The Go-Giver

Earlier this week I read a book entitled "The Go-Giver" by Bob Burg & John David Mann. In fact, I read it in a couple hours one evening. Once I started, I wanted to finish it right away. This book is a parable and I love that. Too many books written in the business and leadership world lack creativity. This book is creative while it imparts some business and leadership principles that are excellent. Really the values this book suggests are life values. The book calls them the 5 laws of stratospheric success.

I don't know much about either author. Whether this is a compliment to them or not, they have quite wonderfully captured a very real principle of the character of God within the pages of this book. The whole concept of the book is give of yourself generously and you won't be able to contain the results. While the immediate context of Luke 6:38 is speaking to judgment, it holds true to most of the rest of life as well: "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." Jesus also instructs in Matthew 16:25: "For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it."

Whether it is money, time, knowledge, energy, experience, whatever; there is no substitute for generosity. Jon Acuff (@prodigaljohn) recently posted this Tweet: The lie is that you'll run out of ideas if you write all the time, the truth is you will if you don't. I would expand that to be true of most things in life. The lie is if you give more away you will have less when the truth is the more you give the you will have. That is one of the points of the parable of the talents that Jesus told in Matthew 25.

I recommend this book for everyone. It will inspire you. It will challenge your thinking. It will entertain you. It will give you and opportunity to take a good look at yourself and the way you handle relationships and people.

If people would live life how this book proposes, the results would be nothing short of amazing across society.

The cover has the line, "A little story about a powerful business idea." It easily could read, "A little story about a powerful life value."

Buy it on Amazon here.

Wasabi Gospel

I have been following Shawn Wood on Twitter for several months and enjoy his insights. When I started seeing the ramp up to the release of his book Wasabi Gospel, I decided it would be a good thing to check out. I was not disappointed.

There are a couple of things that stand out about this book that are refreshing. One is the interweaved story of "Laura" in the form of diary entries. The raw reality and emotion of working through life change is captured very well using this method. It adds to the draw to continue reading. So many books that are written on Christian life have great information, but lack something because they don't tell a story at the same time. Not having a story or stories tied to what is being presented can leave some very good teachings and valuable insights a little dry. Shawn does a great job keeping the insights fresh and connected with the reader. "Laura's Story" is a big part of that.

There is another aspect of this element that I very much appreciate, but I hesitate to mention because it could be a bit of a spoiler to someone who has not yet read it. Hopefully this is a good compromise: the way Shawn leaves Laura's Story is well done as it matches the raw reality of the whole.

Another thing that stands out about this book is the no holds barred honesty that Shawn uses to address each of the sayings of Jesus that he chose to address. Right off in chapter one Shawn shares of a time he was going to speak on a part of the Sermon on the Mount. As he was preparing, he was hit hard with the reality of what Christ was saying. Here are a couple of excerpts from that chapter (pages 7&8):

"I have a long standing rule against lying when I preach. So, in an attempt not to go get myself struck by lightning, I read over and over the statement above [Matthew 5:7] and asked myself the hardest question that someone can ask themselves when studying the Bible: 'How can I live this out?' ...
"Suddenly, God placed a name in my mind. It was the name of someone who had hurt me and many people whom I love very much in the worst kind of way. ...
"I had to be honest. Not only did I not want to give this person mercy and forgiveness, I wanted to hurt this person back."

He goes on the chapter about how he did manage to work through that and gives some great insight into forgiveness and mercy.

Each chapter is like that. It will cause you to think and evaluate. If you will be honest and allow the experiences Shawn shares along with the very pointed statements of Jesus that are addressed in this book to get a hold of you, you will be forced to repent and change at least once before you reach the final page of the book. The words of Christ are powerful and they bring us closer to God. But, that process requires humbling ourselves, realizing our faults and shortcomings, and moving forward with resolve to let those words shape us.

While the length and format of this book lend it to being called an "easy read", it only qualifies as that if you read it thinking about how someone else needs to read it so they will change. The book is easy to read, the truths take effort to apply and live out. If we all lived out the words of Jesus the way He intends for us to, well, life would be much different and this world would be turned upside down.

