Review/Giveaway: There's More to Life Than Making a Living

A WINNING READINGS GIVEAWAY!

Title: There's More to Life Than Making a Living: Mastering Six Key Essentials on the Way to a Life of Significance
Author: Jack C. McDowell with Phil Needham
Genre: Christian living
How to enter: Leave a comment on THIS post right here! If you're a subscriber or a follower, leave a second comment for a second entry.
Entry deadline: February 10, 2010
Restrictions: Open internationally!

That's right, enter right here for this giveaway. This is my review copy, so it has been gently read.

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It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!

Today's Wild Card author is:

Jack C. McDowell
with Phil Needham

and the book:

There's More to Life than Making a Living

FaithWords (November 4, 2009)

***Special thanks to Valerie M. Russo of the Hachette Book Group for sending me a review copy.***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jack C. McDowell was born in Hollywood, California, during the depth of the great depression. He served The Salvation Army for 38 years, devoting his life to the organization's financial needs and dedicated officers. In 2005, Jack endowed and sponsored the opening of The Salvation Army's School for Leadership Development, whose purpose is to build spiritually motivated leaders and equip them with the resources and skills to complete their mission with The Salvation Army.

Product Details:

List Price: $16.99
Hardcover: 208 pages
Publisher: FaithWords (November 4, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0446555940
ISBN-13: 978-044655594

AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:

My Review

How do you define "success?" Some define it by money, some by position. Perhaps you'd prefer using happiness or family and friends as a gauge. I've sometimes thought of it as finding and fulfilling God's purpose in my life, whatever that may be.

As I'm reaching middle age (36 already, gasp), I'm starting to define it differently. Because I realize that even fulfilling God's purpose is something outside of my grasp, unless I let Him fill in all the gaps and make up for my deficiencies. Success to me is simply realizing that I am not, and accepting Christ's perfect record as a substitute on my behalf.

That being said, let's move on to this book. In it, Jack McDowell shares his six keys to a life of significance:

1. find your calling,
2. learn from your experiences,
3. acquire habits that build character,
4. discover the joy of generosity,
5. build relationships for life, and
6. don't retire.

For each key, he elaborates on several actions you should take. For instance, on "build relationships for life," the actions are

1. make and keep genuine friends,
2. if you marry, invest in that person for life,
3. form partnerships that have a compassionate purpose
4. mentor others toward compassion

I found this book to be very well organized, with lots of practical advice. The author, who has lived a life of significance in his career with the Salvation Army, includes examples from his own life. He uses Christ as an example, too, filling the role of mentor.

I've read my share of leadership and business books in my life, particularly nonprofit leadership ones, and this is one of the better books I've seen. And it's from a Christian perspective. If you're looking for a way to make your job or your career more meaningful, this would be a great motivational tool for you.

At the same time, keep in mind that no matter how much good you do; no matter how significant you make yourself in the lives of others, it is only through God's grace that we are "successful" and truly significant.