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

True to his style, John Ortberg delivers the message in a practical way that makes sense. I've read most of his books and am blessed by them. Not only he conveys the biblical message but also he presents it with great sense of humor which makes reading enjoyable.

Easy to read, down to earth material. Videos are great!!! I just wish that there was more time each session to cover the vast amount of material. We are going to experiment spending two weeks on each session so as to cover all material.

JOHN ORTBERG IS A GREAT STORY TELLER. I TOO WANT TO ADD A 5 STAR REVIEW TO COUNTER THE REVIEWER WHO SAID HE IS DRY NEVER CRACKS A SMILE SHOULDN'T BE WRITING REVIEWS. WE HAVE DONE TWO ORTBERG STUDIES, THE FIRST WAS "IF YOU WANT TO WALK ON WATER YOU GOTTA GET OUT OF THE BOAT." WE LIKED THAT WELL ENOUGH TO DO THIS ONE AS WELL. IT IS THE BEST OF THE TWO IN MY OPINION. I HAVE BEEN A PASTOR 35 YEARS, AND I WISH I HAD THIS STUDY 20 YEARS AGO. SESSION #3 ON THIS STUDY IS PRICELESS. IT SAYS WE ARE ALL TREASURERS FROM OUR TODDLER DAYS WHEN WE LEARN TO SAY MINE, AND NO. Sadly we don't know if our treasures, our stuff, is something we have or something that has us! This study is all about how to be rich toward God. We gather possessions, we think our stuff is ours, but actually it all belongs to God, and when we resign as master of the board game of life, and live lives of generosity rather than lives of getting more and more and never being satisfied, we find the true meaning of following Jesus Christ. BOTHER WITH THIS STUDY. BE A TRUE FOLLOWER OF JESUS CHRIST. IT IS A SERIOUS CALL TO FORSAKE THE WORLD AND EMBRACE NOT ONLY THE LORD AS YOUR MASTER, BUT THE PEOPLE THAT HE PUTS IN YOUR LIFE. OH WHAT A WONDERFUL THOUGHT! MAY THE LORD BLESS JOHN ORTBERG.

It's probably unfair but I thought I was ordering the book instead of the Participant's Guide, so I was disappointed & didn't feel like adding to the expense of my mistake by going back & ordering the book. The guide without the book is pretty useless.

John Ortberg, a well-known California pastor and bestselling author (THE LIFE YOU'VE ALWAYS WANTED), knows how to captivate a reading audience, and he does it, page after page, in WHEN THE GAME IS OVER, IT ALL GOES BACK IN THE BOX. Using playing games as a metaphor for life, Ortberg shows how the object of the game is a life "rich toward God" --- growing a healthy soul, enjoying the people around you, doing good work, becoming generous and savoring the moment.

Wise people, writes Ortberg, build their lives around what is eternal. He suggests asking yourself the question, "What in your life is going to last forever, and what is going back in the box?" Spend your time caring for the inner you as well as the outer you. Think about the changes you need to make. Let go of wrong priorities. Quit trying to control that which is out of our control, rather than letting the "Master of the Board" take the helm.

What makes this book so brilliant is not that Ortberg offers a lot of new information. It's that he has a flair for synthesizing this information and organizing his ideas in a way that makes them practical as well as soul-stirring. It's also a joy to read.

Gently, in one section, he calls readers to reassess a preoccupation with "stuff" and concentrate on what is most important. A "richness of being" is always available, Ortberg says. "I can seek at any time, with God's help, to be compassionate, generous, grateful, and joyful...usually it will not mean seeking to accumulate more stuff." As he shows through a moving story about Larry, a church member who is killed in an accident, in the end it's not about our achievements or our wealth. It's about our capacity to love. It's the people, not the stuff, that we need to focus on.