Killing Cockroaches (Thoughts)

I just wanted to weigh in on a couple of thoughts from the seminar I went to last Tuesday with Tony Morgan, author of Killing Cockroaches.

First, what a brilliant idea he had: take a several week family vacation and each week make a stop at a church for a half day seminar based on his book. Sweet! Tour the country with your family and get others to help pay for it; now, that is using the thing between your ears for something other than a hat rack!

Seriously, the cost of the event was more than reasonable. Believe me, I go to conferences and receive invites and promo pieces all the time. Most get pricey very quick. Not without reason, but they can become expensive. On that note, kudos to Tony for not having books to sell and turning it into a marketing event.

Now to the meat. I have already posted my notes so I won't rehash any of that here.

I love the basic premise that Tony is presenting in his book, his blog, and this tour: keep the main thing the main thing. In other words, don't do what you should have someone else doing. Or at least, don't do that thing any longer than it takes to raise up someone else to do it. This of course applies to leaders and specifically the leader in the given context: pastor, ministry leader, etc. We all need to evaluate and make sure that we are staying on task with what we have been called to do, not just what seems to be needed in the moment.

No seminar or conference is worth the time and effort at any price if you don't walk away with some action steps or ideas to implement or changes that need to made. These usually start with you the individual, but should also transfer into the entity, organization, or ministry you lead.

Without going into too much detail (for many reasons), here are a couple of things I walked away with that we will be looking at here at Capital City:

• Putting more effort into raising leaders of leaders and not just filling holes to get tasks done
• We will be evaluating all of our forms of communication to make sure we are sending out one message. We will also be looking at frequency of our communications and make sure that we are going for effectiveness and not "noise."
• We will always ask the question: does this ministry/event add value to people's lives?
• No announcements will be made from the platform that are not truly whole church and vision specific. We will leverage our other mediums to get word out to those who need it for all other things.

By the way, I do recommend Tony's book from what I have read so far.

The Shack

I finished reading the book "The Shack" recently and I wanted to post some thoughts.

First, I don't see why all the controversy. I know some big name people have some very strong opinions about the book and people are quite concerned about it. I don't get it. The most important thing to remember about the book is it is FICTION. This is not a theological text book or a claim as an add-on to the Bible. It is a work of fiction and should be taken as such. Anyone that is wasting their time trying to pick this book apart theologically is just focused the wrong way and spinning their wheels. Why do we have to make everything an issue as if the future of the body of Christ rests on a book? Many did so with "DaVinci Code" and now this. These are fiction works.

Are there problems with "The Shack" when stacked up to theological understandings? Yes. The same could be said about almost EVERY piece of literature ever written. No work outside of scripture is the infallible and perfect Word of God.

However, I do believe "The Shack" does a decent job addressing why bad things happen and what God's role is in the dirty and dark side of life. I also think it captures God's character in many ways, though not perfectly. Again, only scripture does that. I appreciate how the author dealt with man placing self in position of judge over God and the emotion involved in it.

The book is pretty well written. It engages the reader from the start and keeps you engaged. I didn't get bored reading it which I easily do with many books and the vast majority of fiction. If you are a parent of young children, the emotion and description of the abduction is heart wrenching. Honestly, I almost stopped reading it during that portion because it was hitting close to home.

I'm glad I read the book. One thing that always irks me is when people are against something based on what someone else says. I heard many say negative things about the book and they had never read it or done any real research on it. They heard a sermon or read a blog by a person, who didn't necessarily read it either, and then made their judgment based on that. I also know of people warning others not to read it and turning it into an issue of spiritual warfare. WHAT? is all I will say to that.

If you like fiction or are curious, pick up a copy and check it out. If you know someone dealing with a tragic loss, this is something to consider as a conversation piece with them.

We just need to remember, this is not scripture and does not claim to be.

I'm sure there are some that have very strong feelings about this. You are free to comment. Just remember, it's my blog, and I'm free to moderate. :-)

Book Review

Here's another book review, though this is a very different kind of book. It is a resource and a guide.

