God for the Good Ol' Boy: Average Joe by Troy Meeder

Average Joe: by Troy Meeder, is a book for the tailgate of a truck. Spiritually forming books and events typically appeal to women. It's a mars and venus thing, I suppose, but there is a perceived disconnect between "Spiritual" stuff and men's spiritual needs. Meeder is trying to build a bridge by taking a scriptural look at the needs and influence of the "average, ordinary and normal" men who can have an extraordinary impact on the world. Wrapped in Christ, these Average Joe's escape the macho and the discontented life to be men of "honor, integrity and covenant"...

He posted a good video on youtube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgMJXbaM8Jg&feature=player_embedded  well worth the time.

Troy is an Oregon cowboy and minister who tells the story of the life in Christ from a cowboy's life. He reinforces scripture through stories . There is nothing resembling a sermon as he speaks of horses, airplanes, soldiers, friends and boys. He writes plainly that a Christian man has tremendous influence while working on a car or cutting grass with someone. He does not gloss over God's testing but shares painfully transparent stories like working in a hole filling up with human waste and a moment of brokenness with his wife. Moments that all men share but yet rarely share with each other. Rather, we tend to "finish our eggs and go to work". The strength of the book is that it leads a man to both GET AND BE a mentor.

Pastor's and small group leaders-The book is only 148 very readable pages. The small group study guide at the end is short and makes one scriptural point at a time. It can be used by or taught to anyone who is willing. "Average Joe" would be a good small group or a "men and boy's" retreat guide. It is geared more for working guys but anyone will benefit. The book is jargon free, flexible and for people of all ages. Women will enjoy these stories and insights too. Often, they will be the only ones to get their men to pick this up and read it. Buy a copy,leave it laying around and see what happens.

I am struggling in starting a "Men's Ministry" at our church. This book may be the sparkplug to get something useful going. Check out an excerpt at http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/catalog.php?isbn=9781601423078&view=excerpt Multnomah press gave me this book for free in exchange for this review. Thanks to them for risking a bad review and thanks to you for reading the thoughtfulpastor blog.

Glorious Chaos: Gladwell's What The Dog Saw

Book Review: Gloriously ordered chaos-"What the Dog Saw" by Malcolm Gladwell

Presidents and other historical figures usually have their own biographers while people who study the sociology of ketchup or create kitchen gadgets usually do not. Malcolm Gladwell is the biographer for the rest of us. "What the Dog Saw" is a collection of life-stories from people who are very interesting but seldom get more than a glance. On the first bounce this appears to be a random collection of his New Yorker articles that he wants a bit more mileage out of. But is it random?

Each of the 22 articles are divided into three broad categories. The vary from obsessives "of minor genius" to "theories, predictions and diagnoses" and then on to "Personality, character and intelligence." At the end is a reading group guide for book clubs or others with the courage to look beyond this as a cute collection.

Ketchup, Enron and military intelligence all pull together to make a point. Ketchup and aggressive dogs get the same intense treatment as breast cancer and homelessness. This point is to challenge the reader to see and not just look, live and not just exist. "What the Dog Saw" is a summation, in a way, of the theses found in his other three books, especially "Blink". Rather than tell you this however, Gladwell shows you though people that live this way. This is about the everyday genius in us all.

Malcolm is able to take the life of reclusive financier and make it raw and interesting. He is able to tackle the complexities of diagnosing breast cancer and create understanding that goes beyond mammograms. The reader can see better by reading of those who see more intentionally. "Million Dollar Murray" made me angry by suggesting that we should limit benevolences to the homeless. Then he made his case and showed out of the box thoughts that could solve parts of the problem rather than merely managing it.

Gladwell is on youtube, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zw_cmlvzwlI , with a Q&A from CSPAN. It is nearly an hour long and worthwhile. Consider watching Book TV if you are not a viewer. It is a fantastic forum for non-fiction writers and readers.

I am better for reading this book. It is infectious, interesting, and challenging at the same time. My only regret is that it took me so long to get around to reading it. Malcolm makes my world bigger than mere "Horseradish" (see chapter 1).

Contemplative Christian Classics: My must-read list for real people

Prayer includes reading but reading isn't prayer. For a long I tried to read about prayer and meditation rather than actually praying and finally woke up to the precious gift of meditation. I am not talking about navel gazing or self help but uniquely Christ centered meditation that is a part of the work day. These books helped to guide me. Maybe they can help you awaken too.

