Rating: 
Summary: A remarkable book by a remarkable individual!
Review: I found Just As I Am captivating from the moment I picked it up, and was unable to put it down. I read Just As I Am while I was convalescing at home for four days after an ankle injury at work. This was four of the most enlightening days I have ever experienced. Starting from the quaint surroundings of a North Carolina farmhouse, I was soon taken on a journey around the world, as Mr Graham described his many fascinating travels and crusades. Rev Graham not only describes his experiences for us, but by each chapter's end he capsulizes the lesson's he has learned during his trips and meetings with people of all walks and stations of life around the world. I was struck time and again by the depth of meaning Billy Graham finds in each of his life's experiences, his clarity of vision, and his ability to poignantly and keenly express what he has seen and learned. It becomes readily obvious why he has been taken into close company by many heads of state for the past 50 years of his ministry. This is a book not to be missed by any serious thinker.
Rating:
Summary: Impacting the Kingdom of God
Review: I read this book in one week sitting by the pool in Flordia. I couldn't even put it down and get into the pool to cool off. This book will lift you up and encourage you to go at anything with Jesus. It is a good example how a person no one knows such as this farmer boy, Billy Graham, and with the strength of God can change millions and millions of lives for the cause of Christ. I thank God for leading me to the book shelf to read this wonderful book about faith in Christ.
Rating:
Summary: Warm. Full of hope! The greatest American Christian ever!
Review: I really enjoyed this book. Dr. William Franklin Graham, Jr. (Billy Graham hereafter) is one of the most influential American Christian evangelists of the 20th Century and ranks on the list of most influential Christians with the likes of the Apostle Paul (lived during the first century AD; executed in Rome in about 67 AD).Graham takes you through his life from his early childhood in North Carolina, to College, and then to his unprecedented ministry. The general tone of the book is similar to a conversation by a fireplace, talking long into the night and recalling with a smile the great events of the past. Graham's style is highly readable; one never gets lost in the text. The only time I have ever seen Mr. Graham in person was when he came to Toronto in 1995. He has traveled more than any person I have ever read or heard about; he has been to every one of the 50 American States several times, to Europe (Western and Eastern; Eastern Europe during the Cold War), to Africa, to the Middle East, India, Asia, Japan and Australia. He has also personally met with and often counseled every US President since President Truman (mid-1940's, right after World War II) to President Clinton (to 1997). There are chapters on numerous US Presidents and Graham's relationship with them (he always acted as a pastor and a personal friend; never as a political adviser or a partisan). Dr. Graham was also been a great pioneer in the ecumenical (different Christian denominations working together) and inter-faith (different religions working together) co-operation movements YET he never comprised the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Graham's unwavering service to Jesus Christ and his simply amazingly high degree of personal and organizational integrity really impressed me. Graham has been very influential in founding schools of evangelism, founding the magazine, "Christianity Today," and, of course, bringing thousands upon thousands to a saving relationship with Jesus Christ. Dr. Graham has also been a pioneer in healing the great racial divide that still permeates the United States. Indeed, during the 1950's and 1960's, Dr. Graham was one of the first white leaders to oppose segregation; he refused to preach to segregated audiences. Dr. Graham was also a friend of the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and desperately wanted to attend King's funeral but unfortunately he was doing a series of Crusades (preaching the Gospel in organized city-wide efforts) in Australia at the time and so was unable to attend. Another interesting part was his tours of Asia. His wife, Ruth, was originally born in China to American missionary parents and only left in her late teens to go to America because of the Japanese invasion of World War II. The couple went back to visit Ruth's home and the medical compound that it was situated in during the early 1980's. Later, in 1992, Billy Graham was one of the first Westerners to travel to North Korea since the Korean War of the 1950's. Ruth had attended summer school here during her time in China; that fact no doubt helped Graham into the country. Graham made an effort to make some initial steps toward some state of reconciliation (he conveyed a message from the US President to the President of North Korea and vice-versa). Despite this, Graham has always been an Ambassador for the King of Kings, first and foremost, that is to say Jesus Christ. By the way, there are numerous photographs throughout the book documenting Graham's meeting with such persons as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Her Majesty the Queen Elizabeth II, numerous US Presidents and, of course, his large family. In addition, there is a bibliography of books by Graham at the end of the book. The two final sections list all the places he has traveled to by year and a complete index to facilitate looking up references to people or places. There is one poignant section I would really like to quote. The setting in 1945 or 1946 in Western Germany; a land totally shattered and defeated in the aftermath of World War II. Dr. Graham is alone in the office of Chancellor Konrad Adenauer (leader of Western Germany) "Ever more memorable was German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer. One time when I was preaching in Germany, he invited me to his office. Coffee was served, but before my first sip, he started in. 'Young man, do you believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ?' 'I most certainly do,' I replied. 'So do I. If Jesus Christ is not risen from the dead, there is not one glimmer of hope for the human race. When I leave office, I'm going to spend the rest of my life studying and writing about the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It's the most important event in history.'" One last note, despite his many incredible accomplishments, Graham keeps a great sense of humility and gratitude to God. Many lesser people would let such an amazing life go to their head but Billy Graham stays humble in such way that deserves to be followed by Christians everywhere. Graham finishes the main text of the book with a retelling of the essential, unchanging message of the Gospel and ends his acknowledgements with the Latin words: Soli Deo Gloria (To God alone be the glory).
