11.09.2008

Billy: The Untold Story of a Young Billy Graham

"Billy" by William Paul McKay & Ken Abraham is a biography about Billy Graham and I was expecting just that, a boring biography. I was completely mistaken. Though the book did a great job of retelling a series of life-altering moments in Billy's life, I was not expecting such a dramatic novelistic approach.

The book begins with Charles Templeton, one of Billy Graham's best friends, who is being interviewed by a lady named Deborah who's looking for any dirt she can find on Billy in order to boost her career as a journalist. Right off the bat, Templeton makes it known that there is absolutely no dirt to be found when it comes to Billy Graham. "He's the genuine article. He actually believe all that stuff he preaches," as Templeton says it. But as you continue on, you begin to see that while Templeton who has left his beliefs in Christianity long ago, he deeply admires Billy even though he often makes comments that he has "committed intellectual suicide."

Templeton takes us through many events in Billy's life such as the moment he began to believe in Christ to the dark woods when he was filled with doubts about his faith and on the verge of giving up. As we make this journey through Billy's life, we are also given a glimpse into the life of Charles Templeton and how he began to doubt his beliefs in Christianity which eventually lead him to leaving his ministry to pursue a degree and declaring himself agnostic.

It was Templeton's doubts in God that brought Billy to that tree stump in the middle of the woods in CA one dark night. In those moments, Billy was on his knees before God pleading for answers. "Oh God, there are many things in [the Bible] that I don't understand. There are questions in this book that I just can't answer. There are some areas that don't seem to correlate with modern science. So give me something. Anything! Where are you?" Then Billy remembered his mother reminding him that Jesus will never leave you nor forsake you. Billy looked back at his Bible and declared, "You said in Your Word that the just shall live by faith," and he never looked back. Billy knew in that moment that he would believe in faith that in the Bible was the truly inspired Word of God. It was after this test of faith that Billy Graham's ministry grew into what we all know of today.

I would definitely recommend this book anyone who has had doubts about their faith. As Billy says early on in his life, it is okay to question. It's those questions that will lead you to the Truth if you choose to pursue it.

I promise I'll start blogging again....

So I've been really bad about blogging for the past.....well, almost a year. But I've just joined a blogging review program through Thomas Nelson. (http://brb.thomasnelson.com/) All you have to do is sign up with your blog address, pick a book that you would like to review and then review it. Basically, I'm getting to read and share my opinion for free!!! I love it! Anyway, this will help me to start blogging more and hopefully get my creative juices flowing again.

Sorry it's been so long!