"Fearless" by Eric Blehm

I have been aware of the story of Adam Brown for a few years, even since before the book was released, but I did not know what I was in for when I began reading this book. Stories of true American heroes are especially meaningful to me - and you probably won't find a more inspiring story than that of Adam Brown.

To begin with, it is important to know that one of Adam's last wishes was that his story be told - the whole thing, from the ugliest parts to the best parts. Once you read the book, you'll see just how much courage it took for him to be willing to share his testimony of his life with us. There were days of drug addiction, deception, and theft. But he overcame that - and also would give his life to Christ in the process. The change in him was a process that took time - there was no instant "sanctification." That should give any reader - no matter how many times they've battled the demons of addiction or other sins - hope that it is possible to overcome in Christ.

You cannot read this book without being impressed at the toughness of Adam Brown. The dude was insanely tough. He had a fearlessness (note the book title) that was no doubt a contributing factor in his journey to become one of the most elite special warfare operators in the US military. Just to give you an idea: he loses his dominant eye AND has his fingers on his dominant hand severed and re-attached.... BEFORE he qualifies for SEAL Team SIX (which is the top tier of the already-insanely-elite Navy SEAL teams). If you've never shot a gun, you'll have no concept of how ridiculous it is to try to shoot with your right hand using your left eye. In a qualification course in which hundreds try and few succeed, Adam did it with one eye and a partially-usable hand.

The fact of Adam's Christian faith was emphasized well in the book. It seems like Adam was an outspoken believer, a faithful church attender, and a man of great trust in the Lord. He was also a loving father and husband, and in his childhood years he was a respectful and honest boy. Stories like these remind me that there are good men out there - and praise the Lord. We need more men like that. Our military needs more men like that.

There was a good deal of profanity in the book, which did surprise me (being that it is mixed in with all of the religious elements), and at least a couple of crude stories (locker-room-type humor). But, the story is gripping. I came to tears at the end, leading up to the day that Adam makes the ultimate sacrifice.

What else can I say? I loved the book, and I respect the man greatly. He was far from perfect - but his story is so real, yet so unreal. I'll never know what it is like to be a SEAL (or even a soldier) - but if I were, I would want to be fearless like Adam Brown.

You can find more information about the book and Eric Blehm, the author, at www.fearlessnavyseal.com. Also, you can check out www.adamslegacy.com.
(Please note: I do not necessarily endorse everything on these linked pages, nor can I guarantee that these links will always go to the intended sites. If a link is broken, or redirects to a different page, please leave a comment and I will remove the link. Thanks!)

"Love Worth Finding: The Life of Adrian Rogers and His Philosophy of Preaching" by Joyce Rogers

As I said in my review of his book, Unveiling the End Times in Our Time, there is no preacher that I respect more than Adrian Rogers. If possible, that respect increased after reading this book.
This book was written mostly by Joyce Rogers (Adrian's wife), although there is an interview-style section at the end that is mostly Adrian's words. Keep in mind that this book was also written before he passed away. In fact, it was written as a sort of tribute to him towards the end of their time in the pastorate at Bellevue Baptist Church in Memphis.
So, with the aforementioned information in mind, there is only one minor criticism of the book. It is not terribly detailed as a biography. Most of the major events of Adrian Rogers' life and ministries are present, including the death of one of their children and the struggles of the Southern Baptist Convention. But, at times the book presents very generic information. Again, this is only a minor criticism. This book is far too thin to be a very detailed biography.
On the positive side, Joyce Rogers presents her words with the skill and perspective of a loving wife writing about her godly husband of many years. She shares the excitements, joys, triumphs, and also disappointments, failures, and tragedies that they experienced together.
The philosophy of his preaching (which is the interview section) was good, but not great. He didn't reveal any information that you could not have probably guessed just by hearing a few of his sermons. Keep the Gospel the focus of your message and life, bathe everything in prayer, don't preach it if you aren't living it, study the Bible constantly, etc. These are all good things - just don't read the book expecting to find an academic treatise on preaching. But if you enjoy hearing Adrian Rogers' unique way of presenting truth - even if it's truth you've heard before - then the philosophy of his preaching is sure to be enjoyable.

