Struggling With Self-Consciousness

October 11, 2009 by admin  
Filed under Blog, Books, Recommended By

The following question was sent to me and several friends with whom I work;

Need a good book recommendation for a girl who struggles with self-consciousness and knowing who she is in Christ…suggestions?  Should be an easy read please.”

Here are some of the answers provided by the other recipients;

  • Seeing yourself through God’s eyes by June Hunt.
  • Stomping out the Darkness by Neil Anderson
  • The Glorious Pursuit by Gary Thomas
  • Captivating by Shannon Eldridge.

What books would you have recommended?

Christian History Recommendations

October 10, 2009 by admin  
Filed under Blog, Books, Recommended By

Chris Armstrong, author of Patron Saints for Postmoderns: Ten from the Past Who Speak to Our Future, recently recommended the following “excellent historical reads”.

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The Single Mom’s Devotional

October 7, 2009 by admin  
Filed under Blog, Books, Recommended By

Book Cover

(click on image)

When Carol Floch realized that her marriage was about to end and that she was about to join the ranks of moms left to raise their children on their own, she could not stop crying. She mourned her shattered hopes and grieved the loss of the family she had always dreamed of. But mostly, she cried for her children. Into Carol’s grief, regret and fear, God’s Spirit came with a message from Psalm 84: “Build your nest near my altar, and I will be your children’s source of security, protection, provision and blessing.”

In The Single Mom’s Devotional: A Book of 52 Practical and Encouraging Devotions, Carol tells her story and shares with the “sisterhood of single moms” how they can build their family’s “nest” in the protective shadow of God’s presence. Single mothers, whether on their own after a divorce or a husband’s death, will discover how to find true life in Christ and allow the strength of that inner life to be the compass by which they navigate an unpredictable future. Near God’s altar—the cross of Christ—is where single moms will discover life through relinquishment, power through dependence and hope through surrender. Anchored at the foot of the cross, readers will find daily security and hope as they nourish their souls and nurture their children at a place near God’s altar.

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Endorsements for The Single Mom’s Devotional

“Carol Floch so tenderly guides single moms through heartbreak and loss to a place of security and hope. Her compassionate insight and practical wisdom will encourage and strengthen them along their journey as parents.” (Marilyn Meberg; Counselor, Author, Women of Faith Speaker)

“When my wife died, I too, began the gut wrenching journey of being a single parent. It was brutal. But God was faithful. My friend, Carol Floch, and her wise words are a spiritual balm for the aching soul. Single moms, please don’t just read this devotional, ingest it, live it, and let the truths of God’s word transform you.” (Rob Bugh; Senior Pastor, Wheaton Bible Church, West Chicago, IL)

“A Place of Hope: Daily Security for Single Moms by Carol Floch is an encouraging buoy in the swirling waters of single parenting. With Christ at the center of these 52 weeks of devotions, Carol wraps her experiences with encouragement, practical insight, reflection and Scripture.” (Sandra P. Aldrich, author of From One Single Mother to Another)

The Single Mom’s Devotional offers hope and refreshment to single moms. Carol Floch reminds them to be passionately committed to their two most important priorities:
• As a single adult, they are to pursue undivided devotion to Christ.
• As a parent, they are to love and discipline their children.
“Through the shifting sands of life, A Place Near Your Altar will provide a daily rock of security for every single mom who reads and applies its words.” (Gary Sprague; Center for Single-Parent Family Ministry, Founder and President
Woodland Park, CO)

“Where can you turn when your world turns upside down? You can turn to the God who knows how to enter upside down worlds. Carol Floch knows what it is like to have your world knocked over through the upheaval of divorce. She also knows what it means to have God enter her upside down world and show her how to hang on through the disaster. Carol opens her life and God’s word to guide and encourage those whose lives have been overturned by divorce.” (Dr. Deborah Newman; Minister to Women, Christ Church, Plano, Texas)

