Spirituality Books

This book has totally changed my life. Jim is a great guy with an evident passion for God and the things He is about. Jim speaks straight to the heart though this book. It is a great, fast read but also carries a ton of depth. I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone. But fair warning...don't be surprised if Embracing the Love of God completely changes your life!

I would highly recommend this book to anyone struggling to understand and receive God's love and forgiveness. This book is written especially for believers who are honest enough to admit they have a problem in this area. James Bryan Smith writes in a way that is simplistic and yet profound based on truths from the Word of God. He shares about his own struggles and how he came to a place of acceptance of God's grace and love for him. If you have a desire to be transformed by the love of God, take the time to read this book.

I'm not sure which book got kicked out of the top 5 most influential books in my life, but this book replaced it. I've spent the fist ten years of my Christianity picking up not only the love of God, but the baggage that often goes with religion; I've spent the last ten years in the tricky business of extricating the love and dropping off the baggage.

This is one baggage blasting book.

It's a centering book. One I could not read quickly for the need to lay it down and think. The power in this book lay in the fact that it is also the testimony of one man; and last I heard, a person's testimony ranks with the blood of Jesus as far as overcoming goes. (Rev. 12:11) And what have we to overcome? That insidious voice that accuses us before God day and night. It says day and night. (vs. 10) No let up. That's why we need the message of love pounded and ground into our faces until we jolly well believe it.

This book has helped me to identify the voice of the accuser. It has helped me to see God in the teeny tiny ways he wants to be in my life. It has helped me to embrace what I am ever thinking is for someone else.

What I am understanding is that I did not get saved once; I am getting saved all the time, inch by inch and daily, and books like these are small miracles to help. This book is good news. I can't say how grateful I am to have read it.

This book was sooo good...Please don't hesitate to get it! Take your time, and drink in the love of God that comes through the pages...
Nothing can separate us from the LOVE of GOD! That is what James Smith explains so well in this book. I just finished it, and know I will read it again. This book encouraged me and lifted me up. He definitely has a gift from God...to teach, help, and encourage...with references throughout, to the Word of God. I look forward to reading more of his books. As another reader said, this book will probably become a classic.

Embracing the Love of God is thought provoking and is,in my opinion, a potential "spiritual classic". Mr. Smith's extended essay is organized around three topics: Knowing God's Acceptance, Receiving God's Forgiveness and Experiencing God's Care. Read it, and keep it to re-read, when you need encouragement. Embracing the Love of God was a blessing to me, and I recommend you buy it.

Dorothy Morrison knows her stuff. This book is chock full of down to earth usable advice. A nice break from the new-age garbage that's recently been flooding the market! A must read for anyone wishing to clean up their life and find a mate!

I loved this book! It was a nice addition to my collection. Worth the money.

Even if you don't practice magik, this book is full of good practical advice for finding a great partner but also for being a great partner. However, I have myself found the spells included to be extremely effective as I have with all of Dorothy Morrison's work.

This is a great book. The rituals really work. One little quibble, though -- in the second ritual, she says to throw your stuff (including clothes) away and bury it. Why not advise donating it to the homeless instead? There's enough garbage in landfills.

I don't think that donating your useable stuff to a charity would make the ritual any less effective. In fact, it might even make you feel better about yourself, which is the whole point of the ritual anyway.

Within reading five pages of this book it was very obvious to me that Dorothy had obviously reached inside my head, jerked out every thought, idea, and opinion on love I've ever had, then proceeded to scribble them down on paper. I was honestly amazed at how much our views are similar.

Whether anyone is searching for their perfect love or not, I would definitely recommend this to anyone and everyone, if only to give them a chance to recognize how propoganda from society has affected us, but also, to combat it, which will hopefully make you a healthier and happier person in the long run.

She doesn't come across as a preachy "Here's my advice!" type of author. She actually gives practical advice, but also ways to use it and take an active role in your love life. These aren't just pretty words and philosophies on paper, but a working book for those who wish to work towards a life filled with love, of all kinds.

Her experiences have clearly not been great in love in the past, which is perfect since who wants to take advice from someone who hasn't had a rocky love life? She's been there, I've been there, through this book she will definitely attempt to get you through the maddness that is love to a place where you can be at peace and content with a successful love life.

