Belief Networks Books

After reading this pre-publication edition, we were very impressed. As a small bookseller, we are rather discerning as to what books to choose for our inventory ~ and this book will definitely be a standard in our store.

If you are looking for 1) practical and useful ideas about how to "think" prosperously; 2) how to keep a journal tracking your thoughts about prosperity and achievement while you take this new path; 3) a way to incorporate being prosperous in your own fashion, while still having a sense of spirituality ~ then this book is for you.

Author Webb is very adept at incorporating a sense of personal wealth, along with a feeling of personal spirituality. She reminds us that they go hand in hand ~ if you don't feel prosperous, your spirituality suffers along with every other aspect of your life as well. Webb gives the reader "permission" shall we say, to be prosperous, while still maintaining a level head.

For instance ~ she asks the reader, just how much is enough? How much is enough for you? A personal and individual question, but more importantly, the answer is just as personal and individual to you. Not how much your friend makes, your family, sports stars, famous people ~ but what "you" want to make. Then she takes you on a step-by-step path to incorporate the unique beliefs that will take you where you need to go to fulfill your goals.

A very well done book. We recommend it strongly.

Congrats. This book facilitates a) introducing the topic of cyber space in sacred mosaic, and b)leads the readers to a higher platform. Democratic vistas calls for information access. The book in hand does fulfill this indeed. It is for the reader, surfer, viewer, to move on (if they desire to find virutal realities) in synchronous and seemless environments.

Gazzaniga conducted some of the first research on split-brain phenomenon, from which popular culture got the whole left brain - right brain thing. If you are interested in that and think you know what it's all about, take the time to read this short explanation of how the research was conducted and what the author himself makes of it. It's really worthwhile. There are a great many misconceptions and overgeneralizations out there about left/right-brain issues. Gazzaniga debunks some of those and offers his own conclusions -- just as fascinating as the usual pop stuff, but better grounded in reality.

Gazzaniga argues that our brain is a conglomerate where several processes go on separately, and he then asks (and ventures an answer) how we manage to perceive just a single unified experience for ourselves.

First, I must state that I am biased about this book. Reason being is that I am one of the contributors - I have 3 poems in this anthology. However, that being said, I must honestly state that I found this book, upon receiving my copy, so moving, that after reading some of the poems and prose pieces I was moved to tears.

I feel there will be many woman who will be able to relate to many of the experiences so poetically worded in these pages.

Entrenched among the poignant words of everyday women are the words of Maya Angelou, Rita Dove and several other well-known poets and writers. What wonderful company!

It's a great, pick-it-up, put-it-down, read-it-anytime kind of book!

As a college professor and campus pastor, by far the most memorable section in Creps' book for me was his chapter on "Learning: The Discipline of Reverse Mentoring." This he defined as "a very specific form of friendship in which the junior instructs the senior, not as a replacement for other forms of mentoring but as an essential complement to them."

I am assuming that Creps is close to my age (45), so I could relate to the growing sense of obsolescence that he describes so graphically in trying to keep up with new developments in technology, culture and spirituality. But I love his assertion that "the act of asking for help always serves us well. Humility is wisdom's constant companion."

How often do I approach students as the expert-in-residence, and how often do I approach them as a fellow learner, humbly asking for their advice on topics that I am grappling with myself (which includes just about everything!). Creps hits the nail on the head (no pun intended) in his summary of the difference that our attitude makes upon learning, and life in general: "A soft heart makes everything else work, while the need to appear knowledgeable and powerful pumps poison into the relationship. Remember, you are being crucified, not just educated."

