Another great book by Orrin Woodward and Chris Brady.
It took me a while to really get into this one. I think it was the format. There are many "chapters" that are usually only one to four pages long. Between these are a page or two that contain Chris and Orrin's tweets.
I think I wanted a book into which I could immerse myself, but the frequent change in format proved a series of speed bumps.
This turns out to be a good thing! One lesson repeated often by the Policy Council members of LIFE is that reading without application of what you "learn" is really just a pass-time. True scholars and leaders take time to ponder on what they read, identify the one or two principles most needing application or improvement in their own life, and get to work to improve those things.
Tim Marks is a fantastic example of this, and I recommend his book Voyage of a Viking.
By the end of this book I had fallen in love with the format. It makes it very applicable to daily devotionals, use as a thought provoking coffee table book, or a "text book" for personal study. The reader can pat himself on the back during the chapters that he is living the principles well, and slow down, plan, and implement on those sections where he needs improvement.
Another aspect of LIFE that I love is that this book never deviates from the mission of its authors. Orrin Woodward and Chris Brady have dedicated their lives and resources to helping others live better lives. They focus on the 8 F's of LIFE: Faith, Family, Finances, Fitness, Following (leadership), Freedom, Friends, and Fun.
I love each of these areas of focus, and I have a special passion for Freedom. One of the reasons that God put me on Earth is to move the cause of liberty through education. I have gone back to school, traveled to the other side of the globe, participated in different levels of politics, currently serve as Precinct Committeeman and State Committeeman, started and participated in study groups focused on the US Constitution, and more.
I have found NOTHING as effective as the products and culture of LIFE at helping me educate myself and others on the principles of liberty. It's amazing to see some of my rough edges whittle away so that I can better present the message in my heart without offending others. It's awesome to see others' eyes open to the war being waged against our political, financial, and spiritual freedoms.
And the most amazing part is that instead of just feeling anger and frustration about the erosion of our liberty, this curriculum also helps us know what to do about it!
The message of liberty runs through this book like a healthy vein of gold. The reader doesn't have to dig long before running back into the message of freedom. It even ends with that message.
The last one page "chapter" in this book, entitled Answering Liberty's Distress Signal, explains that success is deliberate. It is not something that happens to others more fortunate than us. Success is there for anyone willing to dream big and chase that dream without making excuses or giving up when things get tough.
But financial success isn't enough. My several attempts to sum up the last two paragraphs of this section have fallen short, so I'll end with the words of these wise men:
"Personal success is not the only impact of living for excellence. Today's society stands at a crossroads. People realize that the corporate world is not the "cradle-to-grave" guarantee it was in the decades following World War II; however, so many have been trained only to work for someone else, focusing on security and not opportunity. What happens to a society in which a high percentage of people have been trained to seek a "secure job," but few such jobs are available? Society runs to Big Brother government, seeking the security that government cannot provide. History is filled with examples of governments stifling the entrepreneurial spirit, choking the productive engine of a society's advancement, and sounding the death knell of numberous civilizations, in an attempt to "help the helpless" citizens. North America stands at a crossroads where it either runs to more and more government, (and in the process surrenders its freedom and future,) or returns to its roots, providing freedom and justice for any dreamer who chooses to prosper.
"It's time to send a wake up call to the entrepreneurial spirits across North America. Where are the entrepreneurs, the leaders, and the dreamers who will step to the plate and swing for the fences - win or lose? The time for talking is over and the time for action is upon us. These are historic times with historic ramifications. Just as the founding fathers did in the 18th century, let's pledge our fortunes, our lives, and our sacred honor in this noble cause to restore the American Dream. Liberty has sent out its distress signal. Let's answer the call. Let's Live Intentionally for Excellence. A life so lived just might be the spark that sets ablaze a new movement for freedom and justice."