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| 3.37
| 54
| Dec 01, 2003
| Dec 29, 2003
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really liked it
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The author, who taught in the Religion Department at St. Olaf College for thirty-four years, and died in 2020, states that his primary aim in this boo
The author, who taught in the Religion Department at St. Olaf College for thirty-four years, and died in 2020, states that his primary aim in this book about the theological and ethical aspects of vocation, is to develop a contemporary articulation of the classic Protestant doctrine of vocation. He tells us that churches and church-related colleges should lead the way in a recovery of life as vocation. He writes that for the vast majority of Christians, God's callings are discerned quietly, when the heart of faith joins opportunities and gifts with the needs of others. The author liberally quotes from Martin Luther and John Calvin, stating that the development of the doctrine of vocation was a distinctive and influential feature of the Lutheran and Reformed wings of the Protestant Reformation. He tells us that we need to think again about vocation in the tradition of Luther and Calvin, as he believes it is imperative for Christians to regain key elements of their views. The term "vocation" comes from the Latin vocare, meaning "to call." This call sanctifies all of life, inviting Christians to offer every aspect of life as their divine worship. The author tells us that for those who remain committed to Christ and the church, vocation has more and more come to refer to church-related professions, or to extraordinary, heroic forms of Christian service. This is the view of vocation Luther and Calvin thundered against, because in it, vocation applies less and less to the day-to-day activities that constitute the lion's portion of most people's lives. In the Bible, vocation has two primary meanings. The first, and by far more prevalent, meaning is the call to become a member of the people of God and to take up the duties that pertain to that membership. The second meaning is God's diverse and particular callings -- special tasks, offices, or places of responsibility within the covenant community and in the broader society. Though the New Testament does not provide a formula for discerning God's callings, it does indicate key elements often present in this process. They are gifts, needs, obligations, discussion, and prayer. Whatever the particular calling may be, the activities undertaken within it must contribute in some way to God's mission, to the care and redemption of all God has made. The author does a good job of communicating Luther and Calvin’s views of vocation and applying them to our current day. Here are some of my favorite quotes from the book: • The doctrine of vocation encourages us to connect all aspects of our present, past, and future to God's plans and purposes. In doing so it provides a solid, integrative center for all of life. • Prayer and meditation can spark and sustain a sense of life as calling. • Lawful callings serve the common good. • In all their callings - home and extended family, friendships, paid work, cultural activity, and political life - Christians must strive to establish justice, contribute to the common good, and promote enjoyment of life in creation under God's reign. • Callings are places for self-sacrifice in faithful service to the neighbors God's providence brings near. • Vocation encourages Christians to live out their calling in and through the special relations in which they have been placed by God's design. • God's will is that in all our callings we serve the least of these, for in serving them we serve Christ. • We need to recover the sense that our lives are in many ways "given" to us by forces beyond our control but ultimately in the loving hands of a provident God. • The modern association of vocation and self-fulfillment runs against the main thrust of the Protestant tradition on this point. • A Christian's deepest satisfaction comes from serving the neighbor, and serving God by serving the neighbor. • God's callings and leading are for the most part quietly and gently received, mediated by prayerful individual and communal discernment of gifts and needs. • Paid work creating products or services that harm the neighbor cannot be vocations. • So long as an occupation respects human dignity and contributes to the common good, the word of Protestant vocation for career choices is one of freedom. • Vocation encourages periodic revision of priorities. The goal of this reassessment is to discern which needs should be emphasized at a given time, or for a given period of time. • To view one's work as divinely given vocation makes it meaningful work. • The central idea of vocation is to use one's God-given gifts to be of use to the broader community. • Knowing that fruit of one's labor is meeting the genuine needs of others creates meaning and adds joy to work. • The deepest integration of faith and life occurs when essential needs are met through one's products, and when they are met for the most vulnerable and needy of the world. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Sep 05, 2023
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Sep 22, 2023
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Sep 05, 2023
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Kindle Edition
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| B002EZZ4ZK
| unknown
| 3.71
| 106
| Apr 30, 1990
| unknown
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it was amazing
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The author, now Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at Calvin College, based this book on a course he and others taught at Calvin College titled “Christi
The author, now Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at Calvin College, based this book on a course he and others taught at Calvin College titled “Christian Perspectives on Work and Vocation”. He writes that the book, readings from which were on the syllabus for one of my seminary courses, might be read as an attempt to help revitalize the concept of work as vocation or calling, at least within the professing Christian community. He states that his primary intent is “to flesh out the concept of vocation, to delineate its historical background, to mark out its place in the array of possible attitudes towards the meaning of work in human life, to illuminate its full religious content, and to explore its practical implications, both personal and social.” The author begins the book with a history of the philosophy of work, looking the teaching of Aristotle, Plato, the philosophers of the Renaissance, Karl Marx, Sigmund Freud, Martin Luther, and John Calvin. He then looks at vocation, calling and career choice. The author then gives us a historical overview of the development of American management theory from Frederick Taylor’s scientific management, the Hawthorne Experiment, Chris Argyris, Frederick Herzberg, Douglas McGregor, Peter Drucker on responsible work, to Robert Levering on workplace quality. After looking at recent (the book was written in 1990) advances in work design, he states that in all situations the aim of the appropriate design of human work remains the same: making a job the kind of place where a vocation can be pursued. I really enjoyed reading this book, but can understand that not all will appreciate the lengthy historical overviews included. Below are 15 of my favorite quotes from the book: • Our work can count as a vocation only if it occurs in the kind of social structures that make it a genuine service to others through the responsible use of our talents and abilities. • Work itself, then, is a divine vocation. • By working we affirm our uniquely human position as God's representatives on this earth, as cultivators and stewards of the good gifts of his creation, which are destined for the benefit of all. • All work, provided it contributes to the common good, possesses an inherent religious dignity, no matter how mean or low it may be in outward appearance. For the divine intent for human life is that we be employed in mutual service. • Human life is to be lived out in a society of mutual service and support, each member contributing according to his specific talents and receiving according to his need. • One need not have a paid occupation in order to have a vocation. Indeed, all of us have, at any one time, a number of vocations-and only one of them might be pursued as a paid occupation. • In making a career choice, we ought to take seriously the doctrine of divine providence: God himself gives us whatever legitimate abilities, concerns, and interests we in fact possess. These are his gifts, and for that very reason they can serve as indicators of his will for our lives. • As Christians we are obliged to evaluate a job by its actual social content-the way in which it benefits, or harms, others. • An occupation must be first considered in terms of how it provides a fitting place for the exercise of one's gifts in the service of others. • The most important things we do in life may not be those for which we are paid. • Work and vocation are not the same thing. Work may be a part of my vocation, but it is not the whole of my vocation; work may be one thing that I am called to do, but it is not the only thing I am called to do. • Our work, then, is just one facet of our overall vocation, and it must be integrated with the other facets of our vocation if we are to hear and heed the full scope of God's call within our lives. • Work ought to be a social place so structured that it is possible for people to serve others through the free and responsible use of a significant range of their gifts, talents, and abilities. • Work is a social place where we can employ our gifts in service to others. God calls us to work because he wants us to love our neighbors in a concrete way. • Jobs ought to be designed so that we can in fact apply ourselves-our whole selves-to our calling. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Aug 16, 2023
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Aug 29, 2023
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Aug 16, 2023
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Kindle Edition
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| 1958682012
| 9781958682012
| 1958682012
| 4.45
| 172
| Aug 01, 2023
| Aug 01, 2023
|
really liked it
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This book, written by a frequent guest on Tucker Carlson Tonight, is the story of how Tucker Carlson came to be who he is, hold the views he does, and
This book, written by a frequent guest on Tucker Carlson Tonight, is the story of how Tucker Carlson came to be who he is, hold the views he does, and otherwise become the spokesman for the tens of millions of Americans. It is also the story of Carlson holding firm to beliefs and values in the roughest of times. The author describes Carlson as a person who hates hypocrisy and admires bravery. The book takes you through Carlson’s life from his birth in San Francisco in 1969 to his removal from Fox News in April, 2023 and beyond. Tucker’s mother Lisa abandoned her husband Dick of seven years and their two young children, Tucker and his brother Buckley. Tucker was six years old the last time he saw his mother. Dick raised the boys, and Tucker, who talks to him daily, calls his father his greatest mentor. In 1983, Tucker went to St. George’s School, a private, co-ed, Episcopalian boarding school in Middleton, Rhode Island. The author describes Carlson, an Episcopalian, as a person of deep faith. It was at St. George’s that Tucker met his future wife, Susie Andrews, the daughter of the school’s headmaster. The couple has four children, now all in their twenties. The well-written and informative book takes the reader through Tucker’s various jobs from Assistant Editor at Policy Review, a reporter for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and at The Weekly Standard. He co-hosted The Spin Room with liberal Bill Press on CNN. When that was cancelled, the two were moved over to CNN’s Crossfire. He briefly hosted a program on PBS called Tucker Carlson: Unfiltered. The Situation with Tucker Carlson premiered on MSNBC in 2005, later changing its name to Tucker. Tucker and his former college roommate Neil Patel founded the Daily Caller. Tucker’s first appearance on Fox News was on Fox & Friends Weekend in 2009. Fox News saw Carlson’s involvement with the Daily Caller as a conflict of interest, and as a result, Patel bought out Carlson’s one-third interest in the company. Tucker Carlson Tonight premiered on November 14, 2016. He was removed from the air on April 24, 2023, and now there is Tucker on Twitter. Carlson states that Fox told The New York Times they pulled him off the air because he was a racist. But Carlson believes that he was taken off the air as a condition of the Dominion lawsuit settlement. Tucker was thirty-three years old when he got sober. He states “It was almost like the pure word from God: If you keep doing that, you will destroy yourself and everything you love.” Surprisingly, Hunter Biden and his wife, were neighbors and good friends of the Carlsons when the Carlsons lived in Washington D.C. Tucker and Hunter talked many times about sobriety. The author writes that Carlson places a serious premium on friendship — almost as great as he places on family. The book addresses Carlson’s relationship with Donald Trump, Carlson’s opinions on COVID (lockdowns and vaccinations), the Ukraine War, the fact that Carlson does not own a television, that he is not on social media, and that his wife never watched his television show (but she did read his monologues every day just before they were sent off to the producers). Carlson gives his phone number to many people he meets, and estimates he’s in regular communication with roughly four hundred everyday people who text him links, one-liners, local news items. The book addresses the problems with young men in America, and that Tucker would record his program from Maine in the summer and Florida in the winter. I enjoyed this informative and entertaining book, and found out a lot about Carlson that I didn’t know before. Note: the book does contain a significant amount of adult language, most of it coming from Carlson himself. Here are a few quotes that I appreciated from the book: • Do the thing for which you’re naturally suited. Pay attention to who you are. Do the thing that you are naturally good at, that you love without being prompted, that you would do for free. • I’m a huge believer in people staying in their lane. Identify our strengths, orient your life around maximizing those and minimizing your weaknesses. • From Tucker’s wife: But I feel like he feels he’s doing what God called him to do. He’s been given these gifts and he’s so articulate, and he feels like he makes a difference. • All of my spiritual beliefs are grounded in that — seeing people’s kindness to each other, doing something to help others for no reason. • I have a religion; I don’t need a new one. But for a lot of people on the left, it (politics) is their religion and this is a holy war, and they can’t be friends with unbelievers. • The truth is contagious — lying is, but the truth is, as well. And the second you decide to tell the truth about something you are filled with this, I don’t wanna get supernatural on you, but you are filled with this power from somewhere else. Try it. Tell the truth about something, you feel it every day, the more you tell the truth, the stronger you become. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Aug 03, 2023
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Aug 19, 2023
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Aug 03, 2023
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Hardcover
| ||||||||||||||
| B0BS28XM9J
| 5.00
| 2
| unknown
| Jan 15, 2023
|
it was amazing
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Despite its somewhat confusing title (it comes from Dorothy Sayers’ classic essay “Why Work?”), this is an excellent book about the Christian’s vocati
