Customer Reviews

The Unusual Suspect: My Calling to the New Hardcore Movement of Faith

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1 star:		(4)

 

 

I thoroughly enjoyed this account of Stephen Baldwin's journey to faith and his take on living for Christ. Yes, it's in-your-face, but who wants boring? Clearly Stephen has been grounded in Bible study and honestly tries to live out what he believes. This book challenged me to take a more aggressive look at how I live out my own faith. The writing style is conversational and often laugh-out-loud funny. Kudos to Mark Tabb for helping keep Stephen's hip voice, while making the prose smooth and readable.

I have read this book with an open mind and I feel that Mr. Baldwin a good understanding of the core doctrines of Christianity and a genuine desire to serve the Lord. I look forward to see him grow and his ministry and will probably read anything else he might put out there. I have to agree with the reviewer regarding Mr. Baldwin's snide remarks about Kirk Cameron. That was really uncalled for and obviously he should have contacted Mr. Cameron first before putting something like that in print. However, I have to remember that in my early years as a Christian I shot my mouth off a lot and I also recall my attitude of thinking I had everything figured out in the first few years of my walk with Christ. God is very gracious to us - He does not hammer us immediately with the things in our life that need changing. He takes one thing at a time and refines us in His time and in His way. I can also recall how I once believed that Christianity had to be "cutting edge" and my biggest worry was whether or not unbelievers thought I was cool and trying to make Christianity relevant and so forth. Now, I know that I never was cool and Jesus is relevant period...so worrying about such things don't matter anymore.

Mr. Baldwin reminds me a lot of Peter. You read about him in the gospels and sometimes he had it right and sometimes he stuck his foot in his mouth. However, when you read Peter's books which he wrote much later you see a gentle man whom God used tremendously. So, I'm glad for the Peters out there!

I recommend this book very much.

Over the years, I've been a bit skeptical about celebrities who become Christians and actively proclaim their faith in Jesus. I took this type of "show me it's true" attitude as I began reading Stephen Baldwin's book with the subtitle, "My Calling to the New Hardcore Movement of Faith." I have seen a few of his films and am familiar with his acting brothers.

Page by page, this book wins over the skeptics, and the reality of Baldwin's genuine Christian experience rings true through these chapters. We learn about the youngest Baldwin brother, who was raised in a middle-class Irish Catholic family in Massapequa, New York. In the opening chapter, Baldwin talks about the depth of his chasing celebrity and a story about seeing Robert Downey, Jr. at the Playboy Mansion. Downey leads Baldwin to a beautiful wine cellar where four playmates are smoking pot. Since Baldwin had stopped drinking several years earlier, he saw the meaninglessness of the situation and left.

Describing his life as blessed and lucky, Baldwin sheds light on his acting career and how it's given him a platform to talk to American youth --- and actually have them listen. Ironically, most teens recognize him from Bio-Dome, a film that the critics hated. As he writes, "God had me make this film to give me the platform that would later become my life's work. At the time, I just wanted to goof off with Pauly Shore for a couple of months. God knew that, and He also knew the plans He had for my life, plans He made sure came to pass."

Baldwin's faith story is told in detail. His wife, Kennya, hires Augusta, a Brazilian housekeeper who only speaks Portuguese. Since Kennya is from Brazil, she can communicate with Augusta. But the housekeeper has one minor quirk: she walks around the house singing about Jesus. Because of Augusta, Baldwin's wife begins to read her Bible and occasionally attend some Bible studies. During a year of prayer for her husband, Kennya shows him Jesus; ultimately, during the ninth and twelfth months, he begins to listen.

Baldwin describes his journey to grow in his faith and give control to Jesus. The Unusual Suspect covers the basics of faith for a new believer from Baldwin's perspective. His stories are unconventional, and his insights about the centrality of the Bible, the importance of prayer and the reality of love for the lost have a freshness that will resonate with many people.

Throughout the book, Bible verses are woven into the text in an appropriate and non-preachy manner. My skepticism turned to enthusiasm as I read about Baldwin's experiences combined with the skilled storytelling from writer Mark Tabb. Baldwin has had a true encounter with Jesus and is out to change his world. He doesn't claim to have all the answers, but he clearly understands that the love of God has to be balanced with the fear of God's pending wrath. Toward the end of the book, Baldwin includes some words that may startle the conservative crowd: "You can think all of this is a bunch of crap. That's your right. You can slam this book shut and say I don't know what I'm talking about. You can say that the God of love you believe in would never send anyone to hell. You can take that chance if you want. But keep this in mind: A day of judgment is coming. Don't blame me when the lever is pulled and you start falling toward hell."

