One Taken: A Lawyer's Guide to Being Sure You Are a Christian.

• Author: Albinson, Jeffrey
• Position: BOOKS

By Brett Preston

One Taken: A Lawyer's Guide to Being Sure You Are a Christian was written by Brett Preston. The author has been a member of The Florida Bar since 1986. He majored in religion at Duke University. He is a partner and general counsel at a large Tampa law firm. He has long had a reputation for a scholarly approach to the law. His authorship of this book will only enhance that reputation.

Before you dismiss this work as a Bible-thumper's instructions for how to "be a better Christian" take a minute to read this review.

The author's intent here is not to tell anyone how to "be a better Christian"; the unwavering focus of the book is to provide any person with the tools necessary to look at their life and determine how their actions and thoughts relate to the Christian scriptures. The expected analysis then would be undertaken by the reader in much the same way an attorney would undertake to give advice to a client to determine if the client's plans or past actions comply with any applicable statutes or caselaw. Indeed, nothing in this book is "preachy" nor does Preston attempt to imply judgment on any life. The book is, as the subtitle states, a lawyer's guide.

Exhibiting a sweeping knowledge and understanding of scriptures, the book is arranged cogently in a series of questions or topics and then applicable scriptures are pulled from all across the source materials and set out...