"The Decision Maker" by Dennis Bakke

Living the Extraordinary Life by Charles Stanley

Danny L. Smith
512-773-6528

"One cannot long out perform their own self-image" - Maxwell Maltz

"You'll be the same five years from today, as you are today, except for what you listen, what you watch, who you associate with, and what you read" - Zig Ziglar

The Inner Game of Tennis

The Science of Getting Rich by Wallace D. Wattles

Not the normal type book I'd read. But, it was suggested by a mentor in relationship to some studies.

No judging please.

West of The Tularosa, by Louis L'Amour

Good reading!

A collection on short stories by an extraordinary writer, many written under a pen name.

True Success, by Tom Morris

Success God's Way by Charles Stanley

Danny L. Smith
512-773-6528

"A time comes when you need to stop waiting for the man you want to become and start being the man you want to be." - Bruce Springsteen

Accidental Pharisee by Larry Osborne

Mentoring 101 by John C. Maxwell

The New Psycho-Cybernetics

It doesn't have "think" in the title as 3 others I've read this year, but has caused me to dig deeper in the box than ever.

Rate (1-5): 5 (which only goes for those I intend to read multiple times

The Wit and Wisdom of Ronald Reagan

Poke the Box, Seth Godin

Hidden Power and Other Papers upon Mental Science by Thomas Troward

A few months ago I would have had too much fear to read this book.

The Power of a Praying Husband by Stormie Omartiam

Thinking for a Change, by John C. Maxwell

This is the 3rd book I've been reading this year with the work "Think" in the title. I can say thinking is playing an important part in my growth right now.

I pray for the wisdom to think well.

Pendulum

I haven't finished this book, but putting the post up to start journaling about this book on marketing. Actually, I'm going today to get it in hardback...too much important stuff to not being reading in hardback (for me), marking up and dating.

This is going to be a slow, deep...read. Lot's of history!

3/31/2013: Finished a good summary of book, but will have to dig deeper into the Me vs We and relevance to my "Why" for needing to know all that. Good summary/ending.

The author makes a good case for -

The internet is a relationship building tool.

Truth? I bought and have been reading the hardback and I just don't get the point...this book is deeper than I can get right now.

But! I like the part about the internet being a relationship building tool. I get that.

6/9/2013: I've circled back numerous time to this book and the comment about the internet being a relationship building tool. This is deeper than I originally thought.

Note

I'm logging all my reads, thus the posts without descriptions - maybe I'll catch up on notes!

How to Read a Book, by Motimer Adler and Charles Van Doren

Reading Think by John Piper and John mentions this book as an important read for him during his college years.

This will be a slow read...great reference material.

Think: The Life of the Mind and The Love of God, by John Piper

Another slow slow, even slower read. It's one of those..."I finished, but I'm not sure I got it reads." Definitely a multi-read.

Business Principles from Proverbs by Gary Seale

Slow re-read going on. Good essays on business and these timeless words of wisdom.

A Praying Life by Paul E.Miller

Another GAME CHANGER. Startling in some aspect.

As A Man Thinketh by James Allen

Put Your Dream To The Test by John C. Maxwell

Re-read and journaling for entire 2013. My word for 2013 - DREAM 

Running With the Giants, by John C. Maxwell

In a recent training session, John was asked "if someone could only read one of your books, which one would you recommend?"

Without hesitation, John said "Running With the Giants."



 

Transformation by Ed Silvoso

Re-read as part of my talk on "God's View of Work: My Study, Practice and Struggle

More about my thoughts on this read can by found at http://godandworkmatters.blogspot.com/

Every Good Endeavor

Notes on this book at http://godandworkmatters.blogspot.com/

Ok...I haven't finished this book, but it's noteworthy enough to go ahead and post about it! If nothing else, to cause me to stay focused on it. Bought in October, 2012 on Kindle and have to get it in hardback so I can make notes.

Slow, deep...read about marketing.

The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth by John C. Maxwell

Game changer 

The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John C. Maxwell

Major re-read going on, along with numerous videos and audios (over 25 hours).

Today Matters by John C. Maxwell

1st book in required reading as part of John Maxwell Team Certification 

What You Say When You Talk to Yourself by Shad Helmstetter

Re-Read from 1987... 

