Into the Fire

This week the CFBA tour features the novel Hometown Favorite authored by Bill Barton and Henry O. Arnold. Bill Barton sports his MBA from Baylor University and travels the world as a business partner with three companies. An avid football fan and “adventure junkie”, he lives in Tennessee with his wife and two sons. Henry O. Arnold has a BA in acting from Pepperdine University plus his MFA degree from UNC Chapel Hill. Having received awards at the Houston and Columbus International Film Festivals, he also co-wrote and produced the film “The Second Chance” starring Michael W. Smith. With multiple other writing, acting, film, and award credits, Henry and his wife live in Tennessee and have two married daughters. Retired Tennessee Titan wide receiver Chris Sanders acted as consultant for the technical and emotional aspects of professional football.

Being a fan of professional football, I was attracted to this story of three young friends in small town Mississippi who played football together and grew into outstanding high school athletes, two with aspirations for scholarships to big name universities with big time football programs. The third knew his fate was sealed for his hometown university where he would eventually be groomed to take over the family furniture business. In the championship game for the state title, one mistake in the final minute of the game determines the unexpected loss not only of the title but ultimately of the friendship between these three young friends. The one who made the wrong decision would never overcome his error. The other two went to opposite coasts to play football and were both candidates for the coveted Heisman Trophy.

This novel divides into seven sections depicting the life changes of Robert Dewayne Jobe. Raised by a praying single mother who worked at his friend’s father’s furniture factory, Dewayne (as he went by) grew up without his own father who died young but was guided by an assistant coach on his high school team who resorted to drinking when deserted by his wife. In time secretly in love with Dewayne’s mother but unable to confess it to her or anyone else, Coach Jake Hopper sinks deeper into his hidden habit when Dewayne takes off for USC.

Each section of the novel deals with a fresh season of Dewayne’s life and the events which impact his personal growth and career in football. When he loses one of his friends, his faith wavers, and although he professes Christianity, “it” has lost its deeply personal touch for him. He meets and marries the daughter of wealthy LA architect and his interior designer wife, begins his professional career by being the first pick in the draft, setting an unheard of (and impossible to imagine) precedent with his contract, and moves to the team’s home of Houston with his acquired family.

The theme of this novel is taken from the life of Job, a man of faith appreciated by God. After taking well over half the book to establish the “golden” life of Dewayne Jobe, the events which occurred as all-out hell broke loose in his life gave me that “Oh brother” moment. I apologize for any offense, but the way these events took place and the horror which followed just didn’t work for me. At all. For a few reasons.

Number one: The re-entry of a former gangsta, now “redeemed”, into their lives is far too unsupervised for the guardianship they’ve established. The reformation of the young woman who falls under his charm stretches my imagination to its utter limits at her agreement to his proposal for “fixing” their situation. Just can’t buy it.

Number two: Dewayne’s wife’s reaction to the hellacious, shocking events is absolutely incredulous to me. Totally unbelievable. Can’t accept it.

Number three: Dewayne, although a godly man in terms of his actions (deeds), needs a refresher course on Christianity. His relationship with the Lord is suspect and lacking in trust and heartfelt communication putting it at a surface level. The real Job retained his faith from start to finish in spite of the tragedy and trauma and accusatory advice from friends plus the unsympathetic rant from his less than admirable wife who appears to have stuck by him in spite of the calamity and searing losses in their lives.

Number four: All “healings” could basically be credited to man’s abilities to adjust or endure or provide, not in God’s intervention and divine provision.

This novel could entertain those with little knowledge of Job and a beginner’s walk with Jesus, possibly gaining a few secular readers who enjoy stories based around athletes, but for me there were too many plot points stretching my credibility meter to register a recommendation.

Favorite characters: the coach Jake Hopper and Detective Hathaway, neither of whom are Christians, and Cherie (Dewayne’s mother: the only authentic Christian in the story)

Final point: The search which took place by Detective Hathaway based on his gut feelings about Dewayne, which few others seemed to hold in spite of his principled life, seemed like a second story in and of itself—and possibly the more enjoyable of the two.

Father, I take no pleasure in pointing out things I don’t like, and I recognize that this is the story you have given these men to tell. I thank you for their efforts, skills, and dedication, and I ask that you use this novel for your glory. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.