Book Review: Creating Community (@AndyStanley and @BillWillits)
For those of you who have been around for a while, you may know that I have a passion for small groups and for seeing people connected and growing in community. I’ve been to three or four groups conferences over the past decade. I’ve been plugged into a group of one kind or another for the last fifteen years. And I grew up in a house where small groups were modeled as a way to connect people to each other and to encourage people to grow in their relationship with God. I’ve written more than a couple posts about small groups over the past six years. In fact, one post is among the top viewed posts of all time: Ten Things Every Small Group Leader Should Know.
For a while I was helping to lead in the small group ministry for our church, but I took a break for a few years due to other commitments and some other circumstances. Recently, a friend reached out to me and began to rekindle my passion for group ministry leadership. As part of our conversation, he passed along a book by Andy Stanley and Bill Willits about building a small group culture.
Creating Community: Five Keys to Building a Small Group Culture was written to explain the success that North Point Church has had using small group ministry as the center of their strategy for helping people grow in their relationship with God. Creating Community was also written to help churches and church leaders to develop a course of action that could be vital in achieving the mission of the church. Stanley and Willits share about the importance of moving church goers from the foyer to the living room to the kitchen. They share some of their own experiences of what worked and what didn’t work along the way. If followed closely, I believe their method for creating community will not only catapult groups ministry to a whole new level but it will propel local churches in their pursuit of living out the Great Commission and expanding the Kingdom.
Creating Community is a quick read. And I would recommend it to anyone who is passionate about small groups, the local church, and connecting people in community. Stanley and Willits are not simply trying to create another program at your church. They are presenting a mind shift for how you do church in general. North Point, where Stanley is the lead pastor, has grown by leaps and bounds and is having a tremendous impact on the Atlanta, Georgia area. North Point’s small group culture is a huge part of this growth and impact.
Check out Creating Community by clicking the link below!
Are you in a small group? How has community impacted your life? What are you doing to invite others into community?
Book Review: Wooden (Coach John Wooden)
A friend of mine passed along this book to me before I left for Guatemala last week. I read through most of the book on the way to Guatemala, and I finished it up on the way home. It’s an easy read, and it’s broken up into bite size thoughts and stories.
Wooden: A Lifetime of Observations and Reflections On and Off the Court by Coach John Wooden is a collection of stories and thoughts from the famous UCLA basketball coach. Each story and thought point to a common sense approach to succeeding in life and leadership. In the book, John Wooden shares how he was influenced by his parents, his teachers, his players, and his family to develop his definition of success and his overall view on life.
This is a book that I will reference again and again. It will make a great addition to my office leadership library, and it’s a book I would recommend to anyone who wants to be successful in leadership and life.
My book is full of highlights and notes. Wooden is a wise man who has clearly learned from life. Here are just a few of my favorite quotes from the book:
Being a role model is the most powerful form of educating. Youngsters need good models more than they need critics.
By applying yourself to the task of becoming a little better each and every day over a period of time, you will become a lot better.
You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving.
Be more concerned with your character than your reputation.
Perfection is what you are striving for, but perfection is an impossibility. However, striving for perfection is not an impossibility. Do the best you can under the conditions that exist. That is what counts.
Success is peace of mind that is the direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming.
As a sports fan, I appreciated the sports related stories that appear throughout the book. As a student of life and leadership, Wooden: A Lifetime of Observations and Reflections On and Off the Court offers so much great advice and information to chew on and digest.
What is one thing that you have observed about life that deserves sharing? Share it here!
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Book Review: Losing The Mask by Diane Karchner
What do you fear?
For many of us, we fear failure. We simply don’t want to get it wrong. We want to be right. We don’t want to risk the possibility of letting others and ourselves down. And so, we often lead a life of paralysis. We miss out on life worth living, because we won’t take a leap of faith.
In Losing the Mask: Overcoming the Fear of Failure, Diane Karchner tackles her own fears and puts them on display for all to see. She provides valuable insights into what it takes to overcome our fears, and she encourages readers to take the next steps in removing masks in our lives.
I love this quote from the book,
At the end of my days, I don’t wish for any successes to be applauded, nor talents bragged about, as if that was all there was to me. Rather, I want my eulogy to read that I was ‘a woman who risked a lot, failed a lot, and always got back up.’
What is holding you back? What mask do you need to remove from your life? Check out Losing The Mask today. It’s a helpful and quick read that I recommend to anyone whose fear of failure is holding them back from living life to the fullest – a life worth remembering!
Losing the Mask: Overcoming the Fear of Failure is available for Kindle at Amazon.com. Go pick up your copy today!
Book Review: The Catalyst Leader by @bradlomenick
If you are looking for a leadership book that will challenge you and inspire you, look no further. The latest from Brad Lomenick is just what you need.
