A Packet of Surprises: The Best Essays and Sermons of F. W. Boreham

by F.W. Boreham

Choosing the best essays of F. W. Boreham is as excruciating as selecting some children to get the honors and telling the others that they did not make the grade. As mentioned in the preface to "All the Blessings of The Best Stories of F. W. Boreham (Revised)" the selection is subjective. But there is some rhyme and reason to the choices. Some were voted in by current Boreham readers so they appear by popular demand. Others are clearly Boreham's choice or were popular in his day. In compiling this selection an effort has been made to include essays on a range of themes, those which illustrate different homiletical methods and others that are drawn from different periods in Boreham's career. The sermon "The Whisper of God" may at face value have not made the cut in Boreham's best but it is included because it is the best of his earliest sermons and it illustrates how his preaching changed in style, structure and length. "The Best Essays and Sermons of F. W. Boreham" demonstrate the way that Boreham worked hard to remodel his writing and preaching through such things as the removal of wordy clutter, for it is clear to see the emergence of a simple and flowing style. These essays and sermons have been brought together not for literary inspection and homiletical interest but so they might speak powerfully to readers in this contemporary age. The great hope for this new book is that it might stimulate among its readers one of the major themes of F. W. Boreham -- that each person, with their God-given gifts might develop their unique style (Dr. Geoff Pound). This book also a profile of Boreham written by T. Howard Crago, name and topical indexes and an "About the Cover" section. Twenty six pages of introductory material are followed by 298 pages. Please consider checking out the other titles published by John Broadbanks Publishing A portion of the sale of each book will go toward the training of pastors and missionaries at Whitley College, a ministry that Boreham supported during his lifetime.

298 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2008

About the author

Rev. Dr. Frank W. Boreham
(March 3rd 1871 – May 18th 1959) Served, and wrote, in the UK, New Zealand, and Australia.

Reviews

[Jonathan Lucina · Rating 5 out of 5]

After hearing FW Boreham's name mentioned in several messages by Ravi Zacharias, my interest was piqued and I began to rummage through Amazon, EBay, and used book stores for his works. The search has not been in vain and his label, The Greatest Christian Essayist of all time, is a title well deserved. Whether it be toting the Luggage of Life, or reading his commentary on Dostoyefsky, or making illustrations out of a game of Dominoes, Boreham does not disappoint as his sermons both challenge the heart and fill the mind with wonder.

I can fully understand why Ravi reads a sermon of Boreham a day, and now add myself to that list of people who compete over his out of print Inventory.

[Aaron Michael · Rating 2 out of 5]

THE CANDLE AND THE BIRD
…such distressing conditions do emerge; and the thing to be remembered at those times is that this unhappy state of affairs represents, not the snuffing out of a candle, but the frightening away of a bird. The distinction is vital. If you extinguish a light, the act is final: you plunge the room into darkness without creating any illumination elsewhere. The flame does not flash into being in some other part of the house. But if you startle a bird, the populace as the extinction of a great light: anybody who reviews the incident in the calm perspective of history can see that it was merely the frightening away of a bird.

When we have occasion to lament the spiritual poverty immediately around us, we may be sure that the bird that has forsaken us is singing his lovely song, to somebody else's rapture, on a distant bough. And so it shall continue until that day dawns for which the Church has ever prayed, when the Holy Dove shall feel equally at home on every shore and the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.

[John Elliott · Rating 4 out of 5]

I owe a debt of gratitude to my friend and colleague Merle Klein for recommending this book. Without his recommendation, I doubt I would have ever become acquainted with Boreham. Now that I have read this collection of essays, I am thankful and left wanting more. In his writing I experience Lewis' warmth, Chesterton's brilliance and MacDonald's whimsicalness. My favorites in this collection were "The Agnostic", "Please Shut This Gate!" and "On Climbing Down". For those who have never read him (or perhaps even heard of him) I would suggest giving him a try. You won't be disappointed.

[Ronald J. Pauleus · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed F.W. Boreham's writings. He is an eloquent writer and paints pictures and creates stories in such a beautiful way. My favorite sermon was "Please Shut The Gate." That sermon really helped me.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the short essay stories and the clear illustrations applicable to today’s life lessons.

[Esther · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding! One of my favorites was “Please shut the gate “. I let things worry me when I should shut the gate and keep them out.

[Jim Nielsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is definitely a book I will read and reference time and again. There are many short essays in this compilation, some struck me much more poignantly than others. The author does such a tremendous job interweaving history, metaphors, poetry, quotes, and more. His stories leave me with imagery that I ponder for days. I give this book 5 stars because the essays I have marked will deserve multiple readings over the years to come.