Ortberg also reminds his readers that Christians have to be consistent in acting like Christians instead of labeling themselves as such. "The world gets pretty tired of people who have Christian bumper stickers on their cars, Christian fish signs on their trunks, Christian books on their shelves, Christian stations on their radios, Christian jewelry around their necks, Christian videos for their kids, and Christian magazines on their coffee tables but don't actually have the life of Jesus in their bones or the love of Jesus in their hearts." "Be the kind of player people want to sit next to," he urges, borrowing from a Monopoly analogy.

By turns humorous, painfully vulnerable, poignant and wise, Ortberg weaves biblical, personal and fictional anecdotes together with practical points in a compelling way for the reader. He includes insights from many excellent authors throughout, including Anne Lamott, Lewis Smedes, Susan Howatch, Viktor Frankl, Marjorie Rawlings and Thomas Lynch. Rather than getting in the way, these quotes and excerpts enrich the text.

One of Ortberg's passages that haunts me is this: "We need to ask ourselves what we are doing (or not doing) with our lives now that could lead to deep regret." He urges the practice of "regret prevention" --- assessing the commitments we have made in light of what we don't want to regret. Then, he asks us to consider what we need to rearrange. Don't wait for a crisis --- a child running away, getting fired, having a spouse file for divorce --- to force your hand, he urges. More will never be enough.

Although he uses the game metaphor throughout, Ortberg doesn't force it to get his ideas across. The narrative flows seamlessly. In places, Ortberg writes about spending time with your children, but this book is suitable for readers at any stage of life. My husband and I --- almost empty nesters --- are planning to read and discuss it together. It would be an excellent resource for personal reflection or small group study as well.

This is Ortberg writing at his best. But reader, be warned --- you'll come away changed.

--- Reviewed by Cindy Crosby

When John Ortberg mentioned in this book about his experience learning how to play Monopoly with his grandmother it set everything in motion about life and the right perception for daily living. I encourage everybody to read this outstanding book and who knows, you might learn something. I give it five stars and and I'm Marvin P. Ferguson, author of Boys On The Gold Coast.

John Ortberg uses the game metaphor, humor, and touching stories to inspire readers to find what really matters in life...not the trappings, but nurturing relationships and finding joy and purpose each day. His honesty about his own missteps prevents the book from being preachy. The stories? You'll laugh and you'll cry. I spent quite awhile reading excerpts to my husband--whose eyes welled up more than once! I was going to pass along my copy to a friend, but I know I'll go back and read this book again and again for inspiration and the periodic pep talks I will need from time to time; so, I'm purchasing a few more to give out to my family and friends. Though the book is directed to Christians, non-Christians will appreciate the wisdom, the writing style, and the message.

I will confess up front that I have not purchased this particular version, but another visitor made a buying mistake and unfairly skewed the rating, so I'm hoping to bring it up to the other rater who actually used this. I have read the original book and it's TERRIFIC! There's plenty of humor, clear-headed prospective and encouragement for those hoping to achive peace in a troubled world. I have a friend who's been giving copies out by the boat-loads and have come here to buy for a family member who's facing some tough challenges. Dig and enjoy this wonderful author - whatever he brings to the public!

This book is excellent on all counts! A great book for all, even for non Christian readers who appreciate words of wisdom, love and life! Highly recommended! p.s. So sorry that we always forget the two most important things in life: We will die! We are alive/living!?

While some of the concepts in this book are similar to those in the Purpose Driven Life, this book is far better. Ortberg does an amazing job of putting things into perspective and helping the reader realize that there is much more to life than material things, specifically relationships (with God and with others).
He recites stories that capture the heart while proving his points and illustrating ways to implement the concepts he's introducing.
This book has impacted my life in a way no other Christian book has. It has changed the way I think and they way I act and react.
I am planning to buy another 6 copies to give to friends and family.