I love the format of the daily prayers in this book and the way that scripture is incorporated into the prayer as well as promptings for personal prayer time as well. This is a great way to have daily worship and prayer time, as well as reinforcing God's word into our memory.

This is a prayer book that turned my quiet time into something i began to look forward to. Dr Ken Boa shows how verses from the Word of God, when prayed in the structure of the Lord's Prayer can transform your relationship with Him. Buy the book for yourself or better still, gift it as a blessing to somebody else!

Face to Face has become a mainstay for my time in the Word of God. The daily scriptures always apply to personal life - always timely. I like the size and covering of the book - I can take it with me anywhere - usually it goes with me daily to the gym. It is a great source of refreshment and getting my thoughts grounded back on the absolute Truth of God's Word. There's always a verse or two that I end up copying on an index card to keep before my eyes regularly.

In the introduction to this book the author writes, "The problem with prayer is heightened by the fact that people often succumb either to the extreme of all form and no freedom, or the opposite extreme of all freedom and no form". I was pretty much in the all freedom trap and felt my time spent praying was wasted a lot of times due to my inabilty to get my mind in order. This book has really helped me to improve my prayer life.

I really enjoyed the way the book is organized with gentle nudges at the end of each section to get you going in the right direction. My previous prayer efforts consisted of me basically free associating. Since purchasing this book I have found myself getting to my point or just finding what I want to say much faster and with much, much more clarity. I also learned work in a time to stop and listen for a change, too!

Another problem I had had with my prayer style was the pure inabilty to pray out loud. I'm not talking about in front of people or groups; I mean just praying out loud, alone, in my house. It was like my brain would freeze when I opened my mouth. Reading aloud the passages inluded in each section allowed me to let my mind get 'warmed up' and my prayer just flowed out after I finished reading a section.

This isn't a Book of Prayers that you just read out loud. Rather, this is a book that lets you pray God's word back to him and then nudges you in a general direction that you fully expand on yourself. I found this book series recommended on my church's website and am very glad that I found them. Just to be clear, the book isn't a Bible replacement or a list of prayers. Face to Face is organized based off the Lord's prayer and is merely a guide to developing more meaningful prayer. I highly recommend it.

This book has been a spiritual renewal. I would recommend it to anyone who desire to draw into a more intimate prayer life with our creator.

I have read this book a couple of times and each time I have gained new insites into my relationship with God. I am presently sharing this book with a group of ladies and we are all benifitting from Dr Larry Crabbs wisdom.

This is one of the best books I have ever read! I have read almost every one of Larry Crabb's books and haven't been disappointed in any of them. This one is excellent. I highlighted so many of the pages and will read it again and again. I 'found' God in ways I had not done so before. I Highly recommend this book!

This is a nice book although a little difficult to read. I think that in order to get everything that the author wants to pass, we need to read it at least twice.

If it were possible for me to read this book every month, I would be so glad. This book is life-changing. It opened my eyes to things in my life that I have struggled with. I have new insights and power to receive God's help and power. I can't recommend this book enough.

Well, I'm not sure that I have the ability to express my sentiments and thoughts any better than the other reviewers here, but with the hope of perhaps affecting one reader, I'll share a slightly different experience...

I read this book at a time when my life was falling apart. My marriage was in shambles, my business was bordering bankruptcy, my faith was wavering, and I didn't know what else to do or where else to turn. I didn't know whether or not to pray scriptures, get on my knees 3 times/day, get counseling, rebuke Satan, start fasting, give more money to church, or drop down and just want to die.

The point is that many of these things are well and good in and of themselves, but they have very little to do with understanding and trusting God. He's not a magic Geenie, He's not here for our personal material comforts, and much of today's teachings about God seem to lead us toward Him with the expectation that He'll solve our problems and make things better here on earth.

Dr. Larry Crabb truly puts life's difficulties into perspective and certainly helped me to turn to the Lord and turn away from trying to use "tricks" to get Him to do what I want. That alone is worth all of the pain and suffering I've been through.

Hope this helps. God Bless.

An excellent book for anyone on a spiritual journey that's wants some concrete actions they can take to become an Earthkeeper. I highly recommend this book. I couldn't put it down.

This is a book that everyone should read more than once. Alberto Villoldo's insights and suggestions are fabulous. His books are just like hearing him in person. He is a born story teller, and a gifted shaman, teacher and writer. This book describes how we would all like to live our lives, and why we should try.

