Customer Reviews

Craddock Stories

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These short little stories, most of them not even a page long, are little sermons in themselves, for those who have ears to hear. Surely not all of them actually happened (unless you think dogs and birds talk back to Fred when he talks to them), but all of them are true. Several stories are printed twice in slightly different forms, making a different point altogether. Then again, if you put the book down for awhile and re-read it several months down the road, you may get a different point out of the same story! Some seem to have no point at all, except to make you think. The author assumes some intelligence on the part of the listener/reader, so he doesn't usually make the point or points obvious. Read, learn, and marvel at this wonderful collection!

Dr. Craddock has the ability to draw you in to his stories in such a way that you can picture and relive the story over and over in your mind. It is as though it were the readers story to own after reading it. With a slight smile Dr Craddock relates sometimes funny but always meaningful stories. I liken this book to Tuesdays With Morie. It needs to be read once every year. I am buying copies for my children.

The stories, although out of context, are examples of the giftedness of a great story teller. I've heard many of the stories before, either as a student, in live sermons or taped sermons. Many of the stories find there way into sermons on very different subjects -- because each event in life has to do with more than one thing. Read the stories for the enjoyment of the stories. Certainly they can have spiritual application, but for each of us it is our job to make the connection.

I love Fred Craddock. He is my favorite preacher and his new style was a watershed for the homiletics community. This book, however, goes against Craddock's entire method. Craddock weaves his stories in and out of his sermons in order to allow people to acquire the truth he is deliver without just making a pronouncement of that truth. The stories are everyday examples which help people understand a particular thought or doctrine, much the same way Jesus used parables that dealt with things everyone would understand like a sower going out to sow. These stories, while great, are best in the context of the sermon and therefore people should read his books with sermons in it and discover the true richness of his stories there rather than in this book. In the sermon the stories serve their purpose and can allow readers to better create their own stories and tell their own stories as they see how Craddock tells his in the form of the sermon. I recommend getting "the Cherry Log Sermons" which has many of the stories found in this book, "As One without Authority" and "Overhearing the Gospel." You can also find many of his sermons online to download for a small cost or buy several cds of his sermons so you can hear him tell his own stories, the way they are meant to be experienced, orally.

People who want to see the Christian faith made concrete will love these stories as well as preachers and former students of Professor Craddock. As enjoyable as the stories are, they lack the context of the sermons in which they were used not to mention the joy of hearing Professor Craddock's voice and seeing his face. But for those who know him, in our mind's eye, we can see him on that box behind the pulpit, hear his voice ringing and our souls are fed once again.

We love the Craddock Stories. We've purchased at least 3 copies of the book and given them as gifts. Fred Craddock is honest, uplifting and straight to the point of how God weaves our lives with one another. Thank you, Fred Craddock! Bill and Diane Tucker, Nashville, TN

I recommend this book of stories for a preacher. Each story makes a clear point with interest. Read this before you try other books of short stories

Craddock Stories is a collection of brief retellings of Craddock's life experiences from childhood, through seminary, from professor to parish pastor. This is a collection of the Fred B.Craddock stories which are most often quoted by others. They are a virtual string of pearls; subtle but extremely clear recantings of scripture and daily life rubbing up against each other. Extremely helpful in the pulpit and as clarifying points for difficult places in life. Strongly recommend.Craddock Stories