Shawn Michaels

I felt this audiobook was okay. I learned some interesting things, like DX came into existence because Vince knew HHH didn't drink and thought that would help Shawn. Also I didn't realize that HBK was old enough to have been in World Class Wrestling. I hadn't realized this was a Christian book when I picked it up. I should have but the Zondervan label was covered by the library barcode. That's okay I'm a Christian and I appreciate it. Near the beginning I almost through it out as it seemed like Evangelical anti-Catholic trash. But I such with it telling myself that it wasn't supposed to be anti-Catholic and I should take it as a perspective on how to behave as a Catholic to help avoid others getting such negative opinions. Later, however, when I looked up Cornerstone Church that he attends online, I learned his Pastor very much is an anti-Catholic Evangelical.

I would have preferred if it was read by the author. That's airways better and the guy here was so poor he misprouncrd several famous names, like John Cena, and Ted DiBiasse. Lastly, they were inconsistent as always referring to it as WWE as they do on TV and referring to it as the WWF when referring to the earlier years, like most fans do.… (altro)

I am a closet wrestling fan - not the modern day stuff, but the old-school, Saturday afternoon TBS stuff. I grew up on Southeast Championship Wrestling cheering for the likes of Bullet Bob Armstrong and Austin Idol. Those were the days.

I was drawn in recently to the clearance rack at a local bookstore by Wrestling for My Life, an autobiography by The Heart Break Kid, Shawn Michaels. As a Christian, I was intrigued by the turnaround from a rock and roll lifestyle to a devout Christian life that Shawn Michaels professes. But, I must admit, I had some misgivings coming into the book. First, I was never really a Shawn Michaels fan. I thought that he and Marty Jennety (sp?) ripped off the Rock and Roll Express, one of my favorite tag teams. Later on, Michaels became a central figure in the DeGeneration X angle on WWF. That angle was vulgar, profane, and stomach-turning. Second, I'm not a great fan of the church where Michaels attends. I'm thankful that he found Christ - and I have no reason to doubt his testimony - but I wish he attended a church that was more faithful to the Gospel. Furthermore, I was disappointed to find out that this book focused very little on Michael's wrestling career. He had previously written a book to cover that. This book mainly focuses on the way his faith had changed his life.

Having said all of that, I was pleasantly surprised by the Wrestling for My Life. I was cohesively written and organized around some important and salient principles for Believers. Michaels emphasizes things like accountability, spiritual disciplines, mentoring, serving, and forgiveness. I only wish he had said more. About a lot of things...

The one thing Wrestling with My Life needs is clarity. There is lack of clarity about the nature of repentance. There is a lack of clarity about many of the things which Michaels addresses. In fairness, he isn't writing for a theological audience. But that is what makes his lack of clarity even more concerning. People who need to truly understand grace, forgiveness, faith, and repentance are reading this book. I am thankful that Michaels didn't pull any of his punches. He refuses to back down from his faith. I only wish he had swung harder, going deeper with clearer definitions for the unchurched. Still, at the end of it all, I am thankful that God saved Michaels and the life of faith he now leads. To God be the glory!… (altro)