In The Catalyst Leader, Lomenick shares 8 Essentials For Becoming A Change Maker.
The book is packed with great quotes, stories of inspiration, and practical advice for leaders who want to STRETCH and grow – who want the make a difference. Besides the quotes, stories, and advice, I love the links found in the book that provide access to all kinds of other information and inspiration.
Lomenick shares stories from his past and from his most recent experience at the leader of Catalyst – perhaps the biggest and most influential leadership conference and organization in the world today. He explains the 8 characteristics of a catalyst leader:
- Called
- Authentic
- Passionate
- Capable
- Courageous
- Principled
- Hopeful
- Collaborative
I have marks and notes all over this book. I am pleased to add this to my leadership library, and it’s a book I’ll come back to again and again for practical tips in how I can become a better leader in my work, at my church, and in my home.
If you are a leader, consider picking up a copy of The Catalyst Leader today. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. This is definitely a resource that I recommend.
How have these Catalyst characteristics changed your leadership? What is one thing you can do this week to become a change maker right where you are? What leadership books do you recommend adding to my library?
Book Review: At The Crossing Of Justice And Mercy by Dan Erickson
I read so many non-fiction books. Sometimes, it can be refreshing to pickup fiction and to get pulled into the story. That’s exactly what happened to me when I read the latest from Dan Erickson.
I’ve mentioned Dan’s book here on the blog in a couple of recent posts. While I was on vacation, I had the chance to finish his second book, At the Crossing of Justice and Mercy.
At The Crossing continues the story of Andy Burden as he discovers that the leader of a cult he had grown up in was still alive. Andy’s past abuse that came at the hands of cult leader, Peter Smith, led him to a struggle with forgiveness (for more about this, you should check out Dan’s first book, A Train Called Forgiveness – see my review here). After some time, he is able to move on with his life. In the current setting of the story, Andy has become a single father and a college professor. But there’s something about his past that he just cannot completely reconcile.
I don’t want to give away the whole story, but I will tell you that it left me awake and thinking for quite a while – thinking about justice and mercy. The end of the story is action packed and thought-provoking. In addition, At The Crossing left me ready and excited to read the final book of this trilogy. I can’t wait!
If you’re looking for a story that will pull you in and make you think, I’d recommend you pick up a copy of At The Crossing Of Justice And Mercy. It will leave you thinking about justice and mercy – two great topics to ponder!
What was the last piece of fiction that you read? What fictional story would you recommend to The Stretched Community?
Book Review: The Lamp Maker and The Potter (Cindy Starr Stewart)
I’ve done many book reviews on the blog over the years. I’ve reviewed books on leadership, blogging, small groups, family, marriage, parenting, fiction, and Christian living. But I’ve never reviewed children’s books. Today, this changes as we look at two new books by a college friend of mine, Cindy Starr Stewart.
The Lamp Maker and The Potter are two books written by Cindy. The Lamp Maker originally released in paperback last summer. And both books will be releasing in hardback on August 1, 2013.
Both books are written poetically with beautiful illustrations by Dan Drewes. The books are written for kids, but the themes and messages of both books will spark deeper thought by adults.
The Lamp Maker tells the story of a lamp maker who makes lamps designed to shine his light. The book is a reminder that we are called to let God’s light shine.
The Potter tells the story of a potter who takes a lump of clay and turns it into something amazing. The Potter resonates with this blog as it talks about how we are STRETCHED and molded by God and by the difficulties of life until we are turned into a beautiful and useable vessel.
You can pre-order both of these books by visiting Amazon today. Click here to order The Lamp Maker, and click here to order The Potter.
What was the last children’s book you read? What is your favorite children’s book?
Book Review: When Work & Family Collide (@AndyStanley)
Yesterday, I had the opportunity to sit in the Philadelphia International Airport for several hours waiting to catch a plane to Chicago. My plane was delayed for more than 3 hours, and the flight itself was close to 2 hours. This gave me plenty of time to catch up on podcast episodes and reading.
I read Andy Stanley’s book, When Work and Family Collide: Keeping Your Job from Cheating Your Family. It’s ironic that I would read this book while I was heading away from my family on a business trip. The book is all about keeping your priorities straight especially when it comes to family.
Whether you struggle with this issue just a little bit or a lot, this is a great book for men and women alike. It provides examples and analogies of lives in balance and out of balance, and it provides solid Biblical teaching that helps someone bring proper order to their lives.
I especially like the author’s quote:
You do your job. You love your family. It’s when we reverse the order that the tension escalates and the tug of war begins.
In other words, we get it all messed up when we love our job and do the family thing. It’s easy to do. We get stuck in unhealthy patterns of seeking approval and pursuing success through our careers, and we permit our family life to suffer. I’m guilty of it at times, and I would guess that many of you struggle with this tension as well from time to time.
