This book is a challenge to Western Christians to rethink their missionary strategies, particularly in relation to giving towards the work of mission in the ‘two-thirds world’, a term related to population density rather than land mass, and previously known a the ‘third world’.
Dr. Yohannan tells his own story of how his mother’s prayer “O God, let one of my boys preach” looked to be unanswered, as each of her six sons chose alternative life paths. However, the youngest, who despite showing no leadership skills and being rather shy, responded to a visiting Gospel team from Operation Mobilization, in their home in South India. Their presentation of the desperate need for missionaries in the north of India, to give their lives to tell others about Jesus Christ in the face of severe hardship and persecution, tugged at K.P.’s heart. So, in 1966 at age 16, his mother handed him enough money for his train ticket and he set off on his life-time adventure.
For the next seven years he travelled with mobile evangelistic teams all over North India, climbing a very steep learning curve as he ventured to share the Gospel, using few resources and living a peasant life-style. His eyes were opened to the poverty and entrapment to false religions and he began to grasp the reality of the spiritual battle he was in.
Then, he was invited for two years of study in the United States and even more culture shock ensued, as he struggled to understand the overwhelming abundance and wealth of the North American church, compared with the stark deprivation of his Asian brothers. He became convinced that the Western plan for sending missionaries, incurring great expense and bearing little fruit, could be transformed into the Western church providing the finance for native missionary evangelists in Asia.
The remainder of the book then tells the story of Gospel for Asia, the organization he founded in 1980 with the idea of encouraging people to put aside $1 a day for native missionary work. This is the amount that most native missionaries have to live on and providing that amount, from the Western economy, would double their income and enable many more to respond to the call to go to their countrymen. Today Dr Yohannan still continues to administer the funds. He has carried out a great deal of research, presenting this in an interesting way; interweaving true life stories and statistical evidence together to demonstrate his conviction that sponsoring native missionaries is the only viable option open in the 21st century.
He communicates his case very well, explaining the difficulties and successes he has experienced, and devoting a whole chapter to answering the most frequently asked questions of people about his ministry.
A few statistics taken from the book are that, up to 2004, Gospel for Asia has more than 14,000 national missionaries in the heart of the 10/40 Window (This is a geographical area bordered by the line of latitude, 10 degrees north, and the line of longitude, 40 degrees west. Researchers have identified that this area contains the most un-reached people groups for the Gospel, throughout the world). Gospel for Asia operates 54 Bible colleges with more than 8,000 students and heads up a church-planting movement that pioneers an average of 12 new fellowships every day. (www.gfa.org)
Christian Vision’s ‘Impact a Nation’ project uses slightly different methods, but the end goal is the same, to train up nationals to take over the church-planting and discipling in the nations of Mozambique, Angola, East Timor and Zambia. (www.christianvision.org)
I found Revolution in World Missions interesting, informative and very thought provoking, and I would recommend it for those who have a heart for world missions.
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Monday, October 1, 2007
Heroes of the Faith - Eric Liddell, by Ellen Caughey
The story of Eric Liddell is well known, especially since the wonderful 1981 film, Chariots of Fire, which focuses on the events surrounding his triumph in the 1924 Olympic Games, held in Paris. However, in this little book, which is part of the Heroes of the Faith series, only one chapter is devoted to this episode in his life. The other fourteen chapters retell the rest of his life, both before and after those exciting days which made him famous.
I was familiar with some of the story, but didn’t know the details of his life in China. Eric Henry Liddell was born to Scottish missionary parents, in Tiensin, China, in 1902 and died in a Japanese prisoner of war camp, in Weihsien, China, in 1945. Of his 43 years on this earth, he spent 27 of them in China, the remainder, at school, university and missionary college, in Britain. His death, from what was thought to be a brain tumor, was tragic, especially for his young family, who were sent to Canada, when his third child was expected, in 1941, just before the attack on Pearl Harbour and subsequent invasion of China. He only saw this youngest daughter in photographs and his wife knew about his death only two months after the event.
His was a life lived with great purpose: his passion to return to China had dominated his thoughts and been his motivation throughout all the athletic training and meets. Even when he won Scotland’s first Olympic Gold Medal in the 400m race he did not seek or accept personal glory and accolade, but used his prominence to preach the Gospel to thousands of men and boys, urging them onto a higher goal. He left the fame of England for the obscurity of China in 1925, to fulfill his life’s calling to teach and train a generation of boys, who would impact their nation for God. He died persuing that dream, determined to stay with the other missionaries who had given their all trying to transform a nation.
