Rating: 
Summary: Needs to be Read by Every Christian
Review: "Ordering Your Private" world is a practical book that should be read by every Christian. Gordon McDonald lays forth some great principles that will help believers live a well balnced Christian life. In this book he stresses the importance of dealing with our inner/private world. He rightly sees this as a key focal point of the Christian life. It is our inner world/life, reasons McDonald, that needs to be regulated. "Where people live with disorder within, there is anxiety and little growth. But where the private world is constantly realigned and regulated, there is remarkable personal development and Christian witness." Again, I highly recommend this book!
Rating:
Summary: Spring Cleaning for the Soul
Review: Are you a "driven" person, or a called person? Gordon MacDonald offers a thought-provoking distinction on which you may begin to examine your own life and your heart. It's one of the best books I've read on spiritual formation, and I've come back to it time and again.
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding read for those with cluttered, full worlds.
Review: Gordon McDonald does an excellent job of addressing the needs of our generation. We live cluttered, busy worlds - externally and internally. In a practical and spiritual sense, Gordon draws us back to an orderly, settled approach to life. The book is well written in concise chapters. The format allows for easy daily reading, and a study guide is provided for group interaction. Well written, poignant, and an excellent book for the current generation.
Rating:
Summary: Simple advice: don't read it if you can't take it
Review: Gordon's book is written from the perspective of someone who has learned along the way, made mistakes and is just reaching out to help others from falling into that same trap. With personal memos to the disorganized, you feel that there's actually practical advice you can use. Unlike a book that'll make you feel like a complete mess, and your life is sinking in a pit of activity and chaos, you feel like you can actually see the light at the end of your tunnel. I must warn you however, don't read this book simply for information, and don't read it too fast - it can really stimulate life change, as it has changed mine. This book tells us that to have an ordered public life, we must have a Christ directed inner world that governs that public life. If there were more stars I'd give it more.
Rating:
Summary: Simple advice: don't read it if you can't take it
Review: Gordon's book is written from the perspective of someone who has learned along the way, made mistakes and is just reaching out to help others from falling into that same trap. With personal memos to the disorganized, you feel that there's actually practical advice you can use. Unlike a book that'll make you feel like a complete mess, and your life is sinking in a pit of activity and chaos, you feel like you can actually see the light at the end of your tunnel. I must warn you however, don't read this book simply for information, and don't read it too fast - it can really stimulate life change, as it has changed mine. This book tells us that to have an ordered public life, we must have a Christ directed inner world that governs that public life. If there were more stars I'd give it more.
Rating:
Summary: Need to make correction for new e-mail address
Review: I am the person listed in the book review section as the first person to review Gordon McDonald's book, Ordering Your Private World. My e-mail address is no longer Y2Messianic@aol.com. Now it's Y2K Disciple@Netscape.Net. If you are able to make that correction I would greatly appreciate it. By the way, I'm still living in Chesterfield, Missouri. Thank You
Rating: 
Summary: Homophobic and convoluted
Review: I give this book two stars for it's guidance in leading a life of accountability. I give this author no stars for being a homophobic who believes homosexuals are pawns and spawns of Satan as he so brutally quotes in his book! To say that homosexuals are possessed by Satan is about as good as the author saying he is the "source" of a great walk of faith. Mr. Mcdonald, care to share any of your skeletons with the buying public?
Rating:
Summary: Too postmodern, disconnected from biblical truths
Review: I received my first edition Ordering Your Private World (OPW) in 1985, as an undergraduate. I didn't really like the touchy-feely style of presentation, without any corroborrating references, for example, to the author's science of sleep minimization nor a biblically developed case for journaling. I remain puzzled on many points in the book. Contrary to the author's position, the psalmist tells us that "God grants sleep to those He loves". While journaling can be a productive discipline, could it also lead to indulgent self-absorption? And if the journal is a private work, why would it be a treasure to posterity?
As I realize that the author's life could be construed as fairly disordered, at least from several direct observations I've had of him failing to keep his commitments (from the time of his original OPW to the time of this new edition), I feel less discomfort in providing a less than enthusiastic review. During my recent move to a new home, I decided to discard a box of "low-utility" books. Without reticence, I included my old copy of OPW in the junk box. How ironic, perhaps even Spirit guided, my consternation when the current OPW was required reading for an upcoming leadership course, and I had to further donate to the author's estate given how I remembered the first edition. Perhaps that cost could be redeemed by this feedback.
A basic issue for many christians is living the "driven vs. called" life. I believe that the book will be more convicting to those who are driven, because they may experience some empathy with and conviction from the author, who himself is an admitted driven personality. For such a reader, I can only conclude that replacing the drivenness to succeed with a pursuit of God's calling can only expand His creative purpose and kingdom.
I believe that the author is a fellow believer of Jesus Christ, and has been redeemed by God for His purpose. I suspect that I am as much as a sinner as he is, but I'm not the one peddling orderly life advice. Now that I have now read the latest edition, I am still recommending that this probably is not worth your time or money.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderfully Awesome!
Review: If you are a Christian still trying to "find themselves" and need a little "fuel" "reassurance" "it's okay to be me" kind of push -- this is the literature for you! If you're afraid, timid or even the total opposite -- this is the book for you! If you're aggressive, overbearing, controlling and "never wrong" -- this is the book for you! This book crosses every barrier, every thought process, every reasoning mindset to the point of, "okay, I see myself." Don't miss this blessing that has changed the lives of the Connecticut State Missionary Baptist Convention's "Commission On Women In Ministry" and is still spreading, one disciple, Rev. Tracye Colette Chisholm-Penn brought it to class and taught from it giving full credentials to it's author and oh -- how our lives have changed! Deacon Renee' Womack went on to teach her women's group at the Community Baptist Church in Bayside New York after that session and oh! What a blessing! Wonderfully Awesome!
Rating: 
Summary: Please read this book,BUT be prepared...
Review: If you're looking for the '10 step' quick fix, this isn't the book. However, if you are willing to finding lasting, spirit-led change, then thank Gordon MacDonald. Read the book, reread the book, then take you're time with the study guide at the end. I feel chronically disorganized, but unlike the 'sugar' of quick fix, I have found some 'meat' of struggle, encouragement, and I pray, ultimate victory in this area
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