Posted on 06/29/2005 5:22:12 AM PDT by 7thson
In an interview by Paul Bradshaw with Rick Warren, author of The Purpose Driven Life, Rick Warren said:
People ask me, What is the purpose of life? And I respond as follows - in a nutshell, life is preparation for eternity.
We were not made to last on earth forever, because eventually, God wants us to be with Him in Heaven. One day my heart is going to stop, and that will be the end of my body - but not the end of me. I may live 60 to 100 years on earth, but I am going to spend "forever" in eternity.
This is the warm-up act, the dress rehearsal. God wants us to practice on earth what we will do forever in eternity. We were made by God and for God, and until you figure that out, life isn't going to make sense.
Life is a series of problems. Either you are in one now, you have just come out of one or you're getting ready to go into another one. The reason for this is that God is more interested in your character than your comfort. God is more interested in making your life holy than He is in making your life happy. We can be reasonably happy here on earth, but that's not the goal of life. The goal is to grow in character, in Christ-likeness.
This past year has been the greatest year of my life but also the toughest, with my wife, Kay, getting cancer. I used to think that life was hills and valleys - you go through a dark time, then you go to the mountain top, back and forth. I don't believe that anymore. Rather than life being hills and valleys, I believe that it's kind of like two rails on a railroad track, and at all times you have something good and something bad in your life. No matter how good things are in your life, there is always something bad that needs to be worked on. And no matter how bad things are in your life, there is always something good you can thank God for.
You can focus on your purposes, or you can focus on your problems. If you focus on your problems, you're going into self-centeredness, which is "my problem, my issues, my pain." But one of the easiest ways to get rid of pain is to get your focus off yourself and onto God and others.
We discovered quickly that in spite of the prayers of hundreds of thousands of people, God was not going to heal Kay or make it easy for her. It has been very difficult for her, and yet God has strengthened her character, given her a ministry of helping other people, given her a testimony, drawn her closer to Him and to people...You have to learn to deal with both the good and the bad in life. Actually, sometimes learning to deal with the good is harder. For instance, this past year, all of a sudden, when the book sold 15 million copies, it made me instantly very wealthy. It also brought a lot of fame that I had never had to deal with before. I don't think God gives you money or fame for you to own an ego or for you to live a life of ease. So I began to ask God what He wanted me to do with this money, fame and influence. He gave me two different passages that helped me - Corinthians 9 and Psalm 72.
Firstly, in spite of all the money coming in, we would not change our lifestyle one bit. We made no major purchases. Secondly, about midway through last year, I stopped taking a salary from the church. Thirdly, we set up foundations to fund an initiative we call The Peace Plan - to plant churches, equip leaders, assist the poor, care for the sick, and educate the next generation. Fourthly, I added up all that the church had paid me in the 24 years since I started the church, and I gave it all back. It was liberating to be able to serve God for free.
We need to ask ourselves: Am I going to live for possessions? Popularity? Am I going to be driven by pressures? Guilt? Bitterness? Materialism? Or am I going to be driven by God's purposes (for my life)? When I get up in the morning, I sit on the side of my bed and say, 'God, if I don't get anything else done today, I want to know You more and love You better' ... God didn't put me on earth just to fulfill a "to-do" list. He's more interested in what I am than what I do. That's why we're called human beings, not human doings.
LOL!
whassamatter - is the mod gig at CF, slow today ? .....driving a need to disrupt here ?
neither. shouldn't you be studying though, Pastor? or does your time in the FR count towards your service requirements?
mmmmm....gumbo...
Thanks for the recommendation. My point in making the comment was that reading that book was a starting point two years ago that led to revolutionary changes in my life. Obviously, as one matures in their walk, they have more knowledge and maturity to discern for themselves the nature of God. But it opened the door for me.
on break from ordination studies until Jan - kind of you to inquire
There are few service requirements imposed by the denomination when youve volunteered your services (gratis), and those of your ordained spouse for the past 5 yrs.....
That said - Im not at church right now - Im at work in the family business, cleaning my desk as I will be retiring in the next month or so (at 43) to dedicate my time fully towards ministry. So, technically, Im on my own coin
Besides - freepeing at church would be a misdirection of the tithes and offerings of our congregants.......and frankly a sin.
