Driving forces, motivations, whatever they are called, they separate the life that is going someplace intentionally from one just drifting along with the current. Some motivations are positive, some are negative. Most are hidden in our subconscious until something brings them to the top of our mind.
At the end of Chapter 3 (on page 27) of the booklet, "What On Earth Am I Here For?", Rick Warren asks, “If you asked your family and friends to describe what drives your life, what driving force or motivations would they mention?”
I recommend that you take his challenge—ask someone close to you what they think it is that drives you.
I did that myself, and the answers my wife gave me were both insightful and not that surprising. We’ve been married a long time. She knows me very well. There are some positive motivations and some negative ones. The important thing was the conversation that opened up after she answered my question.
What we discovered in the conversation that followed was that some seemingly negative motivations also have a positive role to play in daily life. Being motivated by fear sounds negative, but the fear of failure prompts many of us to work hard to succeed.
Warren lists these motivations which drive some people’s lives: guilt, resentment, fear, materialism, and a need for approval. What other motivations can you think of?
What would you say it is that drives you? What do others say?
Warren says that knowing your purpose in life (and living according to that purpose) has some benefits: it ...
· gives meaning to your life
· simplifies your life
· focuses your life
· energizes your life
· and prepares you for eternity
Leaving aside for now the question of what is your purpose in life, ask yourself which of these benefits are apparent in your life.
Are any of these benefits absent from your life and at this point in your life are very appealing to you? It may be that this is the reason you find this study interesting. God is leading you to break from your routine and seek some answers. The end result could be very beneficial to the rest of your life.
Warren mentions a “final exam”, an “audit of your life”, quoting Romans 14:10b & 12. He says we can infer from the Bible that two questions will be on the exam:
1. What did you do with my Son, Jesus Christ?
2. What did you do with your life?
This study should prepare you to answer those two questions eventually.
For now, just answer whether you agree that these two questions will determine your eternal fate, and whether you think other questions should be on the exam?
Or, do you think there will not be an “exam” (that is that God will not place any requirements on entry into heaven.
[To post a comment, click on the lightly colored word "comments" below. To email this study to a friend, click on the icon that looks like an envelope.]
Monday, June 27, 2005
Tuesday, June 21, 2005
You Are Not An Accident
This week’s study—chapter 2 of Rick Warren’s “Why On Earth Am I Here?”—makes the statement that you are not an accident, your life was planned.
If every part of your life is just as you would like it to be, it might be easy to accept that statement as true. However, if your life is not exactly as you would like, you probably responded to that statement with a lot of doubt—or at least with some questions.
Why would God, if He is good, have planned this part of my life as it is, or that part as it is? If God really loves me and planned my life, why would I have such problems with it?
Those who are often sick, have chronic problems, or have just had a sudden shock in their life (such as a death of a loved one, loss of a job, breakup of a marriage, etc.) might have special reasons to question the truth of the claim that their life was planned.
However, the point of this chapter is not to raise questions in your mind about God and His involvement in your life. It is to reassure you that regardless of the situation of your life, there is hope that things can be better than what they are because God loves you.
Having faith that your life was planned doesn’t mean you have no choices to make. Even if you have problems that are the result of your own bad choices, you can be assured that God can redeem the situation and make life different for you.
Look up the verses Warren quotes to go with the following statements. Read the verses in your version of the Bible, and see if you come to the same conclusions Warren does.
1. You are alive because God wanted to create you. (Psalm 138:8)
2. God prescribed every single detail of your body. (Psalm 139:15)
3. God was thinking of you even before he made the world. (James 1:18)
4. We discover that meaning (for our life) only when we make God the reference point of our lives. (Romans 12:3)
It would be easy to avoid the implications of this chapter by questioning each point and debating the issues of predestination and free will.
Instead, let’s just assume for a moment that we are here by God’s design and we have freedom to choose what to do in each situation.
Now answer Warren’s third question on page 16: “How would your life change if you began to live each day confidant that God loves you deeply and has a purpose for your life?”
[To make a comment, click on the lightly colored word "comments" below, to email this post to a friend, click on the icon that looks like an envelope.]
If every part of your life is just as you would like it to be, it might be easy to accept that statement as true. However, if your life is not exactly as you would like, you probably responded to that statement with a lot of doubt—or at least with some questions.
Why would God, if He is good, have planned this part of my life as it is, or that part as it is? If God really loves me and planned my life, why would I have such problems with it?
Those who are often sick, have chronic problems, or have just had a sudden shock in their life (such as a death of a loved one, loss of a job, breakup of a marriage, etc.) might have special reasons to question the truth of the claim that their life was planned.
However, the point of this chapter is not to raise questions in your mind about God and His involvement in your life. It is to reassure you that regardless of the situation of your life, there is hope that things can be better than what they are because God loves you.
Having faith that your life was planned doesn’t mean you have no choices to make. Even if you have problems that are the result of your own bad choices, you can be assured that God can redeem the situation and make life different for you.
