Books

I like to keep track of what I read in a given year. To me, it's like going back and seeing the path I've walked and the ways in which I've grown. I'm so thankful for the things God has taught me this year. My goal was 24 books - 2 a month. I didn't quite make it, but I got close. Here's my list from 2010:

• Church Planting Landmines - Nebel and Rohrmayer
• Derailed - Irwin
• Primal - Mark Batterson
• Lost and Found - Stetzer
• Failure - The back door to success - Lutzer
• Plan B - Pete Wilson
• THE ENTIRE FREAKING BIBLE!! (In a 90 day sprint!)
• Death by Meeting - Patrick Lencioni
• Outliers - Malcolm Gladwell
• Choosing to Cheat - Andy Stanley
• Linchpin - Seth Godin
• 21 Irrefutable laws of Leadership - John Maxwell
• Everyone communicates, few connect - John Maxwell
• Funded and Free - Graham/Sangl
• Wild at Heart - John Eldredge
• Wooden on leadership - John Wooden
• Radical - David Platt

What did you read? What would you recommend make my list for 2011?

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How STORYCHURCH changed the world

I love my church. Seriously.

We've been working our way through the Advent season, speaking of hope, of peace, of joy, and of love. All throughout we've looked inward and forward. Inward to acknowledge the ways we've grown cold throughout the year, and forward with hope and anticipation that Christmas can still change the world.

And throughout this season the anticipation has built. The light has grown stronger.

Sunday was one of the most incredible mornings we have ever had as a church. I don't know that I have ever been more proud to be a pastor. All month long we have been talking about the Advent Conspiracy and challenging our people to give more, and spend less. Give more of themselves, spend less money on meaningless stuff. And instead to take that extra money and turn it into something that would change the world. So this Sunday we took up a "Change the World" offering.

We had two goals: Be able to fund a well in a third world country that would literally change that community for generations to come - $5,000. And secondly, to replace a trailer we've outgrown and to then be able to give our trailer away to another church plant - $3,000.

And STORYCHURCH responded big time. All together we have so far raised just under $10,000!! This means we will definitely be able to reach both of our goals.

But we aren't done yet! There's still more we can do. There are more places that need water, more church plants that need funding, more single moms that need help. Though we've already met our goals, let's do even more than we could have ever imagined! If you'd still like to participate you can give here and under "gift options" simply write "Change the World", or place your gift in our offering box on Christmas Eve and mark it "Change the World."

Thank you STORYCHURCH for being an amazing, life giving, generous community of Jesus followers!

Don't forget our Christmas Eve service this Friday at 6pm. Invite your friends and family - the celebration just got a little bit bigger!!

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Wild at Heart by John Eldredge: A review

The first time I read Wild at Heart I believe was just after college. Recently I received a copy of a revised and expanded version that was released on the ten year anniversary of the book. Wild at Heart is a classic. The book deals with the heart of a man. John Eldredge contends that there are three desires in the heart of a man: A battle to fight, an adventure to live, and a beauty to rescue. And yet at the same time there is a question that haunts every man - "Do I have what it takes?" At the heart of every man is a fear that he won't have what it takes to come through when he needs to. It's a fear that he'll be exposed as an impostor, that he isn't really a man. Eldredge does an amazing job at answering that question and addressing that fear in a way that affirms the man in who God has made him to be.

Eldredge's writing style makes for a great read. He regularly dips into his own life and shares stories of his experiences counseling other men and raising up three boys (now all grown). Reading it again was such a joy. I realize now, looking into the rear view mirror that this book shaped me more than I knew. It breathed truth into my life that I really needed in a very formative time as I wrestled with what it means to be a man. And now, being a father with a baby boy I read it in a whole new light. One of the greatest responsibilities I get as a father is to help answer "the question" for my son.

As for the revised and expanded version of the book - it wasn't clear to me what was expanded and/or revised with exception of one part of the introduction where Eldredge comments on what it's like now 10 years after the book was released. It has a different cover, but as far as I could tell the contents of the book have pretty much remained the same - the same classic, life-giving book that it has always been. I was so glad to read it again, and it certainly won't be the last time.


(Disclosure: Booksneeze.com has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book for me to review. I was not required to give a positive review of the book. The opinions I have expressed are my own.)

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