6 - The Giving Of The Book

Previous: A New Beginning For Martie And Me

Finding Spiritual Wisdom Between The Lines

The book by Pastor Rick Warren, "The Purpose Driven Life", has been pivotal in my walk of faith.  It has helped me understand how God has prepared Martie and me for serving and living as  Christians.  There really is nothing new in the book, but Pastor Warren was able to amalgamate bits and pieces of truth about the practical context of faith and the mind of God in such a way that the result was clarity, a beautiful tapestry of truth and wisdom.  What he did was much like what military intelligence analysts do.  They take a jumble of information, analyze it, assimilate it, connect the dots if you will and produce actionable intelligence. A new form that allows the commanders to understand and to make appropriate decisions.

In the same way, Pastor Rick did that with the timeless truths associated with our faith in Jesus.  Like the question that Dr. Francis Schaeffer posed in the title of his book, “How Should We Then Live?” Pastor Rick said this is God’s purpose for us and this is how we should respond.

As I said, the book was pivotal in my life.  It helped me understand how God shaped me for His purpose.  I understood His sovereignty in a new, more personal way.  In the winter of 2003 I suffered a DVT and pulmonary embolism.  You hear a lot about them today, but back then, not so much.  At any rate, the cardiologist said there was no good reason why I was not dead because of the severity of the embolism.  But there was a good reason.  On day 40 of the book, there are 40 days of reading in PDL, the scripture reference is Acts 13:36.  “After David had fulfilled God’s purpose in his generation, he slept with his fathers.”  Having survived the DVT and resulting embolism, I told Martie, “I apparently have not fulfilled God’s purpose for me in my generation.  Until that happens, like David, I am not going anywhere.  And once I have fulfilled God's purpose, as with David, no one can keep me here.”

As it happened, I gave a copy of the book to my mom as a birthday present on her 78^th birthday. I thought she might like to see what the book was about.  I had no idea that she would study it as she did.  After her passing in November 2010, the book was returned to me.  I had not seen it since I gave it to her.  And I had not opened it until  this past week when I took it off of the shelf to bring back to Texas with us.  Frankly I thought it was my copy. Was I surprised when I opened it and saw the writing on the inside cover.  It was as if I had discovered a treasure that had been untouched and disregarded sitting either in a box or on a shelf, within my reach, for the past 8 years.  My mom was a student of the Word of God.  I realized that I had a unique opportunity to glean her wisdom and the musings of her heart from her notations on the pages of this book. Then I thought, “I can be her voice these many years after her passing.  I can bless others even while I am being blessed by sharing her thoughts with as many as will read it."

So let the journey begin!

Next: A Lesson In How To Prepare Your Mind And Set Your Heart