Book Review: Bonhoeffer

It isn’t very often when I get pockets of time to read a book, so when those moments do roll around, I savor them.  I recently finished a fantastic book called Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy by Eric Metaxas.  I found it informative, edifying, encouraging, and as an added bonus, it was a real page-turner!  I simply couldn’t put it down.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a young theologian with a deep and abiding faith in the Lord.  He lived in Germany during both world wars.  He became a spy and was involved in a plot to kill Hitler during World War II.  What I encountered in this book that I have never read anywhere else is a history of what was going on in the church (both German and worldwide) during this time in history. 

There are many lessons that I took away from the book, many of which I already knew but served as excellent reminders.  I will share three here:

Know what you stand for - In the early 1900's, the church in Germany was strongly connected with the government.  The Kaiser was the authority of both church and state.  When Germany was defeated in World War I, things began to fall apart.  Kaiser Wilhelm was forced to abdicate, and the country was plunged into revolution and chaos.  The church began to flounder and succumb to outside influences and doctrines.  At all times, but especially during times of turmoil and crisis, it is important for God’s people to remain rooted in the Word.  We must know what it says and allow it to speak to and through our hearts.

Stand for what you believe in - During his rise to power, Hitler introduced National Socialism into the picture.  The lines between true faith and faith as a part of nationalism began to blur.  Bonhoeffer joined with other theologians to write what is known as the Bethel Confession.  The purpose of the Confession was to clearly spell out the basics of the true and historic Christian faith.  His draft was sent to other theologians for comments and feedback.  “By the time they were through, every bright line was blurred; every sharp edge of difference filed down; and every point blunted.  Bonhoeffer was so horrified that he refused to work on the final draft.  When it was completed, he refused to sign it.  As would happen so often in the future, he was deeply disappointed in the inability of his fellow Christians to take a definite stand.  They always erred on the side of conceding too much, of trying too hard to ingratiate themselves with their opponents.”  (p. 185).  Time and time again throughout this book, the point was made that Dietrich never saw his life as his own.  He surrendered and completely submitted every aspect of his life (and even his death) to the Lord.  Our lives are not our own.  We must be willing to take a clear and definite stand, regardless of the personal cost. 

Remain focused - Bonhoeffer was often frustrated with his peers.  They were more focused on defeating the enemy in front of them, rather than on what God’s will was for them in the situation.  “While Hildebrandt, Niemoller, and Jacobi were thinking about how to defeat Muller, Bonhoeffer was thinking about God’s highest call, about the call of discipleship and its cost.  He was thinking about Jeremiah and about God’s call to partake in suffering, even unto death.  Bonhoeffer was working it out in his head at the same time that he was thinking about what the next move should be with Heckel and the church struggle.  He was thinking about the deep call of Christ, which was not about winning, but about submission to God, wherever that might lead.”  (p. 196)

There are many powerful lessons to be pondered and learned in this engaging book.  It was inspiring to read about the life of an individual who completely submitted and surrendered his life to God, and made it his only goal to live in full obedience to his Creator, even at the cost of his life.  After finishing the book, I immediately ordered The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and I'm looking forward to reading it!

I give this book 5 stars and two thumbs up…a must read!

One Thousand Gifts

481.  The majestic scenery at Badlands National Park

482.  Taking pictures of spectacular clouds at sunset

483.  Watching a wild rabbit hop through the golden prairie grass

484.  Safe passage through a lightning storm

485.  Acres and acres of corn growing in neat rows

486.  A group of old farmers chatting over coffee in a country diner

487.  The smell of a room full of old books

488.  Tall reeds and cattails in a marsh

489.  Hay rolls dotting the fields

490.  Free guest laundry facilities at the hotel

491.  A field of sunflowers

492.  Wildlife parks

493.  Watching cute bear cubs play and climb trees

494.  Reading a book that is edifying, encouraging, and a real page turner

495.  That my friend stayed up until 12:30 a.m. to make sure that my family got home safely

Five Minute Friday: Here

I remember participating in roll call every day in grade school.  The bell would ring and we would scramble to our desks.  The teacher would take out the record book and began to call down the list of my classmates.  I kind of enjoyed waiting for my name to be called and having a chance to say, “Here!”  Inevitably at some point, a wisecracker in the back of the room would respond with “Not Here!” which always earned him a few giggles.  The teacher never looked amused.

