A Passionate Life [Paperback]

Mike Breen (Author), Walt Kalestad (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 5, 2005

Countless people today are disappointed with the way their lives are going. Although they truly believe they were created for a Divine purpose, deep in their hearts, they wonder What's so great about knowing God? Perhaps you can relate. Do you have friends who talk about how wonderful God is and what he's doing in their lives and secretly long to know him the same way? maybe you go to church every week, only to go away empty and thinking There's got to be more.

There is more and mdash;much more! Author's Mike Breen and Walt Kallestad want to show you how to live A Passionate Life! You will learn how to live your faith the way God intended. You'll learn what it means to be a true follower, and by using easy to recall shapes (called LifeShapes), you'll learn to apply those steps to every situation and relationship in your life.

Soon, the enthusiasm you'll be feeling will be real. you will have a passionate relationship with the Creator of the Universe. you will have a passionate conviction to impact the lives of the people in your life. You will have A Passionate Life!

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Evangelical "seeker-sensitive" churches have frequently come under fire for extending an enthusiastic welcome to nonbelievers and then failing to effectively disciple them in the Christian faith. Breen and Kallestad offer to remedy this shortcoming with this book that builds upon Rick Warren's bestselling The Purpose-Driven Life. The authors provide fresh converts with the next step—eight of them, to be exact—to intentional Christian growth after they have found their "purpose." Within this eager yet clumsily presented text, Breen and Kallestad use geometric shapes as visual guideposts to achieving a more passionate spiritual journey. Followers will expected to engage themselves in a circle of repentance/faith, pattern their lives into a semicircle of rest/work, form a triangle of relationships and use a square of leadership tools, etc. While the bulk of the material offered is biblically conservative, the authors risk alienating their more traditional Christian reader base by retelling the story of a college student who believes he hears from God, thus confirming he has the gift of "prophecy." Likewise, a woman speaks of her desire to become a pastor, a definite no-no with many biblically conservative audiences, though other readers will find this refreshing. Other than these minor variances from the center of camp, this resource offers much in the way of practical advice for those readers who can get past its choppy, hodge-podge presentation. (May) --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From AudioFile

The authors ask if you want to be a phony "super Christian" or a disciple-like Christian in a passionate, personal, intimate relationship with Christ. They draw from their combined church-building experiences in Arizona and England, using analogies and illustrations from each pastorate. Together they offer an eight-step method called Life Shapes, which includes living in rhythm with life, balancing relationships, defining priorities, learning your role and mission in life, and praying as a way of life. They assert that by focusing on these key concepts you will become a lifelong learner with Christ-like qualities. The concepts are easy to understand, but putting them into practice will be a challenge for many. G.D.W. © AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Nexgen (April 5, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0781442877
• ISBN-13: 978-0781442879
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,897,255 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Life Transforming Tool for Churches, August 29, 2005

By 

Bradley W. Miller "Rev. Brad Miller" (Des Moines, Iowa) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Passionate Life (Hardcover)

In May 2004 I visited Sheffield, England with a handful of church leaders led by Dr. Kent Hunter and organized through the Church Growth Center, based on Walt Kallestad's recommendation. Over dinner in an English pub, Mike Breen and his wife explained the Lifeshapes concept and a bit of the local church history. I was preparing to launch a new mission congregation and I was sure that I wanted to incorporate much of the model that Mike had developed. I came home with passion and a folder full of notes, but I lacked some key pieces for explaining Lifeshapes to others. This book will change your life, if you apply the lessons learned. Together with the Passionate Church companion book, ministry leaders will have the requisite tools to make this model accessible to the innumerable churches in desperate need of a new way to function healthily. Plus, you save the cost of transatlantic airfare!

Thank you Mike and Walt (and Kent)!

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a must have book, October 30, 2005

By 

PTD "Okie Pastor" (Yukon, OK United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Passionate Life (Hardcover)

I have to say that Rev. Breen is the best Bible teacher I have ever encountered. He has a wonderful visual gift that brings scriptures alive in a way I have not experienced before. He also is brilliant in finding easy and non-threatening ways to share what you learn with other people. Unlike so many of the books I have read that claim to teach discipleship in a simple way: this book is filled with solid Biblical and theological teaching grounded in good scholarship and deep prayer. I am thankful for both the authors in bringing this gift.

I have already purchased 40 copies of this book that I have given to friends and family. I have read this book together with a small group of men. Now I am leading a group of 14 retired men through the book.

To say I highly recommend this book is an obvious understatement.

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great resource for longtime Christians as well as newbies, January 26, 2006

By 

Sarah G. Alcock (Glendale, AZ United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Passionate Life (Hardcover)

I attend Community Church of Joy, and was excited and anxious to read the book written by two of the leaders of my church. The book is thoughtfully written, and easy to understand and follow for new believers, but not too simplistic as to leave veteran Christians bored. The concept behind each Life Shape makes it so easy to learn how to apply biblical principles to your everyday life. I am a very visual person, so having the shapes to refer to made it easy to get what the scriptures are saying.