Hi Kathy,
Just back on the list today. I have never read the book, but this is
certainly a good clear outline.
Vinny
----- Original Message -----
From: "Kathy Du Bois" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, December 01, 2006 12:32 PM
Subject: purpose Driven Life and a Crash!!
> Dear Helen,
> I was just in the middle of answering your question about what in the
> world the Purpose Driven Life is all about and Eudora crashed on
> me. GRIN! I have no clue what got sent out to the list, so I'm
> resending my reply. Sorry if this is redundant.
>
> 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
>
> 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. around the world. He talks a lot about the great
> commission and reaching out beyond our comfort zone.
>
> 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 audiance 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
>
>
>
>
>
>
|
