To Fly Again: Surviving the Tailspins of Life

by Gracia Burnham, Dean Merrill

The world learned the horrendous details of Martin and Gracia Burnham's yearlong captivity in Gracia's best-selling, Gold Medallion Award-winning book, In the Presence of My Enemies. In this follow-up, Gracia reflects on the lessons and spiritual truths she learned in the jungle and how they apply to anyone's life. Twenty-one brief, theme-based chapters squarely address the challenges each of us face as we pass through difficult times to take to the skies again. This book offers no pat answers or easy solutions, just the battle-tested wisdom of a woman who lived her greatest nightmare and came through it more convinced of God's grace than ever before.

Genres: Christian, Biography, Nonfiction, Christian Living, Audiobook, Memoir, Autobiography

224 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2005

Reviews

[Esther · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very powerful book.
Well written and to the point
A must read for those of you
with everyday and huge problems
with life

[Michelle Voran · Rating 5 out of 5]

What beautiful, easy to read, simple words of hope for any heart, but especially for the one that is broken. Great book about responding to pain, loss, and crisis.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gracia writes a beautiful devotional from her experience of hardship and loss.

[Jrod · Rating 4 out of 5]

With laughter and tears, Gracia takes her readers to some of the things God taught her after she and her husband lived a year in the jungle as hostages of an Islamic terrorist group. "To Fly Again" is basically spiritual lessons Gracia learned from her jungle captivity ordeal. This is theology fleshed out.

Sadly, I observe three theological problems that are subtly implied in the book: (1) limitation of the justice of God, (2) sketchy view of forgiveness (related to the limitation of God’s justice), and (3) Keswick sanctification. These problems, however, are not explicitly stated and are only seen in a page or two.

Other than those problems, this book is encouraging, comforting, challenging, and definitely entertaining. This book is truly a blessing! I suggest reading "In the Presence of My Enemies" first before reading this one.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had not read Gracia's first book, In The Presence of My Enemies, but was familiar with her story from the news media when her tragedy occurred. I really enjoyed this book about her recovery and subsequent speaking and book ministry. Gracia and Martin endured a harrowing experience in the jungles of the Philippines, at the mercy of a Muslim extremist group. She has a testimony full of her learning experiences that are available for me today when facing a crisis. The emphasis is on focusing on each day with God at the helm, not questioning our tragedies, finding God in the small details of each day, and a marvelous example of complete trust in the God of our salvation. I highly recommend this book.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gracia Burnham is a wonderful example of how God can turn an awful circumstance into a positive witnessing experience. Gracia spent a year in captivity with her husband, being led through the jungle by Islamic terrorists and her husband was eventually killed in the rescue escape that saved Gracia from her captors. Instead of being bitter and angry, she leans on God to bring her to a new level of faith and hope for her future. She tells us how to rely on God to overcome the trials in our own lives.

This book is not one to hastily read through, but it is one that should be slowly digested, taking time to let the lessons sink in to our heart and soul.

[Luann Habecker · Rating 4 out of 5]

So much exhortation packed in such a short book! much dog-earring of pages occurred.



That being said,I strongly disagree with page 91 where it says, "I forgive you...and you need to forgive yourself."

No where do i find this supported in scripture. If i could forgive myself then what need would i have of Him and His sacrifice and forgiveness? We either accept His sacrifice or we do not. There is no more that I can add to what He did and that is FREEING! I can't forgive myself. That is the whole point!

I really think when people say ' i need to forgive myself' it is really 'i haven't accepted His forgiveness'

[Lou Hunley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gracia Burham's first book, In the Presence of My Enemies is an amazing story. She and her husband, Martin were missionaries in the Philippines. While on vacation at a resort, they were kidnapped and held captive by terrorists for over a year. Martin was killed by the Philippine Army in an attempted rescue. It is an amazing story.

I enjoyed this book. It contained additional spiritual insights. There wasn't much in it that I had not heard elsewhere.

