Average customer rating:
- Here I Stand is an amazingly interesting read!
- A man named Martin, a Reformer named Luther
- "By faith alone..."
- Here I Stand: A Life of Martin Luther
- Excellent Book
|
Here I Stand: A Life of Martin Luther
Roland H. Bainton
Manufacturer: Plume
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 Religious
| Leaders & Notable People
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
Luther, Martin
| ( L )
| People, A-Z
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Theology
| Reference
| Christianity
| Religion & Spirituality
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Protestantism
| Christianity
| Religion & Spirituality
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Religion & Spirituality
| Subjects
| Books
Luther, Martin
| ( L )
| Authors, A-Z
| Religion & Spirituality
| Subjects
| Books
Look Inside Religion & Spirituality Books
| Trip
| Specialty Stores
| Books
Similar Items:
-
Luther's Ninety-Five Theses
-
The Bondage of the Will
-
Martin Luther : Selections From His Writings
-
Luther
-
Documents of the Christian Church
ASIN: 0452011469 |
Customer Reviews:
Here I Stand is an amazingly interesting read!.......2007-09-19
I purchased the book after watching the movie Luther with Joseph Fiennes (sp?). I usually do that in reverse order but not this time. The book very logically and clearly (and with great clarity and attention to detail) portrays the inner life and events going on at that time in Luther's life. It is a great review of history, the Catholic Church and the mind of Martin Luther.
The only downside is that you often need to read it with a dictionary present due to some of the words and context in which it is written that are not readily used in daily discussions. Great way to learn them though.
This is a wonderful read and one that I could not put down once I started. He is a very influential and fascinating historical figure.
A man named Martin, a Reformer named Luther.......2007-08-12
Martin Luther is one of the historical protagonists who has had the greatest amout of biographies written. This is a biography which displays not only the Reformer, but also the man Martin Luther. Luther's phrase, chosen as title, reveals the essence of the man: "Here I stay, I could not do differently. So help me God".
"By faith alone...".......2007-04-02
Having read Luther's "Bondage of the Will" I was interested in the Reformer's life and how God transformed him. In Roland H. Bainton's book you feel the man and his convictions. Bainton includes many lengthy quotes by Luther himself, so the reader begins to "feel" the man and his faith. The book also has many B & W wood-cut illustrations from that time, so you get to sense their history.
Bainton focuses on how Luther became a monk and from a monk to a world changing reformer. Luther's struggle with God's righteousness was so pivotal in his early days in the monastery, he was led to study of the Holy Scriptures by order of his senior. And it ultimately led to re-discovery of the Gospel -- that man is justified (declared righteous) by faith alone in what Christ has done for us. This revolutionized Luther's theology and his own life. Luther's emphasis, "by faith alone" is the heart of the gospel. He does not dismiss the importance of good works, but emphasized that good works cannot save and only faith saves. This was important distinction to him. And this book captures this fact about Luther well.
Moreover, the book pictures Luther as translator of the Bible into German language from original Hebrew and Greek. It is incredible feat by one man. He also wrote many hymns (including that famous "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God") to be sung at the church.
The book was fun to read as well. I couldn't stop reading. You will KNOW Luther in this book. Highly recommended.
Here I Stand: A Life of Martin Luther.......2007-01-10
This is an exceptional book for objective historical and theological perspectives of the life of Martin Luther. I have read the book as part of seminary studies, though the book is written with an undertone for lay understanding. The major pluses of the book are the honest depiction of the character of Martin Luther and how his personal theology developed over his pastoral years with highlights of how his insights helped cause major reforms of theological throughout the world as well as bringing the book of the bible in a readable and understandable format to his beloved German people.
Excellent Book.......2006-11-10
The Pastor at my church referred me to this Book. And it was excellent. Very thorough on Luther's life.
Amazon.com
No one had more to lose in following his political convictions than Paul Robeson. Here I Stand, originally published in 1958, was Robeson's response to the questions about why his mission--to win the freedom of black people everywhere--incited so much hatred and fear in his country.
Following Sterling Stuckey's 1988 introduction and Lloyd L. Brown's 1971 preface, both providing invaluable commentary, Robeson begins with his recollection of a Princeton boyhood. The roots of his world-view that would ultimately be his undoing were set down there. "Throughout his youth, Robeson's father [a pastor in the A.M.E. Zion Church] insisted on 'personal integrity,' which included the idea of 'maximum human fulfillment.'" Indeed, to list Robeson's achievements while attending university is to be in awe of a fabulously endowed man, bent on living out his father's edicts, and achieving his magnificent potential.
As his fascination with the Soviet Union grew, he began to attract the notice of McCarthy's watchdogs. He had begun to draw parallels between the Soviet social "experiment," which brought a whole underclass into the 20th century, and the emerging nations of Africa. In the early '40s, he reached the height of his performing career ("Robeson's Othello was more authentic than that of any other actor of his time"), but soon thereafter, he would set aside his brilliant career and commit fiercely to the struggle for black liberation. In 1949, it would all come crashing down, and for a decade, an ugly, active campaign against Robeson reigned, stemming not from the growing radicalization of his beliefs, but from the turning tide of cold war politics. W.E.B. DuBois, also a victim of the Communist witch-hunts noted, "He is without doubt today, as a person, the best known American on earth, to the largest number of human beings. His voice is known in Europe, Asia and Africa, in the West Indies and South America and in the islands of the seas. Children on the streets of Peking and Moscow, Calcutta and Jakarta greet him and send him their love. Only in his native land is he without honor and rights."
