2005-08

The Purpose Driven Life:
What on earth am I here for?
Author: Rick Warren
Zondervan. Price £8.99 or less
ISBN: 0-310-21074-7
Re-view
What on earth am I here for?" Have you ever wondered
that? If, like most people, you have, I suggest that you
read a book which I have just finished. It's called "The
Purpose Driven Life" and has my opening question as its
sub-title.
There are 40 short chapters, each one being no longer
than 5 or 6 sides of a paper-back page, and the author
suggests that you read only one chapter each day, so it's
not a lot to read at once. At the end of each chapter are
three things - a point to ponder, a verse to remember and
a question to consider. On the back cover, the author,
Rick Warren, claims "This book will help you understand
why you are alive and God's amazing plan for you. Knowing
God's purpose for creating you will reduce your stress,
focus your energy, simplify your decisions, give meaning
to your life, and, most important, prepare you for eternity".
Oh yes! I thought sceptically. Then I read further on and discovered that Rick
Warren is the founding pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California, one
of America's largest and best known churches. Oh no! I thought - it's going to be
one of those ghastly American books! However, I began to read the opening page -
"Getting the most from this book". It intrigued me, so I sat down with a cup of coffee
and read the first chapter. It captured my imagination - the words were plain and
simple, and I didn't feel patronised or "preached at". I soon found myself reading
the next chapter which began, "You are not an accident. Your birth was no mistake
or mishap, and your life is no fluke of nature.” I wanted to read more, but I
remembered that the advice was to read only one chapter a day - so I reluctantly
closed the book and had to wait until the next day before I could begin reading
again. By the time I had read the third chapter, I was hooked.
I became a Christian in 1991 when I was baptised, at the age of 46. Since then, I
have experienced joy and sorrow, as we all do. The death of my daughter in 1993,
at the age of 24, was a time of great testing of my new faith. I knew God was with
me, and with Rachel too, but it has been difficult sometimes to understand exactly
why certain events have happened in my life. Having read this book, I now not only
understand, but I can feel the understanding in my heart and mind, if that makes
sense to you.
I do recommend this book to you - you can buy it at any bookshop. This summer, if
it's sunny, why don't you sit in the garden, put your feet up, relax and read. Or curl
up in an arm chair, or make yourself comfortable in bed - anywhere you can feel relaxed.
Do resist the temptation to read more than one chapter at a time, so that you
can really take it in and ponder. I hope that this book will help you to re-view your
life. If it doesn't, I'll be very surprised!
Chris Laude
St Chads Church, 9 Linden Avenue, Woodseats
email: office@stchads.org
Tel: (0114) 274 5086 Page 10 web site: stchads.org