(I wrote this about two years ago for a friend and have been meaning to post it for a while. While my spelling has improved slightly - some corrections have been made - I still would say the same things about these books today)
This book is written in the same way that C.S. Lewis' Screwtape Letters are written, which basically is a Demon "Lord" writing to a lower class demon who is assigned to the main character. However, there is one big difference, Alcorn tells the story of the people on earth whom the demons are writing about, while Lewis only gives the letters.
Synopsis:
The story begins with a middle-age businessman, basically just living his life nothing to monumental at first, but as the reader begins to see this man's life and how it relates to the demon's who are at every move he makes to drive him deeper into sin, the reader is given a glimpse into the spiritual realm.
My rating: 9.5/10
An unbelievable read, I have read it twice and I am sure I will read many times more, this book has had a profound impact on my life, that goes way beyond entertainment, it drove me to my knees, because it reminds me of how sinful I really am and how watchful and prayerful I must be, because I am being "hunted" by the enemy.
I do not know of any other book like this one, I believe Acorn's purpose in writing the book was to show the mindset of your average successful American in contrast to the mindset of a mature believer in the persecuted church of China.
Synopsis:
The book begins with telling the story of a highly successful US businessmen, who has many dealings in China. Then the reader is given the background of the businessman. He was a professing believer in college, went to church and campus Bible study, during his 4 year college career he was given a roommate who was from China, this man was not a believer, however, when the two became roommates the Chinese man began coming to Bible Study with the American and quickly became a believer, these two men became very close friends, and upon graduation made a pledge to one another to stay in touch and pray for each other every day. As time passed the Chinese man got his master's degree and went back to China to teach, while the American stayed in the US and as was stated earlier, began to become very successful. But as the American became more and more successful, he began to stray away from the faith ( the book makes it clear that he was not really a believer), whereas, the Chinese man even though he had a high degree was forced into poverty, because he was a Christian, he however did not stray, rather he became more and more involved with the underground, Chinese church.
That was all background information, the story basically begins with the successful American now in his 40's going to visit his Chinese friend, while he is on a business trip to Shanghai. I will leave it at that.
My Rating: 9/10
Well all three of these books are in my top ten favorite books categories, and while I might not like this one quite as much as Deadline or Lord Foulgrin's letters, it may have effected my ideology towards missions and the underground church more than any other work that I have read, it is extremely well written.
This is about three friends who grow up together in Oregon, each one goes to college and then Vietnam, they are all successful, one's a doctor, one's a businessmen, and one's a journalist.
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The Doctor is an atheist who is strongly against anything religious particularly Christianity, (He in fact is an abortion doctor)
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The Businessmen is a believer
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The Journalist always finds himself in between his two friends, although he leans more to the Doctor, but with less opposition
Synopsis:
The story begins with these three friends together with their families watching Seattle Seahawk's football, which is a tradition for them every week, they decide to go out for pizza, but they have an awful car wreck on the way back home, which leaves the Doctor and the Businessmen seriously injured, and they both eventually "succumb" to their injuries, leaving the Journalist behind. This is really where the story begins as the Journalist's character is developed
Throughout the book, as is always the case with an Alcorn book, you will see glimpses of Heaven and Hell, these are what make the book to me, because it cause you to engage with the character's you have come to know, as they are experiencing the larger realities of Heaven or Hell.
My Rating: 9.5/10
One of my all time favorite books, probably a tie with Lord Foulgrin's Letters as far as my favorite Alcorn Book. This is one of those book that follows the old adage of "not being able to put it down." It will blow you away entertainment wise, but it will also encourage you profoundly.
I just want to reiterate what these books mean to me, they have changed my life more than any theology book ever could, there is so much value in them. Randy Alcorn truly is a gifted writer and a theologian, who has an unbelievable imagination that is only topped by his love for the Lord. This is evident in all of his work.
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