No comments about Rebekah Ann Naylor, M.D.: Missionary Surgeon in Changing Times.

5 comments about Feathers from My Nest: A Mother's Reflections.

1. This wonderful little book about Beth and her husband going thru empty-nest made me feel a wide range of emotions. She is a brilliant writer and always amazes me how she can be a faithfull follower of Jesus but still have so much FUN!! What a refreshing christian woman..Buy the book.. you won't be disapointed.. Beth allows you a 'peek' into her private life. If you have taken a bible study that she wrote you will get snapshots of her life.. this book fills in the holes a bit..Great reading!



2. I read Beth Moore's book after experiencing two miscarriages and trying to get pregnant for the third time. Her Godly approach to motherhood made me realize that God gives us children as gifts and blessings - regardless if it is for a few months in utero or for decades on earth! She gives a personalized insight on how to try to raise children to love Christ - in a world that often makes that difficult! I would highly recommend this book to any woman - moms, daughters, moms-to-be, or as I was when I read it, a mom wanna-be!



3. Very touching...touches all emotions. I bought three more to share with other family/friends who are mothers. Great choice as a gift for moms whose children are leaving for college.



4. I'm a parent of 2 little ones, and I've been reading one of her essays each morning. They're sweet and real and funny (just like Beth Moore always is) - and they're a real encouragement to me to see the long view of godly parenting, rather than getting stuck in the preschool weeds. I also gave it as a gift to my mother-in-law whose chicks are long gone from the nest, and she loved it too.



5. I LOVE this book! I encourage you to pass this along to mothers, daughters, sisters, friends...everyone will love it and be enriched greatly just by reading this sweet, funny, thought-provoking book by the incomparable Beth Moore!

5 comments about Just As I Am: The Autobiography of Billy Graham.

1. This is an excellent autobiography about the world's most famous evangelist Billy Graham. It will take you through his life and through his ministry. Great book about a great evangelist!!!



2. This book was a "Masterpiece" of a book and I enjoyed every bit of it. I could clearly see that God uses the foolish things of the world to shame the wise for his glory. It will inspire and strenghten your faith in Christ Jesus our Lord.



3. Let me first preface this by saying that I've never actually heard a Billy Graham message but was curious to learn about him given his wide influence both in the religious and political realm. It's obvious why he is so popular he has a great sense of humor and a way of telling storys that while amazingly simple does not insult the intellegience of the listner. Also the fact that his life was good material to work with didn't hurt at all. He's a fascinating character while on one hand he is a throw back to the old school evangelists like Billy Sunday who preached with exuberant energy and strength against the evils of such things as alcohol and secularism but on the other hand he hurdled christianity into the future in the way he worked with several different church denominations and revolutionized evangelism through mass media a feat that has never been equaled sense. Perhaps the most interesting thing about Billy Graham is how such an immedeatly plain spoken individual made such headway with the secular media and goverment heirarchy this is something Billy Graham himself admits belwilderment to on the back cover of the book. His popularity would explain somewhat his influence in government it's clear that politicians thought and rightfully so that his views represented those of a lot of Americans. However there is never really any explanation as to why or how for example he became the first minister to speak at the London School of Business he himself admitted that he wasn't the most intellectual of his peers. Perhaps it is as Billy Graham claims the power of the gospel.
   A couple of the things I admired were Billy Grahams honesty when it came to dealing with such things as money and women. I also personally liked the fact that he didn't try to pretend he was more pompous than he really was he's open about experiences that some ministers would no doubt be embarassed by such as going to movies with a lot of nudity at young age, being hit on by a girl in high school, and acting like a bumbling fool around presidents Truman and Eisenhower. As some people on here have alluded to already it does sort of seem like he was an absintee father. I was a bit disturbed by this as a Christian I think God calls married men to be husbands and fathers first and foremost. I have to admit though I think a lesser man wouldn't have disclosed such details as his young daughter not being able to recognize her mother.



4. i'm very excited with this purchase. I received the product in very well condition and in good time.



