There's a book out

Denys Peek has a book out, "One fourteenth of an elephant" I have just read it and have come to the conclusion that everybody else should read it too!
At the start of the Second World war, Denys Peek was living as a civilian in Singapore, with his brother Ron and his parents. Like most other able bodied expatriates, he signed up as a volunteer to help in Singapore's defense. When Singapore fell, in February 1942, Denys and his brother became prisoners of war, interred with tens of thousands of other British, Australian and Commonwealth men.

Transported to Siam, Denys spent the next three years living in Japanese run labor camps, forced to work on the building of the Burma-Thailand Railway.

In appalling conditions these men fought to keep both bodies and spirits alive, whilst enduring harsh and unreasonable work expectations, limited food rations, no sanitation, and the dismal prospect of never seeing their families or their countries again.

Over 20,000 men died in the construction of the railway. Many times during his three year ordeal Peek faced the prospect of joining their ranks. Miraculously, he survived, spurred on by a stubborn refusal to die, the bond he shared with his brother and his mates, and, at times, by psychic happenings that defied explanation.

In One Fourteenth of an Elephant, Peek shares his story with an intimacy and openness that stirs deep feelings in the heart of the reader. Writing in present tense, he recounts events as they happened, taking the reader with him on his daily quest for survival.

This is a book which reveals horrific suffering, events and brutality that almost defy belief - yet it is not a depressing story. Peek's own survival and the courage and humanity showed by his fellow prisoners are an incredible demonstration of just how people can triumph over the strongest adversity.

GOD HAS A BOOK OUT ALSO


I have been reading and re reading it on and off for over 60 years and long ago came to the conclusion that it is the greatest of all books. In fact it is really sixty six books mostly written by or about ordinary people often in extraordinary situations.
It amazes me just how God did it; He let the writers personalities come through and some of there opinions, some of it is poetry (not my sort of poetry), some songs, some eye witness accounts, some history, some even prophetic and of course the words and actions of Jesus Christ, the Messiah are recorded, some by eye witnesses.

John, one of Jesus' disciples, writing as an older man pens these words in conclusion,
"And there also are many other things that Jesus did, which, if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. John says in another place, just a chapter before these words,
"And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.

Thinking again of Denys Peek and his companions terrible deprivation and suffering, I was saddened to read about how, the God of the bible was irrelevant to him in those desperate days.
I can understand the difficulty he would feel about forgiving and unrepentant enemy, and as I understand it even God's foregiveness to guilty sinners depends on their repentance.
In my mind there are few people who could really understand what these POW's went through on the Burma Railway, I myself would have little idea.
I do believe though that one who could understand better that any other would be the suffering Christ of the bible. He went to the place of blood and spit, he suffered unjustly and was treated cruelly and shamefully.
I think that people that find themselves in Denys Peek's shoes, when it comes to understanding, forgiveness etc, could let Jesus Christ do for them the things they are unable to do for themselves.
God bless you Denys, and the thousands and thousands who are suffering all around the world even as I write, especially in the so called third world.
The battle is not over yet, it is hotting up though, and the only book I have ever read that has the answer to these things is found in God's book that he has out, and in His Son.
"Maranatha"
"Even So, Come Lord Jesus"