If thats to what you were implying, drsteve might have better insight, as it was the norm
I really, REALLY like this. I'll have to read the book, obviously.
As I took my morning meditation walk today, I was thinking exactly along these lines.
A life lived for self is not a real life - not a living life.
I will ping my list later today.
And loving them (or anyone) doesn't mean you have to LIKE what they do, say, think or believe.
Love really means respect for the fact that they each are also eternal souls that have a purpose, and wishing them well. And then, if need be, kicking butt. Figuratively or literally, as the case may be.
:>)
LOL!
We live by a higher standard. Therefore, we must treat others the way we would want to be treated, whether they treat us that way or not. To do otherwise is to cause our concept of who we are as a people to be seriously eroded in our own minds, and invites the criticism of those who are only too happy to point the accusing finger at us.
We would all do well to return to the teachings of the Bible and put it into practice in our daily lives. Our enemies may never respect us for holding to such lofty ideals. But at least we'll have the satisfaction of knowing we're doing the right thing.
The Golden Rule is never old fashioned or out of date.
A little advice from the Free Methodist website.
I didn't know you were Free Methodist suzy.
Indeed.
BTW, was your post meant as an "atta boy" or a "critique" of Fru's post?
Jesus also said to his disciples to go out and preach the word. Take nothing with you but the clothes on your back. If those you preach to does not accept the word, then leave them, shaking the dust off your feet as you go. They will be judged later by the Father. In other words, have nothing to do with them.
You can still love and pray for them. But Jesus does not you or anyone else wasting time on those who refuse to believe.
Wise words, suzy. Thank you for that.
Thank you for your wise advice, I will pass it along to my Free Methodist friends.
Boy, I'm sure glad that my Christian friends didn't give up on me, but kept preaching and teaching and praying for me until the day I reluctantly surrendered to Christ.
I believe the admonition to kick the dust off your feet is to strangers but not to friends or relatives or neighbors. We are to plant seeds and move on and what happens to those seeds is up to God. When you kick the dust off, you've planted the seeds and sprinkled a little dirt on top. Whether it takes or not is not to be your concern, especially while on a missionary journey.
It appears (in context) to apply only to missionary journeys and not to everyday life. The disciples were to take only the clothes on their backs (and to trust in God for their provisions on that journey).
If you wish to apply this verse to everyday life, then I'd suggest you should divest yourself of all real and personal property before you preach to your neighbor or co-workers or relatives or anyone.
If you take that verse and attempt to apply it to everyone to whom you preach, then I don't think you have the spiritual authority to kick dust off your feet at those to whom you preach unless you own no property other than the clothes on your back.
It either applies to missionary journeys only, or it is a clarion call for all who preach the gospel to take a vow of poverty.
Have you taken that vow? Have you divested yourself of all real and personal property?
a grpl fm'er? - gads LOL - I guess this is supposed to be a shot across my bow - she's done it before - I giggle, knowing the grpl ping list (supersecret webring) has been activated -
I have no problem with her gettin in my grille, bro......both of them have a spirit of dissention - pray for them wont you?
my bet is youre less acrid in real life
While you're praying for Free Methodists, I know one who could really use prayer. He is struggling mightily with pride, and is prone to hypocrisy. I've attempted several times to confront him with it, but he gets hostile and makes outrageous claims. I used to be able to discuss things with him privately, but lately he doesn't seem to want to talk about it.
I can't share any further details out of respect for his privacy, but if you could lift him in prayer it would be greatly appreciated, and pray as well for me, that I might be able to help turn him from his sins.
I'd welcome your frmail in private confession
Bless you
Okay, this is weird, I referenced a verse and was going to post it to you, but it won't let me, no matter how I type it or copy it.
But this post is okay...
Matthew, Mark,_____, John
No matter how I type it I can't post the name of the gospel in between...I get a "page cannot be displayed message"
And the strongest thing I've had tonight is Breyer's low carb ice cream.
I need to check other thread possiblities, since that's also the name of my youngest, I'm wondering if something hasn't been goobered up to stop me from typing it???
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.