Lloyd L. Brown helped Robeson write Here I Stand, and he crafted the tone, which is at once accessible and impassioned, originally aimed at the black religious community. Highly idealistic, passionately exhorting, deeply committed to the "common people," this Paul Robeson gem remains a vital challenge to the racism that still dogs American society. -- Hollis Giammatteo
Book Description
Robeson's international achievements as a singer and actor in starring roles on stage and screen made him the most celebrated black American of his day, but his outspoken criticism of racism in the United States, his strong support of African independence, and his fascination with the Soviet Union placed him under the debilitating scrutiny of McCarthyism. Blacklisted, his famed voice silenced, Here I Stand offered a bold answer to his accusers. It remains today a defiant challenge to the prevailing fear and racism that continues to characterize American society.
Customer Reviews:
A genius who's promise was limited by racism.......2007-04-03
Paul Robson was the son of an escaped slave. He earned 15 Varsity letters in sports at Rutgers in Baseball, Basketball, Football and Track and Field, and graduated from Rutgers in 1919 as valedictorian. He then attended and graduated form Columbia Law School in 1923 and after a brief time practicing law he pursued a career in the arts as a singer and actor. If there ever was an American Renaissance man it was Paul B. Robeson. How does a man with all these talents become a communist?
Here I stand sheds light on the complexity of Paul Robeson and reveals a lot about who he was especially his strong sense of social justice. He was one of the first artists who became a political activist. Yes before Bono there was Robeson. He not only gave millions of his own money he also raised funds to help the poor and causes he believed in; he supported factions against Franco in the Spanish Civil war, raised money for refugees from Hitler's regime and he lobbied President Truman to support anti-lynching Legislation. He was known for supporting socialist causes; at the time socialist causes included the eight hour work day, abolishing child labor, programs to feed and care for the poor and elderly before our country had unemployment and social security.
Here I Stand his personal examination of his own philosophy and reading it makes you wonder what Black men of his generation could have achieved if they had been born after the civil rights movement. My grandfather was a communist organizer and lived in St. Louis, Missouri. My father met Robeson as a boy. Some Black people, like Robeson and my grandfather, embraced communism because it offered hope.
Personally, I believe that if our country fully embraced the principles of equality written in our Constitution and accepted Black people as full citizen's communism would have held no appeal at all to men like Robeson and my grandfather. Had Robeson had the same opportunities as white men who had the same talents in his generation then I doubt communism would have held the same appeal for him. My grandfather was a WWI veteran and because of segregation he had to travel 300 miles just to enlist in the Army; if he had been treated fairly like all men who sacrificed to serve this country communism would not have appealed to him either. Paul Robeson's struggle was the struggle of the Black people of his generation who, like him, looked for hope in a philosophy that we now know with historic hindsight was not the panacea they sought; nevertheless in Here I Stand he gives them a voice.
This is a fascinating look into Robeson's life and it is worth reading; we read it in college in Afro-American History and I was able to discuss this with my dad(who was patriotic and served in the Marines) and learn even more about this fascinating person who would today be labeled a multitalented genius; in the post civil rights era Robeson would also have the full rights of citizenship and have more opportunity to benefit from his hard work and talents.
Here I Stand: A Review.......2006-04-26
I was expecting to read an autobiography of Paul Robeson but in the first few pages, he clearly informs the reader that the book being read is not an autobiography. And it's not, although it deals with facets of his life. The book focuses more on exploring how Paul Robeson came to hold his strong political beliefs.
As a student of African history (of the diaspora and Africa itself), the most valuable thing about this book, at this writing, is how ahead of his time Robeson was. Before learning about Africa, or learning African languages became the cultural phenonemon it is in some circles, Robeson was doing it. He wasn't doing it simply to expand his repetoire of songs or for any other self-serving reason. He was doing it because he understood that being able to communicate with people in their own language works wonders in being able to develop a genuine rapport. He also did as an extension of his understanding that the centuries long condition of slavery had deprived him of a correct perception of Africa and African people.
I finished this book with an increased respect for his personality, his character, his devotion to African people and last but not least, his intelligence. Paul Robeson's life is an example to progressive artists who aim to have their art serve their people's struggle, not just be a vehicle for personal expression.
A Profile In Courage In A Sea Of Ignorance.......2005-03-14
The life of Paul Robeson is a story worth telling and hearing by all. Whether of not one agrees with all of the places in which he journeyed in search of truth, we should and must recognize his strength in traveling against the mindless tides of the time and his unwillingness to merely be blown along by the strongest winds -- as so many are today.
Speaking of which, I must cite the slanderous "review" of 8 January 2001 by an, of course, "anonymous" naysayer who seems forever mired in the days of McCarthy's cold war rhetoric, hatred, and mindless babbling. Please note that the cold war is over, and even when it was on, we were ill-served by the kind of dimwitted buffoonery which branded anyone who dared have an opinion of his own as an enemy of the state.
Sadly, that kind of blatant fascist lunacy has come to rule America again.
This is the perfect time for this story to be told.
Insightful.......2003-02-12
Good book for anyone who wants to learn about this unsung american hero. When will history books teach the youth of our country about this man?
Stand Up!.......2002-01-16
Paul Robeson was a proud man. A man of bravery, intelligence and integrity. He was a man who had to walk alone, as men must do sometimes. He formed his own opinions, defined his own ideology, and stood up for that ideology when confronted. Faced with hatred the way he was, many men would give in and surrender, Mr. Robeson refused to do this. He walked the road that Malcolm X, Nelson Mandela, and Michael Jordan walked and he lived to tell it like he saw it. All the kids who live in poverty should know that education is the key to being your own person, if you need a guide, read Here I Stand.
