5 comments about The Roots of Endurance: Invincible Perseverance in the Lives of John Newton, Charles Simeon, and William Wilberforce (Piper, John, Swans Are Not Silent, V. 3.).

1. Piper continues his eulogies in 'The Swans Are Not Silent' by tracing the lives of three unique men called of God to be Job in our era.
   
   These godly men had a tenacity that transcends human ability. As such, we can and do readily accept that it was God's providence in their lives that led them to such mighty labor.
   
   All these men lived holy lives, yet suffered reproach for righteousness' sake. They all had a desire to put Christ first and this they then did in exemplary fashion. Once again, Calvinists glorifying God in the totality of their human life. It is an awe-inspiring read. When Piper introduces the modern way of 'giving-up' so easily and too often, it honestly probed into the depths of my soul. A great contribution to their Puritan piety.
   
   'Did Newton strike the right balance of a patient, tenderhearted, noncontroversial pattern of ministry and a serious vigilance against harmful error?' pg 65



2. I love biographies. I love John Piper. So I really love biographies written by John Piper. The Roots of Endurance: Invincible Perseverance in the Lives of John Newton, Charles Simeon and William Wilberforce is the third book (of four) in the Swans are not Silent biography series. Each book contains short, 30-40 page biographies of three saints; each section focusing on particular distinctives of that specific saint.
   
   John Newton, Charles Simeon and William Wilberforce are the subjects of book three and are brought together under a common theme: each man possessed and exhibited character qualities that are essential to perseverance in Christian life and ministry. For Newton, it was the "tough roots of his habitual tenderness"; for Simeon, it was the "ballest of brokeness" that kept his ship from being tossed to and fro; and for Wilberforce, it was child-like joy in Christ that enabled him to steadily persevere with patience and hope in the midst of great opposition.
   
   Piper shows us John Newton as a man who, after his conversion to Christ, lived out these words:
   
   "Whoever...has tasted of the love of Christ, and has known, by his own experience, the need and the worth of redemption, is enabled, yea, he is constrained, to love his fellow creatures. He loves them at first sight, and, if the providence of God commits a dispensation of the gospel and care of souls to him, he will feel the warmest emotions of friendship and tenderness, while he beseeches them by the tender mercies of God, and even while he warns them by his terrors" (54).
   
   There is much, much more; but to suffice it to say, Newton was a man who lived the truth of II Timothy 2:24-26.
   
   Charles Simeon helps us to obey the commandment, "Be patient in tribulation" Romans 12:12. Piper wants Simeon's life to help us "see persecution, opposition, slander, misunderstanding, disappointment, self-recrimination, weakness, and danger as the normal portion of faithful Christian living and ministry" (78). Simeon himself endured such things and so becomes a model to us as we seek to live faithfully in the present age. Piper explains that Simeon's ability to persevere grew from "Roots of Endurance":
   
   He had a strong sense of his accountability before god for the souls of his flock
   He was free from the scolding tone even through controversy
   He was not a rumor tracker
   He was not a heresy-hunter
   He dealt with opponents in a forthright, face to face way
   He learned to receive rebuke and grow from it
   He was unimpeachable in his finances and he had no love of money
   He saw discouraging things hopefully
   He saw suffering as a privilege of bearing the cross with Christ
   
   But the deepest roots that gave health and life to these other 'roots' was Simeon's devotion to Bible study and meditation; and his experience of "Growing downward in humiliation before God and upward in adoration of Christ." Simeon said, "Meditation is the grand means of our growth in grace; without it prayer itself is an empty service."
   
   But it was his experience of humiliation before God that could be considered his 'deepest root.' Simeon said,
   
   "Repentance is in every view so desirable, so necessary, so suited to honor God, that I seek that above all. The tender heart, the broken and contrite spirit, are to me far above all the joys that I could ever hope for in this vale of tears. I long to be in my proper place, my hand upon my mouth, and my mouth in the dust...I feel this is safe ground. Here I cannot [error]...I am sure that whatever God may despise...He will not despise a broken heart" (110).
   
