Everything Is Possible

Jen Bricker is a spitfire. If she has anything else left on her bucket list it is not from a lack of effort! This young lady is up for any challenge and according to her book, Everything Is Possible, the word can't is a bad word!

I first came across Jen's story in an issue of the Salvation Army's magazine Faith & Friends. I was intrigued by her story and so when I came across her book at our local library, I picked it up to give it a read.

Well this is by far one of the most encouraging books I have read in a long, long time. Jen was left in the hospital at birth, adopted by a loving family after a time with foster parents, and raised to believe that everything was possible. She never let the fact that she has no legs stand in her way.

Her story has been aired around the world, more so after she found out she was the sister of Olympic Gymnast Dominique Moceanu. Jen is an athlete in her own right and is a professional aerialist. It is her story of faith though, woven throughout the book, that shows Jen Bricker's true strength.

Her's is a story of faith, resilience, passion and possibilities. Vulnerable, open and honest, this is a book that begs to be read and shared with others. I could not put this book down. I also found myself praying for the strength to overcome my own adversities in the same way Jen Bricker has faced hers, in the strength of the Lord.

Do yourself a favor and give Everything Is Possible a read.

Stop by next week and I will have an interview with Jen Bricker in a renewal of my 5 Questions interview series.

Culture

I love me some A.W. Tozer. He is one of my all-time favorite authors. I have the majority of the books he wrote during his lifetime. I also have many of the ones released after his death. These latter ones are culled from his sermons and magazine articles.

So when I saw that Moody Publishers were putting out a "new" book by A.W. Tozer I immediately requested a review copy.

I started digging into the book as soon as it came.

Culture is a collection of reflections by Tozer on the nature of the church, counting the costs of following Jesus Christ and the hope of Heaven. It is everything I expect from a Tozer book. There are hard-hitting, uncomfortable truths that make the reader sit back, pause, reflect and pray.

Sadly, it has all been said before. This was not a "new" collection of thoughts but parts taken from previous books that all centered around the main theme. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the book and any fan of Tozer will as well. It is just not "fresh" words but leftovers put together to make a new meal.

Having said that, as today's believers seem to focus on our place in culture more and more, this is a book that is a must read. At times prophetic, it is also a call back to the Truth. A Truth we all need to rediscover in times like these.

Finding God in the Hard Times

I missed Finding God in the Hard Times the first time it came out in print. Previously published in 2005 under the title Blessed Be Your Name, this book by Matt and Beth Redman is an encouragement to praise God despite the circumstances. 

Using the Matt Redman song, Blessed be Your Name, as a lead in, the couple look at life and all it's hardships. They don't shy away from sharing their own story and they address serious issues of pain, suffering and death. Throughout the book there is a sense of hope in the God who sees! 

Each chapter ends with reflections questions and the book closes with an effective study guide for use in small groups.

Having personally dealt with a lot of hard issues this year, I found this book to be inspiring and encouraging. It actually arrived in my mailbox at the perfect time. I devoured the book in just a couple days. I finsihed with a renewed sense of God's love and care in the midst of hardship.

I would encourage everyone to have a copy of this book on their shelf!

"This book has been provided courtesy of Graf-Martin Communications and Baker Publishing in exchange for an honest review."

Delighting in God

The Mercy of God led to Calvary - A.W. Tozer

I love the writings of A.W. Tozer

I first discovered Tozer back in 1994.  I was in the midst of a YWAM Discipleshp Training School.  Assigned a book report, I scoured the shelves and came across The Pursuit of God.  That book changed my life.  It challnged me, encouraged me and left me thirsty for God!

Over the years I have picked up old Tozer books whenever I found them.  Over the last decade, many of Tozer's sermons and magazine writings have been turned into books.  The majority of those have been compiled and edited by James L. Snyder.

So I got excited when Bethany House published a new book of Tozer's writings called Delighting in God. I eagerly dove into this book. Like every Tozer book I have ever read, this one challenged me in new and exciting ways.  Snyder does a brilliant job of compiling Tozer's writings on the theme of delighting in God.  I found numerous passages that caused me to pause, reflect and pray.

For a man who passed away in 1963, Tozer's writings are a much needed breath of fresh air!  His words challenge still today.  At times his words are even prophetic. 

If you like old school preaching, having your faith challenged or find yourself craving more of God then Delighting in God  is the book for you.

