Customer Reviews

Broken Walls

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Broken Walls is a haunting book that speaks to every man. The book asks every man to take a look at his own life, and direct his life towards the Life of Jesus Christ! If any man is a Dad or wants to be a Dad, or even can take the place of a Dad to someone that does not have a Dad,this wonderful book talks about the responsibility men have to step up to the plate and be counted as followers of Christ.

Kevin D. Kirkland's Broken Walls is a story straight from the heart of a pastor. Drawing on the biblical account of Nehemiah, the call is made to each of us to 'awaken, and strengthen what remains.'

Beginning with a prayer written on the day of the school shooting at Virginia Tech, and continuing to the story of Orpha, a twelve year old orphaned girl in Kenya raped and abused by those who should have been protecting her, it is clear his heart is for the youth.

Apathy and prideful indifference is discussed much and blame is placed squarely where it belongs, on each of us who turn our eyes and indulge our own desires while our children pay the ultimate price.

Of great interest to me where the following statements regarding children (twelve year olds) and what they are not doing ...

* They are not producing pornography for the internet.

* They are not making PG-13 movies full of foul language, violence and sex.

* They are not making or trafficking drugs into our country.

* They are not voting on legislation allowing same sex marriage and abortion.

* They are not producing MTV.

* They are not divorcing one another at record numbers.

* They are not working sixty hours a week neglecting themselves.

* They are not choosing to drag themselves to live with mom's new boyfriend.

* They are not dropping themselves off at the mall for hours unattended.

* They are not in charge of the schools they endure every day.

* They are not definitely not filling our pulpits with false gospel.

* ...All of these things are being done by adults.

In response to why he keeps a 'morbid and gory' photo on his mantle alongside beautiful photos of his family and friends, he states "Because it reminds me of the reality that is our world and on those days I am asleep at the wheel, it awakens me to the Truth. Then, I remember our desperate need of a Savior."

There were many times while reading this book I had to stop and repent of my own apathy to the children of this present time. I recommend this book highly for all leaders, teachers, parents, and/or even young people. The future is being shaped by our actions today and the 'effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much'.

Though I would like to keep this book on hand, I have donated it to my church urging all the leaders who will to read it.

Keiki Hendrix

Vessel Project Book Reviewer

This book is very relevant in today's society as America has slowly become lazier and irresponsible. Reading this book has given me some insight in how to "man-up" and be the father God is calling me to be! :-)

God has truly used Kevin Kirkland to speak to a nation who is falling apart without God. This book not only encourages the church to step up and take care of its own children, but those who are unchurched as well. To be Jesus to a sea of kids and teens who are hurting--steeped in a world of broken relationships, illicit drugs,inappropriate media content and more. Kevin's concern for the youth of America is moving and vivid--he is a "Nehemiah" of our time and he will inspire you not to just sit on the sidelines, but to get involved and to invest your time in the next generation.

I had the honor of reading this book just before it was published. It is an excellent book. It will deeply challenge your thinking. We have been called as the older generation to raise up the next generation in the things of God. Kevin invites you to bring the youth of today into your "extra room" and disciple them and train them up in the things pertaining to godly living so that we might invest in them for the future. We have seen enough of children dying and falling into the pitfalls of sin. It is up to us to rescue them through the LORD and to build up the BROKEN WALLS of their lives.

You will enjoy this book. You will be grown by it.

ryan dalgliesh

Kevin Kirkland is a young man profoundly gifted by God. It is refreshing to see someone present the truth so clearly, without sugar coating, and without apology. The message in this book is desperately needed by today's teens.

I bought this book because the author is from the town where I grew up. Just curious if he'd be a good writer. Wow, I got much more than I ever thought. What a great book! I've ordered three more and will order more as I feel led to give them.

The author's point is the importance of guiding the next generation who have little guidance due to broken families and absent fathers. But the love for God shines stong and praise overwhelms you as you read this powerful book.

If you've ever read No Country for Old Men (or seen the recent film adaption directed by the Coen brothers) then you know what Flannery O'Connor meant when she said, "When you can assume that your audience holds the same beliefs you do, you can relax a little and use more normal ways of talking to it; when you have to assume that it does not, then you have to make your vision apparent by shock -- to the hard of hearing you shout, and for the almost blind you draw large and startling figures."

Broken Walls is Kevin Kirkland's attempt to "shout" contemporary America into acknowledging (and hopefully repairing) the disparity of much of our culture. He makes his case based on years of experience as a minister to youth, and offers valuable insight as to how adults are responsible to and for the next generation(s). Not one to shy away from some unpopular ideas of today, Kirkland stresses that we, as parents and grandparents, are obsessed with the physical well-being of our children, so much so that we have sabotaged their spiritual well-being.

He has many good things to say about community life (e.g., his emphasis on intergenerational discipleship is refreshing to those who are weary from what Warren Smith calls "body-count evangelism"), and his insights into interacting with younger generations are spot on.

Don't expect well polished scholarly prose from Kirkland; Broken Walls hits a few rough spots, but that's mostly because of the author's mode of delivery--it's first person and personal. At times the reader finds himself sitting with his high school or junior high buddies back at summer youth camp, and Kirkland is preaching. Broken Walls brings us into the everyday experience of America's youth, and that's a good thing.

