Bonhoeffer

I enjoy reading a good book. 

I also enjoy reading stories of peoples lives.

 

A few weeks ago, I finished Bonhoeffer Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy by Eric Metaxas.

 

What a great read.

I learned so much about Bonhoeffer, his personal life, his journey with God, his family, WW II, Bonhoeffer's involvement in the conspiracy, and the German church.

Sounds like it a lot and it is BUT it is such a great read.

 

Don't be daunted by the number of pages, the era or anything... find it and read it! :-)

 

As I said, it 's been a few weeks since I finished and a couple of quotes still are rolling through my mind.

 

pg. 241

There is no way to peace along the way of safety. For peace must be dared, it is itself the great venture and can never be safe. Peace is the opposite of security. To demand guarantees is to want to protect oneself. Peace means giving oneself completely to God's commandment, wanting no security, but in faith and obedience laying the destiny of the nations in the hand of Almighty God; not trying to direct it for selfish purposes. Battles are won, not with weapons, but with God. They are won when the way leads to the cross.

 

pg. 531

Whether you are young or old makes no difference. What are twenty or thirty or fifty years in the sight of God? And which of us knows how near he or she may already be to the goal? That life only really begins when it ends here on earth, that all that is here is only the prologue before the curtain goes up - that is for young and old alike to think about. Why are we so afraid when we think about death?... Death is only dreadful for those who live in dread and fear of it. Death is not wild or terrible, if only we can be still and hold fast to God's Word. Death is not bitter, if we have not become bitter ourselves. Death is grace, the greatest gift of grace that God gives to people who believe in him. Death is mild, death is sweet and gentle; it beckons to us with heavenly power, if only we realize that it is the gateway to our homeland, the tabernacle of joy, the everlasting kingdom of peace.

How do we know that dying is so dreadful? Who knows whether, in our human fear and anguish we are only shivering and shuddering at the most glorious, heavenly, blessed event in the world?

 

Death is hell and night and cold, if it is not transformed by our faith. But that is just what is so marvelous, that we can transform death.