Customer Reviews:
Terrific read!!!.......2007-03-09
This, the second book in the Trinian Trilogy, is something spectacular.
The first half of the book keeps you guessing the entire time, with a feeling similar to a Tarantino or Guy Ritchie film. The plot jumps completely away from one character outline to the next and back again. It's wonderful.
Then, just as you begin to fully grasp the concept of the background story, the plot takes off and leaves you fighting to hold on! This is truly a compelling piece of work. Your emotions will run the gamut. You'll cry for a mother that longs for her son, and within a couple of pages laugh out loud at an awkward moment between a young man and young woman enjoying the comfort of each other's company during a tumultuous time.
What's also important to note, as other reviewers have, is the heavy presence of The LORD's Word. Mr. Rotering is brave to step out of the shadows and 'Stand' up for what he believes in. The message here is clear and powerful. Bravo sir, for you will be rewarded before Your Father in Heaven for your witness.
Get yourself a copy of this first work from Terrence L. Rotering - you won't be disappointed! I also definitely look forward to the first and third installments in the Trinian saga.
Stand! A great read!.......2007-02-27
I really liked this book! The story was written originally for the author's two sons, and it tied together real life people and friends in this family's lives with fictional characters. Mr. Rotering has masterfully woven together an intriguing story using a C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien and Frank Peretti style. I loved the story with its obvious application to our culture and highly recommend this book. Looking forward to the other two parts of the trilogy!
Stand does deliver.......2007-02-12
Stand is a fictional story that should intrigue the entire family. I give the Author credit as he has stepped beyond boundries established by a secular society that deams faith and religion as something tabboo. He has cast his entire work in the image and imagination of his faith.
This story is a positive and uplifting work that leads the reader to want more. Though the story is predictable at times for the Christian reader, it is a perfect, introductory book for young minds that seek the truth (God's Word) in a creative story line that supports strong family bonds, trust and compassion.
I must say that I found it difficult to put the book down and it is a very good one night read for an adult as well as a great book for children in the age group of about five to thirteen.
Keep up the good work Mr. Rotering. I look forward to reading the first and third books in this series. In keeping with the theme allow me to say on His behalf...."Well done my good and faithful servant!"
Excellent read for every Christian!.......2007-02-12
I was truly unsure of how I would like this book when I first started reading it. The idea of a fictional adventure that was founded on scripture sounded like it had a chance to be a dull and boring book. I was however, pleasantly surprised. The book not only isn't boring at all, but for any Christian will be very uplifting and meaningful. It is an excellent departure from secular fiction that seems to always perpetuate non-Christian ideals. I would highly recommend this book to everyone!
Awesome!.......2006-12-22
A thrilling story with a strong Biblical theme - I could hardly put it down. Parts of this book will really stir up your emotions, and the detailed descriptions make for vivid mental images. "Stand" could be made into an excellent movie!
Amazon.com
Here I Stand is the autobiography of John Shelby Spong, the Episcopal bishop who is a lightning rod for controversy. Spong has for decades been working to popularize an inclusive version of Christianity that avoids racism, sexism, and homophobia; as a result, he has engaged leading conservatives (such as Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson) in very public conflicts. Here I Stand, predictably, gives a blow-by-blow of Spong's high-profile battles. More surprisingly, Spong also shares some very intimate details about his life that help to explain the sources of his theology. His southern childhood is related in a manner that is every bit as painful and comic as a Flannery O'Connor story. And the story of his first marriage, to a woman whose mental illness persisted for 15 years, is handled with sensitivity and grace. Despite his occasional rhetorical excesses, Spong's book is clearly written in love--with God, with the Church, and with the world. "I walk inside the wonder of this God in every experience of life," he writes at the book's end. We are fortunate that Spong's autobiography so expertly conveys this wonder.
Book Description
The legendary Episcopal Bishop tells of his lifelong struggle to champion an authentic christianity based on love, not hatred.
Download Description
The legendary Episcopal Bishop tells of his lifelong struggle to champion an authentic christianity based on love, not hatred.
Customer Reviews:
A Wonderful Story..........2007-05-11
As a young Episcopalian, future priest, and sometimes follower of Bishop Spong I was excited to get my hands on his autobiography to see where he was coming from. He has lived such an intriguing life and he has done many, many good things for the Church, and for the world.
In spite of what some may think about his theology (I, for one, happen to agree with a lot of what he says), I think that this book just shows that he is a man devoted to God, to the Church, and to his family.
Excellent background book.......2005-10-28
This is an excellent book. I have read several of Spong's books and this book is very helpful in giving the evolotion in his spiritual ideas. The Unity church I attend, has had two sets of Sunday School classes on his books. This book helps one to understand his writing.
A Man Who Takes Charge.......2005-09-27
Former Bishop Spong doesn't believe in the Bible as the inspired word of God. He doesn't believe Jesus was born of a virgin, died in atonement for sin, or was physically resurrected from the dead. He doesn't believe in salvation, the power of prayer, the second coming, Hell or any sort of afterlife, and sees God more as an internal presence than an external supernatural force.
I am interested in the history and structure of religion...this is my third Spong book. I thought perhaps this time I would find out just what it is Spong does believe - no such luck. What I did get was a detailed view of what shaped his life and theology, how he came to write so many books (average of one every 2 years since 1973) and a readable story about an energetic, caring and principled man.
