The Rescuer

FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book. These are my honest thoughts.

I would have connected much better with this “Christian” nonfiction book had it not used a plethora of curse words and a few crude gestures. These things are always disheartening to me, especially considering Ephesians 4:29 tells us that “no foul language is to come from [our mouths],” and Ephesians 5:4 says that “coarse and foolish talking or crude joking are not suitable.”

What I really enjoyed about this book was the journey toward redemption. That journey is completely relatable, and it was well expressed throughout the book. There was a clear distinction between the darkness of sin and the light of salvation.

Here are a few quotes that landed on my highlights list:

“Few made it through. Those of us who did weren't better than anyone else, but maybe we knew how to suffer more.”

“A firehouse at shift-change might not be the place to find gratitude, but at least it was full of a certain kind of family.”

“Radios are cute, but old-school eye contact and screaming was [sic] our modus operandi.”

“Do yourself a favor, Jason, and try to make good stories your priority.”
Note: That one felt profound to me as I read it.

“It was like all the words had been vacuumed out of my head.”
Note: That one was particularly expressive to me.

Triggers: suicide, depression (as a theme)

Content: profanity, expletives (excessive), sexual terms, graphic medical details, tobacco, crude gestures, alcohol, bars, drugs, suicide