The Psalms-really all you need
A Guide to Prayer (For Ministers...) Job and Shawchuck
Contemplative Prayer, Thomas Merton
My Utmost for His Highest, Oswald Chambers
Prayer and also The Celebration of Discipline, Both by Richard J. Foster
The Sacrament of the Present Moment, by Jean Pierre DeCassade
Paths to Prayer, Patricia Brown
The Collected Works of St. John of the Cross, St. John
Soul Feast, by Marjorie Thompson
Centering Prayer, by M. Basil Pennington
The Interior Castle, by St Teresa of Avila
The Book of Romans and the Book of Ephesians, Holy Bible
The Good and Beautiful God, by James Bryan Smith

As I have written, this topic gets more hits than any other.

These Three things are important for the journey but all you really need to a heart open for God: 1- a good study Bible, 2-A Group or person to share the journey, and 3-access to good prayer literature.

Google Books has many of the classics as a free download or excerpts. My guys are welcome to stop by the office and borrow rather than buy. God has already given you everything you need by His grace. Jump in the deep end of the prayer pool. The risen Christ is waiting to catch you.

Leadership With a Flexible Look: John Maxwell's 360 Degrees

In any organization, most leadership comes from the middle. Presidents, pastors and parents may think that they have a handle on things but those in the middle of every organization are the ones who make things happen. Maxwell encourages primary leaders to think about leading from the center rather than the top. An effective leader is one who can lead up, across and down. Too often, leadership becomes a top down phenomena and frustrates everyone. Influence and not position are what makes positive things happen.

www.360degreeleader.com

www.johnmaxwell.com

Whether you are a leader in a secular business, the church, or in your own home, you need to read John Maxwell. "360 Degrees" is the most flexible and usable of his many works. Too often leadership is confused with simply being in charge. This book defines it as freeing others to lead and then gives concrete and easily implemented tools to assess and implement change. I am a pastor and my comments come from the context of Church, however, that does not take away the power of this book for your context.


Maxwell invites the "big boss" to abandon and adapt the existing organization and create a culture of properly placed middle managers with a unified vision. He also invites those in the middle to celebrate their position and lead where they are planted. This takes work and the pain of re-tooling a lot of preconceptions. The author says, "I can't remember a single time I've regretted getting out of my comfort zone and trying to get acquainted with someone I didn't know." The cure for this pain "walking the halls" and personal growth for all concerned. John Maxwell does not abandon the reader when this tome moves to the shelf also.

The book is a masterpiece, especially for the church, but only one of the parts of its overall message. By going to http://www.360degreeleader.com/login/login.aspx you can take a free and very helpful self assessment to guide you through the next steps of creating a stronger organization. A "360° Leader Comprehensive Assessment" can also be purchased. This site is also an entry to many resources, both free and for purchase, at http://www.johnmaxwell.com/ . His e-newsletters remain part of my Monday "Briefings". Go to a workshop whenever you have access too and take your church leadership with you!

I strongly recommend this book for anyone in leadership, and that is virtually everyone in an organization. It makes a great small group workshop or study for an administrative board too. A workbook is available. I have not read it but have ordered a copy and will bet that it is helpful.

I write reviews for Tyndale's BookSneeze program but purchased this on my own nickel! Please rate my review and thanks for reading TheThoughtfulPastor Blog.

Addendum:  This is my  blog for the readers would like more than just the review found on  http://thethoughtfulpastor.blogspot.com  .  I would like to add some additional material from Maxwell's book for those who will remain for a bit.  These are the lessons that I put to use from my study.  I will add more from time to time.

• Be fulfilled in the "middle".  It is ok to lead somewhere other than the top.  "Develop strong relationships with key people, Define a win in terms of teamwork, engage continual communications, Gain experience and maturity, and put the team above your personal success."  This isn't just church stuff but it is essential for the servant leader of a church.  Page 62
• The free online leadership survey was helpful.  There is a full version for $99 but I benefited from this freebie plus an honest look at what I was doing (unsuccessfully) at the time. 
• Go to www.johnmaxwell.com and sign up for his e-newsletters.  He has several to suit you, including a one minute video, and they help keep you mind focused. Share them with your significant circle.  This is a part of everyone's growth.
• The focus for the 360 leader is ideas and not results...it is the idea that develops influence and strengthens the team.  I open court ideas more than before.  Listen to them all, especially the "foolish" ones.  
• Walking the hall is something I have always done.  It is doubly important now.  See page 200 for the list but tend to your people who are tending to the business and pay attention when the avoid you.
• Grow your people and create a safe circle of people with high potential.  Do so intentionally and not accidentally. If you are not growing you are backing up.
• "Unleash your leaders to lead".  Most of the leaders in the middle don't know they are leading.  Tell them, reward them and above all listen to them and grow with them.  
• As tempting as it is to have yet another training workshop, these principles need to be modeled and caught in pieces rather than taught in a class setting.  Rather than talk about them I am walking the halls more intentionally and forging different relationships.
• I am re-reading after moving to another church.  The flexibility taught in this book works with "re-tooling" in the ongoing processes of the organization.  In other words, it is a life-thing.

