Alicia Britt Chole - Anonymous: Jesus hidden years...and yours

About Anonymous

Every so often, God develops a life to whom God can pull back the veil and entrust a revelation that is revolutionary in its nature. God has developed such a person in Alicia Chole and through her has communicated a truth that speaks to every segment in the Body of Christ. Whether you are a pastor or lay member, seasoned saint or initial convert, you will find yourself being lovingly corrected and encouraged in terms of the obscure and frustrating parts of your lifes journey. Youll be encouraged to know that it isnt a matter of the terrain; its a matter of the company. Youll come to understand and embrace the anonymous and hidden times as Gods time of developing an unshakeable identity, disciplined imagination, and submission-based authority. It is a must read for anyone who takes the path to maturity in Christ seriously.

Dr. Claude R. Alexander Jr.,
Pastor, University Park Baptist Church, www.upbc.org

Why do I recommend this book? In the first place, because it is true. Second, because it is Biblical. Third, because Alicia is a gifted wordsmith. Lastly, I like the book because it is vulnerable. I can not recommend this book more highly. You will not regret having read it. Dont read it rapidly. Read it slowly. Mull it over and let the book mull you over.

Dr. Bill Taylor, World Evangelical Alliance, Global Ambassador

Alicia Chole has a unique way of framing truth. Her heartfelt and thoughtful words in Anonymous penetrate the soul and make you feel and think in new ways. And when I read what Alicia has written, I dont just feel like I know her. I feel like she knows me.

Mark Batterson, author of In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day.
Lead Pastor of National Community Church, Washington, DC
www.markbatterson.com

Anonymous makes sense out of those times in life when we feel that God is violating our rightsour right to be well-known, our right to be important, our right to be fulfilled. In our culture, celebrity and busyness have become diseases that are killing us. Alicias excellent book is the best therapy I know of. It is full of wisdom without formulas and grace without compromise.

Earl Creps, author of Off-Road Disciplines, www.earlcreps.com

Alicia is one of those rare communicators who captures the hearts and challenges the minds of a generation. With words of a poet, skillful precision, and uncommon insight her writing gives utterance to what our hearts intuitively know and long to tell. Her book, Anonymous, sits on my shelf next to C.S. Lewis and I am convinced that someday she will rise to a similar prominence if given the platform and freedom to express her full God given potential.

Jennifer Rothschild, author of Lessons I Learned in The Dark,
Self Talk, Soul Talk, www.jenniferrothschild.com

In a culture obsessed with 15 minutes of Fame, Alicia brings ancient truth to life in her work Anonymous. Her insights on Jesus hidden years serve as a map through the essential times of spiritual deserts where true character is forged and revealed. This book reminds us thatin the wastelandsnothing is ever wasted. This is a modern classic from the pen of the seekers companion.

Anita Renfroe, author, comedian, fellow pilgrim, www.anitarenfroe.com

I was profoundly moved by Anonymous. This is one of those books that we as Christ-followers deeply need to read but arent necessarily given the opportunity to read. The emphasis on character more than accomplishment and the profound joy that can be found in being, well, anonymous, are messages that affected me deeply. I am so thankful that this book was written.

Jay Kelly, President and Co-Founder, www.leadershipbuzz.com

How can I say it? Stunning. Brilliant. Penetrating. Incredibly insightful. A perspective of the temptation and hidden years of Jesus I dont think anyone has seen as clearly as you have. It should become a Christian classic. I pray for its wide readership. You have given a great gift to the Body of Christ.

Dr. George Wood, General Superindentent, Assemblies of God

Leave behind the stained-glass images of Jesus, the stereotypical cliches, the church pageants and enter the pages of Alicia Britt Choles Anonymous! This provocative, creative work allows one to glimpse the Jesus we long to view. A Savior, fully man, yet fully God. Christ growing up, cutting teeth, studying the Jewish faith, learning His fathers trade, walking through the dusty streets unnoticed for most of his life. In Choles writing I rejoice with new insight at how Gods Son became the Son of Man, and am inspired with renewed passion to follow in His beautifully authentic footsteps.

Bonnie Keen, Author/Speaker/Recording Artist, www.bonniekeen.com

To Barry,
my beloved husband, dearest friend, and wisest mentor:
a man who in faith treasures the unseen potential of every hidden soul.
In the spirit of Barnabas, you invest in others richly
then with joy step back to watch them shine.

2006 by Alicia Britt Chole

All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any otherexcept for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.

Published in Nashville, Tennessee, by Thomas Nelson. Thomas Nelson is a registered trademark of Thomas Nelson, Inc.

Thomas Nelson, Inc. books may be purchased in bulk for educational, business, fund-raising, or sales promotional use. For information, please e-mail SpecialMarkets@ThomasNelson.com.

Published in association with the literary agency of Alive Communications, Inc., 7680 Goddard Street, Suite 200, Colorado Springs, Colorado, 80920.

Except where otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version (NIV). Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations indicated kjv are from the Authorized King James Version of the Bible.

Cover Design: Brand Navigation, LLCDeAnna Pierce, Bill Chiaravalle,
www.brandnavigation.com.
Cover Photo: PhotonicaJoshua Sheldon
Author Photo: Randy Bacon, www.randybacon.com
Interior Design: Susan Browne Design

For more information about the author and her ministry, visit www.onewholeworld.com.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Chole, Alicia Britt.
Anonymous / by Alicia Britt Chole.
p. cm.
Summary: Using Christs first twenty-nine years of life as a comparison, Alicia Chole shows us that being anonymous doesnt mean being unimportantProvided by publisher.
ISBN 13: 978-1-59145-421-2
1. Jesus ChristBiographyMeditations. 2. Jesus ChristExample. 3. Privacy.
4. Self-esteemReligious aspectsChristianity. 5. VocationChristianity. I. Title.
BT303.C55 2006
232.92'7dc22

2006002423

Printed in the United States of America
09 10 11 12 QW 9 8 7 6 5 4

contents

prologue
in winter

He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season.
Psalm 1:3

A century ago, a few fragile seeds fell upon rocky soil. Through drought and flood, they clung tightly to earth, stubbornly stretching toward the heavens. Today, silver maple, post oak, and black walnut trees surround our home like tall, loyal sentinels. Their intricate, mingled root systems support the ground below. Their long, angular boughs weave a canopy above. Before I was, they were. My elders by many decades, their presence is steadying.