BOOK REVIEW: DANCING FOR THE DEVIL - by Anny Donewald

Dancing for the Devil: From the Pole to the Pulpit by Anny Donewald
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

(Reviewer's note: I received, upon request, a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher, Howard Books - a division of Simon & Schuster, in exchange for my honest review. vmls)


Fame... one's own or that of a friend or family... and the price that we are willing to pay to protect that fame, coupled with being sexually abused as a young teen set young Anny Donewald on a course... on a journey... of self-destruction that very nearly claimed her soul forever.

Dancing with the Devil tells the heart-wrenching story of a young woman caught up in the world of drugs, sex trafficking, prostitution and trade and her journey to and through that dark, dangerous world that has claimed literally tens of thousands of lives... many to the point of death and many to a life in which death would have been a welcome release from the hell on Earth they found themselves in.

It begins innocently enough... amateur night at a small time strip club. A few bucks... some free drinks are the 'prize'... and 'stories' to tell your friends later ... just another Saturday night, right?

But, wait... that wasn't the beginning of Anny's long dark night - a night that would last for years. No, for Anny the darkness began the first time she was abused by one of the players on her father's college basketball team.

For far, far too many women, their own journey into darkness began - will begin - the same way. Sexually abused at a young age by, not a stranger, but someone known... someone they are close to. Someone they trusted. And like Anny, their guilt and shame over what had been done to them made their own abuse a secret. One, as Anny says, had to be kept at all costs!

For Anny, that night was the beginning of a nightmare that seemed would never end. Guilt and shame overwhelmed her, robbing her of self-esteem, self-worth... robbing her of hope. And just when Anny feels that everything is lost... that she has used up all her chances at life... she has lost everything and everyone... save one... she ever loved or cared about... and she has finally hit rock bottom... and there is nowhere left to go...

A spark inside Anny refuses to die and a tiny voice inside her... a whimper almost lost in her dark despair... "help me... please!"

And God hears that plea... that tiny prayer... and He answers! God picks up Anny and touches her in such a soul-deep way that only our Creator... our Father... our Healer... our Redeemer... can.

Even after all the things Anny has done... after all the times that she turned away from God... all the times she set aside what she had read in the Bible... been told by friends... the messages she heard in church...

Even after all the times Anny turned her back on God... when she finally called out to Him.... He answered. Without hesitation... without condemnation... without any conditions... God answered Anny.

He lifted her up from the darkness and showed her light. He showed Anny his purpose for her.

That moment marked the beginning of Anny's next journey... one of salvation and redemption... one of hope and a message. A journey that would set her on a path of ministry that would come to touch many, many lives... and bring the message of Christ our savior to other lost souls. A message of love... of hope... of grace and mercy to countless 'lost souls', because this was Anny's calling.

It hasn't been an easy journey and I think Anny would be the first one to tell you that her journey is far from over.

At one point in the book, Anny relates something Jesus said to her. "Don't let people tell you who I am; let me show you who I am."

Anny doesn't tell us who Jesus is. She shows us. Her amazing story... from her 'fall from grace' all those years ago to where she is now... her salvation and redemption... the ministry known as Eve's Angels that she began... is an amazing testimony of God's love and of His grace and mercy.

Anny, through God's grace and with the support and encouragement of her cousin Carrie, tells an amazing, riveting and at times heart-stopping story of her journey through darkness and her divine rescue from the sex industry. Anny's open, frank words lay bare a world of depravity... a world no one wants to acknowledge exists... a world that isn't spoken of in polite company and only obliquely referenced in churches. A world that makes us squirm in our seats and change the television channel.

But more than that, it is a testimony of God's amazing grace and healing... and His unconditional, never-ending, never changing love. It is a reminder that we are all His children and there is nothing we can do... no hole so deep or dark or depraved that we find ourselves in... that He can't lift us out of.

Anny Donewald is living proof of that. She is also proof that the 'cycle' can be broken. That is part of the message of Eve's Angels, the ministry that she founded.

It doesn't matter how you got where you are. God will bring you home.

Dancing With The Devil is one of those rare reads that is hard to put down. It is told in such a compelling manner and voice that one could easily finish the book in a single sitting. I recommend this book without reservation.

Dancing For The Devil should be on everyone's 'must-read' list!


Veronica Marie Lewis-Shaw
(writing under a large mushroom, somewhere in the Pacific Northwest)


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VICKI ABELSON’S WRITING CHALLENGE 2 – WHAT SCARES YOU?: "CHRISTIANS"

In Vicki Ableson's second 30 Day Writing Challenge, we are supposed to write about what scares us.  This is going to be an interesting 30 days.  Dr. Kay is back on speed-dial.

~*~

Day 7 of Vicki’s WC2…

Still talking about what scares us, are we? Want to make sure I didn’t miss a memo…

Is “Christianity” the new totalitarianism?