Look up the verses Warren quotes to go with the following statements. Read the verses in your version of the Bible, and see if you come to the same conclusions Warren does.
1. You are alive because God wanted to create you. (Psalm 138:8)
2. God prescribed every single detail of your body. (Psalm 139:15)
3. God was thinking of you even before he made the world. (James 1:18)
4. We discover that meaning (for our life) only when we make God the reference point of our lives. (Romans 12:3)
It would be easy to avoid the implications of this chapter by questioning each point and debating the issues of predestination and free will.
Instead, let’s just assume for a moment that we are here by God’s design and we have freedom to choose what to do in each situation.
Now answer Warren’s third question on page 16: “How would your life change if you began to live each day confidant that God loves you deeply and has a purpose for your life?”
[To make a comment, click on the lightly colored word "comments" below, to email this post to a friend, click on the icon that looks like an envelope.]
Sunday, June 12, 2005
It's Not About You
How often have you heard someone say that? As babies we know it’s all about us. Someone else is always handy to feed, clothe, carry, change, and love me. I am indeed the center of the universe—at least that part of it that I know about. Like Leonardo DiCaprio standing on the prow of the Titanic in the movie, I can cry confidently, “I’m the king of the world.”
Then one day I had to grow up and discover that it’s not really about me. The year 1968 was a pivotal year for me, as well as for the United States. Viet Nam, the killings of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Bobby Kennedy, and riots in multiple cities all made it clear that I was insignificant compared to the global events making the news each day.
These events, and others in my personal life, led me to write a poem entitled “Age of Innocence” with this final line: “It’s passed, that age of innocence. It has been replaced by responsibility.”
Growing older I’ve realized that the phrase “It’s not about you” involves more than the replacement of an innocent age with adult responsibilities. It also involves the purpose for my life. Why am I here? Why is there a Rudy Antle in the world instead of no Rudy Antle?
Your answer to this question for yourself can change your life too. You may have already answered the question of the purpose for your life, and you can encourage others who are still looking for an answer. For all of us this week, let's see how Rick Warren approaches the subject in "The Purpose Driven Life".
Read chapter 1 of “The Purpose Driven Life” or the booklet, “What On Earth Am I Here For?” and answer the questions below; then come back and post your own comments or respond to someone else’s posted comments.
When Rick Warren says “It’s not about you, It all starts with God”, you might ask, “What’s not about me? What starts with God?”. The answer, of course is the purpose for your life.
Question 1: What is the value of “Self-help books”, and what are their limitations?
Question 2: In speaking about finding your purpose, Warren says “Revelation beats speculation any day”. What’s he talking about, and do you agree with him?
Question 3: On page 9 of “What on Earth…” Warren says “He (God) has clearly revealed his five purposes for our lives through the Bible.” First we’re asked about finding our purpose in life, then he says there are five purposes. Anybody else feeling overwhelmed here?
Question 4: Warren also says on page 9, “First, you discover your identity and purpose through a relationship with Jesus Christ.” Have you ever heard anything like that before? Why would he say that? Do you agree with him? Why?
Question 5: Here is the “Point to Ponder” from page 11: “If there were no God, and everything was a result of random chance, there would be no purpose to our life. It all starts with God.”
a. That’s quite a statement. Do you agree with it?
b. The random chance statement brings to mind the question of our origins (i.e. your origin).
Read this interview in Christianity Today magazine online with Lee Strobel (the reporter who wrote “The Case For Christ” and other books), then reflect on your own beliefs about creation, Creationism, Darwinism, Intelligent Design, and other perspectives on how life on Earth, the planet Earth itself, and the universe got here.
What’s important for this study is: whatever position you take on how you got here, what does your position tell you about why you are here?
[To make a comment, click on the lightly colored word "comments" below, to email this post to a friend, click on the icon that looks like an envelope.]
Then one day I had to grow up and discover that it’s not really about me. The year 1968 was a pivotal year for me, as well as for the United States. Viet Nam, the killings of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Bobby Kennedy, and riots in multiple cities all made it clear that I was insignificant compared to the global events making the news each day.
These events, and others in my personal life, led me to write a poem entitled “Age of Innocence” with this final line: “It’s passed, that age of innocence. It has been replaced by responsibility.”
Growing older I’ve realized that the phrase “It’s not about you” involves more than the replacement of an innocent age with adult responsibilities. It also involves the purpose for my life. Why am I here? Why is there a Rudy Antle in the world instead of no Rudy Antle?
Your answer to this question for yourself can change your life too. You may have already answered the question of the purpose for your life, and you can encourage others who are still looking for an answer. For all of us this week, let's see how Rick Warren approaches the subject in "The Purpose Driven Life".
Read chapter 1 of “The Purpose Driven Life” or the booklet, “What On Earth Am I Here For?” and answer the questions below; then come back and post your own comments or respond to someone else’s posted comments.
