There are many books I read once and enjoy. There are some
books I read once and regret that I lost those hours out of my life. And then
there are some books I read over and over again. Yesterday I finished one of those books. The Principle and the Path, by Andy Stanley,
is one of those books that doesn’t tell you anything you don’t already know,
but it tells you in a way that grabs you by the collar and demands your
attention. Where we end up in life, in
every aspect of life, is determined by the direction we have traveled. Sounds simple, but how often do people end up
in a bad place in life and then act surprised, when at the same time, everyone
around them sees their predicament as the expected result of the direction they
had been traveling.
We all think we are the exception to the rule. When it comes
to our marriages, our kids, our money, our health, and our walk with the Lord,
we think that somehow things will just work out for us. Even though most people’s
neglect of those key areas of life end in destruction, it will be different for
us. Andy Stanley reminds us that this is
an absurd way of thinking. We are not
the exception!
Our destination is not determined by our desire or our
intentions. Our destination in every
area of life is determined by the day-by-day direction we have been heading for
months and years.
Yesterday was the first day of my annual study retreat. This is a time I get away and read, pray and
write. These are such refreshing times
for me. And I don’t think there could
have been a better book to start the week. I recommend this short book to every
father, mother, teen, ministry leader, influencer…
If you need a wake-up call, you will find it in this book!
Pastor Noel
