Book Summary
This book sets forth a model for Christian parents to follow in raising their sons to be men of God. This book is focused particularly on boys, although large parts of it could be applied to girls as well. The book covers various character traits that we want to see developed in our sons at a pace of one per chapter (e.g. the title of chapter 5 is “Leading a Boy to Be a Man of Grace”, chapter 10 is “Leading a Boy to Be a Man of Discipline”, etc.). In each chapter the author shows the biblical necessity for the character trait and then gives practical advice about developing this type of character in a young boy so that he will own it when he becomes a man.
Book Review
Overall, I would recommend this book because I think that it correctly focuses on character formation. This is important. So much is written about behavior and how to get children to act right and grow into good citizens. Character formation takes care of behavior.
There were a few drawbacks to this book. I’ll just mention one. I think what was written in 220 pages could easily have been scaled down to a more manageable 130-150 pages. There’s just a lot of extra stuff in the book that didn’t need to be there. This is not a big problem.
Let me leave you with a few quotes that were memorable for me.
“Wisdom does not suddenly overtake our sons.” – p. 45
“We need to remind our sons, every day of their lives, how much we love them. We must convey that they are wonderfully and fearfully made. They are created in His perfect design, in God’s very image. They are significant just on the basis alone.” – p. 64
“Church is the hub of our social life and we made it clear to our children that church was important to us. Please hear me loud and clear parents: If you make church a priority, your children will see that priority and come to understand its importance. If you yourselves whine about it or try to make excuses for not attending, so will your children later on in their lives.” – p. 116
Monday, January 19, 2009
Friday, January 16, 2009
Sanctity of Human Life Sunday
This Sunday we will consider what the Scripture says about the plague of abortion. 10am. Don't miss it.
Our text will be Proverbs 31:8-9.
Our text will be Proverbs 31:8-9.
Monday, January 5, 2009
Book Review - The Tipping Point
***click link on right for the 2009 reading list
Book Summary
This book is a study of how epidemics are started. The title “The Tipping Point” comes from the idea of what causes something to “tip” from being a localized phenomenon to a large-scale movement. The focus of the book was to discover how epidemics (disease, social, ideological, behavioral, etc.) are spread in hopes of gaining insight into the ability to purposefully start your own epidemic for your product, idea, etc.
The discovery was that word-of-mouth epidemics are highly dependent upon just a few critical types of people: connectors, mavens, salesmen. Word-of-mouth epidemics are not initially about how many people you can tell, but about who you can tell. A connector is a person who has relationships with large numbers of people (“that person knows everybody”). A maven is a person who collects large amounts of information and wants to pass it on to others because he or she likes to be helpful (think about the person who loves to tell you about good shopping deals). A salesman is a person who has the ability to persuade others to certain action. These three groups of people are key in starting word-of-mouth epidemics. You want to get your message into their hands.
Book Review
I had seen this book recommended by several pastors and thought it might be a good read. I like to mix some business books in with my other reading because all truth is God’s truth. Many business books have excellent application for ministry leadership.
I was not, however, particularly impressed with this book’s usefulness for general ministry purposes. I loved the stories and data and examples and research…all very interesting. The idea of the book is that we need to find the few who will start a word-of-mouth epidemic. For the Christian church we are not looking for the few who can spread the word, but we want everybody to be spreading the word.
That said, it could be useful for ministry if we were desiring to have a large event or start some huge ministry and wanted to spread the news by word-of-mouth. It was a good read but not so useful for day-in and day-out ministry.
Book Summary
This book is a study of how epidemics are started. The title “The Tipping Point” comes from the idea of what causes something to “tip” from being a localized phenomenon to a large-scale movement. The focus of the book was to discover how epidemics (disease, social, ideological, behavioral, etc.) are spread in hopes of gaining insight into the ability to purposefully start your own epidemic for your product, idea, etc.
