Held Hostage - A Serial Bank Robber's Road to Redemption

Held Hostage: A Serial Bank Robber’s Road to Redemption
By Ken Cooper
Published at Chosen

About the book
Husband. Father. Esteemed Community Man. Armed Bank Robber.
The unflinching story of one man's double life--and his ultimate transformation.

To his friends and family, Ken Cooper was the epitome of the perfect citizen: he was devoted to his wife and kids, loved by all, and had a high-profile job for a well-known Christian college.

Yet beneath this polished exterior lurked a man haunted by a broken past and fueled by a dangerous addiction. This man was known to the newspapers and public as the armed and mysterious "gentleman bank robber."

With raw authenticity, Ken bares all--from his tragic past to his time in one of Florida's most notorious prisons--in this unforgettable story of one man's miraculous redemption.

Who is Ken Cooper?
Ken Cooper, who served four years of a 99-year sentence, later worked with four others to found Prisoners of Christ, a faith-based reentry ministry for the transition of inmates plagued with addictions. Now he heads up Ken Cooper Prison Ministries, involved in prison ministry organization development, consulting work, and education on overcoming addictions. Ken has been featured in numerous media outlets including Time, The Christian Science Monitor, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and the Associated Press.Ken and his wife, June, live in Jacksonville, Florida.

My Thoughts
I had the privilege to be part of the 20 bloggers to review this book in advance. Testimonies are always powerful. After all, testimonies can have the power of changing lives. Revelation 12:11 says “They overcame him (meaning the accuser) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony” . While I read this book I could see God being at work in the life of Ken Cooper.

Ken Cooper had it all but somehow he wasn’t satisfied with all that. He would get a rush by robbing banks. He would take hostages and let them go when he would be safe. He would think through all the steps before acting. He was pretty good at it for what I read. Except he made an error once – he took on a partner. That day he got caught and he went to prison. It’s important to know that every decision we make affect our life and other people’s life. I think Ken Cooper realized that BIG time that faithful day.

Circumstances made it so that people were bitter because he took some hostages while doing his sideline work… He was always polite and nice with people though and was known as the gentleman bank robber. But he got severely punished by being sentenced to 99 years in prison. From now on he was known as ninety-nine.

Amidst of the hard life in prison and all the things that could happen there, Ken got saved and grew in his relationship with God. To the point that he got transferred to one of the hardest section of The Rock to another section which was heaven compare to where he was before. He got connected and have being able to go to Christian events within the prison. God guided him through the days, months and years of living in a prison.

Then one day a miracle happened. He was on his way to freedom. And God has still some work to do in him. But what a change in a man who before couldn’t live without the adrenaline rush of robbing bank!

I really enjoyed the book even though sometimes his story was hard and difficult to read. Ken Cooper went through a lot in his life. It wasn’t always rosy like some people might have think. But somehow, God was with him and drew him closer to HIM. And in the end, God showed Ken Cooper that He has a sense of humor and gave him the opportunity to ask forgiveness for what he did. How? You might wonder. I don’t think I will tell you this specific information. It’s just too good. I see God’s hand through it and something like this can only happen because of Him.

Held Hostage is available everywhere even on amazon.ca and indigo.ca.

The Hope of Refuge

The Hope of Refuge
By Cindy Woodsmall
Published at WaterBrook Press

About the book
Raised in foster care and now the widowed mother of a little girl, Cara Moore struggles against poverty, fear, and a relentless stalker. When a trail of memories leads Cara and Lori out of New York City toward an Amish community, she follows every lead, eager for answers and a fresh start. She discovers that long-held secrets about her family history ripple beneath the surface of Dry Lake, Pennsylvania, and it’s no place for an outsider. But one Amish man, Ephraim Mast, dares to fulfill the command he believes that he received from God–“Be me to her”– despite how it threatens his way of life.

Completely opposite of the hard, untrusting Cara, Ephraim’s sister Deborah also finds her dreams crumbling when the man she has pledged to build a life with begins withdrawing from Deborah and his community, including his mother, Ada Stoltzfus. Can the run-down house that Ada envisions transforming unite them toward a common purpose–or push Mahlon away forever? While Ephraim is trying to do what he believes is right, will he be shunned and lose everything–including the guarded single mother who simply longs for a better life?

