NOVEMBER 15, 2017 UPDATE: TODAY Melissa Macduff won the drawing for the signed copy! (Drawn through Random.org)
The best part — she is gifting this signed copy to her Pastor, who she says “is a big fan of Eric Metaxas!” This is especially sweet for me knowing that this signed copy that I bought and had Metaxas sign will go to a Pastor in Washington state! Hallelujah! Congratulations Melissa!
Earlier this month in anticipation of the 500th Anniversary of the Protestant Reformation (Today! October 31, 2017) of my favorite authors, Eric Metaxas, released his newest biography, Martin Luther, The Man Who Rediscovered God and Changed The World. [Details how to win a free signed copy at the end of this post.]
Being born into a Protestant family in 1956 I have “heard of” Martin Luther. It is safe to sum up my understanding of Martin Luther, as “Martin Luther was an Augustinian monk and university lecturer when he composed his “95 Theses,” which protested the Catholic churches sale of reprieves from penance, or indulgences.” The End.
Beyond that, my mind is an open book, so to speak, as I picked up Metaxas 446 page-turner (plus acknowledgments, notes, and indexes.) Lucky for me my husband began reading the book just the day before me, and so our discussions quickly began to center around what we were reading.
While there is little mystery surrounding Luther today (although there are still a few unknowns and unanswered questions about him) this book is a page-turner because I had trouble putting it down! Reading this book will increase your vocabulary by thousands of new words. True story – when reading anything written by Eric Metaxas I have his book in one hand and the Dictionary app on my phone in the other. I do not want to get to the end of 446 pages and realize that I simply skipped over what I didn’t know or understand. Therefore, it is a slow read for me, but enjoyable every step of the way.
In my mind’s eye, I can see a gentle smirk on Eric’s face as he writes. Not unlike Martin Luther who, according to Metaxas, was an “intense and dourly over-pious monk but also had a raucous joke-and-insult-producing side”. In case you wonder how I can see this you simply need to read Metaxas Acknowledgments at the end of the book. He is very funny and his personality and humor only enhance the story of Martin Luther making this an educational and entertaining read.
Metaxas writes like a surgeon as he expertly wields his pen cutting through layers and layers of facts and fiction dissecting each to find the truth. Apparently, there has been a lot of fiction surrounding Martin Luther and Metaxas makes no bones about what he has found to be true and what is not.
Martin Luther’s storyline includes many other famous and infamous souls. Not only does Metaxas transport us back into life in the early 1500’s, but the bigger picture of the Protestant Reformation takes center stage when we realize even though there were other Reformers before Luther, the invention of the printing press and movable print type by Johannes Gutenberg in 1439 cleared the way for Luther’s writings to be distributed quickly.
[I can’t help but wonder what Martin Luther would think about the speed with which we share information today! I just read (on the internet, so it must be true!) that a one-kilobyte email travels at the speed of light, basically, so that’s close to 670 million MPH. Let’s just say much faster than in 1517. ] I digress.
One can hardly separate the Gospel of Jesus from Martin Luther and his search for God, but my favorite part of Eric Metaxas telling of Martin Luther’s story is how he carefully, cleverly, and rightly shares the truth of the Gospel of Christ throughout this book. It is when we understand that Eric cannot and does not write this biography without sharing the Gospel do we clearly see the heart of the author. Eric is a man who I believe walks closely with God and so when he writes, I read.
What I’ve learned is that Martin Luther didn’t set out to change the world. But he did strive to change his world. He was a German monk in the Roman Catholic Church that wanted to be sure he was right with God. The reformation as we now know it directly descended through Luther’s struggle and strife and rediscovery of his own relationship to God. Buy the book. The history, the research, the writing, and the subject has given me a great appreciation for the man who God chose to bring about the Protestant Reformation. I believe you will also be affected by this biography by Metaxas.