5. Unless Billy did a fantastic job in hiding all of the difficult and trying times of his life (as I suspect in the case of his troubled relationship with his son Franklin), WHAT A LIFE this man had!!! Who would not want to have what he had: travels; meetings with the rich, the famous, the wise; success; financial stability; a loving wife; great kids; and most of all, the honor and privilege to lead millions to Christ. Can you imagine the party they'll throw in heaven when he gets there? However, the book was very mediocre in my view. Very seldom the author opened his heart and expressed his true feelings...Lots of anecdotes, details, insignificant (to the reader) stuff; it was not a total waste of time, because you always get the feeling that this man loves his Lord and truly wants to serve Him. Not much to say against that...I just wish he could have made deeper remarks about people and events in general.

4 comments about Poverty of Spirit.

1. An intelligent,conscise book that get's straight to the point about the message and proper insight into the teachings of Jesus without useless filler. This is a book to be read and studied in its simplistic, clear cut instructions on how to obtain purpose and fulfillment in this life. I would compare this book with Emmet Foxs' "Lord's Prayer" Short but full of wisdom!



2. Metz singles out poverty as the key to salvation and union with God because poverty as he sees it is the summit and fulfillment of our natures and our participation in creation. Poverty of spirit recognizes the essential unfulfillment of the present human state, the poverty of lacking union with God. God is humanity's highest and only good; poverty of spirit recognizes the forlorn state of humanity. All pride and accomplishment which does not tend towards spiritual poverty is mere vanity and self-reliance. It is, as Metz points out, a devastating realization to become poor in spirit if one puts great stock in pride and oneself; the point of poverty of spirit is God and our need for Him, not some self-glorification or accomplishment. This book preaches an understanding of how humanity substantially relates to God: we are poor and broken and have an infinite longing for nothing but Him. Metz does an outstanding job of relaying these very difficult concepts in a clear and concise fashion.



3. This is the first of the Beatitudes from the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:3). The subsequent ones are merely variations on this first one. Accomplishing this one will accomplish them all.

   To be poor in spirit is to shed oneself of all security, identity, importance, power, etc., anything that separates us from our humanity, and from God himself. The last days of Christ reveal the true meaning of what it is to be a human being, completely defenseless, stripped even of one's clothing, and abandoned by one's supporters. He resisted all temptation to call upon his divine powers throughout, choosing instead to embrace and experience in full the humann experience. To complete this experience is the cornerstone of Christ's Victory, and the cornerstone of the path of salvation for his followers.

   When Christ utters the words "Eloi, Eloi, why have you forsaken me?" the impoverishment is complete, his victory is complete, his life is complete, and the new covenant is established.

   This is a book to read in a single evening. It is only 60 very small pages. But it is a book that will take a lifetime to really understand. It is a map to the kingdom of heaven.




4. Didn't understand this the first time through because I read it too quickly. Reading it now slowly (and aloud) and I am seeing what the author is getting at.
   
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   Update 2006-10-23 - Heh, almost finished reading this, and to be honest I don't get it. It's fairly abstract - I'd find it helpful if there were concrete examples of applying these principles to the daily life of a typical layperson.

1 comments about Comparative Religion For Dummies (For Dummies (Religion & Spirituality)).

1. Since I know little about religious history, I was excited to see a book like this. I was not disappointed. The material was superb. The authors write very clearly and help even someone like me learn so much. I have recommended this book to friends and wish it could be taught in schools.

5 comments about Tracks of a Fellow Struggler: Living and Growing through Grief.

1. I lost my husband in November 2005,even as I write this it doesn't seem
   possible. I was given all the books on being a widow and all the platitudes about being in a better place,he's whole, he's happy....I didn't care, he wasn't here. Then I read this little book...John Claypool didn't need 200 pages to tell me what I needed to know...it was alright to
   question God, I didn't need to accept that this was "Gods Will"...I could question, I could yell at God but ultimately everything is a gift...Using Job as his example he led me from despair to a measure of peace...I still hurt, a lot, but I try to remember that my husband was a gift, and I'm better for having him in my life. Mr Claypool has a gift for saying a lot in a little space...he lost his daughter and speaks from experience...he showed up in my life at the right time....this book is for the care of your soul.....Mr Claypool is a gifted,interesting writer and I look forward to reading more....



