Would you like to be as happy as you are on a Friday afternoon, every day of the week? Would you like to find out what you need to ignore in order to be happier? Would you like to become a dream releaser? Would you like to be content with your life, regardless of the day in your life? Would you like to learn how to celebrate yourself? Would you like to replicate that feeling you have right before you get off of work on a Friday – and experience this feeling every single day of the week? If so, you might want to buy this book and find out how.
I do agree with the fact that for most people, Friday is the best day of the week. This is especially true for those of us who are weekend warriors. We work hard five days a week so we can play hard two days a week. This is true unless your job requires you to work on the weekends. I also agree that Mondays are usually the worst day of the week. For some reason, this tends to be my experience as well.
- They say that statistically, the most amount of heart-attacks occur on a Monday.
- I discovered the damaging leak in my ceiling on a Monday.
- Most of the bad news that I find out happens on a Monday.
- Usually, some sort of disaster happens at work on a Monday.
- When my clients ask me how I am doing on a Monday morning, I usually answer them saying it is too early to tell. To which they chuckle and smile albeit producing a bit of anxiety from hearing about this reality.
- When I get home and see my wife on a Monday night, we both breathe a sigh of relief and thank God for getting us through the day.
I have not read this book. I do however like the premise. It is the premise that I often talk about albeit not simply enough to sell millions of books. It is called perpetual worship. It is a concept when whatever situation you are in and whatever day of the week it might be – your attitude and approach is that of a faithful worshiper – trusting in the sovereignty of God in all things, both pleasurable and barely palatable.
I found out about this book while listening to a podcast. This is my usual routine when I drive home from work. Since I do not watch much TV, I consume all of my content either by reading it or listening to it. One of the few secular podcasts that I subscribe to is that of Piers Morgan. If you are a maniacal media guru, you might recall that Piers is Larry King’s replacement in the coveted CNN time-slot. I rarely ever listened to the previous host. I absolutely enjoy the candor, rhetoric and penetrating interviewing style of the current host.
I usually scan the available episodes and choose the one that in my opinion will be a wise use of my time. I was especially excited to see the episode available in which Piers was interviewing Joel & Victoria Osteen. This dynamic duo pastor America’s largest church that boasts about forty five thousand parishioners every Sunday. Their church is also deemed to be the largest and fastest growing congregation in the US.
During this interview, there were many controversial items that served as excellent fodder for a robust discussion. Some heavy hitters have already weighed in on the weightier matters. You can read their well thought out response here.
I want to focus on some of the lighter notes. You can view clips of the interview by clicking here.
What struck me sideways was the conversation that ensued towards the beginning of the interview. Here are four observations that I made after listening.
1. He has never shouted or experienced frustration: As the new book was being talked about, Piers went straight for the throat. He asked Joel’s wife if he (Joel) ever shouted or expressed frustration. To which his wife answered with a definitive no. Piers pressed further and asked if there was ever a time in their entire tenure together in which Joel expressed discontentment or frustration. She answered in almost the identical denouncing manner.
2. Never has there been a time when my faith has faltered. Later on in the interview, Piers asked Victoria if she has ever experienced a dent in her faith. In other words, was there a time in which her faith faltered, waned or experienced a negative reverberation? She quickly replied with an assertive no.
3. Am I absolutely crazy if I find the responses difficult to believe? Does this run in Christian circles? We are afraid to admit our weakness for fear of retribution or a failed reputation? I personally have had bad days. I have had days when the behavior demonstrated by me was less than stellar. Even though I have never lost faith in Jesus, I have experienced difficult times in which the thought of perpetual worship was far off from my desire. Gladly, this is not the case now. Gladly, I am learning to live in a way in which my relationship with Jesus is being fanned into a burning flame every single day, more and more.
4. I just don’t understand. What makes it so difficult for people to simply confess that:
- Yes, I did struggle with my faith.
- Yes, I did act in a way that was far from being gospel-centered
- Yes, I do struggle to wake up to go to work on a Monday Morning.
Are we afraid to do this? Are we afraid of what other people may think of us? Do we care more about our reputation with people than our position before a Holy God?
Jesus says:
“come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matt. 11:28-30).
Here is what Jesus is saying:
- I understand your frustration, I truly do – and I care about you
- I want to give you the relief you so desperately desire
- I love you and I care for you, therefore I want to give you respite and renovation
- I know that you might be experiencing a lot of stress, I am here for you and I am all about you
- Look at me, learn from me and read what I have to say, only then you will have a life of victory
- When you are with me, despite the turmoil in your life, you will find peace and rest for your troubled soul
- When you are going through a difficult time and experience misery, let this drive you to me, let this be a motivation to come to me so that I can give you the rest you desire.
I love what one commentator says about these verses:
Hypocrites give themselves no concern about Christ, because they are intoxicated with their own righteousness, and neither hunger nor thirst for his grace.
Let us not be afraid in sharing with others that which is going on in our life. We are not perfect and none of us have it all together.
It is ok not to be ok. But it is not ok to stay that way. We must learn to be transparent with the people we trust in our life.
We must realize our brokenness and run expediently to Jesus because only he can provide the restoration we so intensively need. Only then can we experience a friday feeling, every day of the week.
Question: What makes it difficult for you personally to answer honestly about the condition of your faith? What has been your experience when you have honestly shared your struggles with other people?
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