When Roman asks why he didn’t know Jasper was a Christian, Jasper responds, “You never asked, and anytime I brought up spiritual matters, your eyes glazed over. There’s a time for everything under the sun, Bobby Ray. The time never seemed quite right with you.” What are some reasons for waiting until someone is ready to hear the gospel? What are some reasons for sharing the truth, whether a person seems ready or not? How can we know which is best?
Jasper tells Roman, “Faith is just the beginning of a long, difficult journey.” How does this play out in Roman’s life after his near-death experience? In what ways have you seen the truth of this in your own faith journey?
After Roman’s near-death experience, he is left with a chronic leg injury that the doctors can’t explain. How did you feel about this element of the story? Why do you think the author chose to include it?
What is Roman’s intent when he suggests to Grace that they become “more intimate”？ How is this different for him from the casual hookups he’s had until now? Why is it still not enough for Grace?
Aunt Elizabeth tells Grace, “I’m an architect when it comes to building walls.” The same could be said of both Grace and Roman, as well as many people in real life. In what areas do you build walls? What are some ways you’ve found to begin to tear them down, either in your own life or the life of someone close to you?
THE LORD HAS WAYS of putting people together in times of need, and while working on The Masterpiece, I needed to talk with a real-life graffiti artist. When painters came to work on our house, I met a young man who had been a gang tagger in the Bay Area as a teenager, but graffiti had been a passing phase in his life, and I was looking for someone dedicated to the art form.
Along came a couple from Monterey who contacted me through my website, asking if I’d be willing to meet with students from the Czech Republic, many of whom had been reading my novels. Rick and I said yes, and arranged to spend the weekend. The Wongs hosted a luncheon gathering at their home for a Q & A. During the conversation, students asked me what I was writing. I gave them a brief synopsis of this novel. Before we left, the Wongs told me they had a friend in San Francisco, Cameron Moberg, a Christian who also happened to be a graffiti artist.
CAMERON AND FRANCINE
I fired off an e-mail. Would Mr. Moberg be willing to answer some questions? Cameron said yes. I checked out his work online and found it stunning. The more I learned about this young man, the more he seemed to be living out my protagonist’s journey. Especially the epilogue. I sent pictures to friends at Tyndale. Cameron now has fans at the publishing house. They contacted him about using his artwork on the cover of The Masterpiece, which was exactly what I hoped would happen.
Unfortunately, Cameron and I didn’t have time for a face-to-face meeting before he headed off for a project in Australia. The final manuscript was in the hands of my editor before Cameron and I were able to get together. But eventually Rick and I invited Cameron and his family for a Saturday afternoon picnic and swim. As soon as I opened the front door to greet them, I felt like I’d known the family for years. I think that’s the way it is when we meet Christian brothers and sisters, whether in the neighborhood or on the other side of the world. We are immediately connected. We have Jesus in common. We are family.
ORIGINAL GRAFFITI ART USED ON THE COVER
It was a hot day. We enjoyed hot dogs, watermelon, and watching Cameron and Crystal’s two boys swim. We older folks sat in the shade and chatted. We certainly didn’t lack for conversation, and I felt the Lord in our midst. When Cameron suggested Rick and I come down and have a lesson in graffiti painting, I said yes. I couldn’t wait to get my hands on a few cans of spray paint and have the opportunity to experiment.
Check out Cameron’s work online at www.camer1.com.
New York Times bestselling author FRANCINE RIVERS had a successful writing career in the general market for several years before becoming a born-again Christian. As her statement of faith, she wrote Redeeming Love, a retelling of the biblical story of Gomer and Hosea set during the time of the California Gold Rush. Redeeming Love is now considered by many to be a classic work of Christian fiction, and it continues to be one of the industry’s top-selling titles year after year.
Since Redeeming Love, Francine has published numerous novels with Christian themes—all bestsellers—and she has continued to win both industry acclaim and reader loyalty around the world. Her Christian novels have been awarded or nominated for many honors, and in 1997, after winning her third RITA Award for inspirational fiction, Francine was inducted into the Romance Writers of America’s Hall of Fame. In 2015, she received the Lifetime Achievement Award from American Christian Fiction Writers （ACFW）。