Expanding the View

This is a book review of Do All Lives Matter? - a book by Wayne Gordon and John M. Perkins. Released in 2017 through Baker Books, Do All Lives Matter? explores this question by looking at stories and finding the issues that we can no longer ignore and the solutions we all long for. It is a book of captivating stories and concerns. With affirming reviews from Shane Claiborne (Author), Noel Castellanos (CCDA), Philip Ryken (Wheaton College) and notable others accomplished leaders, this short book (92 pages) looks to explore what it may take to move from a sense of apathy and unawareness, and towards action and conviction.[1] The belief that all matters is at the heart of our founding documents, and it is one of those matters the witness of the scriptures is “abundantly clear – beyond any reasonable debate…all human beings are equal in the sight of God.”[2] In nine short chapters, these authors explore their experiences, who are the invisible people, and what it means to have a Christia

This is a book review of The Soul of Shame , a book by Curt Thompson M.D., released through IVP Books in 2015. As a read,  The Soul of Shame , looks at how we retell the stories that we tell to and about ourselves. Specifically, this captivating book looks at the intricate relationship between shame and our ability to flourish as an individual. Author Dr. Curt Thompson is a board-certified psychiatrist, a graduate of Wright State University, and is previously known for his book Anatomy of the Soul .[1] Thompson is based out of Arlington (Virginia), where he serves as the founder of the Center for Being Known , an organization that develops resources and educational opportunities for leaders on the intersection of spiritual formation and interpersonal neurobiology.[2] This book on The Soul of Shame , comes with excellent reviews from the likes of Jeffrey M. Schwartz (Author of You Are Not Your Brain), Walter Brueggemann (Columbia Theological Seminary), Dan B. Allender (The Seattle Schoo

This book review is of Flourishing in Ministry by Matt Bloom. In Flourishing in Ministry , Matt Bloom offers statistical insight on what it means to cultivate clergy wellbeing. This Alban Institute Book was released through Roman & Littlefield in 2019.  The extensive research that led to this book was from a project overseen by author Matt Bloom, who also serves as the; Associate Pastor at the University of Notre Dame, Director of the Wellbeing at Work project, and the principal investigator on two related research projects – the Flourishing in Ministry project (Lilly Endowment, Inc.) and the Faith and Flourishing at Work project (funded by Templeton Religion Trust).[1] In this book, Bloom looks at what leads to flourishing and healthy leadership, considering the way “Pastoral work is complex, challenging, often arduous, sometimes exhausting, and almost always important for the lives of church members and communities.”[2] Through their research projects, Bloom and his team worked

This is a review of The Five Love Languages , as written in 1992 & 1995 by Gary Chapman and released by Northfield Publishing. This book looks to help readers to improve at how they express heartfelt commitment to their relationship partner, and it briefly explores the way these five love languages are also connected to the development of children. This is the second time I read through this book, and over the years I have become very familiar with the work of Gary Chapman and his thoughts on these love languages. Throughout this book, Author Gary Chapman explores what he calls the five love languages. These five love languages, though they have many dialects, are the five ways in which Chapman has found that couples often express, experience, and demonstrate their love for each other. After twenty years of marriage counseling, it was Chapman’s conclusion that “there are basically five emotional love languages - five ways that people speak and understand emotional love.”[1] Those f

This is a review of Amazing Love by Corrie Ten Boom. The edition of this book was printed in 1985, and was published by Christian Literature Crusade in Fort Washington, PA. This is one of the shortest and most unique reads from Corrie Ten Boom. At just a little over 111 pages, this short read from Corrie is made up of chapter after chapter of short stories. Each chapter is roughly two pages long, and equates to about 27 short stories or chapters. This read, unlike The Hiding Place and Tramp for the Lord , does not tell a story where one chapter connects to the other. Rather, this short read follows short reflective challenges and encouragements from the life, ministry, and experiences of Corrie Ten Boom. I think there is some great stories and reflections in Amazing Love , but it is certainly my least favorite read from Corrie Ten Boom. Her other books have shown off her story and the theological, missional, and experiential depth that stemmed as a result of her journey. This book, A

