it’s tuesday.

today’s positive post isn’t really for a specific person, though without some friends @calvaryhanford, i wouldn’t have been exposed to this week’s recipient (thanks @alxxnva / @aidanava).

no, today’s positive post is for a book.

in 1934 a gentleman by the name of richard ellsworth day wrote a biography of charles spurgeon entitled The Shadow Of The Broad Brim. it was not the first biography of the Prince of Preachers, and it wasn’t the last, but i can say with some certainty that it is quite unique in its take on london’s most famous pastor.

at some point a copy of this book was purchased by a fellow named walter, who resided dinuba, california. how long ago, i am not sure. but it is far enough back that his personal library stamp bears a phone number that not only contains a letter, but is only 5 digits long!

for some reason, this hard-back was separated from walter’s library and eventually found itself in a used bookstore.

it was about this time when @alxxnva and @aidanava entered the store, and, knowing my enjoyment for chucky s, picked it up for (as i recall) less than 1 dollar.

the book was then handed to me, missing it’s jacket, but ready to be devoured by it’s new owner.

now, let me be honest, i don’t read biographies. as i’m fond of telling people, i have like 200 books that i ‘need’ to read, and at this point there isn’t one biography isn’t on that list.

but, once this book found its way to me, i was compelled to open it up and see what i could find.

man…chapter after chapter i was just blown away by the testimony of God’s strength in this man. each day i would gleefully recount some tidbit or story to my wife or dad or some other poor soul who happened by.

on one of those days, kelly got home from work and before she could even sit down i handed her the book and said, ‘read chapter 12…right now.’

amazing.

the book is incredibly Christ-glorifying despite reporting on the life and work of a human being. i finished it today and am nearly prepared to simply start it again tomorrow.

i could continue at length as to the other reasons why i love the book, but instead of blathering on and on, i will simply leave you with a statement that spurgeon himself made, which sums up my thoughts on this wonderful biography:

i always like to have a few good biographies handy, so that i can turn to the record of what the Lord has enabled his servants to do in the past.”

go. get. this. book.

maranatha!

1 Comment

positive post tuesday, review, something to read | May 19th, 2009