Interview With Rick Warren

[Doug64]

I have not been a particular fan of his, but this is good.
Doug



Interview With the Author of The Purpose Driven Life

Some words to live by. FYI he also wrote a book called Purpose Driven
Church.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
About Rick Warren (REMEMBER HE WROTE PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE)

You will enjoy the new insights that Rick Warren has, with his wife now
having cancer and him having "wealth" from the book sales. This is an
absolutely incredible short interview with Rick Warren,

In the interview by Paul Bradshaw with Rick Warren, Rick said:

People ask me, What is the purpose of life?
And I respond: In a nutshell, life is preparation for eternity. We
were made to last forever, and God wants us to be with Him in Heaven.

One day my heart is going to stop, and that will be the end of my body--
but not the end of me.

I may live 60 to 100 years on earth, but I am going to spend trillions
of years in eternity. This is the warm-up act - the dress rehearsal.
God wants us to practice on earth what we will do forever in eternity.

We were made by God and for God, and until you figure that out, life
isn't going to make sense.

Life is a series of problems: Either you are in one now, you're just
coming out of one, or you're getting ready to go into another one.

The reason for this is that God is more interested in your character
than your comfort.

God is more interested in making your life holy than He is in making
your life happy.

We can be reasonably happy here on earth, but that's not the goal of
life. The goal is to grow in character, in Christ likeness.

This past year has been the greatest year of my life but also the
toughest, with my wife, Kay, getting cancer.

I used to think that life was hills and valleys - you go through a dark
time, then you go to the mountaintop, back and forth. I don't believe
that anymore.

Rather than life being hills and valleys, I believe that it's kind of
like two rails on a railroad track, and at all times you have something
good and something bad in your life.

No matter how good things are in your life, there is always something
bad that needs to be worked on.

And no matter how bad things are in your life, there is always something
good you can thank God for.

You can focus on your purposes, or you can focus on your problems.

If you focus on your problems, you're going into
self-centeredness,"which is my problem, my issues, my pain." But one of
the easiest ways to get rid of pain is to get your focus off yourself
and onto God and others.

We discovered quickly that in spite of the prayers of hundreds of
thousands of people, God was not going to heal Kay or make it easy for her.

It has been very difficult for her, and yet God has strengthened her
character, given her a ministry of helping other people, given her a
testimony, drawn her closer to Him and to people.

You have to learn to deal with both the good and the bad of life.

Actually, sometimes learning to deal with the good is harder. For
instance, this past year, all of a sudden, when the book sold 15 million
copies, it made me instantly very wealthy.

It also brought a lot of notoriety that I had never had to deal with
before. I don't think God gives you money or notoriety for your own ego
or for you to live a life of ease.

So I began to ask God what He wanted me to do with this money, notoriety
and influence. He gave me two different passages that helped me decide
what to do, II Corinthians 9 and Psalm 72.

First, in spite of all the money coming in, we would not change our
lifestyle one bit. We made no major purchases.

Second, about midway through last year, I stopped taking a salary from
the church. Third, we set up foundations to fund an initiative we call
The Peace Plan to plant churches, equip leaders, assist the poor, care
for the sick, and educate the next generation.

Fourth, I added up all that the church had paid me in the 24 years since
I started the church, and I gave it all back. It was liberating to be
able to serve God for free.

We need to ask ourselves: Am I going to live for possessions? Popularity?

Am I going to be driven by pressures? Guilt? Bitterness? Materialism? Or
am I going to be driven by God's purposes (for my life)?

When I get up in the morning, I sit on the side of my bed and say, God,
if I don't get anything else done today, I want to know You more and
love You better. God didn't put me on earth just to fulfill a to-do
list. He's more interested in what I am than what I do.

That's why we're called human beings, not human doings.

Happy moments, PRAISE GOD.
Difficult moments, SEEK GOD.
Quiet moments, WORSHIP GOD.
Pain full moments, TRUST GOD.
Every moment, THANK GOD.

