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Purpose Driven Blog
- 11/13/03
- 11
I have started reading The Purpose Driven Life several times. So far I have not managed to finish it. I got to thinking that perhaps if I blogged my way through the 40 days of the book I could find motivation to keep reading it. So starting tomorrow I will attempt to blog my way through the book.
I have some preconceptions that it is only fair I lay down from the beginning.
- I have read The Purpose Driven Church. I also attend a purpose driven church loosely modelled on Warren's model (we like to think we have adopted only the best parts of the model) and thus am quite familiar with many of the purpose driven principles.
- I am a bit nervous about Rick Warren. Though my fears are, thus far unfounded, I find it hard to believe that a book that sells as well as The Purpose Driven Life can contain Orthodox, Christian content. That may be pessimistic, but memories of the Prayer of Jabez are still fresh in my mind. It probably does not help that the back cover features Bruce Wilkinson's praise for the book.
- I know that Warren uses every conceivable Bible translation and paraphrase in this book. I find it exceedingly difficult to work that way so will be cross-referencing every Bible verse with my trusty NASB (or possibly my equally trust NKJV). I may even pull my NIV off the shelf every now and then!
- I do not know what audience Warren is trying to reach. I am guessing that his audience is Christians, but for all I know he may be trying to reach unbelievers.
There we have it. Hopefully the next 40 days will prove interesting as I dive into the book. I intend follow through the course and learn what Warren (and hopefully God) would like to teach me. But to be fair I am going to read critically (as I always attempt to do) and will examine the book from a Reformed perspective.
To facilitate this series, I have created a new category specifically to contain my Purpose Driven Life blog entries.
I am a follower of Jesus Christ, a husband to Aileen and a father to three young children. I write books and blogs for fun while doing web design and consulting for a living. I worship and serve at 
Published in 2008, this book
This is a guide that calls men,
This review of the bestselling
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Comments (11)
I tend to be skeptical when it comes to new ideas popular in evangelicalism. The church has always had an intense time of inward focus and purpose, but I guess Lent just doesn't jive with the evangelical church ... or perhaps no one has told them.
Anyhow, the real point of this comment. I am not in a "purpose driven church" or even a "spirit-filled church", but I have a friend who is leading a "purpose driven small group" at his church who has jumped full on board the Rick Warren Express -- he is older than I and a staff member at his church.
Apparently, in the first video (I don't know if you'll be looking at the videos at all!), Rick Warren gives some sort of "alter call" when he prays this prayer and announces that whoever prayed the prayer with him, is now a Christian. Apparently, there is nothing Christian about the prayer, but more of a: "God, your cool. I want to be a part of your family. Amen" type of prayer. I heard them warn others about this prayer and how to explain where Warren was wrong, and I thought I would pass it along.
Christ's peace be with you!
Whoa, is the center tab supposed to be on? Let's try this
Any better?
Nope. You must want it that way. Okay, that's fine too!
I haven't finished formatting the comments section yet. I will de-center it! :)
Thanks for your comments about the video. I do not have the videos, though may be able to snag them through my church.
OK, I have made the comments justify properly. Just one of many problems I'm going to stumble across, I'm sure!
I really appreciate your comments about Rick Warren's book...I have also been trying to "blog" through this book, without much success. (thanks for the new word added to my vocabulary, btw)
Anyway, I plan to surf around your pages further and see what there is to see and read.
Be blessed in His serviceR
Last week I saw the video for week one of 40 Days of Purpose. Warren did indeed pray a prayer that was really devoid of any real meaning. I am not too sure how someone can become a Christian without having first been introduced to the concepts of sin, forgiveness, confession, etc. Warren never used any of these words or concepts in his initial explanation or in his prayer. Not good, especially since he tells anyone who prayed it that they are now part of God's family!
Warning, if you don't want to be "set apart", be careful what you say about this book, or for that matter, anything popular going around. The greatest sin in the churchworld these days, is to say anything that is against the flow. I wander why Paul didn't know about this when he told us to not even fellowship with those who were not living the life? And think about how much "unity" he destroyed when he named names (1Tim. 1:20). Our pastor all of a sudden has a "Purpose Driven Life," he dreams of pastoring a huge church, where anything disturbing the "unity" will not be tolerated. Unity frightens me if it's not in Spirit and Truth. What does that leave me - church homeless at present time.
Pam - to an extent I agree with you about this. Things like PDL become very polarizing in churches and liking them becomes a sign of support for the church. Disliking it can set you apart as a troublemaker.
Thank you for this page..... our ladies group is studying the book at the moment (PDL), and I really have felt that it stuck in my craw but I couldn't say why.... however, having read your page it is all a lot clearer to me now....and of course I have Pam's dilemma now because everyone else in the group is absolutely IN LOVE with it and it has been a huge effort for me to say anything at all that doesn't agree completely.
Just think of it folks.With so many 'Christians' being fooled by the Rick Warren and Mel Gibson's Passion, for that matter, we should be rejoicing because the End-times are apon us and Jesus is soon to return.Praise the Lord.