"This book has been provided courtesy of Graf-Martin Communications and Baker Publishing in exchange for an honest review."

Unstoppable Gospel

I love the book of Acts.  It is probably one of my favorite Bible books.  The stories are exciting and engaging.  In his new book, Unstoppable Gospel, Pastor Gregg Matte calls readers to take up the mission and ministry of the early church and to go out and change the world. 

With Acts 1:8 operating as the backbone verse of the book, Matte takes the reader through the meaning of that verse, as well as walks through the remainder of the book of Acts and how it applies to us today.

There were a couple places where the book seemed to lag a bit, though not overwhelmingly so.  In fact, there was a lot of good "meat" on this bone and I found myself underlining quite a few passages to go back and look at again. 

I appreciate Pastor Matte's call to missions and found myself challenged and encouraged.  Can't ask for more than that.

"This book has been provided courtesy of Graf-Martin Communications and Baker Publishing in exchange for an honest review."

The Original Jesus

I had a recent conversation with a friend and fellow pastor and he mentioned that we live in a society that wants to design our own Jesus. 

The Original Jesus by Daniel Darling addresses this very topic.  He looks at the Jesus we have created in our culture today.  As I read through this book, I encountered numerous Jesus-types of our own design. 

The author talks about the "Red-Letter Jesus, the American Jesus, the Braveheart Jesus, the BFF Jesus and the prosperity Jesus" among others. Each chapter looks at a different type of Jesus and then calls the reader to look at what the Scripture really says about Jesus.

I have to say I was more than intrigued.  The book starts off slowly.  I could not relate to the Play-Doh or Guru Jesus but after that, I started seeing a more familiar Jesus. A Jesus that fits our needs as opposed to one that calls us to repentance, to a deeper life, to a true relationship with our Heavenly Father.

Daniel Darling does a good job of calling the reader to get to know the Savior as we see Him in the Word. 

If you get the chance, pick up this new release from Baker Books.

"This book has been provided courtesy of Graf-Martin Communications and Baker Publishing in exchange for an honest review."

Death On Hold

I am always hesitant to write anything around the death penalty.  I have noticed people's passions are such that they begin to go overboard in arguing their point.  I wrote about this topic and my wrestling with it way back in 2008 http://apperson.blogspot.ca/2008/11/wrestling-with-word.html and though the comments on this blog were not too over the top...I received tons of emails about it and even had people stop talking to me for a season.  I was fairly raked over the coals.

So at first I was unsure if I wanted to review Death on Hold by Burt and Anita Folsom.

This is the story of Mitch Rutledge, a man on death row with an IQ of 84.  He admitted his crime and was sentenced to death.  He also said he was sorry for what he did. A story in time magazine about people on death row addressed the life of Rutledge and the last line of the story said, "Forget him."

The Folsoms and a few others could do no such thing.  They began a correspondance with Mitch Rutledge that has continued on for 30+ years now.  Rutledge had his sentence upheld once, then saw it later reduced to life without parole.  He still sits in prison today.

He is not the same man he once was though.  With the support of his new "family" and a faith in Christ, Mitch learned to read and write, received his GED and later took college courses.  He became a model prisoner and has appeared in videos and given lectures to groups brought to the prison about the dangers of poor choices.

Mitch had a hard life before his crime but owns the fact that he also made por choices.  The take away from this book is that ALL lives matter, even a teenage murderer with an IQ of 84!  This is the story of how God can redeem ANY life.  It doesn't matter if you are for or against the death penalty, you should read this book and see how God can transform lives.

I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers http://booklookbloggers.com; book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review.

Raising Boys By Design

 

I am not a huge fan of parenting books.  It is not that I am a perfect parent, far from it.  However, the ones I have read always seemed a bit unrealistic.  It got to the point where I avoided said books any way I could.  Then I got an email offering this book.  I was intrigued...I sid Yes.

Raising Boys by Design by Gregory Jantz and Michael Gurian was not what I expected.  The first part of the book spent a bit of time looking at how mens/womens brains worked.  As I read what could have been a very dry section, I found myself very, very interested.  The authors drew me in with their explanations.  I started reading parts out loud to my wife.  My daughter picked it up when I left it in the car and started reding it.  She said it was very interesting. I learned things not only about my kids, but about myself as well.  I started sharing parts of this section with others.

I guess you could say I liked it.

