The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren (2002)

The following is my comment on Sean s (snpmurray )book review in Sept.22, 2003 of this book The Purpose Driven Life-What On Earth am I Here For by Rick Warren.

It sounds like this book was written for the already choir members or for himself. It's way too preachy and sounded like my youth in a very staid Dutch Reform. My views on religion have changed, not on personal religion but on churchy religion. Besides all religious leaders want you to think theirs is the only way to a pure life.

Interesting review but I will pass on the book.

Grandgram/letta

That was then this is now and I am in possession of this book, it was sent to me by my son in remembrance of his father s birthday on November 2, 2003. He said that his church was given a copy of this book to every member of the church which is over a 1000. He also said his men s Bible Study Group will be reviewing one chapter every Monday night they meet for 40 Monday s. If many churches are giving this book to its members I can see why it has been on the New York Times Best Seller list. I believe this book would work best in a study group.

As I said in my comment to Sean I have been raised in the Dutch Reform religion and it was the strict orthodox version of hell and brimstone sermons. My ancestors were strong Anti-Catholic and as I found out back in the 1800 s the reason they left the Netherlands was because they had no freedom of religion and the Catholic Church ran the country. Their viewpoint on Catholics has now changed as they have grown to accept all religions but are still a strict form of religion. As my husband and I moved to many different parts of mid-America we have come in contact with different forms of religion and have worked with them all. I now have come to view religion as a very personal acceptance and to live ones life in an honorable way with acceptance for all. Being churchy is my way of saying people think you are not religious if you do not support a church and attend regularly. I think differently.

On to this book The Purpose Driven Life written by Rick Warren who is founder and pastor of his own church the Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California. It says in his biography that his church is the largest and best-known church. Sorry but I had never heard of this church. It also says that his first book The Purpose-Driven Church was selected as one of the 100 Christian Books that changed the 20th Century. I must say that is a powerful statement since I have not read that book cannot comment of its authenticity.

First my impression of a book such as this one could help a person lost on what to believe and cannot find a purpose in their life. Since I am 78 years old and have experiences many different types of religion and feel I am comfortable in the things I believe. I found this book with quotes of the Bible which it does numerous times so it was like the Bible without the history. I found it was mostly the Author s Philosophy and explanations of the many Bible quotes he includes. I am sure it will help many people to understand just what these verses are saying. I also understand that the Bible has many interpretations of what the Bible verses mean. To me this book The Purpose Driven Life felt like a work book where you have to make a commitment at the beginning and has questions to consider at the end of each chapter. You are suggested to read one chapter each day and reflect on this until all 40 chapters are completed. I am sorry to say I did not follow this plan in fact only read each one without too much reflection. Maybe it is because I am a skeptic when it comes to these kinds of books. I understand it has helped my son to find his purpose in life and that is great

In this book it is divided into six sections with the first section called What on Earth Am I Here For ? This section covers 36 pages in seven chapters mainly saying that you are not an accident and long before you were conceived by your parents you were in the mind of God.

PURPOSE #1- You Were Planned for God s Pleasure covers 50 pages in seven chapters. The Bible Quote here I found interesting in Chapter 11 is He rules everything and is everywhere and is in everything and the author explains that this means God is in our daily life. I used this same example when I was teaching 9th grade Sunday School Class in the Presbyterian Church but incorporated it into a full scale program of where to find God.

PURPOSE #2 You Were Formed for God s Family is also 50 pages with seven chapters. In this section he speaks mostly about love and that love lasts forever. Life without love is worthless and here he speaks of your love of your personal family and your church family. This is where he stresses the church family will move you out of your isolation. Now this is where I differ as the Bible also says that where ever you are or who ever you are with in his name you are in his fellowship.

PURPOSE #3 You were created to Become like Christ covers 52 pages in seven chapters. In these many pages he stresses that God is more interested in what you are than in what you do and wants us to grow. This author suggest on how God wants us to grow not only in knowledge and truth but how to live through trouble and temptation.

PURPOSE #4 You are shaped for Serving God is 45 pages in seven chapters. In this section the author stresses that each person is formed and given certain abilities that we must prefect them. Your abilities are your natural talents that you are born with and as the author says that God must love variety as he made so many different personalities with so many different talents. He also suggests keep developing those talents then add new ones to enrich your life.

PURPOSE #5 You were made for a Mission is 31 pages in five chapters. In this section the author describes your mission and relates to balance in your life. He suggests there are three issues in life the first is identity Who Am I? The second is importance Do I matter? The third is impact What is my place in life? He then recommends that this book with its five purposes is your answer.

At the end of the book are more discussion questions over each Purpose section these are to be used in Bible study groups, or in Sunday school class settings. The author also list 15 different Bible translations as he thinks this helps in the many translations of the full meaning of the verses. You will also find in the back a list of all the Bible quotes listed in each section of the book

The one remark in this book that I wholly agree with is the approach to worship is no one-size-fits-all . You don t bring glory to God by being something you are not, just be yourself and one can worship their God in whatever format that is unique to them. Since we are all made differently why should all of us be expected to worship God in exactly the same way? YOUR LIFE IS UP TO YOU SO SEARCH AND DISCOVER THE REAL YOU!!