★ A Breath of Life

An autobiography of a man who has been called on of the four or five most influential missionaries in China. Well, that’s what the back of the book says and I believe it. I’ve always heard of Hudson Taylor, little bits here and there, but never really thought about what his story really was. Amazing. He has an amazing story. Anyone who gets a chance to , it’s really an easy read, only 155 pages (that’s with the ending poem and epilogue) and I was able to finish it in less than 3 hrs.

Here are just some parts I especially liked from the book, I guess it’s my way of doing dialectical journals now that we don’t have to… I have to say, they are useful for looking back at useful/important/rememberable parts of books

“I remember that I dedicated myself without holding anything back. I put myself, my life, my friends, everything on the alter. A deep, solemn feeling came over me. With it came assurance. I knew God had accepted my offering. His presence became real and blessed. I was an only child - fifteen - but I remember stretching myself on the ground and lying there, silent, before him. I felt indescribable awe and joy. I didn’t know what kind of service he accepted me for, but a deep sense of awareness came over me. I didn’t belong to myself any more.” p.12

“This hope had a completely practical effect on me. It led me to look carefully through my little library to see if I had any books I didn’t need any more. I also went through my small closet. I wanted to be absolutely sure that if the Master came right away, I wouldn’t be sorry about anything I had. My library shrank considerably, to the benefit of some poor neighbors - and to my own soul’s greater benefit.” p.16

“One day we met a Cantonese merchant. he was a relative of the highest official in town. Mr. Burns started talking to him in Cantonese. The man was so pleased to hear a foreigner speak his language that he became our friend and got us a place to live.” p.87

“I remembered that I had not prayed for a place to stay last night. I also felt condemned that I had worried so much about my few things, when all around me were precious souls I hadn’t cared about. I came as a sinner and claimed Jesus’ blood, realizing I was accepted in him. I was forgiven, cleaned up and made pure. How great Jesus’ love was! More than I had ever realized it before, I knew what it was like to be despised and rejected, and to have nowhere to lay my head. More than ever, I felt how great his love must have been for him to leave his home in glory and suffer like he did for me. In fact, he had even given up his life on the cross!” p.102

“Is it that hardhearted and wicked to neglect saving the body? How much punishment will the person get who leaves the sould to perish? Who say, like cain did, ‘Am i my brother’s keeper?’. The Lord Jesus commands me, commands you - to ‘go into all the world, and preach the good news to all creation’. Will we tell him it’s not convenient? Will we tell him we’re busy fishing and can’t go? That we’ve five yoke of oxen, or have married, or are busy doing more interesting things, and can’t go?” p.112

“…’I have searched for the truth a long time,’ he said earnestly,’as my father did before me. But I never found it. I have traveled far and near, but without getting it. I have found no rest in Confucianism, Buddhism or Taoism. But I do find rest in what I have heard here tonight. From now on, I am a believer in Jesus.’…’What!’ He said, amazed. ‘Is it possible that for hundreds of years you have known this good news and only now you come to preach it to us? My father looked for the truth for more than twenty years and died without finding it. Oh, why didn’t you come sooner?’” p.120

“I wanted them to ask God what he wanted them to do…’I think a collection tends to leave the impression that the only important thing is money… in fact, no amount of money can convert a sould. What is needed is for men and women filled with the Holy Sprirt to give themselves to the work. There will never be a lack of funds for the support of people like that.” p.144

What if I were to become a long term missionary? Am I ready to make that prayer and KNOW that I don’t belong to myself?