Christian Book Notes

Introduction

Colonel Jim Coy is a medical consultant for the U.S. Army Special Operations Command. He served two years as the national president of the Special Operations Medical Association and as the national surgeon of the Reserve Officers Association. He lectures both nationally and internationally on combat trauma medicine and his ground-breaking research on lightweight x-ray equipment.

Dr. Coy has served with numerous Special Forces and Special Operations units. He served with the 3rd Group Army Special Forces (AIRBORNE) in the 1991 Gulf War. He has received a myriad of military honors, awards, and badges including the Legion of Merit, the Combat Medical Badge, and the prestigious “A” designation—the highest recognition of the Army Medical Department.

He battled with cancer from 1978-1989 with four major surgeries during which portions of his lower throat and jawbone were removed. Today he is considered cured.

Jim and his wife Vicki have three children: Tim, Tricia, and Joshua. His family is extremely important to him. He has a vision to see men become spiritual leaders and stand strong for their families. Colonel Coy is very active in Promise Keepers and Prime Time (an interdenominational group for men) and is the Men’s Ministry director at his home church.

Today, Jim desires to develop a ministry to military and former military men and frequently speaks to community, church, and military groups across the United States.

His website is worth checking out, especially if you are searching for scholarship money.  I will let you search his site for that information!

Reviews

I am reviewing all three books in the series at one time because they are all similar in subject matter.

Volume 1

Coy, Jimmie Dean.  Valor: A Gathering of Eagles.  Mobile: Evergreen Press, 3rd ed. 2005.  305 pp.  $14.99.  Purchase at Amazon.

This first book in the Gathering of Eagles series is dedicated solely to 117 men (and women) who have won the Congressional Medal of Honor.  Offered throughout the book is advice on leadership, success and, in my opinion the most important characteristic trait, courage.  Each person featured offers some insight on one of the aforementioned characteristic traits in less than a page.  The facing page gives the rank and organization the person was affiliated with along with the place and date for which the event that he (or she) earned the Medal of Honor.  Of most significance, is the actual wording of the citation awarded to each person.

Volume 2

Coy, Jimmie Dean.  A Gathering of Eagles. Mobile: Evergreen Press, 2nd ed. 2004.  288 pp.  $14.95.  Purchase at Amazon.

This volume builds and expands on the first.  Col. Coy has divided this book into five parts.  The first part consists of more Medal of Honor winners while the second part looks at military leaders.  Part three offers some unique insight from Ex-POWs with part four gives us advice from political leaders.  The fifth part gives a completely different perspective–that of religious leaders.

Unfortunately, this volume does not offer all of the information that the first volume offered for each individual.  Also, some of the pictures are a bit dated for some of the leaders who are still well-known today.

Volume 3

Coy, Jimmie Dean.  Prisoners of Hope.  Mobile: Evergreen Press, 2005.  306 pp.  $14.99.

Volume three was sort of introduced by volume two’s section on Ex-POWs.  Prisoners of Hope is dedicated to 119 Ex-POWs discussing their faith, views of leadership, and their courage.  These men have experienced things that most of us will never dream about experiencing, let alone actually experiencing.

Each person offers a “nutshell” quote followed by further explanation on how the application of their advice/insight works in the real world.  For those offered awards, we are offered the wording from the citation.

Recommendation

If you are, or have served in the military, you will love these books.  Even if you have not served, these books will inspire you.  It is important to note that these books are not Christian in nature, but they do offer much in the way of sound advice from experienced men of the world.  Another by-product of a collection of quotes is exactly that–you now have a collection of 600+ different statements or quotes on leadership, success, courage, and faith.  This is especially nice for the teacher or preacher or writer who is always looking for a good quote.  You can purchase these books at Amazon at very inexpensive prices.

Coy, Col. Jimmie Dean. Matthew A to Z +2. Mobile: Evergreen Press, 2008. 56 pp. $10.99. Purchase at Amazon.

Coy, Col. Jimmie Dean and Patricia Coy Ragsdell.  The ABC’s of Matthew for Kids. Mobile: Evergreen Press, 2009.  40 pp.  $14.99.  Purchase at Amazon.

Introduction

Col. Coy may be better known for his ministry and book series of the same name–A Gathering of Eagles.  These two books offer a simple and fun way to actually learn the theme of each chapter of the gospel of Matthew using the alphabet.

Review

The creativity in using the alphabet to alliterate the entire gospel of Matthew is impressive.  The +2 is because there are 28 chapters and only 26 letters in the alphabet.  For each letter, the author uses as many words beginning with that particular letter.  For example, the letter A is for ancestry.  An example sentence from that chapter would be, “ANCESTRY from ABRAHAM to Jesus. The ANGEL APPEARED saying, “Don’t be AFRAID AND then ANNOUNCED His ARRIVAL saying, “His name will be Immanuel which means, God with us” (Mt. 1:23). For more examples and the entire alphabet, you can check out the page on his website dedicated to these books.  The children’s book uses the same alliteration technique but uses more pictures than words to describe the chapter.

Recommendation

These two books are great resources for families.  They are fun to “study” during family devotions and worship.  They definitely are an aid in “memorizing” the Gospel of Matthew.  I  recommend both of these books to families and churches.  If you are a children’s minister, the children’s edition gives you 28 weeks worth of lessons!  If you are a family minister, you will find that both parents and children will enjoy learning about the Gospel of Matthew with these books.