   William Wilberforce's most well known accomplishment was his success in fighting for the abolition of slavery and slave trade in the British Empire. Both evils were abolished before his death in 1833. But Wilberforce was not a 'Single issue candidate." After his conversion in his mid -twenties, Wilberforce, who was already a member of the British Parliament, fought on a number of levels for the good of mankind. Piper informs us that "There was a steady stream of action to alleviate pain and bring greater social (and eternal!) good. 'At one stage, he was active in sixty-nine different initiatives.'"
   
   Wilberforce, however, did not lose his edge on pure doctrine while pursuing social good. Piper explains,
   
   "Many public people say that changing society requires changing people, but few show the depth of understanding Wilberforce did concerning how that comes about. For him, the right grasp of the central doctrine of justification and its relation to sanctification--an emerging Christlikeness in private and public--were essential to his own endurance and for the reformation of the morals of England" (158).
   
   Wilberforce would write,
   
   "The grand distinction which subsists between the true Christian and all other Religionists...is concerning the nature of holiness and the way it is to be obtained...[nominal Christians think that] morality is to be obtained by their own natural unassisted efforts: of if they admit some vague indistinct notion of the assistance of the Holy Spirit, it is unquestionably obvious on conversing with them that this does not constitute the main practical ground of their dependence" (159).
   
   Amidst all his efforts for the good of all men, Wilberforce would suffer great slander, pain at home (with his wayward son), and tremendous physical sufferings brought about by medical ailments. But he persevered through these trials by a child-like joy in Christ. Joy, to Wilberforce, was a Christian's high duty:
   
   "We can scarcely indeed look into any part of the sacred volume without meeting abundant proofs, that it is the religion of the Affections which God particularly requires...joy...is enjoined on us as our bounden duty and commended to us as acceptable worship...A cold...unfeeling heart is represented as highly criminal" (150).
   
   In each example, I gave only a taste of what is in the book. And I strongly recommend not only this volume, but each volume of the Swans are not Silent series. They are edifying, strengthening, and very interesting. I am confident that they will encourage you as you seek to persevere with tenderness, brokeness, and joy in Christ.



3. The Roots of Endurance is the third volume in a series of biographical books by John Piper called "The Swans Are Not Silent." Each book covers three figures from Christian history under a common theme. In this book, Piper looked at the lives of John Newton, Charles Simeon, and William Wilberforce, each of which endured to their ends facing remarkable adversity.
   
   Piper set the stage with an introduction connecting the three men together in history, spiritually, and theologically. As usual, his words are salted with spiritual wisdom and worth meditation. From the life of John Newton, Piper explored "habitual tenderness" and what it means to have "a tender heart and a theological backbone of steel."
   
   The biography of Charles Simeon is one of my favorite from the series so far. For the first twelve years of his service at Trinity Church his congregation resisted and rebelled against him, and yet he remained there for fifty-four years! And as many now know due to the recent movie, "Amazing Grace," William Wilberforce also maintained his service through many years, though for him it was in Parliament fighting slavery. Piper told the stories of these men's inspiring lives along with great academic footnotes and insightful practical application.
   
   Unlike the other books in this series, I thought the concluding thoughts to The Roots of Endurance were a bit shallow (compared to Piper's other reflections) and perhaps rushed. However, the book stands well enough on its own without the conclusion and I would recommending reading it if only for the biography of Charles Simeon.



4. What a great book - in my opinion Piper is such a great writer and the subject of his essay this time was one of my personal heroes - William Wilberforce. But this wasn't just a book about the life and ministry of Wilberforce, it was a look at the interaction of three incredible men of God that all lived at the same time in England and how they each endured through extraordinary conditions. The elder statesman was John Newton, well-known today as the author of the hymn "Amazing Grace." Newton, a former slave-trade captain, became an outspoken abolitionist as he pastured a church and ministered to the lives of his parishioners. Piper also brings into the mix another pastor, a contemporary of Wilberforce, Charles Simeon who pastured Trinity Church on the campus of Cambridge for fifty-four years.
   
