Shattered Shackles
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About this ebook
The lives of Jim Reid and his drinking buddy, John O'Banion, hit “rock bottom” in their marriages. Both started drinking at an early age. Jim was a habitual drunkard, poor provider, and often an absentee husband and father of 6 children. The oldest, Billy, disappeared and was never found. Jim was often unemployed and often slept in box cars, under bridges, in the back of saloons, or wherever he could find a place. When his wife Lola died, Jim stayed with the children for awhile but eventually alcoholism took its hold and Jim left his children on their own.
While searching for the “man in black” who presided over the funeral of Lola, the children were discovered and went to live with Ben and Sarah Barton. It turned out that the “man in black” was actually the uncle of Sarah, Rev. Jack Delaney (“Uncle Jack”). He and wife, Mae, had raised Sarah and her sister, Bessie, after their parents were killed in an automobile accident. This led to the re-discovery of the children's father Jim, his conversion to Christianity after a young man handed him a tract containing Rev. Delaney's name, and the happy re-uniting with the children.
Meanwhile, John was a terrible, mean husband to Alice, one of Jim's nieces. He had beat up his wife on occasion and had even pulled a gun on Alice's mother and “acted like a wild man”. John was re-united with his old drinking buddy, Jim, after John came to Rev. Delaney to preside over the funeral of the death of his newborn child. This eventually led to John seeking to have his “shackles” of alcoholism “shattered” through his pursuit of Christianity.
Another family that incurred the “shackles” of alcoholism was the Greene family. Alton Greene discovered Jim passed out drunk in in alley, which led to Jim's hospitalization and dangerous illness for several days. Alton had serious alcoholism issues that eventually led to his commitment to a mental institution for 11 months. He and his twin brother, Bud, became hopeless alcoholics at barely 20 years old. Alton was devastated when Bud was killed when struck by an automobile, and even contemplated suicide. Their sister, Rachal, had an unfortunate romance unknowingly to a married man and had a child out of wedlock.
Alton fell in love with Sarah's sister and a niece of Rev. Delaney, Bessie, and had several dates. He had initially seen her singing on the street about the love of God. Bessie was much younger than Alton and their romance was adversely impacted by Alton's alcoholism and the fact that he was not a Christian. Jim, meanwhile fell in love with Alton's sister, Rachal, but had to deal with the fact that, even though she was now a Christian, she had been an unwed mother.
This religious novel explores the unusual juxtaposition of the lives of members of several Southern families, the “shackles” of alcoholism, and its extremely adverse impact on family and romantic relationships. It also demonstrates the power of prayer, coupled with acts of faith and coincidental events, in “shattering the shackles” of alcohol through Christian conversion, restoring damaged relationships, and changing lives forever.
Georgia McCain
Mrs. McCain died from injuries sustained in an automobile accident at age 87 on December 9, 2013. She maintained her Christian commitment and ministry, as well as her writing skills, until the time of her unfortunate death.At the time of her death, many of her books were out of print. To preserve the books and allow many new readers to enjoy, the books are being converted to e-books by her family. To increase relevancy and impact to a more contemporary and international audience, minor edits to the original text have been made to some of the books.The following article was published in the Cenla Focus in October 2012 prior to Mrs. McCain's death, and provides a synopsis of Mrs. McCain's life as an author. It was authored by Holly Jo LinzayGeorgia McCain, an author of 10 published books, recalls the day she felt the Lord Jesus lead her to start writing. "I was standing in the kitchen, and God asked me, 'What is that in your hand?" McCain remembers, and answered, "'Only a pen, Lord.' Then He asked me if I would use the pen for his honor and glory, and I said, 'Yes, Lord, as you direct me, I will write for the glory and honor of God."That very night, her first short novel unfolded completely from beginning to end. "The Lord gave me the name of the book and just opened up the story for me from the first page to the last," notes McCain about her first book, Through Troubled Waters, which was published more than 40 years ago. Her first book is a work of fiction interwoven with Biblical truths. McCain has sold thousands of copies, and has received letters from people all over the world expressing how the book touched their hearts. "I never dreamed about writing a book, let alone getting one published,' McCain notes.As a child, McCain wrote poems and made up short stories. In the ninth grade, as her teacher was passing out Christmas gifts to the class, she called McCain to the front of the classroom. She told the class that Georgia had a gift for all her classmates. Stunned, McCain realized her teacher had made copies of a story she had written and shared it with the class. From time to time, she would write another short story. Later, she was asked by a preacher to write a story that would continue and develop in a religious paper. 