Although Eric is largely known for swapping his track shoes for hiking boots, he continued to both race and train other runners in China. His physical fitness was one of his hallmarks, enabling him to cycle great distances, encouraging local pastors.
Told largely chronologically, but starting with a race meeting in 1923, I liked the way the author included several extracts from letters and journals written by Eric, which provided more insight into him as a person. I found the background history of China, especially as it concerned the Liddell family, most helpful for setting it in the context of the great missionary thrust of the last century and then, of the Japanese invasion of China. The story is told sensitively and with great detail, building a picture of each family member, his wife and several friends who were significant throughout his life and who were greatly impacted through his friendship and example.
Smaller than A5 in size, this tiny book was useful for taking about, to read in spare moments.
A great quick read and highly recommended.
I was familiar with some of the story, but didn’t know the details of his life in China. Eric Henry Liddell was born to Scottish missionary parents, in Tiensin, China, in 1902 and died in a Japanese prisoner of war camp, in Weihsien, China, in 1945. Of his 43 years on this earth, he spent 27 of them in China, the remainder, at school, university and missionary college, in Britain. His death, from what was thought to be a brain tumor, was tragic, especially for his young family, who were sent to Canada, when his third child was expected, in 1941, just before the attack on Pearl Harbour and subsequent invasion of China. He only saw this youngest daughter in photographs and his wife knew about his death only two months after the event.
His was a life lived with great purpose: his passion to return to China had dominated his thoughts and been his motivation throughout all the athletic training and meets. Even when he won Scotland’s first Olympic Gold Medal in the 400m race he did not seek or accept personal glory and accolade, but used his prominence to preach the Gospel to thousands of men and boys, urging them onto a higher goal. He left the fame of England for the obscurity of China in 1925, to fulfill his life’s calling to teach and train a generation of boys, who would impact their nation for God. He died persuing that dream, determined to stay with the other missionaries who had given their all trying to transform a nation.
Although Eric is largely known for swapping his track shoes for hiking boots, he continued to both race and train other runners in China. His physical fitness was one of his hallmarks, enabling him to cycle great distances, encouraging local pastors.
Told largely chronologically, but starting with a race meeting in 1923, I liked the way the author included several extracts from letters and journals written by Eric, which provided more insight into him as a person. I found the background history of China, especially as it concerned the Liddell family, most helpful for setting it in the context of the great missionary thrust of the last century and then, of the Japanese invasion of China. The story is told sensitively and with great detail, building a picture of each family member, his wife and several friends who were significant throughout his life and who were greatly impacted through his friendship and example.
Smaller than A5 in size, this tiny book was useful for taking about, to read in spare moments.
A great quick read and highly recommended.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Don't Waste Your Life - John Piper
I guess I must have heard of John Piper, but I hadn't read any of his books - until now. From the attention-grabbing title and dedication to Louie Giglio (whose DVD's called Indescribable and How Great is our God, have enthralled us recently), to the final chapter, which is a prayer, Don't Waste Your Life was a book that I could hardly put down.
This is his personal quest to discover and challenge a generation, preoccupied with living a life of comfort and pleasure, not to get caught up in living a life that counts for nothing. His challenge is not to live so that we are "made much of, but to make much of him (Jesus) in every part of our lives". To live with a single passion: the glory of God in all things, is presented in a style and format that draws the reader away from their own selfish ambition to consider the time when we will all one day stand before Christ and give an account of our life.
Through personal anecdotes and stories gathered from history John Piper presents the case of those who have demonstrated, like the Apostle Paul, that "for me to live is Christ, to die is gain" (Philippians 1:21) and those who have wasted the one opportunity we have to live life with a passion for God.
He is the master of the superlative in describing the potential of our lives. The purpose of every chapter is to confront our cozy lifestyles and make us stand up and be counted among those heroes of the faith, those martyrs of yesterday and increasingly of today. Titles like 'Boasting Only in the Cross, The Blazing Center of the Glory of God' and 'Making Much of Christ from 8 to 5' show that what we think and dream and plan and work can all be encompassed in that single passion.
His plea to not waste you life is presented in a balanced practical way. He is not cavalier, on the contrary, he exudes humility and fervour, but his obsession is to joyfully display God's "supreme excellence in all the spheres of life".
