I read “Organic Community” by Joseph Myers again for the 3rd time and it has triggered hundreds of thoughts once again.
Who has read this book and what are your learnings?
Archive for the 'Book Reviews' Category
I’ve been preparing to teach an online course for Rockbridge Seminary starting January 1st and have been finishing up my reading. One of the books we are using is Dan Kimball’s book, “They Like Jesus But Not the Church“. Another is Reggie McNeal’s book, “The Present Future“.
I have to say I am really enjoying this read. I have found another kindred spirit. Dan and I speak the same language.
Let me start by saying THANK YOU StS blog/podcast family for your prayers on my mothers behalf. My mother is doing great! and I’ll be headed back to SoCal Thursday afternoon.
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As I’ve been reading REVEAL: Where are you? it has caused me to begin to ask questions about churches I’ve served and am currently serving. Greg and Cally discuss the discovery of how a congregational survey became a spiritual growth conversation. I think they address many questions we’ve all had or are having. So pick it up. It is a quick read which is leading me to deeper discussions. You might have to order it through www.willowcreek.com or www.revealnow.com as I haven’t seen it on Amazon.com or in book stores.
In fact, several of the things the book gets at are things I think Pastor Lance Witt is addressing with the launch of Replenish Ministries through health, holiness, and humility. If you missed the podcast with Pastor Lance, click on “podcasts” under “Categories” in the right hand tool bar and give it a listen. It is a great podcast on where we need to be headed in the church.
REVEAL’S website www.revealnow.com states it this way, “Written by Greg L. Hawkins and Cally Parkinson , with editorial contributions from Eric Arnson , this book provides a strong overview of REVEAL. Greg Hawkins shares a dilemma he’s wrestled with throughout his 11 years as an executive pastor: Can we really know if our church is making a difference in the ongoing spiritual growth of our people? This pivotal question sets up the rest of the book and REVEAL as a whole.”
As you know I read a diverse group of books, some for which we will all agree with and others we might not; however, this book was recommended to me by my mentor Daryl Eldridge (Rockbridge Seminary) and I knew, “I must read it”. I’m not quite finished, but I did promise you one book review a week.
Sarah is a twenty-something year old high school teacher who in this writing composes 14 letters to the church. Sarah isn’t writing necessarily about a building, a denomination, structure, but the church at large. Each chapter ends with a section of discussion questions and key observation.
At the very beginning of the book Sarah says this to us, “I hope you will join me in opening the communication lines that will earn space for new ideas and priorities in the church of tomorrow. And I hope that together we can recover ways to breathe new life into the faith systems of the future. If you are a church leader, I hope you will benefit from such a raw telling of how disillusionment has affected me and some in my generation.”
This is just what I’m looking for, a place for open communication. Sarah, we would love to join you in this journey. Please join with us as well. Thank you for writing this book.
“I’m a common man, drive a common van. My dog ain’t got no pedigree. If I have my say it’s gonna stay that way, Cause highbrow people lose their sanity. A common man is what I’ll be”…oh…wrong blog.
Forgot I was doing my book review blog today but, “Simple Church” by Thom Rainer and Eric Geiger did make me think of that old country song.
Seriously though, there is a lot in this book to think about; the first being to keep it simple…stupid. My terminology not theirs. But think about it, the more clutter and complex the more that ones energy is deflected. I was reminded as I’m sure several of you will be to clarify, align, and focus our time and energy on discipleship making.
I’ve heard others say that as a direct result of this book they were planning on revising their mission statement and revamping their ministries just so their members could remember what it is that they are about.
It is a great book about taking a fresh look at getting back to the basics of making disciples.
Well Lee has done it again. He has brought home another great read, but more than that it is being reviewed as his, “most effective and strongest work to-date”…”arguably compelling”…”an indispensable tool for all Christians”. I’d go one further than that to say it is an even greater read for those who are questioning the validity of Jesus and whether or not He is who He says He is.
It just so happens that I saw Lee this past weekend and mentioned to him that I’d be posting a book review this week and that I would love to have him shoot a podcast with me later this month to be posted later this fall. As always, Lee was more than accommodating so StS will be recording a podcast with Lee on his learning’s from his research later this month. Can’t wait to air that podcast later this fall. Stay tuned as I’m sure you’ll enjoy that podcast as well.
Ok…so maybe it is not a complete review, but I’ve started reading The Irresistible Revolution by Shane Claiborne. WOW…this guy is rolling. It reminds me of reading Erwin McManus’ book, “The Barbarian Way“.
I am loving the read…you might too. Not that you’ll agree with everything, but we all need to be learning and we certainly have something to learn from Shane if we are listen to the message he is communicating.
I just happen to be setting at the Celebrate Recovery Conference and they have just released the Celebrate Recovery Bible.
Way to go Pastor John Baker.
© Kerry R. Mackey, All Rights Reserved
Hey Gang.
OK, it isn’t so apparent as to how you can access our StS Online Bookstore through Amazon, so your numerous emails say. My bad! Sorry for the confusion.
The direct link is http://astore.amazon.com/strtothesea-20
You can also click on “CLICK to SHOP ONLINE” in the right hand tool bar of the blog. The link is found just above the Amazon Section on the toolbar of our blog.
Thanks for you continued dialog with us and making our message more clear.
© Kerry R. Mackey, All Rights Reserved
Not that I agree with everything, but it is well worth the read.
© Kerry R. Mackey, All Rights Reserved
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