'I told him that I couldn't just sit down and write a story. God had to give me the thoughts: McCain recalls, remembering it was later that night that she heard God question her about writing. When her son, Danny, came home from college, he read her story, Through Troubled Waters, and encouraged McCain to get it published. "Everything I write, I want it to honor God,' McCain says with conviction.The 84-year-old author is a woman of prayer, and has lived a life in pursuit of holiness. Growing up as one of 14 children In the rural community of Rigolette, McCain graduated from Tioga High School. At 19 years old, she met and started dating a young man named Carl McCain. He worked as a lineman for South Central Bell and she was working as a telephone operator. After a whirlwind courtship, the two were married on July 1, 1946.The young couple made their home in Rigolette and raised their seven children--Ronald, Danny, Kenny, Randy, Barry, Donna and Jackie. The family attended Tioga Wesleyan Methodist Church, where Georgia and Carl served in every ministry they could. They have 19 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. The two were married for 62 years before Carl passed away. Her home is a testament to a close-knit family with photographs vying for space on shelves stocked full with mementoes from the grandchildren. A legacy of love is showcased with framed drawings from the kids alongside epic poems written by McCain about her family.In between her serving at her church and raising seven children, McCain found time to write more books. Her second book, Trials and Triumphs, is non-fiction and retates many of her personal experiences, including the loss of her four-month-old grandson, Nathaniel, to meningitis. Her third book, a fictional novel, Shattered Shackles, deals with alcoholism and its affect on a family. "My daddy was an alcoholic, who would say he was tapering off when he was trying to quit. Later, he did sober up," McCain says, adding that her real-life experience probably played a role in the book.Another of her books, God's Little Lambs, is a compilation of stories written for children that can be read as bedtime stories or for family devotions. At one time, McCain says she felt impressed to write a novel about some twins. In Straight Paths, the story of fiery-tempered "Connie Slocum" unwinds as she struggles with heartaches, persecution, separation and loneliness. In the book's sequel, Plucked Out ofthe Net, Connie's twin brother, "Donnie Slocum," is featured in a story of redemption.Three of McCain's books have dealt with prayer and answers to "prevailing" prayer. "It is absolutely amazing that God has spoken to me over and over, and keeps giving me books to write. He has faithfully led me all the way," notes McCain. In all, she has written 10 books, and family and friends are after her to write a book of poems. She has written long poems with clever rhymes marking nearly every milestone in her and her family's life.It does not take long to get caught up reading one of McCain's books, and believing the incredible stories of faith in the non-fiction books. Written In such honest prose, her words flow from her heart and from a life seeking after holiness. If her books inspire and encourage or cause someone to "seek the Lord," then McCain says the books have served their purpose. "God deserves all the glory for anything accomplished through the writing or reading of these books," she emphasizes.A woman of faith, McCain has taught Sunday School and Bible studies in just about every ministry at her church. In addition, for the last 34 years, she has taught three different Bible study groups at three different nursing homes. McCain has been honored and received numerous awards for her volunteer service from Ball Senior Citizens Center and various nursing homes. In 2001, she was named the Volunteer of the Year of Tioga Manor and named "Most Faithful" volunteer at two other nursing homes.When her husband Carl served for a number of years on the Rapides Parish Police Jury, McCain supported him by participating in a variety of ways in the community. Known as a great cook by her family and friends, her daughter, Donna, presented her with a cookbook of the family recipes on her 50th wedding anniversary. Besides serving the Lord, McCain says her most important role in life has been as a wife and mother. She said all her children are “successful and love the Lord," and that they never gave her a "lick of trouble" beceuse she kept them in church and a "switch on their behinds", if needed. Her son, Danny, who is a missionary in Nigeria, even calls her every day.McCain says she is "blessed beyond measure by the Lord" with family and friends. Some have called her a "prayer warrior," in seeking God's will in her life. One piece of advice she freely gives out to all who will listen is the same encouragement she offers in her last book, Walking with God for Over 50 Years, "Sometimes when we can't seem to pray our way through, we can often times praise our way through to God. Try it."
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