Review of "Outlive Your Life" by Max Lucado

In Outlive Your Live, Max Lucado challenges the reader to live to make a difference in their world. Good, challenging, except I felt like I was already coming from the other side of this. This book seems to be written to the complacent church-goer in North America, the ones that aren't involved, haven't yet been inspired to do more with their lives--more than just live for themselves.  I know many who are NOT complacent, already involved in great things.  And I myself was already inspired with this idea years ago--30 or more perhaps, and have sought to spend my life in ways that would "outlive my life".
So, from that perspective, I personally found the book lacking, and maybe a little simplistic. Main beef here is that while Lucado gives great inspiration for living and doing more, there is not an appreciation of the complexity and difficulty of truly engaging in something that will make a long-term difference.

Did the author hold my attention? Not really. I read 2/3 of the book close to when I first received, but then put it down for a long time--maybe it is where I am, or was wanting something that he wasn't trying to give--motivation and help and ideas to KEEP outliving my life when the outliving gets hard.

Still, there were some inspiring bits. I have really enjoyed Max Lucado's writing at times, but then I get tired of the style. I thought I might like to read one of his books again, but in the end I didn't even finish this one.
 
I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” 

I review for BookSneeze®

What if...

What if
I had not gone through
All that pain last year

What if
I had not been so hit
That I had to fight
And struggle
And cry out
And finally climb out
Of the confusion
Being so enmeshed

If I hadn't gone through last year's
Would I be standing strong
And thinking clearly now
Would I be able to help others see
As all the responsibility
Now falls on them

If I hadn't gone through
And been pulled free
I'd be punching the tar-baby now
Lost and confused

Maybe I'm starting to see...

Not alone

I realized today, toward the end of our Journey with Jesus discussion, that I have sense of being abandoned by God and alone in life. For some reason, every attempt to work with others here has not resulted in a long-term good scenario...I've often wondered if I'm doing something wrong. Or, is this just the way God planned it for me? If so, it would be easier to know--like the prophets were sometimes told.

But God does not usually tell me as much as I'd like to know.

As I pondered, I realized there are so many ways in which I have NOT been left alone.

Financially--I, and staff, and students and all the costs related to the project--have been cared for throughout these years.

As I think about how my views about faith have changed...I'm so glad that the year I realized I had changed and wondered what that would mean going home to my home church--and realized--they had changed too. Half a world a part, not much connected, and yet we had been on parallel journeys, and those who had bee close spiritual companions earlier, still were.  For many it doesn't happen that way.

These are just a few...

God, You have been with me, in so many ways I can see,
 and probably in so many ways I cannot see.
Help me to grow in this. 
May the head knowledge 
become deep transforming assurance and peace.
I am not alone. 
I never have been.
You are here. 
You are beside me.
You are with me.


Laziness

"Over-activity, over-work, and over-involvement are each a cover-up for laziness at the center" 
(Sunder Krishnan quoting a book written by Eugene Peterson)

The laziness of not seeking Christ, staying to listen to Him, hearing from Him. I am too often way too lazy.

Strong enough

















I must be pretty strong then
Some people say I am
I don't feel very strong
Pretty weak
Pretty lost
Pretty helpless
Not strong

But You have made me
Strong enough
Resilient enough

I have survived
I'm still here
I still have hope
And dreams yet to fulfill

How does it go?
"Hard pressed...
But not crushed
Perplexed
But not in despair
Persecuted
But not abandoned
Struck down
But not destroyed"

I don't feel strong
But You have made me
Strong enough

So...

What do You want with me LORD?
What's next?

I see no path getting easier
I see no lighter load
Yet

With tears streaming down my face
I want no other road

There is something up ahead
Something that will make it worth it
You do not promise ease
Or comfort
Or even that I'll know I'm on the right path


Only that You will be with me
And make me
Strong enough



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