ORD is a promising place to start a much needed dialogue. Many people have commented that this book seems to be written to the Boomer generation but I feel that it's all about how you engage in the dialogue. When I started the book, I must confess that I took the stance that it was written for another generation and I walked away several times. But Earl has a way of conveying the "how and why" in a manner that is more than informational, I see it as an invitation. It's an invitation to rediscover what it means to be missional. Earl provides practical insights to what this life could actually look like if we embrace the necessary change that is in the air. This book is about a journey that we, as disciples with a missional mandate, should embark on together. To write as though we, old and young alike, have arrived would have been detrimental. Instead ORD faces off with the realty that we risk irrelevance if we don't work together. The last two chapters (Surrendering Preferences and Legacy) where profound for me because at any given point in my ministry, I'm going to be in either position bouncing back and forth and in need of the discipline and humility to see the mission through. Will I choose to lay my preferences down and believe in the work of the Holy Spirit to fills the gaps that will always exist? I think it was meant to provoke and to prod and to push the limits of what we believe the mission to be. It can serve the academic, the poet, the theologian, the revolutionary, all because it's only the beginning. I think that this book could be an incredible tool to bridge the gap between what we know and where we want to go as leaders and as disciples of Jesus. I would recommend this book to the leaders that I love and that are closest to me as well as the most different from me because I am eager to engage in this conversation. It may get messy and I risk offending and being offended but these leaders I work alongside, the mission, the sought and the Seeker, are all worth it. See these writings as an invitation and embrace each chapter as a challenge to dive in.

The cure for the irrelevance of the gospel to today's culture requires a little more than making us look cooler. It requires more than spiky hair tattoos and piercing.

In Off-road disciplines, there is a breaking down of the walls of distinction between sacred and secular settings for the gospel and provides a framework for the secular to be come sacred in all walks of life. There is a genuineness in being sensitive to God changing US in order for us to be missional.

The outward mission is preceded by an inward mission; from a journey in the world to a journey within your own heart.

Do not read this book if you are happy with your "me" focused Christianity within the four walls of your church.

As a leader in a campus ministry, I really enjoyed reading Dr. Creps's
insights into ministry in today's culture. The book is a mixture
between scholarly endeavor and thought-provoking, down-to-earth
conversation with the reader. It is not always clear if the target
audience is ministry leaders or any Christian, but there are useful
observations and challenges in the book that any believer can grow
closer to the heart of Christ. Off-road Disciplines provides many good
challenges to conventional thinking about ministry in today's society
- you don't have to agree with every thought to enjoy the book and
these challenges are very needed to encourage creative thinking about
such a relevant topic.

Dr. Earl Creps published a study guide for this book on his website
(www.earlcreps.com), and I highly recommend it as addition to the
book. It contains great summaries of each chapter from a fresh angle,
and challenging questions to further think about the topics. There are also
endnotes to each chapter at the end of the book. While common in
scholarly publications, I find endnotes less helpful as
footnotes. However, the decision for endnotes was probably editorial
and having to look for them is just a minor inconvenience.

In the first half of the book, Dr. Creps is investigating personal
disciplines, such as the willingness to learn and being transformed,
and finding a pragmatic trust in God. The third chapter, discussing
the term postmodernism, is surprisingly disappointing - maybe I just
expected more from such an expert like Earl Creps - the chapter's
theology seems stuck in a modern worldview. To make up for it, the
next chapter is the books best, introducing the concept of reverse
mentoring. I can't wait to learn more about it in Dr. Creps's next
book. The first half of the book finishes with talking about effective
ways of connecting with "the sought" (thanks for introducing this
wonderful term), and about how real humility is not self-depreciation.

The second half of the book is investigating corporate
disciplines. After a chapter on how to honestly evaluate a ministry,
the next chapter discusses trying to find unity between innovation and
preservation drives. Different ministry types on the
innovation-preservation-spectrum are described by comparing them with
TV shows and Biblical cities. While I like this idea, I think the
comparisons could be stronger and are too generalizing. The remaining
chapter are all very strong, talking about the need to combine
theology and practical ministry, about the three dimensions of ministry
(heart, venue, Spirit), about sacrifice and the surrender of personal
preference, giving Timothy's circumcision as example, and, finally,
about passing the baton and transitions.

Anyone who likes to be challenged to think about Jesus's call to
ministry, will find good observations and food for thought in Off-Road
Disciplines.

"Missional" apparently is the new buzzword in many denominations as I hear it a lot. After reading this book I finally figured out that a missional leader, as defined by Dr. Creps, was basically someone who was culturally relevant (of course - the only holy grail of ministry today), wasn't afraid to try new things, and was willing to admit that they could be wrong doctrinally. While some great thoughts and ideas were in the book, this appeared to be a conservative authors attempt to be hip and make friends with the Emerging church movement. As a result I agree with the reviewer below that the bulk of this book instead of helping us see the world through the "eyes of Jesus", seems aimed mostly at helping leaders to see Jesus through the eyes of the world. I only need to read the newspaper to discern the latter.