I was so pleased to find this book in print! Alberto has a gift of combining story telling and grounded reasoning in such a way that these new concepts to the average western mind are easily understood. Anyone who wants an thorough introduction to the spiritual practices of the medicine wheel and the Laika people will enjoy this book.

If you are or have been a student of Alberto's Healing the Light Body School, you will want this book on your shelf as a textbook. It is a wonderful review of the practices of each of the Four Directions.

This book is clear and informative and offers exercizes that can be used for healing the soul. There are different paths for everyone. This is one of truth. I knew the truth of it as I read it. It is a book I will use and refer back to in times to come. The exercizes are capable of being life changing. I have referred it to many people and given copies to several. I really love this book. It is special.

Every time i read a chapter, i felt truth jumping out to me from each page, so much so, that my eyes would well up with tears from inner knowing. It was an easy read, the suggestions in the book are very easy and practical. I loved it so much, i bought a few copies for my friends. Even for people who have never learned about Shamanism, this book will help you appreciate Mother Earth and your special role in the Universe.

Contains wonderful ideas for starting or rejunvenating a prayer ministry or group. Our prayer minister led us in a study of this book and it really revitalized our group!

Fresh Encounters was perhaps the best book on that subject that I ever read.Not only does the author write well but has experienced what he is writing about.Corporate prayer meetings should never be the same when putting those things mentioned in the book.Revival will never take place unless our prayer times together as churches take on a different dimension.thank you-Mr.Henderson

Fresh Encounters: Experiencing Transformation through United Worship-Based Prayer is without a doubt the best book that I have ever read and has proved to be a wonderful tool in teaching a church how to pray. Dan henderson REALLY captures the essence of what Jesus intended His church to look like when they prayed. I Highly recommend this book to all who want to experience Jesus Christ through prayer!

Pastor Daniel Henderson is the real deal. And I'm not just saying that because he pastors my church. He truly believes in the power and necessity of prayer. You and your church will be blessed by this book - reading it and putting it into practice.

I thoroughly enjoyed "Fresh Encounters," in fact, I read through it twice. This is a much needed book for pastors who desire to effectively lead prayer gatherings. I was never formally or informally trained in the art of leading a prayer meeting, and the models I observed were often less than exciting. Daniel's book beautifully outlines a fresh approach for corporate prayer through worship-based prayer meetings. The focus is not on problems but on God, therefore, it becomes faith-building and uplifting. As we praise God our problems seems to shrivel. I am using this approach and it has brought a freshness and a clear focus to our prayer gatherings. I highly recommend it!

Fr. Kevin has done it again. Just when you think Fr. Kevin has run out of entertaining stories what does he do? He rounds up the Friars and has them share with you peices and stories of their lives that will make you laugh, make you cry, and make you think. Then make you laugh again and again. WONDERFULL!

As I sat back nursing my flu, I proceeded to read one of the most delightful little books I have ever read! I found myself moved to tears more often than not. The insights and displays of love and miracles left me deeply touched. Other times I was tickled so I laughed aloud.

Spiritual candor personified! I believe it should be mandatory reading for secular and professed franciscans all over. It truly is God's Book...His great works should not go unnoticed, uncirculated, unexperienced, unknown. Toot your horn! The ripple effect will benefit all.

A good book about good people, trying to do good, that will make you feel good! Take a magical walk through the pages of a mystical Sherwood Forest where, walking in the sandals of a modern day franciscan friar, and hearing their stories, you will encounter a modern day Friar Tuck, Francis of Assisi, Brother Juniper, ar Anthony of Padua! Fifteen Friars Minor have written stories from their lives where they experienced the Divine Mystery at play which gave them the great joy they wish to share with you.

It is "joy" and it is "magic"! To all the friar authors, Bravo and Thanks!

I read this as one of the three books Bl. Josemaria Escriva wrote using short spiritual counsels. Although these counsels are a little longer in this book, none go past two paragraphs. All are pithy in dispensing spiritual advice for every conceivable situation.

Bl. Josemaria reaches to root of what troubles us spiritually, and challenges us to conform our life to God's plan for our life. He also teaches us that every little thing we do in our life -- work, sport, leisure -- can be done well for the greater glory of God, and offered as prayer.

This presented an important spiritual awakening for me, since before reading this series of books I tended to compartmentalize my prayer life. No more. What makes this book unique is that it can be carried around with ease, and meditated upon during a spare minute or two during the day.

This is one of three great little books by Josemaria Escriva's The Way, Furrow and The Forge. Each of these three volumes are collections of thoughts, pense's musings and meditations. They can be read from beginning to end or randomly opened and read just as you find them. Some of the reflections will require more thought and work then others. Some examples that particularly grabbed my attention are:

"As soon as you willfully allow a dialogue with temptation to begin, the soul is robbed of its peace, just as consent to impurity destroys grace."
#836

"Prayer is the humility of the man who acknowledges his profound wretchedness and the greatness of God. He addresses and adores God as one who expects everything from Him and nothing from himself. Faith is the humility of the mind which renounces its own judgement and surrenders to the verdict and authority of the Church. Obedience is the humility of the will which subjects itself to the will of another, for God's sake. Chastity is the humility of the flesh, which subjects itself to the spirit. Exterior mortification is the humility of the senses. Penance is the humility of all the passions, immolated to the Lord. Humility is truth on the road of the ascetic struggle."
#259

"Being faithful to God demands a struggle. And it means close combat, man to man -- the old man against the man of God -- in one small thing after another, without giving in."
#126

Each of these three little books will help you grow deeper in the Christian life. They will challenge you every time you pick them up and read. I have gotten to the point that I always carry one of them with me, and while waiting for a ride, or before class, or in any spare moment open it and read, and through that reading I pray. Through that prayer I hope to become a better Christian and a better person.

This is one of three great little books by Josemaria Escriva's The Way, Furrow and The Forge. Each of these three volumes are collections of thoughts, pense's musings and meditations. They can be read from beginning to end or randomly opened and read just as you find them. Some of the reflections will require more thought and work then others. Some examples that particularly grabbed my attention are:

"As soon as you willfully allow a dialogue with temptation to begin, the soul is robbed of its peace, just as consent to impurity destroys grace."
#836

"Prayer is the humility of the man who acknowledges his profound wretchedness and the greatness of God. He addresses and adores God as one who expects everything from Him and nothing from himself. Faith is the humility of the mind which renounces its own judgement and surrenders to the verdict and authority of the Church. Obedience is the humility of the will which subjects itself to the will of another, for God's sake. Chastity is the humility of the flesh, which subjects itself to the spirit. Exterior mortification is the humility of the senses. Penance is the humility of all the passions, immolated to the Lord. Humility is truth on the road of the ascetic struggle."
#259

"Being faithful to God demands a struggle. And it means close combat, man to man -- the old man against the man of God -- in one small thing after another, without giving in."
#126

Each of these three little books will help you grow deeper in the Christian life. They will challenge you every time you pick them up and read. I have gotten to the point that I always carry one of them with me, and while waiting for a ride, or before class, or in any spare moment open it and read, and through that reading I pray. Through that prayer I hope to become a better Christian and a better person.

This book made me see beyond prayers and meditations. It helped me understand God in the deepest level. Through my most inner thoughts and actions. I doubted my christian faith, now I've been explained so much, that my doubts have been answered. It showed me how the holy spirit and the church adapts to these fast times we live today, so we can become people of strength and Love through our work, charity and humility.

Josemaria Escriva challenges every Christian to unite his daily trails and ordinary duties with Christ's passion. Every short point in this book is a seed that can grow through prayer and meditation into an abundance of spiritual good fruits.

Escriva believes that every individual can become a saint. Every life has opportunities for heroic action in the smallest details of daily living. Sanctity is not just for priests and religious. Offering one's work to God is a simple, yet startlingly radical notion.

Note: This book IS still in print.

I liked this book so much that when I finished it I started over reading it. The whole book gives the author's explanation of the meaning of the book of Mathew (sp?) from the bible.

Of the classical New Thought writers of the 20th century, Emmet Fox and Ernest Holmes are the ones who adhere most closely to the Judeo-Christian tradition. Fox focuses exclusively on the esoteric symbolic exegesis ("Sod" in Hebrew), although in same places he admits that the literal ("Pashat" in Hebrew) is as it stands. In this regard it is always helpful to study the way in which the Hebrew sages approach the text, in both the Talmud and the Zohar.

