5 comments about Let the Trumpet Sound: A Life of Martin Luther King, Jr..

1. This book was about a big part of our United States History. It was about Civil Rights. Martin Luther King Jr. was a big Civil Rights activist in the 1960's. I learned quite a bit about Martin Luther Kings's life that I did not know before I had read this book.
   Martin Luther King was one of the most important people of our country's history. He fought for African-Americans Civil Rights. He was a very determined man, who was alwyas put into jail numerous times for his "peaceful protests". He had given several speeches as well. The author of this book is Stephen B. Oates. He is a good writer, who has written 16 books.He has also won many literary prizes such as the Christopher Award. This book is very well written. He clearly tells the story as if he had experienced it. His strenghts include: Getting actual quotes from the people that were important in this time, having pictures of Mr. King and others, and having footnotes that explained the story more in depth. I can not think of many weaknesses that he has. However, the book was long but I did not expect it to be short due to the importance of the topic. I would reccomend this book to many people. The reason why is because it tells you in depth stories about Martin Luther King Jr. and his life, but it does have profanity and innappropriate content for young children. All in all, this was a very good biography and taught me many things.



2. Stephen Oates writes a masterful biography of one of the pivotal figures of the twentieth century. Today we view Martin Luther King Jr. as a saint, and a model of what the human spirit can achieve. In his day, he was viewed by many in the South with fear, hatred and loathing.

   It is easy to view this situation in hindsight, and assume that everyone was just ignorant. Oates writes of the complex history, the battles within and outside "the movement" and how divided the nation was at the time. Oates also does not shirk away from many of Martin Luther King's personal weaknesses. In this sense, he humanizes the great leader, instead of canonizes him.

   In the end, I am left with three conclusions:
   1 - Martin Luther King Jr. indeed found a way to overcome hatred with love, and in doing so helped America avoid a race war.
   2 - The message of civil rights was both religeous and personal. Despite today's views of the right being the party of religeon, in his day the southern liberal movement was galvanized in the church.
   3 - Despite this, he was a flawed individual. His human weakness does not diminish his accomplishment.

   The book is not light reading. Read it. Let it soak in. And comprehend.




3. As a student activist during my college years, I was introduced to this book by one of many mentors. They said that this was a detailed account of how Dr. King and his soldiers pushed forward their agenda for change in America. It was more than that. It was a powerful testament of the conviction of Dr. King and the gameplan for dealing with racist America. He did not work alone but his analysis of each situation proved to be very timely and accurate. Later on, of course, his effectiveness lost a little of its punch but you can not change the success that came from his branch of the Movement. Stephen Oates so elequently noted the techniques and strategies used during the turbulant sixties. It gave me information on how to handle the media, the powers that be, other members of my allies and prepare for possible backstabbers. That was my reason for reading the book. However, I got SSSOOO much more.
   
   Martin Luther King Jr. was a revolutionary. His faith in God was the driving force behind in nonviolent stance. His studies of Gandhi and Martin Luther further solidified his position. Destined for greatness from the time of his birth, MLK was always preparing himself (and being prepared) for that big moment. He was intelligent, charismatic and thorough in approach to segregation. A family man, a minister, a scholar and an activist. This book is a good starting point for not just learning about King but understanding him. He IS (not was) bigger than "I Have A Dream", bigger than boycotts, bigger than nonviolence. Thanks to Oates and this masterpiece, he can be celebrated for what he was, an instrument of change and the Prince of Peace.



4. For many of us, the Civil Rights era happened when we were too young to understand. This is a good overview of the man and his times. Many people who were just names before, became people to me.
   
   Although, I believe King made some serious mistakes, I understand for the first time why he should have a national holiday. I had no idea he was such an impressive person. Keep in mind, this book was written by a serious historian; not just someone who wished to canonize King.



5. MLK was indeed a brilliant man. I first purchased this book while in college. My Social Science prof was allowing us to debate whether or not MLK's birthday should be a national holiday. I chimed in with "aw, what'd he do besides march and give speeches?" The prof looked at me and very quietly said "He changed the country." That got me wondering .... how'd he do that? What did he change?
   
