Heroes of the Faith - D L Moody, by Bonnie C Harvey

This is the second book I have read in the series Heroes of the Faith; the first being the life story of Eric Liddell. Dwight L Moody is most remembered now for pioneering the Bible Institute, bearing his name, in Chicago. This was in 1889, ten years before he died, but his previous 55 years were also filled with extraordinary endeavours on two continents, preparing the way for his legacy as the “father of the evangelical movement”.

This little book retells his fascinating story, from childhood and his acceptance of Christ at age seventeen, to his life’s work. It commences with these words, “The world has yet to see what God will do with a man fully consecrated to Him”, said in Moody’s hearing in Britain in 1872, by lay preacher Henry Varley. Challenged and envisioned, Moody vowed to be that man, and from that point his already energetic and sometimes hectic lifestyle, gained new purpose and direction.

His early life, as the youngest of seven children, brought up in a farming community in Northfield, Massachusetts, was very humble and difficult, but those early trials enabled him always to identify with those at the very bottom of the social structure. Right throughout his life, although he spoke to crowds of thousands and received acclaim from Royals, he retained a desire to see the poor and needy given the opportunities to receive salvation and be trained for the work of Christian mission.

Moody’s first Christian venture was to set up Sunday Schools for ragamuffin children, becoming known around Chicago as a “children’s missionary”. He then preached to the troops during the American Civil War and later developed the nickname “Crazy Moody”, because of his frenetic schedule, which left his assistants exhausted. His vow to not allow a single day to pass without speaking to someone about Christ set the tone for his life’s ministry.

Expanding his horizons, his first trip to Britain, in 1867, came about because his English-born wife Emma suffered from Asthma, but he desired to meet three people whom he greatly admired: George Williams, founder of the YMCA; George Muller, founder of an orphanage and missionary organization; and Charles Spurgeon, Baptist minister whose sermons were becoming known worldwide. During this short trip he also met Henry Varley, a man of prayer who made a deep and lasting impression on Moody.

His introduction to singer songwriter Ira Sankey in 1869 forged a lasting friendship and partnership, the legacy of which was the publication of Moody and Sankey hymnals, still used throughout the world. Then in 1871, came a turning point in his almost ceaseless activity, which had grown more and more complicated. An Englishwoman, Sarah Cooke, who became convinced that Moody needed the power of the Holy Spirit in his ministry, along with her friend Mrs Hawxhurst, sat on the front row at every meeting praying for him. God began to speak to him about going to all the land to preach the Gospel, but he resisted. Through a ferocious fire which destroyed much of Chicago, including everything he had built, he realized where his future ministry lay and finally submitted to the fire of the Holy Spirit to transform him from “Crazy Moody” to “Moody, the man of God”.

His energy never depleted as he embarked on an itinerant ministry in America and Britain, which resulted in extended revivals in Northern England, London and Scotland. Returning to New York after two years, Moody and Sankey were now international celebrities, and Dwight finally had a platform from which to reach out to his home town of Northfield. By 1880 he had set up a Christian girls’ school in the town, designed for those in ‘the humbler walks of life’. A boys’ school along the same lines, quickly followed. This later became a seminary, with minimal fees and manual labour as a character-building part of the course.

Although Moody was never ordained as a Christian Minister, could not read Greek Testament and was self-taught, he could explain Scripture in a down-to-earth manner, which everybody understood. In all, Moody travelled to the British Isles seven times. He became adept at coercing money for building projects from wealthy Christians and his entrepreneurial ways continued, as he longed to set up a school in Chicago to train Christian laymen for the church. His Bible Institute dream was finally realized when he bought thee large houses in Chicago Avenue. He continued to preach to the end of his life, and finally died peacefully at home in Northfield, after seeing a vision of heaven.

There is obviously much more to Moody's story, which is beautifully retold in 200 pages. His passion to fulfill the great commission helped to birth the great missionary thrusts which followed. His was a truly inspiring life and I would recommend this version of Moody’s biography.

The First Judgement: Messiah - Wendy Alec

This is the second novel in the series Chronicles of Brothers, based loosely of what we know of the Archangels: Michael, Gabriel and (fallen) Lucifer, from the Bible. The prequel, Book One, The Fall of Lucifer, sets the scene, vividly describing the events from the Creation of the Heavens and the Earth, and up to the Fall of the ‘Race of Men’.

