My Book List

A coworker asked me to add to a list of books recommended for new ministers.

Books I've read (or am currently reading) and love. I've learned from these. I've only included books especially pertinent to my current work and life.  I've read lots of great seminary books... but they are not included.

• Linchpin by Seth Godin 
• Purple Cow by Seth Godin 
• Getting Things Done by David Allen 
• Developing the Leaders Around You by John Maxwell 
• Strengths Finder by Tom Rath
• How to Win Friends and Inflence People by Dale Carnegie 
• The Pleasures of God by John Piper
• Tribes by Seth Godin

Books I want to read and feel fairly certain I'll enjoy. I have a lot to learn from these.

• Outlive Your Life by Max Lucado 
• Everyone Communicates, Few Connect by John Maxwell 
• Radical by David Platt
• Future Grace by John Piper 
• The 5 Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni

I'm always adding to my list... what books would you suggest? Comment and let me know!

Total Leadership

Just recently, a coworker introduced our work team the personal MBA program.

This week is our first "reading group" meeting... I've never been in a book club. Never been a big reader, even in seminary. Always knew it'd be good for me, but I just lack discipline.

I decided to take the plunge, and Nic is reading with me as well... This is our first book, and I believe it'll be a great one. Excited to see how it changes me along the way, and I'm slowly convincing myself to post my personal notes from the book here, on the blog.

Finished Chapters 1 and 2 today, and WOW - God is so good. He has blessed me way beyond what I deserve. He has so graciously allowed me to experience failure, and given me the courage to get back up and keep on going.

At least the first two chapters of this book are worth reading. I presume the rest will prove to be as well. After all it's from Harvard...

distinctives...

I just finished a book tonight that I'd been reading very inconsistently for months.  I was ready for it to be off my bedside table and back on the bookshelf, so I finished it.  The book is The Living Church by John Stott.  It outlines 8 basic characteristics of a relevant, biblical church.  The last chapter was about impact and distinctives of those of us who claim to be Christ-followers. 

Stott points out that we must be distinct from the world in the way we live, if we claim to follow Christ.  The call, he says is to a greater righteousness (one of the heart), to a wider love (loving not just our friends but also our enemies), and to a nobler ambition (seeking God's kingdom and God's righteousness, not just the stuff we selfishly want).  Only in doing these things will our salt retain its saltiness, and our light its brightness.

Do I really live in this way?  I think my default is to hang out with other salts and other lights, and tend to become less distinct.  No doubt I need fellow Christ-followers to keep me in check but do I daily realize the greater, wider, nobler way of life that I'm called to? Do I live a life so distinct that it will dispel darkness and hinder decay?  Something to think about...