He is the last person to touch them before they die. His face is the last they see before they are executed. He stands there with one last goal: to get them to heaven. 276 TIMES CHAPLAIN Jim Brazzil has sat in death's waiting room. He has listened to confessions in the eleventh hour. The last moment of the condemned is when everything bubbles up to the surface, and they have to share. Now Jim is the one dying, ready for his last confession. THE AWARD-WINNING Swedish journalist Carina Bergfeldt and ...
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He is the last person to touch them before they die. His face is the last they see before they are executed. He stands there with one last goal: to get them to heaven. 276 TIMES CHAPLAIN Jim Brazzil has sat in death's waiting room. He has listened to confessions in the eleventh hour. The last moment of the condemned is when everything bubbles up to the surface, and they have to share. Now Jim is the one dying, ready for his last confession. THE AWARD-WINNING Swedish journalist Carina Bergfeldt and the American prison pastor start a conversation that ends up changing both their lives. He is older, patient, and wise. She is young, restless, and angry. IN HIS HOUSE in the Texan countryside, their discussions about death and sorrow, hope, atonement, and love create a magical journey. How are we supposed to live our lives? Can one always be forgiving? And what day is actually a good day to die?
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Fine. Sewn binding. Cloth over boards. 302 p. In Stock. 100% Money Back Guarantee. Brand New, Perfect Condition, allow 4-14 business days for standard shipping. To Alaska, Hawaii, U.S. protectorate, P.O. box, and APO/FPO addresses allow 4-28 business days for Standard shipping. No expedited shipping. All orders placed with expedited shipping will be cancelled. Over 3, 000, 000 happy customers.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Fine. Sewn binding. Cloth over boards. 302 p. In Stock. 100% Money Back Guarantee. Brand New, Perfect Condition, allow 4-14 business days for standard shipping. To Alaska, Hawaii, U.S. protectorate, P.O. box, and APO/FPO addresses allow 4-28 business days for Standard shipping. No expedited shipping. All orders placed with expedited shipping will be cancelled. Over 3, 000, 000 happy customers.
ââ?¬Å"A Good Day to Die: What 276 Executions Taught a Death Row Chaplain About Lifeââ?¬Â? by Carina Bergfeldt is an excellent book that I really enjoyed, and I would recommend it highly. This is a book that tells the truth and really makes the reader delve into their own mind and feelings as they turn the pages.
ââ?¬Å"A Good Day to Dieââ?¬Â? is the story of Pastor Jim Brazzil, told through numerous interviews with the author at the end of his career. While the book encompasses all of Jimââ?¬â?¢s life, it spends most of its focus on his time as the spiritual advisor for prisoners on death row in Texas. At the time of the writing of the book, Jim is now the one dying from cancer and wants to tell his story before that happens.
Jim Brazzil had many jobs and a life that was not always an easy one. Yet the most fulfilling part of his career was being on death row and being the guide to those prisoners who were about to die. His goal, as told through his own words, was to connect with each of these men and women at the end and attempt to counsel them, helping them pass from this world into Heaven. Pastor Brazzil sat in the cell right next to death row and counseled 276 different prisoners in their final hours.
While reading the book we also learn about Jim�s life before and after his job on death row. This is a man who suffered through much in his own life dealing with multiple jobs, many of which he did not enjoy, to support his family while also attempting to pursue his own goal to devote his life to God by being a pastor. As the reader is given glimpses into his career on death row, we can see that, with this job Jim found his true calling and a job that was not only a huge challenge but one that was very fulfilling for him as he shared his faith and offered help and forgiveness to many. There are many different stories in the book about his time with the prisoners as well as their families and the families of the victims. Each one is inspiring and captivating.
Carina Bergfeldt has written a book that is very personal, not only to her but to Jim Brazzil and, I am guessing, to many readers as well. Not only did the author and her subject become close throughout the process of these extensive interviews but the bond developed between them aided the author in dealing with some of her own demons in her life. The stories in the book are written very well, bringing out the emotional difficulties that Pastor Jim went through. Additionally, they show the different perspectives he dealt with in terms of helping those who were about to die while still understanding the need of support for the victims� families.
The best part of the story, at least for me, was that it could easily have become a political issue that took sides in terms of the death penalty, and it never once did that. The author always stuck to the focus of the story which was Jim�s relationship with God and with the souls that he was trying to help.
ââ?¬Å"A Good Day to Dieââ?¬Â? by Carina Bergfeldt is an exceptional book that I would recommend to everyone. It is extremely well-written, and it makes for a very powerful experience regardless of which side of the road you may stand on in terms of the death penalty or the penal system in general. I think everyone could learn some lessons about life, both their own and the horrible ones that others sometimes must live, by reading this book.