Customer Reviews

I Tell You a Mystery: Life, Death, and Eternity

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I Tell you a Mystery; Life, Death, Eternity" with a foreword
by Madeleine L'Engle is the best book that I found on the
market dealing with Death, Dying and Bereavement. My family
experienced a lot of death and we were hurting. We did not
know how to deal with it. It seems like death and bereavement is something no one wants to talk about it. And
even when one looses a beloved one like a parent or brother
and sister one is expected in our Society to act normal
within a few days. This all changed when we got a copy of
"I Tell you a Mystery." The stories contained in this book
everyone and anyone young and old can have real empathy with. I highly recommend this book to all ages. Even little children just love to read the stories which this
book contains.
Paul and Betty Winter

This book made me face the question squarely. I was touched by the many examples of ordinary people facing death with faith in God, and a hope in the eternal.

Those whose stories appear in this book had the same fears and worries that you and I do about death, but faith and joy was given to them

Easily a book you could read in a day or less, "I TELL YOU A MYSTERY" offers real human stories and insights into life and death. It sounds like a downer of a book, but it actually filled me with much more hope than I thought it would. I will remember a few of these stories forever, no doubt, and I'm sure they will help me in my own journey, when I begin to lose those closest to me.

Arnold's book begins: "Are you afraid of dying? Have you ever worried about growing old, about becoming a burden to your children? Do you wonder how you would survive the loss of your spouse, a parent, a child? Is someone you love facing illness or death? Whether consciously or subconciously, every person inevitably faces these questions at one point or another. It is in search of answers to them that I have written this book."

Arnold searches for these answers in the stories of ordinary people he's known who have faced death. He tells each story well in that he doesn't over dramatize the circumstances or struggle to justify God's ways. Instead, he lets each life speak for itself and allows that death is a great mystery indeed.

After losing my father, I read several books about pain, loss, grieving, and death. I enjoyed this work because it featured many perspectives, allowing that death is very much an individual experience, shaped by upbringing and personality. It was instructive and comforting to read about how other Christians have faced tragedy and illness. I also like the way he included photographs of the people because it made me feel closer to them.

This is a quiet little book that you can read in a few sittings or savor bit by bit. It will leave you pondering life, death, and God's plan for creation. I appreciate Arnold's perspective because his sadness is tempered by his knowledge that the universe is ruled by a loving and merciful God who has not left death as the final word.

Sometimes it is hard to know what words to say when a friend is suddenly facing terminal illness or the loss of a loved one. A gift of this book is one way of saying 'I care'. We will all face tough things in life and eventually the end of our life, the stories in this book are about ordinary people who faced these moments with faith and courage.

The stories in "I Tell You A Mystery" had a deep effect on me. Death is something we all have to face. I could not put the book down -- something made me want to finish it even though I had to grab a kleenex after every chapter. I couldn't help but cry for the husband who lost his wife from cancer after only a few years of marriage; for the 6 children who lost their mother; for the mother of the 13-year old girl who drowned; for the anguish of the parents who lost their babies from SIDS or birth defects... Days afterwords I was living in those stories and wondering how I would face my end -- would I be ready to leave this world? The final chapters reveal a hope and compassion for those who are hurting from losses. I hope this book will find a wide audience -- it will effect everyone who reads it, actually it will change their lives.

H. Rimes, (Youth Counselor)

My wife is a physician, and as a couple we deal a lot with terminally ill patients and their families. This book, with its direct and moving stories of how ordinary people have faced loss or death, has been a tremendous help to all the patients and acquaintances who have read it. The response from families who are hurting is just tremendous. Since every one of us faces death, this book is relevant for all. The stories and the author's observations and counsel in this difficult area are profound, yet direct and down-to-earth. He gives a lot of valuable personal insight. A strong indication of the book's quality is the remarkable list of endorsers -- Madeleine L'Engle, Dr. Paul Brand, Jonathan Kozol, Cardinal John O'Connor, just to mention a few.

Marcus Mommsen