I've had several encounters with Gordon MacDonald over the years. He was a professor at Gordon-Conwell, one of the favorites I might add. I heard him speak at conferences. Our church, Living Word, has been privileged to have Gordon with us on several occasions.
And, I was fortunate to have Gordon MacDonald as a professor for a D.Min. course I had at Bethel Seminary. The course was The Private Life of the Public Person. In preparation for that course, we had to read several biographies. And during the course, Gordon emphasized the importance of regular reading of the best biographies for the formation of our inner life.
I mentioned in a previous blog (see this post) that 2008 is a year when I am doing a lot of leadership work in the area of historic mentors and the insights to be learned from great leaders.
I have just finished Amazing Grace by Eric Metaxas and I can say that reading this book was almost a spiritual experience. I cannot begin to communicate the motivation that Wilberforce was for me to be passionate about Christ and passionate about the cause of Christ. Wilberforce had a mission and calling that were incredibly beyond his reach, yet by God's grace, he was sustained in a lifetime of "battle" to fulfill that calling.
Metaxas writes with such skill and feeling that the reader easily moves into the story of Wilberforce.
I am grateful for his contribution to the world of excellent biographies. Reading his book and watching the movie are a powerful tandem.
Brian Rice
