Cross Roads by Wm. Paul Young

I very much enjoyed this book but one needs to remember this is a 'fictional' book. This book would be a great book for our book club as there is just a lot to talk about. As with the Shack, there are parts where Christians will differ on whether or not it is acceptable to portray God in that light. For example, in Cross Roads, the Holy Spirit appears in the form of a Native American woman. God appears in the form of a little girl. Jesus appears as an adult male. They do appear together and separately in these forms. (Lots to discuss with that - isn't there?!) Part of what Young mentions in Cross Roads is that God can appear in any form and it is only our human minds that limit Him to what we think He should be. And I do 'get' that but I have to say that it does push the boundaries for me. Again, remembering it is fictional, it doesn't get my shackles up as a book that is declaring itself to be an authority on God's word and using these types of interpretations. 

The book was very good and I enjoyed it. (spoiler alert) I have to say that while I think the ending is entirely appropriate I was hoping / wishing for God to intervene and save both of them. God could do that - God is a God of miracles. Still, He did grant one miracle. And the ending isn't really sad as you know that the other one ends up with Jesus. Still, part of me wanted the double miracle. 

The story itself is about a self made millionaire named Tony. He is very eccentric and also has pushed everyone including God out of his life. He ends up in a coma essentially dying of a brain tumor. He is in the state of in between - not dead but not really alive. He meets up with Jesus and he is given the chance to change his beliefs on the existence of God and Jesus. Ultimately he is given the chance to through prayer save just one person from dying. He asks several times if he can save himself, of course. The book centers on his change of heart that brings him closer to Jesus and farther away from being that ego-centric person he had been most of his life.