Huckabee Mike - Huckabee: the authorized biography

PRAISE FOR HUCKABEE

Scott Lamb brilliantly captures the remarkable journey of Mike Huckabee. When Mike worked for me as a young adult, I witnessed his commitment to God, his understanding of freedom, and his unique gift to communicate. Through the Reagan years, with the collapse of the Soviet Union, end of the Cold War, and economic recovery, Mike didnt just watchhe contributed. He went on to lead in Arkansas and now continues to lead nationally, constantly inspiring people and influencing the culture in a positive way.

JAMES ROBISON FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT, LIFE OUTREACH INTERNATIONAL FOUNDER AND PUBLISHER, THE STREAM

I have known and respected Mike and Janet Huckabee for many years. Mikes many gifts, common sense, sense of humor, and strong convictions are nationally known. His foundation is his Christian faith. His strength is his faith that people and countries can change. This book will give a greater understanding of this good man to every reader.

REX M. HORNE JR. FORMER PRESIDENT OF OUACHITA BAPTIST UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT OF ARKANSAS INDEPENDENT COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES

Scott Lambs Huckabee: The Authorized Biography provides an objective but sympathetic introduction to the colorful life of Governor Mike Huckabee. Lamb has caught the essence of the man, the essence of his character, and has revealed the gentle spirit of a great man. One may not agree with all of Lambs conclusions, but what is important is that he has provided us with an accurate portrayal of a man whose Christianity has permeated the deepest levels of his life. This book is a great read for this year.

PAIGE PATTERSON PRESIDENT OF SOUTHWESTERN BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY FORT WORTH, TX

Whenever were around the Gov our spines are stiffened and our hearts are strengthened to stand courageously at a time in our nations history when cowardice is so contagious. You will feel your own spine stiffen with resolve as you read this enjoyable biography of Huckabee, written by our friend Scott Lamb.

DAVID AND JASON BENHAM SPEAKERS AND AUTHORS OF WHATEVER THE COST

A compelling account of one mans unlikely ascent from rural Arkansas to national prominence. If you thought you knew the governor before reading this book, think again! Lamb transparently takes you into the very character of the man, from the Baptist pulpit to the governors mansion. This book provides a gripping account of Huckabees remarkable journey of faith, family, and politics that took place within one of the most fascinating eras of recent American political history.

STU EPPERSON JR. AUTHOR OF LAST WORDS OF JESUS PRESIDENT OF THE TRUTH NETWORK

2015 Walter Scott Lamb

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Published in Nashville, Tennessee, by W Publishing, an imprint of Thomas Nelson.

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Unless otherwise noted, photos are from the Huckabee family photo archives.

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com. The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.

Scripture quotations marked ESV are from the ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version). Copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the King James Version. Public domain.

Scripture quotations marked NASB are from New American Standard Bible. Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org)

Scripture quotations marked NKJV are from the New King James Version. 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

ISBN 978-0-7180-3914-1 (eBook)

ISBN 978-0-7180-3915-8 (HC)

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Library of Congress Control Number: 2015909808

15 16 17 18 19 RRD 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

This book is dedicated in memory of Jesse David Clanton Jr.the beloved father of my wife, a friend of Jesus, and an American patriot who knew the beauty of integrity and the honor of civic duty.

He died in 2013 on the birthday of Mike Huckabee, a man he never met but would have enjoyed talking to because of their shared zeal for God and country.

Mr. Clantons death also fell on the seventeenth anniversary of my wedding to his daughter. Her soul bears the indelible fingerprint of his affection and provision.

God is a poet, writing verse with our lives and into our lives. One year to the day after Mr. Clantons death, Pearl delivered our sixth child into the world. We named him Aaron Jesse in honor of a grandfather he would never meet on this side of glory.

The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD....

For I know that my Redeemer lives,
and at the last he will stand upon the earth.

JOB 1:21; 19:25 ESV

CONTENTS

Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.

JEREMIAH 29:47 ESV

For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come.

HEBREWS 13:14 ESV

Pray then like this:

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.

MATTHEW 6:910 ESV

Do you like bacon?

MIKE HUCKABEE

AFTER NEARLY RUNNING OVER A DOZEN NEW YORK CITY pedestrians who all seemed oblivious to their near-death experiences, the taxi driver pulled his Midwestern passenger, me, up to the Renaissance Hotel in Times Square. Given the location of the hotel, it now seemed strange that my driver had not immediately known how to get there and had taken a few wrong turns, all on the meter.

Note to self: when a taxi driver in New York asks, Have you ever been there? or Do you know where it is? always answer in the affirmative.

As we pulled up to the curb, Mike Huckabee approached the cab.

Scott Lamb? he asked. This was our first time meeting in person.

I said yes, and he got in.

I didnt know how much time hed have available, but I had hoped for at least an hour of interviewing. He had been on various FOX programs that afternoon, and his schedule the next day involved taping his own television show before an immediate flight out of the city.