Free Rein One day in late fall, snow fell and caught me unprepared for winter. Hoping to save a little time, I took a different way home, one with which I was not too familiar, yet I anticipated no problem. Old Dobbin obligingly trotted on, but I was not far until I began to have […]
Continue Reading Brad Igou on Amish Voices: A Collection of Amish Writings (Book Giveaway)
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Our Amish Values
What an interesting looking book. Would love to win a copy of Amish Voices. I enjoyed reading the column today.
What articles in the past did you find as the most uplifting??
John, Brad passed this comment along:
As I mentioned, the story of the selection of a minister was what prompted me to begin the book. This and what I call “Amish Parables,” stories of everyday life that take on a broader, spiritual meaning. The last chapter in my original book is titled “Amish Parables” Lessons from Life,” and that is where I collected my favorite stories.
This sounds great!
I absolutely love the Amish and visit Lancaster/Bird in Hand yearly as it’s only 2 hours from our house. I told my husband when we married 20 years ago, it is not an option, we MUST visit yearly. Which we have made several Mennonite friends on one occasion, so now we have even more of a reason. I’ve learned a lot from them about their Amish neighbors and enjoy visiting their church where we have to sit men on one side women on the other. I’m always bringing home homemade shoefly pies, cinnamon buns and fresh produce. I really miss Hayloft Candles and their petting zoo. But that has caused us to venture out and find new places we love off the beaten path.
I really look forward to reading this book win or lose it will be on my April birthday wish list.
Enter for contest
I love all things Amish . We have a new Amish community one mile from us now and I’m always so favinated about everything Amish. I would so love to have your book to read and share with family .
Our God
Our God will bring His children safely Home. Thanks for putting the book together.
Amish Voices
This book sounds really interesting and I’d love to read it!
Need this positivity!
Would love to read this book! Needing anything that can lift us up during these times!
Interesting
What an undertaking to compile this book! So much interesting information to read. Would love to win a copy! Always enjoy your articles.
Thanks Beverly!
Horse Travel Safety
How this story evokes memories of my older brother in his “rumspringa” years. On Saturday and Sunday nights when he courted his girlfriend, he would sleep all the way home, in his buggy, while the horse trotted all the way home. The horse stopped at two major State Road intersections, crossed when the highway was clear, and always brought him home safely. That is, until one night, my brother woke up and discovered his horse had stopped at the barn of a perfect stranger!
Great story Esther. I guess it’s better that he messed up on the final destination part and not on the crossing the state highway part!:) I know that sleeping while the horse gets you home is done…I like it even though it sounds kinda risky – I guess you have to know if you can trust your horse . On late night empty rural Midwestern roads I can see it. I wouldn’t be as serene falling asleep in parts of Lancaster County, on the other hand.
I just wondered does this version “Amish Voices” have the same articles as “Amish In Their Own Words”? Are they completely different books? I have one title already. Thanks
Christy this is from Brad:
The book is indeed a condensed version of THE AMISH IN THEIR OWN WORDS. There is no new material. The publisher thought a shorter more readable book might be worthwhile.
A life admired
I have followed the amish America website and read books on the amish for years. Got started many years ago due to my quilting. Would love another book to read.
Glad you’ve been keeping up with the site that long Glenda! One thing I really like about these kinds of posts is getting to hear from people who read but don’t comment all the time. And I can understand that, because there are many sites I read but never or just rarely comment on.
Book Giveaway
i guess alot of us stereo-type the Amish. Would love to read this book and maybe it would change my mind about them.
Amish Voices - Book Giveaway
Love the story Free Rein!
Wish that would work with my car!
Inspiring
Seems that it could be a devotional source as well. Very uplifting
Story
Thank you
So often we hear about the Amish from the perspective of the “English”. It’s great that you are providing a platform for the Amish voices to be heard.
Eli's horse
Well my friend Eli told about falling asleep holding the reins on the way home from my English Nephew’s house near Edon, Ohio. They had shared a beverage or two and, yes, Amish folk will enjoy an adult beverage now and again. When Eli woke, he found himself in his driveway at home. Eli’s trusty old horse knew the way and took care of him. Eli moved to Illinois recently where he had a collision with a motor vehicle destroying the buggy and injuring Eli. I’m ashamed to admit I didn’t think to ask if that good old horse survived, but I will ask when I get a chance. Eli recovered and I hope the dear old horse is still with him learning the new neighborhood.
