No worries here, we received it OK Kathy.
Thanks and big blessings,
David & Rachel.
-----Original Message-----
From: Helen Wolf - Email Address: [log in to unmask]
Sent On: 01/12/2006 21:42
Sent To: ECHURCH-USA@LISTSERVtÞ.ICORS.ORG - Email Address: ECHURCH-USA@LISTSERVtÞ.ICORS.ORG
Subject: Re: one more time
Kathy, I didn't get it this time, either. If you send it to me
successfully privately, then I'll try posting it to the list.
Smile
Helen
Earlier you wrote:
Okay, it looks like my messages
are floating around in siber space somewhere. Eudora and I don't
seem to be getting along right now. Anyway, I'm going to try to
send this message, one more time, about the purpose driven life. If
your in box gets flooded with all of my attempts, I apologize and if none
of them have gotten through to this point, then, none of you have any
idea what I'm talking about and you will come to the conclusion that I'm
just a bit touched in the head. Well, you're probably right, but
that's another subject! GRIN!
Besides, I've taken the time to straighten up my jumble that occurred
from the first crash, so now, if nothing else happens, here's my response
to Helen about what the purpose driven life book is about.
Kathy, who is really getting embarrassed from all her computer
mishaps!
message
Helen,
IN a
nut shell, Rick explains, mostly to the unsaved, that you were created by
a loving God for a purpose. You were not an accident, but God the
Father, took the time to design you for a specific place and time to
fulfill a plan that he has equipped you to do. Think of it like a
puzzle piece in a jigsaw puzzle. Rick does not use a jigsaw puzzle
as an illustration, that's my own way of trying to explain
it. He outlines five purposes for each believer.
At the
beginning of the book, he explains that God is the beginning of all
things. Everything was created by Him and for Him. Your
identity is found through believing in Jesus. He thought of you
before you were born, and His purpose for you fits into His master
plan. Rick goes to great lengths to explain that no one is an
accident. I believe that he is hitting hard here against most of
his readers formal education in which evolution is so prevalent. He
explains that life, here on earth, is a test, an opportunity to gain
character and become more like Christ. Life here is only temporary,
however. Eternity is for real. He also explains
the need for salvation. While the gift is free, it isn't
automatic.
The five maine purposes that Rick outlines are:
1. You were planned for God's pleasure, (which is right out of the
catechism)
In this
purpose, he talks about developing your relationship with Jesus
Christ.
2. You were formed for God's family
Here he
talks about baptism and the adoption into the family of believers.He
talks about our horizontal relationship with God and
then our vertical
relationship with others, which is love and forgiveness.
He also
talks about the importance of being involved with a community of
believers here on earth, and he means, involved, not just
attending.
3. You were created to become like Christ. He doesn't mean in
deity, rather more along the lines of what God said in Leviticus when He
said,
"be holy, for I am holy." Here
Rick talks about the importance of scripture in guiding and directing
your life.
4. You were, "SHAPED," for serving God. Here
he uses the word "SHAPE," to get the reader to begin
thinking about how they have
been equipped by God for
service. If I remember right:
S: means Service
to God,
H: is
heart's desire,
A: is
ability
P: is
personality &
E: is
experience
I think I
got that right.
5. The last purpose is that you were made for a mission. He
talks here about thinking beyond yourself to others in your community
and around
the world. He talks a lot about the great commission and reaching
out beyond our comfort zone.
The book takes 40 days to read, reading one chapter a day. Each
chapter concludes with a point to ponder, scripture and a challenging
question about how you, the reader, will apply what you have
learned.
Sorry, Helen if I gave too much detail. I find it interesting that
such strong opinions have been formed by those who haven't even read the
material. I don't mean you. Remember, the targeted audience
is mostly either non-Christians, or pew sitters. It's all basic
stuff if you've been an active Christian for a long time.
Personally, I didn't get much out of the book, but I saw some people who
really have come alive in Christ because this book spoke their
language. It's not for everyone, but I'm glad that it is there for
those that it does speak too.
In Christ's love, Kathy
Kathy
1 Corinthians 13:2 And if I.............understand all
mysteries and all knowledge,.............but have not love, I am
nothing.
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