Samson and the Pirate Monks

A friend passed on this book to me and I discovered within something not often mentioned to men in their battle with lust and other addictions. The author highlights, through his own failings, the need for men to find support, encouragement and accountability through intentional relationships with other men. This happens daily in phone calls, weekly in meetings - all of which is unpacked through the Christian support group the author has established. The short testimonies in the book speak to how these 'Samson Society' gatherings have changed their world. Sounds like the kind of discipleship we desperately need. . .

The subtitle of this book is """"Calling Men to Authentic Brotherhood"""", which could sound a little cheesy and may mislead men into thinking they are being roped into another church men's group - but nothing could be further from the truth - the Samson Society has changed thousands of lives. \\r\\n\\r\\nIt is very hard to find a men's book today in the Christian market which is confronting, honest, relevant and necessary all at the same time. SAMSON AND THE PIRATE MONKS by Nate Larkin is such a book. \\r\\n\\r\\nIt begins with a brief biography of the author. He gives a very revealing and open account of his life. He is transparent and honest about his battles with addiction and lust - the resulting guilt and self-loathing, and he openly recounts many shocking and disturbing memories that very nearly cost him his marriage and relationship with God. \\r\\n\\r\\nLarkin discusses how men tend to keep their weaknesses and secrets to themselves - needing to appear in control and respectable. He uses Samson as an example. Samson was a loner whose prayer life with God (according to the book of Judges) was almost non-existent and he had a weakness - women, which led to his capture. Not until Samson was shamed and broken did he turn back to God, and as a result he destroyed the Temple and many Philistines . . . and himself. For Larkin, this is typical of Christian men - unwilling and unsure how to deal with their carnal nature and a persistent enemy, they continue to believe they…