Relentless: Unleashing a Life of Purpose, Grit and Faith by John Tesh ~ Book Review

Publisher's Description: John Tesh has achieved more in life than he ever dreamed possible. But the road to success has been anything but easy—and those challenges have become the secret to his success. Through his story, we can learn how to be relentless, how to achieve what we didn’t think was possible, and how to handle our inevitable discouragements. 

My Thoughts:   I was excited to read this book because years ago John Tesh's "Worship at Red Rocks" was a major part of my life. I would listen to and watch that DVD over and over. This is John's memoir recounting the stories of what he has faced in life and what he has had to do and the miracles he encountered to get to where he is today. He has had quite the journey, everything from being kicked out of college and his family's home to homelessness to dizzying success with his NBA basketball theme song success, providing live commentary for two Olympic games, 10 years as co-host of Entertainment Tonight, producing a nationally syndicated radio program -Intelligence for Your Life-, to taking a huge step of faith to launch his music career through PBS. All that he faced in life caused him to learn how to persevere, take the lessons learned through hard times and how to have the courage to apply his faith. And he needed those to faces his biggest battle in his '60's when he was diagnosed with stage 3 cancer. When it returned John and his wife Connie made the decision to stand on God's Word and apply that perseverance, settling in belief that what God says is true. 

 I was looking forward to reading this book when it came out and about John's journey with faith. At first I found the book more about perseverance and grit than anything to do with faith. But eventually John does get around to that too. His and his wife's journey of faith in God comes to play a major role in dealing with his cancer diagnosis and especially with the cancer's return. At times I found the way the story is laid out to be a bit confusing as to where it is in the time line as it jumps around a bit. And I found myself skimming a bit when it came to details of his career. But what I got most out John's memoir is seeing a pattern of how God moves in a person's life, how the more difficult things are training grounds for things to come and how being courageous enough to step through open doors as God presents them leads to good things. It also showed me how that hard work is not separate from God's will for your life. His deep love for his wife, family and God are apparent in his story. There are scripture references throughout though the part I wished he would have delved into with much more detail was how they came to settle within themselves to believe what God says about healing. It was so simply laid out and I'm sure it was more of a wrestling within and I would have liked to have read more on that.   At the same time though there is lots of "sound bite" takeaways and thoughts on healing that made me think.  I do like the quote from the book on the back cover:

"Mastery is hard work.  It is thousand of hours of practice.  There are no shortcuts.  You must believe that whatever challenges you face right now, on the other side of pain is greatness.  Mastery over your goals, over your circumstances, over a disease you never anticipated and that you cannot control requires not just hustle and grit and perseverance, it demands purpose and faith.  It requires a why and a how."

John Tesh

And this was another favorite quote:

"The power derived from the Holy Spirit is available to us all!  

The wiring is done.  Flipping the switch is our choice.

I hope I can help you flip yours.

For as the Spirit tugs at our hearts, enlivens our spirits,

and fills our minds with possibility,

where ever it pulls us,

we should go!"

John Tesh, Relentless pg. 210

 As always I base a memoir's rating not on the story told but how the story was told.  I gave it an 8.5/10

Reading Challenge Goal:  library holds