Book Review: The Unusual Suspect

Seriously people - read this book. It is so so good.

'The Unusual Suspect,' by Stephen Baldwin is about how he came to CHRIST and the life he now lives because of HIM. I remember hearing a couple years ago that Stephen Baldwin had become a Christian. For some reason it made me really excited - more than I would've thought, because it's not like I was some super fan or anything. (I am now, though, cuz I read this book.) But of course, being a good judgmental Christian (why are we like that?) I was a little skeptical, thinking, 'Ok, that's nice, he says he found JESUS. But it's Hollywood, so will he really live it? Plus he's a Baldwin - look at his brothers.' But I was still excited and had hopes for him. Then I heard he had a skateboard ministry, and I thought, 'That's cool! He's taking his faith seriously. Probably not the deepest thing, but hey, it gets the Word out there to the kids, so cool.' How judgmental can one person be? Ugh, I make me sick sometimes.

So then I heard he had written this book, and I decided I wanted to read it. Last week I saw it for half-price, so I bought it. I started it Sunday afternoon, and I could not put it down. It's so so good. The first 4 chapters are about how he came to CHRIST, and the last 16 are about what he believes. It's not some celebrity tell-all. He says from the start that it wasn't that he hit rock bottom and had nowhere else to turn. He knew all along that something was missing. So he doesn't dwell on where he came from, he dwells on the ONE he found.

Stephen uses so much Scripture. It's obvious that he spends a lot of time in the Word. It kicked me in the bum. I mean, proud me, I can't be outdone by some newbie! :) Seriously, though, he made me want to spend more time with GOD (and with where I've been this last year and a half, I really appreciate it). And he really encouraged me to pray, too.

So then I started wondering if that's part of why I got so excited when I heard he was a Christian. Obviously I didn't know it then, but GOD knew that HE would be using Stephen to get through to me. That's just so cool. I love GOD. HE works in the most amazing ways. And I love, okay, this is going to sound cheesy, but I love being in GOD's family. HE uses us in each others' lives to encourage and challenge and bless and all sorts of wonderful things.

I think I'll write to Stephen and tell him how GOD used him to bless me. In the meantime, y'all should read this book and be blessed, too!