   The primary emphasis of this book is simply to introduce Christians today to some of the great men of the faith from years past - the great cloud of witnesses of Hebrews 12. This book is actually Book Three of The Swans are not Silent series and after reading this one, I'm looking forward to diving into the others. But the book is not just biographical in nature - Piper does a great job applying the lessons learned from the lives and struggles of these great men to our own personal spiritual journeys. In this book, specifically, each man had to overcome significant opposition to their faith and the common root of endurance they shared was their deep devotion to God's Word and their unwillingness to compromise their principles for expediency or approval. However, each individual did have opportunities to demonstrate God's grace in their own lives as they worked with those who stood in opposition to them, and in most cases, won them over as brothers-in-Christ by their compassion.
   
   Three incredible stories of three god-sized challenges overcome by three humble, but God-centered, men. The book is a great read for almost anyone - a friend struggling with a life issue, a young person wondering how God could use them, or a pastor as he sacrifices to lead and minister to his flock - The Roots of Endurance is a challenging, uplifting and encouraging read and just what the doctor ordered to spur one another one toward love and good deeds (Heb. 10:24).



5. John Piper produced another top-notch work. This book is articulate, to the point, and easy to read. He clearly did a tremendous amount of scholarly work in writing this book. Very few works exist in Reformed circles wherein non-theologians can read and understand due to the concise nature of the writing. Piper did an excellent job describing how these men dealt with tremendous strife - and where the ability to do so originated. These men understood God's grace... and that is a point not lost, but rather promoted, by Piper. This is another book I can highly recommend.

5 comments about "God Has Made Us a Kingdom": James Strang And the Midwest Mormons.

1. Although there have been a number of biographies of James J. Strang, Prophet of the Great Lakes Mormons, very little has been written about his followers, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Strangite).
   
   Vickie Speek's excellent book, "God Has Made Us a Kingdom," is a much needed step toward painting the broader picture. In addition to telling Strang's story in a careful, engaging way, Speek tells the stories of his four plural (or polygamous) wives, both before and after their husband's martyrdom. These narratives enrich our understanding of the lives of early Mormons --- especially the (often ignored) lives of early Mormon women. It should also be mentioned that the history Speek includes of the Strangites after Strang cannot be found in any other book.
   
   Speek's careful treatment of the charges that the Beaver Island Mormons were engaged in church-sanctioned stealing illustrates her fair and neutral approach to the sources.
   
   Overall, this is an excellent book. My only complaint was that it left me wanting to read even more of the always interesting history of the Strangite Mormon church.



2. The foreword of the book gave me a better idea of what I was going to read. I had longed for this book. Books about the other denominations, sprung out of Joseph Smith (1805-1844) are very limited. If they do exist, they are apologetic, not neutral scholarship.
   
   V C Speek, with her sublime and humble style, diplomatic and investigative, has given me a personal deep understanding of Strang and his people. She has dug in archives, she has read books about the LDS movements, former books about Strang, taken contact with his descendants and the congregation that still cherish this faith. I thought it would be the life story of Strang - I wanted to have some source criticism of his two major works, the Voree plates and the Book of Law. I did get some insight, but more on the surface. Speek didn't want to go into the polemical side of these issues. Good done - she treated these works as natural as all other sides of Strang's life. Normally, Strang becomes the focus in many books and the way she has dedicated the half part of the book to the five wives of Strang and two chapters to the time after his murder and what happened to his people and the controversy between his followers and the islanders, have made a book a sort of a synthesis.
   
   The book starts with the discovery of this denomination in Voree and how Speek starts her voyage thru the archives in different cities to capture this off-shot of Joseph Smith' movement. After his death many sought to be new leaders of the church, one of them his own brother, William Smith. Strang in his own way - thru personal revelation and a letter (put in question) by Joseph himself - became a new prophet for a new people with a new covenant. Even though he had broken with Joseph about the issue of plural marriage, he took with himself the role of translator, prophet and seer. He established a new kingdom according to the kingdom envisioned by Joseph, the Council of Fifty. Strang came to accept plural marriage. He became the king Joseph never had the time to become, he also got his kingdom till both islanders and people of his own put a stop to it. He also became a senator, Joseph had run for president, but never made it.
   