I was slightly confused by one point in the book because Creps says that a missional leader also has doctrine worth "smuggling", but then proceeded to make fun of a preacher he heard on the radio who was apparently conservative, orthodox and passionate about his doctrine. That didn't square with me.

Save your money on this one and buy Os Guinness' book Prophetic Untimeliness - you will get much more out of it.

The professional historians faint as prominent mathematician Doctor Fomenko et al research the known historical data and come to fairly controversial conclusions.

For example, the English historians rage at the suggestion that the history of Ancient England was de facto a Byzantine import transplanted to the English soil by the fugitive Byzantine nobility. As the sign of recognition of the special role of the English historians who consider themselves the true scribes of World History, the cover of the present book portrays Tintoretto's Jesus Christ crucified on the Big Ben.

The Russian historians brand it as pseudoscience because Dr Fomenko asserts that there was no such thing as the Tartar and Mongol invasion followed by over two centuries of slavery, providing a formidable body of documental evidence to prove his assertion. The so-called `Tartars and Mongols' were the actual ancestors of the modern Russians, living in a trilingual state and aspiring Global Empire with Arabic and Turkic spoken as freely as Russian.

The ancient proto-Russian state was governed by a double structure of civil and military authorities and the hordes were actually professional armies with a tradition of lifelong conscription (the recruitment being the so-called `blood tax'). Their `invasions' were punitive operations against the regions that attempted tax evasion.

Fomenko proves for a fact that official Russian history is a blatant forgery concocted by a host of German scholars brought to Russia by the usurper dynasty of the Romanovs. Their ascension to the throne was the result of conspiracy, so they charged these German historians-imports with the noble mission of making Romanov's reign look legitimate.

Dr Fomenko et al prove Ivan the Terrible to be a collation of four rulers, no less. These rulers represented the two rival dynasties - the legitimate Godounovs and the ambitious Romanov upstarts.

The European historians fume not only because Fomenko blows consensual Russian history to smithereens, successfully removing a crucial cornerstone from underneath the otherwise impeccable edifice of World History but for asserting that all medieval European Kings and Princes were but breakaway vice-regents and vassals of the Global Empire who badly needed glorious and very `ancient' past in order to legitimize their new independence from the Empire.

Dr Fomenko adds insult to injury, wiping out one by one: the Ancient Rome: the foundation of Rome in Italy is dated to the 14th century A. D., the Ancient Greece and its numerous poleis, which he identifies as the mediaeval crusader settlements on the territory of Greece, the Ancient Egypt: the pyramids of Giza become dated to the 11th to 14th century A. D. and identified as the royal cemetery of the Global Empire, no less.

The civilization of the `ancient'' Egypt is irrefutably dated to the 11th to 15th century A. D. following the breakthrough in decoding of the ancient Egyptian horoscopes cut in stone and painted on the temple walls.

Arabic historians may find some consolation in the crucial historical role of the Ottoman Empire as a part of the Global empire in the 15th - 17th century. The trouble is that this Empire was initially a proto-Christian state, with Hagia Sophia identifiable as Temple of Solomon, but built in 1550-1557 A.D. by Sultan Suleiman according to Fomenko and Islam with all its key figures is datable to 15th 16th century A. D.!

The Chinese historians are also an unhappy lot because Fomenko wipes out the Ancient History of China outright. No such history. Period. The compilation of the so-called Ancient Chinese History is reliably datable to the 17th 18th century only. It is perfectly recognizable as the Ancient European history, reworked and transcribed in hieroglyphs as yet another historical transplantation.

The Divinity excommunicates Dr Fomenko because the history of religions according to Fomenko looks as follows: the pre-Christian period (before the 11th century and Jesus Christ ), Bacchic Christianity (11th to 12th century, before and after Jesus Christ), Jesus Christ Christianity (12th to 14th century) and its subsequent mutations (15th to 17th cy) into Orthodox Christianity, the Catholicism, Protestantism, Islam, Buddhism, and so on..; and The Old Testament written after the New Testament in xiv-xvi cy A.D., if you please! Everybody served? Saint Augustine was quite prescient when he said: "be wary of mathematicians, particularly when they speak the truth."

