It’s Not About Me: Rescue From the Life We Thought Would Make Us Happy
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- ISBN13: 9781591450429
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Product Description
THERE REALLY IS MORE TO THIS LIFE THAN YOU’VE BEEN TOLD
We’ve been demanding our way since day one…
“I want a spouse that makes me pleased and co-workers that permanently question my opinion.”
“I want weather that suits me and traffic that helps me and a government that serves me.”
Self-promotion. Self-preservation. Self-centeredness…
“IT’S ALL ABOUT ME.”
They all told us it was, didn’t they? And we took them up on it. We though self-celebration would make us pleased…
But believing that has made chaos-loud homes, stress-filled business, cutthroat relationships. We’ve chases do many emaciated rabbits, says Max Lucado, that we’ve missed the stout one: the God-centered life.
If you want to shift into high gear with purpose, this is it: Life makes sense when we accept our place! Our pleasures, our problems, our gifts and talents…when they’re all for the One who made us, we suddenly gain what we’ve been missing and find out what we’ve been seeking.
Let Max Lucado show you how to make the shift of a lifetime. How to bump your life off self-center. How to be changed and experience the meaning-charged life you were meant to have. Your discovery starts here.
Buy Cheap It’s Not About Me: Rescue From the Life We Thought Would Make Us Pleased Online
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1. Authors purpose
Several weeks ago a excellent friend of mine, Pastor Dylan Richards said that now frequently heard line of… “Every pastor should have to read this book”. He was of course talking about Max Lucado’s It’s Not About Me and as I usually do when I hear this axiom I bought a copy of the book and read it expecting new insights into the ministry of Christ. But I should say that while I agree with the authors point, I find myself more than a small disappointed with the book as a whole.
Expecting a perfect book of multi-faceted purposes, and easily adaptable ministerial applications, I establish myself reading what can only be described as the single most simplistic book since Hop on Pop by Dr. Seuss took up space upon my bookshelf. As a replacement for of complexity; as a replacement for of copious tales about people falling from the heights of selfish ministry I establish a book about one thing. This book delivers just what it says it will. It is about one thing… It’s Not About Me.
The leader’s purpose is just that. Max Lucado seeks to reiterate the same tale over and over again. His point is to make the reader see that God is what is really central to the Bible, to our lives, to Him and to everything in between. Everything is about God’s glory.
Mr. Lucado has taken a very simple and truthful statement from Paul, namely that “we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were building an appeal through us” and made an entire book about it (2 Cor. 5:20). Though it is a excellent topic and though our self-centeredness does need to be addressed, it is a simplistic look at a topic and this book could easily have addressed more complex issues. The print is large, many pages are blank or needless, the spacing is off and discussion notes take up nearly one third of the book. Sadly, it seems to me that the leader’s right purpose was small more than the production of a quickly thrown together manuscript.
2. Suggested solutions
In reality the book really has no suggestions. It is more about the fleeting tale
than anything. Amidst the vast number of narrative there is the overriding
suggestion that (Fill in the Blank) is not about me. No solutions are suggested, nor is there any statement about how humanity might seek to redirect its self centeredness. As a replacement for there is only the constant repetition that God and his glory are at the center of everything. As such, the following sections of agreement and disagreement will focus not on absent suggested solution but on a number of statements in the book.
a. Agreement
At this point I feel that it is vital to point out that this book is not lacking
its excellent points. In fact the premise, though limited as it is, is dead on. The world has become selfish. Christians are continually apt more and more egocentric. Max Lucado has a wonderful point. He simply chose to do small with it.
The thought but is inspiring. Image what would take place if people in
churches today would apply this lesson to tithing? What if the people of the church would apply this lesson to God-centered musical selections? Imagine if pastors would stop worrying about so much of the horizontal aspects of preaching and focus on the worship of the perfect and loving God. What would take place if believers stopped focusing on the size of the house or the year of the car in the driveway and ongoing focusing on being mirrors and representatives of God. Max Lucado has taken a wonderful truth straight out of the Bible and this deserves our time and our thoughts. It is right; it isn’t about us! It is about God!
