The Purpose Driven® Life: What on Earth Am I Here For?

All my Life I had the question of What On Earth Am I Here For ? I always felt my Life was worthless and I was just a waste of human organs and tissue. I struggled with Happiness most of my Life and often had attempts to kill myself. But when a friend handed me this book and said this is all you need. I seriously began reading this book and my Life page by page began to change. My views on things and the way I saw my Life just changed by reading a chapter each day. It brightened up my Life and as a lost Christian this book helped me find my way in Christian living. But as previous reviewer comments the book does have it's PROs and CONs. Overall it's a very Life Changing Book. Reading through Purpose #1 made tears come to my eyes cuz things I've struggled with for many years were all explained under Purpose #1. I just think read it and you'll see for yourself !

What on Earth Am I Here For? We are here and were created to glorify God and for His pleasure.

Revelation 4:11 "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are, and were created."

Colossians 1:16 "all things were created by him, and for him:"

"God created us so there would be a group of people who would give Him the glory He deserves. Once the rebellion began in the Garden of Eden, God set out to redeem humanity. His goal in salvation is to bring believers to glory--to create an eternally redeemed community of people like Christ, whom they will glorify, worship, revere, and praise forever."

"God saved you not just to keep you out of hell or to make you happy. His ultimate reason is to conform you to Christ's image so you will be able to give glory to the One who is most glorious."

"In Hebrews 2:11 Christ calls us brothers. Now He didn't have to make us His brothers. He could have made us His servants. He didn't have to bring us into His family, but He did. Even though God wants us to glorify Him and His Son, He also desires intimacy with us. He wants us to be one in essence with Himself."

"God gives us joy, peace, and a future in heaven--all elements of His grace to sinners. Yet we must not let those blessings obscure the apex of the divine purpose. Christ is the central point of redemptive history, not you. That's humbling in one sense but reassuring in another: if God saved you, He will glorify you to fulfill His purpose in bringing you to salvation. God's plans don't get thwarted. If they did, He wouldn't be God." - John MacArthur

[[ASIN:0310334195 The Purpose Driven Life (QR Code Enhanced Edition): What on Earth Am I Here For? (Purpose Driven Life, The)]]

This is a great book that I found to be very informative and helpful. I am using this book in a joint stuty with some college students in my home in order to help them determine God's purpose for their lives. I personally know the benefits of knowing God's purpose for my life over the past 40 years and I want them to recieve the same blessings for their lives. In these hard economic and turbulent times to come, they will need the stability and peace that only knowing what God's purpose is for your life can bring.

This book is filled with all kinds of talk about what the Christian god might want from us, but nowhere does it offer even a shred of evidence this god even exists. And this might even be a good thing, since this goes seems to be a very insecure attention whore who needs to be worshiped all the time. Give me a break!

Review of The Purpose Driven Life: What On Earth Am I Here For? by Rick Warren

I chose to review this book because I couldn't resist a best seller. The Purpose Driven Life has sold over 20 million copies. The book has won the Book of the Year Award from the Evangelical Christian Publisher Association 2 years in a row. The back book jacket calls the book "A GROUNDBREAKING MANIFESTO ON THE MEANING OF LIFE." Given the popularity of this best seller, I had to see what Warren wrote to demand the attention of readers who buy multiple copies to give to friends, neighbors, and relatives. Additionally, there are many accompaniments to the main book, such as hardbound and leather-bound journals.

Warren divides the book into 40 short chapters because, he writes, "The Bible is clear that God considers 40 days a spiritually significant time period. Whenever God wanted to prepare someone for his purpose, he took 40 days." Thus, the 40 days are intended to be a time frame for this spiritual journey that encourages self-reflection. At the end of each chapter the author offers a point to ponder, a verse to remember, and a question to consider. Warren states: "By the end of this journey you will know God's purpose for your life."

The promise made by this author grabbed my attention. In fact, chapter 2 is titled "You are not an accident." Warren repeats the premise of this chapter in several different ways, such as "God made you for a reason" and "God never does anything accidentally." Warren contends that most people ask of their life "What's in it for me?" rather than considering that we are "born by His purpose and for His purpose." By the end of the book, I received the main message summed up in the first sentence: "It is not about you."

However, there were statements and paragraphs that challenged my credibility of Warren. He uses the book to express his opinions that I daresay are shortsighted and even stereotypical. For example, Warren defines a "real" servant as someone serving God by serving others and as having 6 characteristics, 1 of which is: "real servants maintain a low profile." Warren hardly has a low profile. Does that mean that according to his definition he is not a "real" servant?

Another area of disagreement is with Warren's supposition. He writes: "There are more than 750 `Halls of Fame' in America and more than 450 `Who's Who' publications, but you won't find many real servants there." How does he know? Has he interviewed each member? No one can tell what constitutes a "real" servant because, in my opinion, only a Higher Power can discern a "real" servant.

Warren uses multiple references to the Bible, and uses verses to prove his points. I had to remind myself that this was his interpretation, and there are multiple translations of the Bible, and another Bible scholar could just as easily make the opposite point by using other verses.

I can't deny that this book has its place in the spiritual journey. I found lessons that were appropriate to my own journey. Warren encourages readers to embrace their weaknesses and accept their vulnerabilities. Having many of those, I was heartened to learn that God does not expect perfection, and I can complete my purpose with all my foibles.

Review by Lynn C. Tolson

Rick Warren has hit the nail on the head. The question for every believer is whether or not they are "doing" what they were created to "do." What is the purpose of each individual. The Purpose Driven Life advances that in a great way.

When Purpose Driven Life first came out I read it, journaled, about six months later the church I was attending had small groups go through it. So I did it again.

A woman entered my life a while ago. Recently she asked me to go through this book with her. She had asked others who were too busy. She is still in the `seeker' stages spiritually.

This book (and the whole process) has been a great tool in my service to this woman and her family. Hey- she's gone to church with me several times. This book makes the job of day to day evangelizing who ever God puts in your life really easy.

I love this book's simplicity. You don't have to be a rocket scientist or a theologian to `get it'.

Journaling - is another good tool to get value. I've been journaling for decades and have a method- no need to purchase his, but recognize that is a value for many who are relatively new to the value and process of making written responses to any teaching.

I am never ceasing to be amazed in our God Almighty! I feel the success of this book is another illumination of how big our God is, and if we are willing - we can be used BIG too! Thanks Rick Warren.

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This bestseller by Rick Warren, is already a classic, in the upper echelon of the Christian/ self-help genre. Yet, to confine it to the religious, is to misunderstand its impact. It has, more than any other book of its kind, merged Christian morals with mainstream values.
Warren has produced an interactive 40 chapter book, to be read over a 40 day period. This book answers some of human kind's most important questions, like, "Why am I here?" "What matters most in life?", and "How can I balance my life?", from a Christian perspective.
Warren is the pastor of one of the largest and most famous churches in America, Saddleback Church. His previous book, which I recommend to all leaders and managers, regardless of their vocation, is the Purpose-Driven Church. These gems are destined to become two of the most influential books of their time.

This book is well-written and inspirational. I know the author's hope is that readers will have an interactive experience over 40 days with the 40 chapters however, I think it might be best suited for use in a group of like-minded individuals who are willing to openly discuss the questions and ideas that come to mind. Pamela D. Blair, Author The Next Fifty Years: A Guide for Women at Mid-Life And Beyond

This is a must read before you reach your final destination. Do you KNOW where you're going? I DO!