Book Reviews
The main purpose of this section is to share somewhat timely topics from books that can enhance and enrich your lives. We just keep trying to be a diverse and valuable resource; so that you feel good about asking your contacts to check out our website.
Purpose Driven Life, by Rick Warren
According to Publishers Weekly this was, “The best selling book in the world for both 2003 and 2004, and the best selling non-fiction hardback in history”.
The following is taken from/based on this Best Seller, published by Zondervan in 2002. It is one book that every maturing human being who is seeking to better understand and improve his/her life needs to have for ready reference, possibly a daily refresher.
The main question that the book addresses is taken from the cover: What on earth am I here for? A forty (40) days journey through reasonably short chapters with a lot of insight into life’s meaning and the issues faced in every day life and relationships.
| The five main sections of the book address the following major components |
>>> Purpose |
#1 You were planned for God’s pleasure. |
>>> Purpose |
#2 You were formed for God’s family. |
>>> Purpose |
#3 You were created to become like Christ. |
>>> Purpose |
#4 You were shaped for serving God. |
>>> Purpose |
#5 You were made for a mission. |
Every chapter has a:
• Point to ponder
• A verse (from The Bible) to remember
• Question to consider
Early in the book, the author quotes atheist philosopher Bertrand Russell: “Unless you assume a God, the question of life’s purpose is meaningless”
After covering all of the above in great depth, as Rick reaches the last section of the book he makes this really meaningful statement: “Your life is a pentathlon of five purposes, which you must keep in balance”. He states that “the pentathlete’s goal is to succeed in all five races, not just one or two”. Then he adds another very practical statement, “The best way to balance the five purposes in your life is to evaluate yourself periodically”.
Having studied the book, I have to agree with the author’s statement right at the start of the book, “Having this perspective will reduce your stress, simplify your decisions, increase your satisfaction, and, most important, prepare you for eternity”.
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