The second part of the book was a practical application of all that was discussed in the first part.  Using the acrynom HERO, the authors provide a vision for parenting your son.

Heroics

Enterprise

Responsability

Originality

As they look at areas like character, sex, technology and other areas, the authors build a case for raising your son to be a hero.

I have to give this book 2 thumbs up.  Why not pick up a copy today.


This book was provided for an honest book revciew by graf-martin and Waterbrook Press.

The Irresistable Community

The table, the towel and the truth.  These are the three themes that author Bill Donahue weaves throughout his new book The Irresistible Community: An Invitation to Life Together.  

Set against the backdrop of the last supper, the author begins each chapter with a look at the events leading up to this meal through the eyes of each disciple.  He breaks the book down into the three aforementioned themes and the result is one of the most well written and insipring books I have come across in a long, long time. 

It wasn't long into the first chapter of The Irresistible Community before I began dog-earing parts of the book and going back and looking at it again and again.  I made notes, I found sermon ideas and I was challenged in my walk with the Lord. 

The idea of coming to the table with Jesus, picking up the towel of serventhood and hearing and speaking truth resonated with me.  This is a book I will go back to again and I look forward to mining for more nuggets of wisdom in coming seasons.

I encourage you to pick up a copy for yourself.

"This book has been provided courtesy of Graf-Martin Communications and Baker Publishing in exchange for an honest review."

A Glorious Dark

A Glorious Dark is a new book by author A.J. Swoboda.  With Good Friday, the silent Saturday and Easter Sunday as the backdrop, Swoboda tackles tough questions about faith, doubt, suffering and pain.

I found this book intriguing because we hear so many sermons on Good Friday and Easter Sunday but rarely will one talk about the silence that was Saturday.  What must the early believers have gone through that day Jesus was in the grave.  What would they have been thinking?  I don't know what was on their mind but I sure know what goes through mine when it seems God is silent.

As I read through A Glorious Dark, I found myself curling back page corners so I could go back to certain points again and again.  I started reading those snippets to my wife and really found them encouraging. I think the author did a great job of bringing light into some dark corners of life.

Confusion, fear, it all gets addressed here.

A great book for those who struggle with doubt and fear, an encouragement to those who need hope, and a blessing to those who believe God still changes lives today.

"This book has been provided courtesy of Graf-Martin Communications and Baker Publishing in exchange for an honest review."

A Call for Nonviolent Action

Nonviolent Action is the latest offering by author Ronald J. Sider.

Having had losts of discussions over the years about "just war" vs. pacifism, I thought I would give this new book a perusal.  I had read some of Sider's earlier works and never really connected with them.  Despite that, this topic intrigued me enough to give the author another chance.

Let me just say it, this is an excellent book.  Sider looks at nonviolent action throughout the 20th century.  Brief and compelling chapters about Gahndi, King, the Arab Spring, Liberia and many more examples, keep the reader engaged throughout the book.

I was very impressed by how Sider handled the topic overall.  While not ignoring other factors (economic, political, etc) the author shows that nonviolent action does work and should be considered a viable option. Though I really enjoyed this book, two things would have made it much, much better.  The book is addressed to Christians but there is no supporting Biblical examples cited by the author.  Even the occasional verse would have been helpful.  I thibnk this is where the book suffers the most.  The other thing that would have made the book better would have been a more practical application in the concluding chapter. 

Despite these two issues, this is a book that is much needed in the ongoing debate about war and pacifism.  No matter where you stand on the issue, I challenge you to read this book with an open mind. 

"This book has been provided courtesy of Graf-Martin Communications and Baker Publishing in exchange for an honest review."

Jesus, Bread, and Chocolate

I love the smell of fresh baked bread.  When we livied in Croatia, walking down to the local bakery and smelling all the amazing breads and pastries was awesome and the taste was indescribable!  Now, living in northern British Columbia, I have access to fresh baked breads, organic coffees, and a host of other items at local farmer's markets and boutique coffee shops.

When I came across Jesus, Bread and Chocolate I was immediately intrigued.  The idea of crafting a handmade faith in a mass-market world sounded appealing.  However, author John J. Thompson, seemes to have promised more than he actually delivered.

While the author's passion is evident, the connection between faith and a farmer's market lifestyle seems more forced than a natural flow.

Having said all that, I found the author's story of his journey of faith to be captivating and it his love and passion for God is quite evident.