Despite its somewhat confusing title (it comes from Dorothy Sayers’ classic essay “Why Work?”), this is an excellent book about the Christian’s vocation, and one that I would commend to you. The author tells us that the church is largely silent about work, vocation, or the marketplace to which 99 percent of those in the body of Christ are called. The marketplace is the chief setting in which Christians impact society. It is there that, day in and day out and generation after generation, Christian influence will produce its greatest effect. But Charles tells us, tragically, most pastors and Christian leaders remain ill-equipped to offer counsel on matters of work. He wonders how anyone can take Christianity seriously, particularly in a post-Christian era, if the church has little vision for that domain in which all people—not just Christians—spend so much of their time? The book represents an attempt at synthesizing the theological and the hermeneutical, the historical and the contemporary, the ethical and the pastoral, and is organized as follows: Chapters 2 and 3 are of a theological nature. They examine the roots of our social and ecclesiastical predicament with a view to then probe its theological underpinnings. Chapter 4 looks back in history to the early sixteenth century in an attempt to appreciate a significant breakthrough in terms of the church’s understanding of work, vocation, and the marketplace. Chapters 5 and 6 go together insofar as they illuminate perspectives on work in the Wisdom literature of Ecclesiastes and establish a link between our work and our callings (our vocations). Chapters 7 and 8 include reflections on the church’s presence in society, and questions of discernment and guidance with respect to vocation. This thoroughly researched and well-written volume covers a number of subjects including rewards, retirement, education, poverty, calling, divine providence, doctrine of creation, the need for a serious theology of work, wisdom literature, Martin Luther, the book of Ecclesiastes, the false dichotomy of the sacred-versus-secular mindset, discernment, the priesthood of all believers, and the common good. Below are some of my favorite quotes from the book: • Our work, embedded in the context of our individual callings, is nothing less than worship. • Since work is participation or cooperation in God’s purposes and activity in the created order, it has an intrinsic ethical value of its own. • To work is to reflect God’s nature, his very likeness. • Our mission is the marketplace. • The tragic reality is that few people see their daily work as connected to the purposes of God and as a means by which to flourish. • All legitimate work is an extension and expression of God’s work. • Work is a gift, instituted at creation. As a gift, it conveys a sense of dignity, value, and fulfillment. • In our cultural context, retirement is almost universally viewed as a release from work. However, this perspective lacks any biblical warrant. Scripture nowhere releases human beings from their labors and service to others as long as they can breathe. • Scripture promises that our endeavors, however long we live and regardless of whether we are paid, have enduring value. • Jobs may (and usually will) change, but one’s underlying calling does not, since it is given by God and transcends a job, an occupation, or a particular season of life. • Work is a heavenly vocation and divine gift to be received with gratitude. • The teaching of Ecclesiastes is that work is a satisfying gift coming from the hand of God. • God equips us with specific giftings and abilities and plants within each of us unique burdens for the purpose of serving him and serving others. • We do not get to select but instead receive our vocations from God. • We discover our vocations through a progressive and gradual process, which entails the various seasons of our lives. • Vocation, then, is properly understood as a way of life and not merely a job, occupation, or even a “career.” • Every believer, then, has a particular calling—a vocation—even when he or she may not have a clear sense of it, or even a clearly defined career or occupation. This means that even should my work, my job, or my career come to an end, my calling (my vocatio), which is all-encompassing and broader, does not. • Vocation entails the basic awareness that, based on the image of God within us, we are created for work, which can be a form of worship. • Vocation entails a willingness to serve others and thereby serve the common good. • Every endeavor, every labor, every task has meaning and purpose when done to honor God and serve the neighbor. • Vocation and our calling in Christ determine a person’s identity, not what we do or achieve. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jul 25, 2023
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Aug 15, 2023
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Jul 25, 2023
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Kindle Edition
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| B07F77LZ1S
| 4.20
| 10
| unknown
| Jul 02, 2018
|
really liked it
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This is the follow-up to the author’s excellent 2017 book Workship: How To Use Your Work To Worship God. Section 1 of the book includes practical wisd
This is the follow-up to the author’s excellent 2017 book Workship: How To Use Your Work To Worship God. Section 1 of the book includes practical wisdom for the workplace. Section 2, which I found most helpful, provides information for churches about responding to the needs of workplace Christians in their congregations. The book covers a wide variety of subjects regarding work, including hospitality, work-life balance, humility, servanthood, beauty, ethical issues, rest, play, bullying, conflict, toxic workplaces, non-selfish ambition, unemployment, the Proverbs 31 woman, and the future of work. Again, the section that I found most helpful was on helping churches equip workplace Christians. There is much information of value to pastors and church leaders in this section. The author writes that the weekly gathering of the church is the appropriate time of preparation for the scattering of the church Monday to Friday. Each chapter ends with a prayer and a helpful “Taking it Further” section. The book includes two appendices: Appendix 1 Interview Preparation Guide, which is an excellent resource for churches interested in interviewing workplace Christians. Appendix 2 Mentoring Program, in which the author shares a mentoring program based on the spiritual disciples she described in her first Workship volume. Workship 2 is a nice complement to the first volume, and I recommend reading and applying both. Below are a few helpful quotes from the book: • Hospitality is the generous welcoming of guests or strangers. It is about creating a safe and friendly place to build relationships and do work. • In offering hospitality, we are bearing witness to the character of God, and also giving a glimpse of the coming kingdom. • The first step to achieving work-life balance is to ensure that we have a right attitude toward work, and life, as gifts from God to be used in his service as acts of worship. • A toxic workplace is not just a place routinely impacted by sin. It is a place that negatively impacts on people to such an extent that it hardly seems sustainable. It goes against God’s vision for business, which is the flourishing of the workers and of innovation in products and services that add to creation. • Sometimes, I think we get sucked into thinking we have one great calling that God is drawing us to, and that our role is to guess what that calling is. In truth, I believe we have a calling to many different roles, in private and in public life, and God calls us to honour him in all those roles. • Work is that which you do with purposeful intent, paid or unpaid, seen or unseen. God is interested in all work which might not be valued economically, including prayer, character formation, and worship in everyday life. • This is the challenge for all church leaders — the task of equipping their congregations well for the work they do throughout the week, paid or unpaid. • Mentoring is significant for helping all age groups to remain connected with faith and church, but it is especially pivotal for millennials. • There is an opportunity for every Christian worker to see themselves as an informal chaplain, offering hospitality, care, and counsel within the workplace. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jul 17, 2023
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Jul 25, 2023
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Jul 17, 2023
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Kindle Edition
| ||||||||||||||||
| B0C2JWPFKF
| 4.69
| 13
| unknown
| Jun 29, 2023
|
it was amazing
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The author of this book is a seminary professor and a pastor. The material contained here originated as a Sunday school series he taught. This short, The author of this book is a seminary professor and a pastor. The material contained here originated as a Sunday school series he taught. This short, but theologically rich book has three major sections: Part One: Defining Death. This section addresses questions such as what is death, what happens after death, why did Christ die, and why do Christians die). Part Two: Encountering Death. This section addresses questions such as how do we face the deaths of others, how can we help the dying and grieving, and how we can prepare for our own deaths). Part Three: Beyond Death. This section addresses what the Bible teaches about the resurrection, what the Bible teaches about the final judgment, and what the Bible teaches about Heaven and Hell. The author writes that we all have questions about death, and that the thought of death is so overwhelming that we would prefer not to think about it at all. He tells us that we need to test every belief and conviction against the testimony of Scripture. Only what is true will equip us to understand and face death in the way that God wants. The author tells us that Scripture is plain: no one escapes death. God has appointed the exact day and time of a person’s death. We have no say or control over the length of our days—whether we will be alive tomorrow or not. The end of our days is set by the Lord’s will. We need to live mindful of that reality. God is a just God. Death is the penalty of sin. Death is loss. It is something to grieve and lament. It is not the way things are supposed to be. Therefore, it is the “last enemy” (1 Cor. 15:26). It is right to weep in the face of death. However, the gospel tells us that Christ has conquered and subdued death. That is the only way that believers can face death with hope or confidence. The book addresses a number of topics, including universalism, annihilationism, purgatory, union with Christ, suicide, end of life decisions, hope, and rewards. This is an excellent book about the subject of death and what happens after death – to the believer and the unbeliever. Below are some helpful quotes from the book: 1. As believers, we should view death as an opportunity to encourage people to think about God, eternity, and themselves in a biblical way. 2. God owes salvation to no one. The fact that heaven will be populated with redeemed sinners is a tribute to God’s unfathomable mercy. 3. Heaven particularly magnifies the mercy of God; hell, particularly brings glory to the justice of God. 4. The only way that we can experience eternal life is to be brought into union with Christ. There is no such life outside Christ. Once we are in Christ, death has passed, and life has come. 5. The sacrificial death of Christ has nullified death as the penalty for sin for the believer. 6. We may meet death in confidence and victory only if our hopes are firmly and entirely grounded in His merits on our behalf. 7. Whatever the circumstances surrounding our death, and whether our death is painful or pain-free, we know that Jesus is present with us by His Spirit. We are never alone. He will not leave or forsake us at our greatest trial. He is interceding for us. He is helping us and comforting us by the ministry of the Spirit. 8. Unbelievers “have no hope,” and their mourning reflects that hopelessness. Believers, however, have been given a living hope in Jesus Christ. Our mourning must reflect this gospel hope. 9. The grief of the godly is marked by a sense of hope, but this hope is not the possession of only some Christians. Every believer has been given hope in the gospel. 10. Because it is true that Jesus died and was raised from the dead, and because we have put our trust in Him as Savior, we have the comfort we need to grieve in hope and to help our brothers and sisters do the same. 11. Death is about separation. Our hope is about reunion. 12. Death immediately ushers a person into the presence of the Son of God, who passes sentence and either brings that person into heaven or sends the person to hell. 13. Preparation for death begins right now by drawing close to Jesus Christ and finding grace in Him to face death and to encourage others who will face death. 14. Each Lord’s Day, we are not only remembering what God has done for us in Jesus Christ but also looking forward to our heavenly home. 15. The best way to get ready for death is to live—in, by, and for Jesus Christ. 16. Our resurrection and Christ’s resurrection are so bound up together that the one requires the other. 17. In Christ, we will not stand condemned at the final judgment because Christ has already been condemned in our place. In fact, far from being condemned, we are now declared righteous in Jesus Christ (Rom. 8:1, 33–34). 18. Our good works are never the basis of God’s reward to us, but they are the measure according to which God dispenses His rewards. 19. Christians will face the final judgment, but they should not face it with anxiety or dread. 20. Every human being will spend eternity with God. In heaven, God will be present to His people as Father in love and joy; in hell, God will be present to sinners in righteous judgment and wrath. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jul 11, 2023
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Aug 03, 2023
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Jul 11, 2023
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Kindle Edition
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| B0747RVDWN
| 4.22
| 40
| unknown
| Jul 24, 2017
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really liked it
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The author writes of an institute she helped form within a theological college that aimed to bridge the Sunday–Monday divide within the college, churc
The author writes of an institute she helped form within a theological college that aimed to bridge the Sunday–Monday divide within the college, church, and the marketplace. That experience has formed the basis of the material for this book. In this book (volume one of two), the author looks at these areas: • A Biblical View of Work • Spiritual Disciplines for Work • Practical Wisdom for Working In defining work, the author writes that she believes God sees work as any purposeful activity requiring focus and effort. That means it could be housework, schoolwork, caring for children or parents, study, paid work, voluntary work, etc. She tells us that our work should be done in a way that honors and worships God and that serves God and others. A danger is if we think that our work doesn’t matter to God. Some think that God is only concerned with spiritual things like Bible reading, church services, mission activity, prayer, and evangelism. But the Bible teaches that work was created as a good thing. It is part of the way human beings were made in the image of a creative and working God. It is God that we truly work for. Each chapter includes a prayer and a “Taking It Further” section with helpful questions to go deeper with the material in that chapter. The book includes helpful stories to illustrate the content of the book. It covers a number of topics such as redeeming your workplace, working righteously, an eschatological dimension of work, vocation, calling, identity, and kingdom business. A particularly helpful part of the book was the discussion of the following six spiritual disciplines: • Holy Working • Gospel Working • Prayerful Working • Incarnational Working • Spirit-Empowered Working • Social Justice Working For each of these disciplines the author includes a biblical basis for the discipline, the behaviors that demonstrate the discipline, and examples of the discipline, as well as a prayer and the “Taking It Further” section. The book includes two appendices: In Appendix 1 is a questionnaire to help you work out your spiritual discipline preference. In Appendix 2, you will see how the six spiritual disciplines intersect with Mark Greene’s 6Ms in his book Fruitfulness on the Frontline. I appreciated this book as it looked at dimensions of integrating our faith and work that other books haven’t touched on. I look forward to reading the second volume. Here are a few of my favorite quotes from the book: • Work is a gift because we have an opportunity to be stewards over whatever responsibility God has given us: to love that work, do the best we can with it, and offer it back to God as a form of worship. • It is God we work for. It is he who gave us work as a gift and prepared us for the work given. • Work is not simply a means to an income. It is about stewardship, productivity, fruitfulness, relationships, for the good of the world, and for the glory of God. • Vocation is not so much what you ‘do’, it is about responding to the one who calls you. • Our call is responding to the one who calls us. It is about being Christlike in the place where we find ourselves, seeking to serve God and others. • Work will never satisfy us when we expect it to deliver something different than what it was designed for, that is, as a means of working with and worshipping God. • If work is the source of your identity, self-esteem, and/or your security, then it has become an idol. It means that you are too attached to your job ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jul 02, 2023
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Jul 15, 2023
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Jul 02, 2023
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Kindle Edition
| ||||||||||||||||
| B08J6FKHS2
| 3.91
| 233
| May 18, 2021
| May 18, 2021
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really liked it
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Jack Nicklaus, now 83 years old, is arguably the greatest golfer who has ever lived. Although Tiger Woods has nine more wins on the PGA tour, Nicklaus
