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Compassion International

Sunday Edition


14
Mar
2004
The Faith of George W. Bush


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Written by Stephen Mansfield

George W. Bush, the 43rd President of the United States, is not just the man holding the highest office in the land. He is also a man, just like you and I. When you separate him from his important office, you will find that he is just another person who fights the daily battles of life, just like everyone else does. This is not a sugar-coated book telling only the glorified things that he has done, but it goes well into his personal life discussing many of the demons that he has had to face. Some were brought on by his own weaknesses, and others were trials of life that we all must endure.

The book starts with his early childhood and the influences that molded him into the man that he would become. George Bush found himself a teenager in the 60s, which meant a time of youthful unrest when our society was turning the other way as young people experimented with alcohol and drugs. Excelling at baseball in high school and college only added to his popularity and the temptation to be drawn into the fast life. That was the path that he followed, especially the path of alcohol. It was a problem that nearly ruined his life and marriage. It was the problem that caused him to hit rock bottom.

George W. Bush had a background of Christianity with his dad, George H. W. Bush, being raised Episcopal and his mother Barbara being raised Presbyterian. It has been stated that George H. W. Bush was a Christian, but Barbara Bush was a believer. While they were raising their children, all of the family attended the Presbyterian Church in Midland, Texas. Though the family attended regularly, George W. had never taken religion too seriously, however what he was learning would be of great value later in his life.

To say that George W. Bush was a scoundrel in many of his dealings would probably not be an understatement, but he did have an event in his life that changed him forever. Like many men, a woman came into George's life, his wife Laura, helped to redirect his life on to a new course. This would not be an over night miracle, but a slow growing process. Laura was a Methodist, and since George hadn't really taken his spiritual life seriously, he went with Laura to the Methodist Church. During this time he started realizing that he had a problem with alcohol. Also about this time one of his drinking buddies became born again and left his drinking problems behind. This got George's attention. Through the witness of his friend, George started studying the Bible for himself, and his life started slowly changing. He was also very fortunate in having several ministers such as Arthur Blessitt, James Robison, and Billy Graham come into his life and minister to him. As these great men of God ministered to him he made a public confession of faith that has changed his life forever.

It is a comfort to know that the leader of this great Nation has confessed that Jesus is Lord of his life. George W. Bush is very quick to tell you that he still has to battle the flesh, as was seen when he used colorful language when describing a man in the opposite political party. He has to fight that carnality battle, but who among us doesn't? This book does not claim to make George W. Bush a perfect man, but it does show that God can change the life of a man whether he is a garbage collector or the President of the United States.

I suggested to a good Christian friend who nearly despises George W. Bush, to read this book, and he said that he had read parts of it. But I suggest that all of you read this entire book. Some cannot accept the idea that even though God has changed George W. Bush's heart, he is still an imperfect man just like you and I. God can change the heart of a sinner and place him in an office of leading the greatest nation in the world.

Give this book a try!

 

Reader Comments

Thanks Deon for doing a review on this book.I support our good President.


Commented by On 04/01/2004
I read the book in about three days back at Christmas and found it to be a good, quick read. My problem with it is that it quotes other material so much that I thought I should just read those books instead. In fact, Mansfield quotes a previous book, "A Charge to Keep" so often that I felt it hurt this books credibility. I wish Mansfield could have gained some personal, first-hand access to the President or to some folks close to him. However, I still believe it is a book that is worth buying and reading.


Commented by Brandon Porter On 04/01/2004
Elaine Harcourt's avatar Thanks, Dean, for a great review. Thank God we have a president that is not ashamed to say he has given his life to Christ.

God is good all the time & all the time God is good. 

Elaine Harcourt



Commented by On 04/02/2004
The main focus of this book really is to identify George Bush as a Christian. Brandon, while you may have read all the other books that he quoted, others of us hadn't. Besides he used those books as references, it was not like reading those books all over again. I don't see any credibility gap at all.


Commented by On 04/07/2004
Would rather not read about his Christian faith, would rather see the fruits of this faith.
Duke


Commented by On 04/20/2004
I really enjoyed this book and thought that this was a great review. I think that any Christian who doesn't know about the background of President Bush will be impressed and moved by this book.


Commented by Joy A. Wates On 04/20/2004
Duke, why not do both?


Commented by On 04/29/2004
President Bush is a great man everyone shold go get this book. smile


Commented by On 05/28/2004
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