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Port of Two Brothers
The village along the Amazon river in Brazil where missionaries Paul and John Schlener and their families lived and worked was named for The Port of Two Brothers. How God led these two families to that spot on the map, how he spared their lives in incredible and sometimes amusing adventures, and how he used them to draw hundreds of indigenous people to himself are recorded in Port of Two Brothers. Contains four photo sections.
444 pages, Paperback
First published June 30, 2000
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
February 16, 2024
This is a tough review for me. I feel compelled to write this even with my knowing that many, possibly most, will not like it nor will they like me. Let me be clear, "I don't care what you think of my review or of me, this is my life"!
I have a fishing bow and arrow on my wall, still here in 2024, which was brought to our home when I was about 13 or 14 years old in 1953. One of the two brothers for whom the "Port of Two Brothers" is named, was traveling around the country begging for (excuse me, politely asking for) money to continue their work which was directed and sponsored by God Herself. Maybe Himself.
My parents mis-guided me into the myth of Christianity with the best of intentions. Throughout my early years and with parental good intentions, I learned a lot. They opened our home to traveling missionaries when they came to town, where they were kept, fed and helped monetarily as well. My parents were the best of the best of people if you believe what they believed and they did many gracious things for visitors, especially those who were "Spreading the Gospel".
Reading Paul Schlener's words regarding their life along the Amazon River has allowed me to be more certain of my clear and whole hearted belief that Jesus never existed on this Earth and any who buy into that notion are mislead and are teaching other unsuspecting people to do likewise. Why?, because their personal and very special "Spook-in-the-Sky" was going to bring them home to a place where the streets are paved with gold. Just think about that one thing for a moment ... streets paved with gold ... are you kidding me??? Why would anyone, even the all knowing, all powerful, all loving, most important creature ever known, devalue gold to that of macadam or asphalt? By itself, that is one of the most insidious things that anyone, let alone your God, could do to make gold and everything else worthless.
But I digress, the book is moderately well written, however, when I read a few notes by others who have reviewed this book, I see that many believe that they, the Two Brothers, were directed by God to go and endanger their own families, in the face of some of the most virulent and unmanageable diseases known on earth at that time ... and this was to SAVE people!?!?! What about God doing a better job him or herself in the first place. Really? Your all knowing, loving, super powerful deity did not know how to get the word out without endangering others? He made us all to perfection, according to the Bible, and did it right there in The Garden of Eden ... Stop right there ... that's all we need ... God, who, in Godly perfection, allegedly created absolute perfection in that Garden, was bastardized by him or herself in letting all this other junque happen? ... What an idiot God has to be. Just read the bible and look at the hundreds of misquotes (by misquoting what others said in other places in that same book) aaaarrrrgggghhhh!!! The insanity nearly drives me insane ... oh wait, I did not need much more of a push than I got while growing up in an insidious "Jesus World" which took me all the way to a Bible College. Wholy Cowabunga, it matters not, at this point, which school that was, but just know what nonsense we keep on wishing were true only to satisfy our longing to not ever experience endless death. Guess what boys and girls, no one gets out of here alive! And one more thing, if you want to know what being dead feels like, just remember what it was like before you were born. That's it ... NOTHING, SILENCE, PEACE, QUIET everything after our departure will be the ultimate peace.
As to the book itself, it is not terribly written, but some might have done less of the "Look at us ... see how wonderful we are" kind of treatment. I don't think there was any intention to be self aggrandizing, but I also know that more talented writers would know how to watch for those moments where they do seem to be self inflating of their own importance.
Oh, and my apology, I need to get back to the bow and arrow on the wall mentioned above. One day, in my home, just ten years ago, I was sitting in our family room with a client for which I was creating a work of art for their home. The gentleman and home owner, looked up at the bow and arrow on the wall and said, (and I quote and I promise this is true) "That looks like something from The Port of Two Brothers in Brazil".
