Samuel L. Jackson Books

The Story Behind the Book

It was the first Monday in August 1985. Mondays can either be real good or real bad for pastors depending on the day before Monday-Sunday! Sunday is the day the self-worth and even the calling of the pastor are tested to its limits. An experienced pastor has counseled wisely, "Never resign on a Monday!" On this particular Monday, I walked up to a few pastor friends who were gathered in the parking lot of the Conference center. The annual denominational conference was about to begin. The typical Monday morning pastor's conversation was in full bloom. "So, how many did you have in church yesterday?" was the operating question. Now, we all know that that question is usually asked by pastors who had a "good" Sunday, and this is the way they can let others know how well they did. Actually, it is a very self-serving question. It is not about the questioned; it is about the questioner! The respondent, who usually had a "bad" Sunday responds by shuffling his feet, clearing his throat, and saying something like, "We've had a lot of sickness in our area and seems like so many people were out on vacation. . ." This one-upmanship in the parking lot that Monday morning got the best of me. So, as a junior member of the clergy, I timidly asked, "Do any of you have low Sundays? Do you ever get discouraged? Do you ever feel like giving up? Do you ever wonder if it's worth it?" As soon as the words left my mouth, I knew I had said the wrong thing! Why deal with reality when denial serves us so well? The book in your hands was born on that Monday morning in that parking lot. The accounts in the book finally answer the questions that were asked in the parking lot and remind us that failure is the womb of success. As you read this book, you will laugh and you will weep. You will shake your head in agreement as well as amazement. Failure is not a popular subject. Go to your nearest bookstore and look for the shelf marked FAILURE; that shelf does not exist! Everyone wants to talk about success (it sells), but we all know we fail at more things than we succeed at. So let's talk about it! This book will get you started.

Samuel R. Chand Coordinator and collaborator of this book

I met Samuel Chand after he spoke at a conference in Los Angeles, and bought his book right off the table. My wife and I had been struggling to plant a church in South Central Los Angeles, and at the time were stinging from several painful setbacks... could we have done anything to avert those disasters? 20-20 hindsight always accuses "Yes!". Chand's book helped us deal with our failure, pick up the pieces (those available to pick up at least) and continue on. Best thing about this book: it is not mere cheerleading or positive-thinking, but honest, bold approach to understanding and redeeming failure so that "all things [really do] work for the good of those who are called according to His purpose". Don't read it when things are going well. Read it when you are angry, despairing, or ready to give up.

Willem Dafoe at the time of this release was not a big star. The location helped make the movie good. Set in and around White Sands New Mexico. Directed by Roger Donaldson whose other credits included Dante's Peak,The Getaway(1994 version),and No Way Out. This is a good action and suspense movie. Samuel L. Jackson gives an excellent performence as a misguided FBI agent. This is a good addition to your DVD collection.

I bought this movie because I really like William DaFoe and Sam Jackson and they both deliver in this movie. Micky Rourke plays a slick role with a surprising twist. Take all three of these guys and independently they produce a great movie. But, put DaFoe, Jackson and Rourke together, and you have a killer movie!

We have a lawman who for no explained reason starts to investigate the cause of death of a man with 500,000 on him and it all goes down hill from there. There is no rhyme or reason to the story. I gave it two stars because the landscape is great.

White Sands is Micky Rourke and Willem Defoe in classic style. I think this was the first movie I saw with both of them and I've been a fan ever since. The suspense keeps your attention from the beginning of the movie. Willem Defoe is a small town Sherriff's deputy in Colorado who finds a dead body with a briefcase filled with money. The adventure only starts there as he finds himself in New Mexico meeting an arm's dealer (Micky Rourke) and eventually winding up in White Sands, NM. Samual L Jackson is in this flick as well and as I said, all afore mentioned are in classic form. A great movie for mystery/adventure seeker.

I bought White Sands in the cheapy bin at my local DVD retailer. I never heard of the film but I decided to buy it because I like both Willem Dafoe and Mickey Rourke. Upon viewing the film, I was only glad I payed $5.50 for it. Though it is far from bad, it's not all that great either. William Dafoe is a small Texas town sherriff that goes undercover when he finds a man dead with a half a million dollars in a briefcase. Not a bad story but all I could think is "what is this guy doing!" throughout this film as he goes deep undercover. He must have been bored with his small town life. There's plenty of twists and turns in the plot throughout the film but after awile one won't care. The film itself is also far from exciting. Mickey Rourke gives a fine performance but Willem Dafoe is a little below par. I'm sorry but he failed to convince me of his role in this film. After viewing theis film, I could see why it has been forgotten over the years because it is just not that memorable. White Sands ends up being a good way to waste an afternoon and is worth a buy if you can find it cheap. You also get to see Samuel L. Jackon early in his carrier as he is credited as Sam Jackson.

Willem Dafoe at the time of this release was not a big star. The location helped make the movie good. Set in and around White Sands New Mexico. Directed by Roger Donaldson whose other credits included Dante's Peak,The Getaway(1994 version),and No Way Out. This is a good action and suspense movie. Samuel L. Jackson gives an excellent performence as a misguided FBI agent. This is a good addition to your DVD collection.

