Like sheep gone astray, p.35
Like Sheep Gone Astray, page 35
“And how's your new business faring these days?” Cherisse's voice was high and squeaky, as if she were talking to the baby and not Terri.
“Better than I ever imagined, girl. Anthony helped me fix up a work space comfortable enough for me to develop my designs yet professional enough to invite over clients. I never thought it would happen in that tiny little house we had to move into, but it has. Thank you, baby.” She gave Anthony another kiss on the lips. He ran his fingers through her hair but froze when he turned around to see Cherisse.
“Whoa, when did this happen?” He covered his eyes as if shielding them from the sun. “Reggie, come on now. Diamonds don't come that big. You tryin' to trap my sister with some cubic zirconium you found at the dollar store.”
“Don't hate.” Cherisse joined the laughter. “God's getting you through all this debt and taking you to a season of true prosperity that'll surpasses any you thought you had.”
“Whew!” Reggie used the program in his hand to fan Cherisse. “My woman is on fire! I'm telling you, those financial seminars you've been giving over at Second Baptist have been teachingall of us a thing or two about God and money. I need to have you as a speaker for one of the BEA meetings.”
“Yeah, how are things going with that?” Anthony pulled at one of Adrienne's chubby, curled fingers and she rustled in her sleep.
“Man, I tell you. God don't play when it comes to showing off His favor. Brother Eric just finished looking at the plans for the training center and vocational institute that's going to link our organizations. Thanks for your input and your contributions. It amazes me how much you've given to Eric despite your own financial setbacks.”
“Hey, the Word says give and it shall be given unto you. I'm holding God to it, and you know what? He's been faithful.” He nodded at Terri, who gave him a supportive smile.
“Look, Terri, I know I helped you max out all those credit cards, and even though you said selling the cars helped, it's only right of me to pay my share of the bills, interest included.” Cherisse squeezed her friend's shoulder.
“Can I get an amen?” Anthony joked.
“Ooh, that's cold, especially coming from a man who's only seen God's mercy these past few months. Please extend some to me, for everything.” Cherisse turned serious as she reached out a hand to Anthony.
He gave her a hug. “Every night as I watch the updates on the trials and see all those faces—Walter, Haberstick, Patterson, all of them—coming across the TV, all I think is but for the grace of God, there go I.”
“That's the truth,” Terri said while dabbing drool off the baby's lips. “You need to write a thank-you note to Gary Malloy for beating you up on national television. The state didn't even try to press charges against you.”
“And then they turned around and made you their star witness,” Cherisse added.
“Even Sheriff Cassell can't deny that evidence of God's presence and power.” Reggie grinned. “No matter how hard he tries.”
“I wouldn't worry about him,” Terri spoke again. “You know Mona's living out the Word for him now. And considering our testimonies”—she nodded her head at Reggie and Cherisse—”he'll be giving his life to Jesus like we finally did this past year.”
“Amen to that and thank you, Jesus!” Anthony looked at his wife, his awakening daughter, his friends, his community, his life. As they headed for the cake and punch table covered with confetti and fresh flowers, he took a quick glimpse back up at the sky. One single balloon was still barely visible, the tiny red dot seemingly determined to defy reason as it continued its journey upward.
“Stay on track. You'll get there,” he whispered as it disappeared into the heavens.
Reading Group Guide
1. Anthony's sermon on Sunday seemed to preach as much to his own spirit as to the congregation. Have you ever spoken words to someone else that proved to be a Word to you as well? If you had that opportunity now, what Scripture text would you be “preaching” ?
2. Terri doesn't comprehend Anthony and others at Second Baptist Church who are seemingly obsessed with Jesus and the Bible. “They don't understand that there's more to life than religion,” she complains. She thinks they're fanatical; someone else might call them faithful. What do you think? What kind of churchgoer are you? What do Scriptures such as Romans 12:1–2 and Hebrews 10:24–25 suggest about the kind of churchgoer we should be?
3. Pastor Green prays for Anthony, saying, “Do what you've got to do to make things right, whatever it takes.” Does that prayer inspire you? Encourage or challenge you? Or terrify you? Why?
4. Throughout this novel, characters deal with the issue of wealth and the power, status, and stumbling blocks that are associated with money. In Chapter 2, Pastor Green speaks about spiritual status and blessings in relationship to material blessings. What do you think about his spin on a “prosperity gospel”? How does it relate to Jesus' attitudes about money (e.g., Luke 18:18–27)?
5. “Better is little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble therewith” (Proverbs 15:16). What has been your experience with the principle laid out in this proverb (which Anthony recalls was one of his Aunt Rosa's favorites)?
6. Being mindful of his own desperate need for a second chance, Eric gives that chance to Nikki. There's another expression related to second chances: “Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.” How do you know when the generosity of a second chance may result in a “fool me twice”? Do you offer a second chance based on faith or reason or some combination of both? Why? How does our willingness to trust people reflect our trust in God?