   After reading the book i was forever changed. The book did not gloss over his human frailties. On the contrary, it's a frank portrait of MLK the man, not MLK the angel. His human frailties can never diminish his extraordinary achievements in that most noble of professions- leadership.
   
   Ghandi gave his nation the gift of enduring equality. Lincoln gave his nation the gift of civil peace. MLK gave his nation both.
   
   Let the trumpet sound!

1 comments about Baptist Deacon.

1. As a candiadate to become a deacon, I went to scripture to help me understand what it means to be a deacon. In addition, I wanted to read some books written by ministers that had experience with deacons and their roles. This book was of great support in my search for additional knowledge.

No comments about Welcome to JesusLand! (Formerly the United States of America): Shocking Tales of Depravity, Sex, and Sin Uncovered by God's Favorite Church, Landover Baptist.

2 comments about William Carey: Obliged to Go (Christian Heroes: Then & Now) (Christian Heroes, Then & Now).

1. I was surprised when beginning this book to find it is on a mid-high reading level. As a result, it is a simple, easy read, offering a good summary of the life and ministry of William Carey. For any one wanting to get a quick overview of William Carey, this book provides it. For any one wanting a more thorough, in-depth treatment of the man, I would recommend looking elsewhere.



2. Hello... I am a home school child who is almost 14 as of 11-30-07. As part of my home school curriculum "Sunlight" I read William Carey obliged to go. This is a book report about Mr. Carey.
   
   William Carey is a rather easy book to read in a sense that it does not use long confusing words. The book explains the life of William Carey's struggles and high points. William Carey was the man who really started missions work in England. He established one of the first missionary societies.
   
   William Carey started as an apprentice for a cordwainer. At Christmas time he would be allowed to take money for a tip and place it in his money box. He went to a blacksmith to drop off his boots. The blacksmith paid the shilling he owed and offered William a tip of a shilling or a sixpence. William took the shilling. What William did not know was that the shilling was made out of brass. He went to the store to buy the quill pen he wanted to buy. He gave the shopkeeper the shilling. The shopkeeper frowned and said "this shilling is not made of silver young lad, it's made out of brass if ever a coin was!" William was infuriated. He went to the cordwainers and swapped his brass shilling for the real silver shilling after which he went and bought the pen. His master found out and could have sent him to jail for life but he didn't. William paid the cordwainer a shillings worth of money out of his Christmas box. But these were only the beginning of Williams's troubles!
   
   William Carey is someone I feel sorry for. He had troubles all the time such as his wife suffering from dysentery and dyeing, losing children, having his printing press building and manuscripts plus more than 1000 copies of the new testament all burn in a fire, and have the missionary society that he founded turn on him after his 3 "rope holders" die. Yet in all his troubles he never gave up his calling to the Hindus and Muslims
   
   The only problem with this book is that the beginning is very hard to follow. It all clears up at around chapter 3. I recommend this book for anyone who likes good books about missionaries and their travels.

4 comments about Children of the Storm: The Autobiography of Natasha Vins.

1. This is an autobiography of a mid-twentieth century Russian girl, Natasha, and her family from Kiev. It is an adult book that children with 5th grade reading level can also enjoy. Children of the Storm recounts her father's imprisonment, her schooling and questioning of Christianity, and all that happened to them in the years of Soviet crackdown of Biblical Christians. Fast-moving, very interesting, well-written. I highly recommend it.



2. This is one of the best-written and most gripping Christian autobiographies I've read in years. I started it in the afternoon, managed to put supper on the table for my family and get the kids in bed, and finished the whole thing. My father is a Baptist pastor and we regularly prayed for our fellow believers in the persecuted church, so it was especially moving for me to get a clear picture of what life was like for the Vins family as they tried to minister in the Soviet Union during the years of Communist oppression. I would recommend this book for junior high students on up. It would be an excellent book for families to read aloud and discuss together, or for Sunday School teachers to share a chapter or so with their classes during a reading time each week (they'd keep coming back for sure). The book really makes you evaluate the depth or your own Christian commitment in the light of what Natasha and her family endured.