The discovery was that word-of-mouth epidemics are highly dependent upon just a few critical types of people: connectors, mavens, salesmen. Word-of-mouth epidemics are not initially about how many people you can tell, but about who you can tell. A connector is a person who has relationships with large numbers of people (“that person knows everybody”). A maven is a person who collects large amounts of information and wants to pass it on to others because he or she likes to be helpful (think about the person who loves to tell you about good shopping deals). A salesman is a person who has the ability to persuade others to certain action. These three groups of people are key in starting word-of-mouth epidemics. You want to get your message into their hands.
Book Review
I had seen this book recommended by several pastors and thought it might be a good read. I like to mix some business books in with my other reading because all truth is God’s truth. Many business books have excellent application for ministry leadership.
I was not, however, particularly impressed with this book’s usefulness for general ministry purposes. I loved the stories and data and examples and research…all very interesting. The idea of the book is that we need to find the few who will start a word-of-mouth epidemic. For the Christian church we are not looking for the few who can spread the word, but we want everybody to be spreading the word.
That said, it could be useful for ministry if we were desiring to have a large event or start some huge ministry and wanted to spread the news by word-of-mouth. It was a good read but not so useful for day-in and day-out ministry.
Book Review - The Shack
***click link on right for 2009 reading list
Here's my first book review of the year. It's will also be the shortest review of the year.
I won't be posting a review. I will be discussing The Shack on Sunday night, Jan. 11th.
We start at 6:30pm. See you there.
Here's my first book review of the year. It's will also be the shortest review of the year.
I won't be posting a review. I will be discussing The Shack on Sunday night, Jan. 11th.
We start at 6:30pm. See you there.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Pastor Mark's 2009 Reading List
The following list of 36 books is what I hope to read in 2009 (3 per month)...no promises that I'll actually make it. If you are interested in reading along with me you can buy the books by clicking on the link for each. I will also write a short review of each book so we can interact.
I've listed books by general reading category. I will announce ahead of time which book I will be reading next.
Theology
Providence and Prayer by Terrance Tiessen
Chosen but Free by Norman Geisler
The Potter's Freedom by James White
Arminian Theology by Roger Olson
Chosen for Life by Sam Storms
Pierced for Our Transgressions by multiple
The Great Exchange by multiple**
Future Grace by John Piper**
Biblical Foundations for Baptist Churches by John Hammett
Elders in Congregational Life by Phil Newton
Christ of the Covenants by O. Palmer Robertson
The Israel of God by O. Palmer Robertson
Church and Culture
Christless Christianity by Michael Horton**
Hermeneutics
Plowshares and Pruning Hooks by Brent Sandy
Church History
10 Great Ideas from Church History by Mark Shaw
The Hidden Smile of God by John Piper**
The Roots of Endurance by John Piper**
Contending for Our All by John Piper**
also, The Legacy of Sovereign Joy by John Piper is in his history series, but I have already read it
Leadership and Strategy
The Next Generation Leader by Andy Stanley
The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell
Made to Stick by Chip and Dan Heath
Parenting
The Habits of a Child's Heart by multiple
If You Take My Hand, My Son by Wayne Hastings
Evangelism
The Heart of Evangelism by Jerram Barrs**
The Pastor-Evangelist by Roger Greenway
Words to Winners of Souls by Horatius Bonar**
Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God by J.I. Packer**
Just Walk across the Room by Bill Hybels**
Christian Life
Respectable Sins by Jerry Bridges**
The Pursuit of Holiness by Jerry Bridges**
Praying Backwards by Bryan Chapell
World Religions
Islam: What Every Christian Should Know by Bassam Chedid
Islam in Context by multiple
Jesus and Muhammed by Mark Gabriel
From Jihad to Jesus by Jerry Rassamni
Fiction Novels
The Shack by William Young
I am not recommending that you read this book. I am reading it for the purpose of being able to tell the church the dangers of the book. It is a fictional book with loose connections to Christianity and with many doctrinal problems.
Okay, so there's my list. It's a daunting task for 2009, but I will be the better for it. Again, I want to invite you to read along with me so we can discuss what we read.
