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Rating: 
Summary: Not Just for Homer Hailey Fans
Review: Ed Harrell does a masterful job of relating the amazing life of Homer Hailey, one of the most dedicated, humble, and influential preachers in the churches of Christ in the 20th century. If you were fortunate enough to know this man, you will be fascinated by the story of his life and career as preacher, teacher, and author.But this book is far more than a biography of Homer Hailey. In the book, Harrell also makes a monumental contribution to the study of the history of the churches of Christ in the 20th century. After recounting Hailey's early life, Harrell sets aside Hailey's personal story and recounts in fascinating detail the issues and people that influenced the doctrinal positions and divisions of the heirs of the "restoration movement." Much of this 180-page middle section of the book is dedicated to the controversy over "institutionalism," the issue of building para-church organizations and "sponsoring church" arrangements with money pooled from various independent congregations. Harrell's analysis of this issue shows how social attitudes in the 1950s contributed to the impetus for the massive missionary and evangelistic schemes, television programs, etc., that became the focus of the controversy. There also are shorter sections on earlier controversies regarding pacifism and premillennialism, as well as more recent controversies regarding "discipling," the Holy Spirit, the quest for a "New Hermeneutic," and other issues. After this very meaty middle section, Harrell returns to Hailey's early years as a preacher, his long tenures as a teacher at what are now Abilene Christian University and Florida College, and Hailey's Arizona retirement, when he wrote many of his books. The middle section of this book is not for the faint of heart. Harrell's meticulously documented story of the controversies of the last 100 years within the churches of Christ reveals how all too frequently disputes and divisions within the fellowship were exacerbated by inflated egos, harsh words, and precipitous actions that, at least in retrospect, appear unbecoming of Christians. Still, as a member of this fellowship, I found the book encouraging. Through the life story of Homer Hailey, Harrell has preserved a wonderful example of a man who, through the grace of God, rose above his own difficult childhood and the combativeness of many of his peers to exemplify the true "servant" mentality fully demonstrated in Jesus Christ.
Rating:
Summary: Poignant and Powerful
Review: Homer Hailey is my life-long friend and college professor. Dr Harrell's biography of him and the church of Christ in the 20th century was informative about many I know personally. I was honored that Harrell quoted my paper "Homer Haileyisms." The history given in the book will grab your attention if you want the background of church problems and the GOOD things in the church of Christ in the 20th century.
Rating:
Summary: Poignant and Powerful
Review: Homer Hailey is my life-long friend and college professor. Dr Harrell's biography of him and the church of Christ in the 20th century was informative about many I know personally. I was honored that Harrell quoted my paper "Homer Haileyisms." The history given in the book will grab your attention if you want the background of church problems and the GOOD things in the church of Christ in the 20th century.
Rating:
Summary: A fascinating way to write a history
Review: I have the good fortune to be the son of Rob Hailey, Homer's brother and boon companion for the first 20 years of his life. This book captures my uncle's life-long commitment to thought, reflection, and prayer, to teaching, preaching, and scholarship. (When I visited him a month before he died, he showed me files of current projects: research and writing of vital interest to himself and to his fellow believers.) My uncle's personal journey aside, Professor Harrell has found a fascinating way to write a history. Is history about events and ideas or is it about individuals? Harrell gives us both. This book, regardless of its subject, models a method of inquiry that other writers of history should imitate.
Rating:
Summary: A fascinating way to write a history
Review: I have the good fortune to be the son of Rob Hailey, Homer's brother and boon companion for the first 20 years of his life. This book captures my uncle's life-long commitment to thought, reflection, and prayer, to teaching, preaching, and scholarship. (When I visited him a month before he died, he showed me files of current projects: research and writing of vital interest to himself and to his fellow believers.) My uncle's personal journey aside, Professor Harrell has found a fascinating way to write a history. Is history about events and ideas or is it about individuals? Harrell gives us both. This book, regardless of its subject, models a method of inquiry that other writers of history should imitate.
Rating: 
Summary: The C of C in the Twentieth Century : review
Review: In my opinion, this book provided an honest and fair review of controversies and division within the churches of Christ in the last century. I found this discussion informative but depressing because of the overwhelming amount of controversy and also the apparent lack of compassion between brethren who are seeking the truth but failing to agree about it. I was glad to learn more about the contribution and character of men who lived through the controversies. About half of the book provided insight into Homer Hailey's life and work, from the beginning of his faith to his current retirement in Tucson. I am pleased to know more about Homer Hailey and also the other men who were mentioned throughout the book. The book made me appreciate more the efforts of the faithful spiritual soldiers who lived and fought during the last century. I am glad I bought this book to add to my very limited library.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent approach and content
Review: This is a must-read for anyone who desires to know more about the churches of Christ. Harrell objectively and thoroughly documents the ups and downs of Christians who populate these churches. He deftly wades through the troubled waters to unmask some of the motives and attitudes that have led to divisions. I agree with David Alford that much of it is depressing, but at the end you are left with the knowledge that this is the only way it can be as long as local churches and individuals are determined to be independent of any kind of centralized oversight. Indeed, it is when Christians forget that commitment that trouble sets in. Harrell's treatment of the subject is brilliant. By weaving in the story of Homer Hailey, he puts flesh on the barebones history of the churches. Hailey is a particulary good choice, having lived nearly all of the 20th century and reflecting many of the hopes, dreams and even contradictions of many of us. His love of the truth comes through. If you are undenominational in your view of the church, the book will restore your belief that such is the only way and is God's way. Ultimately, it serves to put on display God's manifold wisdom in His design and purpose of the church.
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