Hagar of Egypt: A Perspective on Strength, Courage & Faith - Paperback

by Dorathy Gass (Editor), Jim Melanson (Author)

Her father's fear and guilt led to her slavery. Her mistress' lack of faith forced her to bear her master's child. The jealousy of an old woman forced her and her little boy into the wilderness of the Negev Desert. What is a young mother to do? She flees to the desert before the child is born, and again when she is banished with her young son. Both times she fears she is on the road to death. Both times she feels helpless, out of control, and abandoned. But both times she encounters God through His angel. At the times when she is most in crisis, He is there for her, as He is for all of us. "I have seen the One who sees me," is a stirring passage and sentiment for all who seek to deepen their relationship with God. It's also an ever-present reminder of His presence, even when we are nearly overcome by the magnitude of life's struggles. This book provides an in-depth study of a story that is thousands of years old. It's also a story that is the nexus of the Abrahamic religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Learn who Hagar was, the details of the sordid story of her life, and how her story plays its part in all three religions. With a tale that is timeless, the study of Hagar will bring a perspective of strength, courage, and faith to all who read it, regardless of gender and regardless of religion.

Author Biography

Poet, programmer, procrastinator, sci-fi geek, coffee snob, actor, and writer. A devoted Christian, Jim is a quiet and thoughtful man who tends to think deeply and act slowly. Much of this inner reflection and self-assessment shows up in his writing. "Capturing what truly motivates us," is how Jim describes his approach to both fiction and non-fiction. This author has a direct, and sometimes in-your-face manner of writing. He tries to always use conversational language and make complex ideas understandable. Jim read his first novel, by Laura Ingalls Wilder, at the age of eight; this began his love affair with the written word. Jim's first foray into personal writing, as a child, was poetry. These and other poetic scribblings provided the content for his first book, I Apologize for Nothing, published in April 2014. Life, a child, a career with the Police Service, and a part-time business authoring software all got in the way of pursuing his desire to write. In 2013, Jim decided to pursue his creative yearnings, and he began writing for pleasure. Drawing on a solid work ethic from his experience authoring technical manuals and writing business proposals, Jim found writing for himself to be liberating and enjoyable. While working on his first fiction novel, he kept getting sidetracked by other ideas. He dusted off an old stage play he had written and published it under the title, Mama's Slippers, with the hopes of attracting production interest. In addition to non-fiction works on Christian topics, Jim also works on science fiction projects, including short stories and flash stories. Originally hailing from the East Coast, Jim now lives just outside Cobourg, ON, with his two cats, Martin & Lewis.