When I first received this book I was fascinated by its title. I felt it had been written for me and about me! So many times in the last few years I have felt rundown, tired, and just worn out. I felt that the more I tried to serve God, the less I could do. I felt called to do so much, yet there was only so much time and I had my family depending on me, plus I was realizing that I needed my "own" time in which I could take a deep breath and enjoy life again. As I realized all this, my next thought was, "How could I be serving God and my family and not enjoying life?" I knew that God would not want things to be this way! I read this book knowing that God had sent it my way as a way of speaking to me.

The author of The Overcommitted Christian, Pamela Evans, has worked as a doctor in both general practice and medical research and has worked as a counselor as well. In addition to all these qualifications, she is a wife and mother with 2 grown sons. Pamela has seen how doing too much, in the name of the Lord, can actually hurt us. While we think we are doing wonderful things in trying to bring honor to the Lord with our good works, we find ourselves attempting to live as if God was calling us to accomplish more than He knows we are able.

The Overcommitted Christian begins by looking at what drives each of us. The book addresses issues such as keeping up appearances, keeping people happy, worship, authority and leadership. It also addresses compassion and whether or not it's real or contrived. If we truly do not feel compassion, but act as if we do, is the compassion real to the recipient?

The book also looks at our relationship with God and whether we really do have a relationship with God...or only have religion. Are we merely going to church, attending Bible study and acting like Christians, or are we truly living with God in a relationship? Inner reflection is encouraged as there are no right or wrong answers with such issues.

The last part of the book is entitled "Where Do We Go From Here?" As the title implies, this is the part where the reader must stop denying what has been happening and resolve to fix the problem. The book gives down-to-earth suggestions for overcoming denial, abandoning false solutions and looking long-term down the road.