2. The book was sent to a friend. I am not able to review it since I will not be receiving it.
   Bryan Boatwright



3. Dr. Claypool's book has rescued more people from the depths of grief than any I can recommend. He lost his daughter and this book is four sermons he gave during her illness and then after her death from leukemia. Dr. Claypool himself died in 2005, so his teachings become that much more important to share. He leads the reader to understand that we are sad when we lose someone, but we are enriched by ever having known the person. His words truly are the light at the end of the tunnel -- for anyone who is lost in darkness. For yourself or for someone you care about -- read this book.



4. Mr Claypool used his own experiences of coming through the darkest night into the sunshine of a new day. Very easy to read and understand. I recommend it to anyone wanting to work through grief in a positive way.



5. We recently experienced the crushing feelings of extreme grief in the death of our 22year old son. Someone lent me this book because they had found solace and comfort in reading this book. They had also dealt with the death of a child. I found a lot of answers to help me deal with the grief and hopefully heal someday. The last two chapters helped me the most. They helped me find one of the elements that has been missing from my life in the past few months and that is "hope".

5 comments about The Adversary: The Christian Versus Demon Activity.

1. It's hard to believe that a book by a fundamentalist Christian about the Devil could be this dull. Usually the field of Satan-sniffing produces works filled with amusement, even hilarity, and massive evidence of human credulity. This book has only a vast vast number of Bible verses and a few anecdotes so un-lurid that they wouldn't even interest Pastor Fletcher Brothers on a dull day. It does, however, provide a good groundwork for understanding the philosophical basis of the fundy attitude towards demons - if you happen to care.



2. If there was one quick book you wanted to read on the subject of Spiritual Warfare, this would be it. It is to the point on most issues and easy to read. There are several great examples of types of warfare prayers and lists of what to look for as far as spiritual oppression. All in all a must for anyone who feels led to this ministry.



3. This book is not about sensationalism and "demon" stories. In fact, the author strongly warns against such harmful interest in the occult. The Adversary is a totally Biblically-based study on "the world, the flesh and the devil" as revealed in Scripture. It focuses on the balance Christians should have between having an awareness of Satan and his schemes, while not giving him any glory by focusing more on him and his power than on his total defeat on the Cross. This is an excellent book regarding the authority of the believer. Christians need to know what the Bible says regarding this Enemy, so that we will not give place to him in any way. Praise the Lord for the victory He has already won!



4. This title is a fairly easy read, but was rather disappointing in its treatment of spiritual warfare. While the author avoids the excesses of Pentecostalism and emotionalism that are so often associated with spiritual warfare, he places too much emphasis on the adversary and not enough emphasis on the Conqueror of the adversary. The book is also rather dated.

   "Disciplined Warriors" by Chuck Lawless is a much better, much more helpful volume on this subject. In short, Bubeck is good, Lawless is better.




5. I first read this book in mid-1978 as a brand new Christian. As I read the doctrinal prayers in it, the Lord taught me to pray the Word of God, taught me my position in Christ, and brought me into a depth of understanding of my Christian faith that most Christians don't reach for 20 years. Because of this book and it's author, Dr. Mark Bubeck, I became committed to praying the Scriptures. Seventeen years later I wrote, PRAYING IN THE WORD OF GOD: Advancing Christ's Kingdom, a Scripture based prayer guide that enables every Christian to pray for all the will of God. I can't recommend THE ADVERSARY highly enough! If you do nothing else but read Dr. Bubeck's prayers it will change your life!

4 comments about Finding Peace in Life's Storms.

1. I would recommend this book to anyone who is searching for Christ, as a matter of fact I am buying one for my friend in the next couple of days.