The aim of the book is to provide the reader with a practical manual of spiritual development. Chapter One: What Did Jesus Teach? explains how the teachings of Messiah underpin 2000 years of Western civilization and shows that what he really taught was a practical method for the development of the soul and the shaping of our lives. Jesus explains to us the nature of God, our own nature, the meaning of life and death, why we make mistakes, and tells us how to overcome and bring health, joy and prosperity into our own lives and those of others.

Fox points out that Jesus taught no theology whatsoever - his teaching is entirely spiritual or metaphysical. Unfortunately historical Christianity has mostly concerned itself with theological and doctrinal matters that have little relevance to Gospel teaching. For example, there is no warrant at all for setting up any form of Ecclesiasticism, of any hierarchy of officials or system of ritual. Jesus taught principles of conduct, knowing that if the spirit is right, details would take care of themselves.

The author emphasizes that the recorded miracles did happen and that prayer does change things. But prayer is both a science and an art, and Jesus devoted most of his teaching to explain this. The Sermon on the Mount is the spiritual key that unlocks the mystery of Bible teaching in general and the Gospels in particular. This key allows us to escape from superstitious literalism. It also inoculates us against so-called "Higher Criticism' which deals with externals only and misses the spiritual content of scripture.

Our free will resides in our choice of thought; the thoughts that occupy one's mind (The Secret Place) are what cause external conditions. Jesus Christ summed up this truth and demonstrated it in his own person. The Sermon on the Mount is thus a summary of the whole message of the Bible.

Chapter Two deals with the Beatitudes, the "Blessed Are" statements, and the next one: The Light Of the World, examines the concepts of the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Chapter Four: Resist Not Evil, explores the idea of the integrity of the soul - that one must bless instead of curse and guard one's thoughts.

The chapter Treasure In Heaven discusses the concept of praying in private with faith and belief whilst shunning public displays of piety. This is the essential teaching of The Secret Place and its significance as the controlling centre of the teaching of the Messiah. Chapter Six discusses the matter of judging, the nature of man, the importance of conduct and the art of living.

By Their Fruits is the title of the next one, and focuses on wisdom, the perfect balance of intelligence and love. The book concludes with an interpretation of The Lord's Prayer under the sections Our Father, Which Art In Heaven, Hallowed Be Thy Name, Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will Be Done In Earth as It Is In Heaven, Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread, Forgive Us Our Trespasses ..., Lead Us Not Into Temptation ..., and Thine Is The Kingdom and the Power and the Glory Forever and Ever.

In this valuable book, Fox explains how to understand the true nature of divine wisdom, how to transform negativity into life affirming belief, how to pray effectively and how to develop an integrated and fully expressed personality according to the wisdom of the Bible. I also highly recommend his books Power Through Constructive Thinking and Alter Your Life, as well as The Hidden Power of the Bible by Ernest Holmes.

Understanding the Difficult Words of Jesus: New Insights From a Hebrew Perspective by David Bivin

Yeshua: A Guide to the Real Jesus and the Original Church by Ron Moseley

I never realized the magnificent power of prayer! The power of our thoughts is unimaginable. This books helps explain it all. What a wonderful guide!

Possibly the best I've ever read. Timely, comforting, easy to understand interpretation of Jesus' most inspired teaching. I never understood the Sermon on the Mount until I read this book.

This book changed my life. Emmet Fox is a superb writer and teacher. In a time when I had so many questions, this book made perfect sense and answered many of them.

This is the most definitive biography I have ever read. He quotes extensively from John and Charles Wesley, Mrs. Whitfield, Jonathan Edwards, Ben Franklin, Whitefield himself, and a multitude of others. At times, Dallimore reports almost on a day-by-day basis. This biography reports on his life, his loves, his work, his theology, his acheivements and failures. These books are a remarkable biography considering the author lived in the middle of nowhere, USA.

The author tried to present a balanced view of Whitefield, although from the text, one can infer how much Dallimore admires Whitefield and agrees Whitefield's theology. Dallimores realizes this and goes out of his way to point out what he perceives as Whitefield's weaknesses. Most of the weaknesses occur early in his ministry.

Dallimore writes well, but at times he seems stilted. I think Dallimore misses some of Whitefield's weaknesses, but the biography is so extensive that the reader can make his or her own judgments on the matter. Another slight weakness is that Dallimore quotes so extensively that it slows down the narrative at times. On the whole though, he does a very good job.

Whitefield was an amazing man. He gave himself wholeheartedly to his ministry. This biography did a great job of placing Whitefield in his historical context.

Dallimore's Whitefield is perhaps the best biography of that great man ever written. One is taken into his life and Age. After reading 'Whitefield' one knows the man before his conversion and after his personal awakening that not only quickened his spirit, but awakened many generations to the reality of a living God. The scholarship is complete and does not slow down the exciting narrative of the life of one of the most active men of the 18th century. The coverage of the friendship and debate between Whitefield and Wesley is both sensitive and accurate conveying both the heat and the goodwill that joined and separated the two friends. The book is a boon for our less than spiritual Age and will do much to transmit the living mystery Whitefield dedicated his life to proclaim.

Well, I finally saved up the money and sprung for this two-volume full-length account of the life of George Whitefield. I had whetted my appetite on the abbreviated volume "George Whitefield: God's Anointed Servant in the Great Revival of the Eighteenth Century" by the same author. I can honestly say this is one of the best investments I've ever made. Reading the life of such a great saint--this Christ-loving, gospel-centered minister--has served to rekindle my passion for the gospel and rejuvenate the love of God in my soul more than once. I most highly recommend it.

This Volume: This is the FIRST volume of Dallimore's two-volume biography of George Whitefield. This is very important if you intend on buying one volume now and purchasing the other later. The information on the Banner of Truth (the publisher's) website is incorrect--the green volume is volume #1 (picture of Whitefield in a field surrounded by a crowd) and the red volume is #2 (picture of an older Whitefield in a church pulpit). I had to wait an extra few months to recieve the first volume before I could begin reading either. Each volume is about 600 pages in length and is chock full of stories, information and insightful commentary. Dallimore does not spare the details of the lives of those closest to Whitfield--including John Cennick, Howell Harris, Jonathan Edwards, and of course John and Charles Wesley. This first volume deals with the period of time from Whitefield's birth, through the advent of the open-air ministry and his first visit to North America and closes with his return to England in the wake of Wesley's controversial ministry.

The Subject Matter: Wow. Simply wow. I mean--who knew? I'd always heard that John Wesley was the sole founder of Methodism. In fact, the only thing I knew about George Whitefield was that he was attributed with a few neat quotes (ie. "Let the name of Whitefield perish, but Christ be glorified!", "I am weary in Thy work, but not weary of it", etc.) and that he once spoke at Jonathan Edwards' Northhampton church (at which time he left Edwards in tears). I fully expect that if it were not for this work of Dallimore, the name of Whitefield truly would be lost to persons such as myself. What I expected was another (Calvinistic) Wesley. What I found was a man whose zeal, love, holiness of life and passion for Christ seemed to equal even those I hold in highest regard (among whom are Martin Luther and Charles Spurgeon). Whitefield was a tireless worker for God and his zeal for the gospel was only matched by his selfless compassion for his fellow man. He was the first of the great open-air preachers and nudged both John and Charles Wesley into evangelistic ministry. Whitefield's life is a beautiful illustration of Christian ministry and evangelistic zeal. I cannot recommend this man highly enough.

The Author: Dallimore was a Baptist pastor and semi-prolific biographer. This two-volume biography of George Whitefield is truly Dallimore's magnum opus. He has delved deeper into the mind and heart of this great evangelist than any of his previous biographers. It is both informative and inspirational. No space feels wasted despite the length of the account and the multitudinous strands of the storyline are brought together in a masterful way.

The Reader: Who should read this book? I would recommend it most highly to pastors and other evangelical Christians whose zeal for God and spiritual wells have begun to run dry. Evangelical Calvinistic Christians will get the greatest benefit from this read. But it may also prove of great interest to those of the Methodist heritage. Also, all who are called to the ministry of evangelism (teaching and preaching) could not but benefit from this work. Whitefield's zeal is contagious and his meekness humbling. The mere historian might enjoy the factual aspects of the book, but it was written from a distinctively evangelical Christian perspective.

"Weary in Thy work, but not weary of it." -G. Whitefield

This two-volume work is truly exceptional. I find myself regularly discouraged at the condition of religion (I use the word advisedly) in America, and find the Whitefield biography a real refreshment to the soul, a reminder of what God has done in the past and a foretaste of good things to come. Extremely encouraging!

