The White Horse King by Benjamin Merkle

The White Horse King: The Life of Alfred the Great recounts the life of an indefatigable king who set out to free his people from the torrent of Viking invaders whose goal was complete dominance of Britain. Facing continuous waves of Viking raiders, the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms fell like dominoes as a young Alfred traveled, learned, and matured. Stepping into his role as king Alfred continued to fight on the front lines of war with sword and shield but also lead the fights against illiteracy and ungodliness. With impressive detail Benjamin Merkle explains the methods of battle, types of weapons, contemporary philosophies, and pertinent stories of Alfred's rise to greatness.

I appreciate the way in which the author presented the growth of Alfred from the youngest son who was never expected to reign to the great leader of a fading people. Mr. Merkle makes use of great color to explain the probable emotions and thought processes of the people of that time. I would highly recommend this book to those who enjoy biographies and history.

To the FTC and whomever else it may concern, I received this book for free from Thomas Nelson as a BookSneeze Blogger. In return, I have promised to review the book but have been given the freedom by Thomas Nelson to give my honest opinions whether they be positive or negative.

Fools Assume

I wrote this, quite a while back and thought it appropriate to post here. Though I still struggle with my tendency to assume, I can see the grace of a patient Heavenly Father at work and the changes He is producing.

Duke's basketball coach, Mike Krzyzewski (aka Coach K), wrote in his book Leading with the Heart: Coach K's Successful Strategies for Basketball, Business, and Life, "One of the worst things anybody can do is assume. I think fools assume. If people have really got it together, they never assume anything. They believe, they work hard, and they prepare - but they don't assume."

Too often as Christians we sit back and assume everything will go well. We unbiblically pretend to rely on the all-sufficient grace of Christ. In all truthfulness it is not reliance but procrastination and laziness. Christ taught that to be a disciple we must deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him (Matt 16:24). Biblical Christianity puts action to words. In James 2 we are taught that faith without action is not faith.

We need to get off of the sofa and start working. Let's not assume that the work is going to get done.
Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
1Thessalonians 1:3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;


To the FTC and whomever else it may concern, I bought this book with my own money and have not been, in any way encouraged to write a review, either positive or negative.