Outskirts Press, INC.

A Remarkable Life Story Filled with Hope, Faith and Determination

If you've ever felt like you were really contending with forces that were frightening in their strength, overwhelming in their power and crushing in your attempts to deal with them, then you must read this autobiography - Contending With Horses.

Before he was even retired, Bob Wahl had accomplished enough to fill several lifetimes. After leaving home at 17 with just $1.75 in his pocket,he went on to establish ministries across Europe, make fortunes in several unique businesses, tinker in countless others, and raise a successful family.

Contending With Horses is the story behind this remarkable life.

The firstpart of this powerful autobiography traces Wahl’s heritage back to sixteenth-century Holland, and follows his lineage to Prussia, Russia, Ukraine, and finally Canada.

The narrative then shifts to Wahl’s upbringing in a hardscrabble Canadian Mennonite family in the 1930s and ’40s.

What follows is a journey that will see him receive an education far from his rural home, move overseas to spread the word of God, and try his hand as a salesman as he struggles to take care of his family.

But on the road to success, he will encounter incredible obstacles, witness crushing business defeat, battle depression, disappointment with his church and face his greatest enemy head-on: self-doubt.

Contending With Horses is a moving portrait of a life lived fully through some of the best and worst times. It unveils the author’s deepest despairs as well as the ecstasy of reaching the highest pinnacle of success in ministry and business.

And it explores the traits necessary to keep getting up after being knocked down time and again.

I wrote in my journal on Feb 11, 2000: I feel I have been richly blessed in life but not always the way I would have chosen to be blessed. I have been blessed with limitations: limits of income, limits to sorrow and pain, of trouble and woes. Blessed as though the Lord said to Satan, 'so far and no further: do not push him beyond his limitations.' I have been blessed with an optimistic spirit. Given courage to see hope when it was so dark. I have been given grace to forgive those who have grievously sinned against me. Given a hunger and thirst to know, to understand, to seek and search out. Given the ability to teach God's wonderful Word. I have been blessed with so many opportunities to travel, to live in different parts of the world, to know incredible successes and acute failures in business. I have experienced such a range of emotions - from the highest mountain top of joy and fulfillment to the lowest valley of despair and utter darkness. To know the joy of giving and receiving love and the pain of rejection and loss. Yes, it as all a part of life's experiences and my cup is full.