Jack Nicklaus, now 83 years old, is arguably the greatest golfer who has ever lived. Although Tiger Woods has nine more wins on the PGA tour, Nicklaus has three more major championships, which is how the greatest golfers are judged. This book is written by Nicklaus’ oldest son Jack Nicklaus II, who writes that by watching the way his father has lived his life he has spent years in the greatest leadership-parenting-marriage classroom one could imagine. He tells us that he has had the best seat in the house to watch his father live out extraordinary lessons. He goes on to write that his father is simply the greatest man he has ever known, his role model and best friend. He writes that the world knows him as a great golfer and golf course designer, his father made being a parent one of the most important parts of his life. In this book, the author, a father of five, shares stories about his father and explains how the stories led to lessons about fatherhood. With each story and the lesson learned from it, he also includes some discussion about how he, as a father, carried that lesson forward to his own children. I enjoyed reading about Jack Nicklaus’ commitment to his family, including never spending more than two weeks on the road at a time. Nicklaus and his wife Barbara are involved in many charitable works, primarily through children’s hospitals. This book is a quick and enjoyable read and will be enjoyed by fans of Jack Nicklaus as well as sons who look up to their fathers. Although both father and son are believers, faith is touched on only briefly in the book. It is more demonstrated in how they live out their lives. Here are some helpful quotes from the book: • If I could have a simple message to share with any parent, it would be to embrace every moment. Your kids really do grow up so fast. • Attending your children’s events—baseball games, dance recitals, musical performances, or golf tournaments—serves as a reminder to your kids that nothing is more important to you than they are. • He always makes a point to remind me and so many other people who look to him for advice that no matter how old you are, you need to act like a champion—and that often comes through in the way you carry yourself. • Whether you win or lose, always accept the final outcome with dignity and respect for your opponent. • If we truly want to love each other as we love ourselves, we need to start by seeing the best in other people. • Building and protecting our names by doing the right thing takes time, but our reputations can be lost quickly. • Focus on what we can actually control instead of worrying over things we can’t. • Dad made being a husband the most important part of life. • Dad wants to be remembered as someone who gave more than he received. That’s the epitome of what it means to build a legacy. • Our children are our true legacies, and we should spend as much time as possible with them. • Many people can put on a good show in public. But your core, who you truly are, is defined by what happens when nobody is watching. • In life or business, Dad will never negotiate away his integrity. He has always believed a good deal is not one-sided. It must be good for both parties to be successful. • If you tell a person you are going to do something, you must do all that you said—plus some. ...more |
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| B006412NBI
| 4.06
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| Jan 15, 2006
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really liked it
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The author, Professor of Counseling Psychology at The Seattle School, tells us that nothing is more difficult than leading, and it is likely the most
The author, Professor of Counseling Psychology at The Seattle School, tells us that nothing is more difficult than leading, and it is likely the most costly thing you will ever do. He writes that to the degree you face and name and deal with your failures as a leader, to that same extent you will create an environment conducive to growing and retaining productive and committed colleagues. The author writes that we must acknowledge and embrace our weaknesses, for good can come out of them. The author states that when we muster the courage to name our fears, we gain greater confidence and far greater trust from others. Leading with a limp works by inversion and paradox. He writes that you are the strongest when you are weak, and you are the most courageous when you are broken. The author tells us that leaders are called to lead with character. The purpose of limping leadership is the maturing of character. He describes a leader as anyone who wrestles with an uncertain future on behalf of others—anyone who uses their gifts, talents, and skills to influence the direction of others for the greater good. He tells leaders to prepare to admit to your staff that you are the organization’s chief sinner. He describes God’s leadership model as follows: He chooses fools to live foolishly in order to reveal the economy of heaven, which reverses and inverts the wisdom of this world. He calls us to brokenness, not performance; to relationships, not commotion; to grace, not success. The author addresses many topics related to leadership, among them are being a reluctant leader (another name for a servant leader), counting the cost of leadership, isolation, loneliness, weariness, stories, chaos, blame, crisis, shame, a broken leader, confidence, courage, being a fool, betrayal, a narcissistic leader, gratitude, hiding, truth, honesty, busyness, disillusionment, hope, character, awe, dignity, depravity, and the three offices of leadership (prophet, priest, and king). Throughout the book, the author shares helpful stories from the Bible, his own life and others. Leading With a Limp will probably be unlike any leadership book you have read in the past. It would be a good book to read slowly and discuss with others. Here are some helpful quotes from the book: • The reluctant leader doesn’t merely give accolades to others. It is her true joy to see others awaken to their potential and exceed their greatest dreams. • We all need a model. We all need to know how to lead from having watched someone we respect. • God loves reluctant leaders and, even better, he loves reluctant leaders who know they are frightened, confused, and broken. In fact, he seems to have a special fondness for rebels and fools. • Leaders are primarily storytellers and story makers; and troubled people are called to be leaders because they create and tell compelling stories. • Most leaders had no intention or desire to lead; instead, they were thrown into the mess by being discontent. If they had been willing to endure life as it was, then they would never have become leaders. • A controlling leader always gets what he deserves—the bare minimum and conformity without creativity. • The only viable option for leaders who want to mature is to embrace being broken. • Betrayal is certain; what is uncertain is how we will embrace betrayal and use it for the growth of character. • When you live and lead with a deep sense of God’s grace, you can’t avoid gratitude. It’s humbling to give God all the credit, and it’s also a place of deep rest. • A leadership team is meant to be a community of friends who suffer and delight in one another. • The sole reason to serve as a Christian is Jesus, yet he is easily lost in the various activities that consume our days. The real cost of busyness, therefore, is the loss of our spiritual vitality. • Seldom do leaders take on their burdens merely to maintain the status quo. A true visionary pursues a dream that she can transform what exists and create a better way. • The hope that renews and refreshes limping leaders comes with the freedom of knowing one’s limitations. When you admit that you can’t do everything, you are then free to more fully embrace the call of God. • God calls leaders to be servants. And we are to lead our organizations from good to great by serving, by giving credit to others when success occurs and by accepting the blame when failure ensues. • A leader—whether in the home, church, business, community, or government—has authority due to her role, but her positional power will not bring about good for individuals or organizations unless it is backed up by the capital of character. • Leading people requires throwing yourself into a process that is fragile and tension-filled in order to help them not only do their jobs and fulfill the organization’s mission but also grow as characters with character. ...more |
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| 9781433583179
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| May 03, 2023
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it was amazing
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This short book, by respected theologian Sinclair Ferguson, is part of a short series of books devised by Michael Reeves on the basis of Paul’s words
This short book, by respected theologian Sinclair Ferguson, is part of a short series of books devised by Michael Reeves on the basis of Paul’s words in Philippians 1:27–2:3. This book both introduces and summarizes their main theme. The title of the book comes from verse 1:27, which reads in part: Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ Ferguson tells us that being worthy is a sure mark of Jesus’s disciples. He tells us that to “live worthy of the gospel of Christ” does not rank high on the priority lists of the twenty-first-century church, but the Apostle Paul placed it high on his priority list. Ferguson tells us that a life that is worthy of the gospel of Christ expresses itself in the form of a lifestyle what the gospel teaches in the form of a message. Such a life takes on a character that reflects the character of the Lord Jesus Christ. Living “worthy of the gospel of Christ” is not a matter of techniques. It involves the development of Christian character. It’s about who and what we become in Christ. Ferguson writes that humility is the mark of the worthy life because it is an authentic imitation of Christ. He tells us that the way we become worthy is by imitating Jesus, both consciously and unconsciously, by growing down in our estimation of ourselves so that we may grow up in humility. The author covers a number of subjects in this book including indicatives and imperatives, deconstruction and reconstruction, the preached word, providence, biblical imitation, a gospel aroma, and participation in Christ’s sufferings. Ferguson addresses the stories of Joseph, as well as Paul and Timothy - the latter of which was a model of a life that is worthy of the gospel because he shared the mindset of Christ – and Saul and Stephen – the latter of which impacted Saul with his triumphant death and the Christlikeness of his life. Ferguson tells us that at the end of the day, only what is Christlike in your life and character will last for eternity. The worthy life is a life that becomes a connecting link between the Savior and others. In summary, to be “worthy of the gospel of Christ” means becoming more like Jesus himself. I really enjoyed this book about a life that is worthy of the gospel of Christ. Here are some helpful quotes from the book: • God’s indicatives are the foundation for all of his imperatives; his resources are the source of our transformation. • If we are in Christ, then here is the truth about us: We are no longer under the dominion of sin. We have been set free from it in Christ. • The person whose life is worthy of the gospel walks spiritually with both feet in a balanced way: a negative step (Do not be conformed . . .) and a positive step (Do be transformed . . .). • Deconstruction and reconstruction—this is the divine pattern of transformation. • Our heavenly Father intends to make us like his incarnate Son, transforming us into his likeness. • God’s simple “purpose” is that we should be “conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers” (Rom. 8:28–29). That is what it means to be “worthy of the gospel of Christ.” • Think of it: you can never be more justified than you were the moment you trusted Christ! The greatest saint is no more justified than the newest believer! That justification is sure; it is perfect; it is irreversible; it is therefore final. It is guaranteed! • Character doesn’t just appear out of nowhere; it is the result of God’s refining our lives through tribulation—and, yes, even suffering. • When we hear the word of God expounded in the grace and power of the Holy Spirit, we are listening to the voice of the Good Shepherd himself calling his sheep. • To “be worthy” involves sharing “the mind [or as we might say, mindset] of Christ Jesus.” • Biblical imitation means recognizing patterns and principles and building them into the way we ourselves do things. • Our transformation into the likeness of Jesus Christ has been God’s purpose for us from before the dawn of creation. It is central to his purposes for us. And he will stop at nothing to accomplish it. • The life that is worthy of the gospel inevitably leaves behind a gospel aroma, the scent of the Lord Jesus. • What matters is not our prominence but our being faithful in the place and at the time God assigns to us. • Being a Christian involves participation in Christ’s sufferings but also sharing in his triumphs. Since this is what it was like for God’s Son, this is what it will also be like for those who are being “conformed to the image of his Son.” There is no other way to reflect him. ...more |
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Jun 04, 2023
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| 4.00
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| unknown
| Jan 23, 2023
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really liked it
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In this book, Rob Tribken, the executive director of the Center for Faith and Enterprise, deals with both the positive and negative aspects of work. S
In this book, Rob Tribken, the executive director of the Center for Faith and Enterprise, deals with both the positive and negative aspects of work. Shalom is a key concept in the book. The author tells us that in the Bible, shalom involves completeness or wholeness and is meant to encompass all aspects of human life. He writes that the concept of shalom can help us see the connection between the practical and spiritual aspects of our work, and can remind us that we are working toward a better world for ourselves and others. Understanding the sacred meaning of our work will help us understand its deeper purpose and how it contributes to the greater good. The author writes that he believes that many people are insufficiently aware of the contribution their work makes to the well-being of others and the greater good. He states that if we cannot see the religious or spiritual value in our work, then we not only cut ourselves off from the resources of our faith or spirituality in our work, but we also confine them to relatively small, restricted areas of our life. Among the many topics addressed in this book are shalom, sin, forgiveness, repentance, misfortune or adversity, character development and strengths, virtues, prayer, spiritual practices, pursuing excellence, calling, harmonious and obsessive passion, and leadership. I particularly enjoyed the author’s discussion of calling and of spiritual practices which could be done in the workplace. The book draws insights from the Bible. In addition, the author quotes from several psychologists, not something you would normally find in a book about faith and work. The author includes three appendices: Appendix A: Work in the Bible Appendix B: Work in the Twenty-First Century Appendix C: Spirituality and the State of Flow Appendix D: The Opportunity for Churches – a very helpful addition to the book. This book covers a lot of ground in the faith and work arena and would be a welcome addition to your library. Below are a few helpful quotes from the book: • There is something about prayer that seems to center us and helps us think clearly and make good decisions. • Calling is a multidimensional concept that reflects our human desire for meaning and purpose. • Working with a sense of calling can have substantial benefits. Most of us would expect to work with a greater degree of purpose, fulfillment, and satisfaction. I would expect that we would also be more productive, energized, and resilient. • People who work with a sense of calling tend to be more committed to their work and their organization, have greater clarity of purpose, and are more likely to experience greater meaning and satisfaction in their life overall. • Calling is not only an individual issue; there are very real benefits for an organization if a larger proportion of its members see their involvement in this way. • Developing a calling will almost always take a lot of time, patience, trial and error, and reflection. • People will be more effective, happier, and motivated when they are using their gifts in productive ways. • The need for competent, virtuous leadership is especially critical during times of crisis. During these times, there can be a particularly stark contrast between honest, effective leadership, and weak, dishonest, or foolish leadership. • A key goal of shalomic leadership is to establish an environment where people can thrive as they contribute as active participants to the organization’s goals. • An appreciation for the dignity of all individuals underlies the shalomic organization. • When we can put people into positions where they can use their initiative and creativity, we are more likely to move toward shalom, for everyone’s benefit. • Work is important and makes an essential contribution to shalom. But our work must be conducted in an ethical manner and in a way that contributes to human well-being. ...more |
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| 1527110362
| 9781527110366
| B0BY9RNGCL
| 4.71
| 7
| unknown
| May 15, 2023
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really liked it
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John Lennox is Professor Emeritus of Mathematics at the University of Oxford. I’ve had the pleasure of seeing him speak at the Sing! Conference, and h