Today’s word brought two men in Scripture to mind -- Samuel and Isaiah.  When Samuel was young, the Lord called his name and he responded with “Here I am,” and ran to Eli.  Eli instructed him to say, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.”  Not only did Samuel learn to recognize the Lord’s voice, he listened to it.  In Isaiah, the Lord asks, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” and Isaiah responds, “Here am I.  Send me!”  Isaiah was ready and willing to serve.

I looked up those two passages before I began today’s five minutes because I wanted to make sure I was quoting Scripture accurately.  In I Samuel 3:19 it says, “Thus Samuel grew and the Lord was with him and let none of his words fail.”  What an encouragement to be reminded today that when I respond “Here!” to the Lord with a  ready and willing heart, my faith will grow and He will be here with me!


   

One Thousand Gifts

466.  Sun hats

467.  Seeing something new in a familiar Scripture

468.  Teaching my daughter how to look at sewing patterns, read the back, and find the fabric

469.  That his computer died when it did, giving us time to deal with it

470.  That the computer was still under warranty

471.  That no critical data or family photos were lost

472.  Wild sunflowers on the side of the road

473.  Deer grazing in a meadow of yellow wildflowers

474.  Attending the evening lighting ceremony at Mt. Rushmore

475.  Singing the national anthem

476.  Seeing veterans fold the flag

477.  Watching prairie dogs poke their heads out of their holes

478.  Ice cold cream soda after a long, hot hike

479.  Going on cave tours and seeing evidence of God in creation underground!

480.  The random way in which family jokes get started

Beyond

It has been a while since I have participated in the Five Minute Fridays over at The Gypsy Mama.  This past Friday’s word caught my eye because it was such a unique word, and it immediately evoked a memory from my early days of motherhood.  Even though it is Monday, I’d still like to participate, so here goes…

Beyond

When my children were infants, I worked very hard to get them on a schedule.  Every now and then, due to illness or life circumstances, the schedule would get interrupted.  They would either not nap long enough in the afternoon, or skip the afternoon nap altogether.  If they had a short nap, by around 3pm they would get to the point where they were beyond their ability to cope, and get fussy.  I could usually distract them with a toy or taking them out in the stroller for some fresh air.  On those days when the nap just didn’t happen, by early evening they would get to the stage that I termed “beyond, beyond.”  They were inconsolable no matter what I tried to do.  On those occasions, I discovered that the only way to calm them down was to sit in the rocking chair, place their little heads on my chest near my heart and rock, and rock, and rock.

Life has its ups and downs, and sometimes we may feel as if we reach a point where we are beyond our ability to cope.  Then there are those trials in life that are excruciating, whether due to length of time or intensity of the situation.  It is very easy to feel overwhelmed, and like we are “beyond, beyond” our ability to cope.  What a great reminder that if we draw close to the heart of our Father during difficult times, we will find Him there…

…even in the “beyond, beyond.”

"Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever.  Amen."  (Ephesians 3:20-21)

   

One Thousand Gifts

451.  Finding the camera

452.  Hearing the kids talk about their "dream car" in the back seat

453.  Mosquito repellent

454.  A surprise night in a cabin in the woods

455.  Spending time at the lake

456.  The rhythmic lap of water against the shore

457.  That my son saw a need for firewood and spent four hours cutting up a small log with a hand saw

458.  A perfectly toasted marshmallow

459.  S'mores by the campfire

460.  The freedom America enjoys

461.  Watching him wave to me from the parade

462.  Watching her dance and write her name with a sparkler

463.  Seeing fireworks explode against the backdrop of a golden moon

464.  Going out for breakfast

465.  Quirky cafes

One Thousand Gifts

436.  Holding her while she cries

437.  That she scooted her plate and chair a little closer to mine, and started a conversation about something on her mind

438.  Frozen yogurt with fresh, seasonal fruit on top

439.  A long, leisurely lunch with a friend

440.  Walking in the rain

441.  Playing Imaginiff with the family

442.  The earthy smell of a strawberry field

443.  Picking strawberries with my daughter and one of my dearest friends

444.  Talking about the Lord while we picked berries

445.  Hearing my daughter yell "Jackpot!" every time she found a big cluster of bright red berries on a bush

446.  Yummy ice cream after working in the sun for so long

447.  Getting all of the dirt and strawberry stains out of her new shorts

448.  Listening to sermons while I washed and prepped the berries for the freezer

449.  That she stood next to me for an hour and patiently handed me berries while she watched and learned what I was doing

450.  Putting 13 quarts of berries into the freezer