I regret that I never heard Adrian Rogers preach in person. In my opinion, he is truly one of the greatest preachers of all time. He was a man of great integrity, with a very winsome demeanor in the pulpit. If you don't know much about his life and ministry, this book is a great source of first-hand information for the casual reader.

"Dreams and Visions" by Tom Doyle

I had read a little bit about this subject before starting this book. The subtitle of this book is a question: "Is Jesus Awakening the Muslim World?" And I would have to say, after reading the stories in these pages, that God is surely doing something in the Middle East to bring revival.

Tom Doyle's book is, first of all, written from the heart of a missionary. He has been in these hard-to-reach places, he has talked with most of the people whose stories appear in his book, he has a burden for the Muslim world - in short, he writes this book with love, not just with the bland fact-giving tone of many books with biographical content. And there are many stories to be told, apparently.

Each of the people whose stories are told in the book have reported seeing Jesus in either a dream or vision. They all seem to know who He is immediately upon seeing Him. Sometimes two different people have the same dream, or a Muslim will have a dream where Jesus shows them a building they must find. When they wake up, they find the building and meet the people who live there (Christians, of course, who are able to lead the person to the Lord).

It is impossible to read stories of these Christians in the Middle East without being simultaneously repulsed by the persecution and torture they endure and encouraged by the strength of their faith. In the excellent Appendices in the back of the book, Doyle answers the question easily: "How do you know the dreams and visions are of God?"  He makes two strong statements: Point #1 - No one goes to sleep a Muslim and wakes up a believer in Christ. Without fail, the dreams only point the dreamer to a person who shares the Word of God with them. For some, it only takes a dream or two - others have had many dreams over the span of many months. Some of the dreamers written about in the book have not yet received Christ at the time of the book's printing (and Doyle asks us to pray that they do). It appears that Jesus is not violating the Scripture that says "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God."

Big point #2 - Look at the fruit of the dreams and visions. These dreams produce seekers of Christ, who become disciples of Christ who are willing to die for their faith (a very likely reality for most of them). Not only that, but when they accept Christ they are so deeply changed by Jesus that they cannot help but share the Gospel with others.

The chapters of the book are divided into sections by country: Egypt, Pakistan, Iraq, Iran, Syria, Saudi Arabia, and even Israel and America. I really appreciated how the author gave a brief historical background of the countries and the Muslim groups that have become dominant there. It helps create a clearer picture in my mind of the context of the stories.

Do I believe these dreams and visions are from God? I can honestly say that I hope so. And it certainly appears to be so. I HIGHLY recommend this book.

What is your opinion of this information? Do you believe God would use dreams and visions to reach a group of people that are nearly impossible to reach by conventional methods? PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT OR DROP ME AN EMAIL AND GIVE ME YOUR THOUGHTS!

Also, don't forget the book giveaway list! I have given out 7 or so, but there are plenty more!

I received this book free from the publishers in exchange for my honest review.

"Pershing: Commander of the Great War" by John Perry (Kindle Edition)

I believe I may have heard of General Pershing a few times in grade school... but I had no idea what an impressive man he was. John "Black Jack" Pershing had a mediocre start to his extraordinary life. Born in 1860, Pershing had one ambition in his early life: to be a lawyer. He never wished to enter military service, but he saw West Point as a means to achieving his own goal of completing law school. Once he began his military career, however, he fully immersed himself in the performance of his duty.