   So much continued, with it also the same troubles: mobs attacking the movement, stealing, rumour spreading about how dangerous and contra-US the movement is. Once again the people had to relive the Missouri and Nauvoo persecutions. With his murder, his wives scattered and what happened - yes, just find out by your self. Left was that island, Beaver Island, civilised, modernised, but empty.
   
   His wives were different in many ways. Each of them was educated, competent and skilled. Speek has captured their sorrows and happy times, thru diaries of their own or others and has shown this spirit of survival and of hope.
   
   The resemblance between Joseph and Strang shows how much belief and faith make us want to change everything. The new revelations of Strang brought new perspectives to the LDS faith. It can be his way, it can be the way he understood his higher power, at the end, I see how much we need faith. When you make a city out of marshes and jungles, you have proven that paradise CAN exist today on earth, NOW.
   
   Both Joseph and Strang left so many broken hearts, so much unresolved. The question of whether they are fraud or prophets haunts them. But Speek catches the people, their every day life, whether cutting trees or gathering berries, wearing funny clothes or not drinking. Finding more, and bringing new pieces to the puzzle of faith and its interaction with us. These people really had a bawl, not always, but they had it. Do we?



3. "God Has Made Us A Kingdom": James Strang And The Midwest Mormons by accomplished journalist Vickie Speek is a history of James J. Strang, a charismatic Mormon dissident and polygamist who was considered to be the successor to Joseph Smith in Mormon communities of the Midwest. "God Has Made Us A Kingdom" also pays especial attention to accusations that the Strangite clan engaged in wholesale"consecration of gentile property" that may have amounted to raw piracy. Two-thirds of "God Has Made Us A Kingdom" is devoted to Strang's life; the remaining third to the lives of his wives and children. A handful of black-and-white photographs illustrate this revealing glimpse into a man in the center of Mormon community, whose life and example 150 years ago leaves repercussions upon Mormon life today.



4. Vickie Speek has written a definitive history on the Strang era on Beaver Island, MI. She pays special attention to Strang's five wives, their children, and developments in the aftermath of Strang's assassination. Unlike van Noord's somewhat dry history of Strang, Speek writes in a compelling narrative style that you won't be able to put down. This book cries out to be a major motion picture. It's a fascinating story from American history.



5. Vickie Speeks's "God Has Made Us a Kingdom" has joined the many other books on my bookshelf about Strang. Ms Speek's book is so well written and so thoroughly researched that I could dispense with all others on this subject but this one. She has tried very hard (and I believe has been successful) to show the various viewpoints of this contriversial King of Beaver Island. The numerous footnotes attest to her extensive research.

4 comments about First Service: Following God's Calling and Finding Life's Purpose.

1. Arthur K. Dugan, an avid reader.
   
   Andrea Jaeger's book " FIRST SERVICE " is one of the finest I have ever read on personal spirituality and I have read many. Her life of service to God through the giving of all her great amount of money to develop a place for children with cancer called The Silver Foundation. As I read through her book she reminds me of dedicated people like Mother Teresa in her work with the poor. I will read the book again and highly recommend it to others and how each of us needs to be aware of the less fortunate.



2. Andrea is defintely an exceptional person, first as a tennis pro, then as a philanthropist. The latter is easily her passion and her excelling service to God.
   
   She relates this story as it unfolds in personal memoir of her life and its turns, each one very much influenced by experiential leadings by God. This continues to develop as she senses signs which she responds to which eventually culminate in the founding of her magnificent work with cancer children.
   
   Puzzling and of concern is her admission that she was babe in the Scriptures and still seems to be convinced by outward confirmation of rather bizarre happenings, rather than clear fountain of God's Holy Word. For example, her story in Detroit with the key to the kingdom is more poignantly given in Scripture repeatedly said to be Christ crucified for sins, e.g. Luke 24 et al.
   
   While truly a model for all, but especially young and talented, to serve humanity, her tendency to follow outward occurrences and inward emotions to the exclusion and reduction of clearly revealed Word of God is dangerous and suspicious.
   
