God, Guns, and Guts: Sam Childers.

I saw this guy on TV earlier this year.

Machine Gun Preacher

Angels of East Africa.

His book at Amazon: Another Man's War: The True Story of One Man's Battle to Save Children in the Sudan [Hardcover] (about $10 including shipping, on used page)

Update: I've now bought the book and have read most of it. WOW. WOW. WOW.

I recommend the book with the caveat that it is not for the squeamish. Sam has worked in hellish conditions in Africa, in the midst of civil and religious wars, rescuing orphans and child soldiers from a guerilla army that kills non-combatant parents just to kidnap their children and turn them into child soldiers.

In his work to rescue children, run an orphanage, and feed starving people, Sam works with the local armed forces. He has built such a trust with the South Sudan government, that he has a small group of armed forces assigned under his command.

Those who think that preachers on a mission from God should not use deadly force against murderers and kidnappers in defense of the innocent, should not read this book. Those who know LDS history and doctrine should understand that God expects responsible people to defend the innocent and the helpless from evil violent predations.

Sam is an evangelical-type preacher. Evangelicals are close to LDS in the area of "walking by the Spirit." As I've read several of Sam's stories, I recognize the truth in many of them, knowing that the "promptings" he describes (though he doesn't use code words, or couch his language, he just flat out says "God told me to drive faster") are in the fashion of how I know the Lord to operate.

There's something about Sam that takes my mind to the frontier days of Mormonism, and the total committment on the part of men like Brigham Young, Orrin Porter Rockwell, David Patten, Parley Pratt. Men who put their lives on the line, fought when necessary, and told it like it was.

Sam Childers is of that ilk.

Update: A movie based on Sam's book is out, Machine Gun Preacher, starring Gerard Butler.

Rotten Tomatoes critics gave the movie only a 29% rating (4.9 out of 10), but audiences rated it 72% positive (3.8 out of 5).

The critics on Yahoo Movies rated it C-.
 

Telugu at store. Fri, Aug 5, 2011.

08/05/2011. 1291. I was on my way home from volunteering at the church's local storehouse, and felt inspired to explore for new ethnic places at a certain exit off the interstate highway.

I found an Indian grocery that I hadn't been to before. I browsed around, bought some of my favorite stuff, and a couple of new things.

I chatted with the cashier, who appeared to be the owner, and I found out he spoke Telugu. I offered him a free book in Telugu from church, and he agreed to receive it. I said I might have a copy in my car. I took my purchase out to my car, and searched my boxes and found a Telugu Book of Mormon, and an old issue of the Liahona magazine in Telugu. I went back in and presented them to him, and he graciously accepted them.

I did not offer him an English Book of Mormon, but I pointed out the telephone numbers on the flyer and card (that I put in the Book of Mormon), saying he could call to get a free English copy.

I'll likely be shopping there in the future, so I'll do a follow up.