Vance Brown

This has been a frustrating book to review. The topic is both critical important generally and particularly applicable to me. Brown comes from/represents a similar version of evangelical christianity to the one that I favour. He writes well. He is a movie buff of genres that I (mostly) love and appreciate. I got the book through Early Reviewers for FREE and only have to write a review to fulfill my part of the bargain; get a book and post a review. So why is this review like pulling teeth? Worse! It is like having a tooth pulled!!
I wish I could unabashedly praise and encourage others to read it; but I just can't.

Maybe I am just paranoid, but I feel manipulated on the one hand and exposed to flaky theology on the other...and interspersed is some valid and needed teaching. Here's an example of manipulation...in my opinion.
The Prologue begins "I could begin this book by re-creating an epic scene from HBO's Band of Brothers or Gladiator or The Lord of the Rings....There is a time and place for those climactic, soul-stirring, swashbuckling moments, but this has to begin in a place we know all to well. We have to start where we are."
Brown continues by providing still another movie scene from Capra's It's A Wonderful Life where the scene chosen is the dramatic time when Clarence the angel is recruited to save George Bailey. Brown has also said: "I could do all that and more...but I respect you too much to do so." I sense dishonest manipulation here. It just won't go away; I cannot get past it. That sense of manipulation stayed with me throughout the readings I gave No Matter the Cost. Note that I do not object to using any of these movies to "set the scene"; to make Brown's thesis statement. Movies appeal to that non rational side that wants and seeks inspiration...but don't tell me "I could manipulate you...but I respect you too much to do that" and then proceed to manipulate me anyways!!!! Man up, Brown.

Secondly, I get even more squeamish about his theology. Pages 24 and 25 toss out a couple of questions with really questionable theology attached. Brown asks "Will you be one of the saints used by God to finally defeat evil?" and "...what if, just what if the end of the culmination of these final moments might come sooner if men would band together, rise up, and fight shoulder to shoulder for the noble cause of Christ?" The context includes the idea that we could speed up the return of the King by "rising up" in His cause and that "the King is coming, and possibly coming soon..." Brown is one, like me, who believes in the literal return of Jesus in fulfillment of Scripture. Where we disagree, is that I believe that His Return is immanent (could happen at any moment) and in the Father's determination as to when. Human agency does NOT alter the divine timetable. And yet, Brown does have it right in that we must determine if we will join in the cause. Therefore, I feel Brown is again manipulating us inappropriately, with bad theology.
Brown goes on to describe the Lord's Prayer as being "a trail map for how to face battles" and "dares us to keep reading" with more tugs at our hearts to dare to count the cost and join the "band of brothers". The problem I had here was the lack of depth in his reading of, his understanding of the Lord's Prayer. God is Father; we need one and most of us will find a yearning for a better father-relationship still residing even as grown men. He is "OUR" Father; we are brothers to one another and to Christ, the elder brother. Good. So?
"Thy Kingdom come; thy will be done" is in Brown's eyes a point of "submission". He turns to Jesus in Gethsemane submitting which is appropriate, but this phrase is not an "admission" nor a "submission" to me. Rather, it is a confession...a truth that yes I must submit to, but also one that I must first acknowledge, agree with and only then commit to.
Another reviewer "submits" that the book felt like a commercial for the men's movement in evangelicalism in general, and for his own organization, Band of Brothers, in particular. I have to agree.
The sad thing for me is that there is so much that I would like to support. Brown does have some good insights to give, some good directions/suggestions to advance the Kingdom of God. We ARE called to be a part of God's work TOGETHER; Jesus is building His Church, not a motley crew of strangers heading in the same general direction. We form His Body. We need one another. And we are in a battle even to find the Will of God in our individual lives.
I wish I could support this version, but I do not. At the same time, I hope that Brown, or someone else will fill the void with something of more substance.… (mais)

They defeated [the accuser] through the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony. They weren't in love with themselves; they were willing to die for Christ. - Revelation 12:11

This book is a battle cry to men asking them to live out the purpose they were created for. Vance Brown references Luke 14 where Jesus commands us to consider the costs before answering the call to be a true disciple and follower of Jesus. As He told the rich young ruler, you must be willing to give up everything to follow Me - no matter the cost. "Will you be one of the saints used by God to finally defeat evil...no matter the cost?"

If you do decide to take up this call; however, "don't even think about going into battle alone (Wild at Heart)." This is the secondary main message of Brown's book. He encourages men to become a part of a men's group; a brotherhood - somewhere where you hold each other accountable, but take it a step further and are also brothers in arms.

In this book, Vance explores:

New take on the Lord's Prayer
Reasons why we maybe should be seeking after "goodness" instead of "greatness"
What we desire more than to be loved
and so much more!

I thought that the message was fantastic and one that our generation of lukewarm Christians needs to embrace and strive after wholeheartedly. Additionally, I loved how honest and open he was with struggles he had gone through and I particularly loved how he included "brother stories" throughout to fill in the gaps of other struggles he was fortunate even to not endure. Also, I am very fond of study guides included within these type of books, and this one in particular was amazing and will help any forming "Band of Brothers" groups to get off the ground and learn to "fight the good fight" shoulder to shoulder with brothers who love and would die for each other. However, my only criticism was that I believe that a lot of his book seemed to be a pitch for his men's group and foundation - Band of Brothers. That aside, this is an amazing resource for anyone who is looking to be the extra degree in serving Christ.

"We will never come to embrace the heartache of our story until we see it profit another human being. Even then the sorrow doesn't leave, but seeing someone benefit from our pain adds hope to that pain, and our gratitude begins to transform our past." - Dan Allender

Disclaimer: I received a free advance reading copy of this book from the publisher Bethany House courtesy of the Library Thing Early Reviewer Program. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions I have expressed are my own.… (mais)

When I first picked up the book it looked disappointing. The cover looked trite; when I glanced through the book it sounded over done. After reading the prologue I new I was in for a book that was a rendition of every other modern men's warfare gospel.
The Author, Vance Brown, acknowledged in the prologue he wanted to avoid cliche and that "could begin this book by recreating an epic scene from"... Band of Brothers, Gladiator, The Lord of the Ring, Bravehart, or Matrix. He didn't stray far from that territory by going to Bedford Falls and It's a Wonderful Life.
10 pages into the book he has brought up the attacks of 9/11, quoted the message, quoted John Eldredge, mentioned porn, talked about a trip someone else took to the grand canyon, retold a conversation a war veteran told him, and discussed the Loan Ranger. Brown had used the standard set of cliches from the men's movement and I didn't want to read them again.… (mais)