purpose driven life

I have been reading a bit from Rick Warren's "Purpose Driven Life" again. I really do like the clear manner in which he adresses life's most important questions. However, I don't think this book is the new "bible," which you might think if you walked into most Christian book stores. Given its proper place as a tool to help guide us in discovering our own answers to these questions, I think it is an excellent book. I've been re-enjoying the concept that answers to life's problems lie not in "self-help", but in self-sacrifice! Jesus lived according to this idea. He said, "Anyone who wants to be first must be the slave of everyone. Even the Son of Man did not come to be served. Instead, he came to serve others. He came to give his life as the price for setting many people free."Mark 10:44,45. Everywhere we go, we are bombarded with the idea that we must try hard to succeed in life. The strength lies within ourselves and we only need to know how to access it. This is a giant lie. Our strength does not come from within. Our Creator gives us life. He alone gives us each breath we take. Can we, by willing it so, make anything happen? Sorry, Mr. Trump, we cannot. As God asks Job in the book of Job, "Who put wisdom in people's hearts? Who gave understanding to their minds? Who is wise enough to count the clouds? Who can tip over the water jars of the heavens? I tip them over when the ground becomes hard. I do it when the dirt sticks together." Job 38:36-38. So why doesn't God just take away the breath of those who choose themselves over Him? or even those who choose evil over Him? The simple answer is that He gave us free will - the ability to choose. 'Obey me or die' isn't much of a choice! So, even though it is against Him and often to our own hurt and the hurt of others, God remains true to His decision to give us free will. He doesn't just leave us to ourselves or "throw us to the wolves", though. He chases after us, constantly showing us that He has a perfect plan for us. He has provided a way out. But He will not force us to choose that path. He is a loving, ever-gracious God. He never tires of running after us, even when we turn from Him again and again. He has given all creation to remind us of His glory and beauty. He doesn't expect us to be perfect; He knows that we cannot be. He wants us to consider Him. And so, I choose God; I choose life; I choose love; I choose selflessness.