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Flowing Streams: Journeys of a Life Well Lived
A flowing stream cuts its own channel. ―Major W. Ian Thomas, founder of Torchbearers International Over the past sixty years, Stuart Briscoe’s life stream has cut a very deep channel. Thousands of sermons preached. Hundreds of thousands of airline miles flown. Seven continents visited. Thousands of church members added and eight churches planted. More than forty books authored. A lifetime of touching his audience with plainspoken, accessible Bible teaching. Now Briscoe looks back over his years to share his accumulated wisdom, with the point that every life matters―and everyone has a significant part to play in the grand cosmic flow of the Spirit. With a reputation built in the twentieth century, Stuart Briscoe has a fresh, vibrant message for twenty-first-century Christians. It is a vision of what one person can be and do, what God can call a single person to accomplish in his name. Flowing Streams is sage. It is poignant. It is Stuart Briscoe’s legacy.
- GenresBiography
208 pages, Paperback
First published July 29, 2008
8 people are currently reading
33 people want to read
About the author
Stuart Briscoe
149 books12 followersDr. D. Stuart Briscoe is an evangelical Christian author, international speaker and the former senior pastor of Elmbrook Church, in Brookfield, Wisconsin
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
April 9, 2023
This is how Christians should be. This is what churches should be. This is how pastors should be. Humble, honorable, and completely dedicated to
God’s Word. These are the Christians I grew up with. This is the church I grew up in.
Flowing Streams was a great read allowing me to travel happily down memory lane. I was 9 yrs old when my family first attended Elmbrook (then Baptist) Church. Major Ian Thomas was the guest preacher that Sunday. My parents had never heard anything like him.
I was 11 yrs old (the same age as David) when the Briscoes came to the US. I remember being at their home many times. Jill was always so warm and welcoming. (Although I believe she always missed England) Along with David, Judy and Peter, we Elmbrook kids all grew up together. Stuart was an incredible preacher to have as your pastor. But he also brought in internationally known preachers. We benefitted from their ministries as well.
I know this history. I was a part of so much of it. I remember the hippies coming to Church. Jesus People were fun, friendly and such excited new Believers. It was an incredible time to be a Christian. Especially a young teenage Believer.
My Mother, Pearl Graves, was the woman at the book table who started The Garden of Readin’ Bookstore. She thought of the fun name of the store. (Although some people gave the credit to Stuart) She was an area director and one of only two women members of the Board of Directors of the Christian Booksellers Association.
The Wheaton College Student who was hit by the train was a good friend of mine. I still miss him 40+ years later.
I was privileged to grow up with these incredible men and women of Faith. They weren’t perfect. Stuart wasn’t perfect. But they were committed to the Lord. To the Work of God. This book was a great retelling of that Work.
I enjoyed reading Stuart’s (we never called him Pastor Briscoe) telling of his early life. While I knew the basics, it was good to fill in the details. I actually have a postcard from his mother Mary written to my parents after her US visit. I treasure that.
Some other stories might have been changed a bit for the telling, but the basics are correct. Other events were left out, but the book is only two hundred pages. Stuart’s life and the story of Elmbrook Church will certainly be covered in much larger biographies some day.
Did I witness the peak of the Evangelical Church in America? Where are the pastors like Briscoe, Redpath and Stott? Many churches are aligned with Racism, xenophobia and political corruption. And Trump. These are not the Christians I grew up with. Flowing Streams is an excellent reminder of who we were.
God’s Word. These are the Christians I grew up with. This is the church I grew up in.
Flowing Streams was a great read allowing me to travel happily down memory lane. I was 9 yrs old when my family first attended Elmbrook (then Baptist) Church. Major Ian Thomas was the guest preacher that Sunday. My parents had never heard anything like him.
I was 11 yrs old (the same age as David) when the Briscoes came to the US. I remember being at their home many times. Jill was always so warm and welcoming. (Although I believe she always missed England) Along with David, Judy and Peter, we Elmbrook kids all grew up together. Stuart was an incredible preacher to have as your pastor. But he also brought in internationally known preachers. We benefitted from their ministries as well.
