Reflections: books

Showing posts with label books. Show all posts

Sunday, May 02, 2010

Book Review: Where is God? by John Townsend

(this is a guest post/review by my wife)

Difficult times can be hard to define. They come in many seasons of our lives, and what may be a struggle for one is considered normal by another. One quality of difficult times that remains constant is that they are guaranteed to happen. The Bible even speaks this truth. Paul tells us to not be surprised when hard times arise. When life is not what we expected, where do we turn? How do we answer questions that arise in our minds and in our hearts? How do you respond when questions are asked of you by others whose lives have tumbled out of control? Dr. John Townsend refers to his many years in the counseling field and his knowledge of scriptures to compile a resource to turn to, not only in the difficult times but also to look at in preparation for the times that are sure to be coming. Where Is God? gives us hope in our dark times, when personal burdens have taken their toll and leave us feeling purposeless.

One aspect of Dr. Townsend's book that I really appreciated is that he clearly states a common reason for our discouragement in the hard seasons of our lives. We have an inaccurate view of God. We cannot see the purpose for our trials until we see the truth of the God who is active in the midst of them. The true God that is presented in scripture is often very different from our misconceived view of God that is often a compilation of our experiences. God's role in our lives is not to prevent trials but rather to use the trials we face for His greater purposes. As Dr. Townsend writes, "He (God) loves you and wants to help you, but He will do it His way and in His time."

There are struggles that we face that will pass. Where is God? will help to point you to the God who is the only hope we have and will give us endurance to persevere. And when the struggles we face are terminal, permanent, and unchanging Dr. Townsend reminds the reader that in Christ we find a deeper hope than simply that the problem will go away (page 67). Ultimately, Christ is the anchor in our storms.

Where is God? is not an answer book in the sense that you walk away with every reason or purpose behind your difficult time. But it does clearly point you to the One who is the answer. It is full of scriptures and examples from Dr. Townsend's experiences that help us to see the reality of our trials. When all else is shaken, He remains. When all else fails us, He remains. When all else is taken, He remains. His goodness, faithfulness, and intimate knowledge of our lives all remain constant. I know I am not alone in needing that reminder.

Saturday, March 20, 2010

Every Youth Worker Needs: a book genre reading list (or part 2)

Friday, March 19, 2010

Every Youth Worker Needs: to read a variety of books

(Youth ministry is not an easy ministry. And in this series, Every Youth Worker Needs:..., I want to highlight a variety of things that might make your ministry a little easier. This ongoing series will include ministry tips, book suggestions, technology helps, and many other nuggets of advice.)

It was not until I was in college that I began to enjoy reading books. While I always completed the required reading, I never read anything else in high school. But sometime early in my college career my love of books was birthed. I believe my acquired fascination with books stemmed from my ability to read books on topics I liked, or maybe I just matured enough to want to learn. Either way, I began to read more books and enjoy the process of reading to learn.

In college, there is so much required reading, you do not have much opportunity to read what you want. So when I started as a full-time youth minister, I thought I would read all of the books I never read, but now wanted to read. I wanted to read books on leadership, ministry, youth ministry, marriage, adolescent development, classic literature, and anything else that peeked my interest. Unfortunately, I found one thing to be true: I did not have any more time to read everything I wanted to then I did in college.

After realizing I could not possibly read everything, I came up with an idea of how I could read the most variety. I would rotate through a list of different genres. Instead of reading multiple youth ministry books in a row, I would rotate from youth ministry to leadership to marriage to ministry, and so on. I never limited myself to a fixed rotation, but allowed flexibility to pick and choose. My main goal was to maintain a variety in the information I was reading. This goal generated from my belief that many people in business, leadership, or ministry were stuck in a book rut. I was seeing a trend where only a few books were getting read and talked about. If a book was popular, it was read, almost regardless of whether the person wanted to read it next or not. All books have the biggest readership within the first few months of release, but the "best sellers" stay on top because of this "bandwagon reading." As you watch what books are being read and talked about, you will notice that it happens with anyone from business executives to stay-at-home mothers.

