From Publishers Weekly Authored by Toby McKeehan, Michael Tait and Kevin Max-members of the Christian rap group dc Talk-this compilation, like the first Jesus Freaks book, tells the stories of Christians throughout history who took a brave stand for their faith. Told in non-chronological order (an account of the gospel writer Luke's life comes after a present-day story of a young American girl who sent her Bible to a boy in Sudan), it effectively argues that Christian commitment is timeless. Most of the stories read not as historical accounts but as morality tales designed to rally the faithful. Unfortunately, the authors rarely clarify which accounts are based on sound historical documentation and which are based on legend. Interspersed among the stories are biblical passages as well as brief commentaries from the authors. Earnest and heartfelt, these commentaries sometimes include insights about the martyrdom of Christians at the hands of other Christians, but at other times lapse into offensive Christian triumphalism. While the authors do occasionally acknowledge that non-Christians have been persecuted and martyred for their religious and political beliefs, they portray Christian zeal as unique and superior to all other commitments. They sometimes display limited understanding of the other religions they discuss, as when they refer to Sikhs as "Hindus." However, such shortcomings are unlikely to bother the book's intended readers, who will be compelled by the stories of people who care enough about a cause to give their lives. (Oct.) Forecast: The original Jesus Freaks book, published with Albury (recently acquired by Bethany House), was a phenomenal word-of-mouth success, and has sold more than 1.1 million copies. Bethany plans national, youth-targeted advertising, and will also promote this book through the Jesus Freaks Web site (www.jesusfreaks.net), which proved to be a highly serviceable tool for promoting the first installment to the wired teen community. Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. Read more Review "Jesus Freaks, Vol. II is for everyone looking for courage to live the truth fully, the way He intended." -- Christian Retailing, Oct. 7, 2002 Read more See all Editorial Reviews
T**N
Stories of Revolutionaries Who Changed Their World: Fearing God, Not Man
The subtitle to "Jesus Freaks: Volume II" (see above) says it all. Whereas Volume I may have focused exclusively on those who were killed for standing up for their faith in Christ (as I understand it, I haven't read Volume I yet) Volume II presents much the same but expands the scope to include stories about those who suffered persecutions for standing up for their faith in Christ, though the majority of these stories are about those who were killed too.What is striking and poignant about these 1 to 3 page easy to read but hard to digest snapshots (of which there are probably about 125 stories all around), all headed by an approximate date and location, is how we are reminded that we are called to sacrifice our lives to live for the Kingdom and the one true King. While the bent of this book focuses on the periods of most intense persecutions and often their deaths for the sake of affirming Christ with their voices what we begin to see is that no one can go through those sufferings without an abiding faith in Jesus and a sustaining hope, a real and present relationship.This is something that especially western Christendom, in all our filthy richness that is so hard for us to put away/ so easy for us to cling to, needs to hear and be reminded of. Pray for the strengthening of the current martyrs and for the persecuted church because they are going through everything that we read about in this book still. And pray that our faith holds fast when we are winnowed, when the dross of riches gets burned away. Pray that we will fear God, not man.
D**.
Recommend
Excellent condition, no torn pages, good read
M**
One of my favorite books
Amazing stories of true hard core Christians.
D**.
Five Stars
nice to read about faith and the willingness to step out in that faith. helpful and good read.
C**T
A perfect gift for graduation
History of persecution.Courageous Christians and their livesShort and interesting stories.
D**O
Real stories of Martyrs
Real stories of Martyrs not to make them heroes but to inspire Christians to step up and carry their cross
C**.
This has been one of my favorite books for a while now
This has been one of my favorite books for a while now. I love flipping through it randomly and reading the stories of those who gave up their lives for their faith. It's encouraged me so much throughout the years. I loved it so much, I bought it for a friend!
J**I
these are good stories from all over world it seems like so ...
these are good stories from all over world it seems like so far at least some different places like Romania or such..so pretty cool..finally Europe is getting evangelized maybe bout time?
C**D
Awe-inspiring-someness
An amazing, humbling and inspiring book - but I knew it would be as I have the first book and it is so well loved, it is in preserved in sellotape.I know this book too is going to be of the same callibre
M**,
Best books
These books are brilliant
M**S
Good
Good
G**E
Five Stars
excellent
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