I would strongly recommend this book to everyone. You will either love it or hate it, but you shouldn't ignore it.
This is his personal quest to discover and challenge a generation, preoccupied with living a life of comfort and pleasure, not to get caught up in living a life that counts for nothing. His challenge is not to live so that we are "made much of, but to make much of him (Jesus) in every part of our lives". To live with a single passion: the glory of God in all things, is presented in a style and format that draws the reader away from their own selfish ambition to consider the time when we will all one day stand before Christ and give an account of our life.
Through personal anecdotes and stories gathered from history John Piper presents the case of those who have demonstrated, like the Apostle Paul, that "for me to live is Christ, to die is gain" (Philippians 1:21) and those who have wasted the one opportunity we have to live life with a passion for God.
He is the master of the superlative in describing the potential of our lives. The purpose of every chapter is to confront our cozy lifestyles and make us stand up and be counted among those heroes of the faith, those martyrs of yesterday and increasingly of today. Titles like 'Boasting Only in the Cross, The Blazing Center of the Glory of God' and 'Making Much of Christ from 8 to 5' show that what we think and dream and plan and work can all be encompassed in that single passion.
His plea to not waste you life is presented in a balanced practical way. He is not cavalier, on the contrary, he exudes humility and fervour, but his obsession is to joyfully display God's "supreme excellence in all the spheres of life".
I would strongly recommend this book to everyone. You will either love it or hate it, but you shouldn't ignore it.
Friday, September 21, 2007
Treasures of Darkness - Miriam Ruth Malachi
This book was lent to me by a South African friend who home-schools her two teenage children. Currently they are studying the Jewish festivals and feasts, and she invited me to read it, after I expressed an interest in the Jewish calendar. I have to confess to not having read the entire book, but rather skim-reading it, making use of the many enboldened and underlined sections, which are highlighted for emphasis and often summarize large chunks of the text.
However, I did read one chapter in its entirety, entitled The Tabernacle, and found it captivating. I even made notes in my journal about the descriptions of the seven pieces of furniture, each representing and revealing aspects of Jesus, or Yeshua, the Messiah, as He is referred to throughout.
The instructions for building The Tabernacle were given to Moses and were very specific, in dimension, colours and positioning of the furniture. Every detail speaks about some aspect of the life of Jesus and describes how we are ushered into the presence of God. They can be seen as seven stages of worship, which the believer is encouraged into, each one taking you deeper and closer to the Mercy Seat. All other pieces of furniture point to the place from where grace can flow.
It is highly symbolic, but I find symbolism fascinating. I was raised in a church where the only symbol used to depict Jesus was a simple wooden cross. We didn't have candles, pictures or an altar. It was a multi-purpose building and the chairs were often deliberately rearranged to emphasise the inclusive, 'priesthood of all believers' doctrine. I'm thankful for that upbringing as I came easily to faith in Jesus Christ, recognising that the empty Cross is central to the relationship I have with God. However, I have come to see that Scripture is full of pictures and imagery of Jesus, and that almost everything in life can be seen as an illustration of the life that Jesus wants me to live in Him. Jesus spoke in parables, using everyday objects and situations to explain Himself. In fact, the whole Bible, right from Genesis to Revelation reveals Jesus to the reader, as I am slowly discovering.
So, how does the exciting chapter fit into Treasures of Darkness? The book is written to inspire prayer. It is really a prayer guide for intercessors who have a burden for the Ultra-Orthodox Jew. The author is a Jew who was raised as a Catholic, but never heard that God loved or cared for her in a personal way until, as a college student and on the brink of suicide, she responded to a knock on her dormitory door. Two Christian girls had responded to God's voice to visit the room below and bring the love of Christ to someone who desperately needed it. She was born again and a love for Israel quickly developed.
This book is the fruit of her life's mission: a burning passion for the salvation of the Jewish people, in particular the Ultra-Orthodox. She lives in Jerusalem and has come to realise that one of the 'treasures of darkness...in secret places' from Isaiah 45:3 are the Ultra-Orthodox - a closed system, which it is almost impossible to find out about, let alone break into.
Perhaps I will return to this book in the future. For now, it has opened my eyes just a crack to the wealth of treasures and secrets which are hidden in the Bible, and of which I want to discover more.
