or clothes, it doesn't matter. The point is that I give and then it is no longer mine...because I gave it up.

I am walking away from this book with a new perspective on giving. The people that shared their stories simply gave without judgement, without expectation, other than waiting and watching what God would do with the gift. When I consider that I have nothing that has not been given by God, how can I not give of my life, my faith?

The book is written primarily to Christians, those that already know Christ. However, the principles shared in the book are needed in every walk of life; To simply give of ourselves. I highly recommend the book to anyone that feels the tug of God on their heart to give more, give deeper.

So I got this book to review & I have to say from the get go... I was FLOORED with how good it is! Apparently this book has a book that went along with it - this is a follow up, but its not necessary to have read the first. Although now, I WANT to read it so badly, I'm dying!

This book is about a relationship between two friends - Ron & Denver. Denver was a homeless man that lived a life like no other. And I say that because the insight he came away with is so touching & amazing. Ron's wife, Deborah, had a passion for homelessness & befriended Denver & it was lives changed for all of them. Deborah has since passed from cancer but left a legacy that has grown into touching so many's lives. Whether it be inspiring others to work with homelessness or just changing the way they see things in their own lives - or the way they see others - its truly the work of God's hand on a life that was dedicated to Him.

This story continues with the lives of Ron & Denver. Ron's story is so touching as it deals with his relationship with his father & how sometimes, the way you deal & look at your own family can be difficult, but it takes the same love & forgiveness you have to offer everyone.

Denver's words are just powerful - no other way to put it...
Also, included are stories from people who read the first book & how it changed their lives. If you think God cant use a story.... check this out & see how it already had changed lives & how this book will change lives. I know it will change the way I look at homelessness - or people in general

I honestly had no clue what this book was about when I requested it on the Vine program but I consider it a true GEM. A real gift to regular people, like me to open my eyes and provide insight and a different perspective to what others need and the various roads that possibly got them to where they are. I knew someone in my life previously who was both an alcoholic and drug addict who literally drained everyone around him. He eventually died as a result of his disease so I have to say after being drained myself from this person, I had a biased opinion of people on the streets who drink and do drugs and this book allowed me a different perspective and served as a great reminder to not pass judgement so quickly on another person. We can't ever assume what circumstances they are faced with and what it took to get them to where they are. I highly recommend this book and have recently purchased their first book.

I read this book without first reading Same Kind of Difference As Me (by the same authors). However, I still gained a lot of insights into life from the view of a homeless black man, a woman who befriended him, and her husband who had reservations about getting too close to homeless people. What Difference Do It Make? is a follow up to Same Kind of Difference As Me and it contains stories from people impacted by it and also a brief history of how the book came to be written.

The chapters are written by both Ron Hall and Denver Moore in their own words and from their hearts. Some of it is raw. The theme of forgiveness plays throughout. You'll find letters and stories from people who were touched by the book and had a life changed as a result.

Another fascinating aspect of the story is how this book traveled through various circles of friends, impacting people in far away places. Book distribution can be somewhat random, and book publishers and distributors are always trying to figure it out. But great books move about on their own by word of mouth and recommendations. This book is no exception.

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A few sentences cannot begin to describe the people that you encounter or places that you visit as you journey through the lives of Ron Hall and Denver Moore. Simply put, this is a story about a friendship between a somewhat cynical well-to-do man and the homeless person that he reluctantly becomes acquainted with at a Fort Worth, TX shelter. You will travel through their lives and see how two people with entirely different backgrounds are not really all that different and how you can find hope in even the most hopeless of situations.

I found it to an honor to have the opportunity to journey with these men through their lives as I turned the pages. I laughed and cried and could relate to several incidences in this well written chronicle of hope. I would recommend this book to even the most calloused of heart as an example of how God works in even the worst of circumstances. I am planning to read the first book, Some Kind of Different as Me, to experience some of the things that I may have missed.

this book profoundly changed my idea of a homeless person.Denver Moore is all I expected a homeless person to be. That he could be changed with unconditional love is amazing. I am a Christian and this book reinforced my belief that God can work in the most amazing ways and with the most unlikely persons.