Life Inside Out: How I Found True Freedom in God

by Mark Foss

I have had the distinct honor and privilege of working alongside Mark Foss for the past seven years. Knowing Mark both personally and professionally, I have witnessed firsthand his unwavering commitment to helping those who are broken, hurting, searching and lonely, find their hope in Christ! Mark is a “been there, done that” kind of guy who recognizes that the areas of his afflictions are now his greatest assets toward turning people to the Lord! I thank God for Mark’s life, for both his failures as well as his ultimate victories through Christ. – Jay Jenson, Director of Ministry, LifeRight Outreach Growing up in the late sixties and early seventies was fast and furious. The United States was in the heat of the Vietnam War. The theme of the time was sex, drugs, and rock-‘n’-roll. I flung myself into the culture and adopted the lifestyle as my own. I was a full-fledged drunk and an addict by the time I graduated from high school. Prison, a failed marriage, and a lost desire to be a father to my two sons were proof that my life was crashing around me. Then I surrendered to Christ. It happened in the back seat of a squad car, as I was headed to prison for the third time. The change was immediate and profound, something only God could orchestrate. I’m a new man. Today, I’m pushing, pulling, and doing everything I can to help others out of the same boat I was in. From my story, you will learn that God calls even the worst of sinners. You see, God is in the business of restoring lives, and my dramatic conversion is a powerful testimony of just how much God loves people like you and me. About the Author Mark Foss grew up in a small farming community in west-central Minnesota. His childhood was good, free of worry and pain. He became an accomplished athlete, especially in basketball. Then it all changed. He became his own worst enemy and lived the next thirty years as a drug dealer and an addict. The gifted and talented teen was gone, and a hard, destructive man took his place. This life carried him to the edge of death, despair, and even insanity . . . until he met the Lord Jesus Christ.

123 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 6, 2015

Reviews

[Yibbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Lord is so merciful and full of grace. We may run from Him for a very long time, but He will always welcome us back.
Much of this book deals with Foss's life before his Salvation, and he had a very messed up life. Despite what it's about it's not really offensive because he wrote in the most delicate manner possible. There was one word blanked out.
Foss was very deeply bound by drugs and alcohol. Despite his best efforts he was in and out of rehabs and jail most of his life. Then he surrendered to the Jesus' offer to make him a new man. He does an excellent job of showing clearly how it was not Mark Foss that changed his life; it was Jesus that changed Mark Foss.
His salvation experience is so encouraging. There was no pastor or other believer with him. He just turned to Jesus and accepted Him as Lord and Savior. The words he had heard preciously bore fruit at long last. The Gospel isn't shared very clearly there, but as the book goes along it becomes clearer.
There are a few overtones of the 'prosperity gospel', but that could be all that was available to him at that point in the story.
All in all it was a very good book. I would encourage you to read it.

[Jeff · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book of abject despair and torment, followed by redemption, found only through a cry of help to God and the shed blood of Jesus Christ. I enjoyed reading Mark's first person account of his journey - it's authentic and meaningful - and I'm thankful to have the opportunity to know him and his organization, LifeRight Outreach. His background makes him uniquely suited to minister to the needs of a group of people who DESPERATELY need hope, and my prayer is that God can continue to use Mark and others who join him in this work to share the Gospel with those who are hurting, lonely, broken and searching...

[Alison/Tony King · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good life story but not the most inspiring writing

In the end I gave up on this book as although the story should have gripped me it didn't. That is not to take away in any way from the authors bravery in sharing his story ,warts and all, and I am sure his story will continue to touch many lives for the better it just didn't do it for me,but God bless him.