I find it very helpful for Christian writers as it is easy to navigate and well planned. It has a great amount of detailed information for contacting publishers and their requirements.

Anyone who uses this will find the "How to use this book" section very helpful as my wife and I have. Whether you are looking to get an article published, an opinion piece, self-help guide, or a novel, this guide is well worth the price. I do recommend this for anyone wishing to get their written work out into the marketplace.

My wife just recently finished writing a christian novel and this book is very timely for her as she begins the process of finding a publisher for her work.

You can buy this guide at:
www.amazon.com


Here is a summary from the publisher of this guide:

For 24 years running, the Christian Writers’ Market Guide has remained the most comprehensive, complete, essential, and highly-recommended resource for beginning and veteran Christian writers, agents, editors, publishers, publicists, and those teaching writing classes.
This year’s Guide is even handier with a CD-Rom included that features the full text of the book for easy searches of topics, publishers, and markets, as well as 100 pages of exclusive content including indexes and writing resource listings. This is the resource you need to get noticed—and published.

Completely updated and revised to feature the latest on…

• more than 1,200 markets for the written word
• 416 book publishers (32 new)
• 654 periodicals (52 new)
• 96 literary agents
• 100 new listings in Resources for Writers
• 226 poetry markets
• 316 photography markets
• 25 African-American markets
• and 166 contests (29 new)

Author Bio:
Sally E. Stuart is the author of thirty-six books and has sold more than one thousand articles and columns. Her long-term involvement with the Christian Writers’ Market Guide as well as her marketing columns for the Christian Communicator, Oregon Christian Writers, and The Advanced Christian Writer, make her a sought-after speaker and a leading authority on Christian markets and the business of writing. Stuart is the mother of three and grandmother of eight and lives near Portland, Oregon.

Living Rich For Less

Time for another book review. This one is a bit different in that it is not specifically a Christian life book. However, it is very much Biblical.

Author, Ellie Kay, strongly advocates a tithing principle of giving away at least 10% of your income to worthy causes. She specifically states the local church as one of the best options. She even goes so far as to encourage participation in a local church beyond simple attendance. Her well-rounded approach to giving includes time and talent and not just finances.

One of the things that most impressed me about this book is she wrote it from their own personal experience of achieving financial stability and success on one average middle class income. This isn't written by someone who got out of debt through a series of unusual business dealings or windfalls. We aren't presented with the opinions of someone who never experienced the stress of too much consumer debt and more month than money.

The Kay family's story is one that most any average American can relate too. They even had to deal with child support payments. They had a larger than average consumer debt level. Through all of of this they were able to change their habits and their thinking and find a good balance of spending, giving, and saving.

This book is practical and it is doable. It is not out of reach or out of touch as some financial books can be. It is not a get rich quick scheme or even a become the next millionaire book. No, this is a book that will motivate you to make the most of your resources and find that you can do more with what you have than you ever dreamed possible. It is easy to follow and gives real answers and real ideas without presenting a plan that most cannot live with.

I recommend this book to anyone who is looking to infuse a better balance to their finances. If you are drowning in debt and can't seem to catch a break, this book will help you. If you are living paycheck to paycheck, this book will help you. For those who are making it fine, but just know they are not doing all they could, pick up a copy of this book. If you look at your finances and wonder why you don't have more at the end of this month or just aren't sure where your money is going, read this book.

I have two copies of this book I would like to give away. Here is how that is going to work: one will go to the first person to email me (shane@capitalcitychurch.org) with your name and address where you would like the book sent. The second one will go to the first email I receive from a high school junior or senior that will promise me to read the book. The principles in this book should be taught and given to young people to help them avoid the traps that grip so many adults. Again, send your emails to shane@capitalcitychurch.org and don't forget to include your mailing address.

Book summary from the Publisher:

You really can be rich in every way, every day.

So you want to own the home you love, make memories on wonderful vacations with family or friends, finance college educations, and help others too?

You can—starting here and now.

