We are beginning what will be, for some, an altogether paradigm-shifting look at what it means to maximize our lives. Our College Bible Study at Canyon will be reading through the John Piper book entitled Don't Waste Your Life, and it is my prayer that in doing so, we will be getting into each others lives and helping one another to make our lives count for maximum glory for Jesus. 

So why this book? I think it helps awaken us to what could be the greatest deception that Satan seeks to foister upon us as believers. For most people, the greatest deception may very well be the most subtle one. The least noticed one. Yet we fall for it. We meander through life, hoping not to fail in some severe way and assume our goal is simply to "make it" through life, without giving much thought to what that might mean. Along the way, we become entangled in many little diversions, living for comfort and preference, and maybe hoping not to fall into some terrible sin. And yet we never resolve in our minds exactly what we will make our lives count for.

Far too many people will come to the end of their lives and find that they have spent their time on selfish pursuits and lived a life which counts for nothing. I am passionate that this would not be the case for us at Canyon. Let's not live safe lives. Let's push the envelope together. 

“If you live gladly to make others glad in God, your life will be hard, your risks will be high, and your joy will be full. This is not a book about how to avoid a wounded life, but how to avoid a wasted life. Some of you will die in the service of Christ. That will not be a tragedy. Treasuring life above Christ is a tragedy” (p. 10).

I hope that as we read this book, it will warn you against aimless living, awaken you to the subtle temptation to waste your life, challenge you to step up and make your life count for the eternal joy of others, and fire you up to burn yourself out in the supremely exciting advance of the gospel on this earth. I pray that as we talk our way through this book, your heart will be stirred to make the glory of God your singular passion.

"God created us to live with a single passion to joyfully display his supreme excellence in all the spheres of life. The wasted life is the life without this passion." –John Piper

I have a case of these, to give out for free to any College Student who wants to join us on Friday nights at my place in Yavapai Hills for food and drinks, fellowship and coffee, ping-pong and laughter, and a soul-stirring study through Don't Waste Your Life. Email me at jdrumm@canyonprescott.org for details or check out our college page. 

You can also get a copy of this book for free as a PDF on the Desiring God website:
http://www.desiringgod.org/books/dont-waste-your-life