Though not my cup of tea, this book will appeal to those believers deeply embedded in the farmer's market lifestyle.

Published by Zondervan, you can order this book at your local bookstore. 

BookLook Bloggers provided me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Blindsided by God

Blindsided by God is an interesting book.

The author, Peter Chin, shares the story of how his life of faith was brought to a low point over just a few months.  A miscarriage, a breast-cancer diagnosis and a break and entering were just some of the suprises that brought the Chin family to re-evaluate disappointment, suffering and the untamable goodness of God.

As I read their story, I found myself asking how I would have responded to this steady does of unexpected and often discouraging news.  I can't say my reactions would have been much different.  Yet in all of this, there were slivers of hope.  You could still see the Hand of God moving in their life. 

I won't spoil the biggest miracle of all but let's just say, God knows what He is doing.

Let's face it, if we are honest with ourselves, we probably have felt blindsided by God.  What we do with our dissapointment and suffering is the key.  Can we still see the goodness of God?   I would recommend this book for anyone who feels abandoned by God when life seems overwhelming.

"Book has been provided courtesy of Graf-Martin Communications and Bethany House in exchange for an honest review."

Unshockable Love

 I need to recommend this book!

Unshockable Love  by John Burke is a breath of fresh air.  It's a call to seeing yourself and the people around you through the eyes of Jesus.  Now I have heard that rather cliche statement before but John Burke delivers.

Originally titled Mud and the Masterpiece, Burke's book is filled with interesting stories. Part One of the book really challenges you to see others through the eyes of Jesus.  Each chapter ends with something to reflect on and something to try.  Both were challenging in their own ways.  Sometimes the reflection was harder than the action!

Part Two is more of a practical call to action and gives you a process in which to develop a community that reaches out to the world around them in more practical and relevant ways.  It is really about living in community on mission with Jesus.

The tonal shift between the two parts was obvious but both tie together nicely.  I ended up buying a couple copies to give away before I even got a third of the way through the book.  Something I have never done before finishing a book!

Get it, read it, act on it!

Find out more at www.unshockablelove.com

"Book has been provided courtesy of Graf-Martin Communications and Baker Books in exchange for an honest review."

More Than A Review, 5 Questions Too!

A long time ago (20 years) in a land far, far away (Texas) I first met Jason Wiedel.  Jason, my future wife Sarah and I joined 30+ others at a ministry school deep in the heart of Texas.  We were young, idealistic and had many plans for the future.  Jason's future has invoved his current job with Habitiat for Humanity and now author of the recently released Persecution Complex.

I sat down to read his new book and had trouble putting it down.  I was hooked by the introduction and read two chapeters the next day.  By day three I couldn't stop and devoured the rest of the book in one sitting.  Jason has written a book that is challenging, engaging and much needed for today!

Persecution Complex looks at the problem of the persecution narrative among Evangelical Christians in America. Jason then follows this narrative through history and examines the psychological reasons that we embrace the position of victim. He then lays out the ways that this perspective has been damaging to Christianity, and the ways that we can move forward to become more loving and life-giving people.

You may be challenged when reading this book and that's a good thing.  I believe as believers we should never rest in entrenched positions without examining the basis of why we believe as we do.  This book will open your eyes if you let it.
 
Jason took time to answers some questions  re. Persecution Complex. 

Welcome to 5 Questions With.....

Today's guest is Jason Wiedel.   

Jason serves the needs of the people in Surry and Sussex Counties. He also works to help people understand God in new ways. Jason works for Habitat for Humanity and blogs at JasonWiedel.com.

OK, let's get started:

1. Your book, Persecution Complex, really tackles the topic of persecution head on.  What made you want to tackle this particular subject matter? 

I have been examining the relationship of American Christians to the broader culture for many years. I have become increasingly concerned by the contentiousness of this relationship. I see certain segments of American Christianity exacerbating this problem rather than being the peacemakers that Jesus called us to be. Encouraging Christians to stop seeing themselves as the victim and to stop categorizing others as enemies is important to me.

2. You mention 1 John 4:18 and how the Scripture calls us to not fear and yet many of our church leaders seem to use fear in addressing moral issues.  Fear is often called a great motivator, yet Jesus calls us to something more.  How do we move from fear to love?

