Customer Reviews

The Hoodlum Preacher

5 star:		(9)
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By the time Burton Barr Jr. was twenty years old he was a married man, licensed and ordained in the ministry and was now ready to preach, something he had dreamed about since childhood. Although he got the "call" from the Lord early in life that didn't stop the streets from calling...offering crime and drugs to distort his mind, and that it did.

Burton Barr Jr writes a personal true testimony of his struggles with drugs and alcohol. I was surprised at how brutally honest Mr Barr is, he held back nothing when writing this book. He was a true drug addict who stole from his jobs and family to fuel his habits. He was in and out of prison countless times until he finally put his trust in God. Only then was he able to succeed in being the best husband, father and most importantly the best man he could be.

From what I read in this book it is only by the grace of God that Burton Barr is alive to tell his story today. His experiences are real. He is a living inspiration to all.

The Hoodlum Preacher is an excellent discusion piece.

Locksie
ARC Book Club Inc.

Star Rating *****5.0

Burton Barr, Jr. felt he had been called to preach at the tender age of nine. He preached to a captive audience, his little brother, Ralph. His mother told him he'd have to wait for God's calling but he continued to practice his sermons. As a teenager, he joined the church and actually begins to preach. Then things took a strange turn and he began to drink, smoke marijuana and cigarettes. Not too much later, he began trying cocaine, heroin, PCP, crack and whatever else he could get his hands on. He stole from his employers, wrote bad checks and conned his relatives which resulted in numerous arrests. In an attempt to turn his life around, he joined the Marines but continued his behavior of stealing, conning and drugging. The Marines sent him to the brig and eventually to Leavenworth. On many occasions, he attempted to get clean, get his marriage back on tract and keep a good job but each time he met with failure. At last, on one of his stints in prison, he met a preacher who had that certain "something" that he couldn't put his finger on and as a result Burton Barr, Jr. began to see the light.

THE HOODLUM PREACHER is the amazing story of one man's descent into the hell of the drug world and his ultimate redemption at the hands of God. The lessons he learned are good for all of us. Even if we aren't guilty of Burton's vices, we have all done something that is not right. Barr lets us know God can see good in us and we can be saved from ourselves. Barr does all this without being preachy or overbearing. It is a very good book and so very uplifting. I enjoyed every word, even as I cringed when Barr sank back into his abyss. It is well worth picking up.

Reviewed by Alice Holman
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

Burton Barr Jr. unveils demons that he's battled consistently in his life span. As a son, husband, father, con artist, thief, inmate and junkie Burton has fallen many times. Disbelieving that God would actually be there if he called on Him, Burton decided that the only way to make a way was if it was his way. Each and every single time Burton was proven that he absolutely could not go it alone. Yet he never stopped trying and God never once left him.

I was immediately drawn to the title, THE HOODLUM PREACHER. It just confirmed for me that we've all fallen and it's by the grace of God that we can get up. While reading as he ran the streets of Chicago, St. Louis and San Diego I wondered what would be the deciding factor for him to decide that God has already got a plan for him. See he'd already fallen, gotten back up, dusted himself off and attempted to do right, YET every single time there was always an obstacle just waiting for the chance to present itself. Isn't that life?

THE HOODLUM PRECHER painfully explores Burton Barr Jr. before he allowed God to use him. This eye opening testimony should be read by everyone.

"No matter what you have done or who you have become, God still loves you."

Reviewed by: Crystal

We find Mr. Barr as a young man seeking "that something special" that he has seen in other ministers and wants it. He does not know what it is, but he knows that he must get it somehow. He made the one mistake that we all tend to make; he put his faith in Man and not in God. When that happened, he began the roller coaster ride of his life due to the choices that he made.

Barr works during the day and preaches at night. He finds that he's being labeled as a "thief," by his employer. He is able to find another job and continue with the ministry but, again man (a preacher) let him down. If he just goes out and party a little who would be hurt? After all, he is just a having a little "fun." Things begin to spin out of control and he is left wondering if he'll be able to untangle this mess that he has created for himself.
When Mr. Barr thinks that he has everything under "control," things go from BAD to REALLY BAD to WORSE.

Hoodlum Preacher shows us how you can easily be persuaded to do things that you don't want to do by being with the "IN CROWD" but are you really having fun.
Mr. Barr finds himself in a lot of dilemmas and he is shown how to get out of a situation, but he winds up in another situation by his own hand. Mr. Barr was definitely a LOST SOUL trying to run but he surely could not hide.

A very good book that I consider a MUST read for everyone!!!!!!

For fellow readers who love a little bit of action and intrigue combined with a spiritual uplifting at the end, this book is for you.
Full of pain and anguish, The Hoodlum Preacher, is a story of a journey of a young man who was able to change his life, his way of thinking, and eventually, his salvation. Rev. Burton essentially became a real-life "Prodigal Son".
I highly recommend this book to anyone struggling with anything and who wants to find a better way of life. This book is also good for anyone who just wants to read a good book. :)

This book really gives you an insight on God's grace. I really enjoyed the concept and is looking forward to his next addition. Rev. Barr went through many obstacles to find is calling in life. I commend him for sharing his story and hopefully this book will reach others.

Barr's book reminds me of the wonderful grace our God bestows upon all His children. More so, it is a testament to how God chooses and uses whom He pleases. As with many of the Biblical characters, Barr experienced a life transformation in prison that he now uses to the glory of God! All of us should be so inclined like Barr to recognize we are the messengers, not the message; yet our mess is used to share the message of the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ! This book should offer hope to all, but especially to those marginalized by any association with the penal system. It truly is a must read!

This a great book. I purchased it because I met Burton Barr in person and wanted to hear his story. The seller of this book sent it very fast and at a cheap price. I would buy from him again.

In this no holds barred narrative Burton Barr bares his soul in hopes that the reader will be spared some of the heart ache he experienced and caused others. He writes in an intimate conversational style that draws the reader into his life as he shares his testimony. For over twenty years Burton struggled with the results of his bad choices.

Like the prodigal son of the scriptures Burton remembered his (heavenly) father's love and the call of God on his life. He again responded to that call. His life has turned around. Instead of pursuing a life of drug abuse and drug dealing he is now heading up a ministry to prisoners.

Hoodlum preacher is the story of Burton Barr's full circle from the call to preach as a child, a period of rebellion, restitution, and reunion. This is a book for the person in the street or in the pew. It warns of the danger of Satan's snares in contrast with the message of God's love, His grace, sufficiency, and peace.