| Surrendering Your Isaac on the Altar | | | | of calamity. |
| A midnight phone call alerted Carol and Gene Kent | | | | The chapters close with questions for reflection. |
| that their only son, Jason Paul, had been arrested | | | | Responding in writing to these exercises will help |
| for first degree murder. "When I Lay My Isaac | | | | the reader interpret the obscurity between the |
| Down" is the story of their desperate response | | | | strange providential circumstances allowed by God |
| to this shocking news. Carol is clearly and openly | | | | and what we know of Him theologically or in |
| communicates the pain they suffered through this | | | | theory. |
| tragedy. Feelings of hurt, shame, guilt, and | | | | Carol urges the reader to change the way we |
| unspeakable horror left them devastated. | | | | think about personal trials. |
| A support group of "stretcher bearers" | | | | Eight power principles are presented which will help |
| surrounded them with prayer, offered words of | | | | the reader through process a personal crisis, |
| encouragement words of comfort, and in very | | | | those circumstances that call for laying your |
| real practical way helped, Carol, Gene, Jason Paul, | | | | Isaac, as an offering on the altar. |
| and his wife April work through their sorrow and | | | | Carol's compassion, comfort, and caring come |
| the sense of bereavement. | | | | through as genuine as Carol communicates her |
| Carol's writing resonates with hope. She shares | | | | personal struggle with relinquishing her Isaac. |
| her story and the stories of others who have | | | | "When I Lay My Isaac Down." is a poignant and |
| also been faced with loss and trauma. These | | | | memorable account of triumph in the midst of |
| stories vividly portray the message of God's love, | | | | tragedy. |
| redemption, and the way to reconciliation in times | | | | Reviewed by Richard R. |