I am not saying it is wrong to read a book because someone told you it was good. That would be hypocritical of me, since I read and review books for this blog and for Youth Specialties. What I am saying is that I believe youth workers can pigeon-hole themselves into a certain mentality and focus because you only read a narrow spectrum of books. The way you minister is based on a collection of influences, including any mentors, ministry classes you took, conferences and seminars you have attended and the books you have read. If you only read and listen to one method of ministry, you will never question if there is another way to reach students and share God's love. And while you cannot change anything you have learned in the past, you have the ability to choose the books that will influence you in the present.

A few years ago I realized it was not the amount of books that help a youth worker stay sharp, there needs to be variety, as well. As I looked at my "books read" list, I discovered something - my list revolved around one or two main genres (youth ministry and leadership). I needed more variety and I bet you do too. Think about it in terms of your eating habits and nutritional intake. A person cannot eat only Jiffy peanut butter and stay nutritionally healthy. You will not be properly nourished if you refuse to drink milk. But what about people who have allergies? If that is what you are thinking, you have just taken this illustration too far. (No one is allergic to any genre of literature.) But the point can be made that even when you do not eat certain foods high in vitamins, you will supplement by taking daily vitamins. We understand the importance of receiving the vitamins (what is inside the food) even if we do not like the food itself. Yet, youth workers do not always realize the importance of reading a variety of literature in order to obtain knowledge on varying topics.

To the best of my knowledge, there are no knowledge vitamins we can take to supplement our lack of varied reading. No, the only way to gain this assortment of information is to read a variety of books. I have come up with a list of genres I think every youth worker needs to add to their reading rotation, and will post this list tomorrow. Before we get to the genres, allow me to say this: I know you may not be able to read three books from each genre each year. I am not trying to suggest that. What I am suggesting is that you use this list as a starting point and refuse to read two same-genre books in a row.

(Every Youth Worker Needs: A Blog Series About Things You Need in Youth Ministry)

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Book Review: Choose Your Top 3

I really like the Quick Questions series that Youth Specialties has been publishing for the past few years (I really don't know how long). One of the more recent editions is a book called "Choose Your Top 3." As the title implies, the whole book is full of questions that ask the person to choose their top 3. It could be top 3 pop songs, disney movies, baseball players, memories. I recently wrote a review for YS on this book. You can read my review of Choose Your Top 3 in its entirety over on YS.com

If you are a youth worker, you will get a lot of use out of this book. (Think long road trips or those last few minutes of class after you run out of material.)

Monday, February 15, 2010

Book Review: New Breed by Jonathan & Thomas McKee

Youth ministry cannot happen without volunteers. They are the very heartbeat of what helps students connect with a loving God. Yet, most lead youth ministers will agree that finding, working with, and training volunteers is one of the toughest parts of youth ministry - if not the toughest. For all of these youth ministers who desire to gain a better grasp on volunteers, Jonathan and Thomas McKee have teamed up to offer a handbook for the 21st Century volunteer.

Thomas has over 40 years of experience in volunteer leadership and Jonathan has a variety of experience working with volunteers in church and para-church ministries. Together they have written a fantastic book on understanding and equipping the new breed of volunteers. This new approach (or philosophy, you might say) to volunteers is needed due to the changes that have taken place among those who volunteer. You cannot approach volunteers like you would a paid staff member, nor can you approach volunteers today the same way you would have 20 years ago. So, how do you approach this new breed of volunteer?

According to the Jonathan and Thomas, there are three different levels to working with volunteers: the recruiter, the manager, and the leader. Each level has aspects that are unchanged by time, but also contain aspects that must be adjusted for the 21st Century volunteer. Being a recruiter means you have to understand those you want to recruit, which is why chapter 1 is so valuable. The next three chapters are focused on how to (and how not to) recruit, along with some tips on where to look for volunteers that you might have otherwise missed.

Being a volunteer manager is about motivating and empowering volunteers. The second section will offer you ample suggestions for doing just that. But, unfortunately, being a volunteer manager is not always that easy. Jonathan and Thomas spend an entire chapter on how to manage (or fire) the high-maintenance volunteer. Finally, there is the aspect of being a volunteer leader. The final two chapters focus on leading a successful group of volunteers. You will find sound advice, encouragement, and helpful tips that you can put into practice within your ministry.

