Gladys Aylward: The Little Woman Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This book is about true Christianity. If you are tired of hearing about doctrine and interpretation, if you are weary of discussions about social issues that divide and polarize people, if you are suspicious of the Christianity you see around you, if you find religion reprehensible, read this book. You will see a picture of true Christianity.
This is a story that is not so much about Gladys Aylward as it is about God working through a willing and humble servant. This book is not about a great woman; this book is about a small, powerless and vulnerable human who was strengthened and loved by a great God. As she could not keep God's love, mercy, power and grace all to herself, she proceeded to share it with everyone and anyone around her, whatever the cost.
Repeatedly she risked her life to share God's love with those around her. The story is remarkable and miraculous because Gladys Aylward was so willing to get out of the way and let God work through her. She submitted her life, body and soul completely to her maker and let Him use her in any way he needed. This is a beautiful picture of servitude and an inspiration to those of us who try to live as Christians today in an opulent, spoiled and dark society. We cannot help but be humbled by this beautiful servant of God who repeatedly came near death in order to share the good news of Jesus Christ with those around her.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Gladys Aylward: The Little Woman

A solitary woman. A foreign country.An unknown language.An impossible dream?No, God's call on the life of Gladys Aylward.With no mission board to support or guide her and less than ten dollars in her pocket, Gladys Aylward left her home in England to answer God's call to take the message of the gospel to China. With the Sino-Japanese War waging around her, she struggled to bring the basics of life and the fullness of God to orphaned children. Time after time, God triumphed over impossible situations, and drew people to Himself. The Little Woman tells the story of one woman's determination to serve God?at any cost.With God all things are possible!

Click here for more information about Gladys Aylward: The Little Woman

Read More...

John Newton: From Disgrace to Amazing Grace Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)While not everyone knows the name of John Newton, everyone knows his song and at least a bit of his story. Immortalized in the words of "Amazing Grace," the most-recorded song in history, everyone knows that John Newton was wretched and miserable until saved by a grace that forever transformed his life. Two centuries ago, fewer people knew his song, but far more knew his story. That story is told again and told afresh in Jonathan Aitken's new biography John Newton: From Disgrace to Amazing Grace.
John Newton lived a life that could only have been more dramatic if it were the product of fiction. Forced into naval service when he was young, Newton endeared himself to no one, living a life of utter disregard for authority. While attempting to desert he was captured and dropped to the lowest ranks of seamen. He eventually found a way to be released from the military and wormed his way onto a slave shape with which he sailed down the long coast of Africa. Being deserted for a time on that dark continent, he was made the slave of a slave-trader and suffered terrible abuse at the hands of his captor. After a time he was rescued and became the captain of his own slave ship. But then, during a long passage across the Atlantic Ocean, he began to read a Bible and underwent the remarkable transformation chronicled in the song he wrote years later.
Newton worked in secular employment for a time but soon felt the call to ministry and was ordained an Anglican priest, a position he retained until his death in 1807. In the intervening years he became widely-known through his biography and through his efforts to abolish the slave trade. He served as mentor to William Wilberforce who fought a long but ultimately successful campaign to ban the British slave trade. It was two hundred years ago that this battle was won and two hundred years ago that Newton died. As Eric Metaxas has written a new biography of Wilberforce to mark the occasion, Aitken has done the same with Newton.
And it is quite a good biography. Aitken, who has previously chronicled the lives of Richard Nixon and Chuck Colson is a recent convert who underwent quite a radical conversion. He does a fine job of bringing the life of his subject to a whole new generation. While it may lack the depth of some of the greatest biographies of the greatest Christians, it is eminently readable and enjoyable from the first page to the last. A unique contribution of this book is that it relies on diaries and correspondence that have previously been unpublished. Newton's own writing, and especially his letters, provide a good deal of the book's content and some of its most edifying. In fact, the content and depth of these letters persuaded me to seek out a volume published by Banner of Truth titled simply The Letters of John Newton.
The theme of this biography can be aptly summarized by the final words spoken by this hero of the faith. "I am a great sinner, but Christ is a great Savior." This account takes us from Newton's days of joyous depravity to his dramatic conversion to his new life and ultimately to the moment he went to meet the great Savior he had come to know and love. It is a worthwhile addition to any library.

Click Here to see more reviews about: John Newton: From Disgrace to Amazing Grace

Get 33% OFF

Click here for more information about John Newton: From Disgrace to Amazing Grace

Read More...

John Newton A Slave Set Free (Trailblazers) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)We purchased this book to read aloud as a family. We're only about three-fourths of the way through, but I must admit I'd prefer to be reading Out of the Depths, Newton's own autobiography. Granted, the original would probably be too hard for my 9 and 7 year olds to understand, but I'm confident that my 11 and 13 year olds would do fine with it.
A Slave Set Free opens a little awkwardly in the present day. In the first chapter, two boys named Chris and James end up doing some exploration on their computer about the history of slavery. In the second chapter John Newton's story begins. Though we haven't finished the entire book, it doesn't appear that the author returns to the modern-day Chris and James computer scene.
Anyhow, my boys are all enjoying it. The author does a good job depicting slave conditions on the ships. My nine year old was moved to tears listening to one of the passages.
Overall, a good book. I've always been happy with Christian Focus Publications. Author Irene Howat also wrote the "Ten Boys/Girls Who..." series, which my kids have really enjoyed.

Click Here to see more reviews about: John Newton A Slave Set Free (Trailblazers)

John stood and watched as some of the largest waves he had ever seen threw themselves at the ship. Very little stood between the young slave ship captain and death – and he knew it. His panic and fear made him think only of himself and nothing for the hundreds of men, women and children chained in the hold below. However, God still heard his prayers and the cries of the tortured humanity pleading for mercy and justice. The very man selling them into slavery would soon fight for their freedom. John Newton was one of the worst abusers of the African slave as he travelled the oceans to make money from their misery – but in the end his life was changed and so was theirs.

Click here for more information about John Newton A Slave Set Free (Trailblazers)

Read More...