Book Reviews
With my injury, typing is difficult - until tomorrow, Lord-willing. Here is a summary of 5 books I was able to read during my injury - and had to for my “Emerging Leaders Class” for work. Perhaps my thoughts on these books will encourage you to read one, By the way, my favorite was “From Dream to Reality”. It’s about the building up of Teen Challenge, including a glimpse into where I currently serve. Enjoy!
God’s Armor Bearer by Jerry Nance
This book can be summed up easily with the term ‘servanthood’. Many concepts, from supporting the leader to being willing to do what is needed, all relate back to being a servant. It is easy to put our own agendas and desires and even our vision ahead of this idea of servanthood. We certainly have to recognize who is the leader and be dedicated to serving them and the vision God has given to them. We may have done it differently ourselves or may not fully understand the reasoning behind some actions, but we are there to support them. This book reminded me of my first year in youth ministry. I made a remark in public that I don’t recall but felt to the senior pastor like a comment demeaning his authority. He took me aside later privately and said that we needed to be unified. If there was an area of disagreement, we should talk privately about it. I took that to heart and was certain to even unify our youth group mission statement with that of the church as a whole. Supporting and helping leaders does aid them, but as revealed in the book, it aids the growth of the one serving as well. I also appreciated how the author talked of serving as an associate minister even while knowing God had gifted him in preaching. I love to preach and do not fully understand why that is not the place I am in right now. Yet God does not forget the vision he gave us so we must serve, not like those forgotten in battle; but like those whom God has placed in a position with a purpose.
From Dream to Reality by Jerry Nance
It was good to read this story and actually get a little insight into the beginning of Prayer Mountain Boy’s Academy. The beginning of the book struck an early cord with me, expressing exactly where I was over the last year – being in a ministry that was doing well and not really wanting to leave but constantly getting that conviction that I needed to. It was quite the journey for the author and for me. I liked how he did not pull punches. This wasn’t a book about how everything went smoothly according to plan. In fact, it seemed, at times, that the option to just shut down and move on would be better; yet God had other plans. This is certainly a book about trusting God in the ups and downs. There is a lot of good advice, prayer being a big one; but this book, to me, was more of an encouragement to trust God’s plan and timing when I don’t quite understand the direction He’s taking me.
Lead Like Jesus by Ken Blanchard & Phil Hodges
Once again we learn about being a servant like Jesus. This is something Jesus displayed throughout His life and so it should be evident in ours as well. The section on fear holding you back struck me. Fear of failure, rejection, and humiliation are things I have to continue to give to the Lord. I also liked the EGO acronym of “Edging God Out”. I hadn’t heard that one before but it is so very true. How often do we desire to be respected, looked up to or even simply thought of in a good light. However, we often do this at the cost of putting ourselves, our desires and our goals in front of God or, even more so, in His rightful place.
Another thing, for me, was the need to pray. I find it easy to pray when someone comes with a need or silent prayers through the day. I do, however, recognize the importance of spending more personal time in prayer. The busyness of life can detract from that, but I cannot allow it to do so. Being a servant-leader is not just an outside duty – hands and habits. It must also, perhaps even primarily, be an inside attitude – heart and head. I pray my leadership style and character follow the servant style of Jesus Himself.
Our Core Values by Jerry Nance
The attitude and actions that are to envelope each person working at Teen Challenge, and, in reality, each follower of Christ are described here. They are integrity, compassion, community, vision, stewardship, faith and servanthood. Each is important and each requires God at the center. If I was evaluating myself, I would say I was stronger in compassion, need to pray more for faith and am being challenged in community. Compassion is what brought me here and my slowly growing faith probably kept me from answering right away. The challenge of community is more logistical, though certainly given by God’s plan. Going from living alone and not so closely with everyone to living with others and much closer to everyone I know here forces me to think more in community. Being injured forces me to seek out help from that community. The core values are excellent and I pray my life reflects them more and more.
25 Ways to Win with People by John C Maxwell & Les Parrott
John Maxwell is apparently good with people. In this book, he and Les Parrott reveal just how he does it and how others can as well. Much of this deals with “considering others above ourselves” (Philippians 2:3). To win with people, one cannot think of themselves first. I enjoyed the illustration of how John and his wife sat in their hotel room with guests. The view was beautiful out the window, but John and his wife purposefully sat with their backs to the window so everyone else could enjoy the view. Even little acts like that stand out and build within us the character of caring for others.