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Primal by Mark Batterson
I just finished reading Mark Batterson‘s new book, Primal.
Wow!
This was the best book I have read in a long, long time. Mark Batterson provides a refreshing look at a basic, foundational commandment – The Great Commandment – to love the love the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.
Mark is obviously a well-read, intelligent author. I love the detail and thought he pours into each word of Primal. It seemed like every page and every paragraph packed a punch that left me wanting to read on. More than that, Mark is passionate about loving God with everything he’s got. I finished Primal challenged – challenged to love the Lord with a renewed compassion, a renewed wonder, a renewed curiosity, and a renewed energy.
Primal should be the first book you read in 2010!
Thank you Mark Batterson for spurring us on.
Sex God by Rob Bell
So I’ve had this book by Rob Bell sitting on my night stand for several months now. The first time I tried to read Sex God, I just couldn’t get into it. I’m not exactly sure why. I think part of it was that I was trying to read all of Rob’s interesting end notes along with reading the book. I think this may have prevented me from getting into the flow of Bell’s most recent book.
If you’ve read Velvet Elvis (his first book) or seen any of the Nooma videos, you know that Rob Bell has an interesting way of connecting life to God. I’ve always been blown away by his creativity and his ability to help people connect to the creator of the universe. Sex God fits right into this mold.
When I finally gave it a second chance (without reading all the interesting end notes), I finally got into it. In Rob Bell’s unique style, God uses sex and marriage to point people to God. You’ll have to read it to see more about what I mean, but I’ll leave you with one quote that from the epilogue that nails it for me.
I finish with this story because life is messy. Gut wrenching. Risky. Things don’t always turn out well. Sometimes they don’t turn out at all. Sometimes everything falls apart and we wonder if there’s any point to any of it. We’re tempted to shut ourselves off, fortify the walls around our hearts, and forge ahead, promising ourselves that we will never open ourselves up like that again.
But I have to believe that we can recover from anything. I have to believe that God can put anything – anyone – back together. I have to believe that the God Jesus invites us to trust is as good as he says he is.
Loving.
Forgiving.
Merciful.
Full of grace.
Sex God was worth the read. (Next, I’m looking forward to reading Mark Batterson’s new book – Primal – I’m expecting an early copy in the mail any day.)
I became a Christian and all I got was this lousy t-shirt
I just started reading Vince Antonucci‘s book – I became a Christian and all I got was this lousy t-shirt.
I’m only 42 pages in so far, so I probably shouldn’t say for sure, but… So far this book is great! I was laughing out loud last night as I read a section on how Vince came up with his son’s name.
Not only is this book hilarious, but it really seems to bring back to the basics what being a Christ follower is all about. Here’s an excerpt that I have to share, so you can see what I mean:
“When I read the Bible I notice that Jesus didn’t go around asking people to believe in him. It’s what I would expect; it’s just not what he did.
He also didn’t ask people to behave. Again, it’s what I would expect, but it’s not really what he did.
Instead, he asked people to follow him. Here’s the kind of thing Jesus did. One time he walked up to some dude who was in the middle of work and said, ‘Hey, follow me.’ And this guy did it.
If Jesus were here today, I doubt it’d be different. I don’t think he’d ask me to believe in him. He’d ask me to follow him. According to Jesus, being a Christian is not so much about believing or behaving correctly as it is about traveling with him. Jesus is going somewhere and he wants me to go with him.”
This is really an interesting and fantastic analysis. You have to pick up a copy, so you can see what else Vince has to say.
Stay tuned for more…
The 33-Year-Old Rookie
I’m still on track to make it through the month without TV. By my calculations, I’m about 40% of the way through this thing.
As part of my new found time, I’ve been reading more. I finally finished reading The 33-Year-Old Rookie by Phillies catcher Chris Coste. Here’s my review:
As a big sports fan and Phillies fan, I enjoyed reading this story of how Chris finally made it to the Major Leagues after lots of dreaming and hard work. If you’re a Phillies fan or a fan of baseball, I would recommend this book. Despite my good review, I finished the book with a few questions in mind that I’d love to ask Chris if given the opportunity:
1. In the very end of the book, in the Acknowledgements, you “thank God every day for blessing me with such an awesome path in life.” The book itself doesn’t talk much (if at all) about your faith. Could you expound on it and describe how it has made a difference in your life?