2. Living in San Francisco you get lots of ideas about what living the Christian life is all about. Often times getting desensitized towards sin. This book brings me back to the unexpressable happiness and security that I look for everyday of my life. Spurgeon definetly had a direct line to the Almighty. His wisdom will help anyone especially christian's make light of any trouble or confusion they are going through.



3. Spurgeon brings us back to the bare essentials of the Christian life, Jesus Christ. Because of Christ's life, death, burial, and resurrection we can have peace in life's storms; for vile sinners have now been reconciled to a Holy God by His Son, Jesus Christ. We now know that no matter what happens in life, we are saved in Christ and when we think of that we can persevere no matter what storms life may bring to our path. Spurgeon brings us back to this truth in the eloquent manner that is only Spurgeon. A must read for every Christian, "Finding Peace in Life's Storms" has blessed my heart and has blessed the heart of many Christians. To God be the Glory.



4. The blessing of reading this book was having scriptural guidance to lead us through the storms of life. Psalms 119:105 "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." God's grace pours forth to comfort and guide us. Our faith is increase in Christ Jesus, and realize an abiding hope in God through life's difficulties.
   
   This beautifully written book by Charles Spurgeon would encourage anyone through hard times. It could bring healing to a Christian or perhaps an unbeliever. Spurgeon brings scripture to bear on the heart of the soul that is hurting and weary.

5 comments about Ruth, A Portrait: The story of Ruth Bell Graham.

1. Ruth Bell Graham was ailing this week and died yesterday. I had meant for the longest time to read this book, but just never got around to it. I guess I just thought she was perfect, and perhaps the book might be about that, but I was so moved by her life ending that I just had to know more about her. I knew I was going to miss her presence in our lives and country. Yesterday was the impetus to start reading the book. Fascinating. Far from being just about "churchy" stuff and a woman who was seemingly "pefect", author Patricia Cornwell (who as a little girl befriended Ruth's parents Dr. and Mrs. Bell first and later Ruth who was already married to Billy Graham) covers so much ground about these fascinating, wonderful, decent, giving, generous, sacrifical, funny, Godly people. Ruth was born and raised in China and her parents took over the hospital run by legendary American author Pearl Buck's parents! Author Cornwell does such a masterful job, I felt I was standing in China at that time, with all of the turmoil, the attacks of the Japanese, and spunky Ruth -- who was open-minded and truly loved and cared for all different kinds of people at an early age (when she and her sister would get into physical skirmishes, the family's Chinese help would actually place bets about which sister would win!). And the hand of God was on them too, protecting them from the bombings of the Japanese war planes, as their train sat enveloped in fog. Ruth didn't make perfect grades at Wheaton College, in fact she actually did very poorly in some subjects, but was a superb human being and very funny. Also covered was the Bell family history in colonial America, as well as the Graham family,and their ties to Thomas Jefferson, Princeton University, and even the fact that Ann Arbor, Michigan, is named after one of the "Ann's" in their family. Ruth's and Billy's courtship wasn't entirely smooth and perfect either, as they learned to discern whether they were meant to be together or not, and struggled with that decision, but finally conceding their deep love for each other. And of course the hand of God in their lives, and their deep love and concern and ministry for others. I laughed and cried and pondered life's deep answers this family sought from and were given by God and have given others. Powerful book. I am so grateful author Patricia Cornwell never gave up her dogged pursuit to write Ruth's biography. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.



2. I don't enjoy reading the much and I'm also a slow reader in that I get lost in the content and descriptions. This is definitely not a Patricia Cornwell suspense novel. She was very close friends with the Grahams and begged Ruth to let her write the book for people to see the woman behind the man...Billy Graham. She did it so well that Ruth did not speak to Patricia for about 3 years after the book was published. Sometimes the truth hurts and sometimes it will set you free. It was an interesting, easy read for me. It was a book I kept picking up to want to read the next chapter...something that's very hard for me...something keeping my attention. I've loaned the book out to several friends and they have all enjoyed it. I read it about 3 months before Ruth died.