[SueJean]

Thanks for posting this. What I read felt real.

[jimsmuse]

This is the meat of the Purpose Driven Life (and Church) book. He just reiterated it. We "did" the 40 Days of Purpose at the SA church. We cleared the calendar and had special services for 6 weeks, we thought "out of the box" and my husband and I about killed ourselves pulling this off. God showed up in mighty ways because we were seeking Him and HIS PURPOSE and a handful of "insiders" became irate and when it was over, even though people were coming together and sharing and learning how to be a place for the "outsiders", the "POWERS that be" shut it down. I am sorry anyone thought that Rick Warren was just another prosperity preacher or what ever. What God has shown him is a powerful indictment of the "institutional church" staus quo. That was the begining of leadership trying to find a way to get rid of us.

[Reg]

I have not been a particular fan of his, but this is good.
Doug



Interview With the Author of The Purpose Driven Life

Some words to live by. FYI he also wrote a book called Purpose Driven
Church.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
About Rick Warren (REMEMBER HE WROTE PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE)

snip

Actually, sometimes learning to deal with the good is harder. For
instance, this past year, all of a sudden, when the book sold 15 million
copies, it made me instantly very wealthy.

It also brought a lot of notoriety that I had never had to deal with
before. I don't think God gives you money or notoriety for your own ego
or for you to live a life of ease.

snip

First, in spite of all the money coming in, we would not change our
lifestyle one bit. We made no major purchases.

Second, about midway through last year, I stopped taking a salary from
the church. Third, we set up foundations to fund an initiative we call
The Peace Plan to plant churches, equip leaders, assist the poor, care
for the sick, and educate the next generation.

Fourth, I added up all that the church had paid me in the 24 years since
I started the church, and I gave it all back. It was liberating to be
able to serve God for free.

snip

That's why we're called human beings, not human doings.

Happy moments, PRAISE GOD.
Difficult moments, SEEK GOD.
Quiet moments, WORSHIP GOD.
Pain full moments, TRUST GOD.
Every moment, THANK GOD.
Agreed Doug.

I had the opportunity to go to Saddleback twice for their CR Conference. For the most part, I liked what I saw and experienced. Rick seemed to me to be genuine and sincere. This proves it to me.

I liked these parts the best. Finally, not longer a hired servant. I wonder if the other large mega churches will take his lead. :confused:

[renee nelson]

God didn't put me on earth just to fulfill a to-do
list. He's more interested in what I am than what I do.
.

Thank you for posting that. I liked the article a lot. I've always liked Rick Warren, but my smart friend (Lisa) says that indicates a lack of discernment on my part.

[renee nelson]

Is it a red flag to any one that he did not mention Jesus? Also, we are not supposed to tell/brag about what good deeds we've done or $ given are we?

[Jo Jo]

I've heard Rick talk and he seems very very nice. I think he's sincere and wants to help people. I've heard a lot of his stuff before it's positive thinking with very generous overtones, which is wonderful! But he's not my type of tea. I really don't think his kind of life style is a long term possibility. I think it can work and help for awhile. And like all things Christian system people can be helped in it and people can be hurt in it. (work harder, try harder, you're not doing it right, give away more money) I believe it's one of those system kind of formats.

hmmmm How do I explain this. Well, like here's a life, here's a program... fit me into it. Biological life forms aren't that convenient. I'm not saying it wouldn't be nice... it's just not that convenient. It works for a while. But honestly... add a wife/husband, a kid, a job, a dog, a car. Boy, are things going to get messy and the person trying to fit tab A into slot B is going to get all pissed - (that dang family and job and God is ruining my plans). That's all. That's my opinion on Rick Warren. I'm an artist basically... I like life to be just more 'life like' than all that. I just learned after trying to fit myself into many many wonderful Godly programs, to daily walk with God.

