David Gregory, who wrote the wonderful bestseller Dinner With a Perfect Stranger, has a brand new novel called One of Us. It’s the best book I’ve read in years.
The premise of One of Us is simple: Instead of coming 2000 years ago, what if Jesus came here and now, to America? You’ve read the gospel story in today’s language — now read it in today’s setting! Read accounts of Jesus in Texas, Jesus at the Grand Canyon, Jesus in Washington, D.C. — all told with vibrant authenticity that faithfully reflects the original gospel stories. I don’t know any other contemporary writer who presents the gospel more clearly, simply, or compellingly than David Gregory. To read this book is to fall in love with Jesus all over again.
To whet your appetite, here’s an excerpt from Chapter 8, narrated by the Jesus character himself, who in this book is called Manuel:
I drove an hour and a half north to southern Duval County, just east of Hebronville, passing miles of flat terrain covered with citrus groves that gradually turned into eight-foot mesquite trees. I had friends to be with. I talked to El Papá on the way. And in my spirit, I heard him talking to me.
Pedro had told me where he, Sebastian, and Justin were crewing the water well they were currently drilling. I turned off the highway and slowly drove down a dirt road. When I got to the site, the three of them were sitting at the rear of the truck, having lunch.
“New wheels?” Sebastian asked as I got out of the van. “Chido.” Cool.
“New for me. You guys are working hard, I see.”
“We drilled 150 feet this morning,” Pedro answered. “Supposed to have hit water by now. But nothing.”
Justin stood and handed me a hard hat. “Pedro told us what you did at Isabella’s last night. The internet is going crazy over it, you know.”
I smiled. “Why do you think I came to be with you guys in the middle of nowhere?”
They finished their lunch and the supervisor came out of the cab. “Let’s go. Another 50 feet.”
They drilled for two more hours. I sat against a tree, watching them and talking with El Papá. Finally, they reached 200 feet.
“Shut it down!” the supervisor called out to them. “Shut the whole thing down!”
He and I had barely been introduced, but he looked at me and said, “Just lost 40% of our fee. We drill another one, we can recoup. But then it’s lost time.” He shook his head. “Either way, it’s a loss.”
I looked at Pedro, who had stepped over. “Drill down another 16 feet,” I told him.
He stared at me, a bit incredulous. “¿Mande?” What?
“Drill down another 16 feet.”
“We were supposed to hit at 150. We already drilled down another 50.”
The supervisor turned to Pedro. “What, is your friend here a geologist?”
“Sixteen feet,” I said to Pedro again.
Pedro pulled the supervisor aside for a moment. A minute later he walked back and said to Sebastian and Justin, “Another 16 feet.”
“What did you tell him?” I asked Pedro.
“I told him you were the guy who healed all those people in Encino last night.”
“And what did he say?”
“He said, ‘Maybe he should lay his hands on that drill!’ Then he said, ‘Fine, another 16 feet.’”
They drilled 16 more feet. And then the water came gushing.
“¡No manches!” Pedro exclaimed. No way!
The guys all let out whoops and high-fived.
The supervisor simply smiled and nodded. “Great job guys. Let’s see if we can wrap it up before nightfall.” He looked at me and stuck out his hand. “I’m not sure what just happened, but thank you.”
Sebastian and Justin started pulling casing off the back of the truck to secure the well. But Pedro took me aside. “Manuel, how did you know there was water down another 16 feet? Water wells never go that deep here.”
“I didn’t,” I answered. “But El Papá did.”
Pedro looked down at the ground. “I don’t get it. Why are you even bothering with me?” He looked up again at me. “You know I’m no good.”
I put my hand on his shoulder. “Don’t worry, Pedro. From now on, you’ll be drilling down into the hearts of men.”
Listen to an interview with David Gregory about One of Us.
