Courageous Living: Dare to Take a Stand [Paperback]

Michael Catt (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2011

In the new film COURAGEOUS (from the makers of Fireproof), four police officers are confident and focused when it comes to facing danger on the job. But leading their families at home in a God-honoring way? That takes courage. 

Because it is important to take a faithful, fearless stand in so many areas of life, pastor and COURAGEOUS executive producer Michael Catt offers Courageous Living as a closer look at biblical themes and characters that inspired the greatly anticipated movie. 

Catt brings fresh insight to "stories of people in the Bible who displayed great courage when it would have been easier to play it safe... (who) challenge me to keep moving forward. They demand that I examine my priorities and deal with anything that brings fear to my heart." 

Readers will catch a new wind of bravery in the bold accounts of Abraham ("The Courage to Get Going"), Nehemiah ("The Courage to Face Criticism"), and Ruth ("The Courage to Face an Uncertain Future"). There are also growth opportunities in the stirring stories of Moses, Elijah, Joshua, Daniel, Gideon, Nehemiah, Stephen, and Paul and Timothy.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Be strong and courageous, all you who put your hope in the LORD. —Psalm 31:24 (HCSB)

Catch a fresh wind of bravery through the bold biblical accounts of Abraham, Joshua, Ruth, and many others in Courageous Living by Michael Catt, pastor and executive producer of the unforgettable film COURAGEOUS.

In the movie, four police officers are focused and confident when it comes to facing danger on the job. But leading their families at home in a God-honoring way? That takes courage.

Because we are called to take a faithful, fearless stand in all that matters, Catt sheds new light on the stories of people in the Bible who displayed great courage when it would have been easier to play it safe. They challenge and inspire us now to keep moving forward, to examine our priorities, and to deal with anything that brings fear to our heart.

Michael Catt is senior pastor of Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Georgia, and executive producer of popular films including Facing the Giants and Fireproof that originated from the congregation. USA Today, Time magazine, the Wall Street Journal, and the New York Times have all interviewed him about this unique movie-based ministry. Michael also authored the best seller Fireproof Your Life, The Power of Desperation, The Power of Persistence, and The Power of Surrender and founded the ReFRESH® revival conference. He and his wife, Terri, have two children.

About the Author

Michael Catt has served as senior pastor of Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Georgia, since 1989 and is executive producer of the popular films Flywheel, Facing the Giants, Fireproof, and Courageous that originated from the congregation. He also authored Fireproof Your Life and founded the ReFRESH revival conference. Michael and his wife, Terri, have two children.

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: B&H Books; Original edition (September 1, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1433671212
• ISBN-13: 978-1433671210
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #284,535 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Michael Catt has served as Senior Pastor of Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Georgia since 1989. He is Executive Producer of Sherwood Pictures which has produced the award winning movies, Flywheel, Facing the Giants and Fireproof.

Michael Catt has served as the Senior Pastor of Sherwood Baptist Church since 1989. The church has 3,000 members from Albany and thirty surrounding communities. The church has changed from a neighborhood church to a regional, multi-ethnic congregation with members from eleven nations.

Sherwood's three campuses cover over 130 acres. They are using funds from Sherwood Pictures to reach the next generation through ministries including an 82-acre sports complex to reach the community. Sherwood operates a 24/7 cable channel. Path to Truth with Michael Catt, is currently seen in over ninety markets around the nation on FAITH TV. The services are available through streaming and podcasts as well.

Michael has been interviewed by Magazines and Newspapers such as Christianity Today, Leadership Journal, The Los Angeles Times, Atlanta Journal Constitution and other print media. He has appeared on Dr. Phil, The Fox News Channel, CNN Headline News, The Glenn Beck Show, Janet Parshall's America, American Family Radio, The 700 Club, TBN and Richard Land Live.

Sherwood Pictures, has been featured in over 400 articles and features including: The Drudge Report, Baptist Press, AP radio, American Family Radio, Focus on the Family, Good Morning America, Agape Press, Christianity Today, CNS News, National Public Radio, Purpose Driven Magazine, The Wall Streeet Journal, New York Times, The Laura Ingraham Show, The Michael Reagan Show and The Conservative Voice.

