When Life's Not Working: 7 Simple Choices for a Better Tomorrow [Hardcover]

Bob Merritt (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2011

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.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

The best is yet to come!

Life is hard--for everyone. No matter how blessed or fortunate you might be, there is a level of difficulty to your life: hard classes, jobs, relationships, and losses. But by following basic life disciplines, anyone can experience accomplishment, freedom, and ease in navigating through life's daily challenges.

In this positive, insightful book, veteran pastor Bob Merritt describes a set of universal principles that work for everyone in every stage of life, showing that what you do today determines who you become tomorrow.

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

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 253 pages
• Publisher: Baker Books (April 1, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 080101378X
• ISBN-13: 978-0801013782
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.9 x 8.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #868,057 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A disciplined, godly, and enjoyable life is possible April 13, 2011

By D10

Format:Hardcover

I have a bookshelf at home where I keep my favorite "Christian living" books. Some are classics by CS Lewis and John Bunyon. Some are more intellectual (Tim Keller's Reason for God). Others are more practical in nature (Humility by CJ Mahaney or John Ortberg's "It all goes back in the box"). A copy of Bob Merritt's new book, "When Life's not working" now sits on that shelf as well.

I don't normally write reviews, but this was one of those books where you finish it and think, "Man I wish I would've read that book 10 years ago." It's chalk full of practical wisdom that helps you live life well. I found myself journaling about and longing to really apply much of what I read. I've read books on living a disciplined life before (which is the main idea of the book), but Merritt did a great job of showing you how to get there with the seven principles he outlines. Although not specifically written for young people, if I had a teenager or young adult, this would be required reading. It's that good.

What sets this book apart from a Henry Cloud's "Integrity" (also very good) is that it's so easy to read. Merritt is a master storyteller, and there's humor on every page. It's the most fun I've ever had reading a "Christian Living" book. Merritt is also ultra vulnerable in such a real an authentic way, that there were times when I found myself choking up- not sure if it's ok for a guy to admit that in a review, ha. ' Finally, this book isn't just for those who find themselves struggling in life. My life seems to be working pretty well and I got a lot out of this book. I'd highly recommend it.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Whether Life Is or Isn't Working - Read This Book!! March 18, 2011

By John M. Alexander VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

Whether your life is or isn't working, this is a book to read!

Discipline. We love the word, and hate the act of it. Discipline is generally full of negative connotation and looked upon disdain. We love reading about people with unusual amounts of discipline who are able to achieve extraordinary feats, but when it comes to applying the same discipline, we usually fail every time.

Why? Because the gate is narrow.

Pastor Bob Merritt examines and explains seven disciplines to move from failure to fulfillment in his first book When Life's Not Working. By reading this book, you'll learn how to "be among the few who get on the narrow road." Furthermore, he approaches this scary word in a very approachable and safe.

In many ways, this is a book everyone -- especially those within the 12 to 30s range -- needs to read. We all desperately want to dream big, to find our unique calling, to become all that God made us to be, but frankly, we aren't willing to put simple disciplines into place to achieve. We want to move from A to B without putting in the hard work -- the discipline -- required to get there. Our generation (Gen X, Millenials) is told we can be all we want to be, but yet we aren't taught the discipline to achieve God's dreams for our lives.

"He's given us a set of universal disciplines that are the building blocks to making life work and achieving the best possible outcomes. 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."

I love how he clearly and simply outlines the disciplines required to become a man or woman of God.... And through laying out these seven disciplines -- including "give it one more day," "manage your loads," and "find your rhythm" -- he is honest about his own shortcomings and learnings.

Laced throughout the book is his focus on relationships. No matter how disciplined a person is, it doesn't matter if we aren't cultivating, nurturing, and strengthening the relationships in our lives. We can be the most disciplined person in the world, but without relationships with friends and family, life would be meaningless. Furthermore, he clearly articulates these truths in line with scripture and what God wants to do in our lives through these disciplines.