I know this history. I was a part of so much of it. I remember the hippies coming to Church. Jesus People were fun, friendly and such excited new Believers. It was an incredible time to be a Christian. Especially a young teenage Believer.
My Mother, Pearl Graves, was the woman at the book table who started The Garden of Readin’ Bookstore. She thought of the fun name of the store. (Although some people gave the credit to Stuart) She was an area director and one of only two women members of the Board of Directors of the Christian Booksellers Association.
The Wheaton College Student who was hit by the train was a good friend of mine. I still miss him 40+ years later.
I was privileged to grow up with these incredible men and women of Faith. They weren’t perfect. Stuart wasn’t perfect. But they were committed to the Lord. To the Work of God. This book was a great retelling of that Work.
I enjoyed reading Stuart’s (we never called him Pastor Briscoe) telling of his early life. While I knew the basics, it was good to fill in the details. I actually have a postcard from his mother Mary written to my parents after her US visit. I treasure that.
Some other stories might have been changed a bit for the telling, but the basics are correct. Other events were left out, but the book is only two hundred pages. Stuart’s life and the story of Elmbrook Church will certainly be covered in much larger biographies some day.
Did I witness the peak of the Evangelical Church in America? Where are the pastors like Briscoe, Redpath and Stott? Many churches are aligned with Racism, xenophobia and political corruption. And Trump. These are not the Christians I grew up with. Flowing Streams is an excellent reminder of who we were.
April 18, 2019
A dear friend, Keith, gifted this book to me during one of my most recent depressive episodes, with the hope that it might help.
Not that this is a 'pick-me-up' sort of a book, but it is a strangely written and perceptive auto-biography by Stuart Briscoe, in which he traces the Lord's dealings with him through family, history, education, circumstance, happenstance and so much more! And it did 'pick-me-up' spiritually as I was also able to reflect on the mysterious and 'dark provenances' of God in my life!
This is an extremely thoughtful and well-written book, with a depth to it that belies its narrow compass of only 200 pages. It is not preachy nor spectacular, but then that is what really appealed to me.
Briscoe uses the metaphor and analogy of a river from source, through convergence with other minor streams and tributaries until it flows in full spate! It is reflective, now that the author has reached that 'six score years and ten' mark, but also challenging as he handles tenderly major changes in his and others' lives over this period.
British evangelical readers of a certain age will enjoy the references and episodes relating to Capernwray, Keswick and John Stott.
American readers may well begin to understand that Willow Creek nor Saddleback were not the first 'biggie' evangelical church ... Elmbrook was!
All in all a worthy read and well suited to a relaxing, reflective read, perhaps when having some 'me' time!
Wholeheartedly recommended, a really good 4-star read! SDG!
Not that this is a 'pick-me-up' sort of a book, but it is a strangely written and perceptive auto-biography by Stuart Briscoe, in which he traces the Lord's dealings with him through family, history, education, circumstance, happenstance and so much more! And it did 'pick-me-up' spiritually as I was also able to reflect on the mysterious and 'dark provenances' of God in my life!
This is an extremely thoughtful and well-written book, with a depth to it that belies its narrow compass of only 200 pages. It is not preachy nor spectacular, but then that is what really appealed to me.
Briscoe uses the metaphor and analogy of a river from source, through convergence with other minor streams and tributaries until it flows in full spate! It is reflective, now that the author has reached that 'six score years and ten' mark, but also challenging as he handles tenderly major changes in his and others' lives over this period.
British evangelical readers of a certain age will enjoy the references and episodes relating to Capernwray, Keswick and John Stott.
American readers may well begin to understand that Willow Creek nor Saddleback were not the first 'biggie' evangelical church ... Elmbrook was!
All in all a worthy read and well suited to a relaxing, reflective read, perhaps when having some 'me' time!
Wholeheartedly recommended, a really good 4-star read! SDG!
