Unfinished Work

Rating:
Summary: Please, please, please, Kevin, stick to singing.
Review: I gave this work an honest chance. I really did. I scoured dozens of Christian books stores and "secular" book stores to find this elusive book, and had to end up special-ordering it. I was elated to start reading it, but, after the first few sections, realized that the author was saying THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER AGAIN IN A MILLION DIFFERENT WAYS. I expected to really learn something from Kevin Max with this book, fully realizing that he is a Christian who has struggled with adversity and come out on top. By the way, Kevin mentions this fact without end, and that's, more or less, all he says about it.

I hate to say it, but Kevin Max does not do an excellent job of concretely explaining why he's had it bad. He mentions some "fringe people" and how he's said things in public that are taken the wrong way, but there are very few insights into these issues.

Kevin Max is a talented, maybe even brilliant, singer. Kevin Max has a very good solo album. Kevin Max is a good guy. Yet, Kevin Max has probably the most indecipherable writing style I have ever read. He should definitely stick to poetry. There are less words.

Rating:
Summary: Satisfying but not Inspiring!
Review: I guess you say this book is about overcoming battles, but Kevin never actually overcomes any hence the title. I just like everyone to know that Kevin is just like everybody else and is going through the hardships of life, including temptation, alcoholism, drug abuse, adultery, and all the other no--no stuff. But as the title hints, none of the hardships are really overcome and the book becomes repetitive as problem after problem arises and go unresolved. The good point about this book is Kevin goes to God for help, which could be seen as a wonderful example of a modern-day rock star humbling themselves and turning to God for everyday solutions to life's problems. This aspect is very positive to society in today's rebellious culture against God. The bottom line is that the book is repetitive not to mention the explanation behind every lyric in Kevin's single (I don't remember the title), but if you can bear through that the book is satisfying and amusing!!!

Rating:
Summary: Very Satisfying.......But want MORE!
Review: I have been a fan of Kevin Max for a long time. I am a fellow poet, so I find him inspring as he is also a published poet, which you will find out in this book. Upfront I would recommend At the Foot of Heaven, a book of poetry by Kevin also. WIth pics by Jimmy A.

The reason I purchased this book is the idea he would be presenting each song on his solo album and what it means. I needed this cause at first hearing, some of the songs are hard to understand, so that is what first drew me to this book. Second, what i didn't know, is that he was going to give a brief bio in the book, and deal with the real issues that Christians go through and the fact that we are all humans loved by a gracious God who has a purpose for us. A unique purpose for each and every one of us. I thought this book was awesome because of it's honesty, not only about Kevin, but about the music business and the influences we can be on the lost, just by listening. I stongly recommend this book to any K. Max fan. He answers alot of questions that I had only heard rumors about, now I am settled about certain things, and leave the rest to God to guide.....I would recommend also Slip of the Ink by Kevin when it is released....His second book of poetry.

However, due to some of the honesty, this book should be read by someone who is able to make sound decisions and not justify actions by what others have done. (i.e. Kevin drinks so I can...) One of kevins main messages, paraphrased is: we all have the ability to make decisions ourselves, God has given us that right, it's up to us to use it correctly.

Thank you. And may you be blessed by this book.

Rating:
Summary: THE BEST BOOK IN THE WORLD
Review: I was first introduced to DC Talk when 6 months ago by my sister listening to it in the car. I fell in love with the cd they did called "intermission". But there was one voice on there that i could never get enough of. It was the voice of kevin Max. I am still planning on getting his cd, but i saw this book called "unfinished work" that he wrote and i thought I HAD TO HAVE IT. well i started to read it and fell in love. I finished reading it yesterday. I hightly recommend it.

Rating:
Summary: THE BEST BOOK IN THE WORLD
Review: I was first introduced to DC Talk when 6 months ago by my sister listening to it in the car. I fell in love with the cd they did called "intermission". But there was one voice on there that i could never get enough of. It was the voice of kevin Max. I am still planning on getting his cd, but i saw this book called "unfinished work" that he wrote and i thought I HAD TO HAVE IT. well i started to read it and fell in love. I finished reading it yesterday. I hightly recommend it.

Rating:
Summary: Unfinished Work is an understatement...
Review: I'm not sure how in the world Kevin Max got a publishing deal with Tyndale House (other than that they were looking for an extra piece they could sell alongside the release of his new solo album). Max seems to not be able to target his audience (though his writing style should appeal quite well to those under the age of 12) and I'm appauled at how little help Tyndale House must have given him from an editorial perspective (do they still edit these days or just package up something that will sell 10,000 copies and be done with it?) It's been a long time since I've read something this shallow.

