STUCK

This is an 8 week study course for women that is beautifully packaged. Inside the box is a DVD with the 8 study videos, a Study Guide, promotional materials, and a leaders guide. Also a set of cards with practical application questions that help facilitate discussion.

My women's small group is so excited to be starting this series. We talked a bit about it and we all voiced that we've felt or even still feel stuck in our life in a variety of ways and wish to move past this. So, we're looking forward to embarking on this study and seeing where it takes us.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Fiction? But what Truth!

Going Deep by Gordon MacDonald is a book that I wanted to read on my kindle and I'm grateful. I found it to be so timely and meaningful in my life and wonder if it is for many others and their churches. Basically the main issue is how can the church train not just leaders but deep people, people with substance that will disciple others and cultivate a congregation of people that love God and spur others

This is a fictional exchange between the pastor and his congregation and elders where at a ballgame he's asked "What's your church's Elevator story?" Not sure what this really is he asks and finds out that its what you say while on an elevator, in a limited amount of time how can you succinctly and persuasively tell why your organization is so important or valuable. In the process of figuring out what's the church's elevator story, he realizes that the key is training and having "deep people. "Deep People" is from a Richard Foster quote that another characters gives the pastor, it says, "

The desperate need today is not for a greater number of intelligent people, or gifted people, but for deep people." -Richard Foster" 

So GMAC sets out to figure out how the best way to cultivate "deep people' In his congregation, what works and what doesn't work.  

He brings up some really great and insightful things. One of the exchanges I especially resonated with was on page 108-109: 

Mercedes got very serious all of a sudden. She leaned toward me and said quietly, "This is one of the things that has always bothered me about how some people treat the church, Pastor Mac. Because we don't want to offend anyone in the church, we do no ask much," she said. "People in the church come and go as they please; they arrive late, leave early, maybe not show up at all. They are asked to to prepare things, and often they do not. They are challenged to get into the action, but they sit back and let someone else do the work. No one can respect an organization like that.  "If people here acted like a lot of people do at church.... Let me be honest with you: I'd have to fire them or be fired myself. Yet everyone at church says that what we do there is the most important thing. We talk about life and death, God and Heaven, eternity..... abundant living. Forgive me Pastor Mac, but it sometimes seems to me that people are lying to one another... just saying meaningless words. What gets your top loyalty shows what you really believe." (bold emphasis my own)  I enjoyed this book.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Why Men Hate Going to Church

This is an updated and revised edition of a book by the same name. I think it is worth updating, because I think that there are new additional factors why men don't want to attend church. In Why Men Hate Going to Church by David Murrow he dives into the question of why there are fewer men attending church these days. In part 1 he talks about "where are the men" and in Part 2 he talks about how the culture has influenced why men don't like church. In Part 3 he discusses what the church can do to bring back men and reengage them in church. Here he discusses how the church can go about attracting and keeping men in the church.

While at times I found it rather stereotypical, I do think that the author has done his homework and this is a very real problem in church culture that needs to be addressed. Because of this, I think this is an excellent book for church leaders to read and understand how many men view church so they can assist them. A healthy church really does have good male role models and the involvement of men, not just in leadership but also as participants in the pews.

I received this book from Thomas Nelson's Booksneeze program in exchange for my honest review. Thank you Booksneeze!

Heroes and Villains of the Bible

Heroes and Villains of the Bible is not exactly the book I expected and yet, I really enjoyed it. First, it is a children's book and my son wanted me to request it. Unfortunately, I downloaded it on my kindle as well as my laptop. On the kindle, it misses all the color and illustrations. This is a huge drawback! I recommend getting the print book if you have a black and white e-reader like I do.

This is written for 9 to 12 year olds and I was surprised by how much actual scripture is in this book! It really lets the Bible speak for itself and then it sums it up with a "hero" or "villain" snippet, such as the case of Stephen being stoned, the "moral" of the tale is: "Heroes forgive because they know they are forgiven."

If you have a child that thinks Scripture is boring, I recommend this book. It is nearly an older version of a "storybook" yet in a real Scripture translation. It is about 250 pages and recounts the lives of 50 Biblical heroes or villains of the faith. I can't wait to let my son read this, as I am sure he'll enjoy it as much as I have.

I was provided with a free copy through Thomas Nelson's Booksneeze program. I was not required to write a favorable review.

360 Leader

I haven't read many John Maxwell books so I was very impressed by this book! it is very thorough and well laid out. In 360 Leader, John Maxwell writes about "Developing your influence from anywhere in the organization" and like I said: VERY THOROUGH.

He begins the book with some myths that many believe about leading, then goes into the challenges leaders face. Luckily he then goes into how to lead better in circumstances and the more practical applications of leadership. He wraps it all up with resources and the value and reasons why to be a 360 degree leader.

Wonderfully written with amazing insight and experience, this is a book I can see anyone finding value in, regardless of the organization or your role in it. I loved this book.

I was provided with a complimentary copy from Thomas Nelson in exchange for my honest review.