The Death and Life of Gabriel Phillips by Stephen Baldwin and Mark Tabb - GIVE AWAY!

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
The Death and Life of Gabriel Phillips
FaithWords (November 5, 2008)
by
Stephen Baldwin
&
Mark Tabb

ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

STEPHEN BALDWIN - actor, family man, born-again Christian - makes his home in upstate New York with his wife and two young daughters.

Equally adept at drama and comedy, Baldwin has appeared in over 60 films and been featured on such top-rated television shows as Fear Factor and Celebrity Mole. He has his own production company that is developing projects for television and the big screen. These days, however, his role as director, co-producer and host of Livin' It - a cutting-edge skate video is bringing out his white hot passion for evangelism.

Writer and communicator Mark Tabb calls himself an “internationally unknown author.” Although his books have been published around the world, he is best known for his collaborative works. His 2008 release, “Mistaken Identity”, written with the Van Ryn and Cerak families, hit number one on the New York Times bestseller list for two weeks, and remained on the list for over two months. He and actor Stephen Baldwin teamed up on their 2005 New York Times bestseller, “The Unusual Suspect,” and with their first work of fiction, “The Death and Life of Gabriel Phillips,”


ABOUT THE BOOK

Even years of experience haven't prepared Officer Andy Myers for this case---

When Officer Andy Myers met Loraine Phillips, he had no interest in her son. And he certainly never dreamed he'd respond to a call, finding that same boy in a pool of blood. Even more alarming was the father standing watch over his son's body. Myers had never seen a man respond to death-particularly the death of a child-in such a way. When the father is charged with murder and sentenced to death, he chooses not to fight but embrace it as God's will. Myers becomes consumed with curiosity for these strange beliefs. What follows is the story of the bond these two men share as they come to terms with the tragedy and the difficult choices each one must make.


If you would like to read the first chapter of The Death and Life of Gabriel Phillips, go HERE

*STRONG LANGUAGE*
MY REVIEW:

“…and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.” Luke 19:8

This is without a doubt the most difficult review I’ve had to write. I’m going to say up front that the reason it is difficult is because the language used (primarily by the main character) is filthy. I don’t mean sort of – I mean filthy. Foul language is one thing that I purposely avoid in my reading out of personal conviction. I certainly don’t expect to find it in books published by a Christian publishing house, especially as gratuitous and abundantly as it appears in The Death and Life of Gabriel Phillips.

That being said, Stephen Baldwin has done something in his novel that convicts me deeply. He has set a redeemed man amidst the filth and allowed him to shine brightly for Jesus no matter that he us unjustly accused of a horrific crime and sentenced to die. He boldly shares the gospel and his faith with every single person in the story with humility, grace and peace. The character of John Phillips is the Christian I strive to be in my own life.

There is a lot of debate about whether or not Christian books can realistically portray unsaved, wretched characters without the language. I can answer with a resounding YES to that, because I have read tons of them – well-written, portraying some of life’s most depraved scenarios powerfully and convincingly without the language. There is also a lot of debate about whether or not books published by Christian publishing houses should have an overt Christian message or whether Christian authors should just write good stories with no direct mention of the gospel. Personally, I prefer Christ to be raised up in the story. Well, Stephen Baldwin left the language in a mess, but boy did he ever present the gospel in a bold, believable and very moving way!

I have to believe that in spite of the language, God will use this story to reach someone in a very real way. I must say thank you to Stephen Baldwin for your bold witness and for encouraging me to live a life that shines more brightly for my Savior in this dark, filthy world. I pray that the novels that follow this one are written as skillfully without the foul words. Thank you for causing me to examine my own heart and challenging me to be a bolder witness to those around me. Bottom line, I can’t recommend this without a VERY STRONG warning about the language.

I do have an extra copy of this book for anyone who is interested. Please leave you CONTACT INFORMATION in your comment to be eligible for the drawing! Thanks!