2. Besides dreaming big, what one message would you want to leave your family and friends?
3. Obviously, playing baseball at this level will not be possible for ever. What are your plans after your playing days are over?
Maybe someday, I’ll get the chance to sit down and get the answers to these questions.
Until the next post, it’s on to the next book (Activate)…
Getting Rid of the Gorilla
I’m excited about a new book (and study guide) that hit the streets this week. The book is entitled Getting Rid of the Gorilla, and it is written by the senior pastor at our church Brian Jones. I’ve read several clips from this book when I had the opportunity to give feedback on the study guide. This is Brian’s second book, and I’m sure you won’t want to miss it. The books primary topic is forgiveness. Don’t tell me that you’ve never struggled with this topic. You can order the book on line at Amazon.com, or I’m pretty sure they will have it at our church’s ticket booth.
Here’s what Standard Publishing’s website had to say about the book:
Living with an unforgiving heart is like living with a gorilla. The beast follows you everywhere. He squeezes marriages. He stinks up friendships. He growls at family gatherings and beats his chest at church. An unforgiving heart ruins relationships, affecting everyone and everything you touch. Maybe you’ve tried and failed to forgive someone who’s hurt you. Maybe you aren’t sure you even want to try. In these confessions from Brian Jones’s own struggle, find hope and strength for finally getting rid of the gorilla in your life.
Until the next post…
Execution – Outline Part I
I finished reading Execution (see my previous post) this morning, and I thought I’d share my outline. There’s a lot of great information in this book that is great for business leaders and community leaders.
I. Part I – Why Execution is Needed
A. Chapter 1 – The Gap Nobody Knows
1. “The gap nobody knows is the gap between what a company’s leaders want to achieve and the ability of their organization to achieve it.”
2. “Unless you translate big thoughts into concrete steps for action, they’re pointless.”
3. “Execution is a systematic process of rigorously discussing hows and whats, questioning, tenaciously following through, and ensuring accountability.”
4. “The heart of execution lies in the three core processes: the people process, the strategy process, and the operations process.”
5. “An organization can execute only if the leader’s heart and soul are immersed in the company.”
6. “Leaders energize everyone by the example they set.”
Jon’s comments: Organizations can have the best intentions; however, they will miss the mark, if they aren’t serious about execution. Their leaders need to be passionate about the mission of the organization and about making sure the rest of the organization is correctly directioned in order to pull it all off. Leaders must make sure they are aligned when it comes to their people, their strategy, and their operations plan.
B. Chapter 2 – The Execution Difference
1. Involve “all the people responsible for the strategic plan’s outcome – including the key production people in shaping the plan.”
2. Ask “people about the HOWS of execution“.
3. “Set milestones for the progress of the plan, with strict accountability for the people in charge.”
4. “Set contingency plans to deal with the unexpected.”
5. “Especially when a business is making major changes, the right people have to be in the critical jobs, and the core processes must be strong enough to ensure that resistance is dissolved and plans get executed.”
6. “People imitate their leaders.”
Jon’s comments: Execution starts at the top and filters down. Poor execution can be devastating to an organization. Excellent execution can be the difference maker. Organizations intent on pursuing this path must create a culture of execution. Performance must be judged based on execution. Rewards have to be attached to the goals. Realistic stretch goals are important. And constant dialogue throughout the entire process is critical. Leaders must ask and answer the tough questions.
Until the next post…
Execution
Disciplines like strategy, leadership development, and innovation are the sexier aspects of being at the helm of a successful business; actually getting things done never seems quite as glamorous. But as Larry Bossidy and Ram Charan demonstrate in Execution, the ultimate difference between a company and its competitor is, in fact, the ability to execute.