Spong's father was an alcoholic who died when the boy was 12. Spong wasn't ready for the "man of the house" role his dependent mother would have liked for him to fill. His marginally successful early teen years took a positive turn when he joined the boy's choir at the Episcopal Church. A charismatic priest took an interest, and young Spong began taking leadership roles in every church activity. By the time he finished the 11th grade, he had decided to become a priest. Since being a priest required college, Spong buckled down and got all A's in school his senior year - a necessity for college admission since his previous grades were so poor.
From that time on (working within the limitations of objectivity inherent in an autobiography) Spong was a leader in everthing he attempted. In college, seminary and throughout his early church positions, he provided enthusiastic administrative skills. Outstanding qualities - a way of creating excitement for projects, organizational skills, people skills, diplomacy, unlimited energy, a developing talent in handling the press, and a willingness to stand up against injustice, even if he might end up standing alone. He wielded these qualities into explosive growth for each church under his guidance, and through the difficult time of racial de-segregation. Repeatedly when racial issues were lacking local leadership, Spong stepped forward. During the occasional loss of a battle, he laid ground to win the war.
Adult Bible study groups were an integral part of each of Spong's churches. His enthusiastic and always crowded classes repeatedly asked him to publish his classwork, and his second career as a writer began. He helped the high school football announcer with statistics, soon taking over play by play announcing. He created a debate over radio with a local rabbi. He received more and more speaking engagements, sparking a third career. These days, he has about 200 speaking engagements per year.
The drama of conflict is one of the charms of this autobiography, but it is strictly a memoir of his professional life. We don't get past a superficial knowledge of either wife or his kids. The conflicts at the end of the book can get a little too detailed at times, but the inner workings of church hierarchy I found fascinating.
Back to Bishop Spong's theology, I still wonder - given his beliefs - why he doesn't take up watercoloring or golf instead of going to church. I would like to read his views on what role IS appropriate in his view of the church and how this church would conduct its services. It is clear that whatever he believes, a significant part of his theology will be based on tolerance and love. A very good book.
The dangers of living a Humanitist Christian "life".......2005-05-15
One of the leading men who is well into the apostasy of falsifying and corrupting the truth of Christianity is a man named John Shelby Spong. Christians who will stand faithful to the Lord through His Son Jesus Christ need to know about him and people like him because even if you do not ever read one of his books, you will come across people who have been blinded by his corrupted and degraded Christian beliefs. John Shelby Spong has several books out there today. Some of the titles are as follow: Here I Stand: My Struggle for a Christianity Integrity, Love, and Equality; A New Christianity for a New World; Rescuing the Bible from Fundamentalism. These are just a few, there are many more. What is ironic is that while he has tried, in his own words, to bring integrity, love, and equality back to Christianity, he really has destroyed the foundations and fundamental truths that are found within the holy Scriptures. Even more so, by destroying the very skeleton of the Bible and Christian reality, he has distorted so many Christians who now follow him that they truly are in a limbo of his leading and making. I will discuss several of what he calls his Twelve Theses now with the truth of the Bible and information outside of the Bible.
From his Twelve Theses, here are explanations for you so that you will know how in turn to be able to get through the muck that has brought down the integrity of Christianity and has placed it into the view of just another "feel good without truly thinking" point of views. To be able to fulfill what is called the Great Commission, you will need and be able to meet in mental and spiritual combat those like Spong who wish to distort anything and everything that is Holy and True about our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ. The Twelve Theses is Spongs attempt to be like a New Age Episcopal (no big surprise that he was a bishop within this denomination) Martin Luther. You can find a full copy of this distortion in his biography, Here I Stand.
Creation/Evolution: Spong has the following to say (453): "The biblical story of the perfect and finished creation from which human beings fell into sin is pre-Darwinian mythology and post-Darwinian nonsense." The truth of God however is far above Darwin and in fact, the truth of evolution is probably one of the greatest fairy tales of the 19th through 21st century. There are many holes and straying strands that exist within what is grouped together as evolution. Not even scientists who believe, or people like Spong, can't get the right idea of what evolution is. On the other hand, the Bible's view of the truth of creationism contains a lot of evidence to support this view. There are a multitude of books that are out there published by intelligent and thought provoking creationist scientists. DNA, biology, and physiology again and again when brought together support the Biblical ideas. What is so dangerous is that many people, even those who may be reading this book on apologetics, cannot know the truth because the evolutionsists like Spong within the church and people like the fairly popular Stephen Jay Gould outside Christianity seems to be the popular view that is taught as religion in our school systems and now in our churches. Instead I would suggest to you to read books like How Now Shall I Live? by Charles Colson and Nancy Pearcey, The Long War Against God by Dr. Henry Morris, and The Face by Hank Hanegraaff. I would have to go into a book in and of itself about the truth of creationism but I think I have made my point countering Spong. Charles Colson and Nancy Pearcey have this to say about the debate and how it affects who you are in your Christian walk with God (55): The Christian worldview begins with the Creation, with a deliberate act by a personal Being who existed from all eternity. This personal dimension is crucial for understanding Creation. Before bringing the world into existence, the Creator made a choice, a decision: He set out a plan, an intelligent design.
