Living Life in the Zone

Recently I signed up with Thomas Nelson Publishers to be a Book Sneezer. It's a program in which they give away books to bloggers who will post a review on their blog and another commercial site. I signed on thinking it a great way to make sure I blog somewhat regularly, while also staying up with the latest releases. For my first review I chose Living Life in the Zone: A 40-Day Spiritual Game Plan for Men.
I’m not a guy, not a jock. So why would I choose to review Living Life in the Zone for my first Book Sneeze review? I am interested in spiritual formation. And I was curious to see if what Rote and Pettigrew offer as a 40-day spiritual game plan for men would have any application to women? Is it necessary or proper to address men’s and women’s spiritual formation differently?
Many behavioral scientists believe it takes at least 21 days to establish a habit. Rote and Pettigrew note that throughout scripture God uses forty days as a significant period of time in which to accomplish his purposes—Moses’ mountaintop experience with God; Elijah’s journey to Mount Horeb, and Jesus’ fasting and temptation in the desert to name a few. The authors assert that their forty day game plan holds similar life-changing potential.
Living Life in the Zone covers the basic ‘zones’ of a typical man’s life: relationships with spouse, children, friends, at work, and with God. Within each area the authors cover the typical trouble spots: keeping the romance alive in marriage, carrying your faith into the work place, being an engaged parent, nurturing friendships that keep you on the right path. Each day’s reading is divided into seven categories designed to help the reader live life in the zone: a thought of the day, Coach’s Corner (relating God’s Word to real life), Game Plan (what the Bible says about the day’s topic), Playmakers (real-life examples of sports figures and business men living out or struggling to live out their faith), Time Out (questions for personal reflection), an assignment or action for the day, and praises or concerns to bring to God.
Personally, I enjoyed the personal stories most. Though I happen believe that we’re living in a sports-addicted culture and as a society our priorities are mixed up, I did find many of the personal stories of athletes and other popular figures attempting to live out their faith in a predominantly self-centered, man-honoring arena, inspiring and encouraging. I suspect these stories alone might be enough to draw a good number of men to this book. Anyone who enjoys a good story, however, and desires to live life to the fullest would benefit from studying and applying the principles in this book.