Book Review: Billy

Billy: The Untold Story of a Young Billy Graham and the Test of Faith that Almost Changed Everything by William Paul McKay & Ken Abraham

Billy was a great read! A story of two men and their tests of faith. Billy Graham, a man with ordinary aspirations and some would say less than ordinary talent, Billy used what he had, gave it his all, and became something extraordinary…while his good friend, Charles Templeton, a man with extremely high aspirations and extraordinary talent, falters in his test of faith.

When Billy was just a teen and yet unsaved, a group of six men from the Christian Men’s Club, his father among them, stood around a tree stump at the Graham farm and prayed for God to raise up an ambassador for Christ, a voice for the nations. Not long after that, Billy attending a tent meeting and committed himself to Christ. Little did that small group know how God intended to answer those prayers.

This well-written biography takes you through Billy’s life, from selling Fuller brushes, to Bob Jones College, Florida Bible Institute, heartbreak, Wheaton College, wooing and wedding Ruth, pastoring a small church, becoming a college president, and becoming a crusader.

Viewed by many as a man of no consequence, Billy did not see himself as anything great, only a faithful servant of the Lord. The Lord saw fit to bless Billy’s faith and strengthen him during times of discouragement, like when Dr. Bob Jones said, “Young man, you will never, never, never amount to anything!...What I see ahead for you is nothing but failure. Failure, failure, failure, and more failure.” (p. 49). Billy’s less-than-stellar preaching debut made it clear that it was not talent that Billy had going for him, but passion. And God chose to use this man on-fire-for-Him to reach millions.

When Billy’s good friend, Charles, through whose eyes this book was written, chose intellect over faith and denounced the Lord he once loved, doubts assailed Billy. Billy grappled with these doubts periodically for some time, a fight that culminated in a lengthy wrestling match with God in the San Bernardino Mountains. A fight filled with prayer, perspiration, temptation, oppression, pleading, a confession of spiritual poverty, then understanding, awe, and peace. Billy said he never doubted again.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book!

Book Reviews Coming!

I have recently become a book reviewer for Thomas Nelson Publishers. Being an avid reader, it is excited to be a part of this program. They send me a book, I read it, blog about it, and post a review at Amazon. Then they send me a new book and the process starts over. What a fun way to get new books! You will periodically see those books reviewed on my site. I hope you enjoy them.

Dare Confessions

Well, okay then. My experiment with The Love Dare didn't go so well. I did fine, as you know, until vacation, then completely fell apart. It was difficult to complete the assigned tasks with my husband right beside me. I know. I sound like I'm making excuses. And maybe I am. However, the friend that was doing this with me found it difficult as well, as her husband was home on medical leave for a while.

All that said, neither of us stayed with it. For those of you still hanging in there, let me encourage you to continue. My friend and I will try again. Perhaps after the holidays, when things settle into a routine again. I'll let you know.

Dare Update

Hi. I've been traveling and haven't had access to the internet for a few days. I just wanted to keep you informed. The dares are going well. Some of them are harder to implement because we're on vacation. But I'm doing the best I can to accomplish them or a vacation-modified version of them. So far so good. Is anyone out there doing this with me?

I should have time and access to be able to post for the next several days, so check back.

Dare 4

Today was an easy one on the surface. I didn't think it would be difficult at all. But timing proved to be a struggle for me, as my husband is so good at this one - he does it multiple times daily. It seemed somehow not the right time to follow right after him, lest it seem insincere.

Try vs Train

I recently heard someone say that we are really good at trying, but not always very good at training. This idea can apply to much of our lives. I could go out today and try to win a marathon, but if I haven't trained for it, my chances are nonexistent. I can say I'll try to keep my house clean, stay calm with the kids, send a card every week, and whatever else I have good intentions for. But unless I train to do those things, they are not going to consistently happen.

So, what is training? According to the dictionary (dictionary.com), to train is to develop or form the habits, thoughts, or behavior by discipline and instruction; to make proficient by instruction and practice. We need to learn and practice. Over and over again. For the long haul. It wouldn't do me much good to train for that marathon and, once I was ready to run one, quit training before the race.

I am striving to train. To train myself to have good habits - quiet time, exercise, eating right, etc. And to train up my children in the way they should go. Won't you train with me?

Dare 3

Yesterday was easy and fun! And well received. Looking forward to today.