The Purpose driven life.

[CrazyAnglican]

Yeah I think in general any study will lead answers, but more importantly to better questions.

[unriggable]

I just fail to see why the creator of all space, all time and everything and everywhere would trust man, an unreliable tool of violence, with the tasks of the universe. There's just too many problems with us to be God's agents in this material world.

[brianm]

Chapter Three, day three

Chapter summary: What are the major driving forces in your life, what are some of the common 'driving forces' that lead people astray of finding their true purpose in life? What is the benefit of understanding your purpose and the things that block you from fulfilling that purpose.

Common driving forces:
Guilt (running from regrets, hiding shame, tendency to let past control future).
Resentment and anger (inability to let go of a past injustice, or of past hard feelings towards others, again letting the past control the future)
Fear (miss great opportunities because afraid to venture out of their 'safe zone', regardless of cause)
Materialism (the feeling that the more 'things' you have, the more secure you are, the safer you are, and the more important that you are as a person).
Need for approval (expectations of parents, spouses, children, teachers, friends, etc to control their lives)

Benefits of knowing your purpose and living a purpose-driven life:
Knowing your purpose gives meaning to your life
Knowing your purpose simplifies your life
Knowing your purpose focuses your life
Knowing your purpose motivates your life
Knowing your purpose prepares you for eternity

Point to Ponder: Living on purpose is the path to peace
Verse to Remember: You Lord give perfect peace to those that keep their purpose firm and put their trust in you (Isaiah 26:3 TEV)
Question to Consider: What would my family and friends say is the driving force of my life? What do I want it to be?

Personal Comments: I think this chapter did a much better job of focusing on 'purpose' than chapter one did. Whether we actively understand our purpose or not, some driving force (even if that force is apathy which freezes us in place) directs our life in ways we are not always conscious of. I think that understanding that purpose is a key to understanding why you do things and say things, that later you find yourself wondering where it came from.

[Dekloren]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=oOF9xcJhDK8

Either it hits with you, or it doesn't.

Congrats to all who do.

Others, maybe one day.

[mikem101]

There is, within me, a drive to do certain things and behave certain ways. Different people would interpret that in different ways, but I understand, according to my beliefs that it is God's plan. The ways to discern God's will has, for me, always been to question it. Sometimes introspectively, in which I search my own emotions and thoughts to see what my underlying motives are. It's happened several times that I've gotten into heated discussions and had to drop it even though my pride shouted "But I'm Right!". It is not permissible to let my being right superceed the correctness of God's word.

Some aside thoughts. In Aikido, there is an idea known as Mu-Shin. IT means roughly "no mind" (have fun with that one guys ). It is a state you reach when your technique is generally at its best. You do not have to think about it. Usually, it is experienced four days into summer camp when you have been practicing three classes a day plus other assundry workouts. Plainly, you're just too tired to keep doing the techniques wrong anymore. In our culture we tend to call that centered.

In much the same way a friend noticed that I was getting really tired out snow-skiing. His advice was to "go downhill, It's when you try to fight and keep yourself from going downhill that you really tire yourself out. In much the same way. God has a plan for me. I can choose to fight against that plan, or I can do what his scripture, his church body, and my own judgement suggest that I do. They are all three things that he has provided for me to understand what that purpose is.

makes sence

[brianm]

Okay Brian,

I just read the first chapter. I didn't see it as predestination, however. Merely that God created us with a purpose in mind does not mean that he gives us no choice about whether to fulfill that purpose or not. I believe the world is diminshed for each of us that rebels against that purpose, but that God leaves it up to us as a daily choice to put him first in our lives. The part of that which can be counter-intuitive (at least for me) is that when I am pursuing selfish aims I am least happy with myself. It is the times that I am following the words of Christ that I am most at peace.

There is, within me, a drive to do certain things and behave certain ways. Different people would interpret that in different ways, but I understand, according to my beliefs that it is God's plan. The ways to discern God's will has, for me, always been to question it. Sometimes introspectively, in which I search my own emotions and thoughts to see what my underlying motives are. It's happened several times that I've gotten into heated discussions and had to drop it even though my pride shouted "But I'm Right!". It is not permissible to let my being right superceed the correctness of God's word.

Some aside thoughts. In Aikido, there is an idea known as Mu-Shin. IT means roughly "no mind" (have fun with that one guys ). It is a state you reach when your technique is generally at its best. You do not have to think about it. Usually, it is experienced four days into summer camp when you have been practicing three classes a day plus other assundry workouts. Plainly, you're just too tired to keep doing the techniques wrong anymore. In our culture we tend to call that centered.

In much the same way a friend noticed that I was getting really tired out snow-skiing. His advice was to "go downhill, It's when you try to fight and keep yourself from going downhill that you really tire yourself out. In much the same way. God has a plan for me. I can choose to fight against that plan, or I can do what his scripture, his church body, and my own judgement suggest that I do. They are all three things that he has provided for me to understand what that purpose is.

I do understand that YOU alone are responsible for your life, and for your choices in life. I suppose that as a purely philosophical discussion, one might argue your point though as to whether a truly happy life is one that is lived from within, or one that turns outward. I guess that there are advantages both ways. There is the hermit approach (not physically living apart, but emotionally) and then there is the community approach (which is generally held as anathema to personal liberties). I like a blending of the two myself, I like to think of my own life as choosing to direct my energies towards building a stronger community and to devote at least as much time to the needs of fellowship (be it in worship, work, or leisure) as to time spent in introspection.

[heavycola]

tell me more. I am THIS CLOSE to converting.