Book "The Purpose Driven Life" Need advice please

[kessieann]

I am shopping for my dad's Christmas gifts and I need them to be extra special and meaningful this year because it is almost certain that he will not have another Christmas with us. I found one book on a Father's Legacy that tells his life story and I am going to write it out for him on the pages.

The other book that was highly recommended by the book store clerk was "The Purpose Driven Life". He can't read anymore so I bought it on CD but now I can't look through it obvously. What I need to know from anyone who has read it is this: is it an appropriate book for someone at the end of his journey? He has not accepted that the end is near (who can blame him) and I am looking for something spiritual that will comfort him.

He is a devout Catholic. He has always been very sure of the Catholic practices and followed it to a T. Recently he has come to question the "why" of his disease and even his faith. I do believe he has gotten through this questioning period.

Would this be an appropriate book for someone in this position or is it totally the wrong thing for someone in this position? I am plodding through the 264 reviews on Amazon but they have not yet addressed my specific question.

Thank you so much. I just want to do the best I can to bring him some peace.

 

[Rock'n Robin]

I don't know about this. I just read this book as part of a program at our church called "40 days of purpose". The main idea is to find out what your mission is and use your spiritual gifts in fellowship, ministry, etc. The program is designed to get the church motivated, and in truth our attendance is up. It is a national program. Perhaps you could do a search on "40 days of purpose" and it would give you a better idea about the book. But I don't know why someone knowing the end of the journey is near would want to figure out in what mission they can best use their spiritual gifts.
Robin M.

 

[pnelson]

Well, I bought my husband a book called "Why a son needs a father". It's very short reading with meaningful quotes, etc. It's very emotional. They also had "Why a daughter needs a father". I'm not sure if you're a "son" or a "daughter" but it might be meaningful for you to read to him together.

 

[kessieann]

Daughter

Well, I think that I have now read enough reviews on Amazon to realize that this is not going to be a book for a devout Catholic. I know my mom had been reading quite a few books to him on Life after Death so I think I am going to rethink the whole thing and give him something different all together.

It is just so hard to shop for him this year because I practically end up crying every time I start looking for things.

 

[apulk]

Like the other poster -- we (wife and I) went through this as part of a 40 Days of Purpose event at our church. Liked the book a lot and so I say it wouldn't be a bad one to give at all. Check out this link -- it's a search of CD resources available on www.equip.org (The Bible Answer Man). The CD Book titled: The Listener's Psalms & Proverbs sounds pretty interesting. For relection on the past and for Hope for the future -- the Psalms are a great place to look.

Good luck and Merry Christmas

Andy



http://www.equip.org/store/index.as...1&Range=10000&Topic=0&submitButtonName=Search

 

[Alice28]

I also read the book as part of a series at church and found it very helpful, not only in getting me thinking about how I can serve my church better, but what *really* matters in life and what is just fluff. I don't know if it the book you are looking for, but I thought it was a thought provoking book and a good read for anyone searching for some realistic spiritual answers.