New Years Resolution: who is John Bunyan and why is his book Pilgrim's Progress is crucial for Christians and nonbelievers alike?

 

Hey Gather, I just wanted to share briefly about some of my new years resolutions as well as who John Bunyan is and about his book Pilgrim's Progress as how crucial it is to everyone to read.  Also "Stranger On The Road To Emmaus" by John R. Cross is another great book to help people understand the bible in a clear and logical way, also it clears up many misunderstandings about it.

       Before I start, I want to say that everyone on gather is to be shown RESPECT for whatever they believe, because only God can judge the heart, however as a christian, I must speak the truth in love, no matter what the costs of doing that may be. 

       I will also add that truly everyone hearts Adam Where Are you? in both looking at creation and reading any book known to man, there are hints of God through his invisible attributes, that physics is just starting to realize, however they quickly say it is just coicidence.  Also they try to point to the ludicrous idea of nothing exploded, scientifically called "the Big Bang" to which not only is there no evidence to support such a theory, but in fact there is a mountain of evidence, that many respected Creation Scientists believe, and Evolutionist themselves are starting to see as well.

Ultimately any logical person who is seeking truth will come to the conclusion that there is a higher power of authority, God is God and I am not. 

     My new years resolutions are to try to follow the guidelines set by scripture and put into short rules by Billy Graham, along with living a life as a Christian is suppose to.  Pilgrim's Progress shows us what to do and what not to do, in a great allegory about the crucial issues of the bible and the Christian life.  Now for a bit about John Bunyan and a brief overview of Pilgrim's Progress:

     John Bunyan wrote Pilgrim's Progress as well as many other books about the bible.  He was a very influential man who had a great impact in history.  So much so that Abraham Lincoln said his favorite book was the bible second was Pilgrim's Progress. 

    I hope that you all will check out this powerful book that John Bunyan wrote as he was dreaming in a jail cell from being persecuted by the church.  He broke the law and preached the gospel and for that he was thrown in jail.  This allegory of Pilgrim's Progress has been a great influence in my life, and I hope that it will do the same in your life. 

    We all have burdens that we think can't be removed.  We all do things we wish we didn't.  We all stray from the path of righteousness as Pilgrim did.  We all go through an intense moment of doubt and despair like Christian did in the castle of doubt and despair lead and persecuted by Giant Despair.  However, we can all conquer and overcome these burdens and problems in our lives by reading and understanding the bible and Pilgrim's Progress.  Together they are the pillars of a Christian life, held up by God himself.

   

      Now for a brief summary of Pilgrim's Progress to just wet your appetite.  Well anyway the story begins with Pilgrim reading the little black book (bible) and seeing he has an enormous burden that is heavy and weighs him down.  He wants to remove this burden, to which no one else can see it other than Pilgrim himself.  Note some texts say Christian, but this is incorrect, because he did not receive that name till he was removed of his burden. 

   

      So anyway, he goes in search of a way to remove this burden and along the way he comes across a man named Evangelist who points him to the wicked gate.  This gate is the narrow path described in scripture.  Pilgrim decides to go and along the way he is met by two of his neighbors to their names, you will need to read the book.  One is Obstinate and the other was Pliable, I believe, but anyway Obstinate refuses to go along. 

     

       Pliable however wants to go along, because he likes the description of the celestial city.  However, he does not have a burden, nor does he wish to remove his sin.  So they are walking along talking when they both fall into the swamp or pit of despond, it is a marshy watery pit where many Pilgrims fall as they are walking to the wicked gate... 

      

       Pliable mocks Pilgrim saying, Is this what you told me about (something or the other).  He then proceeds back to the town of destruction.  Leaving Pilgrim to fend for himself.  Pilgrim can't move, because of his heavy burden.  So he cries out for Help, and out of no where like lighting came a man named: HELP.  The man tells Pilgrim don't you see the steps?  He said sir I could not reach them due to my heavy burden.  So he (HELP) helps him out and points him to the wicked gate, so Pilgrim proceeds. 

 

        Anyway, he is going along when he meets a man known as Worldly Wise man who points him in another direction saying Evangelist is a dangerous man who has deceived him.  He tells him to go to a friend of his by the name of Legalism, I believe, who has helped many men off with their burdens by way of the law.  He comes to Mt. Sinai and is terrified because the mountain looks as if it would fall on him.....

 

       All at once Evangelist shows up and rebukes Pilgrim for following Worldly Wiseman and questions him, then he sends him off to the wicked gate, oh and the mountain speaks a word of wisdom to him.  So Pilgrim goes to the wicked gate and knocks (verse is quoted about anyone who knocks shall receive and such) then he is jerked inside and you hear an arrow pierce the door and Pilgrim is terrified.  Basically the owner of the gate saved his life....

 

       Then he proceeds to talk with Pilgrim then sends him off to the Interpreter, and I won't even try to explain all that he tells Pilgrim, too long and too detailed (read for yourself).  So now that is enough for now, much more happens, but this summary is long enough, at least to get those who like to read interested in the book.  Well anyway, as you can see it is a very interesting book, oh and I forgot to mention that John Bunyan interjects into the story every so often with and in my dream.... as well as explaining difficult things to the reader. 

 

        The whole allegory is so fascinating to me.  That is why I purchased the original work with the depictions and illustrations by John Bunyan himself along with his dying words and other great sayings.  If you wish to purchase this as well then go here: Buy Pilgrim's Progress Collector edition

        Well anyway, more to come once I read the original work, because I don't trust the online ones that well, even though they are fairly accurate.  I truly wish they would get it more correct, since Pilgrim doesn't change his name till the angels speak to him saying you shall no longer be called Pilgrim but Christian, so therefore there is a change. 

        They also give him some things that vary from each text for some reason.  Well anyway, I will try to get a site that is helpful because this book is so widely published all over the internet even for your ipod.  The ipod has some flaws though, like the name Christian is used in the start for some reason and the reading is a bit more difficult then I would like, but overall the free quality is nice.  So if you would like that then it is here: Ipod version

        The main purpose of this article is to show everyone what the true meaning and life of a Christian should be and is.  For those of you on gather who keep saying a Christian should always be happy and prosperous, well please read this book and see the actual truth.  I won't even try to say what needs to be said, because John Bunyan has said it much better with his Life and this book.  So without further ordue here is the online book version: Pilgrim's Progress online.

I think I may just post up all the links I have to it:

Also I think it is very accurate to say as MSNBC.com said Billy Graham: Pilgrim's Progress

I like the authenticity of this site: Accacia John Bunyan-Online Library

This site is good, however it is missing the 2nd part: bibliomania Free Online Literature

I have not checked this site out much; it has both parts and a good overview: bartleby.com

Here is an audio file site for those of you who like to listen to books: Audio Pilgrim's Progress

I like this site due to the variety of the book, it has many different forms: Variety

-it is the same site as the above, just at the variety part, where there are many text formats.

Here is a good audio for summary in case you want to buy the audio CD of Pilgrim's Progress

This is a nice site, love the name Project Gutenberg how many know who Gutenberg was?

Here are some illustrations in case you wanted to see: Pilgrim's Progress Illustrations.

 

I will let you know if I find an online movie or some sort, for those of you who like images and movies, which I am one of them.  So if you know a site please let me know, thanks.

NWJ Keep UP the good work and God bless (+=-)

As always, let me know if there are any problems or misunderstandings, and I will do everything that is possible to fix these and correct any misunderstandings that there may be.  Thank you all, and I want to wish you all a very HAPPY NEW YEAR ^_^.