A Chance to Die: The Life and Legacy of Amy Carmichael

The cover on this trade paperback edition is different than the hardcover but it is a very nice looking one with a different picture of Amy. The book itself is excellent. Elisabeth Elliot writes this in a way that keeps your interest and really gives you a clear picture of who Amy Carmichael was. There are pictures and illustrations which add a lot as do Amy's own words and poems inserted throughout the entire book. There are even a few pictures of Amy which are rare; she didn't like having pictures of herself taken. She never wanted to draw attention to herself-her life was all about serving and bringing glory to God, not herself. Elisabeth Elliot does write in a way that shows she highly admires Amy Carmichael but she doesn't make her to look perfect. She does show her downfalls; afterall, Amy was human. But it is true that Amy Carmichael was an extraordinary woman and her willingness to give up her own life to serve God shows this. This biography will inspire and encourage. Follow Amy from her calling at a young age to "Go", all the way to India where she settled and rescued children from temple prostitution and other dangerous situations.

When one views the life of Amy Carmichael, the only possible result can be to put the difficulties of contemporary life into perspective. Never enjoying robust good health and never entering into the comfort of marriage, Amy Carmichael gave her adult life to Christ by serving the children of her region of India. This book tells in exciting anecdotes and vivid narrative the life given over to a purpose and the amazing power of God revealed when she obeyed His voice in her life. Elliot's admiration for her subject shows through not in sentimentality, but in honesty regarding the idiosyncrasies and criticisms of the woman whose ministry still impacts the world today.

Here is a book that will challenge any Christian in any walk of life to deny themselves, take up their cross daily, and follow Jesus. The missionary life is, in fact, the normal Christian life for every Christian, for every Christian is an ambassador for Christ. As such, this biography will be a great help to any reader in focusing their hearts and minds on the God-given task before them (1 Peter 2:9)--whatever their walk of life. This book also gives much needed rebukes against those who support missions financially on the basis of numbers saved. This book re-affirms the biblical principle time and again that the Christian's work is not saving, but declaring. The work of saving is God's alone; and if no one is saved, the missionary must keep working and we must keep supporting. Finally: Is this book biased? Gee, I hope so. Biased for one who gave all for the lost and for the glory of God. If there is an unhealthy bias in the book, I don't see it. And if it is there, it doesn't matter; for the issue is not Elizabeth Elliot and her approach to Amy Carmichael. The issue is that Amy Carmichael has left us a Christlike example that is biblical. We need to follow her as she followed Christ. Forget any supposed bias and try living her life. Believe me, no one who spends their time trying to follow Christ as Amy did will have any time left to worry about possible bias. And the book shows Amy as a sinner, for sure. So the book does not gloss over Amy's faults. This is a must read; but be prepared to be convicted and challenged.

This book was so encouraging to me on a practical level. I am a Christian mother of three little ones desiring to have God first in my life and my families life, but sometimes I don't see things as clearly as I should. Seeing Amy's practical example of seeking the Lord in every situation, whether in relationships or parenting her children was inspiring to me, and has motivated me to "seek" more diligently answers directly from God's word.Also seeing from Amy's example of being a "Amma", and her wanting a different kind of life for her little one's has also been inspiring. It is so easy to get caught up in our cultures way of thinking in that we feel our children need this or that, when not focusing on the most important...our children need to see that God is real, practical and personal. Her type of relationship with God isn't impossible to have, therefore, through reading this book it has given me a stronger drive towards wanting this more initmate realtionship with a God who can meet all our needs.