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Breaking the Idols of Your Heart
paperback
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- Length: 191 pages
- Dimensions: 5.5 × 8.25 in
- Published: June 07, 2007
- Item Code: 3441
- ISBN: 978-0-8308-3441-9
- Other Retailers:
Amazon*
Christianbook.com*
*affiliate partner
We all want to know our lives matter.
So did the Teacher in Ecclesiastes. He invested time and energy in every activity he could think of that might bring meaning and purpose to his life but found only disappointment, frustration, hopelessness.
In our thirst for significance we, like the Teacher, give our lives--our time, talents, strength, heart--to anything we think will give us worth and purpose: Power. Relationships. Money. Pleasure. Work. But worshiping these idols has a high cost--and still doesn't bring the fulfillment we long for.
In Breaking the Idols of Your Heart Dan Allender and Tremper Longman illuminate for us the Teacher's warnings and, after all his activities, his final radiant conclusion: Meaning and purpose come only when God is truly the center of our life and the object of our hope. Using a compelling fictional narrative at the start of each chapter to encourage reflection on our own life and the lives of family and friends, the authors lead us through Ecclesiastes to help us recognize and exchange cheap pursuits for the only One worth pursuing.
Ecclesiastes is not an easy book to read, because transferring our worship from money, power and fame to God is not an easy road to travel. But as the Teacher discovered and wrote down for us, it leads to one conclusion: life lived abundantly, in freedom, hope, purpose, meaning.
"This book uses the category of 'idols' as a creative way to understand not only a difficult biblical book (Ecclesiastes) but also the very way our hearts work. It brings a great deal of clarity where there has been confusion. Recommended."
"Dan and Tremper and ancient wisdom are a winning team! This book dethrones idols and points us toward what is worth giving our life to."
"A gripping story with much helpful biblical insight."
"This book possesses high quality, depth, and practicality. I am impressed with its sound biblical approachs, its contemporary handling of Scripture, and its faithfulness in interpreting and applying the Word. Both writers have unusual insights into the postmodern mind because of their sound biblical and theological ability to bring the Scripture to bear on our setting."
"What makes Breaking the Idols of Your Heart exceptional is the mix of psychological depth and biblical insight. In the end, readers know change is possible if they?ll honestly face their own idols."
"Both writers have unusual insights into the postmodern mind because of their sound biblical and theological ability to bring the Scripture to bear on our setting."
CONTENTS
Acknowledgments
Introduction: Searching for Meaning
1. Chasing After Power: "I Can Control My World"
2. Chasing After Relationships: "Relationships Bring Me Fulfillment"
3. Chasing After Work and Money: "Money Brings Me Freedom"
4. Chasing After Pleasure: "Pleasure Will Satisfy Me"
5. Chasing After Wisdom: "Knowledge Will Put Me on Top"
6. Chasing After Spirituality: "My Spiritual Life Will Save Me"
7. Chasing After Immortality: "I Will Have a Long Life if I Take Care of My Body"
Conclusion: Finding Abundant Life
Notes
About the Authors