Virgin Birth: Spong has the following to say (453): "The virgin birth, understood as literal biology, makes the divinity of Christ, as traditionally understood impossible." Biblical foundations of the virgin birth came from the Old Testament prophet Isaiah within two main segments of the book of Isaiah. These points are found in Isaiah 7:14 and Isaiah 9:6a. What Spong has to say is another fallacy that has corrupted so many people who have come to the church to find the truth of God. Christianity is founded on the proofs of the Bible. Spong says that it is biologically impossible yet how can that be for with the God who created the univesre, is something as simple as this so difficult? For Spong, in his narrow view of God's truth, the answer is a sad yes. While you and I can't have a physiological evidence placed in our hand, we can respect the reality of how Christ Jesus, to be who He said He is and how prophecy has spoken true about Him, then we must accept the virgin birth. We cannot pick and choose what we can and cannot believe in the Bible. The Bible is true, it is supported by much information. Even more so, we must accept how the prophecies of the virgin birth have brought about the truth of Christ Jesus. We cannot say the prophets are liars because in the Jewish sense, if a prophet is wrong about one point, then not only is he a false prophet, then he also will die because Jewish laws show that prophets must be 100% true. The following is found within the wonderful work by Josh McDowell called The New Evidence that Demands a Verdict, he has this to say (295): The evidence strongly suggests that the birth narratives in Matthew and Luke are built on the firsthand testimony of Jesus' own family members, which further support the conclusion that Jesus' conception and birth were indeed the fulfillment of Isaiah's ancient prophecy. As Matthew wrote: "Now all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet , saying: `Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,' which is translated `God with us.'" (Matthew 1:22, 23).
Cross: Spong has the following to say (453): "The view of the cross as the sacrifice for the sins of the world is a barbarian idea based on primitive concepts of God that must be dismissed." Such a heresy is horrific to believe but there are many, many people out there who not only disbelieve in the crucifixion but not understanding the reasons why there was the crucifixion. The cross is the foundation of the Bible, yes, and even more, the cross and the crucifixion is the primary truth of God's love and want for our human race to be saved. Spong does not, along with the others who believe with Spong, understand the truth that is our Lord and Savior's reason for the Cross. Jesus could have called a thousand, thousand angels to come down to protect Him from the cross but God knew that His Son had to go through the cross in order for you and I to be truly saved from our sins. We are a sinful race, we are not able to save ourselves, and thus God was the only one who could save us. The only way to save us was to face what we faced, thus He had to come into this world, into our human history, as Jesus Christ, as the Son, and bear upon His own shoulders not just the salvation of the world but also the judgment the final judgment upon the affront that sin is toward Him. J. Vernon McGee has this to say about the truth of the cross (144): "It was a transaction between the Father in heaven and the Son on the cross. The cross became an altar upon which the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, was offered." Without the cross and the honest reasons behind the cross, that is to save us from our sins, again we cannot truly know and have faith and be in relationship with our Lord God. It is a shame that yes again, Spong creates a false reality that has subjugated so many who come to Christianity for salvation and safety.
Resurrection: Spong has the following to say (454): "Resurrection is an action of God, who raised Jesus into the meaning of God. It therefore cannot be a physical resurrection occurring, inside human history." Yet again truth that is founded on the reliability of Scripture has escaped Mr. Spong simply because he, yet again, wishes to nitpick what he wants to believe and what he doesn't want to believe based upon a faulty ground of his "reasoning" powers. We must accept the truth within scripture and outside of scripture toward the reliability of the resurrection. There are several reasons for this. Archeologists and historians have come together over the ages to show that the Bible's scriptures hold truth in what they say, that they can be honored and they can be relied upon with all intent and purpose in one's walk with Christ.
There were hundreds upon hundreds of eye witnesses that saw and had specific contact with the risen Lord and Savior. If this was not true, then evidence would have outweighed even the most arrogant supporter for Jesus being back alive. Yet many a times Jesus was seen, encountered, and talked with by not just the disciples such as Matthew and Mark and John and Peter, but also many others who were firm believers in the Lord yet had no real speaking or political power. Even after His resurrection, there is ample and true historical evidence that there were those who indeed saw Him and witnessed Him in His resurrected body. Right after the resurrection the disciples saw him, then others outside the circle of main believers. Remember the Bible read the following from the Book of Acts 1:2-3:
...until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.
Then in 1st Corinthians 15:5-8, Paul says the following quote:
...and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.
As these quotes show, you must understand that the writers of the Gospels specifically speak of instances where they themselves as the disciples had a personal contact with the Lord and Savior who rose back to life. There was of course the instance where Thomas, later Doubting Thomas, touched Jesus before the eyes of other. Then there was also the time where in the early morning Jesus ate and broke bread with Peter and John and the others on the beach. The first Letter to Corinthians, furthermore, shows that several hundred people had witnessed Jesus after the resurrection. If any of these instances were not true, then there would have been mounting evidence that would have wiped out even the flicker of believers at this time in history. As the letter of Paul was written in probably a decade or two after the resurrection, if there was no truth behind Jesus' resurrection, Christianity would have been snuffed out like what someone would do to a candle. Such evidence seems to elapse from Spong and his followers. History not only supports the fact that Jesus rose from the grave, it even bows down to its truth.
This is just some of the truths that counter weigh the false beliefs of Spong and others like him. To be a Christian, to fully be raptured by the truth and wonder and hope and joy that is our Lord God and Savior, you must realize that the Bible speaks the truth, that its wisdom is not man made wisdom but God made and that its reliability is found on the solid ground that is where our Lord God stands upon. As Christians, as believers, I hope and pray that this confrontation to Spong's ideas helps you realize what kind of cancer is biting at the heels of our Church. If you are an unbeliever, I hope and pray that my evidence has helped at least spark a fire of thought and desire to know more within your heart and soul. I pray as I write this that God opens your eyes and opens your heart to His eternal truth and love and holiness.
Nothing to Stand On.......2004-05-05
In a postmodern era, where truth is relative and reality undefinable, this book provides quick and easy pain relief, kind of like taking morphine for cancer. For the most part, we all want to believe that there is a God or at least something out there; that way we don't feel like this life is such a waste. But if we believe in one system, especially one so "antiquated" as the Bible we will be mocked and ridiculed for being closed-minded and ignorant. But we grew up in Christian homes and are much more comfortable with "Christian" spirituality than, say, Eastern Transcendentalism. So what is the open-minded post modernist to do?
Enter John Shelby Spong (and others)...
Simple, by removing Christianity's belief that we are sinful, Christ no becomes pointless. By removing the parts of Christianity that cause so many people to stumble and which don't make sense in a world where everybody is equally right (see 1 Corinthians 1:18), now Christianity is poised to survive for millennia to come.
The problem is that the message of Christianity is the Gospel, the Good News. That Good News is that even though we have been found to be in rebellion to the Creator, Sustainer, and Judge over the universe, He made a way for us to be made right with Him: Christ. Christ came and died so that we would not be judged as the rebels that we are and cast out of His Presence and into eternal death. Sin is that rebellion; Christ is the only solution. Any religion, including a Savior-less Christianity that does not deal with our problem of sin will probably do quite a bit to make us feel better about our damned condition while we're here on earth, but we will still have to stand on our own merits before the Judge. It's like having cancer, ignoring the miracle cure, and taking morphine so that you can ignore the death that you are dying. Christ, rather, will remove your sin and your rebellion as far as the East is from the West. He will remove your death-bringing cancer of sin and give you the true relief of his grace, both now and for eternity.
Do not fall for Spong's appealing postmodern message. Realize that reality exists; if the God of the Bible is real, you must repent from your sins and place your only hope in Christ.
Book Description
The highly-anticipated memoir by one of the giants of the U.S. Senate–a book as fascinating, frank, and full of fervor as the man himself.
The first Republican elected to the Senate from North Carolina since Reconstruction, Jesse Helms was both a bane and a boon to Presidents for thirty years, championing such core conservative causes as low taxes, anticommunism, and school prayer, while working to become Chairman of the crucial Senate Foreign Relations Committee, a post he attained in 1995. Now he chronicles the inside story of his rise to power and all those who defended or fought him, from Nixon and Reagan to Kennedy and Clinton.
Born a seventh-generation citizen of the small town of Monroe, Helms recalls his hardworking family and the inspiring image of his father, the six-foot-five-inch chief of the town’s fire and police departments. As a result of his career in journalism, Helms was introduced to both his beloved wife, Dot, and the conservative views of her father, Jacob Coble. At the time of his greatest influence as a radio editorialist, Helms ran successfully for the Senate in 1972, arguing that a “spiritual rebirth” was needed in America and that it was necessary to derail “the freight train of liberalism,” beliefs to which he remained faithful for the rest of his career.
From a time when conservatives in the Senate “could have met comfortably in a phone booth” to the recent consolidation of conservative power in every branch of the federal government, Jesse Helms was a mover, shaker, and lightning rod for the Republican Party on issues ranging from the Panama Canal to race relations to Roe v. Wade to Iran-Contra.
Yet
Here’s Where I Stand is more than just the story of Helms himself. It is a series of intimate portraits of people he befriended and, at times, beat back: Richard Nixon, his respect for whom turned to disillusion; Jimmy Carter, a fellow son of the South with whom he had little in common; Ronald Reagan, the long-shot star whom Helms supported early and then saw become his favorite U.S. leader; Senate colleagues on both sides of the aisle, be they kindred spirits like Barry Goldwater or friendly foes like Paul Wellstone; and world leaders to whom he became close, as disparate as Margaret Thatcher and the Dalai Lama.
All the events of the recent past that shook and shaped America are recounted by Helms as he experienced them from his seat at the center of power, including the Kennedy assassination, the Watergate hearings, the fall of the Soviet Union, and the Clinton impeachment. A fitting coda to his impressive career, Here’s Where I Stand is at once a revealing glimpse into the spirit of an important politician and an engaging journey through much of the past American century.
Customer Reviews:
An Interesting Read About a Polarizing Figure.......2007-03-11
Regardless of what you think about Senator Helms, he tells it like it is in "Here's Where I Stand". Personally, I like the senator and voted for him at least twice because he does indeed represent true North Carolina values.
As earlier reviewers have mentioned the liberal media have so vehemently attacked the senator on being a conservative, that many Americans view him as being vicious and intolerant. Quite the contrary! Senator Helms (unlike many politicians) is a principled man who knows where he stands and has been able to work with people of different political persuasions without compromising his basic core principles.
The book is a series of stories from the senator himself concerning:
1. His early childhood and career that eventually led him into politics.
2. His mainly positive relationships with minorities and people of other political and cultural backgrounds.
3. Where he stands on particular issues and what actions he took on them.
4. Relationships with presidents and other senators and what he thought of them.
5. Experiences on the various committees he served on while a senator.
6. His retirement years.
7. His close family relationships and friendships.
8. His election campaigns.
I heartily recommend the book to anyone who would like to know more about the person known as "Senator No" during his terms in Washington D.C. Whether or not like you like Senator Helms, you will have to admit that you will respect his candor and clarity on political stances. He clearly states what his stances are on issues and also why he believes as he does.
Read and enjoy! Recommended.
