30 Nov |
December 2011 – Dale Price Book Release
Shortly after learning about the cancer that was to both challenge and refine them, Dale and Ruby began working on a book that would capture the essence of their journey. That special publication, “Embracing the Refiner’s Fire” is now available online, via Amazon.com, or from your favorite bookstore. [Note: This is the new and revised edition of the book that was first published in November 2011.] Dale said, more than once, “I won’t be defined by cancer. No! My identity is in Christ and His perfect plan.” “Embracing the Refiner’s Fire” reveals how deeply and successfully Dale lived out his statement. The book includes day-to-day reflections from Ruby and Dale; stories from family members, ministry partners and professional colleagues; and honest accounts of what it’s like to win the ultimate fight: Who will get my best? God or something, anything lesser? The book is for everyone, not just those facing a life-threatening disease. One reader put it this way: I liked how “Embracing the Refiner’s Fire” wasn’t so much about cancer and Mr. Price’s fight to conquer the disease, but about making the daily choice to trust God. The impact of Dale and his wife on the lives of others made me realize how important it is to live with integrity – especially when people are watching to see how you’re handling difficulties. I loved the chapter, “This Has Not Taken God by Surprise,” because there are times when it seems like God doesn’t know/care what’s happening to me. This is a great book for anyone who wonders if God is there – really and truly there – through the most difficult times. December 6th, 2011, marks the date of the official release of two books written by Dale Price, former Executive Director of Canyonview Camp, at the CCCA (Christian Camp and International) Conference at Ridgecrest, North Carolina. Print editions of both books will be available through amazon.com by January 2012, if not before. Two Copper Coins will also be available through Barnes and Noble.com and Xulon Press.com. Both books can be downloaded soon as eBooks in color at amazon.com. A selected number of print copies will be available for purchase through the business office of Canyonview Camp. Even though, at times his widow, Ruby Price, and friend, Jaira Hill, have been overwhelmed with grief, they have brought to completion the books that Dale was working on before he died of lung cancer in the early hours of April 16th, 2011. Jaira and Ruby have been asked by CCCA officials to do presentations at the conference for both the general session, consisting of approximately 1,000 Christian leaders from around the world as well as an hour long workshop featuring Dale’s continuing ministry through the publication of his two books. A selected number of print copies will be available for purchase through business office of Canyonview Camp. One dollar of the purchase price of each book will go toward the Dale Price Memorial Fund; gifs for this fund are also welcomed.
Two Copper Coins is the result of three year collaboration between Dale and Jaira Hill, an award-winning journalism teacher, who carefully archived all Dale’s writings during his cancer journey. Together they chose key themes that would become chapters of this inspirational book. Selected pictures that Dale had photographed from around the world are featured in each chapter. Embracing the Refiner’s Fire is the story of Dale’s journey with the Great Shepherd into the valley of the shadow of death. When Dale Price, Executive Director of Canyonview Camp, was diagnosed with Stage 3B lung cancer in August 2008, waves of grief shattered life as the family knew it. Dale daily demonstrated incredible courage. During his almost three year walk with cancer, Dale and Ruby found that looking back could bring regrets; looking forward, fear; the only place where they could find peace and joy was in the present. The key ingredients of this altered life view included both a renewed sense of appreciation for what is, and a sharper vision for what is truly important. Dale demonstrated how to live in the ‘moment’. Dale and Ruby were able to do so together, to live and love through three years of lung cancer that metastasized to his brain and then to his bones. Dale’s story is one of God’s mercy and grace. It has also been the story of God’s refining fire, the story of the loving Master Craftsman who is creating a work that will reflect His glory. Hebrews Chapter 12 reminds all that God’s discipline is not only to correct, but also to train. The purpose of the training is to share in His holiness. As Dale said from the beginning, “This cancer is not a surprise to God. He has allowed it into our lives for His purpose and glory.” One of the great lessons of this time, according to Dale, has been to abide in full recognition of the Lord’s presence in every moment. This continuous abiding has been the place where Dale and Ruby have found joy and peace and comfort everyday. Although Dale could not see around the corner to know God’s future, he trusted in His leading and chose each day to abide in His love. This is not to say that he was never afraid or that trusting was easy. To abide was to rest in his Savior’s loving arms. It meant that he had confidence that God’s plans were good; abiding was and is the hardest thing that he had ever done. Dale discovered, as he walked through the valley of the shadow of death, that his transparency allowed people to see him, a Christian leader, broken and on his knees before God. In “Embracing the Refiner’s Fire”, it becomes clear how God used Dale’s cancer to bring him into an even closer relationship with Him which in turn ‘qualified’ him to more deeply minister to those who were suffering. Ruby has been reading and re-reading this tattered piece of paper which she has carried around in her purse, in which Dale wrote, “I have come to realize in all of these things that our comprehension of our time on earth is an illusion. The moment in which we live is all we have and it is where God’s will is realized. It is in the present now that we learn to abide, to trust, to hope, to love, to be filled with His peace and joy. I pray that you will find God’s perfect peace as you abide in His love. It is the only place where I have found joy in the midst of what may be terminal for me. We may all be Home sooner than expected.” Dale Price lived and died, glorifying his Savior. Ruby Price and Jaira Hill
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