This is a book review of Advent Conspiracy , released in 2009, by Zondervan. Though organized like a book, more than an engaging read, Advent Conspiracy is a resource for leading small groups, sermon series and discussions as part of the Advent Conspiracy Movement. This book was written by Rick McKinley, Chris Seay, and Greg Holder. The Advent Conspiracy, as a movement, was started when the authors realized how much we – as followers of Jesus - miss it (or God’s heart and example) every year at Christmas. They share that the story of Christmas has now become “consumption and consumerism.”[1] As a result, the world is missing out on “the prophetic mystery of Jesus’ birth,” a birth that “means missing God-with-us, God beside us- God becoming one of us.”[2] As the authors began to lament and discuss the way they, as pastors, felt like the Christmas story was being undermined and missed, they launched an experiment to try and invite their churches (and other churches) into the nativity

This is a review of The Board and the CEO , a book published in 2017 by Peter Greer and David Weekley. In this book, Greer and Weekley look at seven practices to protect your organization’s most important relationship - the relationship with the board and the CEO. This short read, just over 100 pages, stems from extensive research and experience in the nonprofit world from these authors. This book, and its findings, emerged after an experience that Peter Greer had in a learning experience with other faith-based nonprofit leaders. As these leaders talked about the greatest challenges facing their organizations, Peter admits that “one after another, leaders shared that their greatest difficulty [was] related to some aspect of their relationship with the board.”[1] Those leaders, and the authors of this book,  quickly identified that this Board and CEO relationship was exceptionally challenging - and perhaps more than anything else in the organization - was “a proverbial minefield, with t

This is a review of How to Hear God , a simple guide for normal people, by Pete Greig. Published by Zondervan in 2022, this book carries praise from John Mark Comer, Matt Redman, Nicky Gumbel, Jon Tyson, Heidi Baker and other notable names. Through this book, Greig explores how to hear God and Pete carefully “explores the story of Christ’s playful, poignant conversation on the road to Emmaus and champions the ancient practice of lectio divina .”[1] John Mark Comer points out in the forward of this book, that Pete and the book have been able to bridge, or gone beyond the boundaries of the “Christian tribalism of our day – charismatic/noncharismatic/Reformed/Weslyan/Angelican/Anabaptist/conservative/progressive/etc, etc.”[2] I’d agree with that comment from Comer, and I agree with Comer that Pete – through this book - is deeply rooting us in “something far more ancient.”[3] This book certainly covers the need for deepened spiritual formation, how to hear God, and it empowers the reader

This is a review of The Gift of Disillusionment by Peter Greer and Chris Horst. The book, published by Bethany House in 2022, looks at what it means for leaders (and individuals) to find a way to endure their circumstances and callings with hope, especially after disillusionment sets in, and after their idealism fades. Often in life, we start our vocational journeys with a sense of call or purpose, “full of idealism, brimming with hopes and dreams.” [1] The authors point out that it is idealists that often “feel an inner prompt to respond.” [2] They continue, idealists are those “not content to merely bemoan injustice of just ponder how to respond, they step out with the courage to do something.” [3] In defensive of idealism, the authors point out that “at its core, idealism is built on promise and possibility – a vision of what could be.” [4] Yet, as often the case, our journeys traverse into barren lands with overwhelming and oppressive pains and problems arise.  The book fair

This is a review of the The Invitation by Bethann Miller, a short read helping marriages learn practices so that each partner may be better be known and cared for. This book is short, reflective, and brief in nature that hopes the reader(s) will understanding how crucial it is “that we maintain an ongoing conversation of change with each other so that we do not end up lost in the relationship, living side by side with a stranger or roommate.” [1] Bethann Miller is the CEO, and one of the founders, of Safe Place, a ministry that provides support, training, care, and guidance to folks serving in Jesus-centered ministries throughout the world. [2] As a licensed chaplain and board-certified pastoral counselor, she has been caring for pastors, missionaries, and ministry leaders for several decades and throughout fifty-three nations. [3] In addition to providing spiritual direction and pastoral care to leaders, Bethann often facilitates marriage intensives and group retreats. [4] This b