Tuesday, July 01, 2008
The Shack, William P. Young
The story of a tragic murder and how the father dealt with this huge loss. In the midst of his pain he solved many of the spiritual questions of his life. Including pain & suffering, the Trinity, prayer etc.
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Breaking The Discipleship Code, Dave Putnam
Putnam is a church planter who is trying to help us go to the next step in helping people take responsibility for their growth in Christ. The text is full of great anecdotes about his experiences in and out side of the church .
"Live as Jesus Lived, Love Like Jesus Loved and Leave like Jesus Left" This is Putnam's philosophy of ministry and the book gives personal and challenging examples as to how this has played out
"Live as Jesus Lived, Love Like Jesus Loved and Leave like Jesus Left" This is Putnam's philosophy of ministry and the book gives personal and challenging examples as to how this has played out
Rules for Renegades, Christine Comaford-Lynch
10 rules that will help you take leadership in life and business. The Key for Ms. C-L is to be bold even when you don't think your desired result is possible.
Rule 1: Everything's an illusion, so pick one that's empowering.
Rule 2: An MBA is optional, but a GSD (getting stuff done) is essential.
Rule 3: Problems + Pain=Profit
Rule 4: Build Power instead of borrowing it.
Ru,e 5: Rock Rejection and Finesse Failure
Rule 6: Learn to love networking
Rule 7: Only you can lead your life.
Rule 8: Work your money MOJO.
Rule 9: Resign as General Manager of the Universe
Rule 10: Don't just do Something, Stand there.
Rule 1: Everything's an illusion, so pick one that's empowering.
Rule 2: An MBA is optional, but a GSD (getting stuff done) is essential.
Rule 3: Problems + Pain=Profit
Rule 4: Build Power instead of borrowing it.
Ru,e 5: Rock Rejection and Finesse Failure
Rule 6: Learn to love networking
Rule 7: Only you can lead your life.
Rule 8: Work your money MOJO.
Rule 9: Resign as General Manager of the Universe
Rule 10: Don't just do Something, Stand there.
Point Man, Steve Farrar
Will we take the lead? One of the original Promise Keepers. Steve Farrar lays out a strategy for being men called to Biblical action in leading our families, our marriages, our work and our community relationships. It was a great wake up call for me to see how easy it is to slide down/ fall down the path of sin and brokenness.
In this call to leadership, Farrar shows us a path to healthy decision-making and Biblical directives in a way that does not remove the power of grace.
In this call to leadership, Farrar shows us a path to healthy decision-making and Biblical directives in a way that does not remove the power of grace.
Saturday, June 07, 2008
The Living Church, John Stott
A wonderful overview of the church - written in that John Stott style of being so strong in leadership and communication, yet gracious in judgement and condemnation. In other words you feel his conviction - but rather than feel like he is "yelling at you" you are aware of the Holy Spirit's voice in your life.
I felt particularly convicted in the areas of preaching as well as evangelism. All preaching is exposition - which is not an excuse for a "running commentary on a long passage". Evangelism is played out in 'incarnational Christianity' in the church. That is, we have been "both called out of the world to worship God and sent back into the world to witness and serve."
Each chapter deals with one aspect of the church today - and concludes with a summary that provides a simple action plan for change.
I felt particularly convicted in the areas of preaching as well as evangelism. All preaching is exposition - which is not an excuse for a "running commentary on a long passage". Evangelism is played out in 'incarnational Christianity' in the church. That is, we have been "both called out of the world to worship God and sent back into the world to witness and serve."
Each chapter deals with one aspect of the church today - and concludes with a summary that provides a simple action plan for change.
Wednesday, June 04, 2008
I became a Christian and All I got was this Lousy t-shirt, Vince Antonucci
A very interseting book. Vince, a pastor from a church for the unchurched in Va. Beach has written this book as a journey/journal through the ups and downs of his Christian life. It seems to me like a cross between Blue Like Jazz, and a compilation of sermon illustrations.
In his honesty in portraying his life as a "little Christ", Vince sometimes goes over the top in his descriptions. But he uses humour well and in the midst of dealing with his issues pertrays a helpful list of ideas to live with Christ.
In his honesty in portraying his life as a "little Christ", Vince sometimes goes over the top in his descriptions. But he uses humour well and in the midst of dealing with his issues pertrays a helpful list of ideas to live with Christ.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
I Once Was Lost, Don Everts & Doug Schaupp
The new book from IVP. It's about campus evangelism, by these 2 veteran InterVarsity staff workers. I felt hat it was very insightful and helpful. The greatest tool provided is the foundations of the book - mainly the 5 Thresholds of Evangelism.
Included with good campus stories these 5 thresholds gave me good guidelines for moving deeper into the life of my friends who are not yet believers.
Threshold 1 - Moving from Distrust to Trust - Christians have lost so much trust. We need to learn to listen and not preach or scold.
Threshold 2 - Moving from Complacency to Curious - Once trusted we need to be intentional about being authentic and compelling as we share our story.