I bought this movie because I really like William DaFoe and Sam Jackson and they both deliver in this movie. Micky Rourke plays a slick role with a surprising twist. Take all three of these guys and independently they produce a great movie. But, put DaFoe, Jackson and Rourke together, and you have a killer movie!

We have a lawman who for no explained reason starts to investigate the cause of death of a man with 500,000 on him and it all goes down hill from there. There is no rhyme or reason to the story. I gave it two stars because the landscape is great.

White Sands is Micky Rourke and Willem Defoe in classic style. I think this was the first movie I saw with both of them and I've been a fan ever since. The suspense keeps your attention from the beginning of the movie. Willem Defoe is a small town Sherriff's deputy in Colorado who finds a dead body with a briefcase filled with money. The adventure only starts there as he finds himself in New Mexico meeting an arm's dealer (Micky Rourke) and eventually winding up in White Sands, NM. Samual L Jackson is in this flick as well and as I said, all afore mentioned are in classic form. A great movie for mystery/adventure seeker.

I bought White Sands in the cheapy bin at my local DVD retailer. I never heard of the film but I decided to buy it because I like both Willem Dafoe and Mickey Rourke. Upon viewing the film, I was only glad I payed $5.50 for it. Though it is far from bad, it's not all that great either. William Dafoe is a small Texas town sherriff that goes undercover when he finds a man dead with a half a million dollars in a briefcase. Not a bad story but all I could think is "what is this guy doing!" throughout this film as he goes deep undercover. He must have been bored with his small town life. There's plenty of twists and turns in the plot throughout the film but after awile one won't care. The film itself is also far from exciting. Mickey Rourke gives a fine performance but Willem Dafoe is a little below par. I'm sorry but he failed to convince me of his role in this film. After viewing theis film, I could see why it has been forgotten over the years because it is just not that memorable. White Sands ends up being a good way to waste an afternoon and is worth a buy if you can find it cheap. You also get to see Samuel L. Jackon early in his carrier as he is credited as Sam Jackson.

Tons of movies are being made today based on television shows from the recent past. Well, at least it's recent to me. CHARLIES ANGELS, MCHALES NAVY, SGT. BILKO and more have made the transfer over the past few years. And there are more on the way. But for now, let's look at S.W.A.T.

The old show had a hardened veteran in Steve Forest as Hondo, leading an elite team of police officers into harms way, solving situations that regular officers couldn't handle on their own. The group became known and the fans began to love each of their favorite S.W.A.T. team member.

This movie does the same thing, with one exception. Gone are the days when police officers were respected and well liked. They have been replaced with images of police beating men brutally and without mercy. They have been made out to be the bad guys more than the bad guys by the press. And with that in mind, we begin to understand the theme here, the underlying current laid out by the Capt. Fuller (Larry Poindexter). They need a team that is special, that can get the job done, but also a team that can garner the respect and admiration of the whole city.

The main story revolves around an S.W.A.T. member, or ex member, named Jim Street (Colin Farrell). When his partner goes down for disobeying orders and getting a hostage shot, Street stays on the force, being subjected to the lowest duty possible for a man of action, taking care of the cage. There, he cleans boots, checks out guns and waits for the day he'll get a chance to prove himself once more. Had he turned on his partner, he would have walked and stayed with the team. But now....this.

Six months pass and a new team is being assembled. Brought in to shake things up and train the team is Sgt. Dan "Hondo" Harrelson (Samuel L. Jackson). A veteran of the original teams in their beginning, Hondo is brought back to whip into shape a new team, the team that they are looking for to not only get the job done, but to look good doing it.

Hondo recruits his own team, putting his reputation and job on the line for them, and sets out to train his team. Included are L.L.Cool Jay, Josh Charles, Michelle Rodriquez, Brain Van Holt and Farrell. Hondo does get the team up and running and it doesn't take long for them to see action, as does the audience.

A converging storyline follows a foreign mobster who has been arrested for a broken tail light. Once recognized, he is about to be escorted to prison. Along his walk into the jail, with the assistance of the ever anxious press, he calls out that he will give $100 million to anyone who breaks him free. With most of the city contemplating the idea and with gang bangers looking for easy money, the attacks begin.

Does he get rescued? Does he go to prison? Does the S.W.A.T. team gel? Watch and see in this action packed film.

I never saw this movie in theaters, but after watching it on TV i had to buy it, it has a lot of fun scenes and is generally good.

I would have rated this as 5 stars if it was released in the unrated version which what my DVD is. Transfer was very good.

This a better film than what most people will lead you to believe although not spectacular it is very entertaining in its own right. Has some subpar acting and a weak dialouge, but if you like action and colin farell then you should see it.

S.W.A.T. DVD

Samuel L. Jackson stars as the leader of a S.W.A.T team with Colin Farrell as his assistant in a high action, thrill a minute movie with more exotic guns and other weapons than you can count. Supposedly a very realistic movie, I wouldn't know, I`ve never been a member of a a S.W.A.T team and wouldn't want to be either.

The Team escorts an international criminal to prison who has publicly offered a very large reward ($100 million) to anyone who can get him free. Highly recommended to fans of Samuel L. Jackson and S.W.A.T teams.

Gunner March, 2008