I found Baldwin's "tell it like it is" style refreshing and genuine. I wholeheartedly recommend The Unusual Suspect.

--- Reviewed by W. Terry Whalin

Stephen Baldwin is on fire for Jesus Christ, and boy this book sure makes it contagious! He is considerably younger than me in age, but he is also older and wiser and biblically grounded. He makes Christianity dare I say, FUN! This is what new life is supposed to be like. His changed life is proof enough for me to believe he is the real deal. This is a book I intend to use to reach my unsaved kids. He speaks on their level and yet never wavers from The Truth. What a blessing. I read this book so fast because I was caught up in his excitement and enthusiasm for Christ. I want to get off my kester and DO SOMETHING for the Kingdom. I just pray I grow as bold as he has. Great read!!!

Yes, he's a Baldwin - famous and very marketable. No, he's not a celebrity tragic making one last play for notoriety. Yes, he has more options in life than most of us will ever see - that's the point, his choice to give his life to God through Jesus is not about going to ruin and running out of options before finally seeing the light. And, yes, he does it at a personal cost - Christian integrity means there's few roles he can accept.

This book is a straight shot of spiritual adrenaline to the red-blooded heart, and adds another level to the groundbreaking work of authors such as David Murrow ("Why Men Hate Going To Church"), John Eldridge ("Wild At Heart"), Paul Coughlin ("No More Christian Nice Guy"), Ray Comfort ('Hell's Best Kept Secret') and Erwin Raphael McManus (The Barbarian Way) - intense, diehard commitment from strong, spiritually-alive Christians.

Yes, like every other skeptical putz, I initially turned each page dreading that the promising start would fizzle out. Fact is, like Burt Munro of "The World's Fastest Indian" fame, Stevie B had only gone from first to second gear. Throttle wide open, he takes it all the way to top gear, and for me, sets a world record for authentic, intensely faithful, actively-committed faith. Yes, he is hardcore, and he has my respect and appreciation.

Mark Tabb does a superb job of communicating Stephen's story effectively. It's like you're having a fully-engaged, in-person conversation with the man himself. You get just enough enough background to understand where Stephen's coming from, not the excess we sometimes see in lengthy testimonies that read more like a sin trophy list.

Neither is it a dry, dispassionate tome - there's humour and wit here that those who have seen action where only guts and heart can take you know and appreciate. The consistently on-message story is a spiritual rush that makes the book very hard to put down.

There are 20 chapters, of which the following are examples:
1. Celebrity vs. Reality
2. Growing Up Baldwin, or The Brady Bunch on Crack (read it and you'll see it's a fair description)
3. My Life, the Greatest Production of All Time (no, it's actually not the ego trip you might expect)
6. I Wake With A Smile
7. She Never Has To Worry Anymore
10. Prayer? What...Are You A Wuss?
11. B.I.B.L.E.: Basic Instruction Before Leaving Earth
17. Ya' Can't Say That. Yura Christian
20. What Is Normal?

Milquetoasts, pew-warmers and legalists will find this book alarming. Men and women cut out for spiritual Special Forces will find it affirming. The fact that the Christian Church today is only significantly growing where it is being persecuted should tell you something. Nice, 'feel-good' conversions (offering grace without conviction of sin) have 'converts' contentedly singing Christian Industry pop songs all the way to Hell (ask Ray Comfort).

Read this book (and others from the authors mentioned earlier), crank up some Todd Agnew, and get inspired to take action. The Body needs ALL the parts actively alive to accomplish the challenging work Jesus set us to do, so sign up to be a hand, an arm, a muscle, a foot...you get the idea...look around, you'll see we've got the comfortably-padded butt pretty much covered.

One reads this book cautiously, and I am sure the author will understand why some may even question if this is simply the newest phase of a well known hyped life. And yes, since he has been a Christian since 9/11 I do admit I wonder if this is something that will stick, or will it fade once or if his fame fades. As it is he is in the media a lot be it secular or well known religious places like TBN (Trinity Broadcasting Network) out of Southern California which can, in my opinion keep a person interested in the cause.

But I prefer to give him the benefit of the doubt and even applaud him, because for those of us who march to a different drummer, having someone like him speaking out about how hard the walk is, (which it is), is both refreshing and welcomed. Because so many medic Christians are so (for lack of a better phrase) safe or even bland. Also nice to read that he isnt living some sheltered life, but attends a regular church with regular people, and has a marriage that has only gotten better, even thru the trials.

The one thing I need to applaud the author for is how he shares in a NON preachy way why we need God in our lives, and that he was living a decent life, making good money, and like most (in my opinion) folks, he wasnt doing anything that horrid. He had been 'sober' for years, had a great wife, grew up in a great family and simply had a fun but wild side. Which is why I think so many of us, male or female, like the book. You actually come away wishing, hoping, praying that you could encounter more Christians like him. He writes in a way that you feel as if he is having a heart to heart, serious but fun conversation with you.

And it is refreshing that the author admits to some misogynist leanings in the past. Yes, reading about his wild child phase may make some wince, but for others like myself I found his comments enlightening and brutally honest.

And its nice to see that his career per se hasn't suffered, since I have seen him in the new Tom Selleck specials this past year. Hope he gets more work, and I hope the change in his life is one that sticks.

I've been following Stephen Baldwin's faith journey for some time. He's a dynamic and persuasive evangelist who has unapologetically used his celebrity to advance God's kingdom, all with a brash, offhand, humorous kind of touch. The Christian community has been truly blessed with this guy.

His book's a great read. His irrepressible personality keeps coming through, proving you don't check your personality at the door when you accept the free gift of Christ's grace. The stories are great, and yes, you long-time Christians out there, you're going to get a lot from this book. The water gets pretty deep in places.

And therein, to my mind, lies the book's only problem. Reading this as a longtime Christ-follower I felt challenged in both my faith and my life. But am I Mr. Baldwin's audience? Or is it the skateboarders and other kids and young adults who know nothing of God, or the plan He has for their lives?

Baldwin DOES spend a lot of time reaching out to those people. The story of how he came to Christ is told well. He's honest about his struggles and how he fought against Jesus' plan for his life. We've all been there. For a longtime Christian, there was some stuff I might have been tempted to skim over, but Mr. Baldwin usually found ways to keep it fresh and relevant. In the end there's a lot of learn from anyone who's evangelizing out on the fringes of society. That's where Christ would be... Christ is very real out there.

For the kids he's trying to reach, some of the "advanced" Christianity stuff might be good too. Just as Jesus did, Baldwin attacks hyprocricy and complacency wherever he sees it. Those attacks may be appreciated by the kids who have avoided Christianity because they don't like the short-haired conservative Christian stereotype, or the bland, feel-good Jesus preached by the liberal churches. Mr. Baldwin preaches Christ the upender of the status quo... God on Earth, making room for His Kingdom by knocking over the tables of the money changers and the hyprocrites. "Hey, there's room for me in this thing... Stephen says so." And more power to him for saying it.

But I do wonder about the focus of the book. Mr. Baldwin tries to cover the waterfront. I enjoyed it all, immensely. But some kid who's new to Christ might not get it all.

I hope Mr. Baldwin considers writing another book, focused on those kids. An obvious feature of such a book would be the stories of some of the kids he's befriended. Nothing reaches out to someone as well as the testimony of a peer.

Just a thought. Stephen, thanks for the book! Great stuff.

It was encouraging to read Steve's account of how he came to know the Lord. It reminded me of my conversion experience and how fired up I was. Remember those days? Now that I'm a seminary graduate, I've certainly matured in my understanding of God's Word but I often look back nostalgically to those first years... and Steve's account certainly brought those memories to mind. The book is about his Christian experience and how he is living it out. I think some people might be quick to judge his actions and motivations but if you look underneath it all you realize his faith is genuine and he really does love the Lord. He's quite a character and this will be evident as you read but isn't it great that God has created so many different personalities? God bless Steve and his family.

I'll admit to being skeptical when I saw this book. For many years, I've been in the Christian community and I've seen some of these "celebrity" conversion stories--and in some cases the change has been superficial and the changes haven't stuck (the conversion story wasn't real). In Baldwin's case, I could see the reality of the changed life.

He admits mistakes and that he isn't perfect--but this book presents a story of someone working every day at the life of faith in Jesus--which is all anyone of us can do.

If you are very conservative, you will at times cringe with some of Baldwin's language. If you wonder what I mean, here's a brief sample from a section toward the end of the book:

"You can think all of this is a bunch of crap. That's your right. You can slam this book shut and say I don't know what I'm talking about. You can say that the God of love you believe in would never send anyone to hell. You can take that chance if you want. But keep this in mind: A day of judgment is coming. Don't blame me when the lever is pulled and you start falling toward hell."

The excellent writing skills of Mark Tabb are combined with the experiences of Stephen Baldwin for an excellent nonfiction book. I recommend it.

What an AWESOME BOOK! Use this book as a ministry tool to share the gospel! If the Lord can change his heart, he can change anyones!
FUN, WHAT A RIDE!
This man is transformed by the Lord, and it's so refreshing to have a sold out follower of Christ not be ashamed of the gospel like so many other Christians, WAY TO GO BALDWIN!
PUMPED TO SEE HIS NEW MINISTRY!