Rating: 
Summary: A life willingly laid down in India continues to bear fruit.
Review: Amy Carmichael has been a spiritual mother to many more than the children she rescued from temple prostitution in India at the turn of the 19th century. Her influence extends much farther beyond her geographical location and lifetime. Through the pages of A CHANCE TO DIE by Elisabeth Elliot that influence will be even more magnified. Ms. Elliot very ably conveys the passion and discipline which harmoniously co-existed in Amy and drove her to single-handedly and successfully combat the traditions which enslaved the children she sought to rescue. Amy's life is described from childhood, through the active mission years, and on into the last 20 years she spent as an invalid before her death. It is flesh and blood we see through it all; not some mystical saint who has achieved great spiritual heights unobtainable to the rest of us. We are allowed glimpses of her struggles, fears, doubts, failures, and blind spots as well as her triumphs. We see the growth made and insights obtained as a result of all the circumstances of her life. Amy saw "missions as a chance to die" to oneself so that Christ might be revealed. Ms. Elliot draws together all the events and details of Amy's life and beautifully weaves them together with writings from her books and journals, and interviews with those who knew her. Amy Carmichael has found a kindred spirit in Elisabeth Elliot and the reader is left with the desire to get to know both of these remarkable women better.
Rating: 
Summary: Remarkable Christian woman -- perhaps too remarkable.
Review: Amy Carmichael was obviously used greatly of God in her work. Likewise, Elisabeth Elliot obviously is a great admirer of Carmichael. However, it would seem that Elliots admiration has impeded her ability to produce a balanced biography of this woman to some degree. This book received high marks for its portrayal of a remarkable Christian woman and for the value of learning the lives and practices of the strong in faith; however, I could not give it a 5-star rating, for Elliot tends to idolize Carmichael. I would still recommend this book, but would simply warn the reader to understand that Elliot is writing from a position that is not always unbiased. (Although, based on the life of this extraordinary woman, one cannot entirely blame her).
Rating:
Summary: A Christlike quest for holiness
Review: Amy Carmichael's desire for the holiness that is found only in Christ is incredibly challenging and inspiring. Her countless demonstrations of faith and shunning of worldliness are examples that I have taken to heart.
Rating:
Summary: A fine example of true Christian discipleship.
Review: Amy Carmichael, like Oswald Chambers, knew the meaning to be abandoned to God. Her story is a fine example of what true Christian discipleship is. The biography is well written and is most moving.
Rating:
Summary: A Rare Godly Example for Every Christian
Review: Here is a book that will challenge any Christian in any walk of life to deny themselves, take up their cross daily, and follow Jesus. The missionary life is, in fact, the normal Christian life for every Christian, for every Christian is an ambassador for Christ. As such, this biography will be a great help to any reader in focusing their hearts and minds on the God-given task before them (1 Peter 2:9)--whatever their walk of life. This book also gives much needed rebukes against those who support missions financially on the basis of numbers saved. This book re-affirms the biblical principle time and again that the Christian's work is not saving, but declaring. The work of saving is God's alone; and if no one is saved, the missionary must keep working and we must keep supporting. Finally: Is this book biased? Gee, I hope so. Biased for one who gave all for the lost and for the glory of God. If there is an unhealthy bias in the book, I don't see it. And if it is there, it doesn't matter; for the issue is not Elizabeth Elliot and her approach to Amy Carmichael. The issue is that Amy Carmichael has left us a Christlike example that is biblical. We need to follow her as she followed Christ. Forget any supposed bias and try living her life. Believe me, no one who spends their time trying to follow Christ as Amy did will have any time left to worry about possible bias. And the book shows Amy as a sinner, for sure. So the book does not gloss over Amy's faults. This is a must read; but be prepared to be convicted and challenged.