Who is Cindy Woodsmall?
Cindy Woodsmall is the author of When the Heart Cries, When the Morning Comes, and The New York Times Best-Seller When the Soul Mends. Her ability to authentically capture the heart of her characters comes from her real-life connections with Amish Mennonite and Old Order Amish families. A mother of three sons and two daughters-in-law, Cindy lives in Georgia with her husband of thirty-one years. Cindy's website is http://www.cindywoodsmall.com/ .

Cindy was recently covered on ABC Nightline.


My Thoughts
Somehow I am attracted to Amish novels. Don’t ask me why though. I wouldn’t be able to tell you the reasons. But I like them and every time I discover a new author writing about Amish life I am always pleased.

This time again, I discover another author who writes Amish stories and I am quite enjoying the story. The main character is an “Englisher” who is trying to get away from a stalker. Bits and pieces of memory bring her in an Amish community who unfortunately she is mistaken for a druken woman with a child in tow.

Fortunately for her, someone on her path offers help – at his own risk of being rejected by the community. Many mysteries surround Cara and slowly she uncovers the truth. Her daughter enjoys the Amish life and eventually Cara realizes that she will be happy with this life as well. I won’t give you all the details of the events surrounding her ordeal and her realization that she needs to adapt herself to live with these people but I can tell you one thing – the story is worth reading.

From the beginning until the end of the book you will be hooked with the characters and the story. You will not want to put the book down a minute. And when you will arrive to the end, the author makes you wanting for more. I sense that there will be other books in the Ada’s House series. I would particularly know what is in store for Cara and her daughter Lori (even though I know some events that will occurs in the future for them). Will the stalker follow her to Dry Lake? How about her dad – is he still alive somewhere? And Deborah – will she find love eventually? Will Ada’s business continue to expand? Will she remarry? Where did Mahlon go?
As you can see, lots of questions remain unanswered. I look forward to see if Cindy will continue to write about these characters.

The Hope of Refuge is available everywhere, even on amazon.ca and indigo.ca.

Pondering....

We are back in town.   We had a good time in Niagara Falls and discovered neat things to do.   We had mostly good weather and we are blessed by this since we heard that in town it was rain, rain and more rain almost all of July.

Since hubby left with Alexandre on Thursday, I am wondering if we are doing the best choice for school.   Yep!   I am in my yearly doubting myself and being stressed and distressed.   I just want to give up and cry because I feel so useless.   I'm not sure it is in the best interest of the kids anymore.   Well, I know that school is probably not in the best interest either so why not a Christian school instead.   I don't know where to go to get encouragement and honestly I am not sure I care.    I'm in the pit of self-pity I guess.

The easyest solution would be to bring the kids to school.   It's not easy to school with a toddler and a 3 year old, a 5 year old who sighed everytime I asked him to do something.   My eldest is not so bad...  He is pretty much independant.  I can give him some pages to do and he would do it.   It's the younger ones who drain me.   I partly wish that I could separate myself in 4 and give as much attention to all of them.  

An idea has been mentioned to put the 3 year old in junior kindergarten for a year (his birthday would be in November which means he would be one of the youngest in the class).   But two days ago, I decided to sit him down and make him practice his name writing.   It went well.   And he needed the attention.  My 5 year old was practicing his writing for the letter of the alphabet from a book - so he was somewhat independent.   I realized that send ing the 3 year old at school where he would be a number among 20-25 other little ones - wasn't for his best interest.

So why am I so discouraged today?   Probably doesn't help that I am sick and that Jasmine - my toddler - is sick too.   The energy I had this morning is partly gone.   I'm tired and just want to go to bed.   Darn sinuses!

So here I am pouring out my heart to you - whoever who will read this - and knowing deep down that it isn't that bad.  But I have a short vision today.   Will I be able to school a 3rd grader, a kindergarten and a junior kindergarten this year?  And taking care of a toddler?  

Part of me wants me time... but after a month of being alone during the day I would be bored to death.  

I think I will ask my husband to care for the kids once a week so I can have time for myself to do what interest me like scrapbooking, card making or drawing.    I need some time and space for recuperate from the business of homeschool.   As soon as he comes back I will talk to him.