It was great! Ron Hall did the majority of the talking, but Denver Moore also got up and did some "preaching" as he calls it. It is really amazing what Denver has become considering where he started and how these two have become such companions in life because of Ron's wife (who battled cancer and passed away too early in life). It is beyond inspiring and the benefit last night was wonderful. There was a fully catered fajita dinner (it was yummy!) to enjoy beforehand. The Expo Center was sold out and then some. Originally they had 1600 tickets, but sold 1700 and finally had to stop because they were fast running out of room. All proceeds benefited the Twin City Mission and of course, donations on top of the ticket cost was welcomed.
I am so proud to have read this book and to have been able to hear the authors speak. It is a book that will not leave my bookshelf (or my iPod). And I will continue to recommend it to others.
Anyway, here's a couple of pics I managed to snag while there last night...
Our table...
Me, waiting patiently for it to begin...
The program...
First Lady of Texas (Gov Rick Perry's wife), Anita Perry, introducing the key note speakers...
Ron Hall speaks first...
And Denver Moore..
Afterwards, getting our books signed...
I have two favorite stories from the night to share that was told. I hope my readers have read the book, but if nothing else, hopefully you get the gist of the story from my previous post. Anyway, the stories I want to share went something like this...
Ron Hall was telling the stories b/c as he says Denver is too shy to really want to tell stories on himself. He doesn't like to talk about himself...after all, why would anyone want to hear about him? He'd rather tell people about the Lord. So anyway, after they decided to tell their story and write a book (b/c Denver said..."you know Mr Ron, our story is so unbelievable, no one would ever believe it. We need to write a book."). So the adventure began and after it was written, it took a lot to get it published. While they were waiting, only a 100 or so books had been given out, a Boston TV news station got wind of it and wanted to interview the authors. This would be the first television interview and done via satellite from Dallas. They agreed (again, still trying to get it published), but Denver wanted to be sure they wouldn't ask him no questions, that they let Mr Ron tell 'em about the book. So they got up at 5:30a and went to a studio and the got tuned in via satellite and sure enough the first question was directed at Denver by the Boston newscaster. It was something inconsequential, like..."Mr Moore, what made you want to write a book?" or something similar. Denver sat stone cold, live on TV (in Boston), and didn't answer for the longest time. Just as Ron was fixing to intercede and answer on his behalf after a seemingly long 15-20 seconds of silence, Denver spoke up and said, "Well, I can't write, so I didn't write the book...and I can't read, so I haven't even read the book, but I can tell you it is my story and it's a good story." :-)
And the second story I wish to share that was told last night... Only a couple days after Ron's wife had passed (and if you read the book you know this was after he and Denver had become friends), he was still bitter and angry and sad. He walked into the homeless shelter and everyone was just sitting around doing nothing. He instantly become judgmental and angry. Here he was mourning his wife's death and all these nobody's are just sitting around doing nothing. How totally inconsiderate. Then someone comes up to him and says, Mr Ron, we've just been sitting here all morning praying for you and your wife. We figure nothing else is as important right now and just wanted you to know. He felt so ashamed for his arrogance. Then, he asked where Denver was? After all his wife (and Denver's inspiration) had just died. Someone told him he thought he was across the street sleeping in that old abandoned building. Ron looked up and saw it was nearly noon. Again, instantly angry. Here he was so upset over losing his true best friend in life. And all these other homeless people are in here praying for him...and where was Denver? Sleeping till noon. How completely inconsiderate of him. He was fuming. So he went across the street to wake him up, which he did. And Denver said every so quietly, Mr Ron, I'm sorry I'm still asleep, but I knew that all those good people in there would be praying for you all throughout the day. So there would be no one praying for you or Ms Debbie at night, so I've been staying up every night and praying all through the night for you and her.
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