Michael is the author of six books, including the best selling Fireproof Your Life, Prepare for Rain and a three part ReFRESH Series with Broadman & Holman. Fireproof Your Life was the fastest selling book in the history of CLC Publications. He has also co-authored the Love Dare Curriculum.

He serves as Executive Producer of Flywheel, Facing the Giants and Fireproof as well as several music and video projects. He has served his denomination as President of the Georgia Baptist Convention Preaching Conference and Vice President of the Georgia Baptist Convention. He has spoken at the SBC Pastor's Conference on various occasions and was elected President of the SBC Pastor's Conference in 2008.

He is the recipient of The Martin Luther King Award, The MLK Unity Award and a Georgia Senate Resolution in recognition of his work in the community and in racial reconciliation.

He has spoken in state and evangelism conferences, including Alaska, Mississippi, Georgia, Arkansas, Kansas/Nebraska, Michigan and Pennsylvania and Utah/Idaho.

Michael is the founder of ReFRESH, a conference on revival and awakening and a co-founder (with Warren Wiersbe) of Bridge Builders, a conference for pastors.

Michael and his wife, Terri, have been married since 1974 and have two daughters.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Still worth the read January 6, 2012

By Darlene Jan Alice Oakley

Format:Paperback

I was very much looking forward to reading this book. After the whoopla about Courageous the movie, I was really hoping for a strong "accompanying" book that would help me (and the target audience) dig deeper into the renewed drive for men to step up in their families and retake the family leadership role that feminism has taken from them.

Let me preface my next thoughts by saying that I come at this review not only as a reader, but as a professional editor. My day-to-day work involves analyzing, correcting, reorganizing to get the message out of the writing most effectively.

I had a hard time turning off my editorial hat for this one. My comments have nothing to do with the message of this book, more the literary presentation of it. Others have given it a 5-star rating, so obviously they enjoyed it.

Despite the chapter headings, my main criticism about this book is it seemed disorganized, disjointed and jumped from one paragraph to the next. There was very little flow to this book. It gave me the sense that it was written under pressure and not really out of inspiration. Like the writer was struggling to come up with a message for a third book. I guess I expected the book to be more teaching oriented than it was, reinforcing the concepts from the movie and challenging men to take up the challenge if they hadn't seen the movie.

What I found is he seems to jump from one adage or anecdote to another and from Bible analogy to life application with no connecting language. I don't believe you have to play connect the dots with readers, but there is a way of drawing figurative lines that are obvious without being direct, and they're very effective at connecting with the reader. There were many Scripture passages or stories that could have been delved into to drive home his point, which, branched together with smoother transitions I think would have had a deeper impact.

I had a few issues with the expression of his political and doctrinal view points and name calling (bigots, racists, cowards), which could turn off many readers. There is a way to challenge people with certain viewpoints (bigots, racists) tactfully, but I found several areas of this book where the tone was outwardly offensive, as opposed to challenging; guilt-tripping and condemning instead of encouraging and compelling. God deals with everyone through grace; I didn't see any of that in this book. There is room for bluntness and telling it like it is, but to be effective it needs to be tempered with compassion and grace and backed up by Scripture. This book needed a whole lot more of this than it came with.

By the time I reached chapter 4, I was reading simply because I believed in the message and I wanted to see what other things he had to say. Chapter 4 was better, smoother. Perhaps it was the curse of the first three chapters - trying to get something written (early chapters are often rougher) and by the time you reach Chapter 4 or so, you've finally smoothed out your voice, your message, etc.

The entire intended message of this book, and the Courageous movement can be summed up in this statement from page 93: "Men are more committed to hunting, fishing, and sports than to Christ. They would never think of turning down tickets to a ball game or an invitation to a hunting trip, but they'll roll over and turn the alarm off if it's raining on Sunday morning. I don't care how old you are, you aren't a man until you take responsibility and live in accountability...If you spent as much time on your hobbies as you do on your walk with God, how good would you be at your hobbies? If you spent as much time on your walk with God as you do on your hobbies, what kind of man would you be?"

