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Second Choice: Embracing Life As It Is
Drawing on the wisdom of Daniel, here is a book demonstrating that the Bible offers much help in the middle of the problems of life. Whilst often we feel we are not reaching our full potential because of our circumstances, the text shows us that places of second choice can be first-class if we allow God to work them out.
154 pages, Paperback
First published August 16, 2000
4 people are currently reading
27 people want to read
About the author
Viv Thomas
8 books1 followerViv Thomas is the founder of Formation. He is passionate about ‘the spectacular ordinary life’ and seeing people flourish into all that they possibly can be. Viv has a national and international speaking and teaching ministry. He is an Associate International Director for OM International and continues to travel the world seeking to see leaders grow. Leadership, Spirituality and Mission are particular passions.
Viv is also the Hon Teaching Pastor at St Paul’s Hammersmith; an ordained Anglican; an Associate Lecturer at Spurgeon’s College London; a visiting lecturer at three other colleges; a mentor; spiritual director; organisational consultant and writer.
He has written Future Leader, Second Choice, Paper Boys, The Spectacular Ordinary Life and The Spectacular Ordinary Organisation. He has a Masters degree in Human Resource Development and another in Spiritual Theology from Regent College in Vancouver. Viv has a Ph.D. from King’s College, London where his research focused on Christian Leadership in relation to the Trinity. He loves football, theatre, movies, sport of most kinds, seeing people grow, eating healthy food, riding his bike around London; walking along the side of the Thames and spending time with his wife.
Formation has a board of trustees who support Viv, a board of reference, and a small number of associates who participate in carrying out Formation’s vision.
Viv is also the Hon Teaching Pastor at St Paul’s Hammersmith; an ordained Anglican; an Associate Lecturer at Spurgeon’s College London; a visiting lecturer at three other colleges; a mentor; spiritual director; organisational consultant and writer.
He has written Future Leader, Second Choice, Paper Boys, The Spectacular Ordinary Life and The Spectacular Ordinary Organisation. He has a Masters degree in Human Resource Development and another in Spiritual Theology from Regent College in Vancouver. Viv has a Ph.D. from King’s College, London where his research focused on Christian Leadership in relation to the Trinity. He loves football, theatre, movies, sport of most kinds, seeing people grow, eating healthy food, riding his bike around London; walking along the side of the Thames and spending time with his wife.
Formation has a board of trustees who support Viv, a board of reference, and a small number of associates who participate in carrying out Formation’s vision.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
May 11, 2020
I knew Viv from my OM Eastward bound days in Pakistan, (28 years ago!) With that in mind the book also interests me for some of what it didn't say or give as examples. The key theme of the book is a message that is now even more needed than when penned. Some how though the phrase "second choice" never quite sat with me as the best words. I don't think I'm saying that because I didn't get it, rather than just the world the book is written into might hear the message better if we called it, "Living in a broken world," or "Finding God in unexpected impositions."
My chosen quotes
P17
Christians spend a lot of time listening to God, reading the Bible and hearing sermons. We are not so adept at at listening to the place, people and culture where God has called us to live.
P18
The western tendency to live through our problems in independence is a weakness rather than a strength.
P22
Christians perceive themselves as servants of a Holy God. Yet they usually find they have to work in an office or factory among people they perceive as godless. They feel that serving this second choice world is not serving God. The result is a kind of self fulfilling prophecy. Christians remain the isolated outsiders who look a little strange but pure. Unfortunately, they are not always that pure and are often proud judgemental and isolated among the people for whom they are called to be salt and light.
P131
Can we see a growing movement of healthy spiritual direction, biblical discipleship, good examples and people showing other people the way forward with their lives? Clergy and church leaders have abandoned their calling in droves but kept their job titles, having 'metamorphosed into a company of shopkeepers, and the shops that they keep are churches.' What chance is there for those who follow to do any better?
p152
We may not be able to everything well, we may not be brilliant in any sense, but we can see the places where we have to live transformed into places where we want to live because God meets us there with his grace and love.
My chosen quotes
P17
Christians spend a lot of time listening to God, reading the Bible and hearing sermons. We are not so adept at at listening to the place, people and culture where God has called us to live.
P18
The western tendency to live through our problems in independence is a weakness rather than a strength.
P22
Christians perceive themselves as servants of a Holy God. Yet they usually find they have to work in an office or factory among people they perceive as godless. They feel that serving this second choice world is not serving God. The result is a kind of self fulfilling prophecy. Christians remain the isolated outsiders who look a little strange but pure. Unfortunately, they are not always that pure and are often proud judgemental and isolated among the people for whom they are called to be salt and light.
P131
Can we see a growing movement of healthy spiritual direction, biblical discipleship, good examples and people showing other people the way forward with their lives? Clergy and church leaders have abandoned their calling in droves but kept their job titles, having 'metamorphosed into a company of shopkeepers, and the shops that they keep are churches.' What chance is there for those who follow to do any better?
p152
We may not be able to everything well, we may not be brilliant in any sense, but we can see the places where we have to live transformed into places where we want to live because God meets us there with his grace and love.
March 13, 2022
While the content is excellent, I felt that the author has not lived much of a second choice life. As compared to authors who have experienced "second choice" lives, this is more of an intellectual description than an emotional description of how to cope with the difficulty of life not living up to your expectations.
January 15, 2020
Learned a new perspective of living in a second-choice world and how to practically have a Christian life in a carnal world.
Recommended for Christian Professionals and Young Adults.
Recommended for Christian Professionals and Young Adults.
December 10, 2021
An interesting read about making the most of things where you are in life even if it is not where you want to be or where you expected to be. Challenging.
July 9, 2016
An interesting look at second choices through the eyes of Daniel, who would have chosen to live in Jerusalem nor Babylon - and then interspersed with real stories from people today. Very readable and thought provoking. Highly recommended.
August 24, 2011
really helped me with my thinking about things that go on in life
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February 12, 2013I really enjoyed this book and hope to give it a 2nd read soon. Thanks, Viv!
August 26, 2008
A reflection and analysis of the book of Daniel from the bible.Very readable!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews