Profoundly moving. From the first sentence to the last, “URGENT” gripped my heart and mind. It penetrated my spirit and touched my soul. With heartbreaking clarity and honesty, author, Joe Donahue, shares the emotional, physical, and sexual abuse he suffered at the hands of his father. “Urgent” is an accounting. Donahue gives an account of the sin of his father, and how those sins nearly destroyed him. He writes:
“Like Bartimaeus, I was just a blind beggar…covered in whatever filth I had been crawling through…blind at heart…worn out clothes wrapped my shivering body during cold nights…Injuries and wounds that would not heal–some wounds caused by my father…I walked bent over in shame…The weight was so great that it often became unbearable…I would weep with my face in the dirt…I could not lift my head. I was useless. Pathetic. Helpless.”
He uses clear, simple language. His illustrations are perfect pictures of the urgency he has in his heart for a lost world–a world ravaged by the kind of sin that imprisoned him in a shell of insecurity and anger. A world without Jesus. A world in need of a Savior–a world blinded by sin and deceived by Satan’s lies. Donahue’s message is clear.
Sin is real. Sin is nasty. Sin breeds sin. Because of sin, people are hurting. Lives are broken and children feel worthless. Yet, we have the hope to heal, to mend, to repair and regenerate the soul of man’s brokenness. That hope is Jesus.
Donahue’s urgency to share his personal story is palpitating. He does not whitewash his childhood; he doesn’t make excuses for the damage it did to him. He takes you from empathy for his broken little life to a desire to live the power-filled life he now lives in and through Christ. Donahue shares how he came to a reckoning with his heavenly Father and how that led him to reconciling the pain inflicted upon him by his earthly father. Joe shares how Christ healed his past and gave him new life.
The theme of the entire book is as urgent as the title. It is “igniting a passion for Jesus”. Joe Donahue’s need as a little abused boy was urgent. But no one came.
Joe sees the world’s need today is just as urgent as his once was; he works with teens who deal with heartache just as real, just as painful. He knows the church’s need is urgent. He longs to ignite a passion for Jesus–Jesus the Christ, the Redeemer of lost blinded souls. In his small volume of 101 pages, Joe weaves scripture throughout his story in such a way that a reader clearly sees who Jesus is, and what He does for those who call on Him. Joe’s transformation could not be more evident…from a blind beggar crying out to Jesus, to a redeemed man of God telling the world they can have Him, too. Joe’s passion gives new meaning to the word URGENT.
Youth need this book today. Every youth minister should read it and have extra copies to give out. Every Christian should read it and give it away when they’re finished. It needs to be in every church library. Buy two copies. You will want to give at least one away, right away. Why? Because it is “URGENT” that you do.
Book can be ordered directly through FreeChurchPress.com.
Joe Donahue is a husband, student pastor, and evangelist. He’s been featured on television shows including The 700 Club and is a popular conference speaker. He presently serves as the Student Pastor at First Redeemer Church, North Metro Atlanta, GA. You can find Joe on the web at www.youthevangelist.com.
Bill, as you can see, I wasn’t laughing at your comment; it found it’s way to the round file. URGENT by JOE DONAHUE is a very serious book about a very serious situation. I do not find sexual abuse funny. Nor do I find broken lives, rape, and incest due to alcholic parents funny. It is a book that honors God in every detail. It is honest. It exemplifies the need for all regenerated, born-again Believers to think a bit more seriously about our faith in Christ and our relationship with Christ. selahV
I have read the book, and completely agree with this review. In addition, i serve in the High School ministry at the church where Joe now is on staff, and am deeply humbled by his transparency and willingness to share the gospel through his life. Joe truly loves Jesus, and wishes to glorify Him and see others come to know Jesus as Saviour.
Tony, thanks for commenting with a slice of you personal account of the author. you are a very fortunate man, indeed, to have Joe in your church. His love for the Lord is so visible in each part of his book. I can’t possibly write enough good words about it. I love the way he weaves his story with scripture and I’ve never seen or heard a better description of Bartimaeus and his dad. Makes me hungry for more. selahV
Hariette, What a blessing and an incredible honor that you would write such a humbling review of my book. I hope and pray that my story and book become a useful tool for born-again believers everywhere.
Thanks for your kind words!
Joe
Joe, you are so welcome. I’m purchasing more books to give away. I want as many folks as I know to read this. It is so different in the approach and the testimony. Totally unoffensive. I wish I’d have put that in the review. God bless you so much, Joe. I truly am grateful to have this honor of sharing what the heartbreak to joy story of your life. selahV
Good review. We need to remember the urgency—-I wonder if we’ve gotten almost too obsessed with “Jesus is coming back soon” in terms of rapture and end-times and forget that for many, they face judgment immediately.
And for many—they face life-destroying situations. We cannot take lightly what God has called us to do.
Doug, so true. As many a preacher has often said, we can be so heavenly minded we’re no earthly good. What I like about Joe’s book is how clearly he shows the urgency in telling others about Jesus so they will have an abundant life in Him. Today. Now. And what He will do with us and for us the closer we get to Him…the more time we spend with Him. Powerful book. Not long and very very hard to put down.
Thanks for commenting Doug
I have heard Joe’s story several times and it never fails to amaze me what God can do with a life given over to Him. this is a powerful book.
Noel, thanks so much for commenting. To be honest, Joe’s book has scraped against some tender scars with my own abuse as a child. Like Joe, I know the incredible healing power of Jesus. He is so good and Joe so wants people to know the joy of the risen Lord in their lives. His story is haunting, but his passion is contagious.
again…thanks for commenting, Noel. Hopefully others will share what his book has meant to them. selahV
SelahV,
Thanks for the book review. I believe Joe’s story needs the widest possible circulation…
With that, I am…
Peter
You’re welcome, Peter. Praying thousands read this, go buy that book, read it, then give it away. selahV
Good review–on an issue that few speak toward these days.
Last month, a guest speaker asked a seminary class, “How many of you would say you share your faith with others as a general style of life?” Not a single hand was raised.
In student ministry, we have got to keep the main thing the main thing–inviting teenagers to begin a relationship with King Jesus. As Joe Donahue has powerfully said, that is urgent.
Thank you Dr. Ross, I so agree. Joe’s book kinda stepped on my writing fingers. Made me realize all the more how the passion for Jesus supercedes all passions for all other things. If Jesus is not the origin for all my thoughts and conversations, I have to question my motives and intent on everything I say and do as being faithful in my discipleship and sanctification process.
Oh, that we’d see the greatest Treasure we have is the King of Kings. And all He is can be attained through a simple introduction from us.
Thanks so much for taking time to comment. Hariette