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A story of a young woman who chose to follow God to Eastern Europe, almost immediately after Communism fell. She moved to Romania for a year with 3 other teammates, living, studying, and evangelizing among college students. Because things were so unsettled, life was indeed very interesting. But God showed up in some astounding and beautiful ways. During that first year, she felt God asking her to stay longer, so she stayed another 4 years. After that, she spent another 5 years living in Hungary and traveling around a number of countries throughout Eastern Europe. because the countries in this part of the world had been so closed, when Communism fell, the hunger for God and truth was immense. Hearing the story of someone who was part of God's answer to that hunger and search is encouraging and refreshing.

Because I currently live in Romania, I understand some of what she speaks about .. the culture, the language, the history. Things have changed dramatically in the almost 20 years since Communism fell, so my time here has been less dramatic and exciting than hers was. And I think I'm glad for that! God is still working here .. perhaps a bit less dramatically, but still powerfully and wisely. I am glad for those who have gone before among these people and this culture, planting seeds and watering them. God's Kingdom is always a work in progress, and it's a joy to take part in any of it!

Title:	We Wait You: Waiting on God in Eastern Europe
Author:	Taryn Hutchison
Date published:	2008
Genre:	Autobiography
Number of pages:	219
Notes:	Given by my parents

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Wangerin has a way with words, and it is enjoyable to read his stories. This book is a mixture of childhood and being a young pastor just out of seminary. Growing up in two different settings. Learning and making choices. He grew up as a pastor's kid – with lots of expectations and people watching him. From various friends and acquaintances, I know this can indeed be a recipe for disaster. Not necessarily .. but it creates its own set of interesting problems. Turns out that Wangerin does indeed end up as a pastor, though .. with his own small church in Indiana. In the inner city, with an interesting cast of characters – and plenty of learning and growing up to do.

The title comes from a woman who plays a prominent role in his growing up as a pastor. She loves God and is a pillar of strength in their community. In comes a new pastor with all his learning under his belt and expectations about how he will run the congregation and how important he will be .. and Miz Lil has quite a bit to teach him. But she doesn't force feed him truth or make him change .. she teaches him gently (although sometimes her comments are more like knife-thrusts than pats on the back) and continues to value and respect him in the process. How much we all need Miz Lil's in our lives .. elders who will speak the truth out to us, challenge our assumptions, and force us to mature and continue to learn that it is not ourselves who can cause change, but only our Faithful Father.

Title:	Miz Lil and the chronicles of grace
Author:	Walter Wangerin, Jr.
Date published:	1988
Genre:	autobiography
Number of pages:	192
Notes:	gift from t. davis

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Lamott's thoughts and stories and unconventional comparisons are good to read. And her writing is very enjoyable -- with just enough details and images to slip easily into place. The overture (prolog of sorts) sets up what is to follow, with Lamott saying that her faith journey has been rather haphazard and unorderly, but looking back there is a clarity in the ways God has moved. This looking back and seeing God at work is true in my own life, so hearing His presence reflected in the life of another is quite enjoyable.

One of my favorite things about Lamott is her blunt honesty. The chapter titled "Forgiveness" begins with "I went around saying for a long time that I am not one of those Christians heavily into forgiveness -- that I am one of the other kind." (p128) After living a life without forgiving, suddenly deciding to forgive others is a big struggle (even when one has practice forgiving others, it can still be a challenge!). She shares a story about a certain woman who she was able to learn to forgive. Not perfectly, and not so that they suddenly became best friends - but so that they could live at peace together. It seems like too often we hear stories about people who decided to be good or to stop a certain sin and suddenly everything was perfect. That does happen sometimes. But humans are works in progress. The amazing thing is that God loves us anyway. In spite of the fact that we can only learn grain by grain instead of spoonful by spoonful, usually. Lamott graciously invites the reader to enjoy and be encouraged both by her own humanity, and the God who loves her in the midst of it.