Another warning here I heard these from the very start from the church and cult I just came from, I don't think they are new - I heard them from the start of the Toronto Blessing that would be back in about 1992:

That's why we're called human beings, not human doings.

God is more interested in your character
than your comfort.

God is more interested in making your life holy than He is in making
your life happy.

God is more interested in making your life holy than He is in making
your life happy.


And a lot of those other things are they new?

I think it's great if you like him and he works for you, but I think his stuff really looks like a YOU work harder, YOU try harder, YOU be better person program, even though it's decorated with grace... am I wrong on this?

[renee nelson]

WOW!!!!! Jo Jo I just put down my avacado salad so I could tell you WOW!!!! you really made some good points. I'll be thinking about them:rolleyes:

[tke316]

Is it a red flag to any one that he did not mention Jesus? Also, we are not supposed to tell/brag about what good deeds we've done or $ given are we?

Just for grins and giggles I'll point out that he did mention "The goal is to grow in character, in Christ likeness." :D

[ex-shep]

I may live 60 to 100 years on earth, but I am going to spend trillions
of years in eternity. This is the warm-up act - the dress rehearsal.
God wants us to practice on earth what we will do forever in eternity.

Well I can see where the pastor gets his material. Nothing wrong with it at all. It was just a curious now that is where he came up with that.

[ex-shep]

Agreed Doug.

I had the opportunity to go to Saddleback twice for their CR Conference. For the most part, I liked what I saw and experienced. Rick seemed to me to be genuine and sincere. This proves it to me.

I liked these parts the best. Finally, not longer a hired servant. I wonder if the other large mega churches will take his lead. :confused:

Was involved with CR at church myself. I had to back off lest I be overcommitted. Good group.

[renee nelson]

[QUOTE=Jo Jo; I just learned after trying to fit myself into many many wonderful Godly programs, to daily walk with God.
QUOTE]
That's so full of grace Jo Jo!!!
In our church my ex pastor all ways had all this stuff we were "called" to do and I failed miseriblly at it, especially the fasts. This left me feeling like I was not good enough, not dysciplined enough and not worthy of God's blessing. I'm getting back to a place where I am under grace. I think I can follow Jesus OK because His yoke is light. What a relief to dump some of this garbage I bought into. It didn't work for my ex pastor either. He also put himself under the law and now he is in horrible misery, estranged from his wife and kid's and responsible for breaking up a lovely family of 7.
The weird thing is that the church is still carrying on with the 12X12 program the old pastor initiated. It is where you pray for 12 hours every 12 days. They have 3 months of that to go. Perhaps when we get a new permanent pastor things will go in a different direction. Although I'm wondering if the whole Foursquare denomination is a rotten tree.

[Willow]

I have to admit that the terminology was a huge trigger for me and I never read the book. Here's how my head interprets the title:

Purpose = to focus on a goal at the expense of relational thinking

Driven = to go at this goal frantically and neglect your own needs in order to fulfill the good of the whole.

Life = You do this ALL YOUR LIFE and in EVERY FACET! ACKKK

PRESSURE PRESSURE... couldn't even fathom reading it, although I'm sure Rick has some very good teachings.

[jimsmuse]

:) I don't mean to sound like Rick Warren's publicist or apologist but I just want to clarify 2 things just because I think there is a misunderstanding about what he espouses. As a staff member at a"programs driving you in the ground church" I read this book and that book helped me be set free from the program mindset. It's just about the fact that you (anyone) is created for a purpose, no one is an accident. You were created for a purpose here on earth as well as eternity. We are created to worship and to "minister" to others which only means,feed the poor,clothe the poor, visit the sicke etc. I have watched people be given hope from what he says in the book. He also doesn't use Christianese, any one from any "religious" background can understand him and is not put off by Jesus being in every sentence but, at the same time, He is. This is just my 2 cents from my experience:p

I just don't think he deserves to be painted with a broad brush because he is the Pastor of a mega-church. I have also heard him in person and he is a very genuine human being. I know he seems to talk about his good works but I just think it's because he is under a microscope and because people want to know what he is doing with all the proceeds of his "enterprise". Obviously, I reckon I'm a little sensitive to any one who may be "misunderstood" ? :D

[ex-shep]

I have to admit that the terminology was a huge trigger for me and I never read the book. Here's how my head interprets the title:

Purpose = to focus on a goal at the expense of relational thinking

Driven = to go at this goal frantically and neglect your own needs in order to fulfill the good of the whole.