Execution is “the missing link between aspirations and results,” and as such, making it happen is the business leader’s most important job. While failure in today’s business environment is often attributed to other causes, Bossidy and Charan argue that the biggest obstacle to success is the absence of execution. They point out that without execution, breakthrough thinking on managing change breaks down, and they emphasize the fact that execution is a discipline to learn, not merely the tactical side of business. Supporting this with stories of the “execution difference” being won (EDS) and lost (Xerox and Lucent), the authors describe the building blocks–leaders with the right behaviors, a culture that rewards execution, and a reliable system for having the right people in the right jobs–that need to be in place to manage the three core business processes of people, strategy, and operations. Both Bossidy, CEO of Honeywell International, Inc., and Charan, advisor to corporate executives and author of such books as What the CEO Wants You to Know and Boards That Work, present experience-tested insight into how the smooth linking of these three processes can differentiate one company from the rest. Developing the discipline of execution isn’t made out to be simple, nor is this book a quick, easy read. Bossidy and Charan do, however, offer good advice on a neglected topic, making Execution a smart business leader’s guide to enacting success rather than permitting demise. –S. Ketchum
Execution is “the missing link between aspirations and results,” and as such, making it happen is the business leader’s most important job. While failure in today’s business environment is often attributed to other causes, Bossidy and Charan argue that the biggest obstacle to success is the absence of execution. They point out that without execution, breakthrough thinking on managing change breaks down, and they emphasize the fact that execution is a discipline to learn, not merely the tactical side of business. Supporting this with stories of the “execution difference” being won (EDS) and lost (Xerox and Lucent), the authors describe the building blocks–leaders with the right behaviors, a culture that rewards execution, and a reliable system for having the right people in the right jobs–that need to be in place to manage the three core business processes of people, strategy, and operations. Both Bossidy, CEO of Honeywell International, Inc., and Charan, advisor to corporate executives and author of such books as What the CEO Wants You to Know and Boards That Work, present experience-tested insight into how the smooth linking of these three processes can differentiate one company from the rest. Developing the discipline of execution isn’t made out to be simple, nor is this book a quick, easy read. Bossidy and Charan do, however, offer good advice on a neglected topic, making Execution a smart business leader’s guide to enacting success rather than permitting demise. –S. Ketchum
Over the next week, I hope to post some of my observations from the book.
Until the next post, I’ll be reading Execution…
Going All the Way by Craig Groeschel
This morning I finished reading Going All the Way by Craig Groeschel. If you recall, I had posted about this book previously. Well, here’s my take on this new book that should be sweeping the nation. The book is obviously written primarily to a single audience. The book offers many valuable tips to help prepare for a marriage that will go the distance. After talking to many people who have entered marriage without a strong foundation, I’m convinced that singles need a resource like this one. Here’s an excerpt from the book to help you get the feel for what I’m talking about:
If God has a marriage planned for you, think about this: you have already been created to “go all the way.”
When I say “go all the way,” I’m not talking about the “I Wanna Sex You Up,” people-disposable games man settle for. I’m not talking about taking what you want sexually (or giving away sexually what someone else demands) in a relationship before marriage. Instead, I’m affirming God’s plan for a marriage that goes all the way in sexual, emotional, and spiritual fulfillment. And that goes all the way through the years and decades of life.
Most people, Christ followers or not, deeply desire exactly this. But a closer look at how many of us pursue this goal before and after marriage shows that, while our desires are normal, our methods are routinely misguided. Turns out, how we set about to go all the way in our most important human relationship takes us only partway.
So what do you do when you want a marriage that soars in a world where most crash before takeoff? What do you do when you have a dream for intimacy, but most married couples you know are strangers to each other? What do you do when you desire a marriage that goes all the way?
I propose that you do something different.
In this book, I’m going to show you that your desire for life-long intimacy is a God-given desire. And I’m going to help you prepare for that relationship. But we’re not going to travel the typical path. Ours will be delightfully different. Oddly godly. I won’t try to fool you – a good marriage is never easy. But it is absolutely possible.
This is a book that I would recommend for my own kids as they approach adulthood. This is also a book that I would recommend to couples who are serious about their marriages. Sometimes it can be refreshing to look at a book like this and be refocused on thoughts and ideas that can help our marriages flourish. Finally, I’m thankful for a wonderful wife who is committed to going all the way.
Until the next post, I’ll be trying to live an oddly godly life…