Discover the Purpose-Driven Life with Oprah and Pastor Rick Warren

"The best use of your life is to invest it in [something that] will outlast it. And that's what it means to live a purpose-driven life." – Pastor Rick Warren

Here are some great resourceful tips and wonderful ah-ha moments from the Oprah Lifeclass:
Oprah and Pastor Rick Warren: The Purpose Driven Life

These videos are made possible through the wonderful works of Oprah's Lifeclass.

Pastor Rick Warren on the 5 Things That Shape You

Pastor Rick Warren says there are five things that "SHAPE" a person: Spiritual gifts, Heart, Ability, Personality and Experiences. Find out why he believes God never wastes a hurt. Then, Pastor Warren shares his definition of humility with the Oprah's Lifeclass audience in Houston.

Why Pastor Rick Warren Says Surviving Isn't Thriving

Pastor Rick Warren believes everyone lives at one of three levels in life: Survival, Success and Significance. Only when you reach the highest level—Significance—are you living your life with purpose. Watch as Pastor Warren explains how America is filled with people who are just getting by at the Survival level. Plus, why Pastor Warren says the "good life" isn't good enough.

Pastor Rick Warren: What Drives You?

The title of Pastor Rick Warren's best-selling book The Purpose Driven Life was no accident. Find out why he says everyone's life is driven by something—and why if you live for the approval of others, you will die by their rejection.

Learn more and view more videos here: Oprah and Pastor Rick Warren: The Purpose Driven Life

What are your thoughts in watching these clips, did you gain any ah-ha moments yourself?

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Shortly after sharing the above post, I received a comment outside this post saying something along the line of:

Rick Warren is a "Christians are better than Muslims" , supporter of chic fil a's antigay hate mongering "traditionnal families" supporter. I dont think he's in any position to be listened to...but thats just my opinion.

Here is my feedback:

Thank you for questioning and commenting; I always love feedback and discussing various viewpoints! Yes there are various posts online claiming to having Rick Warren declare a bunch of stuff, whether they're true or not are none of my concerns.

What concerns me, what occupies my inner-connections, what speaks to me are the "ah-ha" moments I receive when listening to various people share their messages.

My grandmother shared with us some pretty amazing things and one of them was to always receive the message that is given to you when its the truth. You know its the truth when it speaks to you (your soul). You 'feel' the message. Everything else isn't for you and/or isn't really "your truth" for that moment.

Also when messages are being given these "messages" originate from somewhere... deep from within "you". Sometimes what comes out of our mouth is inspired from a place of greatness, we just feel those moments and allow them to consume us - those are moments of truth. You've accepted to being a vessel and allow whatever message that is felt, come out to be share with those around you. Other times when things randomly come out of our mouth where we end-up with that "taste awful"; these messages, too, come from a place deep-down within. These not-so-nice thoughts or things said are unresolved emotions: resentment, jealousy, judgement, whatever...Once we notice what we've said, that's when we get our 'ah-ha' moments, ourselves. (Sometimes we need to say them out loud so that we can realize that: 'wow did I just say that? Why would I think that way...?)

Everything we think, hear, and say are simply words - we put emotions and judgement on them based on how we 'decipher' (aka judge) the information. What we 'believe' to be wrong might not be to someone else, just as what we might 'believe' to be complete none-sense may turn out to be the next big thing!

Our life journey is a series of judgement calls (choices).

So going back to this Pastor's message... I got inspired by some of his messaging. And so will I reject what he said in-this-moment because of something that has past? If this message speaks to me, why shouldn't I choose to accept it and... move on?

Another story: I read a wonderful book called: "Excuse me your life is waiting" (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/69947.Excuse_Me_Your_Life_Is_Waiting) I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE it! I LOVED it so much I've read it twice (so far).

Great message about life, about manifesting what you want, about changing your thoughts and changing your life.

After my first read of the book, I did a search online wanting to find out if she did conferences or even had other books or materials I could look into... blah-blah-blah long story short, she fell sick and I read online that she committed suicide (some say it was assisted). Whatever the case maybe - I was shocked! How could someone with such a great message and inspire so many, choose this path? Could I continue believe her 'story' or 'message'? I was thrown back for sometime...

This is when I picked-up the book again a few months later, and after reading it a second time - I just knew that the message it brings into the world is just that, "a message".

Messages of "truth" are meant for: the people, the world, the person in front of you, for yourself - these messages aren't necessarily from you, but for you. Sometimes we don't know we REALLY can do something unless we actually try to do it - that's when we find out that, "wow, I really can do this?!".

The same is said of messages - sometimes we don't know what lies deep-within us unless we allow it to come out, the good with the bad. These discoveries are where/how we uncover ourselves, and thus are presented with choices, self-questioning:
- Do I keep this belief?
- Where did I get that from? Do I really, truly believe that?
- Maybe this belief worked for me before, but does it work in my life now?
- Am I holding on to this belief for comfort? ...because of someone? ...why is this important to me?
- Why do I think that way, and could I maybe be missing out on a different viewpoint?
- Am I really allowing myself to see all angles or am I being narrow-minded; and why? What's stopping me from opening up? Am I afraid of something... and if I am, what is it?

The process of continued questioning is a great way to self-discovery.

When I hear (listen) to messages being shared 'not' everything gets registered in my mind - and if something strikes a cord with me, it doesn't necessarily mean it'll have the same impact on you. And even if we react to the same message, will its impact truly have the 'same meaning' for the both of us? Probably not, it could be similar - but it probably won't be 100% the-same.

Alright - I digress again... The pastor's message in this part of his life, on this day while he was with Oprah, living this "Lifeclass" ...this moment, I believe was a moment of truth.  What happened before and what happens after, is outside this moment, is outside this message.

On that note, I thank you again for your feedback! Your comment obviously struck a cord with me and unleashed a "message".  Thank you.

So now, I ask again -
What are your thoughts in watching these clips, did you gain any ah-ha moments yourself?