Now, there’s a scary thought!  The pseudo-Christian.

So-called “Christians” have either forsaken or perverted the teachings of Christ to their own will, ‘boot-heeling’ their way through modern, enlightened society in their headlong rush to bring their own brand of “Christianity” to the world.  The current movement is reminiscent of the fascist movements in Italy and Germany in the 1920s and ‘30s.

I’ll take some heat for saying this, I know.  But, I won’t apologize for it.  Does this mean I am ‘anti-Christian’, for saying such a thing?  Absolutely not!  I am… I try to be… a good Christian.  I consider myself a Christian… not a “Christian”.  There is a huge difference between the two, which I’m not going to go into here in great depth because that is not what this post is about.  Suffice it to say this –

A Christian accepts God’s word and follows Christ’s commandments, of which there are only two.  “Love your God with all your heart, soul, body and strength.”  And the second one… “Love your neighbor as you love your God.”

Simple… straight forward… kind of hard to screw up, right?

Apparently not… which is where the “Christian” rears his ugly head.

The “Christian”, for whatever reason, can’t get rid of their own fears, hate and narrow-mindedness and perverts the Word of God to ‘fit in’ with their own prejudices, desires and ‘beliefs’.

The “Christian” believes more in religion than spirituality.   But, aren’t they one and the same, Veronica?

In a word?

No.  To put it very simply; in 25 words or less…

Religion is man’s law… man trying to make God’s word suit man’s purpose.  Spirituality, on the other hand, is more than simply believing in God; but accepting God and desiring a closer relationship with Him.  Having that closer relationship with God… walking with God.

Yes, I know… that is more than 25 words.

The “Christian” says he believes in God.  This is “talking the talk.”

The Christian shows he believes in God.  This is “walking the walk.”

Whether you believe in God or not, do you really want a “Christian” leading you.  Leading your country?

The thought of “Christians” setting national policy, telling me what I can or can’t do… who I can or can’t love… scares me.  I have even had them tell me that God does not love me, because I am a lesbian.  Apparently, God 'told' them that.  But, wait just a minute...

I'm not a biblical scholar, but I am pretty sure that when God says He loves all of His children the same, he means ALL!  I mean, does anyone really believe that God is looking down and says... "love him... love him... love her.  Him?  Eh, not so much.  Her?  Oh, no... not her... uh-uh."

“Christians” are testing my faith.  But I'm not judging them; that's not my place.  It's not the "Christian's" place either, but I'll let God give them the news.

Yes... “Christians” are testing my faith.

My faith though… is stronger than their ‘beliefs’.

Don’t mess with a lesbian who has God on her side!

~finis~

Veronica Marie Lewis-Shaw

17 April 2013

(Writing under a large mushroom, somewhere in the Pacific Northwest)

OUT OF THE CLUTTER OF A WRITER'S MIND: THE CHICKEN OR THE EGG?

I had an interesting conversation with an older man on the train this morning.  This is one of the things I like best about public transportation.

We were sitting across from each other - the cars have some seats that face each other - and I was doing a little research for a story.  I've seen this gentleman before and we have exchanged polite 'good mornings' but never engaged in any real conversation.  This morning was different.

"God is a myth... he doesn't exist."  Well, as opening lines go...

"That is rather a provocative remark to make to someone reading this."  I hold up my Bible, which anyone with reasonable eyesight would not take for something else.

"You don't really believe all that, do you?" He gestures to my Bible.

"Yes... I do.  Why do you think God doesn't exist?"  Talk about a loaded question to make to a stranger!

"From the dawn of time, man has searched for something to keep out the darkness.  There are myths and beliefs throughout the history of man.  'God' is one of those."

"So, you don't believe in a supreme being, a Creator of Earth, man and the cosmos?"

"No, I do not."

"And God is only one more 'fairy tale', told to make man feel safe against the darkness?"

"Yes."

"Would you disagree then, that, if only inferentially, there is a God figure in a lot of those old fables and fairy tales?"

"No, but that doesn't mean a God exists."

"Actually, I think it argues that He does exist.  Let me ask you this.  What do you think is more believable - man, Earth and all the cosmos were created by the random joining of quarks and atoms borne out of a great explosion eons ago, or....

Man, Earth and all the cosmos were created by a supreme being, a Creator...by God?"

The man looks at me for a moment.

"Then, where did God come from?"

"Where did that great big explosion come from?" I reply.

Just then, my stop is announced and the train slows.

"I'm sorry... this is my stop.  It was nice chatting with you.  Bye."

As I prepare to disembark the train, I look back.  The man is watching me, a faint look of consternation on his face.

I offer up a little smile and step off the train.

*

Veronica Marie Lewis-Shaw
21, March 2013