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Musician Rich Mullins has been speaking not only to God but to the hearts of God’s children for many years. His songs and honest life have opened countless doors and taken the gospel farther than some people imagine possible. Even now, almost five years after his death, his songs, testimony, and legacy are still challenging and inspiring Christians around the world.
James Byron Smith began this biography of Mullins not too long after the musician’s death, intending not to tell to story of the man so much as the story of a spiritual journey from which everyone can learn. Few biographers deal with their subject’s flaws and weaknesses as honestly as Smith, but in this case the depth and honesty are necessary: they mimic the flaws and sins in the lives of most Christians and challenge readers to do something about them.
Mullins lived to the fullest though he had little material wealth. He struggled with temptation just as every human does, but went a step farther and shared his experiences to benefit others. His spiritual life and journey, which obviously are not perfect, nevertheless serve well as a model, a guide, and a challenge for anyone willing to learn from them.
This book is one that will change lives. Full of poignant quotations from spiritual leaders such as C.S. Lewis, Saint Augustine, and Samuel Rutherford, to name but a few, the book incorporates the story of Mullins’ life with song lyrics, journals, and a variety of quotations. In addition, it is designed to serve as a devotional, by providing questions related to each chapter that can force readers to take a much closer look at issues they struggle with but have been afraid to face.
If this book isn’t already on your bookshelf, it should be. Get it, read it, and let it inspire you to be bolder than ever before.