October 2005 Archives

Zondervan Publishers has launched a free Internet-based Bible search tool at www.zondervanbiblesearch.com. The web site provides Internet users with eight Bible translations: TNIV, NIV, Amplified Bible, NASB Updated, NIRV, KJV, KJV Apocrypha, Darby Bible and the ASV. Other translations will be included as they become available.

www.christianbooksummaries.com

What is a book summary?

A summary is a 5,000-word encapsulation of the book's core content—designed to give the reader the key points and the gist of the book. A summary is not an extended book review; rather it is a thorough presentation of the book's main points, absent any comment on whether we like the book or not.

Recent book summaries available for free:
The Truth About Worldviews, James P. Eckman
The Case for A Creator, Lee Strobel
Getting Through the Tough Stuff, Charles R. Swindoll
Cracking DaVinci's Code, James Garlow and Peter Jones
Indelible Ink, Scott Larsen, Editor

The busyness of my life gets in the way of developing my relationship with God.

The Epidemic of Busyness Among Christian Leaders
by Michael Zigarelli

This is quicksand for those of us who desire to love God, to love neighbors, and to teach others to do the same. The epidemic of busyness is inhibiting relationship with God among those who are in the best positions to be ambassadors of the faith. And tragically, as we Christian leaders sink further into that sand, those who advance competing worldviews are marching ahead.

Of course, hamstrung leadership is only one manifestation of our busyness problem. Being too busy for God also hinders one's ability to be a God-honoring spouse, parent, son, daughter, grandparent, friend, neighbor, church member, volunteer, and so on. An over-extended life leads to less God in one's life, culminating in a less consistent witness—less love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control and other virtues—as a leader and simply as a Christian.

Clearly, this needs to change. God does not call us to a life of hurry, fatigue, and distraction from Him. He calls us to relationship. So to remedy our problem, God has put a self-administered antidote into our hands.

I guess that almost every over-extended Christian reading this article knows about this supernatural antidote. God permits us to choose to live differently. For most people, over-extension is purely a lifestyle choice and as such, the solution is to make a different choice. Do less. Live more simply. Stop taking on so many things and discontinue the relentless pursuit of "more."

Consequently, for those of us who claim to be believers, there's no escaping the question: Am I too busy for God? Have I chosen a lifestyle that permits continuous relationship with God, or one that relegates Him to designated times and places? Is God still my top priority in life, or have I begin begun taking Him for granted?

If the answer to any of those questions is not what it should be, here's an action item for today: Take inventory of the complicated lifestyle you've selected and what that's done to your relationship with God. Do so with the help of a trusted friend, if you can. And then, with this big picture inventory in front of you…well…do something to solve the problem. I certainly don't need to be over-directive here. If there's not enough God in your life, you know what to do about that.