Book Two, The First Judgement, covers a period of 2025 years from 4BC to 2021AD. It embellishes the events surrounding the coming of Christ to the Earth, up to His death on the Cross, His Resurrection and Ascension back to the First Heaven, to sit alongside His Father, in the Godhead. But running alongside these events the scene is being set for a sequel novel set in the future, linking into what is described in the Bible as the Tribulation period. I felt that the text does not pervert Scripture, but fundamentalists may consider that she is trying to add to the historical record.

Wendy Alec is the co-founder of GOD TV and has a strong prophetic ministry. But she is adamant that her novels are works of fiction. I find it intriguing and at times challenging to wear a prophetic hat whilst reading them!

The First Judgement is set in Heaven and Hell with the host of Angelic and Demonic creatures dwelling there. The interaction between the physical Earth and the unseen spiritual realm, which stretches right across the cosmos and beyond, is told in a way that draws the reader into fantastical images of the different characters and the confrontations and ensuing battles between the forces of Good and Evil.

The triumphant section where Jesus takes back the Keys of Death and Hades was one of the best chapters, in my opinion, encouraging the reader to enlarge their vision of where, how and why this event could have occurred.

Throughout the book there are constant time shifts and also dimension shifts, from the physical realm to the spiritual realm. Some of the sections are very short, barely a page, giving just a tiny glimpse of a character or event. I found this quite difficult, and I lost track of some of the characters, which are drawn out gradually. At times I couldn’t see how they fitted into the overall story. It would benefit from being read over a shorter space of time and in fewer chunks than I was able to give it. I also wanted more development of the real people in the story, as the focus tends to be on the supernatural creatures. Two real characters have the name, Jotapa, and they are linked through history, but I didn’t feel that the link went far enough to connect them within the time frame. Also, the analogy between the three heavenly brothers and the three earthly brothers, set in the 21st Century, is rather weak, but this may be a deliberate way of the author setting the scene for the sequel novel.

Nevertheless, the story is fast-paced and gripping, using rich, vivid descriptive language and it has some clever sub plots. It is a compelling narrative and I would recommend this to anyone who reflects on Heaven and Hell, and how the coming of Jesus Christ to the Earth fits into the bigger picture, giving it focus and relevance for each one of us.

Where Will I Find the Time? - Sally McClung

The subtitle for this little book is Making Time Work for You. It is basically a time management study based on Biblical principles. Sally McClung, wife of Floyd McClung, takes the passage from Ecclesiastes Chapter 3, which begins “There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under Heaven” (NIV), and draws out guidelines and practical suggestions and hints for each area of our lives.

Her study covers topics such as marriage, family, friendship, work, leisure, and renewal, and is based upon her own life experience as a wife and mother of two children, working within an active ministry (Youth with a Mission). The book was written in the late eighties, when her children were teenagers and the family lived in the heart of the ‘red-light’ district of Amsterdam. But the teaching is relevant to anyone, anywhere, at any time.

The nine chapters each focus on one aspect of life. For example, Chapter 1, ‘A Time to Organize’ is based on Ecclesiastes 3:6 “A time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away”. This is quite a difficult chapter to start the book with, as her personality type leans towards organizing in a particular way. The following chapter ‘A Time to Build’ focuses on building our relationship with God, and personally I would have preferred that chapter first. The verse order of Chapter 3 of Ecclesiastes in not rigidly adhered to, but the topics covered do flow naturally and allow for progression, through to ‘A Time for Healing’.

Her question ‘Are you busy but barren?’ cautions us against the ‘tyranny of the urgent’ which will squeeze out planned time for refreshment and restoration in our body, mind and spirit, and necessary building of relationships within marriage and family, and with friends. I was relieved to reach ‘A Time for Fun’, as I was beginning to feel that I would never meet her very high standards of organization in all areas.

For me, there was nothing really new in her open and frank discussion, but it served as a timely reminder to keep vigilant about maintaining balance in all things, and being prepared to make small adjustments to constantly improve in the time-management arena. I could relate quite well to the McClung family anecdotes, which really helped to carry the book along.

Where will I find the Time? is a quick and easy read, which could also make an interesting discussion starter or group Bible study.