Failure: the Back Door to Success - Softcover

Lutzer, Erwin W

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0802413307 ISBN 13: 9780802413307

Publisher: Moody Publishers, 2016

Synopsis

Find the goodin your failure.

Failure is a fact of life, one we’d rather forget. Fortunately it has a silver lining. Failure, the Back Door to Success shows us how God uses even our sins, shortcomings, and weaknesses in His perfect plan. It will inspire you to:

• Learn from the past without being controlled by it
• Embrace your limitations
• Accept yourself as God accepts you
• Be more gracious toward others
• Redefine your idea of success

Easy to follow, illustrated with engaging stories, and deeply encouraging, Failure, the Back Door to Success speaks straight to the heart. It will make you feel free to try and unafraid of failing, knowing that God is the one at work in you, and that he’s not finished yet. And that’s the first step toward success, every time.

“This book is sorely needed in our overanalyzed, under-motivated, and guilt-ridden Christian society. It can be a life changer to anyone tired of the old one-step-forward-and-two-steps-backward routine.” — Howard G. Hendricks

About this title

About the Author

DR. ERWIN W. LUTZER is pastor emeritus of The Moody Church in Chicago where he served as the Senior Pastor for 36 years. A respected theologian, Dr. Lutzer earned his BTh from Winnipeg Bible College, a ThM from Dallas Theological Seminary, a MA in philosophy from Loyola University, and an honorary LLD from the Simon Greenleaf School of Law. He is an award-winning author and the featured speaker on two radio programs that can be heard on more than one thousand outlets around the world. Dr. Lutzer and his wife, Rebecca, live in the Chicago area and have three grown children and eight grandchildren.

From the Back Cover

"This book can be a life-changer to anyone tired of the old one-step-forward-and-two-steps-backward routine."¿—Howard G. Hendricks

Failure: the Back Door to Success reveals a liberating truth: God uses even our sins and shortcomings in His perfect plan. As you read, you’ll be inspired to:

• Learn from the past without being controlled by it
• Embrace your limitations
• Accept yourself as God accepts you
• Be more gracious to others
• Rethink your idea of success

Failure: the Back Door to Success is uniquely personal and encouraging. It will make you feel free to try and unafraid to fail, knowing that God is the one at work in you, and that He’s not finished yet.

And that’s the first step toward success, every time.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Failure: The Backdoor to Success

By Erwin W. Lutzer

Moody Publishers

Copyright © 2016 Erwin Lutzer
All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-0-8024-1330-7

Contents

Foreword, 9, 
Preface, 13, 
1. Failure Is for Real, 15, 
2. Choosing Your Yardstick, 21, 
3. We're All Chips off the Same Block, 33, 
4. A Profile of Failure, 41, 
5. How Much Can God Forgive?, 55, 
6. Do We Get By Scot-Free?, 67, 
7. A Foundation for Self-Acceptance, 77, 
8. The Detour Can Lead Back to the Main Road, 91, 
9. There Is a Price, 101, 
10. But I'm So Messed Up, 113, 
11. A Formula for Accomplishment, 125, 
12. When Is It Too Late to Begin?, 137, 
13. Shedding the Grasshopper Complex, 145, 
Notes, 157, 

CHAPTER 1

FAILURE IS FOR REAL

I didn't know whether to laugh or cry; so I laughed, then I cried."

Discouragement was etched indelibly on Jims face. He spoke with urgency and only occasionally showed the trace of a smile. "Living for Christ is fine if you are on the top of the pile," he surmised with conviction, "but it's a different story when you are at the bottom."

Two years before this, I had met Jim (not his real name) when he was in high school. He had recently accepted Christ as his Savior. I'll never forget his impromptu prayers. "Lord, it's me again," he'd say. "Remember old Duncan Bell? Well, You know I don't like him, so I need all the help You can give me.

After high school Jim was accepted for Royal Canadian Mounted Police training in Canada. From the first day, he sincerely tried to be a witness to his comrades. He read his Bible, refused to share sordid jokes, and would not participate in sensual amusements. In short, he "lived for Christ," as most preachers urge us to do.

And that was the beginning of his troubles. Friends dubbed him the religious nut." Some scorned his piety. Others schemed to have him blamed for activities he did not do. He was ousted (often literally) from the games and social events of his companions.

Perhaps this is what Christians should expect. Are not the godly promised persecution? Did Christ not say that we should rejoice when we are reviled, because our reward would be great in heaven? Yes.

But one fact troubled him. In any group, one person is always first, but by necessity, one must also be last. Jim had that distinction.

He got the lowest score on examinations and barely passed in practical achievements. He was not a leader; neither did he have a winsome personality. Worse yet, he commanded little or no respect.

As we talked together, he stared aimlessly into space. "My friends are rejecting Christ, he commented, "but maybe it's just because they don't want to be like me, and on that score I don't blame them. Who'd want to be like me?" He forced a smile to hold back the tears. "I'm a failure, and I know it."

My mind raced over all those sermons I have heard about how we should do well at school or at our vocations to be a testimony." But that advice couldn't apply to Jim. God had not given him the ability to gain the respect of others by intellectual or physical accomplishments.

So I explained to Jim — or at least I tried to explain — that maybe God didn't expect as much from him as He did from others. Maybe he should accept his limitations and learn to be satisfied with his role in life. But my explanation was either deficient or unconvincing, or both.

A year later Jim committed suicide.

Shocking? Yes. I did not suspect that Jim had become that discouraged. It was the last desperate act of a Christian who believed that success was forever beyond h

Edition details

• Publisher: Moody Publishers
• Publication date: 2016
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0802413307
• ISBN 13: 9780802413307
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 160