William O. Levi Reviews

Added January 19, 2006

The Bible or the Axe

Author: William O. Levi
Publisher: Moody Publishers
Available At: Bookstores Everywhere
Publishing Date: October 2005
Genre: Nonfiction: Biography/Autobiography/Inspirational/Christian
Format: Trade Paperback
Price: $13.99
ISBN: 0-8024-1138-X
Reviewer: Phillip Tomasso III

It is amazing how much I take my freedom for granted. If I want to bring my Bible to work and read it during my breaks and lunches, I can (and do). If I want to go to church on Sundays, I can (and do). Some people staring at me, or whispering about me, is about the extent of religious persecution that I am faced with, and even that is rare. I do not have to worry about being arrested, imprisoned and beaten for my Faith. And yet, how many times a day to I fear sharing the Good News with strangers? How many times a day to I shy away from talking about my Faith with co-workers, friends, with family? Too many times, in my opinion. Too many times. And why? Because I am afraid. But I am not afraid that if I share my Faith, my Love for Jesus, that I will be persecuted, arrested, imprisoned, or beaten. I am afraid because the people I share such details with might, what, laugh at me? Not want to talk to me? Might think I'm a Jesus Freak, or a Bible Thumping Fanatic? It's true though. I am a Jesus Freak. So my fears are silly, really. But too often it is those silly fears that are enough to disable my passion for sharing Christ with other people. This is sad, especially after reading a book like William O. Levi's The Bible or the Axe.

This true story traces the life of the author, growing up as a Messianic believer from an African Hebrew tribal group, living in the Uganda. The focused story recounts his growing up in a very loving family. His Godly parents knew the importance of instilling Faith, Love and Hope in Jesus. They prayed together as a family, and despite the dangers that surrounded them, grew together in a nurturing home.

In particular I enjoyed meeting and learning about William's father. As a parent, I love to learn about other fathers to see what I do right, and to learn how to correct all that I do wrong. William and his adoptive brother were fortunate that their father was a knowledgeable and able man. He showed didn't just tell them to do things around their farm. He first taught them, having the boys work with him side-by-side to ensure that they learned to work the correct way before turning them loose to repeat the life lessons on their own.

Upon being baptized, William was asked a difficult question. To you or I, it might seem simple question to answer. In the face of adversity, would he choose to an axe to defend himself-or the Bible. Because the jihad was a real threat, torturing and murdering people who went against their beliefs without giving it a second thought, choosing an axe made serious sense. William, however, chose to use the Bible. He publicly declared during his baptism that he would call on God for answers to any and all questions; that he would seek God for direction on any and all problems he faced.

What's funny is a lot of people expect that once you become a Christian, your life becomes a piece of cake. This mindset couldn't be any further from the truth. In fact the Bible says the exact opposite. In numerous verses, in multiple books the Bible actually promises that once you become a Christian, your life will become more difficult, and more challenging. It is a promise.

True to the promise, William's life becomes nothing short of a roller-coaster ride that, for all intent and purposes, lasted for decades and may still be a part of his life today. Seeking an education, and then a college education, William wants to become an engineer so that he can then give back to the village that helped send him to school. He wants to make things better and more modern for his tribe and family. As tension in the Sudan increases, a revolt is underway. The revolutionaries that oppose the jihad are being captured and tortured. If he wants to continue his studies, William must escape the Sudan. Escaping might mean that he will never see his family again.

Filled with tension, lessons, and historical and near-present facts, The Bible or the Axe, is a fast-paced, and captivating real-life drama. It would make for an amazing silver-screen film. Author William O. Levi is also the founder of Operation Nehemiah Missions International, an organization dedicated to rebuilding the minds, and spirits of the Sudanese people who have been brutalized by war and persecution.

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