John Lennox is Professor Emeritus of Mathematics at the University of Oxford. I’ve had the pleasure of seeing him speak at the Sing! Conference, and have read a few of his previous books. In this book, he discusses biblical principles that he has found helpful in his own work in the hope that the reader can apply them to their own situation. Each chapter ends with helpful questions about the material covered in that chapter. In addition, there are two appendices included: Appendix A: Principles of Gospel Support Appendix B: Insights from Neuroscience Throughout the book, Lennox shares helpful stories, including some from his own life, as well as examples from the Bible about David, Daniel, Nehemiah, Joseph and Zacchaeus. Among the subjects he addresses in the book are making work an idol, rest, anxiety, evil, suffering, evangelism, moral issues (money, sex, and power), our motivation for work, sin, the artificial secular-sacred divide, work as a calling, gospel patronage, reward and principles for the support of the gospel. Throughout the book, Lennox refers to material from Iain McGilchrist’s 2021 book, The Matter with Things: Our Brains, Our Delusions and the Unmaking of the World, though I didn’t feel that the material added a lot to this book (though this could certainly be due to me not being able to fully comprehend the information). The author tells us that the purpose of work is seeking God’s kingdom and righteousness, and that whatever our work, we are to do it as accountable to the Lord, seeking His righteousness and desiring to develop our moral integrity. He suggests asking ourselves in every situation we find ourselves in (paid and unpaid work): what does it mean to please the Lord now? A Good Return is a book that lays about helpful principles about work and wealth. Below are some of the quotes I found most helpful from the book: • It will be important for us not to fall into the trap of imagining that the only kind of work that matters is paid work. • This creation pattern established the cycle of work and rest for human beings and, therefore, in any consideration of work, it is important to think about the necessity of taking regular rest from that work. • If we are busy people, indeed, especially if we are busy people, we need to remind ourselves constantly that we should do what we do to please the Lord, because He has accepted us. We are not doing it to impress Him, so that He will accept us. Only then, will we have the right attitude to our work. • Christians are not to be lazy and idle; they are to work to provide for themselves and dependents. • Our colleagues and fellow workers are a network in which God has placed us as witnesses by how we live (in character), and what we say to them about the gospel when we get the opportunity. • Doing our work as unto the Lord will therefore mean, not only doing it with integrity to the best of our ability but will mean having a responsibility to prayerfully look for opportunities to witness to our fellow employees/workers/ colleagues, as and when we can credibly do so. • It is the workplace, whether at home, factory, farm, mines, shops, building sites or offices, where we usually face the challenges that shape our lives. • Christians are to be different. By seeking God’s rule in their work, they are to act as salt and light in society, preserving it from corruption, and pointing the way to the source of the fulfilled life in Christ. • To exercise power in the interests of others as a Christian leader, and be a role model in terms of integrity for others, is an immense privilege. • The Lord is interested in every aspect of our lives, and not simply in what we think of as our spiritual activities. Our daily work is to be done for Him. • Heaven will be no boring rest home, but a hive of fascinating activity where the skills and experience developed on earth will be transformed into something higher, richer, and infinitely satisfying. • The fact that our work not only has a temporal but also an eternal significance is one of the unique glories of the Christian faith. ...more |
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May 17, 2023
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| 4.27
| 318
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| Nov 06, 2022
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it was amazing
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I first became aware of this book when it was used as a part of a soft skills module, I was helping lead in our NXTGEN Pastors Cohort. We then decided
I first became aware of this book when it was used as a part of a soft skills module, I was helping lead in our NXTGEN Pastors Cohort. We then decided that another elder from our church and I would read the book to see if it might be a resource that would be helpful to use in our church. The book was written with three primary audiences in mind. • Current elders • Elders-in-training • Christians who are seeking to better understand the Bible’s teaching about local church leadership. The book consists of ten short lessons, each with an objective, a scripture reading and discussion questions. Each lesson is followed by an exercise, which includes a section for personal reflection and Gospel application. The author has found that you will get the best results when the book is used as a small-group study. He writes that ideally a current elder or spiritual mentor should lead a group of emerging leaders through the content, which is how I can see it being used in our church. This book not only shares information about what the Bible says about elders, but it really gets at the heart of those who are, or may one day be an elder. The author writes that God intends for his church to be led by godly leaders known as elders. One office—the office of local church elder—is referred to under three titles: elder, pastor, and overseer/bishop. The office of elder-pastor is to be filled by men. The author tells us that if a church is to be healthy, its elders must be men who are grounded and rooted in the gospel. That is the crucial gap in many churches today, and that is the weakness that the book is designed to address. The book includes two appendices: APPENDIX A: Functional & Formative Eldership APPENDIX B: Supplemental Resources Gospel Eldership will be a helpful resource for the church in mentoring future or new elders. Here are 12 helpful quotes from the book: 1. The world’s default model of leadership, practiced over centuries and across cultures, is about being served. Jesus expects his followers to be servant leaders. And he’s come to make them just that. Jesus is our example. He is the ultimate Servant Leader. 2. Gospel leadership is servant leadership; 3. We cannot be the servant leaders Jesus commands us to be without believing the good news of the gospel. 4. Jesus is the head of the church. And Jesus has taught us how he wants his church to be led. Our job is to follow his blueprint. 5. Eldership is much less about competence than about character. 6. If you haven’t built a consistent habitual practice of spiritual disciplines, you shouldn’t expect to grow in godly character. 7. The categories of character, competence, and compatibility form a “triangle” of biblical leadership qualifications. 8. Elders are shepherds of God’s flock. 9. Elders must be men of the Word. They must love, treasure, memorize, and meditate on the Scriptures. 10. A good elder knows that he leads the flock well by leading himself well. 11. Unless a man has proven that he has the skill and ability to lead other leaders, he should not be leading as an elder in God’s church. 12. If elders are living missionary lives, loving and serving non-Christians, the church will be doing so as well. If elders are failing in mission, the church will not be missional. ...more |
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Apr 30, 2023
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May 14, 2023
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Apr 30, 2023
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| B08CS3JYRJ
| 4.40
| 1,540
| unknown
| Jan 05, 2021
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it was amazing
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Seminary president and professor Michael Reeves asks if fear a good thing or bad. He tells us that the most frequent command in Scripture is “Do not b
Seminary president and professor Michael Reeves asks if fear a good thing or bad. He tells us that the most frequent command in Scripture is “Do not be afraid!” Yet again and again and again in Scripture we are called to fear. And perhaps even more strangely, we are called to fear God. The author wants us to rejoice in the strange paradox that the gospel both frees us from fear and gives us fear. It frees us from our crippling fears, giving us instead a most delightful, happy, and wonderful fear. He aims to show us that for Christians, the phrase “the fear of God” in the Bible doesn’t mean being afraid of God. The author tells us that there are different sorts of fear. Sinful fear drives you away from God. On the other hand, right fear does not stand in tension with love for God. There is no true knowledge of God where there is no right fear of him. Throughout the book, the author compares and contrasts sinful fear and right fear. It may be surprising to some how often fear is referred to in the Bible. The author captures many of those passages in this book. Throughout the book, the author shares from the writings of Jonathan Edwards, John Calvin, Martin Luther, Charles Spurgeon, John Owen, John Bunyan and others. The book is best read slowly, so that you can meditate on the topic of fear. As I read the excellent book, I listened to the messages from Reeves’ new teaching series from Ligonier titled The Fear of the Lord. I highly recommend that series as a complement to the book. Below are 20 of my favorite quotes from the book: • Scripture is clear that just as the fear of God defines true love for God, so it defines true joy in God. • We are made to rejoice and tremble before God, to love and enjoy him with an intensity that is fitting for him. • Fear not only defines our love for God and our joy in God. It also prompts us to trust in God. • Knowing God the Redeemer in Christ will make our Christian fear distinct from the fear shown by the devotees of other gods. • Those who do not know God as a merciful Redeemer and compassionate Father can never have the delight of a truly filial fear. • The right fear of the Lord is a high gift, not something easily acquired. • The one who fears the Lord, then, is not merely one who grudgingly attempts the outward action of keeping the Lord’s commandments. The one who truly fears the Lord greatly delights in God’s commandments! • Sinful fear is not merely a matter of sinful actions: it hates God, despising him as a revenging Judge, and therefore acts sinfully. In contrast, a right fear loves God, cherishing him as a holy Father, and therefore has a sincere longing to be like him. • The cross, by the forgiveness it brings, liberates us from sinful fear. But, far more than that, it also cultivates the most exquisitely fearful adoration of the Redeemer. • When the awesome magnitude of Christ’s forgiveness, the extent to which he has gone to atone for us, and therefore the terrible gravity of our sin become clear to us—as they do best at the cross—the right, loving reaction is so intense, it is fearful. • All too easily we Christians settle for a sinful fear of God because we cannot handle the judgment of the cross on our sinfulness. It is when we accept that judgment and die to ourselves that our resisting dread of God turns to fearful adoration. • Those who fear the Lord know his mercy, love, and compassion. They can know they are accepted, protected, and delighted in. • The fear of the Lord, then, is a heart-level indicator of the warm communion with God that God wants with his children. • The fear of God is the only possible foundation upon which true knowledge is built: all knowledge acquired elsewhere is counterfeit and will eventually prove itself as such. • Those who fear God come to know him in such a way that they actually become holy, faithful, loving, and merciful, like him. • As the fear of the Lord grows, it outgrows, eclipses, consumes, and destroys all rival fears. • The fear of the Lord is the only fear that imparts strength. This is an especially vital truth for any who are called to some form of leadership, for the strength this fear gives is—uniquely—a humble strength. Those who fear God are simultaneously humbled and strengthened before his beauty and magnificence. • Where the final appearing of the Lord in glory fills believers with an unprecedented joyful fear of the Redeemer, it fills unbelievers with a new level of dread at their Judge. • Sin first made the world a place full of fear, and hell is its culmination: a place of unrelieved fears, and of sinful fear come to a head. • When we rejoice in God so intensely that we quake and tremble, then are we being most heavenly. ...more |
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| 1848719760
| 9781848719767
| 1848719760
| 4.50
| 161
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| Aug 31, 2020
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really liked it
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This book, by respected theologian Sinclair Ferguson, is about what it means for Christians to be members of a church. Some wonder if it is important
This book, by respected theologian Sinclair Ferguson, is about what it means for Christians to be members of a church. Some wonder if it is important to be members of a church. This would be a good book to read to help address that question. The author tells us that being a Christian, by definition, involves belonging to the church—and that, in turn, means belonging to a particular church. Ferguson tells us that family is what the church is. Through faith in Christ, we become members of his family, and when we become church members, we are saying ‘I too am a disciple of Jesus’. Among the topics covered in the book are church membership, worship, discipleship, baptism and the Lord’s Supper, prayer, service, witness, and evangelism. Ferguson tells us that at the end of the day this is what it means to belong to a church: • To be part of a fellowship that worships and serves locally, but whose vision stretches to the ends of the earth and to the end of history • To be part of the family of Christ in which brothers and sisters are united in faith and hope and love. He writes that it is the greatest privilege in the world to believe in Christ and to belong to his people. Below are 15 of my favorite quotes from the book: 1. Salvation is free, but it leads to a discipleship that will cost you everything you have. 2. The whole Christian life involves an ever-repeated cycle of discovering fresh layers of sin to be dealt with and fresh supplies of forgiveness and cleansing. 3. God never leaves us in church in the same condition in which he found us when we came to worship. 4. Baptism summons us to live the whole of our lives in relation to the Name that has been written on us in water. 5. The sign of baptism proclaims the gospel to us; it points us to Christ and all that faith receives from him. 6. We praise God because he is great and glorious, we pray to him because we are weak and in need. 7. Unless we see prayer as work, we may never get round to including it in our schedule as a basic discipline in our lives. It will be treated as an optional extra. 8. Prayerlessness is a kind of practical atheism. 9. To be a Christian, then, to belong to the church, means to be willing and eager to serve, and then actually to serve. 10. The most important fact to know about the Lord’s Supper is that Jesus Christ himself is present with us when we receive the bread and wine from the table. 11. It (the Lord’s Supper) is a foretaste of what is yet to come. The invisible presence of Christ with us assures us of the glory that his visible presence will bring. 12. Obedient Christians, faithful church members are therefore, by definition, witnesses. 13. Our witness to the world is seen in both word and action. 14. Evangelism therefore needs to be seen as a corporate activity in which each member of the entire church family has a role to play. 15. Obedience is the only way to maximize your life for Jesus Christ. ...more |
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Mar 27, 2023
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Mar 27, 2023
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| B0964LVH9V
| unknown
| 4.25
| 51
| unknown
| Aug 31, 2021
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it was amazing
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This book is a part of the helpful A Long Line of Godly Men series, the purpose of which is to explore how these leaders used their gifts and ministri
