Customer Reviews

The Best of Peter Marshall

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I read the book 'A man called Peter' last summer. It was a wonderful book, and I LOVED it!!!!!!!!! Then I decided to read some sermons by Dr. Marshall. I checked 'The best of Peter Marshall' out at my library and literally could not put the book down! I must say, they were at times challenging and convicting, but that's exactly what I needed. I love the way he got right to the point and said what you needed to hear without beating around the bush, but yet wasn't overbearing or boring. His sermons are full of humor and at times I found myself laughing out loud. I HIGHLY recommend this book, whether you have read 'A man called Peter', or have never even heard of Peter Marshall. You will enjoy this book if you are seeking God's will for your life.

Forgive me if this is a repeat of my comments on another collection of Rev. Marshall's work, "Mr. Jones, Meet the Master"
It was far too often that I have been forced to look to scriptures and commentaries of other faiths to find spiritual works of both faith and imagination. like his fellow Scotsman George MacDonald, and also C.S. Lewis, Peter Marshall is among the rare exceptions. Not that I have any problem with authors, scriptures, and artists of other faith traditions, its just a rare find in Christian writers on the Gospel. It takes imagination to take a thousands year old text, and breath life into it to make real, relevant and alive for a totally new time and place, but all three of these authors, MacDonald, Lewis, and Marshall do it beautifully. Perhaps those of the Orient and Middle east are usually better at seeing scripture and religion through the prism of the artist's imagination because their cultures are often less focused on the printed word as an end in itslef, and more involved in spoken word, storytelling, and the poetic imagination, at least with regards to religious texts. Whatever the reasons, this scarcity in the Christian tradition makes a collection like this all the more rewarding. I won't try and describe the way Marshall imagines what it would be like to walk with Christ, to live as a disciple of a living Christ. I wouldn't do it justice. Enough to say I suppose, that this book is a rare treasure for any seeker of spiritual sustainance of any faith. Have the courage to imagine that Jesus is real, that the gospel is indeed truth and feel yourself swept away in a torrent of faith. Words of wisdom from one of the spiritual masters of our times. Like all spiritual masterworks, these sermons are an important resource for all mankind, regardless of faith. People forget that Mohammed spoke with reverence of the Hebrew prophets, just as Christ did. Mohammed also spoke of Christ and his Mother. Imagine how many islamist extremists and fundamentalists don't even consider this simple truth. Even Guru Nanak is part of a long tradition of prophets who spoke of unity of Islam and Hinduim, and yet Sikhs started a third religion in his name! But I digress, if you find what I'm saying blasphemous, don't worry, these are my own reflections not those of mr Marshall. My point is this only: If you are a non Christian, and you want to understand the spirit of Christ or learn from his teachings, besides going to the gospel itself, at least read someone who believes Christ, and who has the courage to imagine that his is not just and institution or a collections of ideas, but a living reality -now as ever. Don't forget to check out George MacDonald (try "Life Essential" to start) and of course C.S. Lewis.

I have been totally blown away by this little book! Dr. Marshall was an extraordinary man. He purposefully limited himself and wrote in simple every-day English so that the rest of us could understand the simple, but beautiful truths of the Gospel and the Bible. Dr. Marshall's humor is refreshing and inviting and his examples are both informative and entertaining. I wish I could have had the chance to thank him and I do thank his wife, Catherine Marshall very heartily for the part she played in putting this book together and in inspiring her husband. I highly recommend this book for all people, whether polititions, teachers, tradesmen, or teens! It represents and portrays the true story of human redemtion from sin through the love and sacrafice of Jesus Christ.

I read this book when it was first published and thought that I still had the edition. As luck would have it, the edition has wandered off during the ensuing years. The content material is still as applicable today as it was when the sermons were first given during the 1940s. The book is highly recommended.