Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Passion And Purity

My husband and kids helped a friend pack her things the other day. She has, for many years, been an avid book collector and is dramatically thinning her collection in preparation for moving to a smaller home. She was kind enough to give James a few of her treasured books when he headed home. Last night I decided to read this one, "Passion and Purity" by Elisabeth Elliot. I have long known the story of her husband, Jim Elliot and the other missionaries to the Auca tribe in South America, but I have never read any of Elisabeth's books.

I must confess that years ago I would turn the radio off when Elisabeth came on. Her "black and white" way of thinking and talking turned me off. She had many good things to say, and much of it I very likely needed to hear, but my heart was hard and I didn't care to listen. I'm sure I could have been spared much agony and aggravation had I just taken the time to measure the words of one much older and wiser than myself, but I was not that smart. Hopefully it is not too late to learn.

8 comments:

  1. It's NEVER to late to learn...unless you're dead.

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  2. I have read her for years.

    Did you see the movie that was made called "The End of the Spear" telling the story of the Auca Indians and their lives? We have the DVD of the documentary of the real people involved. It's unbelievable.

    I would be happy to loan it to you if are interested.

    LOL:Wanda

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  3. so many smart-Alick things to say...

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  4. Nancy has read everything Elisabeth has written and loves all of her books.

    I am sorry to say, I can't recall reading more than one or two of them.

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  5. I read that book then gave it to one of my daughters.

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  6. It is never too late!! I read Through the Gates of Splendor when I was in Poland. What an amazing testimony.

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  7. Never too late.

    I read one of her books (Through the Gates of Splendor) about what happened in Ecuador. Some people in my church personally met the actual Auca Indians who murdered Jim Elliot and Steve Saint. They had pictures of themselves standing together with them.

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  8. Yes, Priscilla, there was a concert at Roberts Wesleyan College several years back. Steven Curtis Chapman was the draw but he had Steve Saint and one of the Auca men along with him. Josiah was impressed.

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