“If only I could have had access to Carol Floch’s A Place Near Your Altar: Daily Security for Single Moms following my own divorce decades ago, and then later, for use as a resource when I was leading a single parent support group. Floch’s
book leads the reader to the feet of Jesus in order to recognize her identity as a beloved child of God. This 52-day, thoughtful, beautifully written devotional is infused with scripture through and through. Carol gently uncovers the deepest needs of women who are parenting alone. She also suggests ways to help nurture their children. A Place Near Your Altar helps me even now redeem my own challenging years as a single parent.” (Dr. Scottie May; Assistant Professor of Christian Formation and Ministry, Wheaton College, Wheaton, IL 60187)

“Thoughtful, engaging and wise are three adjectives I would use to describe Carol Floch. Her contemplative work is Biblically based and serves not only to inspire but to strengthen the reader. Through her own life journey, God has brought her to a place of peace and strength. Now she shares her heart to equip her audience for the challenges and joys ahead. Carol is a gifted writer, deep thinker and Godly woman. God has equipped her with a powerful message to share with single moms and their kids. Every mom will be encouraged by her telling stories, enriching analogies, and most importantly Biblical truths.” (Karol Ladd; Author of The Power of a Positive Mom, Dallas, TX)

“In God’s dealing with His people, nothing is wasted—not even the pain and heartbreak that inevitably results from living in a broken world. In The Single Mom’s Devotional, Carol Floch not only tells her own story of experiencing the crushing disappointment of divorce, but she also shows how relying on the grace and loyal love of God can redeem children and their grieving mothers from regret and despair. Carol’s 52 scriptural devotionals are like salve on the wounds every mom sustains when her family is fractured. They define an essential perspective for those whose world has been rocked: no matter what has happened or what challenges they face, God is still good, still trustworthy, and still present to all who call on His name. He uses even brokenness for blessing in and through those who keep trusting Him. I hope this book finds its way into the hands of every single mom who needs the assurance that God is not finished with them and the inspiration to keep following hard after Him.” (Dr. E. Andrew McQuitty; Senior Pastor, Irving Bible Church)

“This amazing devotional is open, honest and vulnerable and is written out of the author’s own pain, disillusionment and recovery as a single mom. Most importantly, it is solidly rooted in Scripture–Carol’s main source of strength. We highly recommend it! Carol Floch will become a virtual companion and encourager to every reader.” (Gene and Elaine Getz; Dallas, TX)

Book Cover

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Christian Theology Book Recommendations

July 8, 2009 by admin  
Filed under Blog, Books, Reading Lists

Michael Craven of the Center For Christ and Culture recommends the following books on Christian Theology:

Simplicity – A Reading List

July 7, 2009 by admin  
Filed under Blog, Books, Reading Lists

I recently read Jack Trout’s book The Power Of Simplicity: A Management Guide to Cutting Through the Nonsense and Doing Things Right and found its thesis and content to be very helpful. We make our lives, jobs, and ministries far too difficult – too complex. I recommend the book and offer for your benefit the following reading list which he shares in an appendix to the book.

The Dilbert Principle: A Cubicle’s-Eye View of Bosses, Meetings, Management Fads & Other Workplace Afflictions, by Scott Adams

Laugh out loud funny but dead on when it comes to management fads and other nonsense.

The Practice of Management, by Peter Drucker

The Effective Executive, by Peter Drucker

Managing in a Time of Great Change, by Peter Drucker

[Drucker is] The fountainhead of common sense and sound advice. Read any one of his dozens of books and you’ll be the wiser for it. These are three of our favorites.

How to Write, Speak and Think More Effectively, by Rudolph Flesch

The late Dr. Flesch staged a lifelong battle against muddy thinking and murky writing. This is one of his most significant books, packed with examples, exercises, and checklists.

The Witch Doctors: Making Sense of the Management Gurus, by John Micklethwait and Adrian Woodridge

Two staff editors of The Economist make sense of the management gurus and debunk a lot of loony thinking. Good sections on the prophets (Peter Drucker), the evangelists (Tom Peters), and the new age preachers (Tony Robbins, Stephen Covey).

Enterprise One to One, by Don Peppers

An overly complex but useful look at how to use technology to hang onto your customers.

