Tag: Christian biographies

Prince of Preachers: C. H. Spurgeon

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Spurgeon: A Biography by Arnold A. Dallimore

“A man who has really within him the inspiration of the Holy Ghost calling him to preach, cannot help it – he must preach. As fire within his bones, so will that influence be, until it blazes forth…he must preach if he has the call of Heaven.” (Spurgeon’s Autobiography)

It is clear that some men and women are set apart by God to accomplish great things for His kingdom, and Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892) was such a man. What an amazing servant of God Spurgeon was! It’s mind-boggling to think how many people are in Heaven today as a result of being touched directly by his ministry during his lifetime, not to mention since he left this world. God providentially placed young Charles in a family that exposed him to the things of God and provided him opportunities for learning at an early age. God also gave him the mind and temperament to become a great leader and teacher of others. As a little boy, he was captured by Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress and Foxe’s Book of Martyrs. He was reading at a very young age, and his biographer, Arnold Dallimore, writes that,

by the time he was nine or ten he was reading and understanding something of such mighty men as John Owens, Richard Sibbes, John Flavel, and Matthew Henry. He was already grasping the meaning of much of their theological argument and was reasoning out the pros and cons within his own mind.

Continue reading “Prince of Preachers: C. H. Spurgeon” →

Getting to Know the Apostle Paul

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TheApostle - bookcoverThe Apostle: A Life of Paul by John C. Pollock

“This saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance: that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. And I am the foremost of sinners! But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience for an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.” – The Apostle Paul


John Pollock’s biography tells the story of Paul from his participation in the stoning of Stephen as described in the seventh chapter of Acts to his final imprisonment and execution in Rome in 67 A.D. In his preface, Pollock explains his reason for writing a biography on Paul: Continue reading “Getting to Know the Apostle Paul” →

Joni’s Still Standing for God

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Joni: An Unforgettable Story by Joni Eareckson Tada

Joni-bookcover“If people put me on this pedestal, I don’t think they’re listening to what I’m saying. Because I’m just one person on the same level playing field, helping other beggars to find the bread of meaning and purpose in their suffering.”


Joni’s story is one that many people may think they can’t relate to and hope they never will. On first consideration, her book may be thought as a good one to recommend to someone who is dealing with a long-lasting or life-long pain or condition that in some way limits their abilities. (For example, a young man at my church was involved in an accident over a year ago that resulted in a brain injury with effects that often cause him frustration and even depression at times). But I think the overarching message Joni has to share is relevant to anyone, as I will point out.

In case you aren’t familiar with her, at the age of 17, Joni Eareckson sustained an injury from a diving accident that left her a quadriplegic for life. Continue reading “Joni’s Still Standing for God” →

The Legacy of a Martyr: Jim Elliot

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Shadow of the Almighty: the Life and Testament of Jim Elliot by Elisabeth Elliot

“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose.”

JimElliotThe missionary Jim Elliot (1927-1956) was one of five men killed by the Auca Indians in Ecuador. His widow Elisabeth has written many tremendous books. In Shadow of the Almighty, she reveals much about the life and heart of Jim through his journals and personal letters to family members and to herself.

As I read Elliot’s writings, I was amazed how spiritually mature and completely “sold out” for the Lord this man was from as young as 18 years old! As an 18 year old freshman at Wheaton College, Elliot earned a reputation for having a “one-track mind” and for being a “woman-hater” because he refused to date, feeling it would distract him from his goals. By the age of 20, Elliot was convinced that God was calling him to serve on the mission field, and from that time on all his energies and plans were directed towards that goal.

Continue reading “The Legacy of a Martyr: Jim Elliot” →