When the Game Is Over, It All Goes Back in the Box

John Ortberg

Zondervan, 2007 - Christian life - 254 pages

Remember the thrill of winning at checkers or Parcheesi? You become the Master of the Board---the victor over everyone else. But what happens after that, asks bestselling author John Ortberg. You know the answer: It all goes back in the box. You don't get to keep one token, one chip, one game card. In the end, the spoils of the game add up to nothing. Using popular games as a metaphor for our temporal lives, When the Game Is Over, It All Goes Back in the Box neatly sorts out what's fleeting and what's permanent in God's kingdom. Being Master of the Board is not the point; being rich toward God is. Winning the game of life on Earth is a temporary victory; loving God and other people with all our hearts is an eternal one. Using humor, terrific stories, and a focus on winning 'the right trophies, ' Ortberg paints a vivid picture of the priorities that all Christians will want to embrace.

Contents

• Introduction: 7
• Acknowledgments: 8
• The Game: 9
• Learn Rule 1: 11
• The Object: 19
• Be Rich toward God: 21
• Setup: 33
• Three Ways to Keep Score: 35
• Master the Inner Game: 47
• Untie Your Ropes: 53
• Resign as Master of the Board: 59
• No One Else Can Take Your Turn: 71
• Remember Your Stuff Isnt Yours: 83
• Prevent Regret: 97
• Play by the Rules: 111
• Fill Each Square with What Matters Most: 123
• Roll the Dice: 137
• Play with Gratitude: 147
• Find Your Mission: 157
• Hazards: 167
• Beware the Shadow Mission: 169
• Two Cheers for Competition: 181
• More Will Never Be Enough: 189
• Winning Alone Is Called Losing: 201
• Be the Kind of Player People Want to Sit Next To: 209
• To: 212
• Collect the Right Trophies: 221
• The King Has One More Move: 229
• Sources: 241
• Bible Translations: 254

About the author

John Ortberg is senior pastor at Menlo Park Presbyterian Church in Menlo Park, California. He is the bestselling author of Who is this Man, The Life You've Always Wanted and If You Want to Walk on Water, You've Got to Get Out of the Boat. John and his wife, Nancy, have three grown children.

Bibliographic information

• Title: When the Game Is Over, It All Goes Back in the Box
• Author: John Ortberg
• Publisher: Zondervan, 2007
• ISBN: 0310253500, 9780310253501
• Length: 254 pages