Radical

This book will change the way you think about "Being Christian".  Much like The Hole in our Gospel, the author challenges the church to live outside their own communities and reaching out to the rest of the world.

Do you know that if you make $27,000 a year, you are more wealthy that 99% of the whole world??  This book really makes you realize that we as Americans are so sheltered, spoiled, and ignorant to the needs in the world today.  It really makes a point to remind us that our worship is a privilege, not a right; and that we worship in beautiful buildings while most of the Christians in the world have to sneak into homes in the middle of the night to worship and would be murdered if found with a bible.  Let us not take that right for granted.  

This book reminds me to fight for the oppressed, demand justice for the abused, and get out of my comfort zone and get my feet dirty.  I'm not sure what I can do to make a difference, but I must do SOMETHING.

A Long Way Gone

An amazing memoir of Ishmael's experience in the Sierra Leone Civil War.  He shares how he lost his village and family all in the same day, became a part of the Army fighting against the RUF (Revolutionary United Front) as a 13 year old, was saved and rehabilitated by UNICEF and eventually escapes Sierra Leone and leaves the battle behind him to begin a new life.


I will be traveling to Sierra Leone in a few months and this was assigned reading before the mission trip.  I have new insight on what child soldiers go through, how they are brought into their new "Army Family", trained, drugged and prepared for battle against those who destroyed their families.  This is a heart wrenching story of loss, the scars of war, and finally redemption and safety.  I am so proud of Ishmael's determination to begin again all the while  bringing awareness to the world about child soldiers.

The Slave Hunter

Slave Hunter: One Man's Global Quest to Free Victims of Human Trafficking by Aaron Cohen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

My church hosted an evening with Aaron Cohen last week.  I was so excited to go to his presentation and was blown away by how many people were there.  It turned out that Mr. Cohen was in town to train local FBI and Police Task Forces in how to free victims of child trafficking and exploitation.  Local law enforcement, special interest groups, a prominent politician, concerned citizens and many from my church family attended and were encouraged to demand from our state representatives that more laws be passed in order to facilitate the abolishment of this horrific and evil trafficking of human beings that is quickly becoming more profitable than running drugs or selling guns.

Mr. Cohen gave an intriguing lecture about the history of slavery, the call for a Jubilee, and how he became the Slave Hunter.  I walked away from the evening with a signed copy of his book that I could not wait to read, a new awareness for the estimated thousands of trafficked human beings in MY city, and a broken prayerful heart that our country will follow Aaron Cohen's example of setting the captive free.

This book riveted me, convicted me, and educated me.  I have so many favorite passages of this book, but have decided not to share them.  I really want you to discover this book for yourself.  The Slave Hunter has shared his journey so honestly, eloquently and faithfully that I cannot help but fall on my knees to help cover his life and mission in prayer.

I will end by sharing one of my favorite quotes that has become such an inspiration since God placed in me a heart for missions:

“I am only one,

but still I am one.

I cannot do everything,

but still I can do something;

and because I cannot do everything,

I will not refuse to do something that I can do.”

                       - Helen Keller

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Copy-right! or Copy-wrong?

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My conscience is a busy little fella.

I love books.

I like blogs.

I like to blog about books.

I don't know if anybody cares.

It's really just for me and my bad memory, and hopefully your entertainment.

I really try to not offend anyone, especially an author of a REALLY good book I just read.

And am going to blog about.

I did my homework, and I think I'll be okay.

My little excerpts count as "fair use".

Right?