Focus: The Future of Your Company Depends on It, by Al Ries

Our ex-partner, Al Ries, lays out the case in great detail for doing what a company does best.

Fad Surfing In The Boardroom: Managing In The Age Of Instant Answers, by Eileen Shapiro

Ms. Shapiro takes deadly aim at the fads that sweep through business like waves in the ocean. Just the “fad dictionary” is worth the price.

Data Smog: Surviving the Information Glut, by David Shenk

We’re being smothered by information, and it’s dulling our minds. An intelligent look at how to cope with that glut.

Up the Organization: How to Stop the Corporation from Stifling People and Strangling Profits, by Robert Townsend

The late Robert Townsend wrote a classic about the foibles of corporations and how to avoid them.

Marketing Warfare: How to Use Military Principles to Develop Marketing Strategies, by Jack Trout and Al Ries

The bible on how to cope with competition. It will turn you into a killer.

The 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing: Violate Them at Your Own Risk!, by Jack Trout and al Ries

As we say, violate them at your own risk.

The New Positioning: The Latest on the World’s #1 Business Strategy, by Jack Trout and Steve Rivkin

Important insights into differentiation and how to build perceptions in the ultimate battleground, the mind of your prospect.

Cultural Criticism and Apologetics

July 6, 2009 by admin  
Filed under Blog, Books, Reading Lists

The 2008 U.S. Religious Landscape Survey conducted by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life indicates that the United States is becoming less Protestant. American religious sentiment is becoming more diverse with a larger number than ever dropping any connection to a specific religious tradition.

In such an environment, Christians need to be prepared to engage the culture effectively. To that end Michael Craven of the Center For Christ and Culture recommends the following books on Culture and Apologetics:

Culture

Apologetics

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History of Evangelicalism

July 2, 2009 by admin  
Filed under Bibliographies, Blog, Books

In a recent article in Christianity Today, Bruce Hindmarsh, professor of spiritual theology at Regent College in Vancouver recommended the following books as some of the best to introduce the general reader to early evangelicalism. According to Hindmarsh, “All of these books are a pleasure to read, and all of the authors are experts in their fields.”

Christian History Book Recommendations

June 30, 2009 by admin  
Filed under Bibliographies, Blog, Books

Michael Craven of the Center For Christ and Culture recommends the following books on Christian History;

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Christian Worldview Recommendations of Michael Craven

June 29, 2009 by admin  
Filed under Bibliographies, Blog, Books, Reading Lists

Michael Craven of the Center For Christ and Culture recommends the following books on understanding and developing a Christian Worldview;

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Belief Matters, by Pete Briscoe

June 14, 2009 by admin  
Filed under Blog, Books, Recommended By

Book Cover

Looking for a good book for helping new believers to be rooted and established in the faith? Check out Belief Matters: Grappling with the Essentials of the Christian Faith, by Pete Briscoe.  Tammy Hilyer recently reviewed the book and I share the first paragraph of her review here,

In our present culture, there are many choices of who or what to believe in. It’s important that we as Christians know Who and what we believe in and why it is necessary to live out that faith in our everyday lives and be prepared to share it with others. To help us in our understanding of our beliefs, Pete draws from the Apostles Creed, a great statement of faith memorized and recited by many for hundreds of years. Included in Belief Matters is the history and relevance of this creed, not only for the past generations, but for us today. Pete divides the Apostles Creed into 16 key phrases and provides an explanation of each point. Each chapter contains quotes, definitions, stories, and Scripture that enhance and support each key phrase. For individual or group study, Pete provides verses to contemplate, questions for reflection, and other meaningful verses and passages to encourage the reader to dig deeper into God’s Word. Each chapter concludes with the following method: Meditate, Apply, Plot, and Speak (MAPS). Using this method solidifies and expands the reader’s understanding of their beliefs and challenges them to take action on what they have learned. Pete takes the often incomprehensible points of the Apostles Creed along with the verses that support the phrases and makes them easier for the reader to understand and remember. He speaks honestly about his own struggles in understanding and living out his faith, which is encouraging for the reader. (click here to read more)

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