This book is a part of the helpful A Long Line of Godly Men series, the purpose of which is to explore how these leaders used their gifts and ministries to further the work of Christ in their time. Steven Lawson begins by giving us a brief biography of John Wycliffe. He tells us that the fourteenth century was an especially dark time for the church. The light of the gospel had been dimmed. Wycliffe was the most learned scholar of his day and a professor at Oxford University, the top school in Europe. He would become the premier figure of his generation who would illuminate the path to recovering the gospel and reforming the true church. He was known as the shining “Morning Star of the Reformation.” In 1361, Wycliffe was ordained to the priesthood in 1361, and began preaching as the rector of the parish church in Fillingham. Wycliffe soon began his career as a professor at Queen’s College, Oxford, where he gained a reputation as its most brilliant and popular teacher in theology and philosophy. Wycliffe spent most of the rest of his life lecturing at this institution, where he became regarded as the top theologian and philosopher in England. Lawson tells us that Wycliffe developed a doctrine he called “dominion,” which emphasized God’s sovereignty as the highest authority over the earth. He taught that God has assigned His authority over earthly property and worldly possessions to the secular government. King Edward III supported Wycliffe’s position of dominion, as he was paying a heavy price to fund England’s war with France. Moreover, Pope Gregory XI in Rome had issued a burdensome tax upon the English government and church. When Wycliffe returned from France in 1374, the king appointed Wycliffe to be the rector of the parish church at Lutterworth, a small town near Rugby. This appointment placed Wycliffe closer to Oxford and his professorial duties in the classroom. He served in this pastorate for the next ten years until his death. Lawson tells us that so noteworthy was Wycliffe’s preaching that the King of England also made him a Royal Chaplain, granting him access to preach before the royal court. In this role, Wycliffe began publicly rebuking the pope’s abuse of power, asserting that the Bible is the sole criterion for establishing any doctrine. Wycliffe went so far as to call the pope the antichrist. This claim caused Pope Gregory XI to respond by condemning Wycliffe as a heretic. On May 22, 1377, the pope issued five papal bulls against Wycliffe, addressing nineteen theological errors from his writings. In the eyes of the monarchy and the university, Wycliffe had gone too far in his assault upon the teaching of Rome. He had become too much of a liability. Wycliffe responded in the spring of 1381 by publishing a document known as “The Twelve Conclusions”, which targeted the Mass. Wycliffe, the most popular professor at Oxford, was disgracefully removed from his position, and left to withdraw to his quiet pastorate in Lutterworth. However, Lawson writes, it would be in this secluded place, out of the public eye, that his greatest work awaited him—translating the Bible into the English language (the version of Wycliffe’s Bible was produced during his lifetime, completed about 1382), and launching the Lollard movement (an army of itinerant preachers to proclaim the Word throughout England). Wycliffe would die on December 31, 1384. Lawson tells us that the real genius of Wycliffe lay in his firm commitment to the Word of God. He preached, taught, and defended the authority of the Bible in a gloomy day when it was overshadowed by the pope in Rome. Given the dark times in which Wycliffe lived, the church desperately needed a bold defender of the Word of God—and Wycliffe proved to be that man. He believed that his calling from God was to provide an English Bible that was accessible to the common person of his day. Wycliffe was staunchly Reformed in his theology. He is considered the spiritual grandfather of the Reformation, and had the title of “The Evangelical Doctor.” Though it would be another one hundred and fifty years before the Reformation would come, Wycliffe was a forerunner who laid in place the key doctrines upon which the Reformers would build their history-altering movement. In this book, Lawson goes over some of Wycliffe’s key writings, including “On Apostasy” and “The Seven Heresies”. However, because Wycliffe’s life preceded the printing press, the number of his surviving sermons is limited. An additional problem is that Wycliffe’s sermons were delivered in Middle English, making them difficult to read today. Lawson writes of the long-term influence of Wycliffe – to the Lollards, Jon Hus and Luther and the Reformers. He goes into detail on the Lollard movement, a grassroots movement of preachers that prepared the way for the coming of the English Reformation over a century later. The Lollards would face severe opposition, including being burned at the stake for preaching the gospel or possessing a Wycliffe Bible. In 1415, thirty-one years after Wycliffe died, the Council of Constance condemned him on 260 counts of heresy. The Council ordered that Wycliffe’s writings be burned and that his bones be exhumed and taken out of the churchyard where he was buried. In 1428, the pope ordered that Wycliffe’s remains should be dug up and burned, and his ashes scattered into the Swift River. What began in England with Wycliffe and the Lollards soon spread to Bohemia with John Hus, and it eventually came to Germany with Martin Luther. Through Luther’s writings, this Bible movement would return back to England and capture the life of William Tyndale. The Wycliffe Bible was the only English Bible that a select few would possess until 1526 with the appearance of a new translation by William Tyndale. The Bible Convictions of John Wycliffe is a helpful introduction to the life and teaching of John Wycliffe. ...more |
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| 9798887100081
| B0BMZ6N6MD
| 4.35
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| unknown
| Mar 28, 2023
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it was amazing
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This book is the latest in John Maxwell’s “Laws” series (Leadership, Teamwork, Growth, and now Communication). I always learn something from Maxwell’s
This book is the latest in John Maxwell’s “Laws” series (Leadership, Teamwork, Growth, and now Communication). I always learn something from Maxwell’s books, and do a bit of speaking and teaching, so I was excited to read this book. Maxwell tells us that he wrote the book to help anyone give a talk to others. He writes that if you apply these laws, then you will make the most of your message, no matter the purpose of your communication, the size or scope of your audience, or the environment in which you speak. The book includes a lot of helpful information regarding communication. Maxwell states that the Law of Connecting is by far the most important idea in the book. Here are the laws and a takeaway or two from each one: THE LAW OF CREDIBILITY: Your Most Effective Message Is the One You Live • If you speak words you do not live, you lack authenticity and your communication will not be successful. • What you repeatedly do tells others who you are. THE LAW OF OBSERVATION Good Communicators Learn from Great Communicators • Each of us will have a unique history of observing and learning from other communicators who are better than we are if we want to become good speakers. • I’ve learned a different lesson from every great communicator I’ve observed. But here’s the one lesson I’ve learned from all of them: Great communicators always connect! THE LAW OF CONVICTION The Stronger You Believe It, the More People Feel It • Having convictions changes your life. Communicating with conviction changes other people’s lives. • If you want to be a great communicator, your motivation for speaking must be to make a difference in the lives of people. THE LAW OF PREPARATION You Cannot Deliver What You Have Not Developed • The purpose of communication isn’t to impress your audience. It’s to empower your audience. • Spectacular performance is always preceded by unspectacular preparation. THE LAW OF COLLABORATION Some of Your Best Thinking Will Be Done with Others • When you ask, “Can I?” the answer might be no. But when you ask, “How can I?” the answer almost always leads to yes. • If you want to become the best communicator you can, don’t try to do it alone. Seek out others to help you. THE LAW OF CONTENT When You Have Something Worth Saying, People Start Listening • If people are clear on what you said, know what to do, and are inspired to do it, you will have added value to them, and they will walk away feeling helped and empowered. • If you’re continually growing, you will never run out of content, and you will always have something worth saying. THE LAW OF CONNECTING Communicators Know It’s All About Others • If you focus on others and adding value to them, while being confident in yourself and your ability to help them, you will be able to connect. • If you want to become a great communicator, you need to focus on the people in your audience and give them your best every time you deliver a message. THE LAW OF LEVERAGE Good Communicators Lead with Their Strengths and Use Them Often • When you find your strengths, you find your voice. From then on, your communication fits who you are. It becomes natural. • To become the best version of yourself as a communicator, you must start with your strengths, use your talent, and add skills, knowledge, and practice to the mix. THE LAW OF ANTICIPATION When You Can’t Wait to Say It, They Can’t Wait to Hear It • It’s one thing to communicate to people because you have something valuable to say. It’s another to communicate with people because you believe they have value. That is the audience perspective you want to possess. THE LAW OF SIMPLICITY Communicators Take Something Complicated and Make It Simple • No matter your audience—whether they want to be engaged. They want to understand you easily and be able to do something positive with what you tell them. Don’t try to be impressive. THE LAW OF VISUAL EXPRESSION Show and Tell Is Better Than Just Tell • Whatever people see must support what they hear. If there is a disconnection between the two, the audience will become distracted and be taken out of the moment. And they won’t feel what you feel, think what you think, or laugh when you laugh. THE LAW OF STORYTELLING People See Their Own Lives in Stories • Great storytellers become the best salespeople, the most memorable leaders, the most engaging speakers, the best mentors, and the teachers we will remember for a lifetime. • Do your best to find ways to incorporate humor into your speaking, and especially in your stories, because humor can do so many things to improve your communication. THE LAW OF THE THERMOSTAT Communicators Read the Room and Change the Temperature • Each of us possesses intuition in our area of gifting. THE LAW OF THE CHANGE-UP Sameness Is the Death of Communication • Good communicators understand the power of interaction. • If you can turn your communication from a speech into an experience, it will become unforgettable. THE LAW OF ADDING VALUE People May Forget What You Say, But They Never Forget How You Make Them Feel • People are reluctant to receive anything from people they don’t like, so it’s important to be likable as a communicator. If people like you, they will listen to you, and they will allow you to add value to them. If they don’t like you, they will ignore you or discount your message. • When the race we run is about others, then when they finish ahead of us, that’s a win for us. THE LAW OF RESULTS The Greatest Success in Communication Is Action • If your motive for speaking is anything other than adding value to people and moving them to take positive action that will help them, you’re missing the boat. • I believe the best communicators help people to feel empowered and encouraged to act. ...more |
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Apr 30, 2023
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Mar 19, 2023
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| B0BVH54V28
| 4.45
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| unknown
| Feb 23, 2023
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really liked it
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This is one of the newest booklets in R.C. Sproul’s Crucial Questions series, all of which are free in the digital edition. These booklets offer clear
This is one of the newest booklets in R.C. Sproul’s Crucial Questions series, all of which are free in the digital edition. These booklets offer clear answers to the most common and difficult questions about the Christian faith. In this volume, he examines what the Bible says about heaven and hell. Sproul writes that death came as God’s judgment for sin. Every human being is a sinner and therefore has been sentenced to death. We are all waiting for the sentence to be carried out. The question then is what happens after death. For Christians, the penalty has been paid by Christ. Sproul writes that our new body will be incorruptible. It will be invincible. It won’t age. It won’t decay. It won’t wear out. It won’t rot. It won’t break. It won’t get sick. When we see our departed friends and relatives in the resurrection, they will appear different from how they appeared on earth. But, when we see them, we will know them, and they will know us. Sproul tells us that in all of Scripture, the place that gives us the most vivid and graphic description of what heaven is like is found in the book of Revelation. He encourages us to read Revelation 21–22 in its entirety, and think of it as a letter from heaven, addressed to us, describing this place where Christ promised to go to prepare a place for us, if indeed we are in Him. Sproul tells us that the thought of death often brings fear for Christians and non-Christians alike. That fear is bound up with the question of what happens after death. While Christ has paid the penalty for Christians, for non-Christians the news is much less good. God’s wrath against sin will be satisfied in those who do not trust in Christ. That punishment will happen in hell. Sproul writes that in probably no other time in the history of the church have more people challenged the doctrine of hell than in our own day. Yet, almost everything that we learn biblically about hell comes to us from the lips of Jesus Himself. Sproul states that God is just and that He judges according to His own holiness and perfect righteousness. There will be a final judgment for human beings. Every one of us will be called to account before the presence of God, and we will be judged by His perfect righteousness and by His perfect law. Sproul tells us that now is the day of salvation. Nothing in Scripture gives us the slightest hint that there will be a second chance after death. The longer we postpone our repentance and our fleeing to Christ, the more dangerous and perilous is our condition, for tonight our souls may be required of us. In this helpful booklet on heaven and hell, Sproul looks at scripture passages such as John 14, Revelation 21 and the parable of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16. He addresses whether or not there will be marriage in heaven, our new bodies, whether we will know our departed friends and relatives in the resurrection, the new heaven and new earth, whether hell is the absence of God, the reality of a final judgement, and that there are no second chances after we die. ...more |
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Mar 17, 2023
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Mar 19, 2023
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Mar 17, 2023
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| 1433578913
| 9781433578915
| 1433578913
| 4.11
| 18
| unknown
| May 24, 2022
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really liked it
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This book is written by a geriatrician, a physician who specializes in the care of seniors. It is about setting our priorities in retirement, keeping
This book is written by a geriatrician, a physician who specializes in the care of seniors. It is about setting our priorities in retirement, keeping them in balance, and living according to them. The book is written from a Christian perspective, with the author quoting a lot of Scripture throughout the book and including many stories, including much from his own experience. The book is organized around ten different strategies toward a retirement that brings glory to God. There are “Questions to Ponder” at the end of each strategy that will help you evaluate where you are and what changes you need to make. Each chapter ends with a prayer. The book ends with a helpful “Recommended Reading” section. The author tells us that there are three prerequisites for a good retirement: 1. Financial planning. 2. Talk to other spiritually mature friends who have retired, especially those who have retired recently. 3. Seek God’s wisdom and guidance in prayer. This book would be most helpful for those who have not yet retired, though it will also be helpful to those who have been retired for a short time. Here are the 10 strategies and quotes from each of them that I found helpful: Strategy 1 Determine Your Priorities • God’s glory must therefore be our greatest value, our highest priority, and the overriding goal of our lives. Everything else we value must be secondary, and a means to display God’s glory. • God has gifted us with these years, and he calls us to use them not for ourselves but for him. He wants us to do things that will count for eternity. Strategy 2 Retire at the Right Time • A successful, God-honoring retirement starts with retiring at the right time. • The loss of work identity associated with retirement may be difficult, but God can use it to allow good results in our spiritual transformation. Strategy 3 Retire in the Right Place • The quality of our retirement and ability to glorify God in these years will largely depend on the social relationships we develop and maintain. Strategy 4 Take Care of Yourself • An essential way to maximize how our retirement years can bring glory to God is to take care of the body and mind he has entrusted to us. Strategy 5 Love God • The goal of a sabbatical is to start retirement living according to your God-given priorities, and to establish life balance. Strategy 6 Make Good Friends • Friendships open new worlds for us, allow us the joy of serving others, and open opportunities to share the good news of Jesus with those who do not yet know him. Strategy 7 Enjoy and Strengthen Your Family • We must talk to our grandchildren about God frequently. God can use us as a means for them to come to faith, learn to fear him, and do what is right. • Involvement with family may be the greatest way we can glorify God in retirement. Strategy 8 Avoid Destructive Pitfalls • Retirement can be rather fragile. It can provide a lot of good for our lives, but it doesn’t take much of a mistake to destroy retirement’s potential to give glory to God. Strategy 9 Get Busy • Older men and women need to accept their role as seniors, and to embrace the fact that they have something to offer those who are younger. • Volunteering allows you to choose what you do based on the potential for doing good and having an eternal impact, with a motivation that goes beyond making money. Strategy 10 Be Flexible, Adaptable, and Resilient • The valley of the shadow of death isn’t necessarily our own death, but may be that of someone we love, have shared life with, and have accompanied on their final journey. We may be tempted to despair, but we can look to our Shepherd to comfort us. And with that, we can keep going through such a difficult time. • Adjusting and being resilient to the problems that come are essential throughout our later days. ...more |
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Mar 03, 2023
