2 comments about Ernest C. Reisinger: A Biography.

1. This book is a biography of Ernest Reisinger, the founder of the US branch of the Banner of Truth trust. It was written by Geoffrey Thomas, who met Mr. Reisinger back in 1963 when he was giving speeches to student gatherings at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia (and who is currently a minister in Wales).
   
   Brother Reisinger has been credited with helping the Southern Baptist Convention to return to its Calvinistic roots. Once he did a study on the history of the SBC, he discovered that one of its key early leaders, James Pettigru Boyce, was thoroughly Calvinistic. This was evident in Boyce's book, An Abstract of Systematic Theology. Once he made that discovery, he sought to make that book available to every SBC seminary graduate.
   
   While the book is about Brother Reisinger's life, it is about two central themes in his life - a solid Christian foundation and patience (and that both must go together). From the days when he was witnessed to and discipled after his conversion by Elmer Albright, Ernie realized Elmer's steadfastness in praying for him. He was patient and never gave up on Ernie. Ernie also owned a construction company and made it pointedly clear that the industry taught him the importance of laying down a good foundation - especially when it came to presenting a sound gospel message and sharing it with other people. This foundation also came in handy when, in the course of studying Scripture, he could easily refute such heresies as Scofieldism and easy-believism. He was more concerned with quality over quantity: not just in the gospel he preached, but also with the literature he distributed.
   
   Reisinger also developed some solid friendships during the course of his life. Among some of his closest friends were Dr D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, JI Packer, and Walter Chantry (who is now in charge of the US branch of Banner of Truth Trust). For the most part, these men were very sound in their understanding of true Scriptural theology - even though now Packer has compromised as the sun has begun to set on his life (when one considers his signature on the ECT document back in the 1990's).
   
   While I don't consider the book to be completely exhaustive on Ernie Reisinger's life, it is very candid. It does show some of his shortcomings (who doesn't have any?) - especially his anger and irritability. On the other side, it shows his love and concern for lost souls. It amazes me how much Almighty God used this man to spread the Gospel and to spark a revival and interest in the Doctrines of Grace.
   
   There is one man I am thankful whom the author never mentioned in this book - Billy Graham. When it came to presenting Gospel truth, Mr Graham and Ernest Reisinger are like Night and Day (and that parallel order was done intentionally by the reviewer).
   
   I could go on about how good a book this is, but time cannot afford that to me. However, this much I will say: prepare to lose sleep. It reads so much like a page-turning novel. I plan to read it again when time permits.



2. This is a fascinating book about an outstanding Christian whose work covered the second half of the 20th century. The author, Geoffrey Thomas, has been his friend since they met at Westminister Theological Seminary in Philadelphia in 1963. For a period in his life Ernie Reisinger wandered far from the faith and abused alcohol. When he returned to his faith in Christ and loyalty to the church, Reisinger joined the Southern Baptist Church although he was reared in the Presbyterian Church. He is credited with doing much to bring that group back to a more conservative stance. Reisinger was a keen business man who did not seek ordination until later in his life. His gifts as a speaker made him a widely recognized preacher.
   Early in his life Reisinger realized the importance of books in the spreading of the gospel. He sold and gave away an untold number of books, often assisting struggling students by providing the volumes they needed. His work with the Banner of Truth Trust led to their United States headquarters being located in his home town, Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Readers may be familiar with books Ernie wrote such as Whatever Happened to the Ten Commandments? He was also the author of numerous pamphlets.
   Because of the cold climate in Pennsylvania, the Reisingers moved to Cape Coral, Florida where they reached out again to troubled churches. They are now retired. Their son Donald arranges his work with book distribution so that he can assist in their care.
   The life story of Ernie and Mima Reisinger is challenging and encouraging. The hardships of the family and the use made of failures as well as opportunities demonstrate what God can do through those who truly believe the gospel and practice what they believe.
   Geoffrey Thomas is the minister of Alfred Place Baptist Church, Aberystwyth, Wales. He is an associate editor of the Banner of Truth magazine.

1 comments about The Buddha: The Story of an Awakened Life.