Believe it or not, it's difficult for me to write this as I've been a fan of Max's musical work with dc Talk as well as what I had perceived to be his out-of-the-mainstream walk with God. Reading his book, I guess I now know that dc Talk really does ride on the shoulders of Toby Mc (as I suspected) and Max is simply a very talented vocalist in the group who has kind of been glossed over in the mix. I had hoped to gain more insight into what I thought was a deeper spirituality within, but I suppose there's a reason I didn't (I'm not sure it's there as much as the record companies would like us to believe).

Rating:
Summary: Surprising Insight From A Complex Man
Review: Kevin Max is perhaps the most mis-understood person in Christian music. Due to many factors he finds himself often criticized for things he says and does, both in his public and private life. When I picked up his new autobiography, UNFINISHED WORK, I half expected to find at least a little bit of bitterness or resentment buried in his story. What I found instead was a man with a deep and far-reaching passion for the Lord, full of grace instead of anger, with much to teach all of us.

UNFINISHED WORK is essentially a written companion to K-Max's new, and first, solo album, STEREOTYPE BE (a brilliant, artsy, experimental rock album that is still growing on me). He uses each of the album's 14 songs to set up a chapter in book, building off the song's theme. But while there may be multiple segments to the story the over-riding focus of the book lies in its title: Kevin, and all of us, are unfinished works of God. Such a statement implies two things. One, each of us is God's handiwork, beautifully created with specific gifts and talents that we are to use for His glory. Two, none of us are yet "finished" and since we're all in different places on that journey we're going to reflect God's presence in our lives differently. Because Kevin is able to recognize this he is, stupid mistakes and all, in many ways more mature in his walk with God than many of the other seemingly-perfect Christian images that we all tend to look up to. I see a ton of Phillip Yancey and Brennan Manning-type thinking in the way Kevin approaches his faith, and that can only be a good thing.

The wonderful thing about this book is Max's unflinching transparency. He admits that many would probably prefer he didn't share much of his story (due to the magnitude of some of his mistakes) but I, for one, am glad that he did. It only makes his testimony all the more meaningful, and the grace of God all the more powerful. Max takes us back to the days of his youth, through Liberty University, the early days of dc Talk, and up to the release of this solo album. In the process we see not only the positive and sometimes glamorous aspects of Christian "rock-stardom," we also are given a glimpse of its darker underbelly. Max also shares many of the personal struggles and mistakes that he dealt with in his pre-dc Talk days. Re-living all of these experiences could've easily turned into some sort of unfortunate E!-movie-of-the-week-type experience. But UNFINISHED WORK never comes close to that because instead of using his stories to dish or complain, the experiences work as powerful illustrations for Biblical truths that he has learned along the way.

As I read through UNFINISHED WORK and my understanding of Kevin Max as a person increased I was incredibly moved. This man has been through a lot in his still-young life. As I stated before, if he wanted to he could probably find more than a few reasons to be bitter or angry. Yet there is no bitterness, there is grace. And the man who many want to look at as immature, rebellious, and even dangerous is actually thoughtful, humble, and very much in love with God. In his own complex way, K-Max has shown himself to be one of the most relevant and important voices in the Christian music scene. Where too many other artists struggle with or hide behind their created image, K-Max's honesty and refusal to fit into a box stands out in as a wonderfully refreshing contrast. Christian music, and Christian art in general, could stand to take a few lessons from this man who, ironically, seemingly appears to be on the fringe. For if we are all, as he says, unfinished works of God, then we must we insist upon appearing as though we are actually finished and expect the musicians we hear to be the same?

There is much more that can be gleaned from this book for I have only touched on a couple of the greater aspects here. UNFINISHED WORK, then, is an important book that deserves wide attention. It's a wake up call to the church, the Christian music industry, and Christian music fans -- a call to get real with yourself, with each other, and with your God. It's also a beautiful story of a man who, while never quite fitting in, has been able to find acceptance from the One who ultimately matters the most. I was not a big K-Max fan when I started this book but now I have the utmost respect for both him and his art, and I pray that in their own unique way more artists can find the courage to express themselves as honestly as him. FIVE STARS.

Rating:
Summary: Becoming Me...
Review: Kevin Max, 1/3 of Christian rock band dcTalk, offers everyone who reads this book a remarkable insight into his life and the impact Christ has had. Unfinished Work will leave you striving to answer the only calling Christ has truly given you: to become yourself.

Rating:
Summary: AWESOME!!!!
Review: This book is the best! There are 15 chapters, an intro, and 14 others that go along with the songs. At the beginning of each chapter, KMAX describes the song and what inspired him to write it. Then he talks about how it applies to his life. It is really good, because he is honest about the mistakes he made in life. It is also a great inspirational book.

Rating:
Summary: Spoke to me....
Review: What a good book. I read it in 5 hrs. It was satisfying, and I know how KMAX feels at times. I found out alot about him I didn't know....About the 'repetitiveness' of this book, I DO think he says the same thing over and over but...at least he can say in so many different ways. But, anyway, I hope you can pick up this book and ignore any negative remarks you've heard about, and just read.....