Title:	Traveling Mercies: Some Thoughts on Faith
Author:	Anne Lamott
Date published:	1999
Genre:	Autobiography, Spiritual
Number of pages:	272
Notes:	Repeat reading

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Took a few months to read this book but did finish it eventually. I think it too me so long because Buechner's work is so dense. My prefered style of reading his books is to read a few pages and then put the book down, chewing on the ideas or stories from that section. But -- his chapters are often thirty or forty pages long, which doesn't lend itself to small portions. I enjoy his thinking but just need some time so that it can actually affect me instead of just being something I can say I've read.

The sections are titled 'Once below a time,' 'Once upon a time,' and 'Beyond time.' There were certain points in Buechner's life where he realized that time was flowing differently than he had previously known. A turning point in his life was his father's suicide. Before this is his 'once below a time' and after is 'once upon a time.' His experience and interaction with time changed dramatically. Realizing there is an end to each person's time affected the way he lived. And allowed him to deal a bit more honestly with serious issues such as death and pain and suffering.

One person who is mentioned multiple times is one of his grandmothers. Grandmother Buechner. She is imperturbable. She sits in her rocking chair and though all of life's storms come against her, she is still able to rock and continue on with life. Events take place that interrupt the lives of all those around her, but Buechner sees her (at least as a child) as a grandmother who is solid and unchanging. She may be affected, but not in such a way that her life must change dramatically. Interesting about that. I am unsure whether or not it is a good thing to be unaffected. I tend to think that if one does not feel the sorrows of life, one will not feel the joys of life. But without feeling there is less pain.

Title:	The Sacred Journey
Author:	Frederick Buechner
Date published:	1982
Genre:	autobiography, philosophy
Number of pages:	112

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I enjoyed this book, mostly. The first part was more intellectual than I wanted to read at the time - but the second half of the book connected with where I am. Clark says that as humans we all long for intimacy, and defines that as self awareness, self disclosure, and doing those two things in the hearing of others. That idea rings true.

Clark also talks about how often when beginning relationship, we think "I want to get to know you." He raises the question that instead, maybe we should think "I want to let you get to know me" -- and as we self-disclose, the other person will be willing to share themselves too. That is challenging -- being willing to share who I am with others, even before I know they want to know or will share who they are with me. That doesn't happen often in our society. We are all so afraid of being rejected or disliked that we pretend to be someone else to fit in.

One point that I loved and will put into my life is the idea of using homosexual and heterosexual as adjectives only, not nouns. It is so easy to think 'us' and 'them', so it can be really helpful to identify others as people instead of a certain kind of people. This is something which will take time and effort on my part, to use longer descriptions and be more proper and healthy in the way I think of and speak about others.

Throughout the book, the idea of loneliness and neediness comes up -- that often we are in relationship to fill needs and ask others to fill those needs, which can be very dangerous. Humans are all needy and broken and alone. Only in God can we be utterly fulfilled. As we relate to others in healthy ways, it must be such that we are grateful for who they are and for allowing us to know them. Gratitude should be central in relating to others, instead of need. Gratitude builds up and allows for growth in relationship, while need can stunt growth and damage what is already in place. With maturity comes depth in relationships, and in that one finds true intimacy.

Title:	Being Sexual... and Celibate
Author:	Keith Clark
Date published:	1986
Genre:	Autobiography, Sexuality
Number of pages:	182
Notes:	Borrowed from Sue

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This book was written by a woman who knows that life is not easy, and that pain and death are part of life. Somehow, God can be more present in those times than otherwise – and it is a way to know Him more deeply. Townsend talks about God's deep love extending over the entire world, and that because His does, our hearts too should be open to those around us, both near and unknown. If I desire to be more like Jesus, I must share in His suffering – and God suffers with all those who suffer. It is incomprehensible, but true at least on some levels. Townsend quotes C.S. Lewis, who says 'no event has so corroborated my faith in the next world as Williams did by dying. When the idea of death and the idea of Williams thus met in my mind, it was the idea of death that was changed.' She also addresses the idea that from the most broken and dark places comes the brightest light, giving an example of a poor Thai village that lived much in darkness yet produced beautiful tapestries and clothes worthy of royalty. 'Apathy is a luxury in which I dare not indulge' (p72).

