Product Description

Billy Graham is respected and loved around the world. And this work is his magnum opus, the culmination of a lifetime of experience and ministry! Chapter by chapter, Graham leads us on a journey in faith. We learn about God and his purpose for our lives, who Jesus is and what he has done for us. We learn to deal with challenges along the way: temptation; wrong thoughts and motives, habits that destroy our spirit, and what to do when life turns against us. And we are given practical advice on the Bible, prayer, knowing God's will, making right decisions, finding fellowship, strengthening our marriage, being wise parents, and using our gifts to share Christ with others. With insight that only comes from a life spent with God, "The Journey" is filled with wisdom, encouragement, hope, and inspiration for anyone who wants to live a happier, more fulfilling life.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #240264 in Books
• Published on: 2006-04-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 312 pages

About the Author
Billy Graham, the world-renowned author, preacher, and evangelist has delivered the gospel message to more people face-to-face than anyone in history and has ministered on every continent of the world. Millions have read his inspirational classics, including The Secret of Happiness, Peace with God, The Holy Spirit, Hope for the Troubled Heart, and How to be Born Again.

Customer Reviews

A comprehensive discussion of the Christian faith and life
Billy Graham must be one of the most famous Christians today and perhaps that might cause some people to buy this book - to read what the man who has spoken to more people on earth than anyone else has to say. I hope these people DO buy the book, as I'm not sure who else will - I have found it difficult to work out the target market for the book.

The physical book was slightly disappointing as the pages were roughly cut and the font used for emphases was a strange, ungainly-looking italic. The front cover is plain but the rear cover has a photograph of Billy Graham - a very widely-known face that no doubt my fellow train passengers recognised. The occasional name-dropping in the book (John F Kennedy, for example) reminds you that Billy Graham really has met the great and the good, and yet he comes across as a very humble and godly man, aware of his own failures and shortcomings. I was impressed.

This work is Billy Graham's explanation of why you should become a Christian, how to live the Christian life and how to look forward to heaven. It's written with all the experience and wisdom of an 87 year old Christian who has travelled widely and communicated with people from all walks of life - and this comes through very well. The book is peppered with quotes from people who have written to him where they share their lives, thoughts, difficulties, and it's a real strength in the book that he can illustrate all his points not only with the Bible but with 'real life'. His family, particularly his wife Ruth, also are mentioned many times in order to reinforce what he is saying, and it lends the book an intimate and friendly feel.

It's a very easy read - the sentences are short, no complex subclauses, each page has several mini-headings so you can keep track of his arguments - and yet it is packed full of real meaty stuff. In some ways it reads as if designed for speaking, as a sermon, and this is one of its strengths as he lays out his argument clearly and precisely. The "prayer of commitment" occurs on page 52 of this 312 page book and the remainder of the book is about our lives as Christians - how we can be sure of our conversion, remain faithful, live godly lives and accept our responsibilities as believers. Billy Graham steers clear of all controversial topics, speaking in generalities about Christian ethics and behaviours, which made the book a less frustrating read than some which hold firmly to a particular viewpoint to which many Christians may not adhere.

The underlying message of this book is that prayer and Bible study are the foundation for the Christian life and the way in which we will grow, mature and learn to know God better. His advice is always to pray more, to read the Bible, and this cannot be faulted.

For me, it was a real pleasure to read a book that reminded me once again why I became a Christian - and also recalled to memory the many ways in which we all fail as Christians along the road in terms of our behaviour to others, to ourselves and to God, and offered advice in avoiding some of these pitfalls. I liked the fact that Billy Graham said there were many things which he did not know and understand about God, about the world, about suffering - he made the journey towards understanding worthwhile. This is no American self-help book with ten magic bullet points to becoming a proper Christian - it's a book which doesn't downplay the difficulties, frustrations and questions that Christians may have, but also gives hope for the future and the confidence that it is all worth it.

How to Live a Biblical Life
The Reverend Billy Graham explains his understanding of the meaning and purpose of God, Jesus, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit and their role in daily life. He describes ways to deal with challenges and temptations and offers practical advice on living joyously.

A final word
Few Christians are more famous than Billy Graham, and in this book he tries to make sense of it all. Although I doubt that I am a Christian, and I remain confused and disappointed by my relationship with God, this book does answer some of my questions. Billy Graham points out that we are living through a peculiar time. We have relationships with 'celebrities we are never going to meet' and we are all so influenced by science and technology that many truly think that there is no God, and no need for one. Graham's work is, for me, much better than similar work by Joyce Meyer and Benny Hinn. He is also miles from the 'God will make you rich' crowd who seem to fill up the tables particularly at African-influenced London churches. However I don't find him as rich as Paul Yonggi Cho or as stimulating as Stephan Hoeller.

However there are disturbing elements in this book. One account of a man whose 'sin' came to light and whose life and ministry was ruined by 'bringing Christ's name into disrepute' is particularly cold. And this is what is so telling about Christians, as opposed to Christianity itself. They do not act like Jesus would have done. Even the briefest glance at the Gospel shows that Christ had tremendous empathy with the rejects and those who failed and were, to the modern eye, beyond help.

Anyone on a spiritual path will benefit from reading this book but it is only a part of the story. It also serves as a warning that Christian individuals can become the complete opposite of what Jesus intended, and reject those whom God cares for the most.