When Rick Warren says “It’s not about you, It all starts with God”, you might ask, “What’s not about me? What starts with God?”. The answer, of course is the purpose for your life.
Question 1: What is the value of “Self-help books”, and what are their limitations?
Question 2: In speaking about finding your purpose, Warren says “Revelation beats speculation any day”. What’s he talking about, and do you agree with him?
Question 3: On page 9 of “What on Earth…” Warren says “He (God) has clearly revealed his five purposes for our lives through the Bible.” First we’re asked about finding our purpose in life, then he says there are five purposes. Anybody else feeling overwhelmed here?
Question 4: Warren also says on page 9, “First, you discover your identity and purpose through a relationship with Jesus Christ.” Have you ever heard anything like that before? Why would he say that? Do you agree with him? Why?
Question 5: Here is the “Point to Ponder” from page 11: “If there were no God, and everything was a result of random chance, there would be no purpose to our life. It all starts with God.”
a. That’s quite a statement. Do you agree with it?
b. The random chance statement brings to mind the question of our origins (i.e. your origin).
Read this interview in Christianity Today magazine online with Lee Strobel (the reporter who wrote “The Case For Christ” and other books), then reflect on your own beliefs about creation, Creationism, Darwinism, Intelligent Design, and other perspectives on how life on Earth, the planet Earth itself, and the universe got here.
What’s important for this study is: whatever position you take on how you got here, what does your position tell you about why you are here?
[To make a comment, click on the lightly colored word "comments" below, to email this post to a friend, click on the icon that looks like an envelope.]
Friday, June 03, 2005
First post is the hardest
Looking at a blank page and realizing that it will be read by others is daunting. Especially so since I want to use this for people I know but I don't know who might see it throughout the world.
Oh well, I'll just write for those for whom I started this project and see where else it may go.
This is started primarily for the Koinonia Class at Calvary Baptist Church in Denver, Colorado. This is a class of adults who are near (or maybe into) retirement, but who are eager to keep learning about how to be a Christian in an increasingly secular society.
My wife, Lindsey, and I have the privilege of teaching this class. Since the class won't be meeting this summer, we will try to keep the dialogue going through this blog.
This summer we will study the booklet, "What On Earth Am I Here For?" by Rick Warren. This is an edited version of the first seven chapters of Pastor Warren's now famous book, "The Purpose Drive Life".
To start, go here to get a copy of my outline of the study booklet. Copy it and print it out. I recommend that you review the outline to get an overall view of Rick Warren's message. Starting next week we will examine one chapter at a time.
Answer this question for yourself, then post a comment* if you like: In one sentence, what do you see (from reading the outline) as the overall message of the booklet? *(To post a comment for everyone else to see, click on "comment" at the end of this post)
Next, read this column by Peggy Noonan from OpinionJournal.com about Ashley Smith's Christian witness to escaped convict Brian Nichols as she read from Chapter 33 of "The Purpose Driven Life".
Answer these questions for yourself, then post a comment if you like:
(1) What is your response to this column by Peggy Noonan?
(2) Ashley Smith said "It mentioned something about what you thought your purpose in life was. What were you--what talents were you given? What gifts were you given to use?" How would you answer these questions for your own life?
[To make a comment, click on the lightly colored word "comments" below, to email this post to a friend, click on the icon that looks like an envelope.]
Oh well, I'll just write for those for whom I started this project and see where else it may go.
This is started primarily for the Koinonia Class at Calvary Baptist Church in Denver, Colorado. This is a class of adults who are near (or maybe into) retirement, but who are eager to keep learning about how to be a Christian in an increasingly secular society.
My wife, Lindsey, and I have the privilege of teaching this class. Since the class won't be meeting this summer, we will try to keep the dialogue going through this blog.
This summer we will study the booklet, "What On Earth Am I Here For?" by Rick Warren. This is an edited version of the first seven chapters of Pastor Warren's now famous book, "The Purpose Drive Life".
To start, go here to get a copy of my outline of the study booklet. Copy it and print it out. I recommend that you review the outline to get an overall view of Rick Warren's message. Starting next week we will examine one chapter at a time.
Answer this question for yourself, then post a comment* if you like: In one sentence, what do you see (from reading the outline) as the overall message of the booklet? *(To post a comment for everyone else to see, click on "comment" at the end of this post)
Next, read this column by Peggy Noonan from OpinionJournal.com about Ashley Smith's Christian witness to escaped convict Brian Nichols as she read from Chapter 33 of "The Purpose Driven Life".
Answer these questions for yourself, then post a comment if you like:
(1) What is your response to this column by Peggy Noonan?
(2) Ashley Smith said "It mentioned something about what you thought your purpose in life was. What were you--what talents were you given? What gifts were you given to use?" How would you answer these questions for your own life?
[To make a comment, click on the lightly colored word "comments" below, to email this post to a friend, click on the icon that looks like an envelope.]
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