Pershing was the consummate military man. He was a stickler for details, and expected nothing less than perfection from the men he led. When necessary, though, he could be extremely patient - he demonstrated this several times throughout his life, striving for peace and understanding where others saw only conflict. Leading by example, Pershing was always found at or very near the front line of battles - even later in his career as a general. His demands on his men were so great, he once advised his officers in WWI that if any of their men were caught retreating, the officers should make every effort to stop them - shooting them if necessary. While this may seem harsh, the result of his leadership was nothing less than the salvation of Europe and the conquering of the seemingly unstoppable German war machine. He mentored a group of generals - Marshall, Eisenhower, Bradley, and Patton - who led the US Army to victory in World War II just twenty years later.

There are many things that could be said about his military career and victories, but you may as well read the book. This biography is the perfect introduction to Pershing. There is just enough information to give a good grasp of the man and his character, but not so much detail as to alienate the casual reader. This is the second biography I've read that was authored by John Perry (the other was of George Washington Carver), and I've been impressed both times. Perry has several other biographies written, including Winston Churchill and Robert E. Lee. I may just have to buy them...

Pershing claimed to be a Christian and a God-fearing man, but he was not without vices. He had a mistress for many years (AFTER his wife and three daughters died in a tragic fire...while he was married, he was apparently faithful and totally love-struck with his wife). And the book has several profanity-laced quotes in it. But, I am glad that I read this volume on the life of General Pershing.

I received this e-book free from the publishers in exchange for my honest review.

Book Trailer: "Fearless" by Eric Blehm (story of Navy Seal Team SIX member Adam Brown)

This book is the story of Adam Brown, of Navy Seal Team SIX. It was brought to my attention by one of the publishers that I review books for. Adam Brown's story is remarkable, and I am including this on my blog because I feel that this story should be told. This man was a true hero, and a follower of Christ by his own testimony and the testimonies of others.
There is a chance I may receive some copies of this book to give to military personnel. If you are a follower of my blog and active duty military, you will get first priority for these free copies.

More info to come. You can also check out these websites about Adam Brown:
1. Read the first chapter here.
2. The book's official website is http://fearlessnavyseal.com/
3. Watch this two-part feature about Adam Brown produced by the National Rifle Association here. (***WARNING: Videos contain at least one swear word and a few images of injuries that may not be suitable for all ages. Parents, please preview these videos before you allow your children to watch them.)

Also, I cannot guarantee that the content of these websites that I have linked to are not offensive to some readers. I have done my best to screen these links, but they may change over time.

"Fyodor Dostoevsky", A Christian Encounters book by Peter Leithart

I must say that I knew very little about Dostoevsky the man - and after reading this biography, maybe that was a good thing. His books are powerful, acclaimed as classics (and rightly so). His influence on Russian culture and literature is undeniable. His life, however, was less admirable than his work.
Dostoevsky was a Christian, at least in one sense. He affirmed that Christ should be the center of life for all men, but I am not sure how Biblical his Christology actually was - and the book doesn't really address that. It does state that Dostoevsky was apparently a part of the Orthodox church, so we can make a few deductions based on that information.
Plagued with bad health for much of his life, Dostoevsky had some vices which were suprising to me for some reason: gambling, drinking, anger, and women. He had at least one very obvious mistress while his first wife was dying. But if there were one, there could also be others not so obvious. He wasted much of the little money he had on gambling. And he was quick to have fits of anger and shouting when conversing.
My review, however, is not about Dostoevsky's life - but about this book. And I must say that the book had some vices as well. To begin with, there were at least four curse words used in the book. This was totally unnecessary. And, I might add, it was offensive to the (supposed) target audience of Christian readers. There was also a scene that was far too sensual in nature - and it, also, was unnecessary. That scene added absolutely nothing to my understanding of Dostoevsky's life. The last negative point I will make about the book was the lack of continuity. The book darts back and forth between different times in Dostoevsky's life, and it was not easy to remember which time frame fit where.
Now for the positive notes. I really appreciated the book being written as an almost fictionalization of Dostoevsky's life. It made it much more interesting than the mere recitation of facts and dates. It also must have been very difficult to write an accurate biography in this way, so my respect goes to Mr. Leithart for his effort. He accomplished this task by basing many of the conversations in the book on actual writings of the people involved in the dialogue, and he footnotes them well.
Because of the "fictionalized" nature of the book, it was difficult to know which parts were absolutely true and which were made up. However, the book did spark my interest in the life of Dostoevsky, and I will read his writings with a new appreciation for the man behind them.
In all, I will give this book  3 out of 5 stars.
I received this book free from the publishers in exchange for my honest review.

