Out of the Field

Author: Larry A. Lee
Genre: Memoir
Release Date: August 1, 2019
Publisher: Mindstir Media

LARRY A. LEE’S JOURNEY TO CLAIM HIS SOUL began at seven years old when he chose to defend his mother against his alcoholic father’s physical abuse in Unionville, Connecticut. ­ Three years later, his mother passed away from infectious hepatitis. Before her passing, Larry promised his mother he would grow up to be a “Good Man.”

Since the age of ten, life undoubtedly threw itself against Larry time and time again. All forms of unspeakable torments and challenges made up his adolescence in Burlington, Connecticut. At eighteen years old, while he was living in a field in Oklahoma City, a single act of kindness saved him, and it forever changed his life.

And so it was, his journey of ten million miles to keep the promise he made his mother led him to a seven-year-old boy, who adopted him. Larry held love in his hand, and then he conquered his world.

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Reviewer: Thomas Brown

I recently read Out of the Field by Larry Lee. At the beginning of the book, there was a lot of raw emotion and profanity, and with my own past, it was a little hard to get through. On page 105, he seemed to have a breakthrough spiritually. As he moved forward, I desperately hoped he'd arc toward the Christ of the Bible. All the beginning would be an excellent backdrop if it led to that. In a memoir context, much can be forgiven (in my mind) if it happens to be an unvarnished truth and can be used to vector those similarly lost to knowing our King Jesus.

I really regret to say that while I think it was a good book in its way and Larry does teach us some great lessons on forgiveness and kindness to those who aren't like us and we don't understand -- as he received kindness and it broke his walls -- I'm not sure his book is consistent as a Christian book. There is only a slight development of Biblical Christianity. He is fairly critical of organized Christianity (not always a bad thing). In short, I get the impression he doesn't belong to any congregation or study Biblical doctrine. He maybe sees the flaws of a church that is a respecter of persons and doesn't realize it isn't supposed to be that way (see James 2: 1-13, for instance). Rather than working from the inside to change that flaw, he seems to be a lone wolf spiritually.  

I think he does show much self-insight, and I would be inclined to a positive review, but not without a disclaimer. I don't know that Out Of The Field is truly Christian.

Our backgrounds have some similarities and some differences. Our viewpoints are similar. As a matter of fact, I see the church as being too class-oriented, as he seems to say. Too comfortable and too slow to help the less fortunate. Historically this was not the case at all. Periods of revival and growth come when the church lives fearlessly according to Biblical principles – come what may.  

I think perhaps Larry never understood that the Bible is all about Jesus as the disciples on the road to Emmaus discovered when Christ (in disguise) opened the Scriptures for them. Our job as ministers (in whatever capacity, even 1:1) is "to call people to genuine heart change by showing them the beauty of Christ." (from Burning Hearts: Preaching to the Affections by Josh Moody and Robin Weeks)

What I see as problematic in Out Of The Field is that Larry speaks of Christ saving him on the one hand and does seem to experience a heart change but also seems to look within for the insight, wisdom, and love he shares. The Bible teaches that these qualities are a gift from God. See James chapter 1.

Union with Christ is to be our source – the same Christ of the Bible. And union with Christ is to be our desire and reward. I would love to see that as the emphasis of Out Of The Field.

I am inclined to give Out Of The Field three stars. My opinion is my own.

I received a review copy courtesy of Larry Lee and Interviews & Reviews.

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