I believe that the words of Jesus regarding the treatment of enemies is key. In what we call the sermon on the mount Jesus instructs his listeners to turn the other cheek, go the extra mile, willingly give to those who try to take what we have, and love our enemies. To follow these directives we must stop seeing our enemy as an enemy, and begin seeing them as a person. Jesus is completely aware that putting another person in the position of enemy allows us to remove them from the position of human being.

Fear encourages us to maintain enemies. When we fear secularism, or liberalism, or Islam, or a homosexual agenda, we lose sight of the human beings involved with these issues, and we only see them as enemies. Jesus wants us to stop seeing people as enemies. That is the way we learn to love better.

3. One statement from your book that I loved says, "Jesus had a lot to say about the way His followers treated others. He talked about their care for the hungry and helpless. Never once though did He tell His disciples to fight for religious freedom or to stand up for what they believed."  How did the train go off the rails and how do we get back on the right track?

In Persecution Complex I assert that this has a lot to do with politics. In many cases, politicians have convinced us that we are on a slide toward immorality, or that we are losing our religious freedoms. We then become advocates for a political cause, rather than advocates for Christ. When Christianity becomes the ally of political powers, we can easily lose sight of Jesus' sacrificial identification with the poor, the weak, and the powerless.
 
4. What do you hope people will take away from your book?  Do you think your views on the persecution complex will be a hindrance to a "fair reading" by those feeling among the persecuted?

Ultimately I want Christians to become the self-sacrificing, life-giving people who follow the example of Jesus. I want us to be people who are concerned about bringing the love of the God to the world rather than being distracted by the culture war. I know this book will be a hard pill for some Christians, but perhaps it can be the start of a journey away from the persecution complex afflicting many Christians.

5. Who would you recommend read Persecution Complex?

Everyone! The book is directed at Evangelical Christians who live in a world that is dominated by the persecution narrative. I want to see these Evangelicals read the book, even though many of them will object to my conclusions. I would also encourage the Christian who has become weary of narrow or un-loving forms of Christianity to read Persecution Complex. I think it may offer them hope for a faith that is better than what they have experienced.
 
Thank You Jason!

You can order Persecution Complex here and read Jason's blog here.

Take Note of the NKJV Note-Takers Bible

I love to take notes in my Bible.  Sadly, deciphering my notes is like studyingy heiroglyphics.  I have scribbled notes with arrows pointing in different directions, tried to squeeze words and thoughts between lines and gone down the side of very thin edges.

What I needed was a Note-Takers Bible.  I was excited to get this Bible and start taking new notes.  I put it to use right away by transcribing notes from my other Bible into this one.  I love the wider columns along the side and bottom of this Bible.  It is wide enough to allow me the freedom to put down thoughts in a clear manner without squeezing my writings in, around and on top of the text.

This is a minimalit Bible in many ways. It features:

• Deluxe wide margins for note takers
• Complete NKJV text
• Double column text for easy reading
• Words of Christ in red letter

That's pretty much it.  However, it works for the purpose of this Bible.

In actuality, the only problem I have is that there is only room to take notes on one side of the column.  Despite that minor issue, this is a Bible I will use for many years to come.  If you are a note-taker, this is the Bible for you!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLookBloggers.com review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Vanishing Grace

 
Philip Yancey has written another book on grace.  

Vanishing Grace by Philip Yancey is a sequel of sorts to his classic book What's So Amazing About Grace? 

In this newest book, Yancey asks why Christians continue to be ridiculed while losing respect and influence in our modern culture.  Vanishing Grace is actually four books in one. A World Athirst (1), Grace Dispensers (2), Is It Really Good News? (3), and Faith and Culture (4).

In part one Yancey shows the current view of Christians by society at large.  Insetead of judgement, Yancey calls believers to listen and love with grace and humility.  I enjoyed this chapter immensely. People are thirsty for more in life and we have the chance to show them the true Thirst Quencher. However, in order for people to truly listen, we need to judge less and love more.

Part two calls for believers to approach those we meet as pilgrims, activists and artists. I appreciate his call for believers to use the arts to call people to a relationship with Jesus Christ. Seeing ourselves as pilgrims, we can take the journey together in humility instead of placing ourselves in a position where we can often look down on others in self righteous indignation.

Part three looks at why faith matters. Why are we here? Is there anyone else? How should we live?  These are the burning questions of life that Yancey seeks to address in this section.

