Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Don't Dispose of the Biographies

Over the past two years I have had to go through my 4,000 volume library and either give books away or sell them at garage sales for a fraction of their value.  This was necessitated by the downsizing of our home, our income and our bookshelves.  Getting rid of books is criminal in my estimation but I "had" to do it.  I'm down to about 1/4 if the books I once cherished.
Just last week I had to go through the remaining volumes and give more away.  I still have more books than I know what to do with.
I can assure you of one thing though.  I will need to be hard-pressed to give away any of my biographies.  These are the most prized possessions in my library.  As I sit here in my office writing this post I can see the life-stories of a myriad of heroes of the past...and present.  Some are autobiographical, others penned by authors who did their research and gifted us with the stories of great men and women.
I see books about George Muller, John Newton, J. Hudson Taylor, Frances Ridley Havergal, A. W. Tozer, Charles Haddon Spurgeon and D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones.  
On other shelves I find the lives of J. Sidlow Baxter, Billy Graham, George Whitefield, Isobel Kuhn, Corrie Ten-Boom and Fanny Crosby memorialized.  
William Wilberforce, William Cowper, Robert Murray M'Cheyne, Anthony Norris Groves and William Carey are written about and I would never part with these volumes.  
Ancient volumes on Charles Alexander, D. L. Moody and John Bunyan would be considered treasures in any Christian's library.
The journals of David Brainerd and Jim Elliot are packed with good "stuff" and I would never part with these books. Several volunes on Amy Carmichael grace my shelves.
As you can tell, I enjoy biographies.  It is as though these men and women are sitting on my shelves and I can visit with them in the early morning hours or after the sun has set beyond the western horizon.  Pull a volume off the shelf and learn how a sovereign God provided for and directed these heroes of the faith.
Who are your heroes?  Which biographies do you enjoy?  Tell us about your favorites!  I'd like to know which men and women have shaped your lives.  
I will look forward to your comments.

3 comments:

  1. I still read your site. I hope that is ok. My hero is Mother Teresa, has been since I was a little girl. The little woman with big hands to heal.

    You are my other hero. During all that chaos I was in and the cruel things I said on here, you still reached out to me. I wanted that more than a million dollars. Thanks...

    Julie

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  2. All of the above! Biographies are the best!
    Hudson and Amy rank right at the top.

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  3. I was saved at the age of 42. One of the persons that have influenced my faith the most is Pastor Maria Kahleel (Assemblies of God, Pembroke Pines, Fl). She was my Pastor for 7 years until I moved out of town. She is my hero. Then, many of the ones you mentioned above. Thank you for sharing this!

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