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| B0B4CYYBN9
| 4.61
| 1,141
| unknown
| Feb 07, 2023
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it was amazing
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If you have been blessed by the ministry of Tim Keller, as I have, I believe you will enjoy this book that tells Keller’s story from the perspective o
If you have been blessed by the ministry of Tim Keller, as I have, I believe you will enjoy this book that tells Keller’s story from the perspective of his influences, more than his influence, by Collin Hansen. The author had three years of interviews with Keller for the book, as well as free access to Keller’s family, friends, and colleagues. The book is the story of the people, the books, the lectures, and ultimately the God who formed Keller. The book is not the definitive biography of Keller, but does follow his life chronologically as it describes his influences. Keller would be baptized as a Roman Catholic, confirmed as a Lutheran, enrolled in seminary as a Wesleyan Arminian, and ordained as a Presbyterian. His mother Louise moved the family from a Roman Catholic Church to a Lutheran church, and then to the Evangelical Congregational Church. Keller would go to Bucknell University, and profess Christ in 1970 after which he became a part of InterVarsity leadership. After seminary, Keller would serve at West Hopewell Presbyterian Church in Hopewell, Virginia for nine years. Through role models in books and other pastors in Hopewell, Keller learned what it meant to be a pastor and not just a preacher. Keller would recall his time in Hopewell as the most formative ministry years of his life. Keller would then go to Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia to replace Edmund Clowney, his only personal mentor as a preaching professor. Hansen writes that no other preacher reached Keller like Clowney. No other preacher took personal interest in him in quite the same way, giving Keller confidence he could lead a church. In 1989, Keller would plant Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City where Keller contextualized his preaching and teaching. Hansen tells us that what made Redeemer unique was the combination of Harvie Conn’s vision for social concern—living out faith in vocations and loving neighbors by doing justice and mercy—with what Tim Keller had learned from Richard Lovelace and Jack Miller on spiritual renewal. In less than thirty months, Redeemer attendance grew from zero to one thousand. Hansen writes that it was a revival, and everyone knew it, in part because Keller had prompted them to pray for it. Hansen writes about Keller’s leadership, telling us though the evidence suggests otherwise, Keller often insists he’s not a great leader. Hansen states that many church planters can’t grow into institutional leaders. He tells us that although Keller never became an effective manager, fellow leaders admire him for his character. Hansen writes about Keller’s time with only brother when he was dying of AIDS, eventually leading him to Christ, and then preaching his funeral. Hansen also takes us through the aftermath of 9-11, when Redeemer Presbyterian Church grew initially by thousands of visitors and then permanently by hundreds of members. This well researched book focuses on people and books that influenced Keller. Some of the most significant were: • J.I. Packer’s book Knowing God, which Keller read in 1971, gave him a taste of Reformed theology. • Dick Merritt’s style and substance were both formative for Keller. • Barbara Boyd taught Keller how to study the Bible, • Keller ultimately combined much of Martyn Lloyd-Jones’s theological specificity with John Stott’s ecumenical instincts. • InterVarsity taught him to value what Christians hold in common over the doctrines that divide them. • Even before Kathy Kristy took the name Keller, she would become the most formative intellectual and spiritual influence on Tim Keller’s life. • R.C. Sproul gave Keller a vision for how to speak persuasively to non-Christians, with intelligent command of the issues. • Through the lives of Francis Schaeffer and R. C. Sproul, he also saw how to connect the gospel to every square inch of common grace in God’s creation. • Keller took two New Testament courses with Andrew Lincoln, which helped tip Keller off the balance beam where he’d been straddling Reformed and Arminian theology. • Keller credited Elizabeth Elliot for contributing to his entire view of humans’ relationship to God. • Keller may have entered Gordon-Conwell an Arminian with a vow to enter ministry in the Evangelical Congregational Church. But he graduated from Gordon-Conwell summa cum laude as a Calvinist, in large part because of Roger Nicole. • More than any other book, with the exception of the Bible, Dynamics of Spiritual Life by Richard Lovelace, shaped his views of the church and directed the course of Keller’s ministry. • Jonathan Edwards brought to preaching what Keller appreciated in the writing of C. S. Lewis, his favorite author. Logic, when fired with captivating illustrations, changes hearts. • No Puritan influenced Keller more than John Owen. • Harvie Conn fulfilled one aspect of Edmund Clowney’s vision for Westminster by introducing Keller to cutting-edge missions’ emphases on contextual teaching. He fulfilled another when he applied biblical theology to cities. • Jack Miller was Tim and Kathy Keller’s pastor for only five years, from 1984 to 1989, at New Life Presbyterian Church in Glenside. Miller taught Tim Keller how to preach grace from every text of Scripture. ...more |
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Feb 17, 2023
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Mar 25, 2023
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Feb 17, 2023
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Kindle Edition
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| 149342212X
| 9781493422128
| B07VMHHC32
| 4.19
| 123
| Jun 17, 2016
| Jan 21, 2020
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really liked it
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I was introduced to some of the concepts in this book a few weeks ago during our NXTGEN Pastors Cohort when we covered the “Leading in a Chronically A
I was introduced to some of the concepts in this book a few weeks ago during our NXTGEN Pastors Cohort when we covered the “Leading in a Chronically Anxious Culture” module. I had been exposed to some of the material earlier when we covered the “Caring for Ourselves in Light of Our Family of Origin” module. The book is a basic overview of some of the principles of leadership in a living system, which is a different way of thinking about leadership. Leadership that recognizes an organization or a congregation as a living system requires a different way of thinking, and is not about learning a set of techniques. Learning this new way of thinking is about the disciplined practice of living out our values and guiding principles despite many anxiety-producing obstacles that come our way. The authors wrote the book to offer a practical pathway to transforming the lives of pastors and congregational leaders. They tell us that we cannot lead others in transformation unless we are experiencing it ourselves. The authors introduce many concepts and terms that may be new to most leaders. These ideas are rooted in the work of Dr. Murray Bowen’s Family Systems Theory. The book has been organized into four sections and at the end of each chapter are questions for reflective self-assessment. When the authors talk about personal transformation, they are talking about disrupting patterns of disobedience and developing patterns of obedience that allow you to increasingly embody the gospel in your life. They use the life of Jesus and the conceptual framework of living systems to guide the reader on the journey of personal transformation. The authors tell us that leaders need not make the journey of personal transformation alone. Leaders have apprenticed our lives to Jesus to follow him. He is our teacher, our coach, and our guide on the journey. The authors believe that transformation is a process that involves the whole person, and they believe there are three dynamic processes in the Christian life that help to grow the whole person to maturity: • Personal transformation happens best as an inside-out process of committing to obey all the teachings of Christ. • Personal transformation happens best in the context of a loving community that extends grace and truth. • Personal transformation happens best when we develop a reflective lifestyle. Among the many topics covered in the book are personal transformation, family of origin, a chronically anxious system, being a less anxious leader, spiritual disciplines, differentiation of self, reactivity, emotional maturity, emotional triangles, conflict, distant relationships, overfunctioning and underfunctioning, herding, ways to calm yourself, crisis, the togetherness and individuality force, polarization, family system, a family diagram, cut-off relationships, boundaries, guiding principles, the transformational learning model, learning and mastery. The book often references Edwin Friedman’s book A Failure of Nerve. Friedman focuses on five central traits of a chronically anxious system: heightened reactivity, herding, blame displacement, demand for a quick fix, and poor leadership. The book includes a number of stories to help illustrate the concepts introduced in the book. As to whether Christian leaders can work with a theory, such as Bowen Family Systems Theory, which is based on human science, the authors write that leaders can learn to accommodate scientific learning and their theological constructs so that they can occupy space next to each other; they don’t have to reject one or the other. The book concludes with three appendices, a list of recommended reading and a helpful glossary, as there a many new terms introduced in the book. Appendix A Constructing a Family Diagram Appendix B Developing a Rhythm of Spiritual Practices Appendix C Bowen-Based Training Programs Below are 10 helpful quotes from the book: 1. Differentiation deals with the effort to define oneself, to control oneself, to become a more responsible person, and to permit others to be themselves as well. 2. The most powerful source of emotional gravity in most of our lives comes from family. 3. Leaders who want to understand the context in which they carry out their role learn to pay attention to the presence of anxiety in their system. 4. You must learn to be able to see what is going on around you, observe the anxiety, note your own part in it, and manage yourself amid the pressure. 5. The most strategic role in the system is that of the calm observer. 6. As the anxiety in the system rises, so must our resolve to remain composed. 7. A system that operates without well-differentiated leadership makes it extremely difficult for such a leader to develop. 8. Taking responsibility for our feelings (not denying them, repressing them, or blaming them on others) is one of the most helpful things we can do to become a less-anxious leader. 9. Defining self means that we consistently and calmly tell others what we think and choose, without demanding that they think and choose the same way. 10. When we are anxious, we react to the pressures of the moment in a way that does not reflect our guiding principles. We do this because we give in to our habitual behavior rather than pausing to think about other available options. Therefore, we must develop the ability to think before we speak and to pause before we act. ...more |
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Jan 27, 2023
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Feb 23, 2023
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Jan 27, 2023
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Kindle Edition
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| B0BSCBSXQY
| 3.50
| 4
| unknown
| Jan 13, 2023
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really liked it
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I was delighted when I first heard that Loretta Gibson was writing a book about how God has worked in her life. I had worked with Loretta at the same
I was delighted when I first heard that Loretta Gibson was writing a book about how God has worked in her life. I had worked with Loretta at the same Fortune 50 organization. For a time, we were on the same leadership team. Some of my team members worked on her project teams, and we both left that organization at the same time, nearly five years ago. Discerning Downloads is a collection of stories about Loretta’s encounters with God. The book is about how God and Loretta interacted in the past, and how He prophecies her future. For the first time, she shares stories about hearing God’s voice and discerning His messages (what she refers to as “downloads”). The stories span decades of her life. She writes that God’s downloads offer guidance, preparation, and comfort. Each chapter includes “Action Challenges” and “End-of-Chapter Questions” to go deeper with the information covered in that chapter. The book begins in 1963, when Loretta, an eight-year-old farm girl in Central Missouri, is blinded by a vision and hears a male voice tell her that she would be an author writing on an island someday. Loretta writes that seeing the vision and hearing God’s voice gave her direction throughout her life. This is the book that Loretta was to write, and a village on the Big Island of Hawaii was where the book was to be written. For many years, my wife’s car license plate has been vox Dei, signifying that the Bible is the Word of God or the voice of God. I personally have never audibly heard God’s voice, as Loretta has. I have had friends say to me “God spoke to me”, or “I had a word from the Lord”, but I believe that was not via an audible voice, but rather a response to prayer. Loretta uses scripture passages throughout the book. Her approach is to engage the reader primarily through authentic stories, not about religion, denominations, philosophy, or theory. Still, the theology that is described in the book (hearing God’s voice, seeing messages, baptism of the Holy Spirit, receiving and writing prophesy, word of knowledge, word of wisdom, discernment of spirits, speaking in tongues, healing, etc.) aligns with a form of charismatic theology. I am a proponent of Reformed theology, and a cessationist, as opposed to a continuationist. Cessationists believe that the Holy Spirit no longer gives believers miraculous spiritual gifts as a normative Christian experience as it was for the apostles. The warmly written book is part biography and part how God has worked in her life through many challenging seasons, including two miscarriages, deaths of loved ones, divorce, income loss, job loss, lifelong undiagnosed disease, and adoption, to name a few. Although Loretta and I come from different theological camps, I enjoyed reading her story and how God has, and continues to work in her life. ...more |
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not set
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Jan 23, 2023
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Jan 23, 2023
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Kindle Edition
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| 1493437771
| 9781493437771
| B09V6WZ6QL
| 4.37
| 205
| unknown
| Oct 18, 2022
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really liked it
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In this book, David Green, founder and CEO of arts and crafts retailer Hobby Lobby, and Bill High, share the uncommon business practices – the “secret
In this book, David Green, founder and CEO of arts and crafts retailer Hobby Lobby, and Bill High, share the uncommon business practices – the “secret sauce” - that Hobby Lobby has adopted that has resulted in their incredible success. They write that every one of the ingredients in the secret sauce comes from the Bible. In addition, most of the pivotal moments in the company’s history took place after Green experienced some divine episode engineered by the Holy Spirit. They write that if you boil down the secret sauce to one key ingredient, you will find the one element that makes the others work is listening to God and obeying His Word. Hobby Lobby celebrated their 50th anniversary in 2022. In those fifty years, they have gone from less than $150 to $8 billion in sales. They carry more than one hundred thousand items (including seasonal merchandise), employ more than fifty thousand and give away 50 percent of their profits to help fund initiatives for God’s kingdom all over the world. The unconventional principles discussed in this book can apply whether you lead a business, a church, a nonprofit, or are just contemplating the idea of leadership. The secret sauce ingredients can be organized in three major categories: • God-centered practices • People-focused practices • Commonsense practices Some of my takeaways about Hobby Lobby’s secret sauce were: • To see yourself as a steward, not owner, of your business or ministry. • The importance of prayer in our work. • The importance of giving. • The importance of character for leaders. • The importance of a leader’s family. • The importance of taking care of your people. • The importance of listening to your people. • To be true to your calling, your “one thing”. Below are 15 of my favorite quotes from the book: 1. God must destroy our arrogant pride if He is to bless the work of our hands. The Lord loves to bless humility, not smug self-confidence. 2. When you’re an owner, wealth can easily become a curse. When you’re a steward, wealth becomes a tool. 3. God is the owner of all things, and we are simply his stewards. 4. Faith doesn’t mean trusting God only in the easy times. It means trusting God always, no matter the situation, whether in sunshine or storms. 5. We obey God not because of what we will get but because He deserves our obedience. 6. If you want to bless the world through your work, make prayer a priority. 7. Obedience to God may cost you, but some things are more important than profit. 8. No matter what other service you might perform, souls are your true bottom line. 9. A good leader must have both the appropriate gifting and the necessary character. 10. If you want to lead well, you must listen to your people and give them the freedom to challenge you. 11. Listening matters. Hire smart, honest people, and then listen to them. When their ideas make good sense, implement them, give them the credit, and celebrate the resulting success. 12. Never give leaders responsibility without also giving them the authority required to fulfill that responsibility. Responsibility without authority never works. 13. To succeed as a leader, set up a great organization that allows you to focus on your gifting and not get distracted. 14. We are not here to create trends. We never create a trend. Ever. We observe what customers want, and we give it to them. 15. Doing your job wholeheartedly, as to the Lord, is most often the first step to greater responsibility and larger influence. ...more |