3. I bought this because I'm a fan of Cornwell's other work, especially the earlier stuff. My expectations weren't very high, since most books about religious "greats" tend to be syrupy or on a witch-hunt.
   
   Instead, Cornwell brings in just enough of her personal experience with the Grahams to explain her adoring views of Ruth. But for the rest of the book, she manages to take herself out the story masterfully and give us a three-dimensional portrait of a strong, stubborn, soft-hearted woman's walk through life. Both of the Grahams are seen as normal, flawed, generous people with single-minded commitment to their lives' callings. The realistic presentation of both of the Grahams really highlights God's presence and action in their lives. I loved that Cornwall just trusted the facts to present a well-rounded picture, without inserting a lot of personal opinions. It's a perspective on Ruth that you won't find in a lot of simpering bios which show her as the ever-supportive, ever-submissive wife of an equally flawless evangelist. Here, you get to see her as a worthy match with a quick mind, a soft heart and sharp tongue.
   
   The most incredible chapter is the last one, where we see how Ruth's compassion and acceptance of wounded and lost people had such on effect on the author's life as well. Just a really great book. I'm officially gushing to everyone about it!



4. This is a great book if you want to learn about Ruth's life from the perspect of a close family friend, someone who knew her well. It's easy to read and very interesting. However, as I read the book, it felt like there was an important aspect missing: the faith of Ruth Graham. The author, who I don't believe is a Christian hereself, does an excellent job describing Ruth as an incredible person, wife, mother, and friend; but I perceive from her writing that the author never realized the value or importance of Ruth's relationship with God. I read this book hoping to find encouragement and insight from Ruth's walk with God. However, I was disappointed in that area. Although very accurate and full of wonderful details about the life of this great woman, the author thoroughly glorifies Ruth as a person (with no real credit to her faith) so much so that by the end of the book I felt that Ruth was described as almost superhuman, someone to look at on a pedestal rather than try to relate to and learn from.



5. I think this is Cornwell's best book, you can feel her love for Graham. Ruth Graham had an extraordinary life, her life in may ways is as interesting as her iconic husband. Her early live in China and how it enlightened her, it's interesting that such a forward thinking woman married the most famous evangelical. I found the information on her courtship with Billy fascinating, he really had to win her, she was beautiful and he know he had to be at the top of his game to get her. Ruth Graham was an amazing woman, though i was dismayed to see that she gave in and allowed herself to be buried in Charlotte instead of her chosen place Montreat, but ultimately she couldnt imagine not being next to Billy. Very good book on a singular American.

5 comments about The Road to Unafraid: How the Army's Top Ranger Faced Fear and Found Courage through.

1. Fantastic! Jeff Struecker's personal testimony touches the heart and shows man's utter need for Christ in our lives. Themes such as courage, faith, loyalty and death are ingrained into your mind while reading Captain's Struecker's vivid recollection of events such as the Black Hawck down incident in Somalia, the Panama invasion, and his time as an elite U.S. Ranger. Jeff is truly an inspiration. I have bought a half dozen copies of this book for friends and family.



2. Jeff is a proven leader and his story is one that will impact multitudes. Thanks for your courage. -A US Navy Chaplain



3. A couple years ago, I checked this book out from the library and read it for the first time. Right there, it became one of my favorite military books, alongside Entebbe (Iddo Netanyahu) and Zvi (Elwood McQuaid). Although I didn't see Blackhawk Down until just recently (and that being an edited, more family-friendly version), Cpt. Streucker describes the battle very well, not just the physical aspects, but also the more important spiritual and moral aspects, which the film failed to touch on. I highly recommend this book; it's an inspiring read that will strengthen your faith.



4. Well written, and an eye opening account of the Somalia debaucle; an asset to Blackhawk Down and the ingedients necessay to became an Army Ranger.



5. Highly recommended! I gave this book as a gift to my 15 year old nephew who loves all things military. He read it through twice then told another family member/teacher about it. She loved it and is using it for her teen boys summer reading group.