"The Reluctant Jesus" by Duncan Whitehead is pure delight. Seth Miller is happy with his life and career. Still single at 33, he's content with life. Until a phone call (from his mother Irma) changes his life forever.
It seems that God had chosen Irma to be the mother of his second son and Irma as well as husband Ely agreed. After Seth's birth they waited to hear from God about His new son, but he never called. Life went on, Seth grew up and became a successful architect and Irma and Ely kind of forgot about his birth father. And then God called. After the Miller's tell Seth the circumstances of his birth he's convinced they are crazy, until he speaks to his father and gradually accepts that he is indeed God's second son.
God asks Seth to be the new Messiah. God himself is tied up elsewhere and the Devil is preparing to make a bid for supreme power. At first Seth declines, but realizes his destiny he agrees to step up to the plate. He is helped by his friend Bill, his Harvey the doorman, who happens to be an Angel and a girl named Maggie.
The Devil wants a fight and he uses his evil magic to try to force Seth, as God's agent, into a most unconventional final battle. Seth must draw on skills he didn't know he had and have some faith to meet his enemy and defeat him once and for all.
The Reluctant Jesus is a smart, humorous and thought provoking book. Whitehead is brilliant with character development. Where else could you find a hip hop loving Angel, a Supreme Being who is IT savvy and the Devil who is a master gamer.
The book's concept is fresh and a very interesting concept. If I was ever asked to make a list of Books you Must Read in 2014, The Reluctant Jesus would be #1.
