After years of serving the Lord, Merlin was eager to retire. He wanted to rest, relax and enjoy a quiet life. But then God spoke to Merlin you are a lukewarm Christian. Then something dramatic happened.
Merlin Carothers is an author of several bestsellers on the subject of praising God. His books are translated into 53 languages, and there have been over 17 million copies printed. During World War II, he served as a parachutist, pilot, demolition expert, lieutenant colonel, and a personal guard of Eisenhower. Later he returned to the army as a chaplain. Since then he has become an evangelist and preacher, and shares eveyrthing that he has learned with millions in the US and around the world through Foundation of Praise, his ministry.
A primary goal of the Foundation of Praise has been to keep operating costs to an absolute minimum. While many organizations pay thousands of dollars to their presidents, this is not so with the Foundation of Praise. Merlin and his wife, Mary, receive no salary at all. They have resisted all tendencies to become a “large organization” with many employees and magnificent buildings. Since 17 million of Merlin’s books have been distributed, they could have grown in size rather than in ministry, but they have chosen to reach needy people to tell them about our Lord and Savior, Jesus.
The work of the Foundation was conducted in the garage of Merlin and Mary’s home in Escondido, California until a new church was completed in 1972. In 1976, another church was established in Escondido, and again the Foundation of Praise worked within the church. By 1980, requests for free books for prisoners, military personnel and patients had skyrocketed. Letters asking for spiritual help and prayer flooded the mail room. The Foundation moved to larger offices and attempted to keep up with the increasing number of letters and requests.
Books were stored in warehouses scattered throughout Escondido. This proved to be a disastrous temporary solution. Not only was it difficult to keep an accurate inventory, but the facilities baked in the heat and leaked water when it rained! Some books were ruined. Then in 1984, a marvelous thing happened. The Foundation was able to build a new building! It was designed so that all the work would be accomplished as quickly and economically as possible. Daily, vehicles back up to their warehouse and load books going to all parts of the United States, and throughout the world.
Don't read this unless you want to be challenged in your walk. Carothers pulls the loves off and exposes one of America's sacred cows. Reading this book may just change your life.
This book makes you take a long look at your life and view of your Christian values and make some strong decisions about your faith and the not so obvious things in today's world.
“[...]não vamos pensar em nos aposentar no serviço cristão; não devemos fazer planos nesse sentido, nem preparar-nos para isso.” (P. 118). A sentença não é suave, nos acerta em cheio e infelizmente, é difícil de engolir.
Após vários anos servindo à Deus como pastor metodista e ao exército Americano como soldado, finalmente Martin teria sua aposentadoria. Momento perfeito em que poderia colocar em prática seus tão sonhados planos, ler o que sempre desejou, jogar golfe com os amigos, passar tempo com a família, com seus netinhos e curtir a “boa” companhia da televisão.
Mas como sempre, os sonhos de Deus são maiores que os nossos, e para Martin não foi diferente. Assim como nós, o autor tomou um belo banho de água fria ao descobrir que a mensagem do primeiro parágrafo também era para ele. Não iria se aposentar como tanto almejava, e necessitava com urgência, reaprender a ouvir e ser a voz de Deus.
Dividida em 20 capítulos, a obra o nos leva sutilmente a entender ou em muitos casos, relembrar a nossa real missão como cristãos aqui na Terra. Ao longo do livro, Martin contando seu relato pessoal, nos mostra as diversas armas que o inimigo se utiliza para tirar nosso foco (apresentar Cristo às pessoas e levá-las à Ele), e que nos fazem aposentar as chuteiras.
Tendo sempre a Bíblia como base e principal fonte, Carothers analisa de forma minuciosa esses empecilhos e as mais variadas desculpas esfarrapadas que damos ao longo de nossas vidas. Como um espelho, o autor nos faz enxergar nossa real situação, nos faz cair em nós e sutilmente nos leva a uma mudança de pensamento. Nos mostrando que estar em comunhão diária com Deus, entender, reconhecer e ouvir Sua voz, é muito mais fácil do que pensamos. E que se realmente, podemos e seremos usados por Ele.
Diga Não Ao Comodismo e Volte Para a Corrida, é daqueles livros em que a cada nova leitura, aprendemos algo novo, mas que sempre nos relembra que não devemos aposentar nossas chuteiras, e que devemos continuar firmes e fortes na linha de frente do exército de Cristo.
Read this 20 years ago & have never forgotten the essential message. Our penchant for passive entertainment will slowly but surely bring down not only our individual lives but our culture & society.