In the final section of the book, Yancey returns to the theme of artist, activists and pilgrims and shows how we can and should be involved in the culture around us today.  All of these sections call us to be active grace giviers to those around us, calling people to a filling and fulfilling relationship with Jesus Christ.

I will admit, I am a fan of Philip Yancey's writings.  Even with that bias, I think this book is timely for the world we find ourselves in today.  Do yourself a favor and add this book to your shelf.

This book was provided for through the Book Look Bloggers program in exchange for writing a review on the book.  I was not obligated to post a positive review; the opinions expressed are mine.

Culture Shock

Sexuality. Homosexuality. The Environment. Abortion. Politics.

These are the issues Chip Ingram tackles head on in his new book Culture Shock.  Seeking to bring the light of Jesus Christ to these issues as opposed to the heat of emotions, Ingram does not shy away from truth.

Absoulte Truth.

Every issue that Ingram tackles is looked at from both the pro and con viewpoint.  He then looks at what the Word of God has to say. When the absolute truth of God's Word is applied, what we see is a wonderful balance of truth and love.

This book may make some uncomfortable and I am sure not everyone will agree with his conclusions.  Sadly, we live in a day and age where reasonable, heartfelt and thoughtful conversations on these and other issues are not always done in a way that makes either side of the issue look good.

Ingram challenges the reader to stand for righteousness while still showing the love of Jesus Christ. In a day when words like intolerance, hate and compromise seem more the norm, it is refreshing to see a call to a proper Biblical response.

Do yourself a favor and pick this one up.

This book was provided for review by Graf-Martin Communications and Baker Books. 

Dr. Livingston, I Presume?

I read a book about Dr. Livingstone once.

Bored me to tears.

The Daring Heart of David Livingstone by Jay Milbrandt was anything but boring.

David Livingstone was known as a missionary, explorer and anti-slavery advocate.  As a missionary, he only had one convert during his lifetime.  His entire life was a jumble of faith, missions, exploration, fame and failure. He spent more time in Africa than he ever did with his family.  In fact he went years without seeing his children. 

Prior to this book, my recall of his life was limited to his failures and the fact that he got lost in Africa.  The whole, "Dr. Livingstone, I presume?" was the only thing I could quote about his life.

One thing that was largely lost on me was his passionate drive to end the slave trade in East Africa.  This is where Jay Milbrandt does Dr. Livingstone justice. Milbrandt examines David Livingstone's life through the lens of his anti-slavery crusade.  He looks at his failures and successes and how they impacted the ongoing slave trade.  Quoting from Livingstone's journals and other papers, he shows his commitment to God, desire to serve Him and the many times he falls short.  Yet through it all, you see Livingstone's continual focus on stopping injustice.

My view of Livingstone has changed quite a bit after reading this book.  Shortly after his passing, the slave trade was ended in East Africa and it had everything to do with Dr. Livingstone.  After reading the facts laid out by Jay Milbrandt, I can say unequivocally that David Livingstone changed the world!

A must read for history buffs, those who love missions and for anyone who desires to see an end to the modern day slave trade.

BookLook Bloggers has provided you with a complimentary copy of this book or advanced reading copy.

David Wilkerson

My familiarity with David Wilkerson comes primarily from The Cross and the Switchblade and receiving his newsletter for a short period of time in the late 1980's.  This created an image in my mind of a man who seemed cutting edge but also at times quite legalistic.  I knew almost nothing else about him.

When Zondervan announced a new biography about David Wilkerson, written by his son Gary, I was intrigued and also a little curious how open his son would be about his dads life.

Having now finished the book, I am impressed.

Gary Wilkerson has crafted both a loving tribute and an unvarnished look at his father's life.  This book gives you a clear picture of his dad's spiritual life and corresponding struggles.  You see both his highs and lows of a lifetime of service to the Lord.  The behind the scene looks at his book The Cross and the Switchblade and the movie of the same name were quite interesting.  The fallout among his own staff when he released The Vision was a bit surprising.

David Wilkerson's ministry is still changing lives today.  I saw firsthand the work of Teen Challenge while living in Croatia and can attest that it does change lives.

What develops over the course of this book is a story of a man who was passionate for God and who still struggled with his own faith walk.  I found myself encouraged by this clearer picture of David Wilkerson. I found myself relating to some of his spiritual struggles and his final acceptance of the grace of God.

I highly recommend this book.