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1
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Jan 08, 2023
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Jan 25, 2023
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Jan 04, 2023
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Kindle Edition
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| B09PQ9DSHF
| 4.62
| 1,464
| unknown
| Nov 01, 2022
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it was amazing
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"Forgive" by Tim Keller is a thorough and practical treatment of all aspects of forgiveness. It is the best book I’ve read in some time, and is sure t
"Forgive" by Tim Keller is a thorough and practical treatment of all aspects of forgiveness. It is the best book I’ve read in some time, and is sure to be among my favorite books of 2023. I’m certain that it will be a book that I’ll want to revisit again in the future. Keller tells us that the ultimate purpose of forgiveness is the restoration of community. He writes that the concept of forgiveness is central to the meaning of the Bible, and that human forgiveness is dependent on divine forgiveness. From the very beginning, the Christian church was remarkable for its emphasis on and practice of forgiveness and nonretaliation. He then looks at the approaches to forgiveness that have emerged in our secular society (cheap grace, little grace and no grace). He tells us that what these models have in common is the lack of any vertical dimension. They all contrast with the costly grace model of forgiveness assumed in the Bible, which has both a horizontal and vertical dimension to it. He adds that social media has only accelerated this movement toward a graceless culture. Among the scripture passages that Keller addresses in the book are the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant (Matthew 18: 21-35), Matthew 5 (what you do when you believe you have – or may have – wronged someone else), Matthew 18 (what you do when you believe someone has wronged you), Luke 17: 11-19, and Psalm 51 (a model for repentance). Among the many subjects included in the book include retaliation and revenge, false repentance, justice, reconciliation and healing, anger, shame and honor culture and cancel culture, the cross, guilt, trust, blame shifting, self-pity, and self-flagellation, and resentment. The book is filled with stories about people such as Billy Graham and Corrie Ten Boom. The heavily footnoted book cites references from C.S. Lewis, Derek Kidner, D.A. Carson and Rachel Denhollander, among others. The book concludes with four helpful appendices: Appendix A: Forgiveness Principles Appendix B: Biblical Texts on God’s Forgiveness Appendix C: Forgiveness Practices Appendix D: Reconciliation Practices This is an excellent treatment of all aspects of forgiveness. Because it is so practical, it would be an excellent book to read and discuss with others. My only suggestion would be to include questions for reflection at the end of each chapter. Here are 20 of my favorite quotes from the book: • Forgiveness, then, is a form of voluntary suffering. In forgiving, rather than retaliating, you make a choice to bear the cost. • Forgiveness means that, when you want to make them suffer, instead you refuse to do it. And this refusal is hard. It is difficult and costly, but through it you are absorbing the debt yourself. • Forgiveness is seen now as radically unjust and impractical, as short-circuiting the ability of victims to gain honor and virtue as others rise to defend them. • Divine mercy should change our hearts so that we are able to forgive as God forgave us. • If we will not offer others forgiveness, it shows that we did not truly repent and receive God’s. • The self-centeredness that grows when you stay angry at somebody, when you hold things against them, when you continue to regard them as if they’re liable to you and they owe you, is a prison. • Forgiveness in the fullest sense, biblically, is not simply asking for a pardon or remission—it is always after restored relationship. • The key to Christian forgiveness is the cross. It is the foundation of forgiveness because it not only makes it possible for God to forgive us without compromising his justice but it also provides both motivation and model for our own forgiveness to those who wrong us. • God is not just a God of love or a God of wrath. He is both, and if your concept of God can’t include both, it will distort your view of reality in general and of forgiveness in particular. • Christian forgiveness never undermines the pursuit of justice but promotes it. • Forgiveness is often (or perhaps usually) granted before it’s felt inside. • The only way to deal with true guilt is to take it to the grace and mercy of God. • Real repentance involves an acceptance of God’s free mercy. To forgive is to give the perpetrator a gift they do not in any way deserve. In love you are absorbing the debt that they owe you. Here you are truly walking in Christ’s footsteps. • A Christian is responsible to begin the process of reconciliation, regardless of how the alienation began. • Almost always reconciliation is best done by both repenting and forgiving—by both admitting your own wrong and pointing out the wrong of the other. • Only the gospel prepares you for both sides of the Christian reconciliation model. It humbles you enough to make you able to be a forgiver and, at the same time, affirms and fills you with such a sense of worth and love that it makes you able to be a repenter. • It is hard to stay angry at someone if you are praying for them. It is also hard to stay angry unless you feel superior, and it is hard to feel superior if you are praying for them, since in prayer you approach God as a forgiven sinner. • Forgiveness means giving up the right to revenge, the right to seek repayment from the one who harmed you. • A lack of forgiveness toward others is the direct result of a lack of repentance toward God. • God requires forgiveness whether or not the offender has repented and has asked for forgiveness. ...more |
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Jan 24, 2023
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Feb 16, 2023
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Jan 04, 2023
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Kindle Edition
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| B08ZMBPNQV
| 4.28
| 298
| unknown
| Nov 02, 2021
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really liked it
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This book looks at eight surprising paradoxes that effective, or uncommon, leaders must practice as they lead. Most of these paradoxes are about our e
This book looks at eight surprising paradoxes that effective, or uncommon, leaders must practice as they lead. Most of these paradoxes are about our emotional intelligence, not our cognitive intelligence. The author tells us that the good news is that while IQ doesn’t change much over our lifetime, EQ can be developed. The author, who served alongside worked with John Maxwell for twenty years, tells us that leading in the twenty-first century is more complex than it was in past centuries. Each chapter of the book includes strategies to practice the paradox, a summary of the paradox, keys to navigating the paradox, and helpful questions about the paradox. A final chapter discusses a new kind of leader. Here are the eight paradoxes along with a few quotes about each one that I found to be helpful: PARADOX 1 Uncommon Leaders Balance Both Confidence and Humility • Uncommon leaders possess inspiring confidence yet express it with palpable humility. • When humility is present, trust deepens among team members. PARADOX 2 Uncommon Leaders Leverage Both Their Vision and Their Blind Spots • Team members need their leader to not only possess a vision, but to communicate it clearly so they can implement it. • Failure is only a bad thing when we fail to learn from our mistakes. • A lifelong learning posture is our only hope to thrive in the future. PARADOX 3 Uncommon Leaders Embrace Both Visibility and Invisibility • In the beginning of any mission, most people need a visible leader, demonstrating what to do and clarifying the goal. Over time, however, those people need the leader to step aside to let them realize their potential. Ownership must be transferred. • Visible leadership deepens your credibility in the minds of your people. • Our world is crying out for leaders who practice what they preach. PARADOX 4 Uncommon Leaders Are Both Stubborn and Open-Minded • We must stop selling product features to customers and focus on outcomes. PARADOX 5 Uncommon Leaders Are Both Deeply Personal and Inherently Collective • Social intelligence is developed when we actively listen without interrupting. • Leaders must never forget that people need both the collective and the personal. PARADOX 6 Uncommon Leaders Are Both Teachers and Learners • In our day of unceasing change, leaders are forced to be teachers, and organizations are forced to adapt. PARADOX 7 Uncommon Leaders Model Both High Standards and Gracious Forgiveness • People need leaders to call out the uncommon strengths that lie inside them. Without this push, most succumb to a gravitational pull toward average. • Our greatest growth and best chance to stand out lie in the areas of our natural strengths. PARADOX 8 Uncommon Leaders Are Both Timely and Timeless • Wise leaders utilize vision that can see both backward and forward. • Drafters are people who are ahead of you and inspire you to get better. Throughout the book, the author illustrates each paradox with stories about people such as Martin Luther King Jr., Truett Cathy, Harriet Tubman, Bob Iger, Walt Disney, Mother Teresa, and others. He tells us that each of them represents a new kind of leader. ...more |
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1
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Dec 24, 2022
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Jan 06, 2023
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Dec 24, 2022
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Kindle Edition
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| 9781637742877
| 1637742878
| 4.24
| 63
| unknown
| Mar 07, 2023
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it was amazing
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In his latest book, Mark Miller longtime leader at Chick-fil-A, has us play the game of building a thriving High Performance Culture, with leaders as
In his latest book, Mark Miller longtime leader at Chick-fil-A, has us play the game of building a thriving High Performance Culture, with leaders as the designers. To do this, his research team talked to or surveyed more than six thousand people from ten countries around the world, representing senior leaders, mid-level leaders, and frontline workers. In “Culture Rules”, he tells their stories and we learn from both their successes and shortcomings. A key finding in the book is that leaders animate culture. Only leaders can create and sustain a vibrant High Performance Culture. To qualify as a High Performance Culture, three conditions must exist: • Alignment • Performance • Improvement The author defines culture as the cumulative effect of what people see, hear, experience and believe. The three rules towards building a High Performance Culture are: • Aspire: Share your hopes and dreams for the culture. • Amplify: Ensure the cultural Aspiration is reinforced continuously. • Adapt: Always work to enhance the culture. The book looks at each of these rules in detail, including helpful stories from organizations such as Netflix, PepsiCo, Microsoft, Salesforce, and many more. Among the topics included in the book are an organizations’ purpose, mission and values, intentional listening, story, fit for role and fit for culture, workplace strategy, strategic communication, measurement, pulse surveys, and candor. Each chapter ends with a brief “Your Move…” section, designed for the reader to take action. A free digital copy of the “Culture Rules Field Guide” is available by using a QR code included in the book. The 100 plus page guide contains tactics, additional case studies, helpful questions, and more. The author tells us that High Performance Cultures are not built overnight—they require a never-ending pursuit. The greatest obstacle to creating a High Performance Culture is a lack of focused leadership attention. “Culture Rules” would be an excellent book for leaders to read and discuss together. Below are some of the most helpful quotes from the book: • The wise leader will always leverage insights from the past while creating a better tomorrow. • Organizations do not drift toward greatness; they must be led there. • Alignment is about harnessing the individual brilliance, passion, and talents of everyone and channeling them toward a common cause. • Healthy cultures enable healthy growth. • A clearly articulated purpose will leave no doubt in the hearts and minds of your entire organization as to why it exists. • The essence of leadership is creating a better tomorrow, envisioning a preferred future, and rallying people to make it a reality. • Values are an ongoing and daily pursuit. • People always watch the leader. • People need to see leadership much more than they need to study it. • In its most simple terms, culture is about aligning people around your Aspiration. • Strategic communication is one of the most powerful weapons in your arsenal for building a High Performance Culture. • For our organizations to thrive, we must be open to ideas and practices that are different from those of the past. • If you are allowing politeness to overtake candor as the norm, your leadership impact will be compromised, and it will be exceedingly difficult for your organization to thrive. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Dec 31, 2022
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Feb 05, 2023
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Dec 22, 2022
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Hardcover
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| B0BFK7DCXZ
| unknown
| 4.69
| 55
| unknown
| Oct 06, 2022
|
it was amazing
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This is the latest in a series of books containing adaptations of R.C. Sproul’s sermons at St. Andrews Chapel in Sanford, Florida, where he preached f
This is the latest in a series of books containing adaptations of R.C. Sproul’s sermons at St. Andrews Chapel in Sanford, Florida, where he preached from 1997 until his death in 2017. In these sermons, though he sought to at least touch on each verse, he focused on the key themes and ideas that comprised the “big picture” of each passage he covered. Sproul’s recommendation is to use these books as an overview and introduction. Sproul writes that in all probability, this letter from the Apostle Paul was the first of his letters. It was also the most fiery. Paul wrote the epistle in a spirit of righteous indignation. A heresy had developed among the Galatians, and it threatened and denied the very gospel. It threatened the authority of Christ. Sproul tells us that the heresy, known as the Judaizing heresy, argued that to be a Christian, you must continue to practice the rituals and the ceremonies of the Old Testament law. This would, by implication, deny the sufficiency of the sacrifice of Christ. This short book, comprised of twenty-two sermons, serves as an excellent introduction to Paul’s letter to the Galatians. Here are 20 helpful quotes from the book: • The gospel is a distinct message with a distinct content that has to do with the person and work of Jesus Christ and how the benefits of His person and work are appropriated by faith and by faith alone. • The gospel is the good news that the basis of my salvation is not my merit and is not my righteousness; rather, it is the righteousness of Christ freely imputed to all who put their trust in Him. • The only righteousness by which we can ever possibly be saved is an alien righteousness, a foreign righteousness, a righteousness that is apart from us. It is the righteousness of Jesus Christ. • If you want to be a Christian, you can’t be a man-pleaser. Being a man-pleaser and a servant of Christ are two incompatible options. It’s either/or. You please the Lord or you please your friends. • Some people claim that calls to obey the law of God amount to legalism. However, legalism is when someone adds laws that God never prescribed. • The righteousness by which we are justified is an alien righteousness. It’s not a righteousness that we possess. It is not something that we gain or that we merit. • The Father turned His back on Jesus because in the attribution of our sin to Him, Jesus was the most obscene individual in all of human history, so filthy that God couldn’t even look at Him. • There are two things you must remember when you’re praying: first, who God is, and then who you are. • Even more important than how the culture influenced the writing of the Bible is how our culture now influences us in our understanding of the Bible. • We derive our ethics from what’s happening in the world around us rather than from the Word of God. • In the final analysis, it’s not whether you know Jesus that matters; it’s whether Jesus knows you. • The whole point of our sanctification is that Christ may be formed in us. • The Apostle Paul is setting before the Galatians an either/or proposition. Either go back to the law or have the gospel; you can’t do both. • Original sin does not describe the first sin that was committed by Adam and Eve. Rather, original sin refers to the result of the first sin committed by Adam and Eve. It signifies God’s judgment on the human race, of whom Adam and Eve are representatives. • If you live a lifestyle of constant, impenitent, gross, and major sin, you will not get into the kingdom of God, because you have shown that you do not belong to Christ. • Joy is foundational to the Christian life. • The most difficult part of the business of the church is to exercise church discipline. • For the unbeliever, the cross is equated with scandal. For Paul, it was the highest source of personal pride. Christ and His cross were the only things worth boasting about for Paul. • The whole point of this epistle to the Galatians is to put the flesh to death and to walk in the Spirit. • Rebirth is only by the power of God the Holy Spirit, who changes your nature from flesh to Spirit. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Dec 19, 2022