When Work and Family Collide: Keeping Your Job from Cheating Your Family is a quick and easy read, and I would recommend it to moms, dads, husbands, and wives everywhere.
How’s your family life? How’s your work life? What is one thing you can do this week to make sure your family knows that they are the priority?
I received this book as a gift from Chris Patton. He writes a great blog about Christians in the workplace – Christian Faith At Work. Go check it out, and tell him I said hello!
Book Review: Dear Dad by Sundi Jo Graham (@sundijo)
If you could write your Dad a letter, what would you say? Would you point out his faults? Would you have good things to say? Or would your letter be filled with pain?
I’m excited to announce the release of a new book by Sundi Jo Graham. Dear Dad is a memoir written by Sundi Jo which retells her story of losing control, fighting to regain control, and discovering the blessing of giving up control. It is a letter to her Dad.
Dear Dad is transparent and raw. It is real and unfiltered. And it ultimately offers hope for anyone who has endured pain and hardship.
Honestly, I couldn’t put Dear Dad down once I started reading it. Sundi Jo does an amazing job sharing her story. She draws you in immediately. As I read the story of her healing process, I found myself cheering for Sundi Jo and excited to see how the story ends.
Tomorrow is officially the release day for Dear Dad. The book is available in paperback and Kindle. If you order the book this week, you can get six free gifts worth over $65. Click here to learn more.
Dear Dad definitely has my recommendation. I received the book for free as part of the Dear Dad Launch Team. I was not required to provide a positive review. Dear Dad is one of my favorite books so far this year. Order your copy today!
What would you say to your Dad today if you could say anything?
(Please note: There are affiliate links in this post. Should you purchase Dear Dad by clicking one of these links, I receive a small percentage of the purchase. These funds are used to support The Stretched Blog and to extend ministry and missions to Guatemala. Thank you!)
Book Review: Are You Living Or Existing? by @KimanziC
Do you ever feel like you’re just coasting along?
Is that really how you want to live your life?
Part of the reason I write The Stretched Blog is to share my stretched experiences and to hopefully stretch others (for more read my About page). I’ve come to realize that you’re not really living unless you’re stretching and growing.
In Kimanzi Constable’s new book, Are You Living Or Existing?, he shares 9 steps that can take you from just existing to living a life with passion. In the book, Kimanzi relates his story of moving to Hawaii along with his struggles with weight loss to readers who are interested in taking their lives from coasting to gaining real traction. The book talks a lot about making dreams a reality. Kimanzi offers practical action steps towards achieving your dreams.
Are You Living Or Existing? is set up in nine easy to read chapters that make this a quick read for most. If you’re feeling stuck on the road to fulfilling your dream, I’d recommend picking up a copy of this book which will give you some practical ideas on how to proceed.
This book will be available starting Wednesday, May 1st. If you order the book between May 1st and May 19th, you can get over $100 in additional goodies by sending your receipt to sales@talesofwork.com.
What is your dream? How are you pursuing your dream? What progress have you made in pursuing your dream in the past 90 days?
[I received this book free of charge from Sound Wisdom Publishing in exchange for a review. I was not required to provide a positive review.]
Book Review: The Connecting Church 2.0 by Randy Frazee
Several years ago, I had the opportunity to hear Randy Frazee speak at a Willow Creek Grouplife Conference, and I was challenged and inspired by his teaching and his book, Making Room for Life: Trading Chaotic Lifestyles for Connected Relationships, which challenges readers to restructure their days to make more room for relationships and for life in general.
In The Connecting Church 2.0: Beyond Small Groups to Authentic Community, Randy Frazee does it again!
Frazee challenges readers to rethink church, small groups, neighborhoods, and community in general. The Connecting Church 2.0 starts with the premise that we were created for community. In the book, Frazee starts with God as he shows that God models community through the trinity. He then shows how the early church provided a great example of community as God intended it.
Obviously, things have changed quite a bit since the early church. And over the past few decades, neighborhoods and community as they once were has deteriorated as people have moved out towards the suburbs with larger yards, longer commutes, and less time to hang out with others. We’ve become a society of individuals instead of community.
In The Connecting Church 2.0, Frazee challenges the recent trend with new thinking about an old model. He offers ideas for how the church can help restore authentic community in the busy, “me-first” society in which we all live.
I would definitely recommend The Connecting Church 2.0 as a place to start in challenging your thinking about church, community, and life in general. If you’d like a chance to win this book, click here. Or you can purchase the book, my clicking the link below.
How would you’re life be different if you decided to live your life within five miles of your home? What is one thing you can do TODAY to foster community in your life? What is your church doing to encourage authentic community?
[I received this book free of charge from Cross Focused Reviews in exchange for a review. I was not required to provide a positive review.]