The Ultimate Choice

Book excerpt: Caleb lives in a small town where he has few dreams and even fewer friends. His mom has died, leaving him alone with an alcoholic, abusive father. But, the battleground in Caleb's home is nothing compared to the one in his mind. He capitulates between faith and fear, love and resentment, hope and despair - even life and death. Caleb finds himself drawn to Courtney, the new-girl-in-town, but she too is hiding battle scars. Will Caleb be able to help her...when he can't even help himself? Together they face the question, "Why do bad things happen to good people?" Just when things begin looking up, Caleb encounters a devastating disappointment and chooses to take his life with his own hands. Entering - uninvited - into the presence of the Creator of Life, Caleb is exposed to the truth, to the future, and to his consequences, before once again facing his ultimate choice. Does God truly work in the midst of our trials? Is there really nothing that can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord? How do our choices affect those around us? How do they influence eternity? In Caleb's story we find answers for many of the hard questions in our own lives, even as we see the heart of God revealed toward His children. Mashea Shultz is a student at Missouri Southern State University where she is studying to become a school counselor. She is the Sunday school director and youth leader at her church, Columbus Christian Center. She lives in Columbus, Kansas with her husband, Justin, and son, Joshua.