7. Terri compares her pursuit of peace, esteem, and status through wealth, success, and possession with the peace evident in the worshippers at Second Baptist. Do you have peace? If so, what is its source? If not, where have you sought it—in the past and now? What does Scripture say about the source of true and lasting peace? (See John 14:27; 16:32–33; Romans 5:1; 15:17; Colossians 3:15.)
8. In answer to his own question “Who do I trust?” An thony remembers the words of Proverbs 3:5. Whom do you trust? Why? What is the evidence of your trust? What does it look like to place your trust in God?
9. Sister Porter offers counsel to Terri about her faltering marriage with Anthony by quoting Ephesians 5:21–33, and noting that even Paul called the marriage relationship a mystery (v. 32). How have you experienced mystery in a relationship—with a spouse or with Christ? Is that mysterious element a source of celebration or frustration to you? Why? How might you work to remove the frustrating as pects and retain the celebratory ones?
10. Eric faces an all-too-common dilemma: the church and its people have let him down. At first, it seemed they just didn't follow through on their promises, which would be disappointing enough. But then it becomes clear that they have believed a false report and judged him harshly on that basis. How do you respond when other Christians let you down? How does the relationship about Paul and John Mark offer counsel or encouragement (see Acts 15:36–41; 2 Timothy 4:11)?
11. Anthony repeatedly asks such questions as “How did I end up in this place? Why is this happening to me?” When have you asked such questions about your life situ ation? What answers did you find? How were those answers key to ensuring you didn't repeat your mistakes?
12. Anthony is tempted to “overlook” the extra money in his pension; he can easily justify doing so! But his spirit is uneasy. Why? How do you handle financial “windfalls” from a bank error in your favor or incorrect (excessive) change from a cashier or other mundane sources? Why should God care about such little amounts of money? (See Proverbs 16:11; 20:23; Micah 6:11; Luke 16:10.)
13. Anthony finds inspiration and motivation in judges 16. Read it yourself. What does the story of Samson say to you in whatever challenging situation you may be facing? How might you be called to claim a Samson-like victory in that circumstance?
14. Ironically, both Anthony (in his fraudulent actions) and Terri (in her adulterous desires) are saved by exposure. How is such exposure an answer to Pastor Green's prayer? In what way(s) has God allowed exposure of your sin to save you from perpetuating that transgression—or worse?
15. Anthony gradually discerns that his financial issues are the product of a generational curse, handed down from his biological father. What experience do you have with generational curses? What does Exodus 34:5–7 seem to say about them?
16. “Terri laid aside every conviction she held about independence, self-determination, and standing on her own two feet.…She wanted nothing more than to find a place to rest her hurting heart and head.” It isn't necessarily a bad or wrong thing to do or desire—but it can be dangerous if we don't choose our “resting place” wisely. When have you felt that way, and what resting place did you choose? (See Matthew 11:28–29; Hebrews 4:9–10.)
17. Eric had carefully prepared a speech for city council, but when the moment came, he balled it up, tossed it aside, and spoke from his heart. Scripture says that the Spirit will give us words to speak when our own fail (Mark 13:11; Romans 8:26). When have you experienced such inspired speech? Where does human preparation leave off and the Holy Spirit take over?
18. In this story, as in real life, preachers and politicians are often lumped together in a category marked “suspect and/or corrupt.” What do the two groups have in common that make them vulnerable to corruption? How do scrip tural catalogs of leadership qualities (e.g., 2 Timothy 3:1–13) offer counsel and caution to those in leadership—both in the church and in the world?
“Walk Worthy Press books remind us that in every area of our lives He truly cares for us.”
—T.D. Jakes
When the way up the ladder isn't God's path…how do you make it right?
Anthony Murdock seems to be a true Mighty Man of God. His focus on success and pursuing God's abundance has helped him become a top executive at the hottest new company in Maryland. He's won the heart of an upscale, ambitious woman and has finally returned to his roots as a minister-in-training at his childhood church. But he's also made the kind of mistake that is slowly tearing at peace of mind…and threatening to destroy everything he's worked to build. New, to make things right, Anthony will have to stay one step ahead of enemies open and hidden—and untangle secrets from his family's past he never could have expected. And he must at last confront and repent the personal greed and misguided pride that have driven him for far too long if he is to regain his reputation, recapture his self-respect—and walk in the fullness of his calling.
“A redeeming, fast-moving tale of wrong choices and second chances that keeps you guessing till the end.”
—DEREK JACKSON, author of Brother Word and A Man Inspired
LESLIE J. SHERROD graduated summa cum laude from the University of Maryland. A former health services professional, she currently lives in Maryland with her husband and two children.
photo: Andrew Foster
Lesile J. Sherrod, Like Sheep Gone Astray
