"Nearing Home: Life, Faith, And Finishing Well" by Billy Graham

I found "Nearing Home" by Billy Graham to be a very interesting and down to earth book. Billy Graham has been a highly respected evangelist known the world over who is now, as the title suggests, "nearing home". He writes as though he were talking in person to each reader. It's like he is carrying on a one-to-one conversation with just you.  At least that was my impression of this, his latest, and maybe his final, book.

It's a short read-only 180 pages-but he says so much.  He covers old age, commenting on both it's advantages and disadvantages and, now, at 93, he knows whereof he speaks. He also talks about death and relates a bit about what losing his dear wife, Ruth, after nearly 64 years of marriage was like-how he misses her terribly but, yet, knowing he will be re-united with her in heaven. He says one needen't fear death if you are a Christian because, in Christ, death has been conquered and when we die we are ushered into the presence of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

Billy Graham writes to the reader explaining how one can best cope with old age and how not to "retire from life".   He stresses the importance of being sure you have accepted Christ as your Savior before you leave this world. He says that while it's never to late to become a Christian while you are still living, once you die it, then is too late so he encourages the reader to make sure because knowing you belong to God and are, therefore, heaven-bound is very comforting as you enter the sunset of your life. 

He also stresses that seniors have a lot to share with the younger generation both in terms of life experiences and by example and how demonstrating to the young  how you live your life goes much farther in making an impression on them than merely telling them how to live ever will.

The most important thing he wants us to know, regardless of our age is how to make sure Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior and he shares the gospel beautifully on pages 177 and 178.

I enjoyed reading "Nearing Home" very much and highly recommend it.

The Grace Effect by Larry Alex Taunton

"The Grace Effect" by Larry Alex Taunton is certainly appropriate and needed for the world we are living in today.  In it, he shows how a Christian influence is sorely needed in any society and what happens when it is lacking.  He ties together the "New Athiests" agenda of wanting to eliminate all Christian influence with his compelling argument of what the results would be. In recounting the story of his family's journey to the Ukraine in order to adopt a precious little girl whose name is Sasha, he gives examples of how the Ukrainian government and most of the people live their lives not caring about the poor among them. The government is extremely corrupt and the children, like Sasha, who are in orphanages, are not cared for beyond the most minimum of basics, barely enough food to survive and living conditions not fit for animals let alone people.
The corruption in the Ukranian government is, of course, evident in other countries, including the United States. However, over all, the people, due in a large part to Christian influences are much more caring of those less fortunate.  I can't imagine how our country would end up should we lose what Christian influence we still have.

"The Grace Effect" is comprised of  twenty chapters and, also, includes the debate with atheist, Christopher  Hitchens, as well as a dicussion guide at the end of the book. 

I found the book quite interesting and an easy read that flowed nicely. I had a difficult time putting it down because it's the type of book that makes you eager to know what comes next.  I appreciated the author's inclusion of the debate with atheist, Christopher Hitchens because it gave me a sampling of an atheist's views in a shortened form.  I liked that because I could not find myself reading an entire book written by an atheist, espousing his views. 

I would recommend this book to anyone. It is a very interesting book and little Sasha shines.  An added bonus are the pictures of Sasha and the author with his family.

I received "The Grace Effect" free from the Thomas Nelson book review program in return for giving an honest review.  The words are my own.