However, I did read one chapter in its entirety, entitled The Tabernacle, and found it captivating. I even made notes in my journal about the descriptions of the seven pieces of furniture, each representing and revealing aspects of Jesus, or Yeshua, the Messiah, as He is referred to throughout.
The instructions for building The Tabernacle were given to Moses and were very specific, in dimension, colours and positioning of the furniture. Every detail speaks about some aspect of the life of Jesus and describes how we are ushered into the presence of God. They can be seen as seven stages of worship, which the believer is encouraged into, each one taking you deeper and closer to the Mercy Seat. All other pieces of furniture point to the place from where grace can flow.
It is highly symbolic, but I find symbolism fascinating. I was raised in a church where the only symbol used to depict Jesus was a simple wooden cross. We didn't have candles, pictures or an altar. It was a multi-purpose building and the chairs were often deliberately rearranged to emphasise the inclusive, 'priesthood of all believers' doctrine. I'm thankful for that upbringing as I came easily to faith in Jesus Christ, recognising that the empty Cross is central to the relationship I have with God. However, I have come to see that Scripture is full of pictures and imagery of Jesus, and that almost everything in life can be seen as an illustration of the life that Jesus wants me to live in Him. Jesus spoke in parables, using everyday objects and situations to explain Himself. In fact, the whole Bible, right from Genesis to Revelation reveals Jesus to the reader, as I am slowly discovering.
So, how does the exciting chapter fit into Treasures of Darkness? The book is written to inspire prayer. It is really a prayer guide for intercessors who have a burden for the Ultra-Orthodox Jew. The author is a Jew who was raised as a Catholic, but never heard that God loved or cared for her in a personal way until, as a college student and on the brink of suicide, she responded to a knock on her dormitory door. Two Christian girls had responded to God's voice to visit the room below and bring the love of Christ to someone who desperately needed it. She was born again and a love for Israel quickly developed.
This book is the fruit of her life's mission: a burning passion for the salvation of the Jewish people, in particular the Ultra-Orthodox. She lives in Jerusalem and has come to realise that one of the 'treasures of darkness...in secret places' from Isaiah 45:3 are the Ultra-Orthodox - a closed system, which it is almost impossible to find out about, let alone break into.
Perhaps I will return to this book in the future. For now, it has opened my eyes just a crack to the wealth of treasures and secrets which are hidden in the Bible, and of which I want to discover more.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Hard to Believe - John MacArthur
'The High Cost and Infinite Value of Following Jesus', is the subtitle to this hard hitting and demanding book by John MacArthur, whose motto is 'Unleashing God's Truth, One Verse at a Time'. Given fifteen seconds to make his point MacArthur would say two things: to affirm 'the absolute and single authority of Scripture, and the absolute exclusivity of Jesus Christ'.
In this book he presents the case for there being no 'user-friendly' or 'seeker-sensitive' gospel, just the truth that Jesus Christ is the only way to God, based on the unfallible Word of God, as given in the Bible.
I came to this book, thinking that it would confirm what I have believed and lived out throughout my life as a Christian - and I was not disappointed. MacArthur places the Cross of Jesus Christ central to every belief and every motivation. He destroys the myths that have infiltrated the church and led to a 'watered-down' message which invites people to commit their lives to God without fully understanding the need for repentence - turning away from sin, and truly surrendering their lives to him. He questions whether much of the church, particularly in America, is truly 'born again', whether they are truly Christians - followers of Christ.
I was greatly reassured by this book, but I was also deeply challenged about the outworking of my relationship with Jesus on a daily basis and with the call to self-sacrifice, the hallmark of every true Christian. It certainly gets you out of your comfort-zone!
This is not a light read or an easy read. As the title suggests, Hard to Believe, confirms what true Christians from the time of Christ have discovered, that there is a narrow path that leads to Heaven and few find it. Many take the broad path that leads to destruction, but think they are on the narrow path. He refutes all other gospels and makes no apology for doing so. He reiterates the great commission - to go into all the world and make disciples of Jesus Christ, emphasising that they are doomed if we do not go and tell them. Throughout the book he bases everything he says on the Bible, the only foundation of our faith and everything we do must be based on and grounded in it's Truth.
