How To Use This Site
This site is set up exactly like the book---with a few supplemental 'enhancements'.
The menu in the upper right portion of this window shows the major 'sections'
of the book---and are presented in the proper order from top to bottom.
Here is how the 'navigation' works:
- Clicking on the "Purpose-Driven Life" logo in the upper left corner
will bring you back to this page.
- Clicking on the menu items in the upper right corner of the window will take
you to that section. Then, clicking on the "Select Chapter To Read"
text will drop down a menu of chapters---click on the one you want to read.
- The yellow icons to the right work like a "VCR": The square 'button'
in the middle is to STOP the scrolling of the text. The single arrow pointing
up or down will scroll the text SLOWLY. The double arrows pointing up and down
will scroll the text QUICKLY. The double arrows with the horizontal line pointing
down will take you to the bottom of the text and the similar icon pointing up
will take you back to the beginning of the text.
Reason For This Site
At the end of 2003, I moderated a "Yahoo Group" that brought together
people who were interested in reading the "Purpose-Driven Life" book.
I started the group because some people did not have the 'space' in their schedule
to meet once a week, for six consecutive weeks, in a home to view a 'summary'
video and to further discuss the concepts presented in the book.
The Purpose-Driven Life "campaign" is set up such that the "participant"
reads one five-to-six page chapter each day, and then is 'prompted' by some
questions to do some thoughtful examination of what was said. Each week focuses
on a particular 'concept' or purpose, which is augmented by a weekly discussion
group and viewing of the video.
During the 40 day period our "virtual" group 'met', I sent the members
of the group a daily e-mail that summarized what that day's chapter presented.
Then, each week, I sent them a 'summary' of the concept that was discussed,
and a link to an audio-only version of the 15-20 minute video the "home
groups" saw.
I did very little 'original' writing. The text presented for each chapter is
pretty much taken, word-for-word, from the book. Since each chapter is a 'summary'
of what is said in the book, I just did some editing to 'smooth' the transitions
between the major points.
I hope this site will aid you in absorbing the major concepts of this 'powerful'
book---and will 'spur' you to read the book for yourself---hopefully within
the context of a small group discussion group or, at least, a friend or two.
Introduction
This is more than just another book---it is a guide to a 40-day journey that
will enable you to discover your answer to life's most important question: "What
on Earth am I here for?" Hopefully, by the end of this journey you will
have a much better idea of what your purpose for your life is, and will better
understand the 'big picture'---how all the pieces of your life should 'fit'
together. Having this perspective will reduce your stress, simplify your decisions,
increase your satisfaction, and, most importantly, prepare you for a decision
concerning what could happen to you after you die.
This book is divided into 40 brief chapters---and I strongly urge you to read
ONLY ONE CHAPTER per day, so you will have time to think about the implications,
for your life, of what was presented .
One reason most books don't transform us is that we are so eager to read the
next chapter, that we don't pause and take the time to seriously consider what
we have just read. We rush to the next thought without reflecting on what we
have just been presented.
Don't just read this book. Interact with it---and with us, if you desire. Document
your journey---make it personal! Get a 'spiral-bound' binder to use as a journal
(or purchase one specifically designed for this at www.purposedrivenlife.com---see
Appendix 2). The books that have helped me the most are the ones that I have
'reacted' to---not just read.
I also strongly urge you to SHARE this 'journey' with a friend---and maybe have
a weekly 'get-together' to discuss things further. A journey is always better
when it is shared---you can 'bounce' ideas off each other, helping you understand
the material in a much deeper way. Real growth is never an isolated, individualistic
pursuit. Maturity is produced through relationships and community.
Some may say that composing their thoughts on a daily---or even weekly basis---would
take too much time to do. So, being very conservative, I calculated how much
time it would take to do ALL of the activities I proposed in the 'welcome' letter
you receive with your book. At the 'outside', it would take only 52 hours---realizing
that you will probably be awake, on average, over 600 hours during the next
40 days---not to mention the 383,250 hours the average person will be awake
during their lifetime. It seems to me that this is a very small amount of time
to spend on something that potentially has far-reaching consequences.
To some of you, this seems like pure heresy. But, as we have all heard before,
"Anything that is worth doing, it is worth doing well." There is always
a cost for putting something first in your schedule. But, I believe, that the
rewards for putting God first in your life are unimaginable!
I trust that you will experience the incredible sense of hope, energy, and joy
that comes from discovering why you are on this planet. Many of these concepts
'grabbed' me a few years ago, and I have never been the same since I discovered
the purpose of my life.
I want to challenge you to stick with this spiritual journey for the next 40
days---not missing a single daily reading. Your life is worth taking the time
to think about all these things. Make it a daily appointment on your schedule.
Let's get started together!
Blessings,
Mark Besh
Detroit, Michigan, USA
[Note: I would appreciate any comments or suggestions about how I could make this site more valuable ([email protected])]