Future Historians order today!.......2006-09-01
It is an abysmal shame that so many people will never read this book because of the misconceptions they have been fed about Senator Jesse Helms. The bogeyman hiding under the liberal bed wears Senator Helms' distinctive owlish glasses and speaks with a soothing drawl. That image was created by liberals as they struggled desperately and in vain to smear a thoroughly honest and decent man through five (count `em) election campaigns.
Here's Where I Stand is Senator Helms chance to set the record straight and he succeeds admirably. He gives a detailed accounting of his values and positions. Perhaps more importantly, he addresses the villainous lies that have been spread against him over the years by the liberal media.
Senator Helms was 51 years old when he was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 1972. He had already been a successful businessman and journalist; had served his country in uniform and on the staff of Senator Willis Smith. In 2001, at 80, Senator Helms considered running for a sixth term but was gently encouraged to retire by his family and close friends. The left will howl with vicious glee when Senator Helms succumbs to age as they did when Ronald Reagan passed from this life. It is to his great credit that he was able to complete his memoirs before age robbed him of his sharp intellect and lifetime of honorable memories.
Students writing biographies of political figures in today's climate will know intuitively that the easy "A" will come from a study of Hubert Humphrey or Paul Wellstone. A biography of Senator Helms, flawlessly written will earn them a lower grade and a semester of scorn and derision. But their careful research of the most liberal political figures will keep leading them back to references to Senator Helms who sought always to build productive working relationships with his ideological opposites. They will benefit from his wisdom and hopefully begin to doubt the tie-dyed dogmas of the apparatchiki. As years roll by and fashions change, scholars will dust off Here's Where I Stand and see a portrait of one of the last great Citizen Senators. We'll not see his like again and it is our great loss.
Jesse Helms explains himself.......2005-10-23
The only other political figure as divisive as former Senator Jesse Helms is former President Bill Clinton. That's saying something considering the endless number of scandals both big and small that plagued Clinton's presidency. Jesse Helms had no comparable problems during his thirty years in office, but derision and controversy followed him nonetheless. Why? Because the very presence of Helms, an archconservative of the first order, vexed to no end the hopeless liberals in the mainstream media. The primary way journalism hacks dealt with Helms was to not deal with him, i.e. try to ignore his presence in the Senate. When it became absolutely necessary to mention his name, like during the failed William Weld nomination as ambassador to Mexico in which Helms played a major role, the tactic switched to good old-fashioned tar and feathering. The media mavens, barely containing their scornful smirks, heaped derision on the venerable senator from North Carolina. "Obstructionist" and "extremist" were the least harmful labels applied to Helms. We were much more likely to hear insinuations about racism (a favorite smear employed by the left to reframe debates near and dear to their hearts) and hardheaded cold heartedness. The Democrats breathed a collective sigh of relief when Helms retired a few years ago.
Now Jesse Helms has reemerged, albeit briefly, with a single volume memoir entitled, "Here's Where I Stand." The book serves as his opportunity to clear the air, so to speak, by providing interested readers with information on his upbringing and how his life informed the decisions he made as a senator. I knew that Helms was born and raised in North Carolina, but I didn't know the particulars until I read this engaging book. He grew up poor in a small town called Monroe, the son of man who served the village as head of both the police and fire departments. Helms recalls his childhood as a golden time in his life despite the fact that the country was wading through the worst of the Great Depression. Through tenacity and a willingness to take a number of different jobs, Helms managed to impress the sort of people who could help a serious young man secure a slot in college. The future senator worked hard at his studies, joined the Navy when World War II broke out, married his wife at roughly the same time, and began a career in journalism all within the space of a few years. What comes across in these sections most strongly is the fact that Jesse Helms knew how to create opportunities and then take advantage of them, a trait largely lost to most of the populace today.
I had no idea about Helms's journalistic background, let alone the fact that he came to statewide prominence thanks to his daily editorials on WRAL during the early days of television. His experience as a media personality likely prepared him for the derision he faced when he ran for his first term as senator in the early 1970s. Largely written off by the national journalism outlets when he initially captured his seat, the same people spent the next thirty years trying to marginalize his influence and force him out of office. Helms eventually chaired the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee, a body that oversees everything from the confirmation of ambassadors to treaty relationships with various countries. The author highlights several important events that confronted him while he sat on this committee, including the Weld controversy, the Panama Canal giveaway imbroglio, and the tensions between China and Taiwan. He makes no apologies for taking tough stands on issues. In fact, he takes pleasure in the fact that his opposition dumped so much scorn upon him! A man knows he's being faithful to his principles, claims Helms, when his enemies go nuts trying to stop him. That's a fairly refreshing position to take in an age when most politicians twist like the wind to avoid the slightest whiff of controversy.
Helms's book doesn't feel like a typical political memoir. It's short, for one thing, and he moves over material quite fast. He sums up his various political campaigns in as few pages as possible because he never liked the process candidates go through to raise lots of money. Again, this feels alien to the typical political autobiography wherein the author relates every minute detail describing their run for office. The best thing going for "Here's Where I Stand" is Helms's sense of humor, both about others (that anecdote about Strom Thurmond is hilarious) and about himself. It's difficult to think of Helms without recalling the images of him glowering on television, or making "statements" that supposedly confirmed his intractable brand of conservatism. All of that was obviously a media invention. The Jesse Helms in this book is a man who likes all sorts of people, even liberals who opposed him, and a man who likes to laugh. Check out the picture of him with Madeleine Albright! Funny stuff, I say, and a picture that does much to dispel the myths propagated by the media for far too long. Heck, even Bono of U2 fame likes Jesse Helms. According to the author, they still keep in touch today.