Rating:
Summary: A Rare Godly Example for Every Christian
Review: Here is a book that will challenge any Christian in any walk of life to deny themselves, take up their cross daily, and follow Jesus. The missionary life is, in fact, the normal Christian life for every Christian, for every Christian is an ambassador for Christ. As such, this biography will be a great help to any reader in focusing their hearts and minds on the God-given task before them (1 Peter 2:9)--whatever their walk of life. This book also gives much needed rebukes against those who support missions financially on the basis of numbers saved. This book re-affirms the biblical principle time and again that the Christian's work is not saving, but declaring. The work of saving is God's alone; and if no one is saved, the missionary must keep working and we must keep supporting. Finally: Is this book biased? Gee, I hope so. Biased for one who gave all for the lost and for the glory of God. If there is an unhealthy bias in the book, I don't see it. And if it is there, it doesn't matter; for the issue is not Elizabeth Elliot and her approach to Amy Carmichael. The issue is that Amy Carmichael has left us a Christlike example that is biblical. We need to follow her as she followed Christ. Forget any supposed bias and try living her life. Believe me, no one who spends their time trying to follow Christ as Amy did will have any time left to worry about possible bias. And the book shows Amy as a sinner, for sure. So the book does not gloss over Amy's faults. This is a must read; but be prepared to be convicted and challenged.
Rating: 
Summary: A Biased View of Amy Carmicheal
Review: I didn't like this book at all. I thought that Elliots conservative veiws of women set the stage for her interpertaion and description of Carmichael. I say this because everything else that I have read either about or by Carmichael has been far from conservative. Carmichael had a desier to bring truth to light within Victorian Christian circles, as well as address attention and awarness toward issuse that needed the Chrursh' s support and prayer. Elliot fails to justly protray Carmichael as the radical leader who challenged the Christians in Victorian GB to look at missions as more of a battle than as a "rose garden", the immage that many had come to associate with missions. The only possitive thing that I got out of the book was how God blessed Carmichael with the gift of script and how Carmichael used that gift to minister to herslef as well as to thousnads of women and men throughout the world. If you want to learn more about Carmichael read her books, not books about her.
Rating:
Summary: A remarkable Christian woman -- perhaps TOO remarkable
Review: Remarkable Christian woman -- perhaps too remarkable. Amy Carmichael was obviously used greatly of God in her work. Likewise, Elisabeth Elliot obviously is a great admirer of Carmichael. However, it would seem that Elliots admiration has impeded her ability to produce a balanced biography of this woman to some degree. This book received high marks for its portrayal of a remarkable Christian woman and for the value of learning the lives and practices of the strong in faith; however, I could not give it a 5-star rating, for Elliot tends to idolize Carmichael. I would still recommend this book, but would simply warn the reader to understand that Elliot is writing from a position that is not always unbiased. (Although, based on the life of this extraordinary woman, one cannot entirely blame her).
Rating:
Summary: life and legacy of amy charmichael
Review: This book was so encouraging to me on a practical level. I am a Christian mother of three little ones desiring to have God first in my life and my families life, but sometimes I don't see things as clearly as I should. Seeing Amy's practical example of seeking the Lord in every situation, whether in relationships or parenting her children was inspiring to me, and has motivated me to "seek" more diligently answers directly from God's word. Also seeing from Amy's example of being a "Amma", and her wanting a different kind of life for her little one's has also been inspiring. It is so easy to get caught up in our cultures way of thinking in that we feel our children need this or that, when not focusing on the most important...our children need to see that God is real, practical and personal. Her type of relationship with God isn't impossible to have, therefore, through reading this book it has given me a stronger drive towards wanting this more initmate realtionship with a God who can meet all our needs.
Rating:
Summary: life and legacy of amy charmichael
Review: This book was so encouraging to me on a practical level. I am a Christian mother of three little ones desiring to have God first in my life and my families life, but sometimes I don't see things as clearly as I should. Seeing Amy's practical example of seeking the Lord in every situation, whether in relationships or parenting her children was inspiring to me, and has motivated me to "seek" more diligently answers directly from God's word. Also seeing from Amy's example of being a "Amma", and her wanting a different kind of life for her little one's has also been inspiring. It is so easy to get caught up in our cultures way of thinking in that we feel our children need this or that, when not focusing on the most important...our children need to see that God is real, practical and personal. Her type of relationship with God isn't impossible to have, therefore, through reading this book it has given me a stronger drive towards wanting this more initmate realtionship with a God who can meet all our needs.
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