Remember when "Left Behind" came out for the first time? I do. People were ranting and raving over it like it was the next big thing. And it was. Same way with the stupid "Purpose Driven Life," when people were going absolutely bonkers over the latest and greatest thing out there in the Christian market. People were saying, "Oh, you HAVE to read this, and you HAVE to read that." Let me tell you something, I did read "Left Behind," the first 3 books, actually. And it wasn't that I wasn't impressed, but I really wasn't all that interested. "Left Behind" became the new status symbol as a result of Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins. Make no mistake about it, these books changed a few lives, and they got people to open up their Bibles.
Now Tim LaHaye is back, and with him is the only reason I've even thought about giving these new "End" books a 2nd though, Craig Parshall. I've been reading Craig Parshall since the beginning of his "Chambers of Justice," with "The Resurrection File" leading the way, and I've been impressed with him ever since. So this time around, I wanted to see if Parshall would make a difference with Tim LaHaye. I think they both did, with the idea being LaHaye's, but the writing is obviously Parshall. That much is evident to me, because LaHaye has never claimed to be a great writer. But he does have great ideas, and I think it's about time he got somebody good like Craig Parshall to work with him. Nothing against Jerry Jenkins when I say that, because Jenkins has some awesome stand-alone work.
This begins with an attack as North Korea has the tables turned against them, and blown up in their face. That happens because of Joshua Jordan, and he has a little trick up his sleeve called RETURN-TO-SENDER! Well, that little trick up his sleeve is now wanted by government officials, not to mention international threats. And U.S. higher-ups will do anything to force Jordan to give up the goods.
Jordan is forced to see the big picture through bigger eyes, and he wrestles with a faith he never embraced before. His wife, Abby, has known Jesus Christ as her personal savior, and she prays for Jordan constantly, and brings her knowledge of the law to the table. Can Jordan step up to the plate when it matters for our nation? Will he experience first-hand what it means to truly be a sacrificial lamb?
In the end, I can say I enjoyed this. Will I be claiming this as my new favorite book of all time? I doubt it. But it kept me interested to the point where I'm ready for another look. "Edge of Apocalypse" is an eye opener, and I'm hoping that "Thunder of Heaven" offers some more good stuff. With Tim LaHaye's ideas and Craig Parshall's writing, we just might have it! I hope so.