Pilgrim's Progress

This is my 4th try at this book, but the first "in today's English."

I started reading 2 weeks ago, I'm a 1/3 through and I'll finish it this time. A very good read to ponder. There's no doubt why men like A.W. Tozier read it dozens and dozens of times.

Again, this is a must read on Dave Moore's list.

12/21/2012 Update/ finished it! Intriguing. 

The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness

Great short read. I read on Kindle and will probably purchase a hard copy for notes.

"The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness." Not too many can tell this like Keller.

What a freedom that would be.

Redeeming the Rountines by Robert Banks

Reading a second time. Dave Moore recommended I read this and notes show I read this in 2008. It is much more meaningful now.

There's been a lot of water under the bridge these 4 years.

Already, I've been led to search out what others have to say about "The Theology of Sleep." 

Love Works by Joel Manby

Michael Hyatt recommended this book and it's a good read; 5. Mandy is writing about experience, not opions, not theories.

I'd say that the book is also a great example "effective followers."

Platform: Get Noticed in a Busy World by Michael Hyatt

Reading, pondering, practicing. Progress can be tracked at www.DannyLSmith.com


Book: "Hell's Corner," by David Baldacci

Another great Baldacci read; Camel Club! This is not my 1st Kindle read, but it is the first time I've purchased a novel on Kindle (reading on iPad). During my recent move, boxing, lugging and unboxing 200+ fiction book, giving away at least that many....well, the Kindle thing is cheaper and easier. And I think I liked it...the Kindle thing...loved the book.



Book: "Shadow of the Almight: The Life and Testament of Jim Elliot" by Elisabeth Elliot

This was in interesting book to read, at times difficult. In reflection though, very real. Knowing the end result, I was very anxious and reluctant to get to the end.

The author and wife chronologically wove together Jim's journals and letters to herself and other family members, added some of her own thoughts and feelings. Reading someones journal entries doesn't make for that good of a read, but it is real.

One thing about the book I find interesting, and very real, is the fact Elisabeth wrote the book in part to support herself and daughter.

Jim Elliot's life was in the shadow of the almighty; devoted and passionate about reaching people groups that had never heard about Jesus.

I'm sure many original readers of this book truly felt he wasted his life. Jim knew the dangers as did his wife and history has since proven that Jim was following God's shadow.

To that end....

The Meaning of Marriage by Tim and Kathy Keller

Thanks to Nolan Egbert for this recommendation. I've also found some things online, including a YouTube of Keller at NYU speaking on this subject.

Important subject, explained well, and a good read.

Good notes!

Erasing Hell: What God Says About Eternity, And Things We Made Up by Francis Chan

Reading

Book: "A Man Called Peter," by Catherine Marshall

This is an incredible read about an incredible man and written by a loving wife who is a gifted author. During a recent move I realized I noticed and realized I had never read this book. Reading this when I did was a Godsend. We had just moved from a home I'd expected to die it (and almost did). Reading about the love Peter Marshall had for God, his intensity to his calling and how God brought him along a very unusual path.....well, it was just a good time to read such.

7 Levels of Communication by Michael Maher

Short note - great book about building relationships and turning into referrals. Maher has written a very compelling story and brings other authors/books into his writings (I love that part).

He does leave a bit of his process undone, but that could very well just be me not following him.

To that end...make a difference / make a profit.

Blessings

Shrewd and Innocent by Steve Collier

Reading Steve Collier's Shrewd and Innocent brought to mind John Morely who said "a book worth reading once is worth a second."

If Collier's intent was to write a good book about life, work and practicing Christianity he did well. The author is an engineer, small businessman and has undoubtedly learned a bit about Proverbs 25:2 - "The glory of God is to conceal a matter. The glory of kings is to search matters out".

Shrewd and Innocent is part biography, part theology and all good. Collier tells bits and pieces of about his work, life and family while weaving in Biblical scripture to balance the peaks and valleys. One of the first stories Collier tells is about being recruited in 1974 by legendary Darrell Royal as a running back for the University of Texas. That by itself would have been quite an adventure, except, that same year Coach Royal recruited another young man named Earl Campbell.