I would also like to say that Mr. Lucado does a wonderful job of personalizing his points: The thought that we must fix our eyes upon the Father is told perfectly (21). We are similar to the moon, meant to reflect the light of the sun/Son (6). Christ did seek only to elevate the name of the Father, even in his time of pain. (30). God is permanently present and faithful (60). Everything does exist for His glory (28). “The cross will not lose its power. The blood of Christ will not fade in might” (65). God will not give you more than you can handle (75). We are meant to reflect God’s glory (82). We cannot add to His perfect plans. God should be trusted above our own works (101). Our bodies are not our own. Our world is not our own. It is all His (114). Our struggles are about Him (122). Our successes are about Him (132). We do only exist to elevate the name of God (145). And Max Lucado is right… It’s Not About Me!
b. Disagreement
The first thing I noticed that I establish to be unsettling was this statement made
in the Forwards by Mr. Lucado’s friend, David Robinson who’s tale is used as an inspiration in this book. He writes, “trying to make life `all about us’ pushes happiness further out of reach.” (xiii) Later Robinson follows this statement up with, “a God centric lifestyle would free us to live life to the fullest!” (xiv) It’s not so much that I disagree with these points, but when the concept of the book is about focusing on God for God’s sake and not for our own ends, it seems so counterproductive to see the forwards be so self-centered. If we are really all ears upon God what do we care about our own “happiness” and comfortably and how closely in reach it is? If we are so all ears on God for His sake that what does being free to “live life to the fullest” have to do with anything. If we are to focus on God simply to elevate His name (and we are) than glory to God in and of it self should be sufficient.
Sorry to say this double talk does not end with Robinson but finds its way into the words of Max Lucado as well. On page 9 he writes, “we might just learn out place in the universe” suggesting more selfish motives. And this goes on and on. Each chapter tells the reader to focus on God because He is God and we are not and yet at the same time includes some kind of self-centered statement about what humanity can gain from this. In my opinion the book is descent, the tales wonderful (and may become illustrations of my own) and the main point is flawless, but the book and its writer do not pursue the issues far enough and do not hold the fort.
3. Usefulness to ministry
At this point I want to talk about Chapter 9. This is the single most redeeming part of this book. This section is authentic. It is biblical and it is extremely adaptable to life in ministry. Chapter 9 is a six page section in the direct center of the book focusing on God’s message and His messengers. It is honest and it is impacting.
In this section Max Lucado writes about two very appealing examples of messengers. He writes first about the famed postal riders know as the Pony Prompt. The riders he clarifies are not the writers of the letters but rather the people who deliver the message. The messengers are not as vital as the message, they stand for something more, something privileged. They stand for an ideal. They serve and vital purpose but they can no more take credit for the letters they deliver than an astronaut can take credit for the universe he might photograph.
The second example that is agreed is that of a tour guide. The tour guide in this particular tale starts off well by showing people to the worlds most incredible paintings. At first he tells people only the necessary information. At first he gives the people the picture and steps out of the way. But as time goes on the tour guide starts to place himself in the place of the paintings. He takes up more and more time with himself and starts to get in the way, even going so far as to thank people who like the fantastic works as if they were his own paintings.
Both tales are very fitting to today’s preaching styles. I cannot tell you how many times I have heard tale after tale (many examples from the pastors own life) about people and situations. Today’s sermons are quickly apt less and less about God and more and more about the pastor or about only the application or about the people. Don’t get me incorrect, preaching ministry is one of the most complex and hard tasks to tackle. Tales are nearly essential at this point in history. People do need examples, people do need personal examples, people do need application and attention. But these things are not central, they are secondary. It is all about Him, and should not be all about me.
In the past few weeks I have had a number of wonderful exchanges with people. Lately people have been remembering sections of sermons that I had done over a year ago and have repeated persons tales back to me. Some have remembered the premise of the tales, some the majority of the sermon. One woman had memorized the lengthy verses that the message was based upon. And I can say lacking any reservation that this has all made me feel wonderful. I am so glad that people have been impacted by my words. But in reality I deserve none of the credit. As soon as I start to take center stage or if a person remembers my tale but not the Word of God it came attached to, I have failed. Because it is at that point that I have taken credit for the letter. It is at that point that I have stepped in front of the wonderful work of God and said “thanks” as if I were the composer. This chapter is a wonderful reminder of God’s centrality in everything. It is for this reason that I can recommend this book. If for no additional reason than the reading of six pages, it is worth it. After all It’s Not About Me.
Synopsis: Grading the book
Organization
The book is simple. The chapters are not progressive or in need of a particular arrangement. But the book is straightforward and easily set up. (7)
Clear statement of purpose
The title tells all. Though the title, the introduction and every chapter in the book tells us that “it’s not about me” the purpose for this is lost somewhere. The statement is the purpose I suppose. We are clearly meant to assume the purpose is this – We need to see that It is all about Him. (7)
Readability
Reasonably simply this book is written at about a fourth grade level. The trend today is to avoid complexity. People are considered “excellent authors” if they can communicate to the masses in fleeting sentences and tiny words. I disagree wholeheartedly. Give me the fruitfulness of Kant the passion of Calvin. I want to see the leader in his work. But though it is not my style it is very readable. (10)
Informative content
I learned nothing in the book that I could not say I had not already known. The information was simple and obvious. The content was featureless. I would have agreed it a (1) but it did serve the purpose of a much needed reminder. (3)
Usefulness in understanding/practicing ministry
We all need to be reminded that it is all about God and since I can reflect of no better line of reasoning for today’s selfish Christian (all of us) I cannot help but give top inscription for usefulness. (10)
Reader’s Rating: 3 / 5
In a world that is all ears on “what’s in it for me,” we need a strong reminder that the world revolves around the “Son”, not around me. This book, but, does not accomplish this, in my estimation. It left me feeling sad, and wondering if the only reason that God made me was to have a puppet standing by to slavishly bow down. I judge that we owe God all honor and praise, but as His children, not as worms. After reading this book, I felt more closely related to the worms than to the Father. This stands in stark contrast to the Max Lucado books that I have read in the past. Previously I have felt inspired and motivated. This time I felt discouraged and hopeless. I recommend skipping this book in favor of additional Lucado books.
Reader’s Rating: 1 / 5
Somehow, I’ve managed to be a Christian for over a decade lacking ever reading a book by Max Lucado, though of course, I’m reasonably familiar with his name. I selected up this book because the theme matter sounded excellent. Sorry to say, Mr. Lucado’s writing, which was full of jokes, regularly inappropriate, as well as his quoting of The Message Bible (which is not at all faithful to the Word of God), soon turned me away. In addition, he seemed to say the same thing a thousand times and to just be padding the book, which is still only 140 pages!
Here’s an example of the constant joking: “The moon is pleased to do so! [to reflect the glory of the sun] You never hear the moon complaining. She makes no waves about building waves. Let the cow jump over her or astronauts step on her; she never objects. Even though sunning is accepted while mooning is the butt of terrible jokes, you won’t hear ol’ Cheeseface grumble.” p 6 I feel the sunning and mooning bit is inappropriate in any context. The example of the moon shiny the sun’s glory was fine, but all of the additional joking distracts from his message. And there were copious additional examples in the 27 pages I read of this constant joking.
Are you familiar with Psalm 29, which starts (in the NKJV), “Give unto the Lord, O you mighty ones, Give unto the Lord Glory and might. Give unto the Lord the glory due to His name; Worship the Lord in the beauty of consecration.” Well he quotes The Message Bible which starts the psalm, “Bravo, God, bravo! Gods and all angels shout, “Encore!” In awe before the glory, in awe before God’s visible power. Stand at attention! Dress your best to honor Him!” That is NOT the Word of God! And it doesn’t even capture much of the meaning. How does worshipping the Lord in the beauty of consecration become about dressing our best to honor Him?????
And persons first 27 pages could have been condensed into 4 or 5 once you removed the joking and the constant repetitiveness. Each chapter really felt like a 1-page devotional padded with fluff to make it into a whole chapter.
Certainly pass on this book. Maybe additional books by this leader are more appropriate, but I don’t expect to be reading any others to be finding out. I’m very disappointed.
Reader’s Rating: 1 / 5
I am a huge Max Lucado fan. I have read most of his books and I have establish them very encouraging and challenging. But I have to say that this latest book is very disappointing. From the start, the hardback version is printed in huge letters, like a children’s book. A poor effort! The written material was also poor. What a wonderful theme to write about. There was the chance for Lucado to reach down into this topic of our lives revolving around God and teach us so much. The whole Bible is about this theme!! I am sorry Max but you let us all down with this book. It appears a book written when you had some spare time rather than something written with passion and conviction. On this topic I would turn to Oswald Chambers, DL Temperamental or JI Packer.
Reader’s Rating: 3 / 5
I’ve been a reader of Max Lucado for a long time – but his books have gotten breezier and shorter as time goes by. This is one of the most light-weight, unhelpful and uncompassionate books I’ve read.
First – its amusing for the book to be titled “It’s Not About Me” because Its All about him. Tales about Max’s Daughter, About moving to a larger house and leaving his ancient one behind (must we be pummelled by his success to learn about change?), his feelings. Moses and Isaiah get excellent mentions – but not as much as Max.
Second – there is no real world recognition or compassion. A woman in a 17 year marraige to an alcoholic “Stay in it – God has glory for you” , People with growth “God says you’re suffering for Glory” – As a pastor who sees what an abusive marriage does to parishoners, what faith crisis happens because of cancer – a quick fix and pithy adage is much less than required. Real people with real problems are hurting. They require more than a pithy adage about Glory with an exclamation point at the end.
Finally, for a name who is adage we need to drop our thoughts of success and live for God – why is a retire NBA player writing the forwards? Is he a theologian? No! Is he a missionary? He’s a basketball player. Its hypocrisy at worst, and pointless at best.
Reader’s Rating: 1 / 5