Finally, on a personal note, I have the opportunity to work under the leadership of Bob at Eagle Brook Church. He lives what he writes. He is as disciplined a man as I've ever been around. He is humble, authentic, disciplined, and an incredible man of God.

I strongly suggest reading this book and learning about discipline from a man who has walked the talk. Read more ›

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A practical and accessible guide for anyone... April 11, 2011

By Chad Oberholtzer

Format:Hardcover

In the interest of full disclosure, Bob Merritt was my professor for several seminary courses and has served as somewhat of a mentor to me as I'm entering the world of pastoral ministry. So, I like and respect Bob and was predisposed to like his first book, "When Life's Not Working." Nonetheless, I am convinced that this book will be helpful for almost anyone looking to learn some basic guidelines for how to navigate contemporary life, with all of its complexities and complications.

Bob Merritt is a straight-shooter, and this trait is revealed quickly and consistently throughout the book. He calls a spade a spade. And that's part of the appeal of his writing style. Rather than using the familiar Christian jargon that fills so many Christian books, Merritt offers a handful of simple, straight-forward pieces of advice that any Christian (or non-Christian, for that matter) would be wise to embrace as a matter of practice. One of the things that I appreciated was a primary theme that we actually have some control over the outcomes of our lives. Merritt has the guts to say that if my life is a mess, I can do something to change that fact. And if it isn't a mess yet, there are things that I can do or avoid to help me steer clear of that fate. The simplicity of that message was refreshing.

Under the basic notion that we can make choices and engage in behavior that will actually shape our future, "When Life's Not Working" is not especially profound, and many of Merritt's ideas have been expressed elsewhere. The value of perseverance, the importance of saying "no" to good things, the significance of establishing daily rhythms, and the necessity to avoid moral failure are not new ideas.... But what the book lacks in complexity and profundity, it more than compensates with accessibility and relevance. His stories keep the reader engaged, and his winsome and authentic delivery allows us to feel like we can actually do what he recommends. (I've never had a single inclination to ever go hunting or fishing in my life, but after reading the countless lessons that Merritt has apparently learned in those settings, I wonder if my spiritual growth would accelerate by spending more time in the woods of northern Minnesota trying not to be eaten by bears or drowning in a canoeing mishap.) Merritt writes for a broad audience, and I am confident that everyone will grasp and be challenged by his points.

I have a few quibbles with the book that prevented me from giving it five stars. Some readers, especially those with a hyper-Calvinist bent, may wonder what role God has to play in our lives, if mostly everything is ultimately a result of the decisions that we make and the behaviors in which we engage. But to preempt the theological hawks who might descend upon the book with accusations of "works-based salvation," Merritt does not even remotely imply that our efforts to lead a disciplined life can earn our salvation. Though I am not concerned about this salvation issue, I instead wondered if Merritt doesn't occasionally over-promise that his prescribed disciplines will necessarily lead to a better life. What are we to do with the agonizing reality that some folks who lead extremely disciplined lives and seemingly do everything in their power to align their choices and behaviors with God's design are still wracked with pain and difficulty? I just wish that Merritt had spent a bit more time engaging with that apparent contradiction to his strong implication that our disciplined lives almost guarantee that things will go well for us. (And I was also mildly irritated, as per my personality, by some sloppy editing, with misspelling of places and names.)

But these minor disappointments aside, this book is clearly the product of a life well-lived in faithful obedience to Christ's calling over the course of Merritt's life, wisdom which he wants to share with the rest of us. Unlike some authors who crank out two books a year from the time they can start to form words, Bob waited for several decades into his pastoral ministry to write his first book. And the slow percolation of this material is evident. I was uniquely engaged by Merritt's story-telling and challenged by a number of simple ideas that he offered, and I trust that this book will continue to shape my spiritual formation for the foreseeable future. I'm happy to recommend it to anyone who is interested in learning some simple truths about living rightly to experience the life that God intends for us to live. Read more ›