Books worth reading - God's Smuggler

I grew up reading Spire Christian comics, and one of my faves was God's Smuggler, the story of Brother Andrew, the guy that shuttled Bibles and other aid into communist countries back in the 50's and 60's. 

Brother Andrew remains a global advocate for the persecuted church to this present day, and his organization, Open Doors http://www.opendoorsca.org/ is active around the world, especially in countries opposed to religious freedoms for Christians. Their priority is to make God's Word available to the church wherever it is needed and in whatever languages, and to strengthen and minister to Christians experiencing persecution for their faith.

 

 I just finished re-reading Brother Andrew's famous autobiography (pictured here).  This 35th anniversary edition has an afterword that catches up with Brother Andrew in 2001 to see how the story has continued to unfold since the late 60's, where the original edition left off.  Being in a season of needing to trust God to help us to do something we feel Him calling us to (our family mission to Quito) I have been inspired afresh to SEEK God, to LISTEN to Him with prayeful EXPECTANCY, and then to OBEY.  The personal price Andrew and his wife were willing to pay especially in the early days, and onward through all his life and ministry has been borne of a heart that truly desires to do what God wants done, and makes it's whole self ('lock, stock and barrel' as he puts it) available.  This is one of those accounts of miracle after miracle, of a man seeking to step out in bold faith, and at times experiencing setbacks and doubts, but in everything, seeing God come through again and again in amazing ways that bring only more glory to Him.

I want more faith like Andrew's and a heart that makes it a priority to be immersed in His Word and in persistent listening prayer.  I wish I were better at living this out.  The steps we are taking to go to Quito provide us with an opportunity to engage in faith at a deeper level, but I long to see that kind of faith become more and more the dominant characteristic of all that I do and invest in.

Check out this book - hey, if you have a copy of the comic book still kicking around, can I buy it?

:~)

           

The Man Who Quit Money: A Review and a Reflection

Mark Sundeen’s book The Man Who Quit Money is the true story of Daniel Suelo, a 50-year old American who is becoming famous worldwide as the guy who has lived since 2000 literally without money.  How does he do it?  He dwells in caves or house-sits for friends, and by dumpster-diving for food, clothing and other necessities is able to cover his basic needs.  He has no car, no paycheque, no insurance, no health plan.  What is there to commend this life to anyone?  His biographer Sundeen describes how he has not only found surprisingly ample supply for his personal needs, but has also attained, “to an enviable degree, the universal desires for companionship, purpose, and spiritual engagement”.

Sundeen masterfully tells Suelo’s story in an account that is fascinating and at times gripping in its cliff-hanger moments.  He traces Suelo’s life journey from a Plymouth Bretheren upbringing through his college days, to a tumultuous stint in Ecuador with the Peace Corps. As an idealistic young social worker he struggles with his sexual orientation and a depression that threatens his very life.   Suelo tries with increasing fervour to live a life of integrity to his beliefs, and his travels take him all over North America and beyond to Thailand, India and Tibet to explore Hinduism and Buddhism.   His disillusioned return to the US and subsequent searching finally land him back in Moab, Utah, where he makes the big decision to live moneyless in 2000.

GEORGE MUELLER - A Man of Extraordinary Faith

George Mueller

One of the many saints who continue to inspire and motivate me in my
walk of faith is George Mueller.  You can read more about him on Wikipedia, or just google him for tons more articles -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_M%C3%BCller

Mueller founded one of the first major orphanages in England in the 1800's.  He dedicated his entire life to providing a safe place for the burgeoning population of 'street urchins', boys and girls who had no one to care for them and were left to fend for themselves in the mean and dirty streets of Bristol.  This work grew exponentially over his 90+ years.


Mueller is most famous for his faith in God's power to provide on a daily basis all that the children needed for food, clothing, housing and education.  He made it a point to not solicit financial aid from any government, institution or benefactor, but to commit himself to daily and hourly prayer, asking God to provide all that was needed. 

It seems to have been a regular part of his life to be faced with no food in the pantry to feed the kids breakfast the next morning.  His response was to simply go to prayer and to ask God to do another miracle.  In all the many years of his life, without fail, someone would show up at the door, even as the kids sat down to empty plates on the tables and said Grace, with food or a donation of money.

This kind of faith moves me.  I have never once in my life lacked food or clothing or shelter.  My life is abundantly blessed.  To have to depend on God to miraculously provide for the basics of life is so far not a part of my experience.  Nonetheless, something in me wants to have that same kind of faith, and to experience that same kind of closeness to the Lord that He is supplying my needs in the moment, moment-by-moment, as I engage in doing the things that He wants done.

I am convinced that when we are doing what God wants done, He will move heaven and earth to make the way for us and to take care of us and all of those that we are reaching out to help in Jesus' Name.

What do YOU think?