Scott Lamb

A puzzling book overall. The authors state two things in their introduction that rather ruined the prospect of the rest of the book for me: (1) Donald Trump is a materialist. (2) They were NOT going to answer the question: "Is Donald Trump a true believer?" (#1 would, in my thinking at least, lead to a possible conclusion about #2, but never mind...) -- Then the reader embarks upon a meandering look into such topics as the President's forebears (with emphasis on his father's Lutheran background and his mother's Scottish Presbyterian heritage), the Fundamentalist/Modernist split in the Presbyterian church in the early 1900s (with a cameo by Pearl S. Buck), the influence of Norman Vincent Peale on modern Christianity, etc., etc. All interesting enough but a little off-topic at times. Then the authors trace Trump's bid for the presidency, with emphasis on his interactions with leading evangelicals, culminating in the inauguration and the beginning months of the Trump administration. -- The author's portrait of Donald Trump does not entirely 'jive' with those drawn elsewhere (Does he *really* know how to read a blueprint? Is he really a hard worker? Does he really demonstrate a surprise empathy/sympathy toward others when the media spotlight is not on him?), but they make a case for the President's (by their lights) unprecedented sensitivity to Christianity and issues of great interest to evangelical Christians. The most telling detail -- which has caused me to be more reflective about the Presidency of Donald J. Trump than I have been until now -- is the parallel one charismatic pastor drew between Trump's becoming the 45th POTUS and the passage about Persian king Cyrus in Isaiah 45. -- I confess to not being entirely 'sold' on all (or even many) of the authors' contentions, but there is much food for thought here in this well-documented book: God IS sovereign in the affairs of men, and that is a subject on which to meditate...and ponder in amazement.… (mehr)

Fans of Pujols and/or baseball, as well as anyone looking for an inspirational story, will enjoy this book. Not only does this book provide historic and current baseball facts and trivia, but it also explains and illustrates how religion and baseball are important to Pujols and how he uses his faith to help and encourage others. The simple base truth of this story is that everything is guided by God's hands and those who follow in his footsteps and give back to their faith can achieve great things.

This book starts out with a charming story about Pujols' giving nature and loving heart and then delves into explaining how God has worked to change Pujols' life since his childhood. However, the book doesn't only focus on Pujols, it also provides stories of others in his life, such as his wife. One story in the book about his wife visiting a friend in the hospital, in particular, caught my attention. Not only does it illustrate how God has influenced every aspect of Pujols' life and the lives of those around him, but it also made me wish that a sequel would be written about his wife and how God has influenced her life as well.… (mehr)