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58 of 59 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Blueprint For Living Our Personal Journey Thru Life, March 24, 2006
This review is from: The Journey: Living by Faith in an Uncertain World (Hardcover)
Those of us who have followed Billy Graham and his ministry since the 1940's will buy and read this perhaps final book written by him, now age 87. We will buy copies for others. We appreciate everything about this man, his ministry, his wife, and family. We believe he answers our questions honestly as he points us to the Bible, which he truly believes. This book is the perfect companion to his previous autobiography, Just As I Am.
Now, in the year 2006, other generations will take a look at the JOURNEY thru the perspective of Billy Graham, whom God definitely called as an evangelist. The book is divided into 4 sections to be read slowly and thoughtfully. It is for every age group. It gives the plan for living a life of peace in an uncertain world. The plan is outlined in the first section with a welcome to the journey; the great designer of the plan (God) and the great design, what happened as recorded in the book of Genesis, and how we can start over with a new beginning and head in the right direction.
Section Two is entitled Strength for the Journey. The blueprint is found in the Bible and Billy Graham helps us to discover the plan for our life which leads, in the end, to heaven. His message is and has always been the same.Thankfully, the Graham children, especially his son Franklin Graham who is becoming a well known evangelist in his own right, is continuing the same message - God loves us, He created us, He sent His son to die for us (Jesus) - and whosoever believes in Him (Jesus, who rose again and became our personal saviour) shall have everlasting life.
Section Three discusses challenges along the way - when we wander off the path, how to confront enemies within our souls and emotions that defeat us. When others disappoint us (thanks, Billy, you never have) we are given scripture to help us understand. Also discussed is dealing with suffering and loss, things that destroy us, and when life turns against us.
The last section is how to stay the course, (one day at a time). The forks in the road, making an impact, and other thoughts and scripture. Then....our glorious hope - heaven at the end of our journey. Billy Graham, representing the gold standard for a religious leader, evangelist, and encourager to all peoples here on earth, tells us not to waste our life and not to be satisfied with anything less than God's plan for us.
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39 of 41 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Graham on Faith, March 19, 2006
This review is from: The Journey: Living by Faith in an Uncertain World (Hardcover)
If you want to "know" Billy Graham, two of his books stand out. The first, his autobiography, was written a decade ago. Fittingly entitled, "Just As I Am," it is one of the most enjoyable and inspirational spiritual autobiographies written in the past 100 years.
The second is the current volume: "The Journey: Living by Faith in an Uncertain World." Like his autobiography which highlights God's grace in his own life, "The Journey" emphasizes faith in God's grace, even when life is confusing.
Graham addresses life's most perplexing questions with a profund, unshakable faith in God's goodness. Admitting that this side of heaven he does not have all the answers, Graham honestly wrestles with the questions.
Readers wanting a deep philosophical tome will likely not find their thirst quench here. However, those longing for practical answers gleaned from an experienced, mature believer, need look no further than "The Journey."
Reviewer: Bob Kellemen, Ph.D., is the author of "Beyond the Suffering: Embracing the Legacy of African American Soul Care and Spiritual Direction," "Soul Physicians," "Spiritual Friends," and the forthcoming "Sacred Friendships: Listening to the Voices of Women Soul Care-Givers and Spiritual Directors."
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28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A comprehensive discussion of the Christian faith and life, March 28, 2006
This review is from: The Journey: Living by Faith in an Uncertain World (Hardcover)
Billy Graham must be one of the most famous Christians today and perhaps that might cause some people to buy this book - to read what the man who has spoken to more people on earth than anyone else has to say. I hope these people DO buy the book, as I'm not sure who else will - I have found it difficult to work out the target market for the book.
The physical book was slightly disappointing as the pages were roughly cut and the font used for emphases was a strange, ungainly-looking italic. The front cover is plain but the rear cover has a photograph of Billy Graham - a very widely-known face that no doubt my fellow train passengers recognised. The occasional name-dropping in the book (John F Kennedy, for example) reminds you that Billy Graham really has met the great and the good, and yet he comes across as a very humble and godly man, aware of his own failures and shortcomings. I was impressed.
This work is Billy Graham's explanation of why you should become a Christian, how to live the Christian life and how to look forward to heaven. It's written with all the experience and wisdom of an 87 year old Christian who has travelled widely and communicated with people from all walks of life - and this comes through very well. The book is peppered with quotes from people who have written to him where they share their lives, thoughts, difficulties, and it's a real strength in the book that he can illustrate all his points not only with the Bible but with `real life'. His family, particularly his wife Ruth, also are mentioned many times in order to reinforce what he is saying, and it lends the book an intimate and friendly feel.
It's a very easy read - the sentences are short, no complex subclauses, each page has several mini-headings so you can keep track of his arguments - and yet it is packed full of real meaty stuff. In some ways it reads as if designed for speaking, as a sermon, and this is one of its strengths as he lays out his argument clearly and precisely. The "prayer of commitment" occurs on page 52 of this 312 page book and the remainder of the book is about our lives as Christians - how we can be sure of our conversion, remain faithful, live godly lives and accept our responsibilities as believers. Billy Graham steers clear of all controversial topics, speaking in generalities about Christian ethics and behaviours, which made the book a less frustrating read than some which hold firmly to a particular viewpoint to which many Christians may not adhere.
The underlying message of this book is that prayer and Bible study are the foundation for the Christian life and the way in which we will grow, mature and learn to know God better. His advice is always to pray more, to read the Bible, and this cannot be faulted.
For me, it was a real pleasure to read a book that reminded me once again why I became a Christian - and also recalled to memory the many ways in which we all fail as Christians along the road in terms of our behaviour to others, to ourselves and to God, and offered advice in avoiding some of these pitfalls. I liked the fact that Billy Graham said there were many things which he did not know and understand about God, about the world, about suffering - he made the journey towards understanding worthwhile. This is no American self-help book with ten magic bullet points to becoming a proper Christian - it's a book which doesn't downplay the difficulties, frustrations and questions that Christians may have, but also gives hope for the future and the confidence that it is all worth it.
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