It was a privilege to read this book for a number of reasons, but one in particular stands at the forefront, namely, I personally know Kevin Kirkland. He and I lived in the same town (San Angelo, TX) for about six years where we would occasionally interact. Thus, to some degree I understand and recognize his passion for the subject he addresses. He loves to pour his life into young people--I have seen this first hand! I have heard Kevin speak a number of times and have watched him love and lead students as a youth minister, through various Sunday-night gatherings, overseas missions, and his traveling evangelistic ministry known as Katalyst (see link above). His love for students comes in second only to his passionate zeal for Jesus. Kevin has spent much time overseas, as the book will reveal, and wants nothing less than to see hordes of people come to know Jesus. So, reading his debut book was interesting. I could literally hear his passionate voice in my head as I read. It was really only a matter of time before he wrote a book. Kevin is filled with things to say, and say he did. So, without further ado, let's look at just that.

What is This Book About?

Simply stated: if we do not take the next generation seriously, we are headed for perilous times. Kevin's heart bursts forth with love, passion, sorrow, and determination for today's and tomorrow's young people--and his zeal is quite compelling. There is no doubt that he is operating under the tremendous weight of how sin is destroying our world and how children across the globe suffer as we sit comfortably in our air-conditioned living rooms watching television and waiting on our next meal. Kevin shouts loudly from the pages of Broken Walls (BW) that we need to repent from our pride and selfishness and let Christ guide us into lives of loving sacrifice and service for our children. This book will strike a deep chord for those who know they should simplify their lives for the sake of others. As the idolatries of American culture are exposed one by one, one's use of money, time, energy, vacation, home, etc., will be challenged in light of Christ's great mission to heal the brokenness of our world.

Kevin shares story after story and statistic after statistic that vividly portray the current state of ruin that our children find themselves in. He knows firsthand the death, deception, and misery that millions of children across the world encounter everyday. From holding dying orphans in Kenya to working with passive parents in West Texas, he has come face to face with the physical and spiritual decay that surrounds the next generation. He is deeply broken, and he invites all who read to share his passion for the healing of our youth.

In light of all this, BW is a smooth read and Kevin's heartbeat is accessible to all his readers. He doesn't write as an expert on the matter, but one who is in the trenches wanting to strengthen his fellow soldiers. One can tell that he has spent a lot of time passionately teaching this from group to group. BW will challenge every reader to play his or her part in the task of being a sage for the youth of our day, whether in sending or going or praying.

Further Thoughts:

As I write this in the James P. Boyce Centennial Library at Southern Seminary, I am incidentally sitting right in front of a section of Nehemiah commentaries--no lie. I could literally reach behind me and pull one off the shelf. So, having made that cute little introductory comment, here are my thoughts on how Nehemiah was used in Broken Walls:

In the intro, Kevin writes, "The steps that Nehemiah follows for the restoration of his nation are the very keys that I believe God has called us to utilize in the rebuilding of that which the enemy has destroyed in our own land" (p. xv). He also entitles a chapter, "You are Nehemiah" (ch. 16). From this point, he parallels Nehemiah's situation with our own in America and proceeds to offer practical guidance for how we are to repair the brokenness around us. Kevin is making a passionate plea for us to mourn, fast, pray, and act on behalf of the young people in our nation--make no mistake, this is a great end in itself! Yet, I think an important question should be raised about the means to this end: Is this a proper use of Nehemiah? Now, before you think that my question is rigid and uncaring, even pharisaical, consider that I am not attacking Kevin personally, nor his content. I am only offering a critique of his interpretative approach and his use of Nehemiah. I affirm that everything he concludes in his book is helpful and biblical, but the way he derives his conclusions may not serve as the best model of interpreting Scripture. Could there be a way to say the exact same things that Kevin does that is just as passionate, yet preserves the redemptive-historical significance of Nehemiah's (and Israel's) situation? Or, are there better interpretive approaches that can reach the same exhortations yet remain consistent with New Covenant promises given to the church? I answer both in the affirmative. Let me explain the significance of my question: If Nehemiah's story is truly a model for us in our situation, then it is hard not to expect the obsolete promises that are also given to Nehemiah (and ultimately Israel) in his redemptive-historical context. Kevin's use of Nehemiah can inadvertantly set people up with false expectations about how God will respond to our "rebuilding" efforts. Ultimately, my question addresses the very heart of this book: Can we realistically expect the walls to be rebuilt? I will answer that next time, but in this section my point is that we can find guidance for our situation that is just as urgent, yet also faithful to the redemptive-historical context of Christians under New Covenant promises. In the end I find his interpretation a bit too allegorical and detatched from it's context. Though everything he says is on point theologically, I think his overall thesis could be strengthened if his material was more grounded in the New Testament.

Overall, I have a lot of agreement with Kevin and I think he did a great job on his first book. I will have more to say in due time, along with my thoughts on my favorite chapters. Good job Kevin.

Kevin Kirkland's Broken Walls is a clarion call to action for the sake of Christ in the next generation. For too long our generation has failed those who follow through self-centeredness, apathy, and a lifestyle that undermines the message of the Gospel. In this book, Kirkland does a great service to the church by rousing us out of our catastrophic slumber, so that we can once again rise up and serve Christ by leading the next generation to Him. With its thoroughly Biblical worldview, keen insights, and practical application, Broken Walls is a must read for pastors and laity alike. May God use Kirkland's work as a catalyst for the kingdom's advancement and the salvation of Generation Next.