[Georgia Herod · Rating 5 out of 5]

After having attended an event at which Gracia Burnham was speaking about her life since her captivity and the death of her husband Martin, I was eager to read this book. The author is honest about herself, her grief, her struggles, her joy and thanksgiving in life and her characteristic humor! What an encouragement to anyone who is going through or has gone through great trial and tragedy. God is faithful! Easy to read, with excellent application.

[Penni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gracia Burnham shares her journey through adversity, living through it with a focus on Christ and the joy He gives. She suffered tremendously that year she was held captive in the jungle,yet she has a wonderful, positive attitude and no bitterness in her heart. Few of us will ever have to deal with affliction of that severity, yet we all have difficult times. This book helps the reader to have a more realistic focus of the struggles we have in life. A must-read for all of us!

[Sherri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gracia Burnham has written a follow-up to her In the Presence of my Enemies in which she spent a year-long captivity and death of her husband to Phillipine terrorists.

This was an easy, quick read reminder of forgivenss, love, and moving on. I wasn't expecting a deep theological read, but rather an everyday woman who is trying to deal with what happened to her (and her husband) and how to go on with life.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Personal application stories from her "mom on the go" life back in the US after her year as a jungle hostage and the death of her husband. If you've heard Gracia speak, or read her first book you'll like this one. She's so real you can picture her on each page. Delightful in that way, moving and inspiring.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has been an encouragement to me this month. It didn't so much teach me new lessons as it repeatedly reminded me of the truth. Her experiences with being kidnapped gave me perspective and helped me to remain thankful. Her honest confessions reassured me that I'm not alone in my struggle to walk faithfully with God in dark times.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book a few years ago, but wanted to read through it again. Gracia B. is the missionary who was kept hostage with her husband for over a year in Phillipines. He was killed when they were rescued. Here she talks honestly about her struggles and lessons learned after she got back home.

[Bettie Rushlow · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so glad that Gracia did a follow up book to "In the Presence of My Enemies". Again, she is very open and honest about her feelings as to the captivity she and her husband went through and with dealing with his death.

[Arlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gracia Burnham and her husband (missionaries in the Philippians)had been kidnapped while on vacation. (In her book "In the presence of my enemies.)Her husband was killed as they were being rescued. This book is about learning to live when life has brought some difficult situations into your life.

[Gail Jicinsky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jeremiah 29:11

This was an honest and vivid first person account of enduring a horrible experience with love, grace, hopeful attitude and eyes on the Lord. There is a message for you in this story.

[Barbara Hawley · Rating 5 out of 5]

So well-written. Wonderful for anyone going through a trial. I almost liked it better than Gracia's first book, In The Presence of My Enemies. She's an amazing person.
I love the title. Perfect, knowing that Martin was a pilot.

[Judith Fleet · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is required reading for any who are going through a hard time and want to learn and grow as the path is unclear. I reread it recently as I had just lost a job I had been in for 26 years. It helped me gain perspective and God used it to speak comfort to my heart.

[Deanene · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book which helps one refocus their thoughts on the truths of scripture in the midst of difficulties.

[Cws]

92B

[Rick · Rating 2 out of 5]

Her first was terrific, this was OK.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A devotional style book talking about things Gracia experienced after returning to the States after the incidences that occurred in the book "In the Presence of My Enemies"

[Terri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love love love this book. She's honest in her emotions and I'm glad to read that I'm not the only one who has these thoughts. This is an encouraging book. I've read it several times.

[Melinda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Worth reading, especially after reading Gracia's book "In the Presence of My Enemies".

[Sara Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent follow up book to her first book "In the Presence of My Enemies". About truly making the conscience choice, act, to forgive ones enemies.

[Donna Arseneau Stuart · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok.....really couldn't get into it...really didn't finish it. After first couple chapters it was sort of repetative

[Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very inspirational. She's a strong woman.

[Nancy Dunham · Rating 5 out of 5]

a very good read