To Whom Much Is Given [Paperback]

Maurice M. Gray Jr. (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 2000 | ISBN-10: 0970051409 | ISBN-13: 978-0970051400

Max Carson is twenty-five years old, and his goals in life are simple; to live a life pleasing to God, to achieve as a journalist and to find and marry the woman God has for him. His life is quiet, and he is content. If only those dreams would go away- - -.

Donna Randall is twenty-two and trying to establish her adult life. Having moved to Delaware after college, her concerns are to find a job, a church home and eventually, a husband. She has no time for dreams and visions, but now she has no choice but to deal with them.

Merry Lucas is convinced that one day she will have the life of luxury she feels she deserves, no matter what the cost. When she sees her chance, she reaches for it, but her plans may be derailed if she can't forestall an almost forgotten threat from her past.

Fred Bennett has a job he enjoys, Max as a best friend and all the women he can handle. Life is good, but at thiry, Fred feels like something is missing. Is Merry the answer, or only another question? And could Max be right about all this God stuff?

Yolanda Mason has been there to help her best friend Donna decipher prophetic dreams and visions since they were children, but this time, Yolanda can't shake the feeling that the stakes are a whole lot higher then they've ever been before.

Max and Donna's dreams draw them together, and they realize that their individual dreams are pieces of a puzzle. If they don't solve the mystery, hundreds of innocent people will die. Max and Donna are caught up in a whirlwind adventure wherein they explore not only the mysteries of the Holy Spirit, but of their own hearts as well. Their only recourse is to completely trust in God and let Him work it out.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

This is truly a trendsetting first novel; it reveals the supernatural power of God through the ordinary, everyday lives of people who could be your neighbors.

Max Carson and Donna Randall are truly living out the scripture from Luke 12 that ends with "- -to whom much has been given, much will be required." (NRSV) Their response to the hand of God in their lives is touching, riveting and all too real.

One female reader made this comment, which I think sums things up well.

"Only a man could figure out how to fit Vietnam, wrestling, fist fights, bombs, murder, police shoot-outs, a basketball playing preacher, an NFL player, a stalker, sex, romance and Jesus all in the same book."

From the Author

I describe To Whom Much Is Given as "a modern old-fashioned love story addressing issues of faith, responsibility and forgiveness." It's set now, but it's old-fashioned in that it meets the basic requirements for a romance: boy meets girl, boy falls for girl, etc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 360 pages
• Publisher: Write the Vision Inc (October 2000)
• ISBN-10: 0970051409
• ISBN-13: 978-0970051400
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,422,492 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars M. Gray Has Given Us Much, September 1, 2001

By 

Patricia G'orge-walker "Pat G'Orge-Walker, Es... (Elmont, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: To Whom Much Is Given (Paperback)

At first glance of Maurice Gray's title; "To Whom Much Is Given," I was immediately prepared to read a "preachy-type" story carrying the banner of a Mystery. Nothing could be further from the truth.

From the onset I was hooked by the familiar and funny supermarket scene where Max awkwardly tries to gain the attention of his 'dream' girl. The play between the males and females as they play cat and mouse games was just a taste of what was to come. And, a taste was not enough....it awakened an appetite for more of these memorable characters.

I applaud the author for his use of prophetic dreams, contemporary dialogue and characters that give you everything you want in a mystery without the excess baggage of profanity, etc. The use of Bible-based scriptures are integrated in the story without interrupting the reading flow and the author took time to make sure of the correlation between the scenes, dialogues and verses.

In short, I love this first-time effort from Maurice Gray and look forward to reading more. I predict that this book will not only cross over to the secular market but be a silent best seller much the way, V.C. Murray's "Temptation" took the Christian Fiction market by surprise.

Maurice M. Gray has Given Us Much.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Extremely Intriguing!, December 9, 2001

By 

Tyora Moody "cookieaisle" (Columbia, SC, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: To Whom Much Is Given (Paperback)

Spiritual gifts are sometimes looked upon as archaic in the modern church. Many Christians think the Holy Spirit only distributed gifts during the early days of the church. In To Whom Much is Given, the author provides the readers with a glimpse of how spiritual gifts can be used in a contemporary setting.

Gray uniquely creates characters that are very familiar in personality. Readers can immediately connect with the tight friendship between Donna and Yolanda and the silly male antics of Max and Fred. From the moment that Max and Donna have their chance meeting in the grocery store, it is non-stop action. These two fall into one adventure after the other---adventures that uncover profound discoveries about each other.

Readers will become intrigued with a fifth character in this novel, a disturbingly bitter woman who seems bent on destruction. Her thirst for destruction and the growing relationship between Max and Donna add up to one suspenseful and thought provoking read!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Christian read with non stop action, July 22, 2002

By 

Tanya - See all my reviews

This review is from: To Whom Much Is Given (Paperback)

The characters of Donna and Max are very familiar in personality. Both are spirtual gifted by God. Through dreams Max and Donna become soulmates and were able solve a mystery.
Readers who enjoy Christian fiction will find this novel to be fast paced and inspirational. Maurice Gray has done an excellent job with his first release. I look forward to reading more by this new author. Keep the faith and stay blessed!