Our Thoughts

Let us just say right up front. This book is fantastic. We have liked everything we have read from Chuck Black, especially our recent review of Nova from the Starlore series, but this one is not only Incredibly entertaining, but also has the potential to be life changing. Most of us pay far too little attention to the spiritual realm. Fictional stories have a way of penetrating our outer defenses in a way that other material typically doesn’t. This book really gets you thinking about the battle the Bible clearly tells us is going on all around us. The value of this book is proved out by how much it sticks with you afterwards. The way the author showed the power of prayer in a visual way in the spiritual realm has come to mind several times since recently finishing this one. Prayer gets an awesome and much-needed spotlight. We also love the contrast of good and evil. It is striking… and it should be. There is no blurring of the lines here. We can’t recommend this book enough. Sydney, the young lady mentioned above, sticks out for her kindness, modesty and something unsaved Drew just can’t put his finger on (the influence of the Holy Spirit). Her modest, but stylish clothing also really sets her apart (“what is it about you that is so different?”, and she tells him!). The word “pure” comes to Drew’s mind when he thinks of her. And with all this, she tells him clearly she cannot date him since he is not a follower of Jesus (awesome). She speaks of her faith boldly and goes to do mission work after graduating. She then serves in a dangerous place without fear. She prays powerfully for healing and protection (in one prayer she begins by asking God to forgive her for anything she has done wrong first). In a really neat moment near the end, Drew “came to a convicting conclusion. Sydney really did love God and really did love people. He helped at Emmanuel Church because it felt good to do so. His reason was based in selfishness. She helped… because she actually loved these homeless people. It was a humbling realization because Drew knew he couldn’t be like her. There was something she had that he didn’t. Something that allowed her to function the way she did, and he marveled at it” (what a picture of light shining into the world through us!). A few other things we noted to share: The book revolves around Drew, who is unsaved, but the author wisely weaves in the real heroes - an incredibly awesome Christian young lady, a wise Pastor who runs a church and a soup kitchen in a gang ridden area. Not to mention awesome Angels. This book highlights true manliness, which is valuable in a culture that often intentionally attacks or downplays it. We see a great character who steps into Drew’s life and acts in a fatherly role, with a lot of self-sacrifice, after Drew’s own father passes. Visits, camping trips, training, advice. Drew ignores social boundaries at his school, stepping up to protect and eventually befriending a kid classified as a “nerd”. He says this is something his dad modeled for him. The dangers of alcohol are shown well here. There is a neat place where a small group college leader shows apologetics in action. This is a really neat scene. Reverend Ray (referenced above) comments, “Oh son, luck had nothing to do with it. God was watching over you”. His family life is shown in a great light. An example where arguments are broken down: “Drew realized for the first time in his life that scientific evidence and logic couldn’t explain good and evil… so what made the Dragons (a gang) want to kill, molest and steal and what made Sydney want to feed and help the homeless.” The book ends with a paraphrase of a passage from Colossians 1 (“God delivered us from the power of darkness…”). The book ends with an author’s note that is a must-read, where he very carefully shares his heart and how seriously he takes all of this. There is also a reader’s guide. God has gifted this author tremendously and, fortunately for us as Christian parents, he has used these gifts to create wonderful works of fiction for our children (and us!) This one has the potential to drastically change the way a young reader thinks about the very real spiritual world around us. It’s life changing. One we HIGHLY Recommend.