1. Finally! A Life Story of Buddha in simple, elegant story form. Kherdian tells the story of Siddharta's life - from young prince to enlightened Buddha - without the inscrutable mythology found in every other book about the Enlightened One.
   
   If you've ever been curious about Buddha - where he came from and how he came to be - this is the book for you.
   
   This book belongs in every library, and every school in the country.

5 comments about From Junk to Jesus: In the Blink of an Eye.

1. This is a very powerful testimony about being about as low as you can get then being saved by God. He probably made it short so anyone could read it but I wish it was longer because it really pulls you in. I highly recommend it for anyone with struggles of any kind or who just want hope in their life, or for anyone.



2. To write about something so personal, to open oneself up to scrutiny and judgement, to give livid detail to a life that few of us can understand - this is the message of a man with a gift who unflinchingly shares the dark depths of rock bottom and the salvation following. Brutal, yet tender; heartbreakingly sad, interspersed with ironic commentary...this is the work of a man on a mission to save others - if only but one person - from this despair. Cheers to you, Mike, for your bravery and the strength to pull yourself out of hell.



3. For most of us the world of drug addiction and homelessness is a mystery. When we see people on the street with a sign we can only wonder what their lives are like. With this book Mike Weber reveals the mystery for everyone to see what it is like to live like that. We get to see not only what those people do but what they think as they go through the day. It brings them into focus as real people with families and things that matter to them. It makes their situation all the more painful so when he overcomes that life it is all the more powerful.
   I was especially surprised by the poetry and how good and touching it was. It was not something that I expected to find in a book about drug addiction. This book was wonderful to read and when it was over I just wished there were more chapters. I would recommend this book to everyone whether they are just curious about the life or if they are trapped in the life of an addict and want to see that there is hope. A terrific book!



4. John Michael Weber has done a stellar job in writing this book. He is one of the first people writing about additions to reveal that additions are often about pain, not partying. He did it well.
   
   Two words that describe his writing are HONESTY and CLARITY. He doesn't smooth over the tough parts, and while his book does contain humor, it is written very seriously. He means what he says.
   
   The chapters are short, so, in theory, one could read it a little at a time. I say, in theory, because once I started reading, I couldn't put it down. I will say, that in spite of the short chapters, I would save this book for times when you can give it your complete attention.
   
   Thank you, John Michael Weber, for sharing your story with us. I hope it gets shared with many, and pray for your continued success.



5. I personally think this is a great book, it will help families of drug addicts to understand the thoughts and struggles of a person with a drug and alcohol problem,and also help people going through their own battle, it is a great idea and takes alot of courage for my dad to write this book, revealing his own hard past in hopes that his book will help someone who might feel they don't have any hope. I'm very proud of my dad and enjoyed the book especially the parts about me ; )

2 comments about Aldous Huxley: A Biography.

1. I enjoyed the book. When I read it, I felt that the author was a close friend of Huxley's. If any reader plans on reading any books by Huxley, please read this informative, well-written biography first.



2. Laura Huxley herself said to Sawyer [paraphrased], "Out of all the biographies written about Aldous, this is the only one he would have actually liked." With emphasis on philosophical studies and works, it is the definitive source for understanding Huxley's influence and ideas. Being a student myself at Maine College of Art, I can vouch for the know-how of Sawyer.

No comments about The Life Of Saint Philip Neri: Apostle Of Rome And Founder Of The Congregation Of The Oratory (1902).

3 comments about Emily Dickinson and the Art of Belief (Library of Religious Biography Series).

1. I have been obsessed with the life of Dickinson for more than 20 years, and I had high hopes that this author would fill in some gaps that the other 15 or 20 E.D. books had not. In that wish, I was unfulfilled, although the author gives it a great try. I did learn more than I knew before about the "general" protestant currents in Emily's New England between 1830-1880, but the Queen Recluse emerges from Lundlin's examination of her apparent beefs with, and beliefs about, Christianity as still "a puzzlement." For other E.D. compulsives, I think this is a must-own, but for casual poetry fans, it probably is not an essential addition to their shelf. For any serious Emily explorer, Richard Sewell's massive 1974 "Life of Emily Dickinson" remains the Mount Everest that must be scaled, and the most satisfying look at her life, poetry and prose.



2. This book is a rarity: a work of biography and literary criticism that isn't a chore to plow through. Roger Lundin's style, unlike that of most academics who pursue the great classics of literature, is lucid and uncomplicated. There isn't, as I recall, a tortured sentence in the entire book.
   
   Besides this not-to-be-discounted virtue, there are other important ones as well. Since the book is guided by Lundin's thesis, which has to do with issues of faith as they are expressed in Dickinson's work, the focus is tight, producing a similarly focused narrative. No time is wasted on speculations about Dickinson's sex life, for example, though the readily verifiable is certainly reviewed in the pages of the book. About Dickinson's relationship with the man she came close to marrying, Otis P. Lord, we'd probably like to hear more. But again, the record is incomplete because much of the correspondence between the principals was destroyed, and Lundin doesn't overstep, sticking to what can be proved.
   
   This is not strictly a critical biography, so those poems tjat Lundin examines are considered only briefly--just closely enough to explain their relationship to his thesis. Lundin chooses judiciously, as he does among the letters and personal accounts centering on Dickinson. Besides, he relates Dickinson's thinking on matters of faith to spiritual and intellectual trends in 19th-century America, and this is among the most important features of the work, especially since he cites a number of noted authorities on the place of religion in American history. If you have any interest in such issues, Lundin's citations will probably send you on a further quest.
   
   Only rarely did I say to myself, "I'd like to hear more about that topic." Lundin develops his thesis with skill and with great sympathy for his subject. He certainly doesn't explain the enigma that is Emily Dickinson, but he moves us closer to an understanding of this frustratingly, fascinatingly complex artist.



3. As a lay person, knowing more of Roger Lundin's academic reputation than of Emily Dickinson's life and work, I was intimidated by the prospect of reading his biography of the poet, "Emily Dickinson and the Art of Belief." However, as the foreword assures us, this book is not meant for the "cognoscenti" alone, but for us "uninitiated outsiders" as well. And as the departing shore of the book's introduction became faint, I found only the calm seas and smooth sailing of a real page turner. I was soon fascinated by Dickinson's enigmatic life as Lundin carefully unfolded the practical details of her life in nineteenth century Amherst, as well as her development as a poet, an intellectual, and a religious thinker in an era on the edge of modernity. One of the most poignant themes in the book was Dickinson's progressive reclusiveness--and for all the reasons Lundin gives for it, I wasn't completely satisfied until the very last chapter. A surprising dimension of the book is the discussion of Emily's political, cultural, and religious milieu--which we eventually come to learn is key to understanding Dickinson's discomfiting questions and world view. The only fault I find in the book is not at Lundin's hand, but Emily herself. Though she leaves us in awe of her literary genius and spiritual sensitivity, her seemingly selfish reclusiveness and her failure to ever clearly declare the state of her soul left me feeling sorry for her. Although I have been taught never to judge in these matters, as a Christian I can't help but wonder, "was she or wasn't she?" Did she ever make the leap of faith? Lundin never gives us a definitive "yes" or "no," but yet gives enough data that we can make our own educated determination. I only hope that when I have "forded the mystery" and turn the corner of Heaven, I will find Emily at the feet of Jesus, having set aside her pondering pen, happy and content to finally be a bride. "Emily Dickinson and the Art of Belief" gives me that much hope

No comments about Beyond Gurus: A Woman of Many Worlds.

1 comments about Teaching the Dead Bird to Sing: Living the Hermit Life Without and Within.

1. Teaching The Dead Bird To Sing: Living The Hermit Life Without And Within is the memoir of theologian and former social activist W. Paul Jones, who describes the phases of his life and meditations as he progressed toward an internal and external retreat from the evils of the world and the self. Teaching The Dead Birth To Sing is highly recommended reading as a deeply spiritual and inspiring autobiographical treatise about embracing a solitary life for greater understanding and clarity.

1 comments about Luther on Vocation.

1. This is a great book, and an important contribution to the field of vocation and the Christian Life. Wingren, a scandanavian pastor and bishop, was a brilliant writer. Most of his other books are out of print, but this one continues to breathe new life into Luther studies.

No comments about The Autobiography Of Jeanne Guyon.