March 30, 2025
I was formed during my teen years under Stuart's teaching. He was one of the finest examples of a Bible teacher and leader, which now, being much older, I understand, appreciate and respect more than ever. That's also why I was fascinated to read about his childhood as well as the early years at Elmbrook. This book has so much timeless wisdom. I didn't want it to end.
September 21, 2012
This is the life story of Stuart Briscoe, an Englishman who travelled throughout the world speaking about the Gospel before settling down to pastor a church in the U.S.
All lives involve choices, and this story tells how Briscoe made decisions at certain points along the way, notably whether to pursue a career in banking after getting off to a very promising start or to give that up and go into full-time ministry, and then whether to continue with a stimulating series of trips to speak in far-flung outposts around the world or to stay home with his family and one congregation. He reveals a measure of the soul-searching that went on at such times. I wondered, however, if there hadn't been other defining moments that he omits. For example, he completely glosses over the decision and experience of becoming a Christian in the first place. His father was a minister, and so naturally he was exposed to the Gospel from an early age, but I was sorry that he treated his own acceptance of Christ as something no more out of the ordinary than putting on clothes.
Likewise, he never really talks about moments of doubt. He does mention confusion caused by a brief period when he was in danger of losing his voice, but I can't help wondering whether there weren't moments when his faith was tested on a more basic level. There have been in my case. I would have appreciated a frank discussion of how he came through those times.
Perhaps the problem is in deciding whom the book is written for. I think someone outside the ministry might have trouble staying with this narrative, because the latter half is largely concerned with questions of church governance and the challenges of ministering to people with divergent expectations and needs. Although I'm a church-goer, in recent years I've preferred to stay on the periphery of things, and so questions of how to keep congregants and deacons happy did not greatly interest me.
There's no question that the life he describes has been full, meaningful, and important. I bought his book after hearing him speak at my church, because I wanted some insight into how he'd reached the point of being able to deliver such a thoughtful and effective message. And yet, aside from a few brief passages that come to life on the page, the narrative kept me feeling very much at arms' length.
In telling a story, an author needs to strike a balance between dramatizing scenes that are important and summarizing the rest. Bringing everything to life on the page can bury the story in needless details. On the other hand, summarizing everything deprives the reader of a sense of involvement. Just where one draws the line is a matter of opinion, but I feel that there is far too much summary in Briscoe's memoir. Here's a typical example:
"Soon three things happened in Jill's life. She discovered abilities she did not know she had. Other people saw her floundering, trying to use gifts she didn't have, and out of pity voluntered to help. And the church began to see her unique gifts that lay outside the box and encouraged her in the development of them. Win! Win! Win!"
(In this instance he's talking about his wife, and I realize it gets tricky in memoir when the author is discussing the experience of someone other than himself. I ran into the same challenge in writing my own memoir. But even in a case like this there must be more dramatic, and effective, ways of rendering the events.)
At times the narrative is preachy, and not in a way I found particularly edifying or empowering. In short, as a memoir, this is weaker than it could have been. But this takes nothing away from the admirable life he clearly has lived.
All lives involve choices, and this story tells how Briscoe made decisions at certain points along the way, notably whether to pursue a career in banking after getting off to a very promising start or to give that up and go into full-time ministry, and then whether to continue with a stimulating series of trips to speak in far-flung outposts around the world or to stay home with his family and one congregation. He reveals a measure of the soul-searching that went on at such times. I wondered, however, if there hadn't been other defining moments that he omits. For example, he completely glosses over the decision and experience of becoming a Christian in the first place. His father was a minister, and so naturally he was exposed to the Gospel from an early age, but I was sorry that he treated his own acceptance of Christ as something no more out of the ordinary than putting on clothes.
Likewise, he never really talks about moments of doubt. He does mention confusion caused by a brief period when he was in danger of losing his voice, but I can't help wondering whether there weren't moments when his faith was tested on a more basic level. There have been in my case. I would have appreciated a frank discussion of how he came through those times.