Townsend also brings balance to this topic, talking about how love must come from the knowledge of being the Beloved – finding strength in His love to continue loving even though it takes energy. 'No matter what another man does to us we will never, under any circumstances, seek anything but his good' (p84) speaking about agape love. The last chapter is titled 'costly caring', and she addresses the issue of carrying one another's burdens, even in a literal sense sometimes. This is possible, uncomfortable, hard but sometimes a special gift that God gives. This is book which addresses the problem of pain in some day-to-day ways.

Title:	Suffering Without Pretending
Author:	Anne J. Townsend
Date published:	1979
Genre:	Christian Autobiography
Number of pages:	96
Notes:	Borrowed from Jude's office

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An autobiography about the amazing things that God is doing in Mozambique. These two people decided to give their lives to God, and to let Him do whatever He wanted in them. It means that they eventually got to go to Africa – specifically Mozambique, which was/is in some desperate straits. They are charismatic / pentacostal – meaning that they believe the Spirit works and does amazing things. The Bakers started to befriend those who had nothing and nobody to love them - and God met them and came generously upon those who they were getting to know and ministering to and teaching. This is a story of God's faithfulness – that He will always provide enough. He promises to be enough – and people experiencing flooding, famine, and real hunger wanted Jesus more than food, because that is what they all needed and longed for at the deepest level.

Amazing stories – orphans being healed in every sense of the word, seeing visions of Bible stories and heaven without ever hearing them, a few pastors who have prayed and seen the dead live again, people walking and traveling for days to get to their conferences because they spoke the Word of God in power and the Spirit came too, more than 5000 churches in a few years... Things like this can only happen because of God. Astonishing and encouraging.

Title:	There's Always Enough: The Miraculous Move of God in Mozambique
Author:	Heidi and Rolland Baker
Date published:	2003
Genre:	Christian Autobiography
Number of pages:	188
Notes:	Borrowed from Julia

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This is the amazing story of a Dutch woman and her family during the German occupation of Holland in World War II. The Ten Boom family became part of the Dutch Underground, helping to find places in the country for Jews, and getting ration cards so they could eat and survive. When they ran out of other places, they opened up their own home to people. At some point, they knew their organization was getting too large, that too many people knew about their work, and that eventually they would be discovered-- but even then, they could not stop helping people. So Corrie, along with many members of her family and friends, was sent to prison. Then, with her beloved sister Betsie, she was moved first to a camp for political prisoners, and then finally to the dreadful concentration camp at Ravensbruck. In all of these dreadful circumstances, God supplied her needs and carried the burdens too heavy for her, and made it possible for her to minister to the suffering people around her.

If you were stuck in prison, in horrible living conditions and filth, and someone secretly asked how they could help, what would you ask for first? Corrie asks for a Bible. Only after that does she think to ask for soap, or a needle and thread. The Ten Boom family is simply amazing, with their faith in God and their love for his Word. In the beginning of the book, we get a brief glimpse of Corrie's childhood in this wonderful family; she never realized her family was "poor", because they were always busy taking care of others. Even when her mother was ill and could no longer get around, she still ministered to shut-ins and other people around her. Reading this book, for a while, I got to keep company with wonderful people-- and I found it challenging to my own selfish attitudes, but also profoundly encouraging.

