I am extremely immersed today in the biography and journals of Jim Elliot. I'll have a paper on his life posted here soon. Keep a look out for that in the next few days.
I made the decision early in the fall to go ahead with Elliot this year in writing a missionary biography. I went back and forth on it because I knew the movie End of the Spear would be out. I think it was the right choice for no other reason that God has used the movie, the books I have read, and the documentary to greatly bless and encourage me in these days.
The journals have been very refreshing as they show the who angle of a man. The struggle as well as the conviction, the passion as well as the days of listlessness. Overall, it has been a great experience brought to my life in the proper time. Today I am marveling at how God led a man over time, through some years of certainty of call, but uncertainty of specific details. I can never get a broad view of my own life as I live it day by day, but seeing anothers life events from a broad perspective, able to see the years weave together, is a special gift.
To quote John Piper "Brothers, Read Christian Biography" Brothers we are not Professionals, page 89.
Elliot knew a sovereign God, who gave enough detail for today. A quick quote and then back to the writing the biography.
To dream, and want and pray, almost savagely; then to commit and wait and see Him quietly pile all dreams aside and replace them with what we could not dream, the realized Will [of God]Jim has me swimming in good waters today ... --------