Few recent books have so wide and so deep an impact as Arnold Dallimore's magisterial biography of George Whitefield. The first volume, stretching from Whitefield's birth in 1714 to his section visit to American in 1740 was published in 1970 and has since been reprinted six times. The second volume, which stretches from 1740 until Whitefield's death in 1770, was published ten years later in 1980. It has been reprinted three times. Together the volumes comprise some 1200 pages of detailed biography. Rarely have I had a biography recommended to me by so many and by men of such distinction. Rarely have I benefited more from reading about another man's life.

I have noticed a strange phenomenon with this biography. Where most books of this one's scope and impact have been widely and thoroughly reviewed, this one seems to be an exception. As I attempted to write a review I may have found out why this is: it is very difficult to adequately sum up so much content in just a few words. And, as with any biography, it is difficult to measure and summarize the impact of such a book. Instead I am left doing what others have done--writing thoughts on the book that somehow seem disconnected and inadequate. Even Gary Gilley, a reviewer who is rarely lost for words, can write no more than this: "It would be difficult to lavish too much praise on Dallimore's two volume biography of the famous eighteenth century evangelist George Whitefield. This is the definitive work of Whitefield's life and ministry, dispelling many misconceptions while showing the true character and impact of this most remarkable man. Along the way the reader also receives valuable insight into the lives of the Wesleys, Jonathan Edwards and the Moravians. This is one of the greatest biographies ever written."

The Foreword to the first volume is supplied by no one less than Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones. The Doctor suggests that he waited decades to find a thorough and authoritative biography of Whitefield, a man he regarded as a historical hero. This book, he felt, which appeared on the bi-centenary of Whitefield's death, achieves the excellence Lloyd-Jones knew had long been missing. Reflecting on the life of the subject he writes "May the reading of this book produce in us the same spirit of utter submission, ready obedience, and unshakeable reliance upon the power of the Holy Spirit that characterized his life and ministry. Whitefield never drew attention to himself but always pointed people to his God and exalted his Lord and Savior. May he, though now dead for nearly 200 years, do the same for countless thousands through the reading of this book!" The intervening years, almost forty of them, have shown this to be the case.

This book's subtitle, The life and times of the great evangelist of the 18th century revival, is important in understanding the book. Whitefield found himself one of the sparks of the the Great Awakening and the revival of the 18th century. While other men played important roles, Whitefield was the pin at the center of the wheel. His tireless itinerancy took his preaching ministry to almost every corner of the United Kingdom and to almost the whole of the settled portion of the United States. But for illness he would also have extended his ministry to Canada. Perhaps one of this book's greatest contributions is in helping people separate the life and contributions of George Whitefield from those of John Wesley--a man who Whitefield always loved but who so often opposed him. This biographies shows conclusively that it was Whitefield's ministry that sparked the awakening.

I was grateful to see that Dallimore deals fairly with Whitefield's shortcomings in these volumes. This is no hagiography--worship of a saint that is free from difficult examinations of the subject's failings. Though Dallimore has to confess that he finds surprisingly little fault with the man, he deals frankly and forthrightly with those areas in which Whitefield showed immaturity, poor judgment or poor discernment. He questions Whitefield's decision to marry and the unusual circumstances surrounding his first rejected proposal of marriage. He does not shy from discussing Whitefield's role in justifying and even promoting slavery in the colonies. He does not allow the passing of the years or his deep respect for his subject to mislead him or to excuse sin. Experience shows that this quality is surprisingly rare in such biographies.

Eminently readable despite its length and depth, this biography only reinforces my belief that biographies can be among the greatest catalysts to spiritual growth. It is a classic and one that takes its place among my favorite biographies along with such great titles as Marsden's Jonathan Edwards and Dallimore's own Spurgeon. It will prove valuable to pastors or evangelists as they see the example of a man who labored tirelessly for the gospel; it will prove valuable to all Christians as they see the example of a man who labored tirelessly to grow even and ever closer to his Savior. Whitefield is a man who stands as an example to all of us. Dallimore has done us a great service in opening up to us the life of this great man of God.

Together these two volumes represent a financial investment that is not insignificant. Purchased together they are likely to cost at least sixty or seventy dollars. But I can testify, as can a long list of people of far greater wisdom and discernment than I, that they are well worth the investment.