Chazown: A Different Way to See Your Life November 13, 2006
Author: Craig Groeschel
The prospect of finding one’s ultimate purpose in life is simply unfathomable to most people. With so many throughout history and today on an existential search for something beyond the mundane, it is easy to become discouraged with the day-to-day. We all struggle with this, even as Christ followers. Thankfully, as Craig Groeschel details in his book Chazown: A Different Way to See Your Life
The clarity exhibited in Chazown is refreshing. There are times and places for deep philosophical wanderings on one’s purpose, but there is also time for simplicity. Beginning with three circles, Groeschel explores how one’s core values, spiritual gifts and past experiences intersect to find the center of one’s Chazown. Personally, I found this very helpful and somewhat enlightening. It becomes easy to disregard certain parts of life, especially tainted pasts, as something that can actually enhance one’s effectiveness. Scanning the memories of my life, I found myself understanding how I can uniquely use both the good and the bad to realize God’s ultimate purpose for me. Visual guides allow for the reader to tangibly understand the possibilities. The book functions as a sort of journal to jot down answers to key questions that Groeschel presents throughout the book. To further the experience, one can log on to Chazown.com and continue their journey more deeply, creating a sort of webpage to write and better understand how God is working in their lives.
The most introspective area of the book is the Five Spokes of Chazown. Groeschel challenges one to probe deeply into five areas of life that must be examined in order to continue on with the Chazown established in earlier chapters. These spokes, relationship to God, relationship with people, financial health, physical health, and life’s work, are all particularly important for Christians in today’s society. Groeschel emphasizes the importance of accountability in the area(s) where one may struggle, thus allowing for one’s dream to become a healthy reality. With a simple in-book quiz, one can identify which of the five areas may be of the most concern. This part of the book was truly humbling. It is easy to walk through life and not question how something as simple as my eating or spending habits may effect how I live out God’s purpose for my life. While Groeschel suggests that people move forward through the book to the areas where they may struggle, I found it more helpful to read through each spoke, even those that may not have been as applicable. In each spoke, there were areas where I discovered I could better myself even more, and give myself more whole-heartedly to God.
While the information and assistance that Groeschel presents in the book is certainly helpful for a person at any point on the journey through life, the writing style and information seem particularly suited for a younger crowd. The format is not traditional. The pages are often short, with artwork and quotes added in for emphasis. Throughout the book, certain words or quotes are highlighted or even capitalized to emphasize a particular point. It is definitely a book that is relevant to today’s youth oriented, emergent culture.
Although the book is a great bedside read for younger folks, it is universally applicable to Christians and non-Christians. Following a similar pattern to The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren, readers are encouraged to seek out Truth, a Truth that is most satisfied in God. Bible verses are used occasionally, but the concepts are simple and helpful for anyone trying to navigate their way. In fact, this book seems to be even more appropriate for those that may still be exploring what God and faith are all about, and how those intertwine with their walk. As I read this book, I thought of several people that may find encouragement in the detailed plan that Groeschel lays out. When there is so much confusion in life, especially in times of spiritual discovery, it is helpful to have a starting point, a workbook, or just a voice that is expressing similar dilemmas and thoughts, as Groeschel does. His humor about his own foibles and accomplishments are helpful at reminding one that we are all fallible, but all valued and desired by God for a unique purpose.
People are usually skeptical when it comes to the “personal growth” section of the bookstore, which Chazown would fall under. But this book is a valuable tool. Rather than focusing simply on “self”, it reiterates the necessity to make our ultimate vision God. We are all tempted to force a vision that may not be what is truly suited to the unique vision God has for us. God places marvelous value on each of our lives. Once we begin to see ourselves as God sees us, as unique masterpieces to do His good works (Ephesians 2:10), we become able to see our true Chazown and bring it to fruition.
Preparing Him for the Other Woman
Moms wield great power with their sons. As a mother of two small boys, I often forget the powerful influence I have with these future men. When my oldest son gets hurt, he wants me, even if his father is right beside him. When he has emotional pain, he makes a bee-line straight for my arms because he knows he’ll be comforted and it’s safe to cry. Moms shower their boys with love. We have a unique power to comfort, encourage, listen, pray with, and instruct our boys toward God and his awesome plan for them as men.
