Friday, September 10, 2010

Book Review: Outlive Your Life

Outlive Your Life: You Were Made to Make A Difference

Ok, I've got one last Booksneeze review to hit you with this week, and then the book reviews will settle down a bit.  I've got schoolwork to do, so I won't be taking on quite as many, although I do have St. Francis left to handle.

On to the book:  First of all, if you're familiar with Max Lucado and his style of writing, you'll find nothing all that different here.  If this is your first pick up of one his books, this is typical of his style.  You've got various illustrations, some from Scripture narrative and some from people's life narratives.  These are backed up with explanations of the principles that are illustrated. 

I find this an excellent teaching technique.  I can see this as being effective when he preaches, though I've never heard him preach or teach.  I can easily see sitting by the fireplace, listening to a patient tutor trying to explain, just one more time, what he's trying to say.

As far as content goes, I can't say as I enjoyed this book.  Seriously, if anyone can claim that, as they sit comfortably at home, with a roof and a light, food in the kitchen, and say they enjoyed this book, they weren't reading.  This book is a challenge to all of us that live comfortable lives, focused on our own good.  We cannot keep living this way, not if we want to acknowledge and reach past our life span.

Lucado puts the fine point to it, especially to those of us that claim to be followers of Christ, that we cannot keep this up.  Our purpose is greater than just to live this life and go on.

Who should read this book?  Everyone.  Every Sunday School member, every church member, every staff member, every pastor, and everyone living smooth, comfortable lifestyles, putting Bibles on a shelf, and patting themselves on the back for their wonderful accomplishments in life.

We're at a crossroads of decision in Western Christianity, and Lucado helps illuminate the decision: put up or shut up.

Well worth the reading.

Doug

 

And on the put up or shut up: 100% of the author's share of income from this book is going, primarily through World Vision, to the cause of fighting poverty and hunger in the name of Christ.

No comments:

Post a Comment

To deal with SPAM comments, all comments are moderated. I'm typically willing to post contrary views...but I also only check the list once a day, so if you posted within the last 24 hours, I may not be to it yet.

Sermon Add-on for March 10

 Continuing the use of Artificial Intelligence to try and generate discussion questions from the sermon, here's what it gave me this wee...