You've no doubt heard the term, "knock me over with a feather" ... this was one of those moments. We talked and learned of our mutual connection with that place making that moment in my home, a terrific memory for the rest of my life. The sad part is that I could not agree with them in the feeling that they, Paul, John and families, were sent by God to save those people.
If your God is so impotent (note - IMPOTENT, not important) when it comes to providing the needed "salvation" to everyone he allegedly created, it's befuddling, to say the least, and positively stupid to be required to believe that this is true.
More important, there are a host of writers who have delved deeply into the history of that period when Jesus allegedly did the "I was 'raised from the dead' routine" and no one else at that time in history noticed a thing. REALLY, are you serious??? A guy was nailed to a cross, (the taller one in the middle), and was placed in a tomb, but popped back up in just three days, came back to life and NO ONE, absolutely NO ONE else in that time period happened to notice that event. Again, gimme a break. Oh wait, I forgot that it is hard to notice something that in fact, never happened!
OK, read the book and enjoy it if you can, but do not tell me that no one warned you of it's ignorance, personified by these two brothers and their families ... once more, gimme a break!!! God, said, in Mathues one, chapter seventy echo, verse none; Go thou into the whole world, cause I messed it all up and also, please save me from remorse and utter destruction since I did a beastly and horrible job! I need you to cover for me ....... Oh, believe me, I could go on and on and on ........ one friend suggested that I should join "On and On Anon" ... I used to like that guy!
I have a fishing bow and arrow on my wall, still here in 2024, which was brought to our home when I was about 13 or 14 years old in 1953. One of the two brothers for whom the "Port of Two Brothers" is named, was traveling around the country begging for (excuse me, politely asking for) money to continue their work which was directed and sponsored by God Herself. Maybe Himself.
My parents mis-guided me into the myth of Christianity with the best of intentions. Throughout my early years and with parental good intentions, I learned a lot. They opened our home to traveling missionaries when they came to town, where they were kept, fed and helped monetarily as well. My parents were the best of the best of people if you believe what they believed and they did many gracious things for visitors, especially those who were "Spreading the Gospel".
Reading Paul Schlener's words regarding their life along the Amazon River has allowed me to be more certain of my clear and whole hearted belief that Jesus never existed on this Earth and any who buy into that notion are mislead and are teaching other unsuspecting people to do likewise. Why?, because their personal and very special "Spook-in-the-Sky" was going to bring them home to a place where the streets are paved with gold. Just think about that one thing for a moment ... streets paved with gold ... are you kidding me??? Why would anyone, even the all knowing, all powerful, all loving, most important creature ever known, devalue gold to that of macadam or asphalt? By itself, that is one of the most insidious things that anyone, let alone your God, could do to make gold and everything else worthless.
But I digress, the book is moderately well written, however, when I read a few notes by others who have reviewed this book, I see that many believe that they, the Two Brothers, were directed by God to go and endanger their own families, in the face of some of the most virulent and unmanageable diseases known on earth at that time ... and this was to SAVE people!?!?! What about God doing a better job him or herself in the first place. Really? Your all knowing, loving, super powerful deity did not know how to get the word out without endangering others? He made us all to perfection, according to the Bible, and did it right there in The Garden of Eden ... Stop right there ... that's all we need ... God, who, in Godly perfection, allegedly created absolute perfection in that Garden, was bastardized by him or herself in letting all this other junque happen? ... What an idiot God has to be. Just read the bible and look at the hundreds of misquotes (by misquoting what others said in other places in that same book) aaaarrrrgggghhhh!!! The insanity nearly drives me insane ... oh wait, I did not need much more of a push than I got while growing up in an insidious "Jesus World" which took me all the way to a Bible College. Wholy Cowabunga, it matters not, at this point, which school that was, but just know what nonsense we keep on wishing were true only to satisfy our longing to not ever experience endless death. Guess what boys and girls, no one gets out of here alive! And one more thing, if you want to know what being dead feels like, just remember what it was like before you were born. That's it ... NOTHING, SILENCE, PEACE, QUIET everything after our departure will be the ultimate peace.