   Don't let any of this reviewer's spiritual concerns detract anyone from this fine read and inspiration to all to get involved and serve.



3. In the early 1980s, Andrea Jaeger was a household name, even among people who had little or no interest in tennis, the sport that catapulted her into the limelight. One of the youngest players ever to turn pro, Jaeger at 14 was everywhere --- in newspapers and magazines, on television. Her signature long, blonde pigtails made her immediately recognizable. She was the media darling of the tennis world.
   
   Her career was cut short by an injury, prompting her to pursue a dream she had had since childhood --- not all that long ago, at the time --- to work with children. After spending several years acquiring business skills and other related experience, Jaeger and a friend moved to Aspen, Colorado, where they eventually set up a foundation and started a ministry to reach out to cancer-stricken children at a place now known as the Silver Lining Ranch. Jaeger's entire $1.4 million in lifetime earnings provided the seed money for the organization.
   
   That's the straightforward account of what happened. In FIRST SERVICE, Jaeger fills in the details, the often remarkable, behind-the-scenes story of a woman whose childlike faith in God never questioned that He would bring to pass the hopes and dreams she held out for the future --- a future she always knew would not find its center in professional tennis. In her telling of the story of her life, her faith and her ministry, Jaeger clearly demonstrates that what was once considered to be her youthful exuberance is instead who she really is, because her energy, excitement and enthusiasm for life is every bit as much a part of her personality today, at the age of 38, as it was when she was a celebrity teenager.
   
   Throughout her life, as well as the pages of the book, God plays the dominant role. From an early age, Jaeger sensed the presence of God even though she did not grow up in a strong faith environment. Many of her experiences with God have been nothing short of mystical; as a child, she had a vision of the Children's Crusade long before she ever knew anything about the actual event in history. Her narrative is sprinkled with accounts of dreams and visions that are bound to make believers shiver with supernatural delight and skeptics question her grounding in reality. But much of what she saw in those dreams and visions has come to pass and has contributed to the success of the ranch, so the skeptics may have to look elsewhere for something to disbelieve.
   
   True to her nature, which apparently is an extraordinarily generous one, Jaeger is donating all of her proceeds from sales of FIRST SERVICE to help hurting children. In addition to the Silver Lining Ranch, Jaeger and the Silver Lining Foundation (www.silverliningfoundation.org) support children's charities in the U.S. and around the world.



4. This book by Andrea Jaeger is ideal for anyone who wants to get insight into finding out what is important in life. Andrea was a great tennis player but she has found joy and purpose off the court -- helping others and being close to her faith. She tells her story in a way that makes it clear how others, too, can find joy. The book is also excitng to read as you learn about miracle after miracle that has helped her build a beauitful ranch in Aspen, CO, where children with cancer go to have great days of peace and joy. Andrea rocks! This book is a perfect gift for anyone you love.

1 comments about Flying Free: Answering God's Call to Freedom.

1. Based on the preview provided, I am not interested in purchasing this book. According to Ms. Davis' interpretation of Scripture, one must forgive before one can be forgiven. However, my understanding of grace is that it is unconditional and I can be forgiven simply by repenting and believing in Jesus. None of us can perfectly forgive others, and if our salvation depends on it, none of us will be in heaven. Read Tom Weaver's book, The Gospel Solution for more understanding on Jesus' target audience when he said those words, and what he was trying to convey.
   As for me, I've had enough legalism in my life and this book looks like it might try to drag me back into it. No thanks.

No comments about Lamentations of Youth: The Diaries of Gershom Scholem, 1913-1919.

No comments about Susannah Spurgeon: Free Grace and Dying Love.

5 comments about The Courage to Stand Alone.

1. This book is a 'Get of of Jail free' card for anyone who's feeling trapped and dizzy in the spiritual marketplace.

   It's also very likely to be the last spiritual/self-help guide you'll ever buy.

   If that thought repulses you (which in many ways it should), then by all means click elsewhere. He doesn't try to play surrogate parent and tell you what to do with your life or how to think once you're out of jail, and a lot of folks find that disappointing. Fall down, get up, keep going.

   Good luck!




2. Having read almost all his "writings" (they are all composed and edited by people who have recorded his "talks"), and listened to several recordings, I have to say U.G. is the most frustrating of all so-called mystics. (Actually, he is a self-proclaimed "normal" person.)

   U.G. reinforces what I fear most and do not want to face: the need to become better or whole, to seek peace, to understand, is a cultural thought process, handed down through millennia, which is merely a means for this process to operate continuously without end. Anything one does to become, or to understand (including trying to understand U.G.), is a way that thought, with all its emphasis on the ego, continues. This whole reality we have created is based on the knowledge we have of it. And the attempt to get beyond this reality (through spirituality, Zen, etc.) is to keep thought in operation. It is a trap from which we will never escape. The more we try to escape (by using thought), the firmer the hold of the trap (thought-based reality). What is frustrating is that I may realize all this, but it is of no help to me. It's just another trap. There is absolutely nothing one can do (such as "doing nothing"). See what I mean? It's crazy! In some ways I wish I had never heard of U.G. Happy reading....




3. Both of the Krishnamurtis knew each other, UG being the young student and Jiddu the old man. Yes, UG rants and raves about Jiddu but I think that it is UG who 'got' what the older Jiddu talked about for all those years. All those JK devotees who complain about UGK should take a good look at themselves and use that awareness that JK talked of so often and see what they are doing: defending their position just as Christians and other religious people do. All real mystics outgrow their own religious backgrounds and give something new to the world and this is what UGK has done: he outgrew JK, a light to the world, and became one himself and not just another devotee. By the way, the name Krishnamurti is a given name and is as common in India as is Tom and John so no one is out to fool any one else.



4. If you're looking for a book by Jiddu Krishnamurti - this is NOT it! don't spend your money - I know people who got cheated by the title and the name, not careful enough to notice the initials. and, besides, it's not a good book



5. Is your spiritual 'quest' bringing you nothing but frustration? Do you feel sometimes that maybe you are fooling yourself by all your efforts to change. If so, then read this book. Amazon only offers one title by U.G. Krishnamurti so I recommend anyone interested in reading more to search for a website dedicated to U.G. Readers may find "The Mystique of Enlightenment" particularly interesting.

1 comments about Memoir and Remains of R.M. m Cheyne.

1. When M'Cheyne stepped into the pulpit people wept before he even uttered a word! Such was his walk with the Living God. This book is an excellent read from cover to cover. The memoirs have an excellent section on his thoughts on personal prayer and holiness. The sermons are meaty and Spirit inspired. His letters open up the heart of a man branded for the Lord Jesus, who is full of faith, hope,and love. Frankly, they should issue this book to every man entering seminary. America will start seeing revival when we see holy ministers broken before God,men who love Christ above all else. Robert Murray M'Cheyne is a man all Christians should seek to imitate and this memoir will inspire you to know nothing save Jesus Christ and Him crucified!

No comments about Sheep in Wolves Clothing.

2 comments about Memories of the Branch Davidians: The Autobiography of David Koresh's Mother.

1. There are plenty of books on the market with dry presentations of facts and figures about the tragedy that has come to be known simply as "Waco." This book shows the people and the lives that were touched by the tragedy. It is both informative, and heartbreaking.



2. It is not that often that a woman freely admits to being of such loose moral character that she was having sex at 14 and giving birth to a monster later known as David Koresh. In the book we learn that David Koresh suffered from a Psychiatric Disorder known as Religious Mania from an early age. As he grew older he began impregating girls as young as 14. Perhaps he had learned this via his mother's example or perhaps it was because he was on the same Intellectual Level as them. David Koresh grew up to be a child raping, cop killing, tax evading, retarded, wife stealing con artist. Thankfully he is now fertilizing the ground instead of 10 year old girls and doing a pretty good impression of an overdone steak. I give this book 5 stars because Ms. Handle Any Man thinks that "Denial" is a river in Eypt.