I saw that Ben was recommending Beyond the First Visit by Gary McIntosh and I decided to pick it up. I really enjoyed it. The book is basically about how to connect people to your church once they’ve visited. I found some of the ideas dated, but there was enough fresh stuff that caused to take notes and think through our processes. Some Pastors I talk to, speak as though planning is unspiritual. The Bible says, “The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but deliverance is of the LORD.” (Proverbs 21:31) The issue is, God brings about His … Read More

Miami doesn’t have 3 things: Pits – We’re too close to sea level Lions – Alligators, plenty. But no lions. Snow – Much too hot for that If you can’t have any of the above, order Mark’s book. I’m looking forward to getting my copy and reading it…

I have wanted to read The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis for quite some time now, and finally got around to it. I liked it, but to be totally honest, I don’t know if I completely got it. I need to read it again. Although, Lewis’ preface says this book is not meant to be an explanation of his beliefs concerning hell, I think some of his theology naturally leaks out (it happens to every communicator). From reading the book, it seems that Lewis believes that the unregenerate will be able to repent after their death. He seems to believe … Read More

I bought Practicing Greatness by Reggie McNeal because it was recommended to me, but I must admit I was a bit skeptical. While I liked The Present Future, I didn’t love it. I thought there was much to be learned, I’m more of a fan of practitioners who talk about what churches need to do to reach new generations. Anyway, I loved Practicing Greatness and I think I understand the heart behind The Present Future better. This is such a healthy book for Pastors to read. It is a book that calls you to examine yourself and look for the … Read More

I hate the term “Devil’s Advocate.” Besides linking yourself with the devil (which is never a good idea), the “Devil’s advocate” is always the nay-sayer, the contrarian, and the person who is saying that it can’t be done. What is so great about The Ten Faces of Innovation by Tom Kelley is that it forces people out of that “Devil” mentality and into a mode of innovation where they can add something to a conversation as opposed to simply saying something cannot be done. I’m all for living in reality and if an idea is ridiculous, I’m fine with hearing … Read More

I’ll be honest with you, I’m a sucker for books on Jewish roots. I love them. I devour them. I got Jewish Spirituality: A Brief Introduction for Christians by Rabbi Lawrence Kushner in the mail a couple of days ago and grabbed it off my shelf to look through it while I was studying and an hour and a half later I had read the book. Let me say, this book probably should be titled: Jewish Mysticism. It does go into Jewish Spirituality, but delves more into a Reformed Judaism than a conservative Jewish faith or an orthodox Judaism (In … Read More

I read Go Big: Lead Your Church to Explosive Growth by Bill Easum and Bil Cornelius in one sitting. It’s not a long book, but I found many of the insights practical and helpful. There was a lot that’s rehashed from Ed Young and others, but there was enough practical nuggets to pick up the book and give it a read. The section on raising money was good and especially helpful for guys looking to plant churches. The book deals with everything from church structure, breaking growth barriers, training leaders, hiring staff, and dealing with problematic people. This is a … Read More

No More Christian Nice Guy by Paul Coughlin takes Wild at Heart to a practical level. As much as I love John Eldredge’s books and have read everything he’s written more than once, this book takes some of the masculine themes that John expounds on in Wild at Heart and brings them to everyday life. Honestly, this book could have just as easily been called, “Stop being a Wuss!” It’s a call for men to be men and not wimps. I think the book really defined Biblical masculinity well. It walked the line of being strong but not some machismo … Read More

I enjoyed The Dream Releasers by Wayne Cordeiro, pastor of New Hope Christian Fellowship in Oahu Hawaii. The book is about discovering your own God-given dreams and releasing the dreams of others as well. What I kept thinking while reading this book is how much I needed a person like this in my life at different times. It would have made things a little easier, to have an older, more experienced person in my life to bounce things off of. The other thing that stood out to me is the ability that we have to mentor young men that didn’t … Read More

Michael Foster (Who has a great blog, by the way) tagged me, so here goes… 1. One book that changed your life: On Being a Servant of God by Warren Weirsbe 2. One book that you’ve read more than once: An Unstoppable Force: Daring to Become the Church God Had in Mind by Erwin McManus 3. One book you’d want on a desert island: Lectures to My Students by C.H. Spurgeon 4. One book that made you laugh: Now I Can Die in Peace: How ESPN’s Sports Guy Found Salvation, with a Little Help from Nomar, Pedro, Shawshank, and the … Read More