Threshold 3 - Moving from being closed to change to bring open to change in their life. - Are they willing to go to an event or a Bible study with us?
Threshold 4 - Moving from Meandering to Seeking - We should continue to be intentional about asking them where they are in their journey
Threshold 5 - Moving to cross the threshold of the Kingdom of God. - Don't forget to ask the right questions at the right time and be prepared for the answer.
I will recommend this book for all student leaders.
Included with good campus stories these 5 thresholds gave me good guidelines for moving deeper into the life of my friends who are not yet believers.
Threshold 1 - Moving from Distrust to Trust - Christians have lost so much trust. We need to learn to listen and not preach or scold.
Threshold 2 - Moving from Complacency to Curious - Once trusted we need to be intentional about being authentic and compelling as we share our story.
Threshold 3 - Moving from being closed to change to bring open to change in their life. - Are they willing to go to an event or a Bible study with us?
Threshold 4 - Moving from Meandering to Seeking - We should continue to be intentional about asking them where they are in their journey
Threshold 5 - Moving to cross the threshold of the Kingdom of God. - Don't forget to ask the right questions at the right time and be prepared for the answer.
I will recommend this book for all student leaders.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Why You Do The Things You Do, Tim Clinton & Gary Sibcy
Tim Clinton & Gary Sibcy a primer on building relational health from a Godly perspective. The authors took a long time at the beginning developing the model of 4 styles of relating: secure, avoidant, ambivilent & . After they laid out the model they spent the 2nd half of the book talking about the specifics. It was a very good balance between real counseling case studies and strong principles. The plan of action is written in easy steps that are easily remembered and very practical.
Friday, April 18, 2008
Practical Justice, Blue
A very helpful book that gives a clear & realistic model for how to bring the issues of justice & community into the day-to-day practice of a person following Jesus Christ.
The concepts are radical yet simple. The model is accomplishable weather the reader works on Wall St, Capitol Hill or the local fast food restaurant down the street.
Blue proposes a 3 step plan that at least one step can be accomplished by anyone who wants to integrate Justice issues into the normal Christian life.
The model starts with the old adage: "Give a man a fish and he'll eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and he'll eat for a lifetime." Giving a fish involves actually providing what a person needs to survive. Teaching a man involves training and help allowing for growth & knowledge to provide for himself. The third component is "Fixing the Pond," this involves working with the policy & governmental perspectives to make improvements to the system.
The concepts are radical yet simple. The model is accomplishable weather the reader works on Wall St, Capitol Hill or the local fast food restaurant down the street.
Blue proposes a 3 step plan that at least one step can be accomplished by anyone who wants to integrate Justice issues into the normal Christian life.
The model starts with the old adage: "Give a man a fish and he'll eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and he'll eat for a lifetime." Giving a fish involves actually providing what a person needs to survive. Teaching a man involves training and help allowing for growth & knowledge to provide for himself. The third component is "Fixing the Pond," this involves working with the policy & governmental perspectives to make improvements to the system.
unchristian, Lyons & Kinnaman
subtitled: "What a new generation really thinks about Christianity... and why it matters."
The purpose of this book is that based on analysis by the Barna group much of the contemporary culture and young generation no longer regard Christianity as a primary group. We have moved beyond a Christian worldview to a relativistic worldview. And even much of the traditional views of Christianity has harmed it's perspective. And even deeper, some of these "traditional" views are incorrect according to scripture.
There are perceptions about what Christians believe and things that have affected the culture today that are probably based on some actual things that have been done, or could be inaccurately seen or read in the media. There is a huge chance that these do not follow the plan that Jesus Christ Himself laid out for
His followers. The book offers some helpful & healthy ways to correct these patterns.
The 8 areas that the authors say (to start the discussion) we have "lost" the culture are: hypocrisy, jargon, anti-homosexual, sheltered from the world, too political, judgementalism, old-fashioned & boring.
Lyons & Kinnaman want us to be aware of the ways Christians are perceived and without compromising our beliefs to understand what changes we can make to effectively speak the Gospel into this crooked & perverse generation.
The purpose of this book is that based on analysis by the Barna group much of the contemporary culture and young generation no longer regard Christianity as a primary group. We have moved beyond a Christian worldview to a relativistic worldview. And even much of the traditional views of Christianity has harmed it's perspective. And even deeper, some of these "traditional" views are incorrect according to scripture.
There are perceptions about what Christians believe and things that have affected the culture today that are probably based on some actual things that have been done, or could be inaccurately seen or read in the media. There is a huge chance that these do not follow the plan that Jesus Christ Himself laid out for
His followers. The book offers some helpful & healthy ways to correct these patterns.
The 8 areas that the authors say (to start the discussion) we have "lost" the culture are: hypocrisy, jargon, anti-homosexual, sheltered from the world, too political, judgementalism, old-fashioned & boring.
Lyons & Kinnaman want us to be aware of the ways Christians are perceived and without compromising our beliefs to understand what changes we can make to effectively speak the Gospel into this crooked & perverse generation.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)