Life = You do this ALL YOUR LIFE and in EVERY FACET! ACKKK

PRESSURE PRESSURE... couldn't even fathom reading it, although I'm sure Rick has some very good teachings.

The old tapes do get maddening. I freaked out and bolted from a church because the new pastor wanted to shepherd the flock. In all fairness, I believe he was using the model of Jesus being the good shepherd. For one who came out of shepherding, it was a big time trigger.

I have watched the in house training tapes Rick Warren does for Celebrate Recovery. I felt comfortable with them. I have heard a testimony of a member from an abusive church on a Celebrate Recovery tape. So Warren does have an understanding that churches can go bad.

[Jo Jo]

Yes, I agree with the fact that he does seem to be a good person, he does seem to be sincere. I know he was sharing his own experiences to show who he was and that he was real. I think it's great it is into action faith... the rubber meets the road. The church I came from were so scared of this they did nothing... that was evil. I had heard of what he called Action faith can be taken and turned into performance faith, that is just my concern. That is not his goal for his teaching I'm sure...

I just was saying I already heard, since 1992, many of his 'new insights'. New insights sell books. I guess that meant new insight for himself. That's probably where I'm misunderstanding.

That's why we're called human beings, not human doings.

God is more interested in your character
than your comfort.

God is more interested in making your life holy than He is in making
your life happy.

God is more interested in making your life holy than He is in making
your life happy.

My church was able to take these things and make God and angry island god demanding human sacrifice. They started out using it as beautiful motivation to take us out of center place of our lives and still experience the grace of God. In the end it was used as a "we're better than you" motivation. And still we weren't able to do service on God's part.

I know this has to do with my own individual scars from my church experiences. I just thought I should let you know, these weren't 'new' insights, but I don't think you guys thought they were.

[jimsmuse]

I'm sorry JoJo, you are such a great heart, I am so sorry you were run over becase of it. Thank you for sharing your insight,

Love ya!

[Jo Jo]

I'm sorry JoJo, you are such a great heart

Oh gosh, thanks for the compliment, but barely and not all the time. :rolleyes: ;) I guess it all depends what are experiences are. I'm glad you have a good experience with him and it's really helped you. :)

[clementine]

We have been in 2 abusive churches who did 40 days of purpose. One rammed 40 days of purpose down everyone's throat with no consultation. It was totally over the top. They made everyone do it. Not everyone agreed with it. The attitude was to cut anyone loose who didn't go along with it. My dad was one of the people cut loose. He just wanted to lie low until it was all over but he was hassled so much because he didn't agree with it. My husband and I tried to read the book but had so many problems with it we couldn't finish it. Won't go into it here because it's not the right forum...but just to say that there is something a bit concerning about the way it's become almost an obsession in some churches to the point of not being up for discussion. Don't get me wrong...I don't think this phenomenon is about 40 days but more about where churches are at. But still. I was curious to see if anyone else has had this experience.
Clementine

[Carmen]

My parents didn't go through the 40 day's program, they left the church they were at not too long after the RW stuff was introduced. The pastor was buying RW's sermons and wanted it taught in the bible studies. My parents were already questioning whether what the pastor was teaching was biblical (my mom was in charge of a study and my dad an established presence in one men's group). They seriously doubted it. The music had already become more repetitive yet more palatable for "the young people," a music minister was hired from outside. I had given my parents material about RW's teaching, they worked through it, then gave it to the pastor and asked him to reconsider whether what he was teaching was biblical. He told them not to come to the extra group meeting that had started that contained more concentrated RW teaching, they would just make waves. Not long after that they found another church to go to. Their former church lost a lot of members after that.

