Books that could light your fire.
You can tell when the author of a book not only believes what he writes, but also has a passion for the subject. That’s how it is with the two books being reviewed in this column.
TAKE THE CHALLENGE:
The Life of George D. Campbell by George Campbell and Gaius Goff made a tremendous impact on me when it first was published. George Campbell was a real gospel pioneer who worked hard in often rugged conditions in Newfoundland and Labrador for three decades. Relentless in his longing to reach the lost, brother Campbell (along with his fellow worker Gaius Goff) tells of the dogged work done by a small group of tireless servants of the Lord in Canada’s easternmost province.
There are touches of humor, flashes of inspiring ideas for effective gospel work, and always outspoken candor. This latter characteristic was, no doubt, enhanced when, in the summer of 1984, the doctors diagnosed him with cancer of the pancreas and liver. They told him it was inoperable.
Until the Lord took him home on March 21, 1985, George Campbell saw his coming meeting with death as a spur to even greater zeal for the Lord. On the few occasions that I heard him personally, I noticed a remarkable combination—a gentle spirit and a resolute faithfulness in challenging the saints and declaring Good News to sinners. It was not hard to see that the Lord had this former U.S. Marine and turned him into a first-rate soldier for the Cross.
The book is well worth reading. Its 152 pages will hurry by as you enjoy the journey with him—to isolated outposts on board their gospel ship, sailing right up to the gates of glory. Published by Gospel Folio Press
ONE GOD ONE MESSAGE
Discover the Mystery: Take the Journey by P.D. Bramsen is a “must read” book for anyone serious about sharing what they believe, especially with their Muslim friends. The author, Paul Bramsen, is knowledgeable concerning Islam, having lived and worked in a predominantly Muslim country for about twemty-five years.
A description of the book on an accompanying flier reads: “weaving together real-life illustrations, e-mail excerpts from Muslims and others, and more than a thousand verses from Scripture, One God One Message uses the Bible’s first four chapters as a key to unlock the reader’s interest and understanding, and help them overcome countless obstacles as they take part in an unhurried journey through the best story ever told.”
At 387 pages, it’s not a small book, but the pace is well set. The book is divided into three parts:
• Part I is called Journey Preparation and deals with possible objections that are raised against believing the Bible—Is the Bible trustworthy?, Ten reasons why people reject the Bible, Has the Bible been corrupted?, Has science disproved the Bible?, Fulfilled prophecies, Assessing the witnesses, and a General introduction to the Bible’s construction.
• Part II is headed “The Journey” and is the bulk of the book. It looks in detail at the first four chapters of Genesis as the “seed plot” of the whole Bible. It provides a helpful example of the way to explain Scripture in both an accurate and relevant way, especially to Muslims, but also to anyone who is unchurched or unfamiliar with the Bible.
• Part III is “Journey’s End.” Stages 1-3 cover God’s past, present and future program regarding the human race. In this section, Bramsen shows the many links between how human history begins in Genesis and how it concludes in Revelation.
All in all, the reader familiar with the Bible will be given the chance to rethink and refresh the way they communicate its truths to unbelieving friends.