Wednesday, August 24, 2011

An uncommon man trying to save himself

So I read books a lot. Typically a regular novel can last me 2 days to 2 weeks on average. Lately longer though thanks to work and school. But any Christian book, especially a good one, takes me 1 day to 1 week on average. I'm trying to always be reading a book. I'm not the biggest book nerd (unless it comes to star wars) and I don't read 5 books at a time like some people do. A lot of times I'm not even reading a book, but I do enjoy it.
I decided I'm going to start "reviewing" books, I figured maybe it'll be a good way for me to look back on what I've learned or how I feel about the book.
This past 3 weeks I've read two books, one is Uncommon by Tony Dungy, who won a super bowl against the Bears (I'm still resentful about that) in '06 and the other book is Save Me From Myself by Brian Welch who was the former guitarist for Korn before he became a Christian.
The first book, Uncommon, was a book that my good friend David recommended and let me borrow. I read it in about 5 days, he was surprised I had given it back so soon. It was that good, how good? I brought a copy just as I was finishing reading to give to another friend of mine. As a young man who just turned 21 I still have plenty to learn about being a man. This book taught me a lot on how to be an uncommon man, how to stand out from the rest, and especially, how to take control and be more comfortable when I'm put in that leadership role. Which I find myself in more and more.
It's a book I will probably find myself reading again to remember what to do in the different situations as a man. I already feel pretty mature for my age and I have had adults tell me that but I know I still have room to grow in that department like all people my age. But this book taught me a lot more than I expected. if i had to compare it to pokemon, I would say it boosted me by 10 levels.
The second book I read, which took me today and yesterday to read, was Save Me From Myself by Brian Welch. I spent about 5 years when I was younger worshipping Korn. I remember hearing about him become a Christian, I thought it was cool, but I was sad cause I liked the guy in Korn. Then when I became a Christian I wanted to read this book. I never got it until last week for my birthday because my parents remembered how much I used to love them (and I still listen to them every now and then) and thought I'd like it.
It was good, it's not a book I'd have anyone younger than middle school read since it has some swearing in it and some kind of intense stuff. But that's what I loved about it, it was REAL. I could actually relate to some of what he had to say. Hard childhood, hard times now, struggling with depression sometimes. Even the month he became a Christian in was the same month for me, Jan, and some of the conversion experiences were similar to mine. This was a guy I could relate to in several ways except for drug usage and the violent nature.
It was inspirational in some ways to me. Like for one knowing that his life, while mine was pretty rough I think, was rougher than mine and he still made it to this point is always inspiring. This was more of a "learn about my life and how I got to where I am" than a "how to be a Christian" book. And he even acknowledged that, saying he hoped to inspire people and let people know about his life and how he made it through. No preaching, no do this and that. Just simple read your bible and get to know God cause no matter what you've been through you can do it, and He still loves you no matter what. So it was a great read in that sense.
However I didn't totally agree with everything he said. He talks a little bit about speaking in tongues. Honestly I don't know the most about it, but I really don't think babbling is talking to God, and it's just really weird. But that's what I think. Maybe I'm wrong, I haven't exactly spent a lot of time on learning the theology about that. It did make me more interested and want to learn more about it. So if anyone ever wants to talk about it I'm up for it! So don't let that stop you from reading it.
So there it is, a review on two books and if i had to rate them Uncommon was a definite 5/5 but Save Me From Myself i would rate 3.75/5 (I couldn't do 3.5 but didn't feel comfortable saying 4 haha). I'll probably give a review on most books I read and I'd like to hear recommendations. But like I've said...writing a blog, while I like it to an extent, I don't feel the most comfortable about writing for the world to see. I'm still warming up to it haha. God Bless!

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