The Quest = Live simply with purpose
“A non-Christian society is an acquisitive society where each man is out to amass as much as he can get. A Christian society is a society where no man dares to have too much while others have too little, where every man must get only to give away.” – William Barclay
This website may seem a little schizophrenic so let me explain:
It is a collision of the topics that consume me:
- faith
- simple living
- global needs
I want to help people experience an amazing life and enlarge their worldview through simple, faithful living.
I believe that if people lived simpler lives we could make a greater difference in the world. Therefore, Quest for a New Perspective (Q4NP) is an attempt to encourage, educate, and inspire others to live simply so that others may simply live.
It’s a challenge to be different in order to make a difference.
Let’s be honest. The average Western consumer is consumed with stuff. We are slaves to the marketing gurus who tell us that we can’t be happy without their latest gadget or gizmo. When we buy something it’s fun for awhile, then we get bored and need the next best thing. We find ourselves trying to keep up with the Joneses – even if we don’t like them or know them!
Why do we live this way? Is this a healthy way to live? If not, how can we stop it?
“Every man dies, not every man really lives.” – William Wallace
Sometimes I think we need to stop and ask ourselves, “Am I making a living or making a life?” This kind of thinking is a common thread on Q4NP.
Once we get a new perspective on our own lifestyle decisions, what do we do with the time, money, and energy we’ve saved? How about investing wisely in ourselves and improving the lives of others?
For example, with more time, you can get involved with a favorite charity. With more money, you can help a remote third-world village have clean drinking water. With more energy, you can start writing that book you’ve always wanted to write or give time to a skill you have always wanted to learn.
Hopefully, when you get a new perspective on life and the world around you, you’ll want to participate in making the world a better place. It’s a challenge to invest your life in others. Be careful! You may have to get out of your comfort zone.
At least twice a week, I will post something about lifestyle design, personal development, global needs, or those who are being different to make a difference. One post may be about time management. The next may be about someone teaching in a remote village in Southeast Asia. Everything on Q4NP is about living purposeful, maybe even unconventional, lives and stories of people who are doing it. You can follow along by RSS, email updates, or just drop by the site a couple of times a week.
Every time you visit Q4NP, you will find posts about:
- Personal development, lifestyle decisions, planning, and purposeful living.
- Missions, ministries, organizations, and individuals who have chosen to spend their life making a difference in the lives of others. In most cases, these people have said “No” to living the American Dream and “Yes” to living their own God-given dreams.
The link between those 2 bullet points is a different perspective on life. How can my life be less about stuff and more about experiences? How can I help others experience joy?
In my ebook, Quest for a New Perspective, I delve into this further. I would also love for you to read my ebook, 2 Big Questions, 1 Amazing Life! I believe it will be a catalyst to help you think about and take steps toward finding a new perspective. Both of these books are FREE DOWNLOADS.
About Gene
I am one of the richest people in the world. I’ve been reading about, teaching, writing, and striving to live a simple life for most of my adult life. I resist buying things just because they are newer, bigger, and better. I’m cool with buying used stuff. Whether it be a car or a book, if I can get it in decent condition, I do. I try to be satisfied with enough. I’d rather impress people with my character and faith instead of my possessions.
I am also passionate about global needs. I’m bothered that 2 billion people make less than $2 per day. I’m bothered that every 15 seconds a child dies because of unclean drinking water. I’m bothered that malaria-carrying mosquitoes kill Africans that cannot afford a net to cover their beds. I can’t change the world, but I can change someone’s world. You can too.
I’ve committed to make an impact in every nation on the planet over a ten year period. I call it Mission 227.
I’m trying to live my life in such a way that I can be blessed and be a blessing. I am blessed to live where I live and to have the opportunities that I have. I want to be a good steward of my time, talents, and treasures. And I want to encourage others to do the same.
Like most people I know, I struggle with debt, busyness, and self-centeredness. I am aware of the things that rob my joy and I strive to stop the thieves that attempt to ruin my life. I am only a pilgrim on this journey. I do not have all of the answers, nor do I consider myself an expert. I simply want to share what I know and what I’ve learned in the hopes that it will help you live joyfully and pay it forward.
I’m currently living out my dreams here as a pastor and writer. If you live near me, come see us.
Thanks for joining me on this journey.
Gene
You can email Gene at genepjennings (at) gmail (dot) com.