I did have a few problems with the book, mainly centering on Helms's unabashed support of President George W. Bush. He calls our current president a conservative, and I'm not sure that label is appropriate. After all, Bush obviously doesn't believe in many bread and butter issues precious to the conservative mindset. His reckless spending policies and his fear of the veto pen doesn't make a lot of sense to most card-carrying members of the GOP. This disagreement aside, "Here's Where I stand" should find a place on every the reading list of every Republican. I wish Jesse Helms the best in his retirement and thank him for his years of public service.
STANDING TALL IN PASSION AND PRINCIPLE.......2005-09-07
JESSIE HELMS NEW BESTSELLING MEMOIR "HERES WHERE I STAND" IS A BOOK LIKE NO OTHER. IT IS BOTH WELL WRITTION AND RICH IN POLITICAL HISTORY. THIS FINE STATESMEN HAS SERVED MANY PRESIDENTS AND THROUGH THESE MANY FAST READING PAGES TAKES THE READER THROUGH ALL THE HISTORICAL EVENTS AND HAPPENINGS THAT HE HAD THE HONOR TO HAVE SHAPPED, PLAYED A PART IN OR TAKEN A STAND FOR. THIS FINE PUBLICATION IS MORE THEAN A MEMOIR IT IS A REAL INSIDERS ACCOUNT OF SOME OF THE GREATEST EVENTS AND WORLD LEADERS WHO ARE TAKING A STAND FOR THINGS THAT MATTER THE MOST. I LIKED THIS BOOK BECAUSE I GOT TO KNOW THE REAL JESSE HELMS AND NOT FROM WHAT I LEARNED I GOT A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF HOW OUR GOVERMENT WORKS. THIS BOOK WOULD MAKE AN AWSOME GIFT FOR A FRIEND, FAMILY MEMBER, CHURCH FRIEND, SPECIAL PASTOR, OR PERHAPS A SOLDIER SERVING OVER SEAS. LEARN THE TRUTH ABOUT THIS FINE STATESMAN READ THIS BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
the book liberals don't want you to see?.......2005-09-06
1st Prize for Outstanding Crassness at a Time of Great National Stress goes to Phyllis Schlafly of Eagle Forum, who, on Day 4 of the hurricane disaster, sent an 'Urgent Message" to her subscribers on behalf of none other than Mrs. Dorothy Helms.
What was the urgency? Just this: we must urgently run out and buy Mr. Helms' *Here's Where I Stand* before the liberals "torpedo" the thing and ruin Jesse's day. According to Mrs. Helms, liberals are "all set" to do just that.
Funny, Booklist and Kirkus are pretty blase about it.
Likewise most reader reviews here.
The fact is, the book isn't the least bit scandalous. If that's what you're hoping for, you're out of luck. Send your money to the Red Cross instead.
Average customer rating:
|
Here I Stand: A Life of Martin Luther
Roland H. Bainton
Manufacturer: Signet
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
Luther, Martin
| ( L )
| People, A-Z
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0451621034 |
Product Description
"Here is an outstanding modern contribution to religious literature--a vivid portrait of the man who, because of his unshakable faith in his God, helped bring about the Protestant Reformation."
Product Description
The authoritative and inspiring story of a great religious leader - the Crusader who spearheaded the Protestant Reformation.
Customer Reviews:
One of many Martin Luther biographies.......2007-03-08
I am reviewing the 1950, Mentor Books Fifteenth Printing.
This book is well laid out. Much of the material is in lecture form. There are twenty-two content headings, 12 page Bibliography, References, Source of Illustrations, and comprehensive Index. The illustrations are just that monochrome sketches.
Roland H. Bainton received an A.B. degree from Whitman College, and B.D. and Ph.D. degrees form Yale University and form Oberlin College, Dr. Theological Seminary and from Oberlin College. He is a Specialist in Reformation history.
There are many biography and reference books on Martin Luther, each with its own strength s and weaknesses. This one by Roland H. Bainton is pretty comprehensive and goes into more depth than most. Do not get out your highlighter or you will highlight every page.
This is the story of a religious leader who is well known for leading the Protestant Reformation. "I cannot...I will not...Recant! Here I Stand."
Customer Reviews:
Amazing!.......2007-01-16
Mac McLean is just amazing, but it's what's said on this CD which is just awesome. If your looking for something to stir your faith, this is it. It is just mind blowing to see how the Holy Spirit can use one man, and look what can from the reformation...Highly recommend!!
Books:
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- Holy Bible: King James Version, Complete
- How to Make and Sell Your Own Recording (5th Edition)
- I Am My Brother's Keeper, Journal of a Gunny in Iraq
- Images of Greatness: An Intimate Look at the Presidency of Ronald Reagan
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- History: Fiction or Science
- Twice-Upon-A-Time: Born and Adopted
- Nightwing: Brothers in Blood
- The Airedale Terrier Today
- The 36-Hour Day: A Family Guide to Caring for Persons with Alzheimer Disease, Related Dementing Illn
- Venice Against the Sea: A City Besieged
- The Last Man on the Moon: Astronaut Eugene Cernan and America's Race in Space
- Picturing the Beast: Animals, Identity, and Representation
- Princess Diana, The House of Windsor and Palm Beach: America's Fascination With "The Touch of Royalt
- Coming to Terms With Wall Street: An Insider's Guide to Investment Terminology