As to the book itself, it is not terribly written, but some might have done less of the "Look at us ... see how wonderful we are" kind of treatment. I don't think there was any intention to be self aggrandizing, but I also know that more talented writers would know how to watch for those moments where they do seem to be self inflating of their own importance.
Oh, and my apology, I need to get back to the bow and arrow on the wall mentioned above. One day, in my home, just ten years ago, I was sitting in our family room with a client for which I was creating a work of art for their home. The gentleman and home owner, looked up at the bow and arrow on the wall and said, (and I quote and I promise this is true) "That looks like something from The Port of Two Brothers in Brazil".
You've no doubt heard the term, "knock me over with a feather" ... this was one of those moments. We talked and learned of our mutual connection with that place making that moment in my home, a terrific memory for the rest of my life. The sad part is that I could not agree with them in the feeling that they, Paul, John and families, were sent by God to save those people.
If your God is so impotent (note - IMPOTENT, not important) when it comes to providing the needed "salvation" to everyone he allegedly created, it's befuddling, to say the least, and positively stupid to be required to believe that this is true.
More important, there are a host of writers who have delved deeply into the history of that period when Jesus allegedly did the "I was 'raised from the dead' routine" and no one else at that time in history noticed a thing. REALLY, are you serious??? A guy was nailed to a cross, (the taller one in the middle), and was placed in a tomb, but popped back up in just three days, came back to life and NO ONE, absolutely NO ONE else in that time period happened to notice that event. Again, gimme a break. Oh wait, I forgot that it is hard to notice something that in fact, never happened!
OK, read the book and enjoy it if you can, but do not tell me that no one warned you of it's ignorance, personified by these two brothers and their families ... once more, gimme a break!!! God, said, in Mathues one, chapter seventy echo, verse none; Go thou into the whole world, cause I messed it all up and also, please save me from remorse and utter destruction since I did a beastly and horrible job! I need you to cover for me ....... Oh, believe me, I could go on and on and on ........ one friend suggested that I should join "On and On Anon" ... I used to like that guy!
October 3, 2015
Absolutely a fantastic book telling the story of two brothers, Paul and John, who heeded Gods call to the mission field. Wonderful Godly people and family. Truly inspirational. Read another book that Paul wrote about surviving one of the all time great Typhoons on the Pacific during World War II while serving in the US Navy... When The Sea Billows Roll
January 17, 2019
Great Encouragement
God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things. Mission work is a family commitment and there would have been no way to have the impact without a husband and wife both dedicated to do God’s will no matter what.
God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things. Mission work is a family commitment and there would have been no way to have the impact without a husband and wife both dedicated to do God’s will no matter what.
June 23, 2012
Serving as missionaries in Brazil you
might think that Dawn and I would read
something other than a missionary
story from Brazil. However, a friend
sent us Port of Two Brothers and we
were fascinated from the start. Paul
Schlener took us on a fantastic journey,
sharing his daily life as missionary, selfmade doctor, boat captain and dentist.
Paul wrote simply yet vividly of his
three decade ministry on Brazil’s
Amazon River. We laughed and cried
as he related his antics, heroics, warm
heart, and zeal for the Gospel. Don’t
miss this jungle adventure.
might think that Dawn and I would read
something other than a missionary
story from Brazil. However, a friend
sent us Port of Two Brothers and we
were fascinated from the start. Paul
Schlener took us on a fantastic journey,
sharing his daily life as missionary, selfmade doctor, boat captain and dentist.
Paul wrote simply yet vividly of his
three decade ministry on Brazil’s
Amazon River. We laughed and cried
as he related his antics, heroics, warm
heart, and zeal for the Gospel. Don’t
miss this jungle adventure.
February 19, 2018
excellent bio of some humble, authentic Missionaries in Brazil from 1951 to 1991.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews