What difference do it make? by Ron Hall

What difference do it make? Reviews

• 
  Ben Zajdel

  In their follow up to Same Kind of Different As Me, Ron Hall and Denver Moore offer a look at what was going on in their lives while they were writing their breakout hit and what has happened to them afterward. It is also sprinkled with short stories of people the book has influenced, and the impact they have had on their community.
  
  The book is written in the same style as Same Kind, with chapters alternating between Ron and Denver's point of view. Ron goes into more depth when describing his childhood, and also tells of his relationship with his father since the publication of his book.
  
  The book is small and medium length, running only 201 pages. It almost feels like gift book, and really doesn't cover much new ground. The only thing that really keeps this book going is the touching sincerity of Ron Hall and Denver Moore. They truly love God, Deborah Hall, each other, and everyone they meet. Some of the words they speak in this book will truly move you. My only regret is that this book feels rushed to capitalize on the success of their previous book, but nevertheless, it does have some touching moments in it.
  
• 
  Nenette

  A very apt sequel - the seed that was planted took root and grew, with branches stretching out so far, bearing fruits, benefiting many.
  
  As in 'Same Kind of Different Ss Me', this was also told in the voices of Ron and Denver, interspersed with testimonies and stories of the people who read and were affected by the first book. I couldn't help but think how else I can make a difference.
  
  I like it that Ron is so humble to admit his mistakes and skepticism...I love the pictures of Denver's paintings...and I especially love how this book ended - there is the promise and hope for Ron that someday he and Deborah will be together again.
• 
  Fab2k

  This book is the sequel to Same Kind of Different as Me . It was good, but I felt it was unnecessary to even have a sequel. Much of this could have been included in the first book as an epilogue. There were just a few stories from readers; most were written by Denver and Ron. Not to say their stories were uninspiring, but in my opinion, this just felt like extra stuff that didn't warrant a separate book.
• 
  Michelle

  I’m not usually a fan of sequels. I think that usually a well written story is done in one telling. However, this book takes its amazing original story and builds on it incredibly well. Both authors talk about their own stories and their own growth, while speaking truth and encouraging the rest of us to love, pray, serve, forgive, trust, grow, bless others and give God the glory. All this in the context of real life and hard lessons learned. This book is a joy to read.
• 
  Sandy Taylor

  Very inspiring!
• 
  Debbie Cox

  Not only the content but the writing style is comfortable and easy to follow. Don't know how anyone could read the first book and not continue to learn about Good working through Deborah and Ron and Denver.
• 
  Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance

  Last week, I finished Same Kind of Different as Me, posted a review on my blog, and attended a book club meeting where we discussed the book. At the book club, we were told there was a sequel and there was some talk of trying to obtain the sequel and read it. We unanimously reveled in the book.
  
  I was overjoyed then to see a publisher’s representative posted a comment on my blog about my review. She mentioned the new sequel and offered to send me a copy. I replied and, to my astonishment, I found a beautiful copy of the new book in my next day’s mail.
  
  I will warn you that sequels often disappoint me. I’m not even one to read all the books in a series; I will often read the first book and then stop, not wanting to experience the disappointment of a follow-up book.
  
  This book was not a disappointment. I picked it up at noon and leisurely read it and thought about it all afternoon. It answers some questions we pondered at our book group (included are some photos of Denver’s artwork and we learn more about Ron’s experiences with his father) but it also includes stories of people who were affected by the first book and felt called to take action.
  
  I’m happy that I can recommend it to others. It’s the best kind of book about real Christianity, the kind that pops up in surprising places, that moves in waves of love.
  
• 
  Laura Beth

  This is the follow-up to the New York Times bestseller, Same Kind of Different as Me. It continues the story of the friendship between Ron and Denver, answering many questions that we all have wondered after finishing the first book. But even more than that, there are stories from people whose lives have been completely changed by Ron and Denver's first book and how they are now changing the lives of others. Those stories will cause you to rethink your own life and how you can make a difference in the lives of others.
  If you are looking for an inspiring and challenging story of how God uses ordinary people in extraordinary ways, this book is certainly for you.
  If you haven't read their first book, "Same Kind of Different As Me" I would highly suggest reading that one first before reading this one.
• 
  Heather

  This is something of a sequel to
  Same Kind of Different as Me: A Modern-Day Slave, an International Art Dealer, and the Unlikely Woman Who Bound Them Together, the story of Ron Hall and Denver Moore who were brought together by Ron's wife Deborah who was an example of love and service. Ron and Deborah met Denver at a homeless shelter where Denver was living and Deborah was serving. Since then Deborah passed away, but Ron and Denver now live together and serve together and teach about the importance of love and forgiveness and reaching out and helping others.
  