If the book ended on page 140, it would be a fantastic book on working with the new breed of volunteers. But the book does not end there, no it has over 30 more pages of resources. These are samples, suggestions and other reproducible helps that will transition the information from the book into your ministry. This last section transforms this fantastic book into an invaluable ministry resource for youth ministers. Plus, this is not a hard book to read, which is great for the busy youth minister. All of these factors add up to a must-have for any and all youth ministers.

My advice (rating) – go out and buy it (4 out of 5)

Thursday, January 07, 2010

Book Review: Getting Fired for the Glory of God by Mike Yaconelli

Getting Fired for the Glory of God is a collection of writings from Mike Yaconelli. Beyond his writing, it contains audio and video of Yaconelli speaking. This is some of his best material collected together in one little book. What makes this collection so good, beyond it being from Yaconelli, is that his children compiled it all. This book is a tribute to the legacy he left on the youth ministry world.

If you have never read Yaconelli's work before, you need to pick up a copy and dive right in. You will be challenged, encouraged, and pushed. You might find yourself wanting to read "just one more chapter." For those who know Yaconelli's work, this book will be a reminder of his passion and love for youth workers. Plus, as a bonus, you will get to hear and see some of his most passionate messages.

The truth and honesty within the pages of Getting Fired need to be read by anyone in youth ministry. Take every opportunity to get a copy of this book into the hands of youth workers. If you can't get a copy for every youth worker, you need to at least show them the videos and let them listen to the audio.

My advice (rating) – buy more than one and give out copies (5 out of 5)

Monday, December 21, 2009

Best of '09: Books

The year 2009 A.D. is almost over. The past 12 months have brought with them many new things; some good, some bad, and some not worth mentioning. I would like to take some time and highlight some of my favorite parts of 2009. I will call this list the "best of '09" - which simply means that, in my opinion, these are the best items in a certain category. I fully expect you to disagree with some of my choices or to be upset I did not add other items to the list. If you feel this way, please add your "best of '09" ideas in the comments.

The third list will be books, any book not fitting in the youth ministry category. These are the best books I read this year. Like the youth ministry books, they may not all be new in 2009, but this was the year I got around to reading them. This list is in no particular order and will not include every good book I read this year, just a list of my top reads - the ones I think you would benefit from reading.

Culture Making by Andy Crouch - I really enjoyed this book. It challenged me to think differently about my role in culture and how I need to live differently to make a bigger impact. This is a must read! Here is my review of Culture Making from earlier this year.

Storylines by Andy Croft and Mike Pilavachi - I picked up the non-American version of the book (ie. original published with "crazy spelling") and am so glad I did. This book takes a look at some of the major themes that run through the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation. Here is my review of Storylines from earlier this year.

Called to Worship by Vernon Whaley - This is a pretty thick book and will take a little while to read, but it is well worth your time. The book takes a look at worship in every section of Scripture, sometimes book by book. I highly recommend you read this book. Here is my review of Called to Worship from earlier this year.

Simply Christian by N.T. Wright - I've had this book for a few years and finally got around to reading it this year. A truly, thought-provoking book, filled with in-depth insight and observations. Here is my review of Simply Christian from earlier this year.

Fresh Start by Doug Fields - This book is full of great insight into what it takes to make a fresh start in your life. It is a pretty easy read and would be a great addition to your reading list. Here is my review of Fresh Start from earlier this year.

Treasured by Leigh McLeroy - This has to be the surprise book of the year for me. I did not expect much out of it, but I was completely wrong! A few of the first chapters really stood out to me and helped bring a fresh light to some of my life circumstances. You will want to put this on your reading list for 2010. Here is my review of Treasured from earlier this year.

Like the music and youth ministry book lists, there are some items not on this list that were big this year. Some of them (like Outliers by Gladwell) I want to read, but just haven't. Add your favorite books from 2009 in the comments and let us know what books we need to pick up and read.

