Reb Rev's Blog

Are leaders born or made? This question dogs the student of leadership like the proverbial, “Which came first, the chicken or the egg?”

In “MacArthur: America’s General” by Mitchell Yockelson and Stephen Mansfield, the question receives no definitive answer. “Both,” seems to be the proper answer in the case of Douglas MacArthur.

This well researched work gives the background of the making of the man whom many came to know and love for his military endeavors during World War II; however, we learn there was so much more to him than the military record. His love for his family, literature, and other everyday aspects of life are often overlooked by historians who focus on the storied Army career of MacArthur.

This book not only gives much detail to the life of “America’s General,” but also there is much info about the battles and background to place the exploits in a proper context. This is accomplished without being tiresome or tedious.

I recommend this work whether one is a military history buff or not.      

I post these reviews as a member of Thomas Nelson’s Book Review Blogger Program. I receive a free copy of the book, but am not required to give a positive review.  Check it out at http://www.booksneeze.com

“… exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.” – Hebrews 3:13

As I write this, I have just completed an early morning repair job. Going into he kitchen to make my morning coffee, I heard a steady hissing noise. Soon, I was able to locate the source of the noise. The water line behind the refrigerator which leads to the ice maker was spraying water.

It took a minute to move the fridge to reveal a soaked floor. I’m not sure how long the line had been leaking, but it appears there is no major damage. Compare that to the long term damage of a slow leak which makes no noise, just a steady silent drip, drip, drip can lead to a rotten floor, sub floor and worse.

This serves as a reminder that sin can be the same way. Seldom is it a lone major blow out which leads to destruction, but the steady compilation of many sins over time. In fact, the verse above reminds us we can become hardened from sin over time, to the point of even failing to recognize sin or even care about our condition before God.