What I Learned When I Was Ten: Lessons That Shaped My Life and Faith

By J. Ellsworth Kalas

Book Overview

When Did Your Faith Story Begin? In this book popular author J. Ellsworth Kalas reflects on the tenth year of his life, and how that one special year shaped him and his Christian faith in so many important ways. He shares stories about what it was like growing up in Iowa during the days of the Great Depression, and he remembers the people, places, and events of those times that continue to have an impact on his life to this day. The author invites readers to think about their own life journeys and faith stories at the same time, and he explores several key themes, including the importance of connecting with your past, salvation, hearing God's call, living life with urgency, self-worth, investing and giving wisely, discovering the richness of the Bible, having confidence in God's promise, and looking back over your life to make sense of all the lessons you have learned. The book includes a discussion guide. J. ELLSWORTH KALAS has been part of the faculty at Asbury Theological Seminary since 1993, after thirty-eight years as a United Methodist pastor and five years in evangelism with the World Methodist Council. He has been a presenter on Disciple videos, is the author of the Christian Believer study, and has written more than thirty books, including the popular "Back Side" series, The Thirteen Apostles, and Longing to Pray: How the Psalms Teach Us to Talk with God.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0687335922
• ISBN13: 9780687335923
• Release Date: September 2006
• Publisher: Abingdon Press
• Length: 89 Pages
• Weight: 0.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

A Tribute to the People Who Made and Make Us Who and What We Are

This was almost a great book. Almost. Had the book been more about the people who made us what we are and who we are--in this case, the people in Ellsworth Kalas' life--it would have been a much better book. The reader finishes wanting to know more about his hometown, more about the people who lived there and helped make Rev. Kalas the man he is today. We get a little of that, but not merely enough. Sadly, that was not Rev. Kalas' purpose. His purpose was to "preach" to us, as that is his custom and responsibilty as a man of the cloth. It would have been much better, in this case at least, if Mr. Kalas had "taken off the cloth" and let us have an indepth look at his hometown and its people, how they influenced him and made him what he is today. While the stories are good, the book comes across as a little "too preachy" It would been better to have been a longer book and led us (the reader) into an awareness of the lessons being taught, rather than hit us over the head with specific examples of specific lessons. It needs a little more Ferrol Sams approach and a little less sermon. Still, not bad. Not at all. Just not as good or as powerful as it could be.