“There is a Ragamuffin Loose in Heaven”
Written: Sep 08 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Good for small-group study
Cons: Not a traditional biography.
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| sweaver's Full Review: Rich Mullins: His Life and Legacy An Arrow Pointi... |
When is a biography not a biography? When it is a “devotional biography” about an unusual man, Christian singer and songwriter Rich Mullins. Not caring for the typical trappings of success, he was a popular recording artist, concert personality, and writer of songs for other singers who lived a simple life with few possessions, giving away things and money with the ease of someone who knows enough not to value worldly things.
This book is not a true biography: while it uses the life of Rich Mullins as its centerpiece, it is really about living a life for God, as an example, in the truly Christian sense. It is written in a format to be used as a small group study book, with chapters divided by themes. Each chapter has a few questions for discussion, although those questions are collected at the back of the book. Rather than take a linear look at the life of its subject, the book’s author develops themes, which follow a roughly chronological order.
The ten chapters have these themes; first family, creed, the love of God, boy like me/man like you, calling out Your Name, bound to cause some trouble, my one thing, growing young, brother’s keeper, and that where I am, there you may also be. The themes are all taken from titles of Rich Mullins’ songs. We range from childhood, growing up and maturing, to death of family and finally of oneself.
While this is not a strict biography, you get a strong sense of Rich Mullins the man. He was happy with simple things, with nature, and took great joy in a sunrise, or a sunset, or a flower. He accepted people as they came, and did not try to change them, just to help them grow. He cared little for money or possessions. His family was never wealthy or even middle-class as he grew up, and he never attached much importance to material things. He was more comfortable in a torn t-shirt and blue jeans than any means of dress. He was completely, even bluntly honest. He wanted nothing more than to live life as Jesus would live. To sum up, he was a man completely without pretense.
The book is written in an interesting way. The author presents a series of themes, freely using quotes from Rich Mullins, from magazine articles, taped conversations, and song lyrics, woven with quotes from family and friends, as well as devotional material by the author. A problem with the book is it can be repetitive, as the same or similar words are used in describing different themes. This is not so much of a problem if used as a devotional book, over a ten-week period, but is more irritating if read in a shorter time, as one would read a biography.
While the book is not perfect, it does reveal much about someone who lived an exemplary life. Rich Mullins lived his life attempting to be “An arrow pointing to Heaven.” For many people who knew him, he did just that. His music lives on, as singers and hearer of songs like “Awesome God,” “My Deliverer,” and “That Where I Am, There You may Also Be” can attest. He was a ragamuffin walking the earth, but he is clothed in glory in Heaven. And most likely, barefoot.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
sweaver
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Member: Shawn Weaver
Location: Vienna, WV, USA
Reviews written: 249
Trusted by: 44 members
About Me:
Husband, father of 4, Chemistry and Physics teacher, church choir
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