In her book, Preparing Him for the Other Woman
From a mother’s perspective, Shepherd emphasizes the importance of using every opportunity we have to train our sons while they are living in our home. Only a mother can teach her son:
ú to understand a woman’s heart
ú how to express his love
ú the power of purity
ú what God says about being a man of his word
ú the importance of providing for his family
ú how to be a godly leader
ú how to be accountable
ú how to be a hero
ú how to learn the art of affirmation
ú to resolve conflict
ú to find a good wife
ú to have a real relationship with God
Many boys are confused about the role of a man. This is why our impact as mothers is so pivotal. In the culture we live in, our sons get their information from television, radio, magazines (your Victoria’s Secret catalog or the fashion magazines in the grocery store checkout stand), video games, internet, etc. The ability moms have to shape our sons by pointing them to God and living that out will directly affect the man he will become. Boys love their moms and we have a great influence in their lives. Shepherd understands this well and uses God’s great wisdom to guide us in guiding our sons.
Shepherd’s heartfelt stories and examples are right on. I found myself laughing and crying while reading her stories. She even breaks down age groups in each chapter and gives specific methods for training our sons with great practical examples, like: when your son does something to show that he loves and understands you, affirm him by telling him how much it means to you. Or, “make it a priority to be available to your son whenever he is willing to open his heart to you. Your availability to your son is an important way to affirm your love for him.” Also, don’t be afraid to say you’re sorry. “If you embarrass your son or hurt his feelings, offer him a sincere apology.” These are just small glimpses of Shepherd’s examples and wisdom for mothers. This is a must read book that I’m certain mothers will pass from one mom to another. It is clear that God has given Sheri Rose a great insight into raising boys that we all can learn from.
TWO GOSPELS - Rick McKinley’s Beautiful Mess November 7, 2006
“What do you mean ‘two gospels?’” you might be saying to yourself. You might be expecting me to go into some weird new (or actually not so new) heresy of there being more than one gospel.
What I am speaking of is an interesting observation, explained more fully by Rick McKinley in his recent book This Beautiful Mess (Multnomah Publishing, 2006). McKinley, pastor of Imago Dei Community in Portland, Oregon, writes of the gospel of Jesus and the gospel about Jesus. McKinley explains it like this:
• The Gospel of Jesus–this is the announcement of the kingdom and his loving actions in his earthly ministry. Traditionally practiced in more liberal churches with a high emphasis on social justice, mercy ministry, political activism, social work and community service.
• The Gospel about Jesus–his work on the cross, his resurrection and how we can receive forgiveness through faith. Typified by most conservative churches with a high emphasis on proclamation of the gospel, personal conversion and obedient living.
McKinley proposes that a synthesis of these two gospels together are the actual true gospel: you cannot have one without the other and have it be the true gospel. Imbalance on either end leads to bitterness, despair and division—one needs only to look at the political battles waging as election day looms near. On one side you have liberals proudly proclaiming themselves as progressives, sensitive to the lower and middle class, against the war on terror and characterizing their opponents as “the religious right.” Against them are the conservatives, the flag-waving, Bush-loving, war-supporting, Bible-thumping rednecks who pit their “family values” against “the religious left.” What remains is not only a fractured country but a divided kingdom. What you are left with is no gospel at all.
The gospel that Christ himself lived and preached is a seamless combination of both “gospels.”
McKinley writes:
“If all we value is the salvation gospel, we tend to miss the rest of Christ’s message. Taken out of the context of the kingdom, the call to faith in Christ gets reduced to something less than the New Testament teaches. The reverse is also true: if we value a kingdom gospel at the expense of the liberating message of the Cross and the empty tomb and a call to repentance, we miss a central tenet of kingdom life. Without faith in Jesus, there is no transforming of our lives into the new world of the kingdom.”
The reality of the kingdom, however, as described by Jesus is not one or the other. A full-orbed perspective on the kingdom, how it has been ushered in and how it should advance is the ongoing work of His people in “this beautiful mess” we call the kingdom of God. It’s about proclamation but it also about reconciliation. It’s about conversion but it also about showing mercy. As a means of helping the kingdom advance, the redeemed live in tension between the perfect world to come and the present world that is in need of redemption. Until that day of consummation arrives, the church plows ahead in kingdom living–serving, loving, ministering and living out the faith we have been given.
Rick McKinley’s new book is out, This Beautiful Mess: Practicing the Presence of the Kingdom of God