I Dared to Call Him Father: The True Story of a Woman's Encounter with God (Paperback)

~ (Author), Catherine Marshall (Foreword), Richard H. Schneider (Collaborator) "The strange prickly feeling grew inside me as I walked slowly along the graveled paths of my garden..." (more)

Product Details

• Paperback: 173 pages
• Publisher: Chosen Books (April 1980)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0800790715
• ISBN-13: 978-0800790714
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #423,590 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book will make you cry ... for joy., June 19, 2000

By A Customer

When I first read this book I couldn't stop reading it for I was caught up by the events that took place in Bilquis's life that would later bring her into the only faith that allowed her to call God "Father". Living in a Muslim country I dare confirm the persecutions faced by Bilquis in her book are true. We have the same persecutions happening at where I'm from. From using white Muslims as freaks to convice the potential "apostates" that even white "Christians" embrace Islam to issuing death threats in scaring the new converts to denounce their new found faith. It is not easy for a Muslim to convert to Christianity in a Muslim nation. They will lose everything (family, possesions, nationality, etc.) sometimes even their lives. The sad thing is most Muslims still believe that their faith is tolerant thus denying stories like Bilquis's as fiction. Therefore to convince these Muslims they should try and convert to Christianity and see what happens to them. Such stubborn ignorance prevents them from seeing the Truth thus it is a miracle for them to convert to Christianity. Stories like Bilquis's are an inspiration to us that God's miracles do happen. And yes I cried at every incident that brought her closer to calling God "Father". Romans 8: 14-17 "For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the spirit of sonship. When we cry, "Abba! Father!" it is the Spirit himself bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him."

John

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I Want to Be Like Her, September 10, 2001

By	Jedidiah Palosaari "Not My Real Name" (Fes, Morocco) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

The thing I hated about this book was that I was reading it inbetween breaks at work, and sometimes I had to put it down. It was gripping throughout, and though the writing might not be that of Chaucer or Dickins I give it 5 stars because it was so inspirational and encouraging. I want to be like her! "I Dared" describes the process of a Pakistani noble woman coming to a belief in Jesus as Lord, through dreams and reading the Bible on her own- though there is continual Christian community around her and involved with her. She describes aspects of Islam positively, such as the call of the mu'ezzein from the minarets, which she found comforting, as do I. But she also describes times when Islamic belief and Pakistani culture serve to hurt. She doesn't do this negatively, but simply mentions the facts that happened to her.

I was impressed, deeply, at how she was willing to be lead by God towards whatever He wanted. And not like she was a saint- she shares a process of learning to give up her rights in favor of God's. Particularly moving was the segment where she realizes the necessity of forgiving even her former husband, and how she goes from a place of, "No, I can't do that at all God." to "Yes, and if he came to my house today I would welcome him." I also enjoyed her detailing of the process by which she learned to hear God's voice. She wasn't hung up on a lot of regulations that had built up over the centuries in Christendom about what to do or not to do, how to be baptized or receive the Spirit, how you listen and what you must do or not do to avoid certain practices- she just listened and tried to obey. And at the times when she didn't obey, she relates with complete honesty how she learned through that.

I think this is the most stunning part of the book- the complete honesty. She doesn't try to make herself better or more important, as certain bios of great Christians in America might do. She just related what God had done, in taking a broken jar and remolding it. Her openness opens up the world of the Spirit.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars God is so amazing!, July 22, 1999

By A Customer

This was one of the most inspiring books I have read in a very long time! It is so wonderful that one person can be so committed to doing what she knows is right, however wrong it may seem to others around her.

Bequilis becomes a very dedicated Christian, which is enough to make any Christian take a very long and hard look at whether they are indeed following God's will for their lives.

The fact that this is a true story made me very aware that our God is a living God who will guide and answer us in all we do and ask.