Skillet fans: if you haven’t read this yet, you should. I love Skillet lead singer John L Cooper’s heart. In his debut book (self-published) he talks about his earliest memories of belief in Christ. He also talks about how some secular rock industry types were telling him he needed to drop the Jesus talk if he wanted the band to reach his full potential. But it didn’t take he and his wife Korey long to figure out that that conversation was just a devilish distraction from what God had called the band to do.
He and Korey reminded each other that they would not be ashamed of Christ.
Pontius Pilate once asked “What is truth?” Pop culture seems to ask that question today. So many people believe in relative truth, each person believing in his/her/their own “truth.”
But as Cooper writes, there IS such thing as ABSOLUTE TRUTH, and that Truth is established by almighty God.
The book outlines how Cooper became awake and alive to absolute Truth.
He talks in the book about the flawed thinking behind Post-Modernism, Relativism, Marxism, and how those thought processes have worked their way into the Church.
Cooper talks about the Authority of the Word of God, and how The Bible is the final word on everything.
In this book, you’ll also learn why “fun is not fulfillment.” “Huh?” you ask. That’s why you need to read this.
Outside of a few clerical errors that another round of proofreading could have cleaned up, this is a very good read and a great volume, especially for someone’s first book.
I did a lot of highlighting in the book; I have used it once already in the context of a devotional with my teenage kids; I will definitely read it again, and rather than tell you more about what it says, I urge you to buy a copy and read it yourself.
The book is solidly Scriptural.
The only thing I take issue with is the (probably not purposely) implied dismissal of all the Christian Rock radio airplay his band received prior to their acceptance in the mainstream. He writes in Chapter 7 that in 2010, Skillet “was just beginning to air on radio stations for the first time.” Um, excuse me!?
I was one of many music directors/program directors/DJ’s that played Skillet 14 years earlier than that on FM radio beginning in 1996 when the band’s debut self-titled album came out on Ardent/Forefront.
I met John, Korey and the rest of the band when their sophomore disc Hey You, I Love Your Soul was their latest record, and the FM radio station I worked for at the time brought them in concert to our annual festival.
Skillet thanked me and that radio station in the album liner notes for albums 3 and 4, Invincible and Alien Youth. So, of course he knows this.
Don’t forget your Christian Rock Radio roots, John. We’ll still be playing your stuff after (and if) the air goes out of your mainstream radio success balloon.
The little things that stuck in my craw aside, this is definitely a worthwhile read. And yes, I still have mad respect for John L. Cooper and Skillet.
