Book #11 - Samson and the Pirate Monks by Nate Larkin

While traveling last week I read Samson and the Pirate Monks. It is a fairly quick read but a book that will stay with me for some time. The author is brutally honest about his struggle with an addiction to sex and how he overcame it. Through that he has been led to start the Samson Society (see link above). It is basically a 12 step AA type group centered around Christ. The book is about his testimony and how to start a Samson group if you feel led.

There are several takeaways for me from this book. As I look at my role as a Christ-follower, husband, father, friend, and leader in the church I see the value of this type of support and accountability in the lives of men. The main things that I will draw on from this book are:

• the church needs to take notice! men need and desire a place to be brutally honest about what they are dealing with in their lives without the fear of becoming the topic of "prayer requests" for the foreseeable future


• the walk of the disciple is not and has never been intended to be walked alone. Christ called his disciples in groups and sent them about the business of the Kingdom two by two. The thought that my personal walk is "just between me and God" is a lie!


• I can only imagine the power that men would have over sin if they would enter into these genuine relationships of support


• it does not matter what the struggle is with (sex, greed, drugs, alcohol, lust, money, foul language, pornography, etc., etc.) or how deeply involved we are in it (active, recovering, or just plain knowing that we have an attraction to it) addiction is in many ways addiction; period.


• Even if I do not personally start or become involved in an active Samson group, I need to find a Silas for my life


• Keeping in mind that like both Samson and David we have all failed I need to be like David and be the man God has intended and not fail in the mission I have been chosen for as Samson did.

I am sure I could list a few more. This book is definitely worth a read from the powerful testimony standpoint and will encourage you to seek out brotherhood as intended by the Lord.