7 Simple Choices for a Better Tomorrow
Life is hard--for everyone. No matter how gifted or fortunate,
everyone will experience some level of disappointment in life:
difficult classes, jobs, relationships, and losses. But by
following basic disciplines anyone can experience accomplishment,
freedom, and ease in navigating through life's daily
challenges.
In this positive, insightful book, Bob Merritt describes a set of
universal principles that work for everyone in every stage of life,
showing that what we do today determines who we become tomorrow.
Anyone who has experienced pain or confusion from lost
opportunities, broken relationships, or a nagging sense of
emptiness will treasure this book that shows them that the best of
life has not passed them by.
From the Back Cover
Discover proven principles for moving from failure to
fulfillment
"When Life's Not Working provides a refreshing confrontation
to the easy life. The life disciplines in this book will lead
readers away from failure and regret to accomplishment and
ease--not easy, but ease in getting 'out of the boat' and on with
navigating through life's daily challenges."--John Ortberg,
author, The Me I Want to Be
"Here's your breakthrough--insightful, practical, biblical wisdom
that can turn your life around!"--Lee Strobel, author,
The Case for the Real Jesus
"This book is Bob Merritt at his best, applying biblical truth to
show the way to life-changing steps of faith. He is a great
storyteller, and readers will be quickly engaged in each moment of
discovery and grace."--George K. Brushaber, president
emeritus, Bethel University; former executive editor,
Christianity Today
"When Life's Not Working contains the simple everyday
choices that will lead to lifelong freedom and achievement, even
for those of us who have made a mess of things along the way. It's
never too late to try life God's way."--from the foreword by
Bill Hybels, senior pastor, Willow Creek Community Church;
chairman of the board, Willow Creek Association
Top Highlights
“A discipline is a behavior, a practice, a way of living that you build into your life so that it becomes a way of life.” (source)
“But then Jesus warned his listeners of two roads: ‘Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it’ (Matt. 7:13–14). Jesus says there are two ways to live life. Not one way, not three ways, but two. The choice that every human being has to make is between a broad road and a narrow road, a careless road and a disciplined road. And you can’t combine the two. You can’t straddle the fence. The Bible says that we have to choose between one of these two roads.” (source)
“A discipline can be learned, but it must be practiced, and it becomes an actual life discipline only when it becomes your natural, automatic response to any and all situations. Disciplines come more naturally to some people than others depending on their upbringing, education, role models, personality, and experience. Today, I am by nature a disciplined person, but it came by watching my father, who was disciplined; he did the right things in the right order, and I reaped the benefits of his consistent life. I never had to guess about his morality, his marriage to my mom, or his commitment to his work or family.” (source)
“ Stanley says, ‘Today’s decisions create tomorrow’s experiences.’” (source)
“It’s the little indiscretions that I try to rationalize away. I’ve always tried to trivialize the little stuff because compared to the big stuff, what’s the big deal? The big deal, I’m learning, is that little stuff often leads to big stuff. And indiscretions are habitual. When I allow myself to cut corners, I’m tempted to do it again and again until it becomes a normal way of behaving that no longer bothers me. The truth is, God isn’t concerned about the size of disobedience; he’s concerned about disobedience.” (source)
Product Details
- Title : 7 Simple Choices for a Better Tomorrow
- Author: Merritt, Bob
- Publisher: Baker
- Publication Date: 2012
- ISBN: 9781441238597
Bob Merritt (PhD, Penn State University) has been senior pastor at Eagle Brook Church, a multi-site church with six locations around the Twin Cities, Minnesota, since 1991. With 18,000 in average weekend attendance, Eagle Brook is the largest church in the upper Midwest. Bob and his wife Laurie have two adult children and a dog named Blue.