Rating:
Summary: America's Preacher Finally Tells His Story
Review: I've been a big fan of Dr. Billy Graham for many years. I used to love watching his crusades on t.v. back when I was growing up in the 60's and 70's. His preaching always fascinated me. It's funny though, I didn't get saved until 1992! But I certainly can't blame Dr. Graham for that. He planted the seed in my life, and did so repeatedly.
My mother gave me this book as a Christmas gift in December of 1998, during my last year in college. I finished reading it at work before my college went back to school for the spring semester. In fact, I was so fascinated by his story that I couldn't put it down. I had the entire book read in about 6 days! That's my personal record for a book this long! This book really is that great!
He covers his entire life, from growing up in western North Carolina up until this book was published. He leaves no stone unturned. You'll read about how he got saved, hearing God's call into the ministry, and his days in Bible college in Florida. You'll also read of his humble beginnings as a church pastor, his becoming the first Youth For Christ evangelist(yes, they used to have them), and how his ministry took off from there. He also tells of the many famous people he's met over the years, from popes and cardinals to presidents, actors, and others. And if you love autobiographies as much as I do, you might eventually feel as if you're walking in his shoes with them. His story is really that powerful.
At the time I read this, I had just accepted God's call into the ministry. This book help me cement that call and reafirm it, too. After I finished reading it, I knew for certain there was a call on my life. My regret is that I didn't answer God's call to the ministry when I first heard it, as Dr. Graham did.
If you're an evangelist, missionary, pastor, asst. pastor, youth pastor, elder, deacon, or anyone else involved in Christian leadership, you should read this book. If you think God calling you into full-time ministry or some other type of Christian leadership, this book is for you, too.
Dr. Billy Graham, thanks for your many years of faithful service to the Lord. You have been a good example to me and others Christians as well. God bless you, sir!
Rating:
Summary: A Beautiful Testimony of Faith
Review: In the interest of full disclosure, the reader should know that the Holy Spirit moved me to accept Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord at a Billy Graham Crusade in 1992. Thus, I am speaking as one who cherishes the Rev. Graham's ministry. The qualities that I love about Billy Graham are on display in his auto-biography ... his modesty, his humor, his compassion, his strong faith, and his love for the Lord and for God's people as he (Graham) works to bring the Gospel to our world. Some parts of this book are truly memorable, such as the account of Velma Mae Barfied, a woman on Death Row in North Carolina who came to a saving faith in Christ despite her previous life of despair and horrifying violence. The redemptive and unconditional love of Jesus Christ for all of us has rarely been so powerfully demonstrated and described. I believe that the Lord has appointed Billy Graham to be one of His greatest evangelists.
Rating: 
Summary: Thorough, well worth the effort
Review: Interesting slice of history of the evangelical movement in this country after WWII. As well as an absorbing look into the life of a man of exhibiting complete dedication to a cause
Rating:
Summary: "There was a man sent from God" this is one of them
Review: Once in a lifetime does God put His hand uniquely on a man and impact a world through him. This is the wonderful story how God called, equipped and used a man like that. What is so fabulous about this biography is that it tells so many of the human sides of a man of God's life. It will encourage everyone who reads it to know God can use very ordinary people in extraordinary ways. It is long but so full of behind the scenes events. Those who have lived through many of the campaigns will thrill to hear some of the things behind the campaigns they attended. It did me.Biographies are so important to read because it lets you know everyone is human and what happens only God can do. As I concluded this book my heart was stirred to cry out, "where is the man who will take up his mantle". Maybe someone will read this and catch the burden and call. God grant it to be so.
Rating:
Summary: The Greatest Modern Day Evangelist
Review: One of the greatest books I've ever read. Billy Graham gives an in depth look to each President he guided. God has given him a special gift, and he has used it to glorify God. What a man. A man who's passion for God exceeded his own. Everyone should read this book.
Rating:
Summary: Graham at his best!!!
Review: Rev. Graham provides an interesting look at religion through the years and through tough political times. Of particular interest is his look at his relationship of past presidents.
Graham's insights are keen and his humility and
spirit are everpresent in the book.
A great Read
Rating:
Summary: An Amazing Journey
Review: The most prolific evangelist in Christian history, a pastor to the Presidents, and a Christian man of integrity -- this is Billy Graham. Or, at least that is how most people see him. Here we have the story of his life, from his simple farm-boy beginnings, through his tent revival conversion, his college days and marriage to Ruth, his early fiery and outspoken preaching days, his years of global ministry and maturity, and ending today, as a respected man of God by virtually everyone in the world. The story is told with an easy-going pace and reading it you have to smile at Graham's style, which is honest, humorous, and very... normal. It's really amazing to see how God took this average fellow and used him in such amazing ways. This book is also a treasury for any other pastor, evangelist, or other person who wishes to live a life of integrity. Graham relates a wealth of wisdom gained from experience that the church would be wise to remember. We would all do well to remember Billy, and to honor his legacy by remembering his life and everything that he stood for. Just As I Am is an autobiographical masterpiece from a man I deeply respect.
|