Priorities - what ever they are reflect who you really are. What is really important in your life? How does that affect your total being? This is an excellent Bible study that will help you become more like the person God created you to be. And that is a great stress reducer!

emotionally evocative without being overly sentimental, this book acts like a treatise on the topic of death and challenges readers to think about it with a clear mind and heart. keeping the reality of death in mind, asks ortberg, how then will you live? the author draws from the Bible and Monty Python alike, and in doing so reminds us that our God is not concerned with what we accrue or how much we win, but with who we are and the condition of our hearts. 'back in the box' is a thoughfully written and spiritually encouraging book; and with humor, frank insight, and honesty, acts as a sort of wake-up call to all of us who get so caught up in what we own and what we do, and turns our hearts and faces toward the God who loves us as we are and has great plans for who we are to become, if only we would partner with him.

My father's employer gives out books every year for Christmas, he never reads them, they just get stacked in our office. I recently graduated from college and am now unemployed, I have a great need for guidance and teaching. I just happened to see it and get curious about it, and chose to read it. This book has stirred a lot of thinking and emotions, I am dead set on reading the Bible and trying to discover what kind of person I am and what I should make my life's work. I recommend this book to anyone, it gives you a real perspective on life and what is important. This book makes me want to be a "better man."

A fabulous book! Practical too! I laughed, cried, laughed some more...slept a little bit, stopped crying...chuckled. John Ortberg helps me... reminds me, what's important on this journey...or game, we call life, where to focus my energy, priorities. And the priorities are easy to remember...God, other people, my soul and deeds of love. The stories he tells through the book illustrate the point he's trying to make, I need illustrations! He affirmed some of the tough decisions I've made in life regarding my career, family, friends, reminding me of the eternal verses the temporal. Put down that 5 dysfunctions book and read something functional!

I have been influenced by John Ortberg and his teaching for more than a decade now. His teaching is consistently catalytic to my spiritual journey. He writes and teaches in a way that makes you want to be a better person for Christ...for loved ones...for friends...for people you don't even know. No pretence...just Jesus and you helping bring the Kingdom of God to this earth. This latest book comes out of that place...the essence of who John is. It's a true gift to all who will read it, who want to be reminded and inspired to live a life that matters...one that makes a difference...the only way life was meant to be lived.

This book both encouraged me and challenged me at the same time. I've actually bought 3 additional copies & given them to friends of mine!

John's style in this book is engaging, but also pushed me to think deeply about how I'm living. The stories he tells pull you in... and then cause you to reflect on how the topic might be playing out in your own life.

I also appreciate how it's more than "John's best thoughts on living" -- but it points back to Scripture time & again. And in doing so, often unveils a dimension of the Bible in a way I'd not considered before.

There were quite a few times I'd interrupt my wife while I was reading it, and say "you've gotta hear this section". Prompted some great discussion. Basically... I loved it.

Ortberg is a master of metaphor and story telling. In "When the Game Is Over," he's not only done it again, but he has gone a notch up. Did you get a chance to see the hearse with all our earthly stuff on top? Makes you think. Life as a game is a great metaphor. Makes you think. Best of his stories was Johnny the bagger. Made me think, weep and cheer all at the same time. This story alone was worth the read. But it's only one of many that Ortberg tells. And there is much more beyond the stories. You won't be the same person after reading this book. You'll be better.

John Ortberg is sensitive and full of grace while never compromising truth, as always. "When the Game is Over.." is an absolute must read for believers as well as anyone seeking spiritual truth. An ever-so-gentle (but effective, to be sure) reminder of our nature to gravitate towards self-seeking ways, and the hope we have in redemption in Jesus.

Ortberg's book is a thought provoking read. Indeed, life is a lot like a game...figure out the rules, devise a strategy, hope for a bit of luck, strive for success. But in the end, what we leave behind...our legacy...is what's important. I borrowed this book from a friend and had to have my own copy.

This book is remarkable. I usually have such troubles reading nonfiction books, but this one I couldn't put it down. John has such an incredible writing style of mixing everyday life with Bible truths. This book is what my husband and I really needed at this time of our lives. Reminding us what is truly important and what is unnecessary in life. I recommend this book to everyone.