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Jan 24, 2023
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Dec 19, 2022
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Kindle Edition
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| 4.32
| 901
| Jan 01, 2012
| 2012
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really liked it
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"Good News of Great Joy" is the Advent devotional my wife Tammy and I read for 2022. John Piper tells us Advent is for adoring Jesus. He writes that w
"Good News of Great Joy" is the Advent devotional my wife Tammy and I read for 2022. John Piper tells us Advent is for adoring Jesus. He writes that what Jesus wants for Christmas is for us to experience what we were really made for—seeing and savoring his glory. Piper’s prayer is that this little devotional might help the reader keep Jesus as the center and greatest treasure of your Advent season. The hymn “O Come, Let Us Adore Him” is the theme of these readings. The meditations are all about adoring Christ, the Lord. The introduction is designed to be read before Advent begins and the conclusion can be read as an additional selection on Christmas Day. Each reading begins with a short scripture passage. The appendix on Old Testament shadows and the coming of Christ coordinates with the meditation for day 12. We really enjoyed reading these short meditations as a preparation for the birth of our Savior. Here are a few quotes we wanted to share from the book: • Hebrews 2:14–15, I think, is my favorite Advent text because I don’t know any other that expresses so clearly the connection between the beginning and the ending of Jesus’s earthly life—between the incarnation and the crucifixion. • He was born to die. Good Friday is the purpose of Christmas. This is what most people today need to hear about the meaning of Christmas. • The new covenant is purchased by the blood of Christ, effected by the Spirit of Christ, and appropriated by faith in Christ. • Look to Jesus this Christmas. Receive the reconciliation that he purchased. Don’t put the gift on the shelf unopened. And when you open it, remember God himself is the gift of reconciliation with God. • Christ not only came to destroy the works of the devil, our sinning; he also came to be an advocate for us because of experiences of failure in our fight. • Philippians 2:6-8 is my favorite Christmas text. Look for Jesus’s humility: Though he was in the form of God, [he] did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. • One of the main points of the book of Hebrews is that the old-covenant system of worship is a shadow replaced by Christ. So, Christmas is the replacement of shadows with reality. ...more |
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Nov 28, 2022
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Dec 24, 2022
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Nov 28, 2022
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ebook
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| 1451648707
| 9781451648706
| 1451648707
| 3.80
| 2,573
| Nov 01, 2022
| Nov 01, 2022
|
liked it
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This is an interesting book, beginning with the title (which doesn’t really tell you anything about the book), and the cover (Little Richard, Eddie Co
This is an interesting book, beginning with the title (which doesn’t really tell you anything about the book), and the cover (Little Richard, Eddie Cochran and the little-known Alis Lesley “the female Elvis”). The book, which Dylan began working on in 2010, before he was presented with the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2016, features sixty-six short chapters about songs recorded by other artists, ranging from Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Perry Como, Johnny Cash, Elvis Costello, Little Richard, to the Eagles, Santana, Willie Nelson, the Who, and Dion. The song selection seems odd - just four by women, many that I’d never heard of, with the highest percentage being songs released in the 1950’s, with nine being released in 1956 when Dylan was fifteen years old. Dylan never says why he selected the songs, whether they are favorites, songs that influenced him, etc. There is no introduction to the book. Instead, Dylan goes right into a chapter on “Detroit City”, a 1963 hit by Bobby Bare. Many have compared Dylan’s writing in the book to his Theme Time Radio Hour satellite radio show he hosted from 2006 to 2009. Each chapter includes photographs - nearly 150 are included, but none have captions, leading the reader to guess at times why the photo is included. Dylan writes a rambling riff/essay based on the lyrics of the song, and then adds comments about the artist. I’ve enjoyed Dylan’s music for many years and have seen him in concert several times. I found the book interesting at times, but also confusing and a bit boring at others. A suggestion would be to listen to the song on your favorite music streaming site before reading the chapter about the song. In addition, sprinkled throughout the book is some adult language. ...more |
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1
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Nov 22, 2022
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Dec 17, 2022
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Nov 22, 2022
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Hardcover
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| 1546002510
| 9781546002512
| B09PL4RBYR
| 4.27
| 41
| unknown
| Sep 13, 2022
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liked it
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Maxwell Moments, a new line of John Maxwell books, is described as “an innovative new line of derivative books unlike any other Maxwell books in the m
Maxwell Moments, a new line of John Maxwell books, is described as “an innovative new line of derivative books unlike any other Maxwell books in the marketplace. They will look and feel fresh, appealing to a younger and more innovative audience. Titles in the Maxwell Moments series will be single-concept books in a creative format, chock full of wisdom, insight, and inspiration. Each will contain the essence of one of John’s messages, divided into short chapters to be savored in small bites, read in a single sitting, given as gifts, and used as mentoring tools.” In this volume in the series, Maxwell tells us that there are only a handful of important value choices you need to make in your entire lifetime to win at life. He states that most people overcomplicate life and get bogged down. He covers twelve important choices, each given their own short chapter, to make in order to be successful. They are: • Focus on today. • See the glass as half-full. • View everyone as a potential friend. • Do what you say you’ll do. • Put important ahead of urgent. • Give your family your best. • Make yourself better every day. • Think your way to the top. • Never put off your health. • Keep money in perspective. • Make room for faith. • Give more than you take. He tells us our choices are the only thing we truly control, and that the most successful people in life are the ones who settle their value choices early and manage those choices daily. Among the subjects he addresses in the book are your daily agenda, a positive attitude, good relationships, adding value to others, resolving conflict quickly, keeping your commitments, maximizing your potential, good thinking, being generous, excellence, and your priorities. Maxwell Moments may very well find a new audience for John Maxwell’s teaching, and I think that’s great. For me, I’ll prefer his full-length traditional books. Below are 15 of my favorite quotes from the book: 1. Winning at life is going to bed at night knowing you have done your best and given yourself to the things that matter the most. 2. Many people figure that tomorrow is bound to be better, but they have no strategy for making it better. 3. People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care. 4. Everything you are doing now is something you have chosen to do. 5. To change your life, you need to change your priorities. 6. To be successful, you can’t allow what’s urgent for others to drive your life. 7. When you take control of your day, you take control of your life. 8. There is no substitute for time when it comes to your family. 9. Experience is good only if it’s reflected upon and you learn from both mistakes and successes. 10. The greater your thinking, the greater your potential. 11. The ultimate goal of thinking is translating ideas into action. 12. If you want to win at life, you must make your health a priority. 13. One of the greatest causes of debilitating stress in people’s lives is doing jobs they don’t like. 14. What is the greatest choice you can make to win at life? What value has a lasting impact? Being generous. 15. Don’t measure your life by the number of people who serve you or the amount of money you accumulate. Look at how many people you serve. The greater your giving, the greater you’re living. ...more |
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Nov 18, 2022
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Nov 19, 2022
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Nov 18, 2022
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Kindle Edition
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| 3.37
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really liked it
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Sep 22, 2023
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| 3.71
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it was amazing
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Aug 29, 2023
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Aug 16, 2023
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| 4.45
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really liked it
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Aug 19, 2023
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Aug 03, 2023
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| 5.00
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it was amazing
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Aug 15, 2023
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Jul 25, 2023
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| 4.20
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really liked it
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Jul 25, 2023
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Jul 17, 2023
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| 4.69
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it was amazing
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Aug 03, 2023
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Jul 11, 2023
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| 4.22
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really liked it
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Jul 15, 2023
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Jul 02, 2023
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| 3.91
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really liked it
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Jul 11, 2023
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Jun 26, 2023
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| 4.06
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really liked it
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Jul 05, 2023
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Jun 22, 2023
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| 4.52
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it was amazing
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Jun 21, 2023
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Jun 04, 2023
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| 4.00
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really liked it
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Jun 20, 2023
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May 29, 2023
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| 4.71
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really liked it
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Jun 2023
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May 17, 2023
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| 4.27
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it was amazing
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May 14, 2023
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Apr 30, 2023
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| 4.40
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it was amazing
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Aug 26, 2023
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Apr 01, 2023
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| 4.50
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really liked it
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May 20, 2023
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Mar 27, 2023
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| 4.25
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it was amazing
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Jun 08, 2023
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Mar 27, 2023
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| 4.35
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it was amazing
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Apr 30, 2023
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Mar 19, 2023
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| 4.45
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Mar 19, 2023
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Mar 17, 2023
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| 4.11
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really liked it
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Mar 17, 2023
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Mar 03, 2023
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| 4.61
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it was amazing
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Mar 25, 2023
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Feb 17, 2023
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| 4.19
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really liked it
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Feb 23, 2023
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Jan 27, 2023
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| 3.50
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really liked it
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Jan 23, 2023
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Jan 23, 2023
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| 4.37
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really liked it
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Jan 25, 2023
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Jan 04, 2023
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| 4.62
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it was amazing
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Feb 16, 2023
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Jan 04, 2023
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| 4.28
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really liked it
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Jan 06, 2023
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Dec 24, 2022
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| 4.24
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it was amazing
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Feb 05, 2023
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Dec 22, 2022
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| 4.69
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it was amazing
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Jan 24, 2023
|
Dec 19, 2022
|
|||||
|
| 4.32
|
really liked it
|
Dec 24, 2022
|
Nov 28, 2022
|
|||||
|
| 3.80
|
liked it
|
Dec 17, 2022
|
Nov 22, 2022
|
|||||
|
| 4.27
|
liked it
|
Nov 19, 2022
|
Nov 18, 2022
|
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