"There must be more to the Christian life than this--more than church each Sunday and waving to my neighbors and giving some clothes to Goodwill wh...
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Jan 24, 2010
Chris
rated it: 
As someone who is in ministry I'm always on the lookout for good books to read with or recommend to others. Just Courage is now THE book I would choose if I wanted to introduce other Christians to the Biblical call to justice. It is powerful, well-written, and theologically on point. Haugen weaves together stories from the ministry of International Justice Mission, Biblical teaching, and a compelling call to courageous obedience of God. There are probably better books for people who already
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Oct 20, 2009
Troy
rated it: 
Challenging book. I find it interesting that the points he uses to present what he's advocating for the individual believer's and church community's life are much the same as those used by most who want to advocate for a more 'radical' Christian life of some sort, or another, or another.
But what he's calling to is so high, and so right.
I need to continue to grapple with this one personally, and think it's worth anyone giving a hearing. Could just change your life...
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But what he's calling to is so high, and so right.
I need to continue to grapple with this one personally, and think it's worth anyone giving a hearing. Could just change your life...
More...
Nov 29, 2010
Eric
rated it: 
God’s Great Expedition for the Restless Christian. Haugen challenges today’s Christian to be brave rather than safe, in the context of a world of injustice where 27 million slaves moulder in misery. The book is not sensational, just a gentle but firm call to believe what Jesus said and then launch out into the deep trusting in His promises to care of us if we do his will. And his will is to seek justice.
He starts the book by quoting John Stuart Mill’s essay, On Liberty in which Mill More...
He starts the book by quoting John Stuart Mill’s essay, On Liberty in which Mill More...
Aug 05, 2011
Excellent book. The push to enact Christianity as part of the Social Gospel is an old one and maybe a tired one. Haugen's push, though is different. He isn't asking God to sign off on what enlightened people who happen to be nominal Christians have come up with, he is rooted deeply in God's expression of His character through His Word and sees the fight for social justice as an extension of that.
This fight, he argues, will spread the Gospel at phenomenal speed by SHOWING the love of Jesus to tho More...
This fight, he argues, will spread the Gospel at phenomenal speed by SHOWING the love of Jesus to tho More...
Aug 22, 2011
Randall
rated it:
Would you rather be safe or brave?
Gary Haugen is the president of International Justice Mission (IJM) a human rights organization based in DC. In this book he challenges Christians to not be content with complacency, but to take seriously God's call "to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke." (Isaiah 58) Drawing from the stories of brave men and women who have risked much to free modern-day slaves and vict More...
Gary Haugen is the president of International Justice Mission (IJM) a human rights organization based in DC. In this book he challenges Christians to not be content with complacency, but to take seriously God's call "to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke." (Isaiah 58) Drawing from the stories of brave men and women who have risked much to free modern-day slaves and vict More...
Aug 31, 2009
Gary
rated it:
Gary Haugen writes a great book about Justice and how real justice is brought to real needy people. Currently it seems politics has us focussed on Americans without healthcare, or losing their homes, or illegals invading somebody's land. But Haugen points out that the really needy people are the millions of people that are slaves, or forced into child prostitution, or forced into certain death poverty. It is true he shows us how we can involved, and perhaps, our country's woes might sound a b
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Mar 07, 2010
Reid
rated it:
Written in an clear style. Good illustrations, simple message.
Talks about Christians going on the journey but missing the adventure when we opt for being safe rather than brave.
"God is calling his people to a pathway out of fear and triviality through the struggle for justice."
Struggling for justice for others fills one's life with adventure, faith, miracles,getting to know Jesus better.
Good stories of unsung heroes in the fight. Good d More...
Talks about Christians going on the journey but missing the adventure when we opt for being safe rather than brave.
"God is calling his people to a pathway out of fear and triviality through the struggle for justice."
Struggling for justice for others fills one's life with adventure, faith, miracles,getting to know Jesus better.
Good stories of unsung heroes in the fight. Good d More...
Nov 27, 2009
Go2therock
rated it:
Snatch excerpts from pg. 130 - "As it turns out, it's quite possible to be very earnest and also be afraid. - because we really don't believe He will take care of us in the end. He wants us to completely trust Him, to walk in the freedom and power and joy that comes from authentically believing that all will be well in following the all-good and almighty God." An answer to this call is the essence of IJM's role in the lives of people, both those who serve within and those who are se
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May 30, 2009
Jason
rated it:
This is a great book filled with some great information inside of it. It takes a look at God from a science point of view. When you really take a look at the facts you come to find that Science supports that there is a God more than it proves that there isn't. Though at times it does read like a text book - shooting facts at you so much that your mind begins to wander - it is still something I would strongly suggest reading especially if you are a non-believer or on the fence.
