Gracia Burnham - To Fly Again: Surviving the Tailspins of Life

Gods Word tells us, Happy is the person who finds wisdom and gains understanding (Proverbs 3:13, NLT). To Fly Again is full of godly wisdom, provided by a woman who has been to the edge and back, who has stared death in the face, who has experienced tragic loss, and who has experienced the very worst and best of human nature. Gracia Burnham speaks with authority gained from her dramatic real-life experiences and from clear confirmations of Gods amazing grace.

VONETTE BRIGHT

Cofounder, Campus Crusade for Christ International

In To Fly Again, Gracia Burnham draws from a deep well of insight, understanding, and experience. Through her writing and by her life, she shows all of us who have had our hearts broken by sorrow and our wings clipped by disappointment and difficulty what it looks like to take flight toward a joyful future, full of faith, despite our losses.

NANCY GUTHRIE

Author, Holding On to Hope

To Fly Again is a down-to-earth analysis of some of lifes most haunting questions. It dispels the myth of the super-missionary, leaving the reader something better in returna confidence that any Christian, no matter how weak, can be victorious in the midst of great trials.

KEN HORN

Managing Editor, Todays Pentecostal Evangel

In To Fly Again, there are more practical lessons about living in the wake of unexplainable tragedy than in any book of our time. If youre facing personal heartbreak, youll think Gracia Burnham has been reading your diary.

DR. WOODROW KROLL

President and Bible teacher, Back to the Bible International

During their ordeal as hostages of the Abu Sayyaf, Martin and Gracia Burnham lived these words: Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. As you read this book, you too will be inspired to serve others, even during difficult times.

ROSS PEROT

Challenging! Like Christs parables, Gracias stories teach. With humor, suspense, utter frankness, and spiritual insight, Gracia faces her own foibles and failures. Scripture principles flow naturally without being preachy. Gracia provoked me to examine myself, acknowledge weaknesses, and appreciate Gods sovereign grace.

WENTWORTH PIKE

Missionary emeritus, Action International Ministries

Gracia Burnham has lived life and suffered much. She models how to respond to our circumstances and illustrates how our faith results in growth. Gracia is no theoreticianshe has weathered the storms and traveled down dark valleys. It is a person like her who can instruct us with integrity, grace, and humility. This book is a must read for anyone who is in the midst of the refiners fire.

DENNIS RAINEY

President, FamilyLife

Gracia Burnham offers no pat answers to the problem of pain, just incredible insights into the heart of a God who never turns a deaf ear to our cries for help and never wastes our experiences. No matter your situation, you will find renewed hope in To Fly Again.

DR. ROBERT H. SCHULLER

Founder, Crystal Cathedral

Gracia Burnham demonstrates with her life and witness that hope is not a desire for a positive outcome. Hope is not an emotion that causes us to feel upbeat. Even before the tragedy of being held hostage by Muslim terrorists and witnessing the death of her husband, Gracia did not hope that life on earth would be perfect. For Gracia, Hope is a personJesus Christ. Those of us who have had the honor of spending a little time with her have been touched by the strength of her characterHis character.

TOM WHITE

Director, The Voice of the Martyrs

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To Fly Again: Surviving the Tailspins of Life

Copyright 2006 by Gracia Burnham. All rights reserved.

Cover photograph by Keith Brofsky/Getty Images. All rights reserved.

Author photo of Gracia Burnham 2004 by Classic Impressions/Michael Edgington, Wichita, Kansas.

Author photo of Dean Merrill copyright 2002 by Joel Metzler. All rights reserved.

Designed by Beth Sparkman

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version,NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com.

Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. NKJV is a trademark of Thomas Nelson, Inc.

Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the Holy Bible, King James Version.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Burnham, Gracia.

To fly again : surviving the tailspins of life / Gracia Burnham, with Dean Merrill.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN 978-1-4143-0123-5 (hc) ISBN 978-1-4143-0125-9 (sc)

1. Consolation. 2. Burnham, Gracia. I. Merrill, Dean. II. Title.

BV4905.3.B87 2005

248.8'6dc22 2004020161

Build: 2017-03-03 13:40:19

The apostle Paul, AD 55:

I think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and completely overwhelmed, and we thought we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we learned not to rely on ourselves, but on God who can raise the dead. And he did deliver us from mortal danger. And we are confident that he will continue to deliver us. He will rescue us because you are helping by praying for us. As a result, many will give thanks to God because so many peoples prayers for our safety have been answered.

2 CORINTHIANS 1:8-11