3. I opened the book for the first time Sunday afternoon in the car, and finished it on Monday night. Natasha tells of her girlhood, and the persecution her family endured for Christ. I really appreciated her telling of how she came to the Lord; until she graduated from high school she was a "Christian" because her parents were, and wondered how important it was. Then she understood the gospel and her parents faith became her own, and she lived for Jesus. She has an engaging manner of writing, perhaps because she writes as one real person would speak to another, not with studied eloquence.
   
   I was encouraged by the testimony of the trials and severe hardships her family went through. It made me reflect on how easy I have it here, and what I am willing to sacrifice for my Lord. I would encourage Christians, young or old, to read "Children of the Storm."



4. Children of the Storm is a touching story. When you read it, your appreciation for God will grow and the problems you have will seem smaller. We are blessed beyond measure to live in the United States of America.

5 comments about Revitalizing the Sunday Morning Dinosaur: A Sunday School Growth Strategy for the 21st Century.

1. I didn't read this book throughoutly, but I appreciated it through the title. I do believe that this book shall make something for teen-workers.



2. A thorough and comprehensive look at small group work in the life of the local church. Dr. Hemphill argues that the Sunday School can be the church growth tool of the 21st century. He creatively links the three tasks of the Great Commission to the work of the Sunday School. This strategy has been successfully used by a large number of churches. This is an excellent book for all those who work in the small group ministry of the local church.



3. As a professor of Christian Education in a Seminary, I found this work from Dr. Hemphill very useful and required my students to read it for my course in Sunday school growth.

   I would heartly recommend this book to pastors, Christian Educatin directors, deacons, laymen and other interested persons desiring real Christ-centered church growth.




4. As a professor of Christian Education in a Seminary, I found this work from Dr. Hemphill very useful and required my students to read it for my course in Sunday school growth.

   I would heartly recommend this book to pastors, Christian Educatin directors, deacons, laymen and other interested persons desiring real Christ-centered church growth.




5. If your Sunday Schools are lethargic, aimless and have low expectations--and you want change---this is the book for you. Hemphill focuses on the fundamental philosophical shift we need to make but most of the book describes practical strategies that have added vigor and attendance to our small church!

5 comments about Simple Church: Returning to God's Process for Making Disciples.

1. This book had a lot of good to say about the streamlining of the church-growing process, However, in my opinion, the authors would have been better served in saving the statistical info for endnotes at the end of each chapter or used the data as part of their appendices at the end of the book. Their endeavoring to weave the info into the body of the hypotheses they were presenting made the reading process more difficult and less streamlined.
   
   Since their stated goal was to make things simple, they should have followed Occam's Razor, which suggests that the simplest solution presented in the simplest manner possible is most likely to be the best solution to any given problem.



2. even if you don't agree with everything in the book, it is thought-provoking and challenging to those in church leadership. it appears to be a paradox in many ways--more work equals more results is what we've come to know and expect. the writers challenge us to do concentrated work--few things done better equals better results.



3. If you work in church life and you want to impact the lives of those around you as a church you must read this book!!



4. I have not finished the book, but it makes so much sense. Some church's try to do it all and spend so much time going in different directions. Simple Church brings everyone together and actualy does what God mandates. What a concept, do what the bible preaches.



5. Have you ever been to a church that has so many mission statements, purposes and visions that it feels like the congregation doesn't know whether it's coming or going? Have you ever opened a church bulletin and felt overwhelmed by the smorgasboard of events and options? Have you ever been to a church where there has been a ton of activity yet no tangible growth?
   