"George Washington Carver," A Christian Encounters book by John Perry

Everyone close to me can tell you that I am passionately against racism and racial discrimination. It is a sin that is opposed to the very Gospel of Jesus Christ. After all, if God so loved the "world," and if "whosoever will may come," and if we should love our neighbors as ourselves, what room does that leave for racism? Why should we feel we have the option to hate another human being for whatever reason? (By the way, this is one course of logic that compels me to reject the calvinist doctrine of limited atonement. For a full explanation of my thoughts on that, you'll have to email me!)
Also, please know that I am not ignorant or indifferent to trends within cultures. The black culture has been mired in some dangerous trends - particularly as it concerns fatherless homes. But, that is not a reason to hate black people. After all, white people have just as many, probably more, dangerous "cultural trends" that demand to be answered before we presume to judge our brothers. That being said, and since it is Black History Month, I chose to read about the great American scientist George Washington Carver.
This biography struck the perfect balance of information to give the reader the ability to develop an idea of what Dr. Carver was like. It was not a long book, and it wasn't full of trivial factoids. In its pages, I gained a new appreciation for a great man - and a great scientist.
I especially appreciated the emphasis given in this biography on Dr. Carver's love for God, and how he gave God the credit for all the amazing discoveries he made and talents he possessed. It also surprised me to learn that Dr. Carver was a praise-seeker: he loved basking in the compliments of other men. However, this was balanced by his humble attitude and generosity.
The greatest lesson that I learned from this book concerned the way Carver handled the issues regarding racial segregation in those days. Unlike those modern civil rights activists who seek to demand equal treatment, often sounding brash and overbearing (and sometimes causing more harm than good), Dr. Carver had the amazing ability to cause the white establishment to blush at their own unjust laws and silly social rules. They WANTED to break the "rules" for Dr. Carver, because his spirit and personality were so winsome. His white friends would be angered when he could not get a room at a hotel or ride in certain train cars, but he never whined or grew bitter over his treatment. He wanted the white man to see him as a productive and valuable member of society. Couldn't we all learn a lesson from him, especially as it concerns those of us who wish to reach people with the Gospel?
Everyone should read this book about the amazing Dr. Carver. Read it, and learn from his life.
I received this book free from the publishers in exchange for my honest review.

"Defiant Joy: The Remarkable Life & Impact of G. K. Chesterton" by Kevin Belmonte

G. K. Chesterton is one of my favorite authors to read. His work never ceases to stimulate the mind. How many other writers can take mundane items, habits, or points of culture and transform the way you think about them? At times, after reading one of Chesterton's wonderfully famous "paradoxes", the book falls limp into my lap while I throw my head back and offer up a laugh that is a mixture of joy at getting the profound joke and of puzzlement about how I could have let something so simple escape my notice.
However, I was terribly disappointed by this biography. It is really a biography of the [selected] WORKS of G. K. Chesterton more than of the man himself. Very few details of his life emerge outside of his literary accomplishments and their critical reception - which is discussed at great length. There was not even a clear telling of the time of Chesterton's conversion or a lengthy discussion of his family.
The author takes great pains, however, to defend Chesterton's works and skill - I felt as though the book could have been written by someone who was Chesterton's father or mother. At times, praise for G.K.C.'s literary offerings bordered on "gushing", and became very tedious to wade through.
One other negative item was the issue of block quotes. There are HUNDREDS of them, nearly two on every page. They severely disrupt the flow of the book. I appreciate the author's research and effort, but the block quotes made reading his book a chore. (Just a pet peeve: most block quotes began with an interruption. Here's an example. The quoted passage begins in normal type: "The main thing," Chesterton once wrote, [then proceed after this with the block quote]. It seems trivial, but it drove me crazy!)
This is not the book to buy if you are looking for detailed information about the MAN. But if you are interested in the impact of his works during his lifetime, you will find it interesting.
I received a free copy of this book from the publishers through http://www.booksneeze.com/. I was not required to write a positive review, and the opinions expressed are my own.