Other posts in this series:
Best of '09 - Music
Best of '09 - Youth Ministry Books
Best of '09 - Non-Ministry Books
Best of '09 - Websites used
Best of '09 - Blog posts
Best of '09 - Web Apps
Best of '09 - Ministry Moments
Best of '09 - Random Favorites

Friday, December 18, 2009

Best of '09: Youth Ministry Books

The year 2009 A.D. is almost over. The past 12 months have brought with them many new things; some good, some bad, and some not worth mentioning. I would like to take some time and highlight some of my favorite parts of 2009. I will call this list the "best of '09" - which simply means that, in my opinion, these are the best items in a certain category. I fully expect you to disagree with some of my choices or to be upset I did not add other items to the list. If you feel this way, please add your "best of '09" ideas in the comments.

The second list will be youth ministry books. These are the best youth ministry related books I read this year. They may not all be new in 2009, but this was the year I got around to reading them. This list is in no particular order and will not include every good book I read this year, just a list of my top reads - the ones I found most helpful.

Youth Ministry 3.0 by Mark Oestreicher - I picked up this book in 2008, but did not actually get around to reading it until early this year. Oestreicher writes about many of the struggles and thoughts felt by many youth workers around the country. Whether you agree with everything int he book (and you won't), you need to read it and be challenged to see youth ministry from a different angle. Here is my review of Youth Ministry 3.0.

Help! I'm a Frustrated Youth Worker! by Steve Case - This book is small and easy to read. Most youth workers will relate to the frustrations Case writes about. I recommend reading this book, even if you only need a reminder that your situation is not "that bad." Here is my review of Help! I'm a Frustrated Youth Worker.

Sustainable Youth Ministry by Mark Devries - Every youth worker wants to be part of a youth ministry that is sustainable. Devries knows a few things about sustainable youth ministries - he has been working with youth ministries across the country for years. This book is a must read for anyone working in a youth ministry of any size and shape. Here is my review of Sustainable Youth Ministry.

Speaking to Teenagers by Doug Fields and Duffy Robbins - Doug and Duffy have written a great resource for anyone who speaks to teenagers. This book is packed with useful information and helpful tips. Here is my review of Speaking to Teenagers.

99 Thoughts for Youth Workers by Josh Griffin - This little book has a lot of great thoughts inside. Josh collected his thoughts on youth ministry, which were written in journals, on napkins (I'm guessing a few of these were once on a napkin), and from his blog. This is especially useful if you are new to youth ministry or feel like you are stuck in a rut. Here is my review of 99 Thoughts for Youth Workers.

The New Breed by Jonathan McKee and Thomas McKee - I'm actually only 2/3 of the way through this book, but so far I think it is a great read. Every youth worker, who works with volunteers, needs to read this book and apply the principles.

As you can see, I spent a lot of time this year catching up on youth ministry books that I had not read. Expect to see some 2009 releases in the 2010 "best of" list, as I am sure I'll get them read by then.

What youth ministry books would you add to this list? (or what books should I add to my 2010 reading list?)

Other posts in this series:
Best of '09 - Music
Best of '09 - Youth Ministry Books
Best of '09 - Non-Ministry Books
Best of '09 - Websites used
Best of '09 - Blog posts
Best of '09 - Web Apps
Best of '09 - Ministry Moments
Best of '09 - Random Favorites

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Book Review: Primal by Mark Batterson

Have you ever really given any thought to the command to love God with all of your heart, soul, mind and strength? This is precisely the backdrop for Mark Batterson's new book, Primal: A Quest for the Lost Soul of Christianity. Batterson wonders what Christianity would look like if we all truly loved God with compassion, wonder, curiosity, and power. As you read chapter after chapter, you will begin to see small and not-so-small ways that your life should be transformed by living the Great Commandment by loving God with every aspect of your life.

Primal is broken down into four sections, each digging deeper into the heart, soul, mind, and strength of Christianity. Each chapter flows with personal stories, scientific information, historical case studies, Scripture, and application. Even when he is writing about the intricate details of beta waves and alpha waves, Batterson writes with simplicity. This simplicity does not lead to less impact, rather I believe it pushes you in the opposite direction. You will not be able to read Batterson's thoughts without being challenged and stretched in your understanding of what it means to love God.

