Letters from Boerdonk

ISBN: 1933190108

Author: Gary Layne Smith

Condition: New

Product DescriptionWhen life throws you curve balls, God has a plan. Through endearing and inspiring stories of an Air Force chaplain's life in a Dutch village after 9/11, Gary Layne Smith's Letters from Boerdonk highlights how the promise of God's plan for you is being carried out.ReviewGary wrote devotionals for our Mature Years magazine in 1993 and 1995. The response to his writings to this day remains the highest positive feedback on record from readers around the country who adored his storytelling reflections! -- Marvin W. Cropsey - editor, Mature Years magazine,United Methodist Publishing HouseIf you liked Jan Karon's "Mitford", you'll love Gary Layne Smith's "Boerdonk!" -- Lt. Colonel Karen White, U.S. Air ForceSmiles, chuckles, tears - I felt wrapped in a comforter of love and laughter as I experienced the book, and was sorry it ended. -- Judi Faurot - Lecturer (Retired), University of North TexasThis book should be rated "E"... E for Everyone and E for Everywhere. -- Tom Bartels - Frazer Memorial United Methodist Church, AlabamaWhile the media informs us about culture clashes around the world, Gary Layne Smith shows us that a meeting of minds is a much better alternative. The letters made me laugh, wonder and think. -- Erika Elkady - Teacher, International Secondary School, Eindhoven, The NetherlandsFrom the PublisherHow does one begin to describe a masterpiece? It has long been said that a good work must evoke emotions upon the individual that is viewing or reading that work. That is exactly what Gary Layne Smith has done in his new book, Letters from Boerdonk. He'll take you on a hirlwind of emotions through the 32 Letters contained within his 235 page book. As these true-life stories unfold, you will find yourself smiling a lot, chuckling now and then, down right bursting out with laughter on occasion, and then sometimes you may be choking up and perhaps even shedding a tear or two. Gary's stories will penetrate your heart.What are all of these stories about? America, friendships, families, baseball, Germany, bicycles, cowboys and horses, Belgium, football, holidays, a son and a daughter, Jenny the cat, anniversaries, religion, car batteries, just to name a few plus... Boerdonk... a quaint hamlet located in the heart of The Netherlands. This is the place that started it all.Gary was stationed in The Netherlands shortly after 9/11. As an Air Force Chaplain, his primary responsibility was to provide for the spiritual needs of the U.S. Air Force personnel stationed in The Netherlands, Belgium, and Northern Germany. Gary wrote real-life human interest sermons to help boost the morale of the men and women with whom he was visiting. With the great distances that he had to travel, it left little time to correspond with family and friends back home. In order to keep in touch, he began to send copies of his sermons by e-mail. These became known as "e-sermons". Those who received them were so enthusiastic about each story that they in turn started forwarding these e-sermons to others and soon they were making their way around the World on a weekly basis.Since Gary retired in 2003, many have come forward and encouraged him to put these e-sermons into book form. After much deliberation, Gary did just that... and the result is the endearing book, Letters from Boerdonk.From the AuthorThe best lessons come directly from life, and I enjoy capturing glimpses of these fleeting moments in real-life stories.About the AuthorGary Layne Smith is a native of Dayton, Ohio. He received a Bachelor of Applied Arts and Science from what is now Texas State University, and a Master of Divinity graduate degree from Brite Divinty School, Texas Christian University, in 1984; the same year he was ordained a minister.He served 31 years in the U.S. Air Force, the last 19 years as a chaplain, leading him to the rank of Lt. Colonel. A former faculty member at the Air Force University, Smith graduated first in a class 604 o