So many men today are plagued by "I'm good enough. I don't need to learn anything new. I'm good just the way I am." Women grab up Christian living books and desire to know how to become Proverbs 31 women and better wives and mothers, while trying to get a husband or father to read "How to Become a Godly Father/Husband" books is like pulling teeth. Where are the men who are courageous enough to want to learn what the Bible says about husbands and fathers, and to examine their lives and see where they need to make some changes, and then actually strive to make those challenges and hold themselves accountable to God's placement of them in their families.

This is the whole crux of the Courageous message and, like the author, I believe it is desperately needed. Men have been undervalued for so long that fathers have become unnecessary and expendable. But our families need strong, courageous men to take back the leadership role that God intended for them to have. Leadership that is respectful and understanding and involved, not domineering, abusive and disconnected.

Don't let my review of this book stop you on that journey. Perhaps you'll find something in it that will inspire and teach you.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Courageous Living - Dare to Take a Stand January 30, 2012

By Marie Wikle

Format:Paperback

I hesitated as I saw the book title sitting in my email.

Courageous Living: Dare To Take A Stand; A book that is a call for men to stand up, fight back for their faith and get involved with their families written by Michael Catt, Pastor of Sherwood Baptist in Albany Georgia.

I'm a lady that stands up for her faith and I am and will always be involved with my family in that my greatest desire is that my children serve the Lord faithfully while my husband and I follow the path set before us.

I admit that I half-heartedly downloaded the book from christianaudio.com. I'm truly glad that I did!

Not only is this book a call for men to "man up" courageously, but ladies, much of it applies to us too.

This book reminds us that we need men to boldly lead the way, following Christ and husbands/dads to hold their family accountable in their actions, owning their mistakes. We need men to courageously stand up for what is right, even if you are standing alone.

The book is filled with example after example of courageous men and women doing what God has called them to do with modern day applications that will encourage the timid, motivate the discouraged and inspire all who read to courageously do more.

Ladies, we are not off the hook here. Much of what is in this book applies to us too. We want men to lead the way, but we resist following them. We use the fact that our husbands don't go to church to simply stay home because "what's the use anyway." We let our children do whatever they want to because it's such a bother to keep up with them and we wonder why they don't choose to serve the Lord when they move out. Enough of the excuses.....time to "man up" ladies.

Being a Christian isn't easy, never has been, but when in your life time have you heard of a stoning in the USA? Sure it's often not a life of convenience, but neither is anything that is worth having.

Courageous Living is a call to action for each and every one of us.

It's our choice to boldly stand and choose right courageously. It's our choice to own up to our responsibilities and make a difference for the Lord. It's our choice to get involved and be faithful to our local church.

If you don't like the study groups that are going on, suggest a new one - LEAD a new one, but don't just be passive about it. DO SOMETHING. Go, be faithful and get involved!

Be courageous....and watch how others around you will gather courage as well.
Will you answer the call? Will you dare to stand?

This book was filled with many lines that I could quote for days.

Get the book and enJOY.

(Ladies, anytime you see the word man or husband - simply replace with woman/wife. WE need this too.)

We need a new generation of men that don't look to the corporate as a measure of their success; rather they look into the lives of wives and children.

We desperately need men who find their significance in faith, family and hard work.
Greatness is determined by God not by man.

Life should not be about stuff, it should be about the Savior.

A life of courage will see what others can't see and believe what others can't believe.

Courage demands a decision.

The Church can't resurrect what the family puts to death.

If fear is contagious then courage is also contagious.

Fear focuses on obstacles, courage focuses on opportunity. Fear sees with eyes of the flesh, Courage sees with eyes of faith.

Following Christ should not be multiple choice in your home.

The faith that once cost people their lives, doesn't even motivate us to stay faithful to the local church.

You aren't a man until you take responsibility and live in accountability.

This audio book is read by Maurice England and is extremely easy to listen to as he reads with passion.

@spreadingJOY

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Challenge to Stand or else? September 4, 2011

By The Christian Therapist

Format:Paperback

This is must read for those who are tired of "same ole; same ole". Dr Catt challenges the reader to take a stand for Christ even if persecution is on the horizon. We cannot be luke-warm and impact the world. He does an excellent job of weaving the strength received from the biblical "men of old" with modern day examples of God's influence in one's lives. It is a prophet's call to action!