As you live out the Great Commandment, remember these words by Oswald Chambers (quoted by Batterson in the final paragraphs of the book); "Let God be as original with other people as He is with you." The way you love God will not be the same way your friend loves God. And that is the point - God created you to be unique and you need to be willing to love God as only you can and allow others to love God as only they can.

My advice (rating) – go out and buy it (4.5 out of 5)

(This was book was provided for review by WaterBrook Multnomah.)

Thursday, December 03, 2009

Book Review: God Gave Us series by Lisa Tawn Bergren

The God Gave Us series of books are short children's stories that share a big message. Right now there are five books in the series: God Gave Us You, God Gave Us Two, God Gave Us Christmas, God Gave Us Heaven, and God Gave Us Love. Each book starts with Little Cub asking a question about something big, like who invented Christmas? Then she and her mom go on an adventure to find an answer to the question.

Each book is filled with pages of wonderfully drawn and colorful artwork. In fact, the artwork would convey a great story even without the words to explain it. Even though the artwork is high quality and the story is fun to read, it is the message of God's love that shines the brightest. As a parent, it is the biblical message that I love the most about these books.

If you are looking for a book that has a great message and is fun to read, pick up one of the God Gave Us books and you will not be disappointed.

My advice (rating) – borrow from a friend (3 out of 5)

(This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.)

Tuesday, December 01, 2009

Book Review: Treasured by Leigh McLeroy

My first impression of Treasured was that this was going to be another gift book. I do not usually like gift books, so I was not really looking forward to reading this book. Then I got the book and saw it was 190 pages and void of pictures - two signs it is not a gift book, in my opinion.

As I started reading the first chapter on "The Fig Leaf: The God Who Covers Me," it was confirmed to me that this was not going to be a gift book. The premise of the book is that we can learn about God by looking at the small items he has used in the past. McLeroy starts by sharing the story of her grandfather's box, which she received in the mail after his death. The box contained small items that were special to her grandfather. Just as she was able to know her grandfather better by looking at these items, we can know God by looking at the small things he might keep in his memory box.

McLeroy writes about 12 various Bible stories, such as the fall, the near-sacrifice of Isaac, and Balaam's donkey. Woven between the points of each story is a personal story from the pages of McLeroy's life. This openness makes the book real. I was truly engaged from the introduction til the final period.

I recommend Treasured for anyone who needs reminded of God's overarching love for them. God treasures you more than anything else and reading this book will provide the evidence needed to cement that fact into your memory. Personally, I was encouraged and challenged as I read through these pages. There were a few specific parts of Treasured that were exactly what I needed to read during a specific situation. Go ahead and pick up a copy of Treasured, you'll be glad you did.

My advice (rating) – go out and buy it (4.5 out of 5)

(This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.)

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Cheap Books from Simply Youth Ministry

Simply Youth Ministry is having a warehouse moving sale - and that means you can get some great books for really cheap.

Go here for the whole list, and to order your books.

It looks like they are going quickly, so hurry over and see what is left!

Wednesday, October 07, 2009

Trivia Wednesday #142: Most Popular Halloween Candy

answer #141 - C. S. Lewis (Who has written more books, Leo Tolstoy or C. S. Lewis?)

question #142 - What is the most popular candy given out on Halloween?

----
This weekly trivia is provided for use within your youth ministry. You can use this random trivia in many ways: use it to start a conversation with a student, add it to your introduction for your lesson or message, include it in your next newsletter or email, or just randomly insert it into your daily conversations. No matter how you decide to use it, I hope this trivia knowledge can be beneficial within your youth ministry.

Tuesday, October 06, 2009

Book Review: Fresh Start by Doug Fields

(This Doug Fields book is not a youth ministry book, but it will definitely speak to youth workers and the students they work with. Plus, Doug writes like a youth worker would! As I read through the book, I kept picturing Doug standing in front of a room of high schoolers giving these chapters as messages. You can take a youth worker out of the youth ministry genre, but you can't take the youth ministry communicator out of the author.)

