The life you’ve always wanted is a book written by John Ortberg in the year of 1997. The author provides certain activities or practices for the readers through which they can arouse their spiritual sentiments from the inside. He feels that it is high time for human beings to become spiritually disciplined. For such human beings, he uses the word ‘Christ like creatures’ and he believes that it is possible to do so if certain practices were undertaken. The book talks about spirituality and how it can guide an individual to live a positive life with contentment. The language used by the author is simple and easy to understand. It teaches an individual how to attain spirituality by practices servant hood, confession and other useful practices. There are different ways in which an individual can live a happy life and he states some of the ways in his book through his discussion on spirituality. The book is a collection of the author’s thoughts that compels the readers to think too about their own ways of life.
Summary:
The primary profound order highlighted is that of celebration. Time and again the truth of the world myths the truth of the life we had been given. Ortberg (1997) difficulties the book lovers to encounter "Dee Dah Days" in their lives, after the melody his girl would sing as she hit the dance floor with delight. He informs the criticalness regarding remembering good fortune and treating euphoria as a genuine fundamental in life.
Next, Ortberg (1997) distinguishes "slowing", or removing hurry, as a fundamental order. To ace this order, individuals ought to search for circumstances where they are compelled to hold up. Case in point, in the foodstuff, picks the checkout line with the most individuals. Also, polishing isolation takes into account the clamour of the world to disperse and for the smooth of the Lord to enter the heart.
Supplication to God is the following order discussed. Ortberg (1997) puts forth the defence that the request to God does influence the world and is a crucial some piece of a Christian's everyday life. In order to create this order, it is best to save the same time every day and to begin little, with five moment spans, and bit by bit grow the time. Along these lines, individuals can make this a deep rooted practice. Servant hood is the following otherworldly train and is essential fixated on getting less so others can get more. To ace this order, individuals ought to do the unremarkable without searching for much appreciated, be caution for those interferences of there everyday schedules where they can pastor to others, and be in a minute with others instead of centering the discussion on themselves.
With the control of admission, one first looks at the wrongdoings and reasons why they happened. The inquisitor then relates to the individuals who harmed and swears not to rehash the transgression in any capacity. At long last, the inquisitor encounters the beauty of God realizing that he or she was pardoned. The act of mystery includes doing things for others and developing closer to God without trumpeting these deeds to others. In the same way that a spouse and wife have privileged insights they impart just between them, so excessively ought to Christians do great deeds or have encounters with God that are known to just God and them. Therefore, it particularly reinforces Christians who are dependent on the endorsement of others.
In conclusion, reflection on Scripture is vital in getting purged from the common and inundated in the upright methods for God. Ortberg (1997) alerts book fans not to peruse excessively rapidly through Scripture, yet to mull over short sections or expressions in letting God address them through His Word. Ortberg (1997) closes by informing his book fans to have the heart of Jesus in all that they do and to continue on through all trials, little and extensive. Therefore, if an individual follows these practices, he or she can acquire the spirituality in their lives and can give life a new meaning.
Concrete response:
I do practice the principle of confession. I do confess my mistakes at all times. It had made me an honest person. I do have the guts to confess. It is one reason I have so many people relying upon me for years. Once during my childhood days, I broke my father’s favourite coffee cup that was given to him as a memento when he left his college. I was afraid he would scold me or put me in detention. So, I hid the broken cup in my bedroom. My father was upset for losing it. I did not tell him that I broke. I simply hid it without letting him know. He was searching everywhere in the living room along with my mother. They seemed tensed. I could see sadness hover over my father’s face. But after seeing him searching for hours with a sad face, I finally confessed that I broke it. I apologised from the bottom of my heart. He did get angry initially but was happy that I confessed. I was feeling guilty. My guilt was over when I finally confessed. I felt at peace even after getting scolded. But I felt bad for breaking his precious cup. Nonetheless, my mind was finally at peace after confessing. Otherwise, I would never have relieved myself from the guilt. I did manage to fix the cup to join the pieces at least. It made him feel much better later.
Reflection:
I am not a fan of spirituality as such and I was reluctant to read this book. The representation of the ‘I’ in the cover page of the book with a bird was irrelevant. I did not like the title either. But I do appreciate the message of the book and the language that the author has written. Since his written work style overflows benevolence, his topic is significant, and his experiences are "sticky." A year after I first perused it, regardless I’m recollecting focuses he made and seeing the profit they've had on my life. Ortberg is powerless about his imperfections and disappointments. There is roar with laughter jokes. Furthermore, he tells astoundingly important stories.
In the event that you need to change, Ortberg has made the way as clear as could be expected under the circumstances. On the off chance that you don't, he offers true consolation to consider the great way Jesus has displayed for us and calls us to take part in. It isn't "do-it-without anyone else's help" deep sense of being either, however includes a humble dependence of the force of the Holy Spirit. Ortberg delicately and warmly attracts us to rethink how we've been seeking after otherworldly growth. The book is not enlightening; it likewise concentrates on a provision. Every section has little 'stop and reflect' segments that have sound course for what to do.
Application:
In the opening sections, Ortberg cautions us against getting inauthentic, bizarre, judgmental, exhausted, shallow, and silly. I'm liable as charged. I discover it wonderfully simple to float unbalanced in my quest for Jesus. I feel the book has the power to arouse sentiments of spirituality in an individual’s life. It has the power to make an individual feel at peace and also help in realising one’s own goal in life. It also helps us feeling the presence of nature around us and how this beautiful part of the earth is getting destroyed. The book has brought about several changes in me not only in terms of my way of thinking but also in the way I see life. The practice of servant hood is vital to everyone’s life I feel. This is one practice that is new to me and would apply in my life. I have started being more generous and kind to people helping everyone in whichever way I can. The book can provide new dimensions to living life. One can learn how to live life. It would also help people prevent themselves in doing wrong to others. Overall, the book has a lot of things to teach about life and ways of life.
Sources:
Grosch, Paul. (2010). The life you’ve always wanted: summary. Retrieved from http://paulgrosch.blogspot.in/2010/01/summary-of-life-youve-always-wanted-by.html
Weitnauer, Carson. (2011). The life you’ve always wanted: A book review. Retrieved from http://www.reasonsforgod.org/2013/01/the-life-youve-always-wanted-by-john-ortberg-a-book-review/
Anousha, L. (2013). The life you’ve always wanted (John Ortberg). Retrieved from http://www.scribd.com/doc/26960820/The-Life-You-ve-Always-Wanted-John-Ortberg
Dufek, Dan. (2013). The life you’ve always wanted by John Ortberg: A book review. Retrieved from http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/Ortberg%20book%20review%20(3).pdf
Ortberg, John. (1997). The life you’ve always wanted. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data. Zondervan publications.