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.

Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/RAZQNMXM4M9CL Has history been tampered with? Yes, it has! Did events and eras such as the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, the Roman Empire , the Dark Ages, and the Renaissance, actually occur within a very different chronology from what we've been told? Yes, they certainly did!

The history of humankind is both drastically shorter and dramatically different than generally presumed.

Why is it so? On one hand, it was usual custom to justify the claims to title and land by age and ancestry, and on the other the court historians knew only too well how to please their masters. The so called universal classic world history is a pack of intricate lies for all events prior to the 16th century. World history as we learn it today was entirely fabricated in the 16th-18th centuries. It's likely that nobody told you before, but

there is not a single piece of firm written evidence or artefact that is reliably and independently dated prior to the 11th century.

Naturally, after what you've learned in school and university, you will not easily believe that the classical history of ancient Rome, Greece, Asia, Egypt, China, Japan, India, etc., is manifestly false.

You will point accusing finger to the pyramids in Egypt, to the Coliseum in Rome and Great Wall of China etc., and claim, aren't they really ancient, thousands of years ancient? Well, there is no valid scientific proof that they are older than 1000 years!

The oldest original written document that can be reliably dated belongs to the 11th century!

New research asserts that Homo sapiens invented writing (including hieroglyphics) only 1000 years ago. Once invented, writing skills were immediately and irreversibly put to the use of ruling powers and science.

The consensual chronology we live with was essentially crafted in the 16th century by the Jesuits.

The world history was compiled from contradictory mix of innumerable copies of ancient Latin and Greek manuscripts and other irrefutable proofs delivered by late mediaeval astronomers that were cemented by the authority of writings of the Church Fathers.

Early in life, we learn about ancient history. Children love the magical lessons of history - they are like fairy tales. Teachers recite breathtaking stories; very soon We learn by heart the names and deeds of brave warriors, wise philosophers, fabulous pharaohs, cunning high priests and greedy scribes.

We learn of gigantic pyramids and sinister castles, kings and queens, dukes and barons, powerful heroes and beautiful ladies, emaciated saints and low-life traitors.

Ancient history is based documents, manuscripts, printed books, paintings, monuments and artefacts - called primary sources.

The problem is that neither these ancient documents, nor events described therein can be irrefutably dated, moreover they contradict each other for the most part.

When a school textbook tells us that Genghis Khan in year X or Alexander in year Y, have each conquered half of the world, it means only that it is so said in some of the written sources.

There are no answers to simple questions:

When were these primary sources written?

Where and by whom were these sources found?

It is wrongly presumed that ancient and medieval chronicles, written by Genghis Khan's or Alexander the Great contemporaries and eyewitnesses, are readily available. Actually, only sources written hundreds or even thousands of years after the events are there, compiled mostly in the 16th 18th centuries, or even later.

As a rule, these sources suffered considerable multiple manipulations, falsifications and distortions by editing. At the same time,

innumerable originals of ancient documents under various pretexts were destroyed in Europe under various pretexts.

The names of persons and geographical sites often changed meaning and location during the course of the centuries.

Geographical locations became clearly defined on maps only with the advent of printing.

This made possible the circulation of identical copies of the same map for purposes of the military, navigation, education and governance tasks.

Historians from Oxford say: "hey, everybody knows that Julius Caesar lived in the first century B.C.

`Julius Caesar' statement is only a point of view as

there is simply no irrefutable documentary proof that Julius Caesar or any other great name of antiquity ever existed.

Better than that - extremely rare sources that can be reliably dated back to the 10th-14th centuries A D, do not show the polished picture of classical history.

They show a picture both contradictory and confusing.

All methods of dating of ancient sources and artefacts are erroneous:

Radio-carbon C14 method produces dating with exactitude of plus minus 1500 years, therefore it is too crude for dating of events in historical timeframe!