Are Life Long Marriages Unrealistic? Groeschel's Love, Sex and Happily Ever After

The author begins, "I wrote this book because people in my generation are making decisions way before marriage that actually sabotage what they really want for their futures." (p. 5)  Pastor Craig Groeschel writes a scriptural, human, transparent and painfully-uniquely-Christian view of relationships for today's couples.  He begins with our primary relationship-in Jesus Christ and uses that as the foundation to build and grow flourishing, life long relationship.  

This is not a Pollyanna look at marriage but a working process toward a great relationship.  Groeschel speaks from his own life's victories and mistakes.  He allows the reader to be imperfect and find a new starting place to begin a relationship well.  The book gives solid scriptural advice, based on Biblical principles all reinforced by  stories from real people, his own family and  Napoleon Dynamite.  He presents solid principles in bullet points with fresh humor to help negotiate the minefield of pre-marriage and reminds us that "God's greatest weapon in this wonderful adventure is always His own love-a love we find most clearly lived out in the person of Jesus Christ.

People who are not churched will still find great value in this book.  Yet, Craig is unshakably Christian in his answers and dares to say that a God-styled start will yield victorious results.  Whether your relationship is not working or if you are beginning life with "your number 2" (God must be your number 1) and want to do it right, you will find answers here.


I am still a little taken back by the whole online church.  You can find out more at http://www.lifechurch.tv/ . Go to his website and there is a timer counting down to the next web worship service.   I am the kind of guy and wants paper books and people in my worship.  While the author is "out of the box" and the book very contemporary, the answers he gives are time tested and solid.  You don't have to sabotage your marriage by compromising your relationships.  


You can have a life long marriage without "selling out" or missing out.  Is what you are doing in the forming and nurturing of your relationship working?  Maybe adding God to the mix is worth a try.  This book is a solid step toward something bigger than "me" and "mine".  Its worth fifteen bucks and a couple of hours to try.

"Love, Sex and Happily Ever After" is interesting and well written.  It can be read in a couple of hours but it has a lot of content packed into its pages and should be read with care.  The study guide at the end is well done and would be a great small group experience.  Pastors will find it useful in pre-marriage classes or counseling, a young adult study group or college student class.  It is not written for marriage and family counseling and the jargon is geared for young adults. I am better for reading it.Thanks to Multnomah press for giving me this book in exchange for this review.  I appreciate them expecting honest review.


Thus endeth the review....but read on if you dare.  This site is "experimental".  I am learning how the new world of information works.  This title now gets more hits than all of the other and does so without facebook etc.  People are hungry for deeper relationships.   I like this book and am convinced that its message can help if you work it.  I am a pastor and see a lot of couples planning for disaster during pre-marital counseling.  I am not much on advice but here are some observations, in light of Groeschel's book, that might help light your path.  


First, consider adding God to your relationship.  It isn't popular to many but putting God  first leads you to bigger things. If one of you won't work or won't consider the importance of God, maybe you need to consider a change? Please just think about it. It works on so many levels. 


Single and unsuccessful in long term relationships?  Turn your reflections onto yourself and not just look for a better way to meet Mr. or Ms. Right.  Many people getting married won't look within honestly and take action on those untended wounds that we all have.  Dare to change.  It isn't selling out. In a failing relationship?  Read this book, something else, or go to a counselor, preferably a Christ based one, and work TOGETHER.  A book is just a book until you make it a message, the same message together.  Starting a relationship?  Commit to a strong start.  Make that relationship your most precious possession and work to develop relationship building skills. Back up and look at the big picture.   Learning to relate for a lifetime is a skill set like any job or hobby.  Learn them well.  You will be blessed for your efforts.  

 thank you for reading Thethoughtfulpastor blog.   

 The Groeschel's http://www.lifechurch.tv/