  There are many good thoughts here, but this book was a little too scattered and redundant for me. I really liked the first book, but felt like this kind of a repeat with a little less focus. It talks about times and experiences since the first book was written and teaches some important things about loving and reaching out to others, but if you're only going to read one I'd recommend the first book. That being said, here are some quotes that I loved:
  
  "That's why we wrote this book, to tell you just a few of the stories of hope and redemption that God continues to write in the lives of so many--and in our own (p. viii)."
  
  "'Hey Denver...We're talking about titles for the new book. God any ideas?'.... 'What Difference Do It Make?'.... 'That's it!' Denver shrugged and walked off, shaking his head. It was the perfect title.... As many of you know, God took Deborah in 2001. Cancer. But if she were here today, she would tell you she was nobody special. If you had come to our house, she would have made you fresh coffee or tea and invited you to sit down at the kitchen table and tell her about yourself. And you would have felt loved. Because that was Deborah's gift. She loved God and, because of her intimate walk with Him, loved people. Her whole life was about forgiveness and unconditional love, two qualities that most of us find difficult to master on a regular basis. It really was that simple. Deborah's life showed that kind of love is attainable for anyone willing to put in the time on their knees, then overcome their fear and go out and get their hands a little dirty (p. viii)."
  
  "A lotta homeless folks has been hurt and abused since we was little bitty. At one time or another we loved or was loved by somebody. We had hope. We believed. Then hope flew out the door, and everything we had was gone. For a lot of us there come a time when nobody was willin to take us in. Nobody was willin to help in no kinda way (p. 7)."
  
  "She and two young friends went door-to-door in her neighborhood, repeating Lucy's now-familiar refrain: 'We're raising money for the homeless!'.... No one had suggested to Lucy that she do any of this fund-raising. She did it all on her own. Reta thought her little girl was setting a very grown-up example (p. 11)."
  
  "Reta was amazed at the chain reaction caused by her daughter's initiative. Lucy's small acts of determined kindness were like stones in a pond, the ripples spreading out to her family, neighbors, and classmates, even her teacher (p. 12)."
  
  "She also got to give Carrie, the volunteer coordinator, the Ziploc bag filled with money. Inside the bag, Lucy had tucked a note for the homeless: I love you, and God does too (p. 13)."
  
  "'The Lord often has a plan far different from our own (p. 28).'"
  
  "When Emily saw Avery's finished project, she read the title out loud--'For this child I prayed'--and realized that there was nothing accidental or broken about Abe's presence in the Alexander family (p. 33)."
  
  "'Our family is so much more blessed to have Abe. He is this fourteen-month-old teacher. Sometimes just opening his hand takes an enormous amount of effort and energy, but Abe works so hard in therapy, and my other kids get to see this determination. He just has this little, bright light, radiating an inner joy that you can't explain (p. 34).'"
  
  "Through Abe, the Alexander children have learned to pray more consistently and more specifically, and they have passed that lesson along to others (p. 34)."
  
  "'What I can't deal with is not knowing your heart (p. 39).'"
  
  "I began stripping off the layers of anonymity that shielded my heart from intruders, even my own wife.... Deborah always treated my prayer attempts with understanding and was never condescending. I liked hearing the good things she said about me; they made me want to be even better (p. 40)."
  
  "We don't need to be tryin to drag the homeless, or any kinda needy people, to 'programs,' to 'services.' What people needs is people. And needy people don't need no perfect people neither.... Even though Jesus knowed all a' their sin and weakness, He sent 'em anyway (p. 45)."
  
  "When you reachin out to folks, 'specially if you just reachin out when other folks expects it, you got to ask yourself--is you doin it for God, or is you doin it for you? The things you do for nothin is the things you keep forever.... If you doin it for somethin, you already done got paid. God don't pay no overtime (p. 55)."
  
  "If all the Christians--I mean all of 'em--got outta the pews on Sundays and into the streets, we'd shut the city down. We'd shut down hunger. We'd shut down loneliness. We'd shut down the notion that there is any such of a thing as a person that don't deserve a kind word and a second chance (p. 56)."
  
  "'Don't judge the man... Just give him the twenty dollars.... That man you just gave that money to--his name is Jose. And he ain't drunk. He's a stroke victim. And he's one a' the hardest workin men I ever knowed (p. 60).'"
  
  "I ain't sayin that ever time you see a drunk you got to give him a dollar. I'm just sayin everbody you give a dollar to ain't necessarily a drunk (p. 69)."
  
  "When you give a homeless man a dollar, what you really sayin is, 'I see you. You ain't invisible. You is a person (p. 70).'"
  
  "'I can't even imagine how you must be feeling, but I just want you to know that I love you.' Those were the people who climbed down with me into the pit of my grief and stayed with me. But the grief pit is a pretty nasty, slimy place, and most people don't want to get down in it (p. 79)."
  
  "'Sometimes you can only understand why things happen when you see them in the rearview mirror (p. 88).'"
  
  "When I think about Miss Debbie reachin out to me, my chest gets tight. I had told her straight up that I was a mean man, but she didn't have no way a' knowin how mean. I thank God today she found the courage in her heart to love me enough so that someday I could tell you that even a black ex-con from Angola that stabbed a man could maybe someday do some good in the world if he gets a chance (p. 101)."
  
  "I pictured God in heaven, all these seemingly unconnected lives unfolding under His omniscient eye, rubbing His hands together and telling the angels, 'Now watch this (p. 117)!'"
  
  "'If we couldn't have children of our own, maybe we could help other parents teach their children to live lives of compassion (p. 120).'"
  
  "'The little kids get it... All it takes is a heart for giving (p. 122).'"
  
  "Apart from Deborah's love and Christlike forgiveness--forgiveness I didn't deserve--Denver and I would have never had a story to tell (p. 130)."
  
  "I felt like I had to be dreamin now. Here was the president of the United States of America, treatin me, a poor homeless man off the street, like I was some kinda important person. I didn't know what to think (p. 138)."
  
  "Denver had taught me that to love a man enough to help him, you have to forfeit the warm, self-righteous glow that comes from judging (p. 150)."
  
  "I notice a lotta folks doin more lookin at the Bible that doin what it says. The book a James says, don't just listen to what God has to say, do what He says (p. 152)."
  
  "'The next homeless person we see, we're going to help them (p. 169).'"
  
  "'Your twenty-dollar blessing was the seed money God used to turn me around (p. 173).'"
  
  "God might use other folks down the line to weave your little gift into a bigger blessin. And if you bless folks, you gon' get the blessin back, no matter what they does with the money. So you give the money with no strings attached, and let God take care a' business on the other end (p. 173)."
  
  "'So Mr. Ron, it occurred to me: If you is fishin for a friend you just gon' catch and release, then I ain't got no desire to be your friend...But if you is lookin for a real friend, then I'll be one. Forever (p. 174).'"
  
  "The problem of homelessness will never be solved by the government. That's because government can put a roof over a man's head and food in his mouth and even give him a job. But government can neither love a man nor lovingly hold him accountable.... The chronically homeless need love, compassion, accountability, and someone to come alongside them and hold them steady as they limp along the winding, pitted road to wholeness (p. 175)."
  
  "Part of real love is loving a person from dependence to independence. But if that is to come, it will come in time. What the Joes of the world need first is a taste of dignity, someone to love them enough to take a chance on them (p. 180)."
  
  "We are judged by our compassion, how we live our lives, not by how Joe ultimately lives his. God commands us to love, not to calculate the end game. It is only when Joe is loved without strings that he is set free to (eventually) turn a corner and voluntarily become accountable to those who have placed faith in him (p. 180)."
  
  "God didn't command us to love only for the sake of others but for our own sakes as well (p. 182)."
  
  "I vowed never to withhold kind words from the people I love (p. 191)."
• 
  Ginny

  WHAT DIFFERENCE DO IT MAKE? This is not the first time I've read this book. Wisdom & truth are on each page of this well-written documentation of the impact of their first book: SAME KIND OF DIFFERENT AS ME. Writers Ron Hall and Denver Moore alternate sharing their perspectives on the same life situations.
  I hear the Spirit of God speak to me, guiding, correcting and aligning me to "keep in step with the Spirit." I have been most moved and changed by the direct address of why we should give time and money, yes even cash, to the poor, particularly the homeless. Our job is to give and leave it with God what the recipients do with the money. I haven't wanted to give cash to street beggars because they might spend it on liquor or drugs. I realize that previously I have limited God, when I read how God moved in the life of the recipient of cash who went into a bar, and God was already present there and at work. I'm stunned and changed to see God is bigger than my boundaries on Him. I highly recommend reading and re-reading this book if you are open to having your heart opened, touched and transformed.
• 
  Dominique

  No More Room for Excuses!
  
  
  After my review of, Same Kind of Different as Me, I was contacted by Thomas Nelson to see if I might be interested in reading the follow-up book, What Difference do it make?.
  
  If you read my review, you know that…
  
  I was powerfully impacted by the book. That book has forever changed how I view the homeless. Because of that, I whole-heartedly wanted to read the second book.
  
  In the follow-up book, excerpts are taken from the first book and interspersed with true stories of people all over America who were powerfully impacted and motivated to be a person who becomes the catalyst of change for the homeless in their area.
  
  However, that wasn’t the most impacting part of the book for me. It was how the journey that Ron and Denver unwittingly found themselves on together, actually mirrored my journey on so many levels.
  
  Ron’s worldview of the homeless was judgmental, distant, and obligatory- he originally helped the homeless because he felt he had to – felt obligated by guilt. As shameful as it is, I was right there with him in book one and now again, in book two. Ouch!
  
  Denver’s worldview, on the other hand, mirrored mine in the sense that he felt invisible. The world around him had decided that he had very little worth, acceptability, or value. I can’t tell you how often I have felt that as one who is chronically ill. The world expects us to be beautiful, bright, working, thin, involved, etc., and when you can’t, you are easily dismissed. Again, I totally get that.
  
  In, What difference do it make?, Denver became even more amazing to me. Here is a man who started off as a slave, became homeless, served time, and then by God’s grace and goodness, became a painter, speaker, voice for the homeless, and a man of incredible wisdom, integrity, character and honesty.
  
  Denver’s ability to cut to the chase continually blew me away throughout this book. In a day and age where many people are masking, being politically correct and basically shying away from being real, here is an individual who says what he means and means what he says.
  
  Denver’s ability to deal in truth is exposed when he says,
  
  Since I been vistin a lotta churches, I hear people talkin ’bout how, after readin our story, they felt “led” to help the homeless, to come alongside the down-and-out. But when it comes to helpin people that ain’t got much, God didn’t leave any room for feelin led. [...:]You know what he gon’ say? He gon’ say, “You didn’t need to feel led ’cause I had done wrote it down in the Instruction Book.
  
  In the margins of my book, I wrote,
  
  Ouch!
  
  Denver then goes on to close this portion of his story with this comment!
  
  Most people want to be circled by safety, not by the unexpected. The unexpected can take you out. But the unexpected can also take you over and change your life. Put a heart in you where a stone used to be.
  
  In the margins of my book, I now wrote,
  
  Wow!
  
  So often I make excuses for why I can’t do something. Or even worse, I judge another person who is down and out. It is safer, easier, and less intrusive. But that isn’t how God intended for me to live my life.
  
  Sometimes, being an “A-Type” personality, I want to wait until I have become perfected in whatever it is that I want to accomplish. How many opportunities have I let go past because I was working on perfecting myself. Denver dispels any compunction I have had in the past to wait until I am ready when he says,
  
  And needy people don’t need no perfect people neither. When Jesus sent His disciples out, He sent Peter right along, knowin Peter had a bad temper and a potty mouth and was gon’ deny Him three times. He sent John and James even though they was full a’ pride and fightin over the best seat at the table. He even sent Judas, knowin’ Judas was gon’ betray Him. Even though Jesus knowed all a their sin and weakness, He sent ‘em anyway.
  
