A life of service to all
587908
5.0 out of 5 stars
A life of service to all By  Ursula Smilde-Hiatt  on 14 Jun. 2016
Format: Paperback
This is a book for everyone, of every denomination, since it covers the profound transition that one man made from the Jewish tradition in family life, to that of Christ's message - as initially imparted to him by black people in South Africa - to a life lived in service to all who required both medical aid as well as succour and inspiration from the pains that the world can offer. It incorporates vivid descriptions of the suffering and depression his many life experiences drew forth from him, and yet - more than anything - conveys how love and compassion evolved from those depths into mercy for all, of whatever background, race or creed. Few could remain untouched by the message of Martin Israel, and Philip Pegler's ability to convey this confirms how he, too, was profoundly influenced by this saint of a man. A beautiful book, beautifully-written and by one who - virtually all his life - has explored and imbibed the wisdoms of the world.
3604843
A beautiful tribute to a Special Grant. His gentleness, innocence and joy of life are why all who know him, love him .
His parents included him in all aspects of life. This is why Grant is the person he is today. Their guidance and faith is an example of life well lived. This book is s valuable tool for many parents and others raising special children .
260109
My husband served 8 years in the Air Force  He is so touched by the people who thank him for his service.  Thank you!
1839144
This book provides an interesting view of life that could be useful to many people.
1264824
Mr Sugich has done us all a great service by sharing the stories of these great scholars and saints. Thank you Mr. Sugich.
3166873
A great tale of living life by doing good to others.
Something we can all learn from on a daily basis!
776966
This book is an account of the life of Henrietta Shuck, first American femal missionary to China. It shares her early life growing up in Virginia, and her journeys through Macao and Hong Kong. Her short life accomplished great things in the service of Christ, and is worth reading about. Most of the info in the book is gained from letters that Henrietta wrote to the board and family members. It's a rather quick read.
3700195
I was blessed to have known Jim. I found the book to be very encouraging and honest. Jim was a one of a kind human. He lived life to the fullest and never let his blindness slow him down.
1789370
Captain Chesley Sullenberger thinks himself an average citizen just 'doing his job.' He couldn't be more wrong. In an age when most folks do just enough to 'get by' Sullenberger's personal standards of excellence set the bar for the rest of us--and resulted in saving 150+ lives on that fateful January day.

It was not surprising to learn of the people who touched his young life and instilled in him a quest for perfection. His years at the Air Force Academy honed his talent, but his personal desire to be the best put him in a class by himself.

Most of us would like to think that when we put ourselves in the hands of an airline crew that we are being taken care of by the likes of a Captain Sullenberger. And while I'm certain there are many excellent pilots flying today, I'm also certain that he is one of an elete few who cut no corners, take no chances and always remember the lives for which they are responsible daily.

Since this story broke I have been in awe of his humility. The comments he made after the incident on the Hudson were brief and humble. He never neglected to point out the team effort and took no credit for his own skill and experience. If ever there were a real American hero--here he is. His picture should be posted next to the word 'hero' in the dictionary.

This book helped me understand the whole man and beautifully illustrated that what happened on that fateful day was the culmination of a life well lived combined with extraordinary preparedness and depth of knowledge. Perhaps no other pilot had the combination of skill and experience to do the impossible. But that's what he did--winning him the respect of many of his own aviation idols.

If more folks took true pride in their performace--no matter their profession--imagine how great America could be again. I hope the days of our nation desiring to be great are not over. People like Chesley Sullenberger renew my faith that we can be a great country again, filled with people who excel and who care about their personal code of honor and about others. His story humbles us all.
1726116
Bob Childress was destined to be a criminal and die an early death as too many boys and young men did in his region of Southwest Virginia in the early 1900's.  However, he was able to turn his life around and, in doing so, helped turn around the lives of many.  Through his preaching and good deeds, he was able to convince countless others that there was a better way to live their lives.  As many in that area lived in poverty, he had churches, schools, and roads built and spent a lot of his time journeying to preach to different congregations and giving rides to people in need.  When I got to the page that mentioned his death, I indeed cried.  He had lived an extremely meaningful life, and I wanted to continue reading about more of his accomplishments.  I'm surprised that the Rev. Bob Childress has not had a town, county, or school named after him.  He was that great of a person.  This was a book, in my opinion, that started out slowly, but later I hoped wouldn't end.
4970540
Inspiring and daunting all at the same time.
3830353
While the book is a series of vignettes, it is the chronicle  of the life of a man who dedicated his life to doing good and the right thing.  Doing the right thing is far more complex than one would imagine. Existing within a system and treating everyone as they should be treated while maintaining ones sanity is a truly incredible feat. Adding a bit of gallows humor while juggling all of this is a bonus.
1193916
I am so inspired by Ron Kaufman and his mission to impact the service culture in the world.  One of the things I am left with after reading Uplifting Service is that everyone is a customer.  Everybody in my life, my community and the world at large.  Imagine a world where all people were thinking about how to be of service to others all the time.  The book also makes me want to visit Singapore and experience the airports incredible customer service!  Thanks Ron for the difference you make in the world.
4927122
"Duty, then, is the sublimest word in the English language.  You should do your duty in all things.  You can never do more, you should never wish to do less."  attributed to Robert E. Lee.
Robert Gates is the epitome of the selfless public servant, and this account of his time as Secretary of Defense underscores his patriotism and love of the servicemen and women under his command.  I found his depiction of the major figures in government during his tenure to be accurate and even-handed.  Even his frank assessment of folks like Vice President Joe Biden was done without malice.  I question whether or not those who have excoriated Gates for writing this memoir have actually read the book.
He paints an accurate picture of the budgetary challenges facing the Department of Defense due to partisan politics in Congress and the practice of defense contractors of placing manufacturing sites in as many districts as possible.  The result is that acquisition decisions often do not reflect the needs of the services.
Having served our country for 30 years as a field artilleryman with 13 years overseas, including a combat tour in Vietnam, I was touched on several levels by his portrayals of meeting with service members, especially wounded warriors and their families.
My only criticism is that a timeline of major events in an appendix would have been helpful.  Because of the way he jumped from one topic to another, I sometimes became a bit confused where events fit into his tenure.
Overall, I found his honest candor to be refreshing, and I unreservedly recommend this book.  The only individuals who might be offended by this insightful book are those highly partisan folks whose minds were already made up before opening it.
387996
Just as the man, the presentation is understated and matter-of-fact. Uncle Buddy relates stories from his childhood and his days on the mission field that leave you in laughter and tears. In each circumstance, he points to God's provision and care. A refreshing testimony of God's faithfulness over a lifetime of service. Well worth the price, it's a book I'll be glad to pass on to my children as an inspiration and a reminder of why we are here.
365499
This book is not just a treasure for his grandson; it's a treasure for all Americans to gain a greater appreciation of the service and sacrifice of those who have defended our nation through the first hand account of one who flew combat missions in Vietnam, carried out spy missions against the Russians during the Cold War, and advised ambassadors.  It's also a story of a life radically changed and years of service to a Higher Calling that has impacted lives for eternity.  Everyone who reads this enjoyable book will be inspired to live life with purpose, as well.
1699254
A very good, interesting read.  It offers hope for those who are still searching for their place in the world and reaffirms that you're never too old to "find yourself", get married and live an interesting productive life.  What a wonderful life she had... Bravo