"On This Day In Christian History" by Robert J. Morgan

I had very high hopes for this book.... I love inspiring stories of great Christians from all periods of history and find them to be fantastic encouragers in my own walk with God. Morgan's book didn't quite meet my expecations.
For the detailed information: this book contains 366 (thanks to leap year) one-page articles, each dated, that tells of a significant story that happened on that day. There is also a topical index at the back, which can be helpful. Many of the names and stories were brand new to me, so it was good to be exposed to them. Each day also had a Bible passage at the bottom. That's about all the positive things I can say about it; now for the negative....
This book seemed to focus mainly on Catholic monks and popes. Many of the stories feature martyrs, which is not a bad thing. However, most of the martyrs were killed by a different "brand" of Christianity (for example, Catholics persecute the Protestants, or vice-versa). I found it very disturbing how much violence was carried out under the encouragement of Catholic and Protestant churches and leaders. Not being Catholic or Protestant myself, I was disappointed that very few evangelical (and I'm very liberally including independent and Southern Baptists in the "evangelical" category) show up in the pages. I was also shocked that there were only a handful of references to sources of any kind.... If this is a book of historical information, you would think that there would be footnoted sources, or at LEAST a bibliography. Nope.
The biggest disappointment for me had to be the Bible passages. Morgan uses the Contemporary English Version of the Bible for his passages, and my personal opinion is that this is a horrible translation of Scripture. It has gone beyond interpretational translation (dynamic equivalence, where the MEANING of the phrase is given in a comparative way, as opposed to formal equivalence which strives to translate the WORDS literally as much as possible). In fact, it seems like some phrases are just too colloquial... But I could have lived with the abundance of Catholic stories, and I could have even lived with the CEV Bible passages.... however, some of the passages just seemed very randomly chosen.
All in all, I would still give this book 3 out of 5 stars. We can always learn so much from history, and the stories really can encourage us to be better Christians.
I received this book from the publisher as part of the Booksneeze Blogger Review program. I was not required to give a positive review, and the opinions expressed are my own.

"Bill Wallace of China" by Jesse C. Fletcher

Who would God choose to send to the people of Wuchow in China during the Japanese/Chinese leading up to World War II? Would he choose a thundering preacher? Would he choose a mighty theologian who could dismantle the false teachings of communism prevailing in China in the early 1900's? No, none of these.
In wisdom that only belongs to God, Bill Wallace was chosen. He was a quiet, mild-mannered, but highly skilled medical doctor. Bill Wallace was sent to Stout Memorial Hospital, and quickly developed a rapport with the Chinese people that allowed him to minister as an instrument of grace in the hands of the Healer, Jesus Christ. He never married, and he died at the hands of the communists in 1951 - buried in an unmarked grave.
I do not feel it necessary to critique this book on its literary merits. It is not meant to win awards, or paint a glorious picture of a saint. The writing is simple and tells a simple story.
My heart was deeply stirred by reading the story of this selfless man of God from the Southeast United States. The bravery in the face of danger that Bro. Wallace exhibited is extraordinary - shouldn't we all be bold in our witness for Christ? Bold enough to stand up to the sword that threatens to take our life? Bold enough to put the well-being of others before ourselves? Bold enough to stay when others flee?
Taking the Gospel into China has been the desire and calling of many men and women through the centuries, and Bill Wallace - humble as he was - stands tall among them. He succeeded in the most important task in life: that of giving himself completely to the Lord. May we all do the same. "To me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain."
VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!