Reading of Shrewd and Innocent will take you from a 20 thousand foot view of the author's story to a rapid descent into the day-to-day life of a son, husband, father and businessman. And back again.

This is a great write and worth the second read (with pen in hand) from a real life practicing Christian.

To that end....
Danny Smith
danny@dannylsmith.com
512-773-6528

Everyone Communications, Few Connect

Update on original post in 2009; The book has been published and I was listed as one of a couple hunderd contributors. My daughter, Sunne, is getting me the book for my birthday (hint, hint).

------------------------------------


From original post -

This is going to be an interesting read. John Maxwell is writing a new book titled "Everyone Communicates, Few Connect" and is posting his manuscript, one chapter every other week or so, on the web for review and comments.

Now, about the book; what a great title! Personally, I can't imagine a better idea for a book in such a culture as we have today. Personally, I feel, much of the time, like a talking-head and have recognized for years that I communicate my head and fingers off, yet..... it's often to deaf ears, skipped emails, and other agendas.

Here are more comments I've had about the book and chapter 8 in particular http://focusandreflection.blogspot.com/search?q=maxwell

To that end.... http://johnmaxwellonleadership.com/

Book: "How The Mighty Fall: And Why Some Companies Never Give In" by Jim Collins

Good and quick read, which is unusual for this type of book.

Jim Collins (Good to Great) takes time out from 6 years of research for his "next" book to write "How the Mighty Fall..."

I'm "tweeting" the highlights @DannyLSmith and will post here later.

New Postings...

Slow year for reading new books but I do have 11 new postings to put up.

Book: "Good Christians, Good Husbands" by Doreen Moore

This is an update on a post from 8/05/2006 to include a couple of additional reviews and comments.

First the additional reviews about this outstanding book:

http://www.theologyforthechurch.com/1/post/2010/12/good-christians-good-husbands.html  and

http://abedis.posterous.com/a-review-good-christians-good-husbands

For this latter review, I include his final thoughts:

These questions and more are asked and answered in this short but profound little book. I read it in one setting and was positively convicted, wrecked and challenged to live my life with intentionality unlike before. I recommend - no, plead that every minister, layperson, wife and husband read this. Rarely will I tag a book with "must-read," but this is a MUST READ. Robbyn Abedi

I could not agree more with Mr. Abedi's encouragement. As a hobby, and as a coach, I regularly recommend books to people and there isn't one I point towards more than this one.

Author, scholar, mom, and wife Doreen Moore has done an incredible job portraying the most important part of any man's Christian life; his marriage, his ministry. But Ms. Moore did so while comparing not just marriage and ministry, but the lives of three of history's most visible Christian preachers: George Whitefield, Jonathon Edwards, and John Wesley.

This book will be one that will gradually catch on and talked about for years and years.

It is a must read for every Christian husband. Too many of us have bad viewpoints of our family life vs church life, even concerns about the balance, as if there is one. A friend and mentor once told me that when Jesus said to "go ye therefore..." He particularly meant "as you go about." We men, if married and/or with children, "go about" as husbands and dads more than we want to believe.

Doreen Moore does an great job telling the good, the bad, and the ugly truth of their impact and its legacy.

To that end...read well!

Danny

Getting Naked: A Business Fable About Shedding The Three Fears That Sabotage Client Loyalty

Getting Naked: A Business Fable About Shedding The Three Fears That Sabotage Client Loyalty by Patrick Lencioni

I was asked by someone a few weeks ago if I'd read this book and I had not. I've read all of Lencioni's other books and had read some of the white paper he had published on this subject, but had not purchased the book.

After being told "you'll enjoy the book," I did buy it. It fit my style to the "T."

Lencioni continues to hit homeruns.

Book: "If you Want to Walk on Water, You've Got to Get Out of the Boat" by John Ortberg

Having just finished the 1st four Sackett novels and not feeling drawn to finish 4 other books I have started (see other posts below), I started looking through my bookshelf for what I thought was going to be another old fiction to re-read. My focus was drawn, pulled hard actually, to this book Cathy had given m 4 or 5 years ago.

Now, my attention might have been drawn to the pretty blue cover because of either the cover, or the fact it had a cover (I remove and throw away covers once I begin reading a book).