With lively humor, proven know-how, and practical principles for financial health, Living Rich for Less helps you stretch your dollars to realize the lifestyle of your dreams. Ellie Kay’s entertaining and enlightening examples show you simple steps to save, spend, and give smart, and her three main principles are undergirded by dozens of effective rules and hundreds of Cha-Ching Factor™ tips that keep or put money in your pocket.

Ellie knows what it’s like to be financially-strapped or struggling, wanting to be the Joneses but feeling as poor in spirit as in pocketbook. She went, within two and a half years, from being a new wife and mom with $40,000 in consumer debt and seven children (and college educations) to support, to being completely debt-free and within fifteen years able to pay cash for eleven different cars, give away three of those cars, buy two five-bedroom houses (moving from one to the other) and nicely furnish each, take wonderful vacations, dress her family in fine fashion; and support more than thirty non-profit organizations in more than a dozen different countries, giving away more than $100,000.

Isn’t that the kind of transformation to a rich life that you want?

Living Rich for Less helps anyone get there in our taxed-out, maxed-out times. Because financial security doesn’t mean just genuine prosperity, but being able to live luxuriously, give generously, and care for yourself as well as the others around you.

Why keep up with the Joneses when you can be them?

Purchase this book at Amazon.com

The Greatest Words Ever Spoken

This book at first glance is intimidating due to it’s shear size. Once you get past that, it is a fantastic resource. When I say resource, I don’t mean just in the vein of a concordance or commentary, though it fits that category as well. I mean resource as in life resource. To have the words of Christ organized in this format and compiled together by topic is wonderful.

This book isn’t just a compilation of copied scripture, it is an organizing of the words that form the very foundation of who we are as Christ followers. The Bible can be a bit disjointed when studying one subject due to the fact that it is a group of letters and writings of different authors. Steven Scott joins together each topic into a fantastic cohesion that shows the context of what Christ said about each subject. At the beginning of each section Mr. Scott gives a short explanation of that section and some insights he has gained in his vast studies. These are well thought out and well executed in form on the page.

This is one book that I will go to time and time again in my studies as a follower of Christ and as a pastor in sermon preparation. Most of this book is the Word of God organized in a very usable form with some commentary and added thoughts along the way similar to many study Bibles, yet much more focused.

In the introduction on page 4, Mr. Scott writes a statement that I believe deserves to be repeated, “Many Christians have built their beliefs and values on the words of Bible teachers, authors, and television and radio preachers rather than on the words of Christ. As wonderful as the words of preachers and writers may be, they can’t begin to compare in wonder and power to the pure, undiluted words of Jesus Christ.” Well put. Mr. Scott does not dilute or hide or in any way hinder the words of Christ.

In the introduction, Gary Smalley makes a statement about giving a copy of this book to each of his family members and associates as Christmas gifts. That seems like a very good idea to me and one that I will take to heart and will be giving this book out as well.

The summary of this book from the publisher is as follows:



The Greatest Words Ever Spoken by Steven K. Scott


Genre: Christian Living – Released 9/16/08 – ISBN 978-1-4000-7462-4

• Every Word of Jesus Right at Your Fingertips

  Haven’t you wished you could ask Jesus any question and get his immediate help with the biggest problems you face? Now you can.

• For the first time ever, all of the statements Jesus made in the New Testament have been brought together and organized under more than 200 topics. When you want to know his will in a specific area of life, or you’re seeking the answer to a perplexing question, or you are desperate for his encouragement, comfort, or wisdom–you can easily find the help you need.

• The moment you turn to the appropriate topic heading, you will have access to the breadth of Jesus’ teaching on that subject. You can also use this book as a guide for studying Jesus’ wisdom on any topic of interest, such as prayer, forgiveness, eternity, anger, temptation, relationships, grace, or knowing God.

• As you immerse yourself in Jesus’ words, your life and relationships will be transformed, and your faith and spiritual passion will be renewed. Let the greatest words ever spoken bring new vision, power, and joy into your life–one statement at a time.

Purchase this book at:

Amazon. com