Amish Voices
It sounds like a wonderful and interesting book. I have been fascinated by the Amish since the early 1980’s. I have been to the Lancaster area many times and I consider it my favorite place on earth! I live in upstate NY and we now have many Amish communities in our area. It would be a privilege and honor to win Amish Voices. Have a lovely day.
Collection of Amish Writings (Book Giveaway)
I so enjoyed the excerpt today!! It really resonated with me and was so in tune to the faith I, too, enjoy. The way it was presented was right on time! Thank you so much!
Even horse know the way home better than humans.
Great Post
Thank you as always for sharing. I love reading Amish America
I’d love to win this book! It looks wonderful!
Glad to hear it Lisa, I know we’ve had a lot of gloomy-topic articles lately given the current situation, so I thought this would be a nice way to close the week. I really enjoyed Brad’s answers.
Free Rein
In this writing I felt warmth, depth and contentment. From your first few sentences I was captivated! Something I would read often to give me the encouragement to let go and let God take the reins of my life.
One thing I like in these excerpts and Family Life articles in general is that the writers often remain anonymous. I like how this one was simply signed: “–A Teacher”.
Book giveaway of Amish Voices
I have Pennsylvania Dutch in my background on my mom’s side although I don’t have any more information than that. I have always been interested in the Amish culture. I collect Amish cookbooks and my favorite one is recipes that was gathered by an acquaintance’s grandfather while he was recovering from an accident. It is illustrated with his personal drawings and many sayings of Amish Life. I would love to get a copy of Amish Voices.
Wonderful Book
This sounds like a wonderful book. I’d like to use it as a daily devotional. I was especially touched by this statement: “Rarely are religion and way of life tied together as they are in Amish culture.”
Family Life
We subscribed to Family Life a good many years ago – but I failed to save those issues. It would be a great blessing to have this book with those articles in it.
Variety in Amish Thoughts and Feelings
I think I need to subscribe to Family Life if it is continuing on after your retirement. I have close friends in a very conservative community 90 miles away, and acquaintances in an Amish community close by, which is much more “progressive” in their adoption of technology. The consistency in their emphasis on faith, family, hard work, and honorable business practices extends through both communities. We come at things very differently, but are able to appreciate and enjoy each other. It will be a treat to read your book, no matter how I acquire it!
people
As many know, the Amish are wonderful people. We have an Amish Market not far from where I live in Maryland and I am constantly feeling very welcome when I visit to shop there. they are very polite, yet always I have seen them chatting with “English” customers as if they know them well.
The big thing is to remember that we are all people and it takes many of us to make up a community. I am very happy to have the opportunity to visit and get to know our Amish neighbors.
Lisa just curious, which market is that? I wonder if I’ve been there.
I love The Amish
I love the Amish people! They are always so kind. I would love this book!
I enjoy reading this daily article
I have visited our Tennessee Amish settlement many times. I am very interested in Amish life. I would love a copy of Amish Voices.
Life
I am from Northern Indiana, an Englisher. The book is a slice of home.
Amish Voices
Looking forward to this book. I am also one who visits the Lancaster area very frequently and can’t get enough reading about the Amish. They are remarkable people surviving in our ever changing world. Away from the commercialized stuff, a visit to their surroundings always brings a joyful peaceful feeing.
Abner Beiler
Brad, I’m not sure if you remember me but my husband and I met you several times at Abner’s home. I met him when we both worked at Zimmerman’s and he was the one who encouraged me to teach in one of their schools. Abner and Katie were so welcoming to us. After Katie died, we visited more often. I have so many Abner stories and memories.
I am looking forward to reading your book.
Barbara, Brad passed this along, he remembers you:
I do remember the name Barbara Libengood. Abner often received visitors when I was at his house working on the book.
Abner had many friends and was always a joy to talk to. When I finished reading magazines for the night, we often sat on the porch in the summer and watched the fireflies in the cornfield and what Abner called “Amish movies,” as the cars driving around the bend at night cast shadows moving across the front of the house. I have many more fond memories, as do others who knew Abner.
Amish Voices
I would love to receive the book! I got started reading/listening to fiction with Amish characters when I was searching for Christian audiobooks about quilting. I have been hooked ever since. How nice it would be to read stories from Amish authors.
