02/07/2022
A Review of Danny R. Von Kanel’s
Building Your Life by the Owner’s Design:
The Positive Approach to Building Your Life God’s Way
by
Jerry N. Barlow, Th.D
Dean of Graduate Studies
Professor of Preaching and Pastoral Work
New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary
Building Your Life by the Owner’s Design is a succinct, how-to guide to individual discipleship diagnosis and development. Only 110 pages in length, the book lives up to the promise implicit in its title, i.e., to be a positive aid to anyone on how to become spiritually mature and live one’s life fully as God intended. Researched and documented well, the book is scriptural and practical, providing helpful personal assessment analyses at the end of the eight chapters. A final analysis in the Appendix on the stages of maturity serve as a review of the concepts presented in the chapters.
Author Danny R. Von Kanel’s seminary training, years of church ministry experience, and extensive Christian writing background come to bear in the book’s organization and writing. To the reader, the author is both consultant and coach, assisting readers to understand where they are spiritually and then encouraging them to see what is attainable in their lives as Christians. The guidance is detailed but not tedious, just as the foundation requisite of knowing Christ is clear, direct, but not offensive.
The author begins where many people today find themselves, i.e., following “faulty blueprints” in trying to build their lives in contrast to God’s design. However, for those struggling with life and sin, the author facilitates an understanding of biblical facts, prayer, Bible study, and spiritual goals with a focus that can lead to a passion for Christ and a love for others like Christ. Readers will also appreciate the discussion on the dangers of pride and how to avoid a fall into sin.
All in all, Building Your Life by the Owner’s Design is written for and will benefit individual readers. Yet, the book will serve well as a spiritual formation study for a group who desire to grow in discipleship. I highly recommend it to both types of readers.