In any event, reading it I began. It's great how one can "just happen" to come upon something one needs at the right time. At 55 years old and after over 25 years in the mortgage buisness, I'm in the process of changing careers and I've struggled with many aspects of what is driving that decision. It is with bated-breath (bated, not baited) I read and learn from this book. Writing this intro after reading the Preface leaves me with the feeling that this book will make a purposeful difference!

My thoughts and margin notes are in italics while the rest are abbreviated take-aways from the author's words:

Note - if you've read much of my blogs, you've figured out that I'm a Christian. If that bothers you, just read past that and pick up on the high points of the author's point (or rather, my take-aways)

9/4/2010 Preface - the story of Peter walking on water in Matthew 14:25-32

• pg 9-10.
• The Bible is, among other things, a list of unforgettable walks.
• Let Peter's walk stand as an invitation  to everyone who, like him, wants to step out in faith, who wants to experience something more of the power and presence of God
• There is a consistent pattern in Scripture of what happens in a life that God wants to use and improve;
• There is always a call
• There is always fear
• There is always reassurance
• There is always a decision
• There is always a changed life

If the rest of the book is as good as the first two pages, this is going to be an exciting read and a book that will undoubtedly re-shape my thinking (and thus my life).

9/5/2010 Chapter 1; On Water-Walking

Great quote from T. Roosevelt about critics, credits, and cold timid souls

What goes into the making of a water-walker?

• Recognize God's presence. There is a pattern to these stories about people who walked with God and in each case God had to get people's attention.
• Discern betweed faith and foolishness
• Get out of the boat. Normally we have to really figure out "what are boat is."
• Expect problems. If you get out of the boat, you will face the wind and the storm there. But you might as well know now, there is no guarantee that life in the boat is going to be any safer.
• Accept fear as the price of growth. Fear will never go away as long as I continue to grow. Karl Barth said that confort is on of the great siren calls of our age. We have become not just couch potatoes, but pew potatoes, and boat potatoes (I'll add "job potatoes).
• Master Failure Management. Failure is not an event, but rather a judgment about the event. This is good. I've always quoted Zig's "failure is an event, not a person" and this adds a bit of depth to that thought. Failure is an indipensable, irreplaceable part of learning and growth. Failure does not shape you; the way you respond to failure shapes you.
• Learn to wait on the Lord. Most of us need to learn something about waiting. We have to learn to wait on the Lord to recieve power to walk on the water.
• Brings a deeper connection with God. God uses real-world challenges to develop our ability to trust him. We tend to seek a life of comfort and construct manageable lives with some security and predictability to maintain the illustion we are in control.

Chapter's highlight (for me). Fear and being wishy-washy. Why do we not get out of the boat? For me it is fear. Fear and being unsure of God's path for me. The part about "faith or foolishness" hit home. Sometimes I don't do something I want to do because I'm afraid I'm being reckless or foolish. Or, I do it but keep second guessing myself, and leaving myself a back door, or a window slightly cracked.

09/10/2010

Note - this book is proving to be one that I'll be putting in the Pondering and Re-reading stack and thus, my true underlines and notes would be too much for a single posting (I've messed up and done that before!). Thus, these are highlights of highlights.

Chapter 2: Boat Potatoes


I'm assuming you get the chapter title. Ortberg has a great sense of humor and does a good job bringing real life stories into his writings. I particularly like what I call chapter sub-titles.

• the price you pay for being a boat potato...."growth"
• the tragedy of the unopened gift; It's as if I've lived half my life waiting for life to begin, thinking it's somewhere off in the future.
• the chance of a lifetime is not something to take lightly
• all human beings, including you and me, give their lives to something...the only question is, what will you give your life to? Will it be worthy?
• so many people blame their refusal to get out of the boat on some external circumstance
• I must ruthlessly refuse to compar my talents with anyone else
• I must come to identify, cultivate, invest, prize, and enjoy the gifts that have been given to me
• Fear....the author wrote a lot about what fear does to be one becoming, and staying a boat potatoe
• If you've read much of this blog, you recognize why I like this book so much!

 Here's a question Ortberg asks at the end of the chapter: In what area of life (vocational, relational, or intellectual, etc) are you experiencing the most growth these days?

Chapter 3: Discerning the Call

• water-walking requires not only the courage to take a risk, but also the wisdom to discern a call.
• interesting to note that in most self-help book, risk-taking is highly praised. But in literature on psychological research, it is mostly a danger sign. Type Ts (thrill, risk seeking personalities), although they can do great things, are also more prone toward potentially destructive behaviors.
• author has good stuff on how to discern the difference between an aughentic call to get out of the boat from your own rash impulses
• calling is not so much choosing as it is listening
• calling often involves pain

 Good stuff.

09/17/2010

Chapter 4: Walking on Water

• Is it worth the risk?
• God really will honor truth-telling
• If I am going to experience a greater measure of God's power in my life, it will usually involve the first-step principle. It will usually begin by my acting in faith-trusting God enough to take a step of obedience.
• Faith is not the sort of thing that can be acquired by trying harder
• A great story told by Martin Luther on page 81
• We might be comfortable in our current job, but anxious about the possiblility that God wants to do some vocational realignment
• The indicator of fear
• The Indicator of frustration
• The Indicator of Compassion
• The Indicator of Prayer

Chapter 5: Seeing the Wind

• Resilient People Exercise Control Rather Than Passively Resign
• Resilient People Remain Committed to Their Values When Tempted to Compromise
• Resilient People Find Meaning and Purpose in the Storm
• Study questions that sticks out for me -
• What role have problems played in your growth in the past?
• How, with regard to a particular problem, could you move from passivity to exercising control and initiative?

Book: 4 Sackett Books of Early Years by Louis L'Amour

Barnabas to Kin Ring, Yance, and Jubal Sackett.

I read ALL of L'Amours' books in my teens and everyone afterwards as they came out until he died in 1988 at the age of 90. Recently, just looking for something to read, I picked up Jubal Sackett to read again after 20 years and was captivated by the rich history involved in L'Amours' words. Though I know much of L'Amours' "ways" shaped some of my own ideas about reading, I did not really appreciate the depth of his research and historical focus.

There was a reason that all of his 105 works were still in print at the time of his death.

Book: "Linchpin" by Seth Godin

Review and thoughts forthcoming.

Book: "The War of Art" by Steven Pressfield

Book: "Radical" by David Platt

Review and thought forthcoming.

Book: "Open" by Andre Agassi

Review and thoughts forthcoming

Book: "Death on a Friday Afternoon" by Richard John Neuhaus

Review and thoughts forthcoming.

Book: "The Long Snapper" by Jeffrey Marx

Second chances, stuggles, and giving it to God. Brian Kinchens, LSU standout and 13 years in the NFL did not prepare Brian for the phone call one morning while teaching Bible to his 7 graders. The call led him to the 2003 New England Patriots with 3 games left in the season and a lifetime of memories.

Marx did it again.

Five Cities that Ruled the World: How Jerusalem, Athens, Rome, London, and New York Shaped Global History by Douglas Wilson

Book recommended by Dave Moore (Twitter @DGEMoore). He used this book as part of his extensive paper on American History title "What Can We Really Know About History."

I like the book, it has some good antidotes and pieces of information, but it did not do justice to it's title. The author and publisher seems to be ashamed of the Christian and religious emphasis the of our history. I say ashamed not because of the lack of it in the book, but in the descriptions about the book. They neglected to mention anything about the theological part of the book at all.

Without a doubt, Wilson knows his history, and I especially like what he did have to say about the Christian impact to our history. The introduction to the book was really good also.

I'm behind on posting, but I've been reading!

Assassins (Left Behind, Book 6) by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins

Apollyon: The Destroyer Is Unleashed (Left Behind No. 5) by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins

Soul Harvest: The World Takes Sides (Left Behind No. 4) by Jerry B. Jenkins and Tim LaHaye

Book: "When Character Was King: A Story of Ronald Reagan" by Peggy Noonan

What a great book!! I try and read a book about Reagan every two or three years and this has to be the best yet with God and Ronald Reagan in a close second.

This isn't just a good read, but a pleasant read. If the author's intent in writing this book was to show how much she, Ms. Noonan, really cared about Mr. Reagan, she gets an A+.

Obviously, it helped that Ms. Noonan knew the Reagans and those close to them for years, but even so, few people can make words seem so real. This is the first of Ms. Noonan's books I've read and it will be interesting to see if she can accomplish such a feat again.

Thanks to David Smith for having the book laying out for Melinda Grace to mention, and thus, my buying and reading it.

To that end....

Nicolae: The Rise of Antichrist (Left Behind No. 3) by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins

Book: "God in Work" by Christian Schumacher

I'll update the notes later, but this is a very good book about bringing Biblical principles into the workplace in such a way that they literally make a diffence in a person's day-to-day job.

Explanations later, but some of this is along the lines of Bakke's Joy at Work. And like Bakke, this has a lot of hands-on experience over many years of practice.

This book is part of the reading in my Theology of Work studies.

Book: "Tribulation Force: Left Behind Series" by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins

Comments later, but part of what I'm using to keep my thoughts critical and purposeful.

Book: "Mark's Story, The Gospel According to Peter" by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins

See comments on "John's Story." Ditto

Book: "Annointed for Business" by Ed Silvosos

I've been slowly rereading and taking more notes since my orignal read in Oct 2007.

From the Introduction:

The marketplace.....is to a metropolis what the heart is to the human body. Yet millions of men and women who have been called to ministry in the marketplace feel like second-class citizens when compared to those who serve in a churhc or missionary context, and they often fail to rise to their God-appointed position. It is time to give marketplace people their rightful validation as full-fledged ministers, because the last revival - the one prophsied by Joel and quoted by Peter in Acts 2:17-21 - will take place all over the city and not just inside a church building.

This book is part of the reading in my Theology of Work studies.


More notes to come...

Book: "When God Prays" by Skip Heitzig

I'm not sure how long this book has sat in my "to read" pile, but it surfaced and I'm glad it did. About this time every year I try to read, or re-read, a book on prayer and I'm sure blessed picked this one up.

Heitzig uses the real Lord's Prayer, John 17, as his base for the book and expositorily moves forward.

That I picked this book up to read I don't believe to be accidental. This past year I've read the Book of John numerous times and have studied what many pastors and writers have had to say about the 26 verses of John 17. I'm not disappointed in the least about this author's commentary and teaching points.

As a bonus, there is some great material in this read for those searching out the "ministy of work" worldview.

To that end...Read Well.

Book: "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan

A few dozen, or even hundred, of Crazy Love was being given away at the recent Austin Christian Business Summit. A book about Love at a business function! I love it. Tom Morris would be proud (reference to his book "If Aristotle Ran General Motors").

After reading half of Crazy Love, I decided to slow the read down with the intention of reading it slowly over the next few weeks...more of a few paragraphs to go to sleep on type thing.

But, I finished it after 3 or 4 pick-ups. Chan has some extremely important things to say. His focus on Christ's demand that we love, coupled with disciple, baptize, and teach is hitting some points with my own thoughts and beliefs.

My two criticisms are about the title and a reference to what seems to be an indication of a "higher" calling of full-time vocational ministry (page 172). The critism about the title is more of a cultural thing I guess; why is it so crazy to love like Jesus said to? But, there is too much good material in this read to get hung up on either of these.

So, and though Chan mentions in a subsequent book he's written that this is not a book he's gone back to....to the Ponder list it goes.

I give the book Four Stars because
1. it is in my Ponder stack
2. not one I'll likely talk much about to others, though I will recommend (I know, wierd)
3. many good points about love
4. the subject matter itself, and well written along the lines of the subject

To that end...read well.

Book: "John's Story; The Last Eyewitness" by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins

If you enjoy scripture and history you'll likely love this read. LaHaye and Jenkins have seemed done an excelent job in writting about the historical Gospel of John.

This is one of 4 in a series entitled The Jesus Chronicles in which the authors put the lives and writings of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John into a "fictional" but "historical setting and what might have been going on in their thoughts and lives as they wrote their respective books of the Bible.

I use "likely" and "seem" because there is much about the historical and theological settings that I don't know, and some reviewers have given John's Story, or I should say, the authors' writing of it, some very critical reviews. Yet, I notice that these reviewers invariably give very favorable reviews to what I believe some very far-fetched fiction.

From my limited experience LaHaye and Jenkins don't do anything to wrongly depict scripture and known historical facts and the books reads well.

I think it is important to consider the Biblical writers circumstances and the hisorical backdrop of the times.

Great Read, though this reveiw might be a bit wishy-washy! But it's worth you reading and deciding for yourself. Undoubtedly, 999 or 1,000 people will walk away with more real knowledge and insight into the Gospels, scripure in general, and Jesus than they have now.

To that end....Read Well.

Book: "God at Work" by David W. Miller

Subtitle: The History and Promise of the Faith at Work Movement

This is a subject near and dear to my heart, and my attempted habits.

I read the book in preparation of hearing the author speak briefly at the Austin Christian Business Summit. Britt Harris, an acquaintance, knows Dr. Miller personally and brought him in for the evening. Thanks Britt.

The book seems to be written in a very "mainstream" academia manner and a brief visit with Dr. Miller confirmed that was the purpose.

Comment on inside front cover: Secretaries to CEOs do not turn to their cleargy for guidance in bringing their faith to work, but to their peers and a burgeoning cottage industry on spirituality at work.

Some of the my margins notes, underlines, and comments:

• lack of scripture is obviously due to the audience (mainstream academia)
• Chapter One - good, solid, and transparent about how the church is not equipping itself to minister to its average member (this theme continues throughout the book with suggestions to the church in Chapter 8)
• Lack of Biblical history on God at work
• mentions R. Paul Stevens' definition of work: simply as "purposeful activity involving mental, emotional, or physical energy, or all three, whether remunerated or not" - I emailed Stevens to see if I could get a dialog going about the book. So far, he has just commented that he has not read the book but did read Miller's doctrinal thesis.
• Interesting points about pre vs postmillennialists and how that can shape one's view (pg 25-)
• manufacturing, demand for labor in cities, and family unit being torn apart (pg 27)
• very interesting how he lays out his "Social Gospel Era" and the conservative, radical, and progressive types
• Author mentions "laity, layperson" quite a bit; doesn't seem to have any real emphasis on priesthood of the laity and doesn't present any argument for or against the lack of New Testament usage of the work "clergy"
• Nothing mentioned in book about Doug Sherman and his book "Your Work Matters to God"
• Miller does a good job telling about his departure from his partnership at private equity firm in order to go to seminary to study theology and how his peers and clients responded. He sent out 150 faxes and letters and struck a deep cord among many, if not all. Responses indicated many of the executives where experiencing a deep emptiness and disconnect.
• Pg 75 - The demand for faith at work may best be understood by identifying and analysing the needs that businesspeople and other workers feel.
• Pg 76 - Research of this book suggests......integration of faith and work can be seen in 4 major types of faith issues; Ethics, Evangelism, Experience, and Enrichment (Four E's)
• Pg 79 - Among the many roles and functions of both the church and theological academy is to think theologically about the nature and purpose of humanity
• We think the church would be interested in being present in the whole of life, including the workplace.....and the academy through research would support such a view
• Comments on Chapter 5; author does a great job describing how unprepared the church is to not only help their members on work-related issues, but their sermons are not relevant to our day-to-day lives and what we REALLY deal with - to the point, we don't want to go to the church for help when we need it.
• Great stuff on page 85, 91, 94
• Chapter Seven lays out the Four E's.
• Pg 145: Pastors and churches that wish to respond seriously to the Sunday-Monday gap will need to develop new strategies of equipping laity ministry of integration that connects the Christian faith to the workplace in meaningful and constructive ways....yet an intentional ministry to businesspersons and the workplace must be more than a laundry list of programs
• Pg 145: Clergy should go to their parishioners' places of work for short visits as regularly and naturally as they make hospital and home visits.
• Pg 146-149: Clergy who wish to equip their people to integrate faith and work effectively will first need to develop an ministry of presence and listening, of public preaching and prayer, of teaching, spiritual integration, of gatherings.

Dr. Miller wraps the book up by outlining the promise and then commenting that the book "while perhaps providing a foundation for future research into the FAW movement, is hardly complete." He concludes by stating the goals of the book which includes "to raise questions for further research."

Good book and while not exhaustive it is a very important read.

And.....If it takes more research to get the vocational ministers to get it together to properly minister to their members, then I pray for more research.

To that end.....