It seems perfect to me that we get this story through Corrie's eyes and memory; it is much easier to identify with her than with her more saintly father and sister. She may seem like a saint, and amazingly courageous woman, but she is well aware of her own faults and weaknesses, and she willingly admits them. She is the one who always asks why, who questions their hardship and suffering; she finds it difficult to love her enemies, and is amazed to discover at different times that, when she is pitying the weak and wounded victims, her father and her sister are praying instead for the people who are inflicting the wounds.

The hiding place of the title is not just a secret room in a house in Holland where Jews hid when the Gestapo came looking for them. It comes from the Psalms: "Thou art my hiding place and my shield", and Corrie returns to this idea more than once. In prison, she makes a friend of the ants in her cell; when they disappear into the crack in the wall, she realizes that

...I too had a hiding place when things were bad. Jesus was this place, the Rock cleft for me.

Later, at Ravensbruck, Betsie reminds her that God's will is their hiding place, as the sisters continue to trust God in the midst of terrible suffering. The Hiding Place is an amazing story of God's grace and power as he cares for the people he loves (those who know him and those who do not), even-- or perhaps especially-- in the midst of terrible suffering.

Title:	The Hiding Place
Author:	Corrie Ten Boom (with John and Elizabeth Sherrill)
Date published:	1971
Genre:	Autobiography
Number of pages:	242

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This is the true story that 'The Sound of Music' was based on, but is much better than the movie. The Trapps were a family that sought to follow Christ and do the will of God in all things.

To hear the story of what they learned and who God provided to take care of them is very encouraging. They came to America to escape because both the father and oldest son were called to serve Hitler, as well as their family being called to sing at his birthday celebration. So – they left the country (with their own priest/choir director) and ended up in America, where they got to discover all sorts of new things. Scripture is referenced throughout, to see that God does come through on His promises. This remarkable family did not call themselves poor – just without money – because they got to see God provide all they needed, to see what skills and talents each family member had because of necessity, and to see God giving family and friends and home more than they imagined. This is a biography of faith and a testament to God being who He says He is. It is also fun to read, and I believe it would have been enjoyable and refreshing to hang out with maria and her family! And to sing beautiful music.

Title:	The Story of the Trapp Family Singers
Author:	Maria Augusta Trapp
Date published:	1957
Genre:	Autobiography
Number of pages:	312 pages
Notes:	Way better than the movie!

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A wonderful story of a woman who believes God is sending her to Hong Kong as a missionary. No agency will take her, so she goes on her own. She ends up opening a boys club in the walled city, where police will only go if absolutely necessary. It is beyond dirty, and almost everyone does opium and is part of a dangerous gang. But God is gracious and uses her. Pullinger learns about the power of the Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit. Through intense praying and fasting and worship, she helps bring many opium addicts back to normal life. God is the only reason her story is possible, and it is very encouraging to read this book and believe that our God is more than able.

It is interesting to think about this style of ministry. Pullinger has immense amounts of energy and calls those who work with her to also have energy to do many things and be very involved with those coming from hard, dangerous lifestyles. Sometimes organizations or ministries are started through the influence of one person who is charismatic (in the sense that people are willing to follow them and believe them), and brimming over with life - in one sense or another. There is a danger in these leaders not preparing for others to take their place or to take over small pieces of the ministry. Wisdom seems to call for an exit plan - meaning that there is preparation for others to be able to take over the organization or ministry. CEOs have to do this too -- if the company only works because they are present, it won't last when they have to leave. In terms of ministry specifically, it should be God's work and not just the work of a person.

All those thoughts are not to say that Pullinger's ministry and life work are not useful, but it raises questions for me of how people are called differently, and what God uses individuals for. Some people are created to be leaders with charisma and excitement and to create ministries or organizations that are very successful. Some are created to build networks and connect those who are already doing work. Some are created to do the simple, day-to-day tasks that God uses to bring glory to Himself and to draw individuals and communities closer to Himself. Who were you created to be?

Title:	Chasing the Dragon
Author:	Jackie Pullinger
Date published:	1982
Genre:	Autobiography
Number of pages:	238
Notes:

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