Have you ever wanted a second chance, but did not feel deserving of one? do you struggle to take life in a new direction because you are afraid of making the same mistakes? In Fresh Start, Doug Fields offers wisdom to help you start over. Fields uses his twenty-plus years of ministry experience to provide practical advise to help the reader make a fresh start.

Fresh Start covers a number of areas where people need a new beginning. Fields discusses pride, serving, the past, pain, conflict, rejection, anger and sharing your fresh-start story. Each chapter delves into the topic, without stopping at the surface level issue. Fields brings to light the underlying causes and obstacles that need to be addressed before a person can experience a fresh start. In the introduction it says "Let's see what happens as you keep moving forward by faith and doing the possible while trusting God with the impossible." A fresh start is not impossible, but it will take hard-work.

This book does not leave the reader with a desire to make a change, but no means to follow through. Every chapter provides a collection of practical and helpful advice. For example, in chapter five, Freedom from hurt, Fields offers steps to help the reader begin to forgive. In this case, you admit you're hurt, determine what he/she owes you, cancel the debt, and release the offender completely. Having this tangible advice offers the beginning of healing for the person who has been carrying the pain of past hurts.

You will benefit greatly from picking up a copy and reading through these pages. In fact, I would suggest you find the chapter that deals with the area of "stuckness" you want to be unstuck and read it first. Read and interact with the text. Allow God's Word and the advice in this book to help you move toward the Fresh Start you want.

My advice (rating) – buy more than one and give out copies (5 out of 5)

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Trivia Wednesday #141: Who wrote more: C.S. Lewis or Leo Tolstoy?

answer #140 - And Then There Were None (Which book has sold more copies, And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie or The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger?)

question #141 - Who has written more books, Leo Tolstoy or C. S. Lewis?

----
This weekly trivia is provided for use within your youth ministry. You can use this random trivia in many ways: use it to start a conversation with a student, add it to your introduction for your lesson or message, include it in your next newsletter or email, or just randomly insert it into your daily conversations. No matter how you decide to use it, I hope this trivia knowledge can be beneficial within your youth ministry.

If you have any suggestions on topics you would like to see used for the trivia questions, just leave a comment and let me know.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Trivia Wednesday #140: Best-Selling Books

answer #139 - 'Lost Horizon' by James Hilton was the first modern paperback published in America, by Pocket Books in 1939. (What was the first paperback ever published?)

question #140 - Which book has sold more copies, And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie or The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger?

----
This weekly trivia is provided for use within your youth ministry. You can use this random trivia in many ways: use it to start a conversation with a student, add it to your introduction for your lesson or message, include it in your next newsletter or email, or just randomly insert it into your daily conversations. No matter how you decide to use it, I hope this trivia knowledge can be beneficial within your youth ministry.

If you have any suggestions on topics you would like to see used for the trivia questions, just leave a comment and let me know.

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Book Review: 99 Thoughts for Youth Workers by Josh Griffin

There are two things you need to be aware of before you read 99 Thoughts on Youth Ministry. First, the title is a lie, because this little book is filled with 113 nuggets of youth ministry knowledge, not 99. Second, as you read through the pages you might notice that Griffin seems to be writing to a very specific audience, even more specific than say the average youth worker. In fact, based on this section from the description I would say he's writing with his ministry team and atmosphere in mind: "Over the past couple of years Josh has been journaling his youth ministry learnings in his Moleskine and on his blog. The good, the bad and the ugly - this is a collection of those thoughts."

I think the fact that Griffin is currently "in the trenches," and writing about what he knows, gives this book a little extra boost of character and authenticity. 99 Thoughts is more than a random collection of ramblings, it is a categorized peek into the youth ministry thoughts of a youth worker who passionately strives to serve students and help other youth workers be more effective. You will find thoughts in four areas: vision & leadership, programs & people, small groups & events, and everyday ministry. Within these sections, each thought is short and to the point, making the book as a whole short and to the point.

