The Hard Corps

I think one of my favourite films in recent years was ’300′… it ticks a lot of boxes… action, drama, history, courage, heroism, comradary, the sense of a group of men standing and fighting together against the odds. There is a little known  group of men in the Bible who tick these same boxes – David’s Mighty Men – David’s special forces their dramatic stories tucked away in 2 Samuel 23… 1 vs. 800, sword-fighting, standing-ground, behind enemy lines, beating up lions… it’s all there!

So I’m pleased to say that these forgotten heroes have been brought to life in a new book by Dai Hankey, published by The Good Book Company – The Hard Corps. This book is a great opportunity to learn more about these men, but crucially to let their lives be lessons for us today.

Let me tell you why you should read this book…

Multi-Use – this book is short (120 pages) and  divided into seven chapters, which makes it an easy book to pick up and read. But with the ‘Combat Training’ at the end of each chapter it becomes a great resource for wider use… in a prayer group, men’s ministry, student group. These sections help us to see the same truths in the New Testament and apply God’s word in our own lives.

Context – there’s a danger in a book like this that only the slightest reference is actually paid to the Bible text and context. Dai does a great job of weaving in the wider Bible story, you come away feeling like you know not just more about DMM, but more too about David, the history of God’s people, and how God has been working out salvation for his people through history.

My Language – it’s written for me, a young man growing up in the UK. It’s not full of Americanisms neither is it addressed to a man growing up in a previous generation. Which means the illustrations are relevant, the language is conversational, making it very readable, and knowing it’s written for me I think makes me take it to heart more!

Honest – Dai has a gift of being blunt, to the point, brutally honest, and yet still coming across as though he cares for you and is seeking your best. He is honest, and graciously applies God’s word to areas that as men we’d perhaps shy away from. Dai’s honesty I think helps us to be real with ourselves and one another.

For these reasons I commend this book as one of the best I have read for Christian men. Why not get it and read it. Perhaps you could commit to reading it together with a small group? Make the most of this great resource:

Buy it here – £7.99

…and as a little bonus here’s the promo video… great work GBC!