iCrucified

Book Review: Chazown

By: Craig Groeschel Publisher: Multnomah Books   ISBN: 9781601423139

This was a tough book for me to review. I try to be objective when I do reviews, but struggle when there is little to no connection for me with the book. It’s not as if the book was not relevant, it was; maybe too relevant. This copy of Chazown (pronounced khaw-ZONE from the Hebrew, meaning a dream, revelation, or vision), is actually a reprint. The first printing of this book was in 2006, so the book has been around for awhile… although this is the first time I have read it. Perhaps Chazown was one of the books that started the genre of books that help every person find their God-sized-dream…and there are a bunch of them out there.

Let me start with the good. The subject, material used to present it, and expected outcome are all solid. The book is very practical in the message it presents and used didactic teaching methods to reach the end goal of becoming the person God created you to be. This is all good. The summary of the book can be realized directly from a page of Chazown:

Surrender your life to God and His Chazown for you + take care of the fundamentals (small c – chazowns) He puts before you + establish goals + take the next step + live with proper accountability = Your God-given destiny will take care of itself. (p.103)

The book is broken into five major sections composed of Seventy-Six “chapterlettes.” Yes, seventy-six chapters, but don’t let that intimidate you because each chapter is only one to three pages in length. I’m sure this is deliberate and indicative of the audience the book is written for. In our media-driven, attention-deficit-disorder, short-attention-span society this methodology is espoused as the best format to get and keep the attention of the audience. I don’t agree with it, but I’m not a marketing guru either. I’m just saying; I don’t care for the format and find it very pedantic.

For resources, visit The Chazown Experience at www.chazown.com

My final summary is this: The book is meant for good. I’ve read other books by Craig Groeschel, heard him speak in conferences, and listened to his pastoral teaching. I believe his message is God honoring and Jesus exalting. There is something about the book that gnaws at me in a troublesome way though, and that is it still seems very “me” centered. Yes, I mentioned in the summary statement (above p. 103 mention) that putting God first is the way to find our God-given destiny… but there’s still a sort of bait and switch drawing card with the book. It’s evident even in the subtitle: “Define Your Vision. Pursue Your Passion. Live Your life on Purpose.” (emphasis on “your ” from me).

Yes, the book can help people. Yes, the book has some practical instruction. Personally, I think there is a better way, so I’ll let others promote the book.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers as part of their Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”