I have read the books, PDC was a trigger for me, from front to back.

[yeshua'smags]

Just for grins and giggles I'll point out that he did mention "The goal is to grow in character, in Christ likeness." :D

(((TKE!!)))
I'm so happy to hear from you! I've missed your "just for grins and giggles"! You should do it more often and keep us in line.....:D :D :D

[jimsmuse]

My parents didn't go through the 40 day's program, they left the church they were at not too long after the RW stuff was introduced. The pastor was buying RW's sermons and wanted it taught in the bible studies. My parents were already questioning whether what the pastor was teaching was biblical (my mom was in charge of a study and my dad an established presence in one men's group). They seriously doubted it. The music had already become more repetitive yet more palatable for "the young people," a music minister was hired from outside. I had given my parents material about RW's teaching, they worked through it, then gave it to the pastor and asked him to reconsider whether what he was teaching was biblical. He told them not to come to the extra group meeting that had started that contained more concentrated RW teaching, they would just make waves. Not long after that they found another church to go to. Their former church lost a lot of members after that.

I have read the books, PDC was a trigger for me, from front to back.


I am so sorry Carmen and Clementine, I guess I am learning how somethings are better left unchampioned! I certainly do not mean to cheerlead anything that was used to abuse. I love all of you very much......

[clementine]

Hi Marcy,
No hard feelings at all...:)
I'm just up for some healthy debate on things.
I like to question stuff - it's not personal though.
Maybe I'm just too skeptical these days?
Symptom of spiritual abuse perhaps?
Didn't mean to 'rain on your parade' so to speak.
Sorry if I did.
Peace
Clementine

[Carmen]

I am so sorry Carmen and Clementine, I guess I am learning how somethings are better left unchampioned! I certainly do not mean to cheerlead anything that was used to abuse. I love all of you very much......

Cheerleading is your opinion, and that is okay. :)

[jimsmuse]

Hi Marcy,
No hard feelings at all...:)
I'm just up for some healthy debate on things.
I like to question stuff - it's not personal though.
Maybe I'm just too skeptical these days?
Symptom of spiritual abuse perhaps?
Didn't mean to 'rain on your parade' so to speak.
Sorry if I did.
Peace
Clementine



Thank you sweet people! I, too, am always up for some healthy debate and that's why sometimes I don't pay attention to what could possibly be thimping people upside the head :o :D

Since what we did with the 40 Days was to try to pull "churchy" people out of their apathy and just become more winsome and also try to become more about the "unreached" I never saw it as possibly abusive obviously. If you want to, I would be interested to know why it is thought to be unbiblical. :eek: I am just askin' and if you would rather pm me with the answer and let this thread go, that is fine!

[Carmen]

Thank you sweet people! I, too, am always up for some healthy debate and that's why sometimes I don't pay attention to what could possibly be thimping people upside the head :o :D

Since what we did with the 40 Days was to try to pull "churchy" people out of their apathy and just become more winsome and also try to become more about the "unreached" I never saw it as possibly abusive obviously. If you want to, I would be interested to know why it is thought to be unbiblical. :eek: I am just askin' and if you would rather pm me with the answer and let this thread go, that is fine!

I keep planning to write something up about the PDC, but it would be extensive, I have an angle I have not seen yet and have done research for it, but am still searching for some info. The theme itself is already kinda old to write about, I should have done it earlier. Here is one review that seems balanced to me, it lists good points, bad points and contains theological analysis.

http://www.9marks.org/partner/Article_Display_Page/0,,PTID314526%7CCHID598026%7CCIID1918134,00.html

Take what you like and leave the rest.