99 Thoughts is a great youth worker stocking stuffer (or if you feel uncomfortable stuffing a youth worker's stocking, you can just slide it under the door). Anyone currently working in youth ministry can benefit from reading this book. The rookie youth worker can learn from Griffin's experience, and possibly avoid a mistake or two of her own. And since you can read this book while eating lunch it is not intimidating to a youth worker who already feels overwhelmed with responsibilities. Veteran youth workers can also glean from these pages, as each thought will serve as a reminder or encouragement.

I highly recommend getting a copy of this book for every member of your youth ministry team. You can either encourage them to read the whole thing on their own or use it as part of your team meetings (discussing one section at a time). Regardless of how you use it, I believe your ministry will benefit from the 113 thoughts found within these pages.

My advice (rating) – buy more than one and give out copies (5 out of 5)

Saturday, September 12, 2009

Learned from Twitter: week ending September 12, 2009

Here are a few of the things I learned from my twitter friends this week:

1. MinistryAllies (Ministry Allies) offered an invitation to anyone willing to be part of an ebook by adding input and suggestions to the written content. If you would like to take part, let him know. (if you don't know how to contact him, I can get you connected)

Looking for ppl to add input to an eBook on hanging out w/ teens outside youth group, like what marko did with ym3.0. anyone want to help?

2. gavoweb (Gavin Richardson) shared a story from the AP on Dave Ramsey. I have to say some of the info in the article makes it harder to believe he is truly "saving as much as he can and giving as much as he can away" as 2 of the 3 things mentioned. (the third being "make as much as you can" and that seems to be covered). What do you think? Can it be a ministry when its a for profit business? Maybe part of me would like to see what % of profit gets sent to "missions or other ministries."

The Associated Press: Christian money guru gets rich mixing faith, funds http://ff.im/-7S5LM

3. nywc (National Youth Workers Convention) was nice enough to inform anyone going to the Cincinnati convention about some lower rates at one of the hotels. BTW, I'll be at the Cincy convention and would love to connect with any of you who might also be there. Leave me a comment or send me an email and we'll get together.

Coming to Cincy? Check out the new rock bottom rate at the Westin. http://bit.ly/bBcwa

4. zondervan (Zondervan) linked to a free download of "The Naked Gospel." Go check it out and read it. What can you lose, its free. :)

The Naked Gospel ranked as Zondervan's top selling book on Amazon. Download your FREE copy at http://www.TheNakedGospel.com w code "farley"

What did you learn from Twitter this week?

Tuesday, September 08, 2009

Book Review: Fearless by Max Lucado

(This review of Fearless is written by my wife. She captures the essence of the book and applies it to our life at the moment. First, read her review and then think about whether or not you need to read Lucado's book. Sidenote: the book comes with study questions in the back, making it an easy choice for a small group study)

As a young child fears are easily identified. They lurk under beds, in dark closets, within scary movies. As I have become an adult those fears of my childhood have been mostly dismissed and replaced with new, less defined fears. These fears seem to be found in the uncontrolled, unpredictable, ever-changing details of what lies ahead. In Max Lucado's book Fearless I have begun to grasp the need to both identify and put to rest the fears in my life concerning that which I cannot control. I have gained courage not only from Lucado's perspective and insight on how to overcome fears but even more so from the examples of Scripture that he highlights. Through using various "have no fear" statements made by Jesus, Lucado touches on the main areas that we find fear in: the future, our economic status, our children's safety, and not mattering to others to name a few.

When I thought through the fears discussed in the book, I realized two things: there are things I could/should fear that I have never even considered. And secondly, I have no need to fear anything but God. These two rather opposite realizations have made a difference in my thought life, especially in light of the current situation in which my husband and I find ourselves. He is currently looking for a full time ministry position, and has been for around 15 months. Reasons for fears to take over my mind and soul? They are abundant. And although they are abundant, I now see more reasons that they are unnecessary. Every reason to allow fears to grow can be answered confidently with the call of Christ, "Do not be afraid." I believe we all have much to gain from listening to the voice of Jesus over our fears.

Thursday, September 03, 2009

September Trivia Questions

This month's trivia questions are all about literature. And I'm not going to ask about what book is the most published - its still the Bible (and I have a hard time believing it will ever be anything else).

The five questions are about: