"It's My Turn" by Ruth Bell Graham

 

 Ruth Bell Graham is one of my favorite writers. She spent her life with a pen and notebook, and her children took notice. It was her children who convinced her to publish her writing. I've written about her before:

• Top Ten Billy Graham Quotes
• Top Ten Reads of 2018

It was her poetry book, Footprints of a Pilgrim, that introduced me to her. I love it. I pull it off the shelf often. She is funny, honest about her struggles, and has a gift of brevity that I deeply appreciate. 

So when I found this beat-up book at a thrift store, I was so excited! Until I read the title. I thought it sounded selfish. I was surprised. BUT you do not judge a book by its cover, nor its title, apparently. 

This is a page turner.

I mean it. I could not put it down. 

She told stories of her childhood in China, where her parents were missionaries. She told of her dating experiences, the highs and lows, and the hilarities and difficulties of raising children, being married, and living as a Christian with real-life struggles. I can relate to her in more ways than I can count.

But she also offers a host of life lessons we need to seriously consider. The summary on the back ends with, "How the author's early experiences - as the daughter of medical missionaries in mainland China - prepared her for motherhood, will provide fascinating reading for every member of your family. How she applied those lessons to her adult life will inspire you to serve God and those around you with renewed energy and faith." 

Yup. It definitely accomplishes that! 

When It Comes to Westerns, There is Nothing Like Bass Reeves!

When I first learned how history treated the incredible Bass Reeves, there was righteous indignation. His feats are remarkable. Every outlaw knew his name and feared him. Every lawman respected him. 

And for good reason. 

He entered Dead Man's Land (a dangerous, ungoverned territory 34 miles wide by 164 miles long, now known as Oklahoma) thousands of times and successfully apprehended the nation's most notorious lawbreakers. He brought in more than 3,000 criminals and only killed fourteen in self-defense. He was an expert horseman and was barred from competitive turkey hunts because he was too good of a shot. If his name was on the roster, the prize was his. He was a man of integrity, grit, hard work, intelligence, and creativity. (Ha! He was a master of disguise, donning various undercover costumes to infiltrate infamous hideouts.) 

His story is definitely one for the books!

So why did his story never appear in a dime novel? (Stories that were exaggerated and often flipped the script - turning a criminal into a hero. Reeves was a hero. His story did not need exaggeration because it was great in and of itself!) 

Why... Grrrr... Why? Why did it take nearly one-hundred years after his death before a historian penned his story? (Black Gun, Silver Star: The Life and Legend of Frontier Marshal Bass Reeves by Art T. Burton, you should read it!)

Because he was black.

(And this is when I begin to feel the righteous indignation rise in my heart.)

What do I do when I know a story should be shared? 

I share it with my audience! My audience is my own kids, my students, and you! 

What do I read with them? Bad News for Outlaws by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson (Ah! So so good!) and The Legend of Bass Reeves by Gary Paulsen. 

My audience may only be a few hundred in my lifetime, but I don't care. If I read it to my three kids, a class of fifteen kiddos, and a few readers here and there, I hope the excitement is contagious. Share his story. 

Share how he apprehended criminals who were on their way to the judge known as "The Hangin' Judge" and how he used the long trek back to share the gospel with them.

Share how he overcame prejudice.

Share how he worked hard.

Share how he cared about being a man of integrity so much that he was willing to arrest his own son.

Share the inspiring, the funny, the sad... the stories history ignored so that history does not repeat itself.

"First Christians: Pentecost and the Spread of Christianity" Book Review

 

 It's not very often that I find authors with whom I instantly connect. When I read Paul Maier's Flames of Rome, I was hooked on his work. This book, though not a historical novel, is also excellent. It's part of a three-book series, so I'm super excited to add the other two to my stuffed library. (Ha! I'll find a spot.)

Maier makes history come alive. He is easy to understand, has gobs of interesting tidbits, and loads of archaeological insights that help shed light on the Biblical account. I highly recommend reading Acts as you read this book. You will not be disappointed.

I especially enjoyed the information Maier provides on Paul's relationship with Gamaliel (a piece I glossed over in the past) and on Cornelius the Centurion. All the historical information that exists on these individuals is pretty cool and adds depth to God's work in the early church.

If you read it, you should drop a comment! It's always fun to find a reader who has read the same books. There's never a shortage of topics to talk about.