Post 3 - The Book

 

Post 3 – The Book

            

This is Post 2 of the blog telling the story of how I found a new purpose for my life.  The story begins at Post 1, if you have not read that, go there before reading this post.

Earlier, I mentioned Rick Warren’s hugely popular book, The Purpose Driven Life.  That book gives a forty day program of Bible study and it says that after completing the study, God will send a ‘revelation’ to tell you what your purpose is.

Are you waiting for ‘a revelation’ to give you a purpose?

This blog tells how God revealed my purpose to me, but I cannot predict what God will do for you.  Somebody who predicts what God will do is called a prophet, and I do not claim to be a prophet.  That’s a risk I am not willing to take, because a prophet’s predictions must come true.  If they do not, then the prophet is false and the penalty is very severe.

Rick Warren’s book does not give any examples of people actually using his recommended ‘revelation’ method to find their purpose.  I also have not seen any testimonials from the many thousands who have read his book.  I see no indication it has worked for anybody.

 Neither does the book define what a purpose is, the purpose that book’s forty day program claims to help you find.  This blog corrects that omission by that book.  It defines what a purpose is, far different than I used to believe, and it also tells how God sends us signs we can look for that will tell if we are on the correct path, or if we need to change direction.

If you are using the book, The Purpose Driven Life, to help you find your purpose, perhaps you want to read this blog as well.   That book provides a religious theory, a start for your search, and this blog describes a practical approach to that personal problem, a way to complete the search.  This blog makes extensive use of three rules I learned while searching for my purpose.  I call them ‘Principles For Understanding Your Purpose.’  These three principles are:  (1) A purpose is not a job or a goal, (2) God is no dummy, he plans ahead, and (3) Our purpose is not kept a secret, life sends us indicators that point the way.

I realize that some people will not like the practical method described in this blog.  They will say it does not depend enough on faith, they prefer the religious theory approach described in that book.  I am not criticizing religion, some people consider me religious, but I have an unforgettable experience with that religious theory approach.

Years ago, a friend of mine was known for his great faith, he depended on prayer, miracles, and revelations to help him make his practical decisions.  For example, he and his family did not go to the doctor when sick, they kneeled together and prayed about it, and their good health always returned.  He said that is what happens when two or more believers ask for something in the name of Jesus.  He had great faith.

I figured it was because they were young and had never encountered a severe illness.

When his wife discovered a lump in her breast, he announced that they were going to cure it ‘by faith.’  He asked his most righteous friends, those with the greatest faith, to pray for God to remove the lump, because ‘the fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.’  He didn’t ask me.  I suppose I did not meet the qualifications.

The lump continued to grow. 

He searched the Bible to find out what they should do next, and he carefully followed each instruction for healing the sick.  By this time, his wife was obviously in trouble.  He called the elders of the church to come and pray over her and anoint her with oil in the name of the Lord, as stated in the letter from James, and they did.  She died a painful death.

Faith is good.  But, don’t bet your life on it!

I realize that I may be criticized for lack of faith.  I have faith that God knows what he is doing, but not the faith that my actions or my rituals will impose any requirements on God.

The following posts tell the entire story of how I discovered the way God was revealing my purpose.  Perhaps he is revealing yours the same way.  It’s practical, and it’s free. 

If this blog is free, why am I doing it?  What am I getting out of this? 

I am a storyteller, that’s all.  I do it because I enjoy it.  I don’t want somebody to miss this story because they won’t spend money on a book they may not like and may not work, so I’m putting it on this blog.  If you don’t like it, you haven’t wasted any money.  But if it works for you as it did for me, it can change your life.

I don’t guarantee that.  I’m not a prophet, you know.  I’m just a storyteller.

To continue, scroll down or go to Post 4.