Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Book Review: High Plains Drifter


High Plains Drifter:  A Hitchhiking Journey Across America 

by Tim Shey 

This review is by M. Canniff (Valora Raziel):

A Hitchhiker Following God

“I first heard of Tim Shey through his web site, and then ordered his book. (I have yet to ever meet him.) I was curious about what life on the road must be like for a hitchhiker following God. His path that he details in this book, blew all my previous misconceptions about hitchhikers clear out of the water! He receives guidance from the Holy Spirit, through the spiritual gift of knowledge, in what I see as a unique twist to the usual. Some have claimed to hear the voice of God speaking to them and directing them into His Ways, but in Tim’s experience, He feels the anointing of the Lord upon him, giving him great peace and joy, thereby letting him know, that he is indeed upon the right path. And what a path it is! Tim shares how the Holy Spirit leads him into intersecting paths of those people that God wants him to meet. Sometimes it’s just a simple conversation with another believer, that leads them into a stronger faith in Christ, and other times it is to actually, physically, lend a helping hand to those who (at that moment,) are in desperate need. It shows how the Lord can be trusted to work out even the smallest details in ones life. It also shows how one can live for Christ without all the encumbrances that come with having and getting material stuff. My only disappointment with the book was it’s lack of a good solid ending. (I am a ‘happily-ever-after’ and an ‘all-loose-ends-tied-up’ kind of reader.) However, I also realize that it simply isn’t possible for him to have one yet, as he is still out there, on the road, doing the Will of God. So, in conclusion, if you’ve ever wondered what it must be like, for a man of God to live the life of a hitchhiker, then this is the book for you. It will open your eyes to a world that few of us have ever experienced…”


Clint Eastwood's film High Plains Drifter (1973)
Two Pleasant Surprises:  High Plains Drifter Revisited
Jesus Never Did Anything Unless He Saw His Father In It
High Plains Drifter:  A Hitchhiking Journey Across America

6 comments:

  1. Here is a comment from Carine McCandless from my Facebook page:

    "Nice review Tim Shey, congrats. I think your biggest fan does not need a computer to connect with others, He uses you apparently :)"

    Here is my response:

    "Thank you, Carine. If we are truly surrendered to Christ, the Lord uses us in situations everyday even when we don't think we are of any practical value. Zechariah 4: 6: 'Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.'"

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  2. This comment is from Rex "Scrappy" Ingram (I met Rex through Digihitch.com):

    "I just read your review from your blog and hope it inspires you to see the uniqueness and individuality you posess. It's inherent in us all but few actualize the potential into kinetic actions like you have. Remember that the past starts one second ago and it can't be changed, but it can be reviewed and learned from to direct the future course. Your life is like the blowing up of a balloon, it gets bigger and more influential the more you put into it. Yours is already a big balloon, but you are so young that your greatest moments and pleasures are yet ahead of you and not in your past. Dare to dare and to be greater than your past and it's a win, win situation. As Bob Dylan's song says, 'those not busy livin' are busy dyin'.' Take care and happy trails, Rex."

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  3. Tim, what a wonderful, insightful review. God truly brings those who are supposed to read this book to open the pages and find a whole new world of walking in the spirit. I'm so happy you received this because it's good for you to know how you affect the lives of others and especially it's good for your faith to know that God truly is using you for His higher purpose. God bless dear brother.

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  4. Randy: Not all work is practical in the Kingdom of Heaven. Sometimes I wonder why the Lord has me hitchhike to a certain place because it seems that nothing really happened.

    The life surrendered to Christ IS the sermon. My hitchhiking and obeying the Lord IS the sermon. The power of the Holy Ghost is always working, whether we can see it or not.

    This was a great review--very insightful and perceptive; M. Canniff hit the nail on the head.

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  5. 14 April 2015

    Here is an email that I read earlier today:

    Hello Tim,

    I'm Larry's son Travis. He gave you a ride to Kooskia a couple weeks ago. My dad gave me your "High Plains Drifter" book to read. I just finished it today at work waiting for the guys to finish prepping a roof to recoat. I enjoyed the book. It's inspiring to see someone wholly trust God and successfully live as free as you do. This past year has been a whirlwind of reconnection with God, my wife, new baby and family. I was invited to join a "leadership" study group with our pastor at church along with a couple other guys. It has proved to be so much more than simple leadership lessons and has made me grow more than I could have ever done on my own. The most recent book was "With" by Skye Jethani. It talks about the different ways people relate to God and the Holy Spirit. So many people want God to bless them for living a certain way, tithing a certain way or behaving a certain way, many miss simply living with God and simply seeking Him. Enjoying His presence now vs viewing this life as an uncomfortable intermission before the true reward in heaven. While heaven will be glorious, I believe God meets us where we are now and shows himself daily. After reading that book along with yours, you seem to model this more or less and relate to God in a very authentic way. I feel that is the direction God is leading me. Slow down, enjoy those around me, love, serve, and seek God. While relatively foreign to me in the past for the most part, I'm finding myself driven towards it now. I'd love to meet you sometime and hear more about the way you relate to and trust God. You sound like a really interesting guy who seeks the Lord. I'm not sure how much you get the chance to check your email, but if you're going to be in the area sometime, I'd love to hear from you.

    Have a Good One,

    Travis

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  6. Here is a comment by Belinda Thorne from her Grace and Truth blog:

    Hi Tim, I have just finished reading chapter 9 of your book. It struck me that God was training you to be led by the Spirit. That your life was /is a literal representation (like Ezekiels was) of how God wants to lead us and how we are to respond. We think to go East but we don’t get a ride so we go west and immediately God sends a ride. The children of Israel had to get their feet wet before the Jordan River parted.
    You will hear a voice behind you say this is the way, walk ye in it.

    To be so trained by the Spirit, to be sensitive to Him, this is it. This is everything . Just some thoughts that have struck me reading your book.

    Blessings.

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