Meet the Author
Hi! My name is Greg Pagh and I thank you for checking out this website and considering my new book, “What Will I Do With the Rest of My Life?” A little background. I am married to Colleen, we have three children who are also married and a total of 10 wonderful grandchildren. I have been very blessed to serve as the Senior Pastor at Christ Church in Otsego, Minnesota for more than 30 years. I also lead a state-wide transformation movement called Bless Minnesota. (www.blessmn.org) and partner globally with a ministry called Transform Our World. (TransformOurWorld.org) I have a passion to see people grow in faith and find purpose and meaning in daily life. This book grew out of my own journey. I hope you find it inspiring, encouraging and practical in application. I pray that you will finish strong and leave a lasting legacy!
Book Excerpts
Dream Big
(Excerpt from Chapter 5)
We always tell our children and grandchildren, “Dream big! You can grow-up to be whatever you want to be!” Since you are still a child of God today I believe He is saying to you, “Keep dreaming! I still want to accomplish more in your life than you can even think or imagine!” The problem is that the world beats us down over time. Satan himself is a dream killer. He constantly whispers in our ears, “You can’t do that. You’re a failure. You’ve got nothing left to give. Look at what happened to your dreams in the past. Don’t even try getting excited about something new!”
But “Boomers,” I’m asking God to release in our generation the ability to dream again. And not just little dreams that might temporarily satisfy our own needs, but big dreams, big enough that God would use us to make a real difference in the lives of others. God is no respecter of status or position. He wants to reveal His plans and purposes to young and old, men and women, rich and poor no matter what our situation in life. God wants us to dream big dreams for Him!
If you could accomplish anything for God, and knew in advance that you could not fail, what dream would you still dream? What would you dream of accomplishing in the remaining years of your life? What would it look like for your dream to come true? Friends, God is not finished with you yet! When you ask Him to show you the way forward He will not only meet every need but fulfill every dream He has placed in your heart. However, to dream a big dream for God you must be willing to get out of your comfort zone, take a risk and trust Jesus every step of the way. A God-sized dream is one that can only be accomplished with Him!
Excerpt from Chapter 16
One time a skilled mountain climber was scaling a vertical face with no ropes. As he neared the top a small ledge gave way under his foot and he began to slip. At the last minute he was able to grab a piece of petrified wood protruding from the side of the mountain. Desperate, he looked up and called out, “Is anybody there? I need help!” No one answered. He called out again and again. Finally a booming voice said, “This is God. I heard you calling. How can I help?” The man said, “I’ve slipped on the side of this mountain and am holding on for dear life. I need you to rescue me. If you do I’ll serve you for the rest of my life!” God said, “It’s a deal! Let go of the branch and I’ll have my angels catch you.” The man shouted, “Is anybody else up there?”
There are many kinds of prayer. There are individual and group prayers. There are private and public prayers. There are prayers of thanksgiving and prayers of request. There are prayers for our own needs and prayers for the needs of others. And then there are emergency prayers like the one this man shouted from the side of that mountain.
If there is one thing that seems to be lacking in the lives of millions of people today, both Christians and non-Christians alike, it is that we pray without really expecting answers. Influenced by a “faith-challenged” secular culture, prayer is often perceived as nothing more than a “feel good” psychological exercise designed to provide comfort and support. To say “I will pray for you” might just as well be translated, “I will keep you in my thoughts and hope for the best.” For those of us sincerely asking, “What will I do with the rest of my life?” we must learn to both pray and listen with faith in God even though we may not always receive the answers we want to hear. We need to learn how to “let go” and “let God.”
What is Your “Value Add?” (Excerpt from Chapter 17)
Their names were Mark and Masey. I met this young couple in Florida. They were from New York and were combining business with some vacation time. We met, of all places, at a hotel putting green. After chit-chatting for a few minutes I asked them what they did for work. They owned a craft beer brewing facility and were on the verge of a significant distribution deal. They had come to Florida to celebrate and sign the new contract. They weren’t married but I could tell they were way more than just business partners. When they responded in-kind and discovered I was a pastor, they began to ask some surprisingly insightful questions.
“Tell us about your church? What is the most important thing you want to communicate to your people? How does your church relate to your community? Where do you stand on issues like gay marriage? Why would someone who is very busy and doing quite well in life choose to attend there?” They were sincere but frank.
We conversed for about a half hour and I tried to share some responses that weren’t preachy but would also get them to think. At one point I said, “What would it take for you to consider following Jesus and becoming a member of a local church? What would be most important to you?” They looked at each other and pondered my question. Mark responded, “Our lives are already full of family, friends, work and hobbies. There isn’t a minute to spare. If we were to consider becoming Christians and joining a church we would have to see a definite ‘value add.’”
Typical millennials? Maybe. However, I wonder if people of any age who were being totally honest wouldn’t answer in the same way. It’s true of most things in life. Why not Christianity? If we’re going to commit our time, talents and our resources to anything these days, don’t we expect there to be a “value add?” In the same way, it is totally reasonable that people would want to experience a real personal benefit from following Christ. This conversation gave me a whole new perspective on sharing my faith.
If you are already a Christian, what are the “value adds” you have experienced that have confirmed your commitment to follow Jesus? If not, what would it take? An experience of unconditional love? The revelation of truth? Forgiveness from your past? Hope for the future? Genuine friendships? Meaningful work? Real purpose in life? The promise of heaven? Good news in a world of bad news? The truth is that Jesus provides all of these benefits to those who commit their lives to Him, however, we don’t get to negotiate up front. Remember, in Matthew 6:33 Jesus says: “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
To experience these “value adds” we must first come by faith. Only the power of God can change a human heart, and yet, my unexpected conversation with Mark and Masey reminds us to meet every person right where they’re at. Before giving someone our answers we need to listen to their heartfelt questions. As we trust in the Spirit to give us love and wisdom in our responses we will be able to share our faith and plant the seeds that one day God will harvest.
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Reviews
When the younger generations see that their elders haven’t given up but instead have chosen to conquer the next mountain, they will also rise-up with greater strength, wisdom and courage. That's where this book finds its very important purpose and clarion call. Its challenge to the older generations has the potential to unleash the younger generations into greater vision and boldness. We desperately need this baton to be passed with love, faith and wisdom so that our children and grandchildren are not left floundering. Although addressed to the Baby Boom generation, in the end this book encourages every generation to ask the question, “What will I do with the rest of my life?”
ED SILVOSO
President/Founder Transform Our World