Perhaps the problem is in deciding whom the book is written for. I think someone outside the ministry might have trouble staying with this narrative, because the latter half is largely concerned with questions of church governance and the challenges of ministering to people with divergent expectations and needs. Although I'm a church-goer, in recent years I've preferred to stay on the periphery of things, and so questions of how to keep congregants and deacons happy did not greatly interest me.
There's no question that the life he describes has been full, meaningful, and important. I bought his book after hearing him speak at my church, because I wanted some insight into how he'd reached the point of being able to deliver such a thoughtful and effective message. And yet, aside from a few brief passages that come to life on the page, the narrative kept me feeling very much at arms' length.
In telling a story, an author needs to strike a balance between dramatizing scenes that are important and summarizing the rest. Bringing everything to life on the page can bury the story in needless details. On the other hand, summarizing everything deprives the reader of a sense of involvement. Just where one draws the line is a matter of opinion, but I feel that there is far too much summary in Briscoe's memoir. Here's a typical example:
"Soon three things happened in Jill's life. She discovered abilities she did not know she had. Other people saw her floundering, trying to use gifts she didn't have, and out of pity voluntered to help. And the church began to see her unique gifts that lay outside the box and encouraged her in the development of them. Win! Win! Win!"
(In this instance he's talking about his wife, and I realize it gets tricky in memoir when the author is discussing the experience of someone other than himself. I ran into the same challenge in writing my own memoir. But even in a case like this there must be more dramatic, and effective, ways of rendering the events.)
At times the narrative is preachy, and not in a way I found particularly edifying or empowering. In short, as a memoir, this is weaker than it could have been. But this takes nothing away from the admirable life he clearly has lived.
March 26, 2014
Without any formal theological training, Pastor Stuart Briscoe rose to prominence in world evangelism and founded the Telling The Truth ministry that broadcasts the gospel via radio and the internet. He encountered various challenges right from his childhood that transformed him into a renowned preacher and teacher of the gospel. Stuart was born and raised during the dark days of World War 2. He learnt devotion to duty by seeing it lived out by brave men and women. He was educated prematurely in the harsher side of life as sirens wailed and bombs rained down uncomfortably. His father, David was a pastor in a non-conformist church, Tin Chapel, at a time most people in England knew only the Anglican Church.
Stuart’s biblical teachings give hope even to the most hopeless and marginalised people in society such as prostitutes and street children. While a student in high school, Stuart played rugby and was able to testify to his schoolmates that he was a Christian and was never ashamed of being called weird for not drinking, smoking, or going to the cinema. Stuart acquired a love for words, a fascination for the world and its people and a deep appreciation for music, things which he uses to date to capture the attention of his audience.
The 200 pages book is a sensitive guide through Stuart’s life as bible teacher and pastor and is expressed in a very encouraging and humorous language
Stuart’s biblical teachings give hope even to the most hopeless and marginalised people in society such as prostitutes and street children. While a student in high school, Stuart played rugby and was able to testify to his schoolmates that he was a Christian and was never ashamed of being called weird for not drinking, smoking, or going to the cinema. Stuart acquired a love for words, a fascination for the world and its people and a deep appreciation for music, things which he uses to date to capture the attention of his audience.
The 200 pages book is a sensitive guide through Stuart’s life as bible teacher and pastor and is expressed in a very encouraging and humorous language
September 27, 2011
I first heard Stuart Briscoe at an Easter Convention years ago, and this autobiography captures his warmth and humour well! C.S. Lewis wrote that the first few chapters of biographies are always the most interesting, and his observation is true here again - I enjoyed reading about Briscoe's formative influences most of all, as I reflected on my own. The flowing stream language is a bit overused, but I appreciated the point - being truly "alive in Christ", with streams of living water (the Holy Spirit) flowing, as "a flowing stream cuts it's own channel". There's some helpful church leadership stuff hidden in the middle chapters. Does drag a bit occasionally when he slips into too much preaching.
September 15, 2011
It was great. Interesting read. Very inspirational.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews