Customer Reviews

Jesus Freaks: Martyrs: Stories of Those Who Stood for Jesus: The Ultimate Jesus Freaks

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I bought this for my husband because other people had recommened it. He can't put it down. He's new to the Christian world, but this book pulled him in. He reads it whenever he gets a free chance, and has enjoyed learning more about amazing people and the history of his faith. A great read, especially for people looking for a deeper understanding of their faith and a challenge to make their own lives richer.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. I'm normally a fast reader, but this book took me a REALLY long time to finish. Why? Ummm, I guess it's because on almost every other page ... someone dies. Not just dies, but is tortured to death in most stories. Then you feel like you HAVE to stop reading, out of respect for their sacrifice, or sensitivity or maybe trauma?

BUT despite the disturbing - challenging - nature of this book, everyone should read it. There are a gazillion books out there that tell you "God loves you."

But how many declare that YOU can (and should) LOVE GOD?

I love this book. It helps me to live in the conscious awareness of my blessings. Be prepared to be moved.

I love testimonies. I love listening to people I know - people I trust wont lie or mislead me - telling me about how God has worked in their lives and how God has come through for them. Testimonies build faith and hope.

I was really looking forward to reading this book for that reason. I wanted to hear the testimonies of Christians in horrific situations refusing to recant or exchange their savior for the empty promises of the world.

Reading about situations that I can't even imagine and how characters in the book respond was inspirational! The problem is that since this book suggests that the stories are real I was expecting authentication.

When I watch religious TV (rarely) I see people who claim miracles. I hear preachers saying that their ministry healed a bazillion people this year alone! I see people jumping around on stage and the "healer" saying that they couldn't walk previously. My first thought is always, "show me the proof." If these "healers" heal so many people wouldn't there be some kind of evidence? Wouldn't there be documentation of the before and after of each of these "healed" people showing miraculous change?

I'm not saying that I can't believe in miracles. What I am saying is that I want to be discerning in who I trust and what I believe.

This book, unfortunately, ended up like the TV healers to me. So many of these stories were far fetched, had only first names or even no names, were about people and situations decades ago and seemed to have no way of knowing what was written was true. I remember stories that were written about a person who was in jail who had no way to communicate to those outside yet somehow the authors of this book were able to know the inner thoughts of the soon-to-be-martyred Christian. The authors also knew what the jailers said and did. How? Where is the evidence that this isn't just an inspiring work of fiction?

Situations like the above example aren't the exception in this book. Unfortunately, instead of testimonies from people we can trust with information we can verify what we get from this book is simply nothing more than stories.

If I am going to spend my time reading Christian fiction, I could go with Ted Dekker or Janette Oke or Francine Rivers (depending on genre preferences) and get a better story that also includes Christians in situations that give opportunity to prove out their faith.

For what this book failing to be what it promised I give it a 2. For the stories being entertaining and inspiring I'll move the rating to 3.

As an American Christian, this book reminds me of the extreme costs the majority (?) of my brothers and sisters in Christ around the world pay for their dedication to Jesus. It is an important reminder for those in free countries to not take their freedoms and their faith for granted.

I read this along time ago, and then lent it to a friend who never returned it. Probably because it was just too good! Anyways, reading this book has really challenged how I think and act, and truthfully, these martyrs' actions speak louder than words although they were equally striking. In addition, I bought this for my youth group to encourage them to become more confident in their faith.

Really an encouraging volume to read. But it works best if you read a half dozen or so at a time. More than that and it starts to depress, as almost everyone dies. Admittedly that is the point of martyrdom, dying heroically for Jesus. One that I read at random however, before buying the book, sold it to me. A pretty girl chickened out of going for a long prison term and sold out her fellow believers for a much reduced sentence. That was so honest, it convinced me to get it. Not everyone is a plaster statue saint. And it also showed the sort of trickery anti-Christians use.

The book was new as described. It is a very touching book for belivers, it shows us what people have suffered for serving the Lord.

This book was very touching. It helps the reader in freedom rich America understand the sacrafices of the past and more recent Christian martyrs. I personally loved it.

Awesome!
Hard to believe some of these stories are true, just the love these martyrs have for their Savior. They are real life examples of what it means to be unashamed of the gospel. These stories make you examine your own walk and faith in Christ and makes you ask yourself, not only would you give up marterial things for Christ but are you willing to give up your life for the One who gave it up for you?
"I'd rather die like Christ than live unholy"