The image that came to mind, as I was reading, was of a snow-plough pushing back the freshly fallen soft snow to reveal the hard compacted snow and ice beneath. A snow plough goes out before the traffic making the road clear and passable. It is brutal and unyielding to anything obstructing its path. For me, this book cleared the clutter out of the way and revealed our purpose here on Earth. It takes you back to the foundations of the Christian Faith, to inspect them for yourself, to make sure they are solid and firm, and having done that to recommit yourself to making disciples - learners, people with passion for the Truth which will transform their lives.
In this book he presents the case for there being no 'user-friendly' or 'seeker-sensitive' gospel, just the truth that Jesus Christ is the only way to God, based on the unfallible Word of God, as given in the Bible.
I came to this book, thinking that it would confirm what I have believed and lived out throughout my life as a Christian - and I was not disappointed. MacArthur places the Cross of Jesus Christ central to every belief and every motivation. He destroys the myths that have infiltrated the church and led to a 'watered-down' message which invites people to commit their lives to God without fully understanding the need for repentence - turning away from sin, and truly surrendering their lives to him. He questions whether much of the church, particularly in America, is truly 'born again', whether they are truly Christians - followers of Christ.
I was greatly reassured by this book, but I was also deeply challenged about the outworking of my relationship with Jesus on a daily basis and with the call to self-sacrifice, the hallmark of every true Christian. It certainly gets you out of your comfort-zone!
This is not a light read or an easy read. As the title suggests, Hard to Believe, confirms what true Christians from the time of Christ have discovered, that there is a narrow path that leads to Heaven and few find it. Many take the broad path that leads to destruction, but think they are on the narrow path. He refutes all other gospels and makes no apology for doing so. He reiterates the great commission - to go into all the world and make disciples of Jesus Christ, emphasising that they are doomed if we do not go and tell them. Throughout the book he bases everything he says on the Bible, the only foundation of our faith and everything we do must be based on and grounded in it's Truth.
The image that came to mind, as I was reading, was of a snow-plough pushing back the freshly fallen soft snow to reveal the hard compacted snow and ice beneath. A snow plough goes out before the traffic making the road clear and passable. It is brutal and unyielding to anything obstructing its path. For me, this book cleared the clutter out of the way and revealed our purpose here on Earth. It takes you back to the foundations of the Christian Faith, to inspect them for yourself, to make sure they are solid and firm, and having done that to recommit yourself to making disciples - learners, people with passion for the Truth which will transform their lives.
Saturday, September 15, 2007
You Can't Take it With You - Jane and Mike Tomlinson
I read this book and wrote a review for an assignment a few months ago. So I was saddened to learn recently that Jane passed away on 3rd September.
You Can’t Take It With You, the second book by Jane and Mike Tomlinson, describes the courageous and adventurous fund raising activities for their own charity ‘jane’s appeal’. Diagnosed with terminal breast cancer in 2000, Jane was determined to demonstrate how not to give in to a six-month prognosis.
In their first book, The Luxury of Time, the Tomlinson’s from Leeds, retell the years between Jane’s initial diagnosis at age 26, to celebrating her 40th birthday early. Between them Jane and Mike, in alternate chapters, give an honest account of her treatments and remission of the disease, through to the devastating news of her terminal status being told to their three children. At that point Jane and Mike were determined to demonstrate that 'death does not arrive with the prognosis'. Jane's running and cycling achievements from 2001 to 2004 are retold to raise awareness, raise funds and raise hopes for cancer patients and their relatives.
You Can’t Take It With You continues their story, including a mammoth John O'Groats to Lands End cycle ride on a tandam with her brother, Luke. Following that length of Britain ride, they embarked on, from ‘Rome to Home’, travelling through Italy and France, fulfilling one of Jane's ambitions to cycle up the slopes of Mount Ventoux, one of the hardest climbs on the Tour de France. Arriving in Paris they indulged in the luxury of the ambassador's residence, depite their unconventional appearance in cycling attire. Crossing the Channel they still had the long haul back up to Leeds to complete, but their tumultuous welcome outside Leeds City Hall quickly swept away emotions of the two-month grueling experience.
Jane announced her intention to take part in a full ironman triathlon, in Florida on completion of a British triathlon with her two daughters. This event, combines swimming, cycling and running, but during training for the full ironman she had a distastrous time in a half ironman in France and almost withdrew from the challenge. The final event readers get to share with them is a staggering 3700-mile coast-to-coast cycle ride across the USA in summer 2006.
Written in a similar style to their first book, Jane and Mike now alternate their personal narratives within each chapter, sometimes giving separate and different perspectives of the same event. Some of the dialogues include strong language, which I found hard to read, but it does add realism and reinforce the severe pain Jane experienced, particularly towards the end of the book.
The descriptive sections of the long cycle rides in UK, Italy, France and USA made enjoyable reading, and together with the colour photographs in the centre of the book, provide light relief to its serious subject matter. The funny and sometimes heart-rending accounts involving their children were helpful in understanding what it must be like to live with cancer on a day-to-day basis.
The title, You Can't Take it With You, is an poignant pun on Jane’s predicament, but actually relates to a Tomlinson family expression in reply to the question “May I leave the table?”
The Tomlinson family have my great admiration. Although Jane retired from competition at the end of 2006, she planned and organised the Leeds 10k 'Run For All' event in June this year. Her many sporting awards and public recognition, including a CBE from the Queen, together with the lasting legacy of the annual 'Run For All' event, will ensure that her achievements and bravery continue to inspire and motivate future generations. Their story was a personal reminder to improve to my own personal fitness. Their charity has raised around 1.5 million pounds and supported the work of numerous cancer related charities.
You Can’t Take It With You, the second book by Jane and Mike Tomlinson, describes the courageous and adventurous fund raising activities for their own charity ‘jane’s appeal’. Diagnosed with terminal breast cancer in 2000, Jane was determined to demonstrate how not to give in to a six-month prognosis.
In their first book, The Luxury of Time, the Tomlinson’s from Leeds, retell the years between Jane’s initial diagnosis at age 26, to celebrating her 40th birthday early. Between them Jane and Mike, in alternate chapters, give an honest account of her treatments and remission of the disease, through to the devastating news of her terminal status being told to their three children. At that point Jane and Mike were determined to demonstrate that 'death does not arrive with the prognosis'. Jane's running and cycling achievements from 2001 to 2004 are retold to raise awareness, raise funds and raise hopes for cancer patients and their relatives.
You Can’t Take It With You continues their story, including a mammoth John O'Groats to Lands End cycle ride on a tandam with her brother, Luke. Following that length of Britain ride, they embarked on, from ‘Rome to Home’, travelling through Italy and France, fulfilling one of Jane's ambitions to cycle up the slopes of Mount Ventoux, one of the hardest climbs on the Tour de France. Arriving in Paris they indulged in the luxury of the ambassador's residence, depite their unconventional appearance in cycling attire. Crossing the Channel they still had the long haul back up to Leeds to complete, but their tumultuous welcome outside Leeds City Hall quickly swept away emotions of the two-month grueling experience.
Jane announced her intention to take part in a full ironman triathlon, in Florida on completion of a British triathlon with her two daughters. This event, combines swimming, cycling and running, but during training for the full ironman she had a distastrous time in a half ironman in France and almost withdrew from the challenge. The final event readers get to share with them is a staggering 3700-mile coast-to-coast cycle ride across the USA in summer 2006.
Written in a similar style to their first book, Jane and Mike now alternate their personal narratives within each chapter, sometimes giving separate and different perspectives of the same event. Some of the dialogues include strong language, which I found hard to read, but it does add realism and reinforce the severe pain Jane experienced, particularly towards the end of the book.
The descriptive sections of the long cycle rides in UK, Italy, France and USA made enjoyable reading, and together with the colour photographs in the centre of the book, provide light relief to its serious subject matter. The funny and sometimes heart-rending accounts involving their children were helpful in understanding what it must be like to live with cancer on a day-to-day basis.
The title, You Can't Take it With You, is an poignant pun on Jane’s predicament, but actually relates to a Tomlinson family expression in reply to the question “May I leave the table?”
The Tomlinson family have my great admiration. Although Jane retired from competition at the end of 2006, she planned and organised the Leeds 10k 'Run For All' event in June this year. Her many sporting awards and public recognition, including a CBE from the Queen, together with the lasting legacy of the annual 'Run For All' event, will ensure that her achievements and bravery continue to inspire and motivate future generations. Their story was a personal reminder to improve to my own personal fitness. Their charity has raised around 1.5 million pounds and supported the work of numerous cancer related charities.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
90 Minutes in Heaven - Don Piper and Cecil Murphey
On 18th January 1989 Don Piper’s car was sandwiched between the railing of Trinity River Bridge and an eighteen-wheeler truck driven by a prison inmate, in Texas USA. Medics said he was instantly killed, but while his battered body lay inside the ruins of his car, he had a glimpse of Heaven.