I would love to win a book. Love reading about the Amish. It would be great to read something that the Amish has written.
Glimpses into another lifestyle
As a young child, I had the opportunity to visit some of the Amish communities in PA. My best recollections are of the home-style restaurants, penny candies and the wonderful horse and buggies which traveled the roads. I also enjoyed the colorful Hex Signs I would see everywhere. I don’t know if they are still prevalent?
I will appreciate a copy of Brad Igou’s book if my name is drawn. Here in NM we do not have as large a community of Amish but are fortunate to be around the Pueblos and Navajo cultures.
Thank you.
Kathy the hex signs are more a “Pennsylvania Dutch” thing which is a larger cultural-historical group Amish belong to, but you don’t really see them on Amish places. However you will see them here and there in Lancaster County, but usually connected with tourist businesses. It’s funny you mention it because I’m just about to put up a new post today about a community where I saw hex signs everywhere on barns – but mainly “English” barns.
Worthwhile Reading
Even after living in Lancaster County for a few years, I still don’t know the Amish like I want to. Thank you for writing this book, Brad; I believe it will give insights into daily life that we would not get otherwise. Looking forward to reading it.
We have many Amish and Mennonite near us. It would be wonderful to have a copy of this book to read. Their lifestyle seems so much closer to God than my churchgoing friends.
Horse Sense
I don’t wish to take anything away from this story and the spiritual teaching that goes with it. I have heard similar stories. My uncle-by-marriage came to date his wife to be when she was working at my parents home. Many years later he told me when he would leave after his date he would give his horse free rein, fall asleep in his buggy, and wake up when his horse stopped at the closed gate by his barnyard.
Have Amish been way ahead of the curve here for years and we didn’t realize it? “Driverless vehicles” for the English are still just at testing/niche phase after all:)
Amish Voices
My friends and I usually visit the Lancaster area at least 2-3 times a year to shop at the Amish and antique shops. We haven’t visited in several months because of health issues, but can’t wait to visit soon. I read Amish America regularly, love the articles and have learned a lot about the Amish way of life which I share with my friends. On our last trip they identified Amish & Mennonite buggies after I told them about the different colors. My friends and I appreciate their craftsmanship and have purchased furniture and quilts as well as many smaller items for our homes.
I think I would enjoy reading Amish Voices.
Thanks Charlene! I don’t get tired of visiting Lancaster County either. Hopefully that will be more possible to do soon:)
Amish Voices
I would love to have a copy of this book. I live in Nevada and I’m not aware of any Amish in my immediate area, but I was always fascinated by the Order Dunkard community that was near my grandparent’s house in Indiana.
Interesting book
i have had an interest in the Amish for several years and enjoy reading Amish America. This book has writings by the Amish themselves and not someone outside of the Amish writing their opinion.
Sounds like a "must read..."
I’m currently working my way through a pile of Amish-related books and it sounds like this should be in it. So many writers seem to write about the Amish without truly working at understanding them. Letting the Amish “speak for themselves” reflects a desire to know and understand and I look forward to learning that first hand. I think it’s also important to not just focus on the “alikeness” of the Amish but to appreciate their diversity.
Book Giveaway
Thank you for the opportunity to win this book. I’ll purchase if I don’t win. I know whomever receives it will enjoy it, judging by the comments. Thanks for this interesting site, Erik.
Thanks, Ler!
Life in Holmes County
My husband and I have been blessed to live and work in Holmes County for 12 years where, it is claimed the largest population of Amish in the world live. And yet there is so much we do not know or understand about these faith-filled people. We would love a copy.
Amish in general
I would love to live and spend a week with them
great read !
I would surely love to read this book ! Sounds like a great one to read !
Nice Article
I love learning about the Amish. I’m not much of a reader. But this book would interest me and I’d read it.
Would love to win a copy of this book.
Enjoyed The Article
While vsiting the Shipshewana area a couple of times I’ve found the Amish to be calm and sensible folks and that’s very inspiring in today’s world. We certainly can use more of those traits.
I enjoyed the article very much and would like to read the rest of the book.
Giveaway
I would looooove this book! We could all use some Amish Godly wisdom about now!
I would love to read this!
I would love to be chosen to win!!