  I don’t know about you, but that wipes away years of excuses! In the end, it doesn’t matter if you are a person of faith or not. It is our human responsibility to take care of those who have less than us. How we choose to do that, is up to us in the end. Finding excuses to get out of doing something, isn’t.
  
  Ron sums up the theme of his and Denver’s life mission eloquently when he says,
  
  They taught me not to ask myself what would happen to me if I stopped to help someone in the street but to ask myself what will happen to them if I don’t?
  
  Isn’t that what this journey we call life is really all about?
  
  These men’s testimony has really impacted me because like Denver, I find myself dismissed, demeaned, and discarded on a regular basis by the medical world, many of my past relationships, and the world in general because I struggle every day with an illness no one can see. I understand the pain of being marginalized by a world that is too busy to take a minute and reach out and help.
  
  After reading both of these books, I will no longer be able to see a homeless person and not offer whatever help I can. I may not be physically able to start an organization as many people in the book were moved to do but I can use my words to motivate those that can and I can offer whatever I have to give whenever I can.
  
  How about you? I dare you to read these books and not be impacted or changed! I don’t think it is possible!
  
  *I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their Blogging 4 Books program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
• 
  Gina Levert

  This was a wonderful book of friendship, faith and personal growth of each of the main characters, I was left with the feeling that I am not doing enough to help the homeless and misfortunate and also was given a different perspective on them- you never know how a person gets to a position of homelessness and it is not always their fault. I was Impressed by the friendship between these two men and this woman and the faith in God that they exhibited throughout a seemingly hopeless situation. I am already reading the sequel.
• 
  Clare Hatt

  I was slightly disappointed with this book. I was looking forward to reading inspirational stories from people whose lives were transformed by Denver and Ron. Instead, only about 15% of the book related to such people, with only another 15% being about Denver, and 70% being about Ron!
  
  The first part of the book was written in a style that made it seem like Ron was just rushing to get another book out.
• 
  A Busscher

  Easy and fast book to read thru. This one seemed more scatter brained than the first, but still struck home. How just b/c we give homeless money, yes it helps but we should also reach down and connect with them. They are not all druggies and alcoholics on the street but people who come down on hard times. I also liked his 30 day challenge for each church to "adopt" one homeless person. What would happen then?
• 
  John

  I didn't enjoy this as much as
  Same Kind of Different as Me: A Modern-Day Slave, an International Art Dealer, and the Unlikely Woman Who Bound Them Together, but it was still a good, uplifting read.
• 
  Hannah Brigmon

  It is a special thing to see the imprint of another person’s story on your own life, this book reminded me how greatly I (and thousands of others) have been impacted by the story of Ron Hall & Denver Moore, whose friendship began at the Union Gospel Mission in Ft Worth, TX (a place I grew to love!)
  
  If you haven’t read Same Kind of Different as Me, do it. & when it changes you, I’d read this one as well!
• 
  Rhoda

  A quick read follow-up book to Same Kind of Different as Me that talks about the continuing friendship of Ron and Denver. Another great reminder of seeing the homeless as real people and people God loved enough to send His Son to die for. Denver continues to speak wisdom even if not always theologically correct.
• 
  Rebecca Lloyd

  Loved this book as much as the first one! To see God move through people is amazing. It refreshes me and helps keep in mind "the ripple effect" ... how you can do one small act and God can make the repercussions endless. Keep the faith!
• 
  Eric

  I liked the insight and the stories behind "Same Kind of Different as Me". The stories are uplifting and a few of them are downright convicting when it comes to dealing with homeless or those less fortunate.
  
  I love to recommend "Same Kind of Different as Me" and this is a worthy companion.
• 
  Audrey Worrell

  This book mostly discuses the impacts of the first book (how it has directly affected other people). It also dives deeper into Ron and Denver’s continues relationship as well as Ron’s sort-of estranged relationship to his own father.