   If so, know that you're not alone. What you're experiencing and seeing is happening in all too many churches around the country. Fortunately, according to church consultant Thom S. Rainer and pastor Eric Geiger, there is a better way --- and it's found in the journey toward simplicity. In SIMPLE CHURCH: Returning to God's Process for Making Disciples, Rainer and Geiger reveal stunning new research that suggests the most vibrant, growing churches in our country usually take the simplest approaches to ministry. This book is a call for Christian leaders to return to the simple methods of Jesus. No nine-step plans. No multi-level outreach strategies. No slick, shiny marketing plan required. Promise.
   
   Instead, the authors believe that a simple church is designed around a clear, strategic process that helps people move through various stages of spiritual growth. The leaders, staff and members are all clear about the process and committed to making it happen. The process flows logically; it is easy to understand and can be implemented in every area of the church. Anything that does not fall into this progression is eliminated. Hence, the simplicity. So how does that play out in an actual church?
   
   Throughout the book, Rainer and Geiger look at real churches that have adopted this philosophy and what it looks like within a congregation. Immanuel Baptist Church in Glaslow, Kentucky, centers its community on connecting, growing, serving. As people visit the church, they are introduced to this concept, which is true not only for their spiritual life but also for their relationship to the church. They are invited to get connected with God and fellow members. As they do so, they are to move on to the next stage --- growing --- in the depth of their relationship with God and others.
   
   Then it's time to progress to the third area, serving, by getting involved and making a difference. While the church is vibrant and growing, the real focus for leaders and members is moving people along in the progression. The model is simple but highly effective. As Rainer and Geiger show, it is modeled in some of the largest, most successful churches in the country, including Northpoint Community Church in Alpharetta, Georgia, led by Andy Stanley.
   
   While the book is clearly based on research, one of its weaknesses is the layout of the data presented (clearly not the authors' fault). Most of the tables are not titled on top; instead they are labeled in the lower portion, which is difficult to understand, and the importance or meaning of the study is often lost. Hopefully, the publisher will be certain that reprints make the information and data more accessible to the reader.
   
   Overall, SIMPLE CHURCH is a must-read for all pastors and church staff members. Expect to hear buzz about this book for years to come.
   
   --- Reviewed by Margaret Oines

1 comments about Southern Baptist Consensus and Renewal: A Biblical, Historical, and Theological Proposal.

1. Southern Baptists, of whom I am not one, were for generations smugly confident of their identity, e.g., "There are us and then the others." As they splintered into opposite and opposing sides, they began to recognize they only thought they knew who they are. Those who call themselves "moderates" (but are called "liberals" by the other side) have moved left, and those who call themselves "conservatives" (but, "fundamentalists" by the former) have moved to the right. The differences each champions have taken on a life of their own and become their new identities. Dockery attempts to identify what is common among them, which is hard work, because attacking the other side is both easier and more fun. His focus is on what is Southern Baptist rather than what is moderate or conservative.
   
   -- Wallace Alcorn, Ph.D.

No comments about By My Own Reckoning.

4 comments about A Knock at Midnight: Inspiration from the Great Sermons of Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr..

1. The sermon series is awesome!!! Each sermon has an introduction that gives the listener valuable tidbits about the sermon. You can feel the effect of MLK's powerful oration abilities. All of the sermons are still relevant today and anyone who has a pulse can benefit from listening to the set.



2. I have had A Knock at Midnight in book and cassette tape form for many years, and at least twice a year I listen to them. The sermons are timeless, and make clear that we were in the presence of greatness when Dr. King was alive. Listening to this CD truly is inspirational. I have given them as gifts for years, and always receive heartfelt thanks.



3. It's hard to believe Martin Luther King was 39 when he died. His eloquence can be heard in his famous speeches but the fullness of who he was, his spiritual depth, can only be heard in his sermons. These CDs are inspiring and profoundly moving. He is one of the greatest American preachers of all time and the greatest in the twentieth century.



4. This set of Dr. King's sermons/speeches is a dream come true. To hear his powerful words coming from his own mouth is so inspirational. I'm really glad I purchased these. Arthur Dunklin, Ph.D.