In the earthly realm, during the ninety minutes it took to cut him free from the wreckage, a minister caught up in the subsequent tail-back of traffic felt compelled to pray for him, convinced that God was doing something miraculous with his life-less body. In the heavenly realm, that ninety minutes was for Don a glimpse of the glory and splendour of paradise. He miraculously returned to life on earth with uncontainable memories of a place of awe and joyful delight, convinced of its reality.
As a minister himself, his long and painful recovery was an ordeal almost too much to bear at times, but one that changed his life and deepened his faith in a loving, caring God. Don now shares his story with thousands of people every year, bringing comfort and hope to those recovering from serious injuries or dealing with the loss of a loved one.
I found this story in the bargain box, at a local bookstore, and was immediately drawn to the title. I cannot remember a time I have not thought about Heaven: What will it be like? Who will be there? Will my body be the same? What will I do there? And so on…
The title conveys a very small portion of Don Piper’s story; in fact his time in heaven covers only two chapters of the book. Told chronologically, I wondered initially if the author was perhaps trying to sensationalise his accident and long recovery by including an ‘out of body’ encounter. However, I came to see that his life’s work of being able to praise God through his suffering was a process that was rooted in the ninety-minute heavenly experience and expressed through his down-to-earth existence. The few black and white photos included in relevant places help to illustrate the horrendous accident and torturing bone growth device he wore, known as an Ilizarov frame.
90 Minutes in Heaven confirmed a lot for me. I read it as a believer and not as a sceptic and found his descriptions credible and encouraging. As a Christian I have read many of the scriptures about Heaven, given in the Bible. I have an assurance that, when this life is over, Jesus has prepared a place for me in Heaven. I even preached about it once, many years ago, and I found the tape of that message quite recently, listening to it again. I enjoy talking to others, hearing their thoughts about what they think Heaven will be like. It’s a subject which has actually featured quite highly in my life over the past few months, through conversations, books and DVD’s. 90 Minutes in Heaven has not answered all my questions, but has contributed to my understanding of this fascinating topic.
I would heartily recommend Don Piper’s contribution to this field.
In the earthly realm, during the ninety minutes it took to cut him free from the wreckage, a minister caught up in the subsequent tail-back of traffic felt compelled to pray for him, convinced that God was doing something miraculous with his life-less body. In the heavenly realm, that ninety minutes was for Don a glimpse of the glory and splendour of paradise. He miraculously returned to life on earth with uncontainable memories of a place of awe and joyful delight, convinced of its reality.
As a minister himself, his long and painful recovery was an ordeal almost too much to bear at times, but one that changed his life and deepened his faith in a loving, caring God. Don now shares his story with thousands of people every year, bringing comfort and hope to those recovering from serious injuries or dealing with the loss of a loved one.
I found this story in the bargain box, at a local bookstore, and was immediately drawn to the title. I cannot remember a time I have not thought about Heaven: What will it be like? Who will be there? Will my body be the same? What will I do there? And so on…
The title conveys a very small portion of Don Piper’s story; in fact his time in heaven covers only two chapters of the book. Told chronologically, I wondered initially if the author was perhaps trying to sensationalise his accident and long recovery by including an ‘out of body’ encounter. However, I came to see that his life’s work of being able to praise God through his suffering was a process that was rooted in the ninety-minute heavenly experience and expressed through his down-to-earth existence. The few black and white photos included in relevant places help to illustrate the horrendous accident and torturing bone growth device he wore, known as an Ilizarov frame.
90 Minutes in Heaven confirmed a lot for me. I read it as a believer and not as a sceptic and found his descriptions credible and encouraging. As a Christian I have read many of the scriptures about Heaven, given in the Bible. I have an assurance that, when this life is over, Jesus has prepared a place for me in Heaven. I even preached about it once, many years ago, and I found the tape of that message quite recently, listening to it again. I enjoy talking to others, hearing their thoughts about what they think Heaven will be like. It’s a subject which has actually featured quite highly in my life over the past few months, through conversations, books and DVD’s. 90 Minutes in Heaven has not answered all my questions, but has contributed to my understanding of this fascinating topic.
I would heartily recommend Don Piper’s contribution to this field.
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