I am thankful Eric has taken time to sign books across the land which included a stop in Tennessee! The line was long and his time was short so I only asked him to sign a copy for my friend Joan and my husband.
My own copy is a mess with yellow sticky notes, penciled notes, quotes highlighted and a few exclamation points!
Would you like your own signed copy? I bought a copy and asked Eric to it signed for one blessed (and lucky) reader! See the details listed below on how to enter the drawing!
Eric Metaxas other works include:
Amazing Grace: William Wilberforce and the Heroic
Campaign to End Slavery
Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy
7 Men and the Secret of Their Greatness
Miracles: What They Are, Why They Happen,
and How They Can Change Your Life
7 Women and the Secret of Their Greatness
If You Can Keep It: The Forgotten Promise of American Liberty
Happy Reading! Good Luck in the giveaway!
~Catherine
GIVEAWAY DETAILS
One (1) winner will receive a signed copy of Martin Luther, The Man Who Rediscovered God and Changed the World, with the drawing to be held on November 15, 2017.
HOW TO ENTER
To enter this giveaway, just answer the following question in the comments section of this post: Have you read a book by Eric Metaxas before, and if so which is your favorite?
ADDITIONAL (OPTIONAL) ENTRIES
To up your chances of winning, you can receive up to FOUR additional entries to win by doing the following (these are optional, not required):
1. Subscribe to My Daily Bread Body and Soul by email. Come back and let me know you’ve subscribed in an additional comment on this post. See right-hand side of blog: PLEASE JOIN US AND SUBSCRIBE TO PRAYCOOKBLOG VIA EMAIL
2. LIKE My Daily Bread Body and Soul on Facebook. Come back and let me know you became a fan in an additional comment on this post.
3. Follow My Daily Bread Body and Soul on Pinterest. Come back and let me know you became a fan in an additional comment on this post.
4. Follow @praycookblog on Twitter. Come back and let me know you’ve followed in an additional comment on this post.
All giveaway drawings are done by Random.Org
Yay! I love Eric Metaxas! How cool that you got to meet him!!! I’m currently reading his Luther book–so good. I also really enjoyed his “Miracles” book. My son loved his “Seven Men” book, as well as “If You Can Keep It.” Both my son & husband have read Metaxas’ Bonhoeffer book. The whole family enjoys listening to his podcast. Really good stuff (although some subject matter is too intense for littler people). Metaxas has a great sense of humor & he loves the Lord Jesus very much. He’s a delight.
Our pastor was the guy who told our family about the podcast. He’s a big fan of Metaxas as well. I would love to get a copy of the Luther book for him!
Thank Melissa for sharing this information. I also loved Seven Men, Seven Women, and If you Can Keep It is one of my favorites about our country’s history. You are entered into the drawing! Good luck!
I already am a subscriber to My Daily Bread Body and Soul and have previously liked your Facebook page/
Thank you Patty, I have you entered in the drawing! Good luck!
I have not read any of Eric Metaxas’ books but, marrying into a Lutheran family this book interests me greatly.
I love studying church history. Would love to dig in with this book. I have not read any of Eric Metaxas books yet. Tena in NC
Tena, I know you will love this book! Good luck in the drawing!
I have never read a book by Eric Metaxas, but this one sounds interesting. Becoming immersed in reading is one of the things at the top of my list to do during retirement. My husband, an avid reader, would enjoy reading this one too.
Jill, this is a perfect “kick-off retirement” reading! Good luck!
I have not read a book by Eric Metaxas!! Sounds like I should have.
Good luck Dinah, I’ve got you in the drawing for this awesome book!
This was a very special blog Catherine! I so enjoyed reading it!
I just liked you on Facebook!
Thank you Susan, you are the first one on the drawing list! Good luck!
I receive and enjoy your emails.
I’ve never read a book by Eric Metaxas but it sounds like something we would enjoy. We are currently reading aloud a children’s book on the lives of various reformers in honor of the 500th anniversary of the reformation.