May 21, 2009
Daniel
rated it:
10 pages in I was thinking "Dude, where's your ghost writer? And why am I reading this?" 20 pages in I was floored. Haugen presents the facts in the simplest of fashions - I wanted him to spend more time talking about his experiences at IJM and what he had learned there. But his simplicity, as a writer, ultimately helps his cause by demanding that the reader imagine just what this man has got himself into by leaving a well-paid job at the Department of Justice to start a ministry t
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Mar 13, 2011
Ron
rated it:
Very light, poorly written Christian pablam. Makes aurgument that fighting for justice on behalf of the poor is a powerful, effective way to make a long-term difference in their lives and that believers should take action to "do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with our God." But not many good ideas for how we can realistically do this except support IJM's efforts. Great example of the shallowness and market driven content of today's Christian publishers.
Nov 24, 2011
Paul
rated it:
Gary Haugen basically says to combine compassion and courage and let them overwhelm fear. Put them to work in service and you will come alive in the fullness of what God intends for your life. His focus is on injustice (see http://ijm.org). He defines injustice as the events in which the powerful take from the weak those things that God intended for them: Beauty, freedom, dignity, etc. And he calls us to muster our courage to act.
Mar 08, 2011
Jeff
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I need to go back and read this one again. It was about on par with Platt's book (Radical). It was full of a lot of agenda, and scripture was massaged to support the points a lot of times. It seems harmless, but history tells us (scripture tells us!) that massaging scripture even a little to support even a good cause has devistating effects (crusades, inquisition, Abraham and Haagar = Islam).
Aug 04, 2011
This is a heart wretching look at the issues of child prostitution and slavery. It is a challenge to be the courageous to stand for the oppressed in our world and do something! It talks a lot about International Justice Mission and their fight for the lives of children and people world-wide.
Feb 14, 2011
The author of Just Courage: God's Great Expedition for the Restless Christian, was a lawyer for the Justice Department working in the Civil Rights division in the 1990's. He also was the director of the United Nations genocide investigation in Rwanda. In 1997 he left all that behind to step out in faith to start a non-profit organization to seek justice around the globe. International Justice Mission now has 14 field offices around the world and over 300 people on staff, 90% of whom are nation
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Dec 17, 2009
Chad
rated it:
This book really challenged me to get off my butt and do something about injustice in the world. This book focuses on human trafficking and slavery that is going on today. It was eye opening and challenged my level of compassion. This book was one of the reasons I went on a mission trip to Iraq this year.
Nov 14, 2011
Alan
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In a compelling and moving book Gary Haugen shows how passion and action for justice in the world can be a cure for the bland spiritual life so many Christians experience. A great adventure is in store for us if will simply stand up and choose it.
Mar 05, 2009
Mary Lou
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Gary Haugen knows how to paint a word picture. His charging the darkness story (his little kids afraid of their room at night in the dark)alone makes this book worth reading - not to mention the inspiration of what he is doing.
Feb 16, 2009
Jake
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Great book about steping out in faith and making a difference in the worlds evils(child slavery and sex trafficing) You can learn not to be paralized by the size of a problem but to begin and change one life at a time.
Jan 29, 2009
Virginia
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Gary Haugen is the founder of the International Justice Mission which uses legal aid to break the bonds of modern day slavery and oppression in other countries.
Aug 11, 2011
Steve
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Great book. It discusses an issue that has been mostly overlooked by most churches and Christians (including myself) and challenges us to do something about it.
Dec 31, 2009
Jaclynn
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I had hoped that this book would be inspirational in conquering fears in life, the small everyday ones mostly. I won’t say that it didn’t do that. The stories shared by the author were inspirational, but I found the focus to almost solely be on the International Justice Mission that the author is the president of. A worthy cause no doubt. But personally, I was a bit disappointed in the book.
I "read" this via audiobook.
I "read" this via audiobook.
Jan 12, 2010
Butch
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Soul-stirring and challenging. This is one that you should read if you find yourself sometimes callous toward the down-trodden.
Aug 04, 2011
What an awesome book. This guy hates the word "safe" and I love it. Makes me wish I could go work for him.
Jul 30, 2011
I was challenged by this book in so many ways ... this is a great book to help you grow as a follower of Christ.
Feb 24, 2010
Jen
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A invigorating book about following Christ into the adventure of doing justice work. Highly recommend.
Aug 19, 2011
Adam
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My full review is at http://bookwi.se/just-courage-by-gary-a-...
This was a very good book. It was short, probably too short for the price. But I would rather have a good, tight short book than a long rambling one.
This is the story of International Justice Mission. An organization started to free people from slavery and forced prostitution around the world. Good stories. But the best parts were the two chapters on how to relate to poor and having courage to do something More...
This was a very good book. It was short, probably too short for the price. But I would rather have a good, tight short book than a long rambling one.
This is the story of International Justice Mission. An organization started to free people from slavery and forced prostitution around the world. Good stories. But the best parts were the two chapters on how to relate to poor and having courage to do something More...
Dec 31, 2009
Michael
rated it:
A lot of this book is spent advertising the IJM (a truly wonderful cause) but the rest of it and much of advertising content is filled with really good theology. Having spent my life in Southern Baptist territory I'm used to watered down, baby food theology that probably makes the apostles in Heaven want to vomit so even though much of this was written as advertisement I appreciate good Scriptural theology.
