Tracks of a Fellow Struggler: Living and Growing Through Grief (John Claypool Library)

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Summary: Living and Growing thru Grief is Realized
Review: Even after those 30 years since John first set such memorable words of compassion into print, they resonate with his character and teaching. His sermons, writings, classes, even conversations are continually full of Hope! The titles of "The Basis of Hope" from Romans 8, "Strength not to Faint" from Isaiah 40, "Life is Gift" from Genesis 22, "Learning How to Handle Grief" based upon the Book of Job, come often in the titles and texts of his sermons and many classroom sessions.

In 1986 we heard John for one week at Montreat during the Music Conference. In hearing his repeated stories from these and other related sermons, I committed to write reviews for his books and getting into one of his classes. As I reflect backwards upon his preaching classes in McAfee School of Theology, he frequently returned to these same themes or stories for his discussions. He expressed his love for Prophets, Isaiah and Jeremiah, especially in Commentaries of Walter Brueggemann. Most class sessions were continued through conversations afterward and in my reflections and sermons for Prison Inmates.

Even during John's struggles through his year with Chemotherapy and successful, overwhelming victory with stem cell transplant, he continually showed an optimistically Hopeful outlook! This reprint will continue to accompany his other accounts in books like, "Mending the Heart and The Hopeful Heart" and many more sermons! Gratefully and hopefully, from an old friend, Retired Chaplain Fred W Hood

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Summary: Salve for the soul
Review: Following the death of our 39 year old daughter I was having trouble sleeping. However, the night I read this book I was overcome with a sense of peace and slept like a baby. John Claypool is a master of words, scripture and emotions ... pulling them together in a wonderfully readable manner. This is a "must read" for grieving parents. Rev. Claypool has given us a great gift which has grown out of his own personal pain.

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Summary: Help for friends suffering with grief
Review: I have read several times. I have also given this book to many friends who were struggling with grief. The reaction has always been the same..."This a really good book, that really helps." I believe that the reason the book is helpful is in the title of the book "Tracks of a Fellow Struggler." The author allows the reader to see the his grief and pain, but the reader is also allowed to see the final outcome. I would recommend this book to anyone who is him/herself struggling with grief or wants to help someone struggling with grief.

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Summary: God found this book for me
Review: I was asked to teach a couples class for my Sunday School more than 15 years ago. I had not lost any relatives and didn't have a clue on the topic : Death and Dying. I wandered a book store and found this book: 4 sermons by Dr. Claypool that dealt with death, pain, and moving on. I read each sermon each week for four weeks, and at the end, the entire class wanted to buy the book. Many told me that it was the first thing they had ever read that helped them through the grief. When my own father-in-law died the next year, I found my classmates words to be true. The premise of the book, that the God that gives life is still there after the life is over, is very comforting. I buy this book and give it to friends who are suffering through the death of a close friend or relative. I cannot recommend anything more. This book is very spiritual, but a basic belief in God is all that is required to benefit from reading it.

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Summary: Tracks of a Fellow Strugler by John Claypool
Review: John Claypool was serving as pastor of one of the most influential Churches in this country. Then tragedy struck. His ten year old daughter was diagnosed with leukemia. Tracks of a Fellow Struggler is a compilation of the sermons Claypool preached as he dealt with the emotional and spiritual issues surrounding the sickness and eventual death of his beloved child. What can I do? What should I do? What good is my faith? Is this fair? Can God still be trusted? These are the questions Claypool eloquently discusses, not from an ivory tower, but from his position of deep faith in the midst of his struggle. This book has encouraged me like no other book other than the Bible ever has. Every time grief enters my life, I find myself pulling it off the shelf, crying my way through it, and coming away with the strength I need to survive. At some time, we all will face grief in our lives. This is a book we should have on our shelves for just such a time.

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Summary: A Gift Needed For All
Review: John Claypool's honest about his pain after the death of his daughter. From the pulpit he does his congregation a favor by sharing his anguish with them, not hiding from it or trying to sugar-coat it. With Claypool's freedom to show his honest feelings, others who are forced onto the same parental bereavement path after the death of a child, can learn that "strugglers making tracks," need to be "given permission" to freely grieve. Congregations everywhere should have this book as required reading. How much more effective and kind (and Christ-like)we can all be when we understand a parent's broken heart. A friend sent Claypool's book to me shortly after the death of my own son and I have found the writing to be just what I needed.

Rating:
Summary: A Gift Needed For All
Review: John Claypool's honest about his pain after the death of his daughter. From the pulpit he does his congregation a favor by sharing his anguish with them, not hiding from it or trying to sugar-coat it. With Claypool's freedom to show his honest feelings, others who are forced onto the same parental bereavement path after the death of a child, can learn that "strugglers making tracks," need to be "given permission" to freely grieve. Congregations everywhere should have this book as required reading. How much more effective and kind (and Christ-like)we can all be when we understand a parent's broken heart. A friend sent Claypool's book to me shortly after the death of my own son and I have found the writing to be just what I needed.

Rating:
Summary: Tracks of a Fellow Struggler
Review: My husband bought this book many years ago after hearing the author speak. Although I was not dealing with a death it helped me through a very difficult time, I often picked it up and read portions for reassurance and a reminder of God's care for me. I loaned it to a friend dealing with death and it was never returned so I'm happy to find a source to replace it. For someone dealing with a critical illness and/or death of a child it would be especially helpful.

Rating:
Summary: Tracks of a Fellow Struggler
Review: My husband bought this book many years ago after hearing the author speak. Although I was not dealing with a death it helped me through a very difficult time, I often picked it up and read portions for reassurance and a reminder of God's care for me. I loaned it to a friend dealing with death and it was never returned so I'm happy to find a source to replace it. For someone dealing with a critical illness and/or death of a child it would be especially helpful.

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Summary: Being grateful is the key to coping with grief
Review: My Jewish friend gave me Claypool's book when I lost my 29 year old son to a sudden heart attack. There is no hierarchy to pain over death of a loved one. This book can relate to all who suffer the pain of loss, but,especially the loss of a child. Learning to be grateful for the time we did have together has helped my husband and me. This book was simply written, but from the heart. I want to have one ready to give anyone who loses a child.