Radical Together by @plattdavid : Book Review
"...you and I are not intended to plunge down the mountain of radical obedience alone."
On page one of the book's introduction, I had a sneaking suspicion that I was going to like this book. I come from a 'group life' perspective and believe that very little about following Christ is a individual activity. It only makes sense that being 'radical' in our faith is best lived out in the context of biblical community!
I haven't (yet) read Radical, Platt's preceding text in which he challenges believers to 'take back their faith from the American dream.' However, it is now on my reading list. In Radical Together, Platt challenges the local church to adopt a radical focus on the lost. Two chapters in particular were of interest to me.
In the first chapter, Platt starts off hitting straight on with a challenge for local church leaders to to put everything on the table. To sacrifice the GOOD for the so that the church can accomplish the GREAT commission. He makes a great argument regarding church programming and how the very things we do in the church can impede the church members from actually living out the mission of the church! There is, of course, nothing wrong with church programs and ministries. However, often, churches can get so busy with internally focused progamming we fail at making a significant impact in the lives of those who do not yet know Christ.
The fifth chapter, Our Unmistakable Task, also struck a cord with me. Platt's call to affect world missions, not just local missions resonated with me. Probably because I grew up in a missionary home as a young child. (David: I can actually remember seeing both black and green mamba's while living in Kenya and share your dislike for snakes - you'll have to read chapter six for that story.) Platt doesn't present world missions as the priority over local missions, it isn't a case of either/or but rather both/and.
One of the bonus pieces in this book is an included Small Group Discussion Guide. It isn't just a time to rehash a chapter of the book but instead a time to talk about what it would look like in your life if you were living radically.
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NB: I received a free copy of Radical Together from Multnomah Publishing for the purpose of this review.
You can pick up your own copy at: Amazon or Christian Book Distributors. Both of these providers offer electronic version for your eReader.
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Outlive Your Life : Book Review
In his book, Outlive Your Life: You were Made to Make a Difference, Max Lucado challenges his readers to live lives of compassion. The only real way that our lives can last and have significance, is if we are focused on living for and serving others.
Through a multitude of stories, Max inspires the reader to see past themselves. He begins most (all but one) chapters with a verse from the first dozen chapters in Acts. He builds off the image that Luke paints of the early church to show how that same principle can be lived out in our current culture and context.
This is neither the first, nor the last of Lucado's books that I will read. I must, however, say that this book did not capture me as some of his earlier writings have. At times I found it hard to focus on the text and it seemed more of a discipline to push through those passages. Overall, if you are looking for some inspiration and good stories of others who have learned the secret of outliving their life, this is a decent book to pick up.
You can pick it up at: Amazon (Kindle) or Christian Book Distributors (ePub).
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book through the Booksneeze program of Thomas Nelson publishers.
In the church, who are the customers?
I'm reading through Ken Blanchard's book, Leading at a Higher Level. One of the points he makes is that every organization has two types of customers. The external customer, the outside person you are trying to serve, and the internal customer, the inside person that is employed and supported by other employees in the organization. Both sets of customers are important for a healthy organization.
Churches that believe the regular attender is the customer are churches that do not understand the priesthood of all believers. A firm understanding of the priesthood of all believers leads to others focused thinking. In a department store, front line employees are served by behind the scenes personnel (stock personnel serve the floor associates). The floor associates are the 'customers' of the stock personnel. The floor associate serves the external customer, the paying customer who has a need that is being met through the store. The most important customer in the chain is the external customer, without them, the whole chain dies. However, this does not mean that you can neglect the internal customer! Without the internal customer, the chain will also die.
In the church world, there are both internal and external customers.
This Group Gets It! (repost)
I received an email from one of our group leaders this week about their plans for their summer series. It is one of the best ideas that I’ve heard a group doing for the summer!
Here’s what the leader wrote:
Our group will be doing some things differently for our next study. We all have very busy schedules and each family has a lot of stuff piling up that needs to get done at our homes. Some of the families recently had babies and you can only imagine how busy they are.
Last week we showed up at at our host home and Daniel was on a ladder trying to clean his gutters and squeeze in a project before small group meeting. He was there, by himself, on the ladder. We need to ask our friends for help and be willing to return the favor. For us to help others we can start by helping each other and then maybe continue to others in need.
In the CONNECT series, we had a study a few weeks back that we talked about PRIDE and how we don’t ask for help because we think we can handle it ourselves. This is a chance for us all to break our pride and let others help us out. We found that our small group gatherings have been getting smaller recently and the main reason is because we are all behind on our to do lists.
We came up with a plan! Each of us are going to make a list of projects that need to get done around our house. Sometimes this list is referred to as a “honey do list.” Each week, we are going to have a fellowship gathering at each family’s home and work on their list. We are at our best when we are helping other people, so why not help our own family’s with their projects. It is another activity that defines team building and brings us closer together.
When The Big C Hits Home
This weekend it was announced that, due to financial issues in the church, my position was being eliminated. For more than five years I've grown to love the people of this church. I have prayed for you, tried to encourage you and also to challenge you to love God and love others.
This has been an interesting past few days: first being told the news on Friday and then having the privilege of performing not one, but two weddings over the weekend.
One of the weddings is for a couple that committed their lives to the Lord at the beginning of this year. In fact, one of the relatives told me of the incredible life-change that has taken place in the groom's life since then!
I am reminded of Paul’s words to the Romans in the twelfth chapter: “… his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Rom. 12:2).
Generally speaking, none of us likes CHANGE - unless we are initiating and leading the change. (Even at that, there isn’t a guarantee.)
When change is imposed on us, we can fight it – which really results in fighting for control – or we can submit to it. I have learned to accept change, even though I do not always enjoy the process of change.
Our perspective to change means everything. I may have been serving in a particular local church body, but they have not been my master. My Master is in charge of changes and none of this has surprised him.
My Master has a plan that is “good”! It isn’t bad for you (us) and nothing could be better!
My Master has a plan that is “pleasing”! It will satisfy you (us) and provide contentment!
My Master has a plan that is “perfect”! Nothing you (we) can come up with will be better!
Yeah, I like change better when I’m in control, but it makes it easier (not easy) when I keep focused on seeing my master in control.
What I'm Thinking...
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