We can't escape the news about people imploding their lives these days. But Eric Geiger wants to help us put up some guards to keep us focused on God, and to keep us in a place where we are less likely to implode. We've begun to listen to the voice of the world rather than the voice of God.

Eric Geiger recognized this dilemma and has written a book to help us realize the things that cause us to implode, and how to recognize the warning signs so we can move back towards God and a place of safety.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Geiger walks through the story of David and Bathsheba from 2 Samuel 11. It was an incredibly important reminder that even though David was a man after God's own heart and yet he still managed to implode his life and drastically alter the lives of several others around him.

Geiger explains the issues that David faced that caused him to commit sin and turn his back on God. But Geiger reminds us that David did not stay there. When confronted, David immediately confessed his sin, surrendered himself back to God, then turned towards rejoicing and looking towards God for guidance once again.

As I readHow to Ruin Your Life, I found myself examining my current status as I read. I examined my life and the way I have surrounded myself with a community. Rather than looking outwards towards others-focused circumstances, Geiger points us back inwards to our relationship with God.

Geiger walks through this book explaining how you can ruin your life. I found looking at things through this lens helped me to better understand the pitfalls that should be avoided. It also pointed out missing links and where things needed to be bolstered.

I think this book will be an important read for generations to come.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. This review is my own, honest opinion.

I sat in my living room with my mouth open wide in amazement as I watched the Lifeway building downtown implode. I had been in that building many times and all I could think about is how much work for the Kingdom of God had gone down in that place. I immediately kicked myself for not making the effort to go down and watch it in person. Everybody likes to watch a good implosion, right? Maybe so with buildings but it is not very fun to watch it in somebody else or for it to happen to yourself. Imagine all the pain and disappointment that goes along with imploding lives and multiply that by 100. I dont believe you can even scratch the surface. Some of those scars never heal.

Eric Geiger serves as a Senior Vice President for Lifeway Christian Resources and he has authored How to Ruin Your Life, a book which looks at the story of Davids fall with lessons of how to avoid such a fall in your own life and what to do when you have fallen. This bestselling author of such books as Simple Church, Creature of the Word, and Designed to Lead, which he coauthored with Kevin Peck, has put together this great resource in hopes of keeping others from falling into some of the same traps that have brought down some of the mighty in the Kingdom of God.

Geiger recommends that you dont read this book alone, but rather find others to go through it with you. He has even provided a five day devotional at his website to help.

By looking at three precursors of a fall, which are isolation, boredom, and pride, the author shows how each one of these led to the mighty fall of David, a man after Gods own heart. He goes on to look at Davids confession and the components that ensured that Davids failure would not be final in his life. To finish up the book, the author takes us to Psalm 32, which was written after Davids fall, to show how Gods grace applied, can restore us to the joy that we once knew.

This book is an easy read filled with Scripture and stories from real life. Once I began reading it I could not lay it down. It is something that I wished I could have read many years ago with others. This book reminded me of the grandeur of God and the power of His grace. I plan to use it as Im teaching through 2 Samuel. It points out a few things that your commentary will not. I especially love how this book is about redemption as much as it is about instruction. He deals with all sides of the issue of failure.

With all of this being said, I too recommend you grab a few peers and read this together. Though Gods grace heals and forgives, the scars of failure remain. As I drive by the location where the Lifeway tower once stood, there is a big hole where once a great building once stood. That is nothing compared to the damage down when a person falls. They never fall alone.

I received a copy of this book for an honest review.

Book review: How to Ruin Your Life and Starting Over When You Do

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In his new book, How to Ruin Your Life and Starting Over When You Do, Eric Geiger illustrates through the life of David how a life can implode by disobeying the Lord. However, Geiger also shows how the Lord restored Davids life when he confessed and forsook his sin.

Published by B&H Publishing, Geigers excellent, 208-page book shows how we can either avoid ruining our walk with the Lord through obeying Him or completely destroy our walk with the Lord through disobedience, yet find restoration in Him if we truly want to change.

Written in three parts, Geigers book examines how Davids wrong decisions totally imploded his life and how his eventual confession and repentance (when ultimately confronted with his sin) led to his restoration.

One chapter that really made this point is Geigers chapter on isolation (Chapter Three, pg. 51).

When David ruined his life, he was living in isolation. Those who would have said something, who would have held him accountable, who would have refused to execute his plan to pursue a married woman, were gone (pg. 53). We all need community to hold each other accountable.

Another chapter that strongly exemplified Davids path to restoration was Chapter Six (pg. 125) about how the Psalms were his prayer journal; his record of not only his confessions of sin, but also his praise to the Lord who forgives sin; and how he daily poured out his heart to the Lord, whether he was confessing sin or praising Him.

Overall, Geigers book is well-written and timely, and should be in every Christian home. Its a testament to the Lords great love for us in all our peaks and valleys in our walk with Him if we are ready and willing to take the necessary steps for spiritual growth and lasting change.

Full disclosure: In accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255, I received this book free through B&H Publishing. My opinions are my own and I wasnt required to write a positive review.

Using the analogy of a building imploding on itself---planned and carefully prepped for the event, Eric Geiger walks us through the process of a life being ruined, and yes, imploding. He reminds us that although the implosion of a building occurs within seconds of the button being pushed, a lot of work has gone into prepping the building for its demise. Often months worth of planning, with steps being taken to weaken the foundation are involved. And so it goes with the imploding life. It doesnt just happen.

In How to Ruin Your Life: and Starting over when You Do (B&H Books, 2018) Geiger walks us through the process- it probably starts small, and seems innocent. A casual flirtatious comment, a party with friends where things get a little out of hand, maybe a random pornographic image popping up on the computer screen-followed by a deliberate search for more of the same. Over weeks, months, or years, the behavior continues. Theoretically no one knows whats going on. But then there are whispered insinuations, snide comments, and lots of flapping jaws, until suddenly the open secret is secret no more, and the world as you know it ceases to exist. Family, job, reputation gone. They disappear quickly, but its been in the works for some time.

But the good news is that we serve a God of second chances, and we are given the opportunity to start over, we get the redo. When buildings are slated for destruction by implosion, a lot of planning goes into that final moment. And then the obvious work of the rebuild occurs. And a lot of that work is obviousthe hauling away of the debris, digging the hole where the foundation will be laid, framing, adding subsequent stories, roof and walls, and then the inside work, plumbing, electric, plastering, painting, flooring and all the other small details are taken care of. And so it is with a ruined life. It seems like the destruction may have taken only a moment, but there was lots of hidden stuff. And then the rebuild occurs, and much of that work is obvious. And it takes time. Lost trust is not recovered overnight. A ruined reputation is not quickly restored.

We all know people whose lives have imploded. Some of them resign themselves to their new status as loser, and never recover. Others turn to the God of Second Chances and do the necessary work to rebuild. And they often come out stronger than before, with an incredible testimony of God's grace.

I think this book should be required reading for pastors. And maybe be re-read at periodic intervals as a reminder of the slippery slopes upon which we frequently find ourselves.

5/5

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my review.