Walk With the Master is a gem of a book that will appeal to readers both young and old. It is a well written and imaginative story that takes readers into the early years of Jesus’ life through the eyes of his loyal companion, a dog named Barnabus. Author Kathy Eriksen has set the story during the “lost years” of Jesus’s life, the years prior to when he began his public ministry.

Barnabus is a stray dog with a nose for trouble and a heart filled with anger and mistrust of the townspeople of Nazereth, but from the moment he meets the Master, he knows he has found his home. With Jesus, Barnabus finds a new and better path to walk in life, the path alongside his new master, though the path is not always an easy one for him to stay on. But most importantly he finds unconditional love and forgiveness with the Master, or as Barnabus refers to him, “my guiding star.”

Other key characters in the story include Anna, a young girl beloved by everyone in the town, and Zaccariah, a boy filled with anger and hurt, much like Barnabus is in the beginning of the story. In some ways these two children couldn’t be more different, but they both have similar and pivotal lessons to learn, as do other characters in the story. Love, hope, forgiveness, and most of all faith – these are the lessons and the overriding themes throughout the story that everyone can find meaning in.  

Children will be able to easily identify with the social issues touched on in the story, such as bullying, greed, jealousy, and anger. Although the story takes place more than two thousand years ago, many of the social problems that confront Jesus, Barnabus and the other characters in the book are the same that confront children today. “The lessons learned by the children and Barnabus at the foot of the Master can be easily carried forward to our world today, and provide rock solid ground for responsible behavior,” said Eriksen.

Readers will especially enjoy witnessing the story from Barnabus’s point of view. It not only offers an interesting perspective on the daily lives of the characters, including that of Jesus, but also allows readers to experience the pure joy that Barnabus feels simply being in the presence of Jesus, and in receiving his love and acceptance. Like most dogs, Barnabus does not hold back in expressing his happiness, his exuberance, and as the Master says to him at one point, “Barnabus, you could really show people how to worship!”

Eriksen is passionate about the message she wants the book to convey to all who read it. “I want this to bring more people to Jesus. To think about him during their daily activities and to ask him for guidance during the times when needed the most.”

This is a poignant story that teaches, entertains and may very well do as Eriksen hopes. “Every person, every child, has to decide for themselves whether Jesus is their Lord and Master, and in some small way, Walk With the Master may help point them in the right direction.”

For more information or to purchase the book, please visit the official Walk With the Master website at www.WalkWithTheMaster.com

Testimonial Emails

Kathy,

We are just having such a great time reading your book, a few chapters every morning as part of our homeschooling routine.

We have just gotten to the part where Anna learns about forgiveness and letting go of anger. This one really hit home for my little girl who continually allows her little brother to annoy her. She is now realizing that she cannot change her brother and that she needs to learn to forgive him so that her own soul won’t be filled with negative thoughts that will follow her into heaven.  Thanks for putting this incredible book together!  Cheers!        

Amanda van der Gulik....Excited Life Enthusiast
www.TeachingChildrenAboutMoney.com
www.TeachingChildrenAboutMoney.com/blog

Hi Kathy,

I really like your book. We learned a lot of lessons. We learned when we get angry at each other then we just have to calm down. I’m really looking forward to reading the rest of the book. The pictures I love the most because they really go well with the stories. Thank you for writing it.               

From Xanthe (a 7 year old in New Zealand)

Kathy,

Your book is a great teaching tool and a good read.  I will be sharing it with my great grandchildren and some great-great nieces and nephews later this year.

The illustrations were great for a children’s book, and the teaching of Jesus definitely came  through at the child’s level.  Forgive and you will be forgiven and not expecting complete change immediately after meeting the Master are concepts that are difficult to present to children and you handled them very well.  The fact that there is always more growth and change for everyone who walks close to Jesus makes life a succession of joyous surprises.                                                                                               

Keep writing – we need more Christian writers!

B.Allen