Ordinary People, Extraordinary Faith

Rating:
Summary: Very Inspiring Because it Profiles Real People
Review: Joni Eareckson Tada is one of the true giants of the Christian faith. She has written many excellent books, has inspired countless numbers of people with her life story, and has started and been involved with a truly wonderful international disability ministry that has brought hope to the hopeless throughout the world.

In this latest literary effort, Joni profiles a number of everyday people who have allowed God to use them in extraordinary ways. One might read this book and easily come away thinking that these are the kind of people that should be receiving earthly recognition in newspapers and on television for the amazing work they do and their amazing life stories. But it is the very fact that these folks go mostly unrecognized that adds tremendous authenticity to their lives. Each one of these folks have simply put their faith in Christ to lead them, direct them, and use them. These folks demonstrate the most powerful apologetic for the reality of Christ and the authenticity of Christianity - a life completely committed to serving God in positive ways for real people, regardless of the adversity and very real sufferings they have endured. This is something that simply cannot be argued with. Those who believe that Christ is a fake and Christianity a sham eliminate the only plausible explanations for the lives profiled in this book.

The folks Joni profiles here are a very diverse group in terms of background, race, geographic location, economic condition, ministry calling, physical condition, gender, and age. A number of folks profiled achieved victory in Christ over disabilities and other life changing events that were beyond their control. Others achieved victory in Christ over self destructive lives that they were very much in control of. Some folks have established life changing ministries that have accomplished amazing things by God's grace. Others have simply persevered through difficulties and have been used by God in more personal and informal ministries.

Each story is extremely candid, with many of the folks profiled being extremely candid about their sufferings, their feelings toward God at various points in their lives, and the present day realities they continue to face. Many of these stories, while having a happy ending in many respects, do not have fairy tale endings. When reading many of these stories, the reader is convicted not only by how incredibly God has used these people, but also about how much more needs to be done and how much more suffering there still is, and how many more Christians need to exhibit the kind of faith that these folks do, because there is no shortage of needs to be met.

This book struck me as being extremely authentic. It's one thing to be inspired by something we see on television or somethin we hear about on the radio. It's quite another to draw inspiration from real lives going through real difficulties, and emerging victorious because of real faith in a real God that is available to everyone. This kind of authentic inspiration can deeply penetrate the reader precisely because there's no fiction here. This is real life that is being discussed, and it is very likely that most every reader will identify with at least one of the stories profiled, due to the real life diversity of the people profiled and their struggles.

In conclusion, I highly recommend this book for anyone who is looking for authentic inspiration, a sense of purpose, a sense of shared experiences, and most importantly, someone who is looking for an authentic look at what's possible when we achieve spiritual wholeness with Christ.

Rating:
Summary: Very Inspiring Because it Profiles Real People
Review: Joni Eareckson Tada is one of the true giants of the Christian faith. She has written many excellent books, has inspired countless numbers of people with her life story, and has started and been involved with a truly wonderful international disability ministry that has brought hope to the hopeless throughout the world.

In this latest literary effort, Joni profiles a number of everyday people who have allowed God to use them in extraordinary ways. One might read this book and easily come away thinking that these are the kind of people that should be receiving earthly recognition in newspapers and on television for the amazing work they do and their amazing life stories. But it is the very fact that these folks go mostly unrecognized that adds tremendous authenticity to their lives. Each one of these folks have simply put their faith in Christ to lead them, direct them, and use them. These folks demonstrate the most powerful apologetic for the reality of Christ and the authenticity of Christianity - a life completely committed to serving God in positive ways for real people, regardless of the adversity and very real sufferings they have endured. This is something that simply cannot be argued with. Those who believe that Christ is a fake and Christianity a sham eliminate the only plausible explanations for the lives profiled in this book.

The folks Joni profiles here are a very diverse group in terms of background, race, geographic location, economic condition, ministry calling, physical condition, gender, and age. A number of folks profiled achieved victory in Christ over disabilities and other life changing events that were beyond their control. Others achieved victory in Christ over self destructive lives that they were very much in control of. Some folks have established life changing ministries that have accomplished amazing things by God's grace. Others have simply persevered through difficulties and have been used by God in more personal and informal ministries.

Each story is extremely candid, with many of the folks profiled being extremely candid about their sufferings, their feelings toward God at various points in their lives, and the present day realities they continue to face. Many of these stories, while having a happy ending in many respects, do not have fairy tale endings. When reading many of these stories, the reader is convicted not only by how incredibly God has used these people, but also about how much more needs to be done and how much more suffering there still is, and how many more Christians need to exhibit the kind of faith that these folks do, because there is no shortage of needs to be met.

This book struck me as being extremely authentic. It's one thing to be inspired by something we see on television or somethin we hear about on the radio. It's quite another to draw inspiration from real lives going through real difficulties, and emerging victorious because of real faith in a real God that is available to everyone. This kind of authentic inspiration can deeply penetrate the reader precisely because there's no fiction here. This is real life that is being discussed, and it is very likely that most every reader will identify with at least one of the stories profiled, due to the real life diversity of the people profiled and their struggles.

In conclusion, I highly recommend this book for anyone who is looking for authentic inspiration, a sense of purpose, a sense of shared experiences, and most importantly, someone who is looking for an authentic look at what's possible when we achieve spiritual wholeness with Christ.