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The Anglican Church in Tasmania Search |
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a healthy church...transformingLIFE |
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To End All Warsby Ernest Gordon published by Zondervan |
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This gripping true-life story of courage and faith in the hell of the infamous WW II 'Railroad of Death' in Burma has been republished this year by Zondervan. Many may remember this book under the title Miracle on the River Kwai (Collins, 1963). The author, Ernest Gordon, who died in January this year aged 85, was a 'larger than life' character of great humanity. I remember well the impact he had on me over thirty years ago as he told the incredible story of the 'church without walls' that was birthed in the midst of horrendous suffering and brutality. In the eulogy that he gave at his father's funeral, Gordon's son Alastair said During his captivity my father learned the hardest lesson of all: to forgive and even love one's enemies, and these weren't allegorical enemies from Biblical times. They were modern men of the 20th Century... He discovered a sustaining belief in God and the capacity for love, even in a death camp. 'Selfishness, hatred, jealousy, and greed were all anti-life,' he later wrote. 'Love, self-sacrifice, mercy, and creative faith, on the other hand, were the essence of life, turning mere existence into living in its truest sense.' In the aftermath of September 11 and the Bali bombings, this book has a clear message. Interestingly a film of the same name based on the book has won rave reviews (the video is to be released here in Australia in December). On its release Kris Rasmussen of Relevant Magazine observed ... looking at current events around the globe, this movie couldn't be more timely in the questions it raises... To End All Wars is a rare film where those overused adjectives like intense and edgy actually apply. It's a movie with a redemptive message, but isn't sappy or preachy. No easy answers are found here, only costly ones. (David )Cunningham (the director and son of Loren Cunningham, founder of YWAM) takes risks with the direction of this film, but doesn't cross the line into gratuitousness or excess. This year we have remembered our brave servicemen and women, who were caught up in those tragic events such as the fall of Singapore and the bombing of Darwin sixty years ago. May this book and the film strengthen our faith in the power of forgiveness and the ultimate triumph of love; a great Christmas gift.
Linkhttp://www.argyllfilms.com/project.html ObituariesNew York Times January 20, 2002 Books by Ernest GordonA Living Faith for Today, 1956 |
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