If you feel there is no way you could tackle this, I have designated a lighter reading list. There are 12 books that have ** beside them. These 12 are very good reads and would impact your life and would set you on a one-book-per-month pace.
Happy reading...
Pastor Mark
I've listed books by general reading category. I will announce ahead of time which book I will be reading next.
Theology
Providence and Prayer by Terrance Tiessen
Chosen but Free by Norman Geisler
The Potter's Freedom by James White
Arminian Theology by Roger Olson
Chosen for Life by Sam Storms
Pierced for Our Transgressions by multiple
The Great Exchange by multiple**
Future Grace by John Piper**
Biblical Foundations for Baptist Churches by John Hammett
Elders in Congregational Life by Phil Newton
Christ of the Covenants by O. Palmer Robertson
The Israel of God by O. Palmer Robertson
Church and Culture
Christless Christianity by Michael Horton**
Hermeneutics
Plowshares and Pruning Hooks by Brent Sandy
Church History
10 Great Ideas from Church History by Mark Shaw
The Hidden Smile of God by John Piper**
The Roots of Endurance by John Piper**
Contending for Our All by John Piper**
also, The Legacy of Sovereign Joy by John Piper is in his history series, but I have already read it
Leadership and Strategy
The Next Generation Leader by Andy Stanley
The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell
Made to Stick by Chip and Dan Heath
Parenting
The Habits of a Child's Heart by multiple
If You Take My Hand, My Son by Wayne Hastings
Evangelism
The Heart of Evangelism by Jerram Barrs**
The Pastor-Evangelist by Roger Greenway
Words to Winners of Souls by Horatius Bonar**
Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God by J.I. Packer**
Just Walk across the Room by Bill Hybels**
Christian Life
Respectable Sins by Jerry Bridges**
The Pursuit of Holiness by Jerry Bridges**
Praying Backwards by Bryan Chapell
World Religions
Islam: What Every Christian Should Know by Bassam Chedid
Islam in Context by multiple
Jesus and Muhammed by Mark Gabriel
From Jihad to Jesus by Jerry Rassamni
Fiction Novels
The Shack by William Young
I am not recommending that you read this book. I am reading it for the purpose of being able to tell the church the dangers of the book. It is a fictional book with loose connections to Christianity and with many doctrinal problems.
Okay, so there's my list. It's a daunting task for 2009, but I will be the better for it. Again, I want to invite you to read along with me so we can discuss what we read.
If you feel there is no way you could tackle this, I have designated a lighter reading list. There are 12 books that have ** beside them. These 12 are very good reads and would impact your life and would set you on a one-book-per-month pace.
Happy reading...
Pastor Mark
Monday, November 17, 2008
What's the Future Hold???
I want to get you thinking about what the future holds for us at First Baptist Smithville.
Church, would you dare to dream? Church, would you dare to think that we could be more than we are now...so much more?
Will our dreams come true because we will dream small dreams? I pray not.
I remember a few points in my life where someone asked me the question, "Mark, where do you see yourself in 5 years?" Intriguing question. The question shows how big or small your vision is. It shows how big or small your world is. It shows what your priorities are.
So...church, where do you see yourself in 5 years? Dream big. I am.
Church, would you dare to dream? Church, would you dare to think that we could be more than we are now...so much more?
Will our dreams come true because we will dream small dreams? I pray not.
I remember a few points in my life where someone asked me the question, "Mark, where do you see yourself in 5 years?" Intriguing question. The question shows how big or small your vision is. It shows how big or small your world is. It shows what your priorities are.
So...church, where do you see yourself in 5 years? Dream big. I am.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Peru Info Meeting
Just wanted to give a quick shout out to everybody from the TBC annual meeting to remind you about the Peru info meeting.
It's this Sunday evening (11/16) immediately following the evening worship service.
If you're even the least bit interested in possibly going with FBC to Peru in 2009 then come to this meeting.
Mark
It's this Sunday evening (11/16) immediately following the evening worship service.
If you're even the least bit interested in possibly going with FBC to Peru in 2009 then come to this meeting.
Mark
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)