The Almagest tractate, which lies as corner stone contemporary chronology, compiled in the 2nd century A D by Ptolemy, the founding father of astronomy, contains astronomical data of 9th to 16th century!

The Bronze Age,that has supposedly began 5000 years ago. Bronze is made of 90% copper and 10% tin, but the technology for tin extraction dates back to 14th century A D!.

All eclipses contained in manuscripts, like Thucydides one, relating 'ancient' events have exclusively medieval dating. All horoscopes cut in stone or painted in Egyptian temples, like Dendera have exclusively early medieval dating solutions.

Not quite what you have learned in school? Open your eyes, and, you will find sufficient proof to reach step by step the inevitable conclusion that the classical chronology is false and therefore, that the history of ancient and medieval world universally accepted today, is also false. Have a fresh outlook on everything said or printed about "ancient" and "enigmatic" Roman, Greek and Egyptian, medieval as well as all other "lost and found" civilizations.

Antiquity and Dark Ages are phantoms invented in the 16th 18th and polished in 19th 20thcenturies. Human civilization is in fact barely 1000 years old!

This book will change your perception of History forever!
What if Ancient Rome, Greece and Egypt were invented during Renaissance?
What if The Old Testament was a rendition of events of the Middle Ages?
What if Jesus Christ was born in 1053 and crucified in 1086 AD?
Sounds Unbelievable?
Not after you've read "History: Fiction or Science?" by Anatoly Fomenko, the genius mathematician.
Armed with astronomy and computers Anatoly Fomenko turns History into a rocket science.

Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun (ie. closer), different tilt on its axis (ie. less than 23.5 degrees), different orbit (ie. more circular), different rotation (ie. in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different relative positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently from how we would today? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history or geography is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.

Thanks to Hugh & Matt, I was sleep deprived for a whole weekend. The Tangible Kingdom was so good, I didn't want to put it down! As a lay-person, I highly recommend the book. It helped me process my personal frustrations of the Church in a healthier way, and look at how purposefully I'm living among the "Sojourners" in my life.

I'm really glad that Hugh & Matt weren't foolhardy enough to give a "formula" on how to live in community ("Follow these 5 easy steps..."). Instead, they filled the book with stories of their conversations with ordinary people, whether at a bar, a coffee shop, in their neighborhood, and in the living room--places that I hang out in too. That reinforces to me that ministry doesn't have to happen in a church and I don't have to be in vocational ministry to have an impact on people. I can do that wherever I am too. The middle chapters of the book were heavier, as Hugh went into different church models. It was interesting, but not as directly applicable as it would be to a church planter or leader.

The book's also been "key" to me intentionally readjusting my lifestyle. Working in a young marketing firm in California, I'm learning to see and love my coworkers differently. I'm enjoying all the new conversations, getting to know them, and trusting that God is working mightily throughout it all.

Excellent book, funny, and very impactful!

While reading the book on a plane trip home I was prompted to intiate an impromtu conversation with guy sitting next to me. I asked him to read the story in the first chapter about Feona. He did and he like it. But wondered, why was the author so willing to sacrafice himself to talk to someone about God. That opened up another conversation.

The practical ideas and simple acts of communicating the Gospel might inspire you too. The one downside for me was the lack of a narative that shows how the principles are lived out over time in the same context, in other words, what happened to Feona. I've already given away my first copy to a leader who needed some practical guidance. It's that kind of book.

The only reason I gave it a four, was because the practical stuff in the back is stuff our community of faith is already doing, so if you are already doing it, then it will be a very very quick read, but the rest of the book was amazing - Every pastor or church leader should have this book in their library

I just finished reading this book cover to cover . . . what a great read.
The writing style is so personal, almost conversational. More than anything, it's obvious these guys really love Jesus. And yet Halter and Smay don't avoid telling the hard stories along with the good ones.

As I read I thought of several "sojourners" I've known over the years . . . and wished I had read this book about 10 years ago. Tangible Kingdom will be good news for churches who are tired of doing the same-old, same-old; and it'll be good news for people who never really dreamed of "church planting" but are living breathing examples of this way of being community.

Maybe one too many references to Starbucks in here, but other than that, I'll probably never walk out to check my mail (or step into my shed to get a tool) the same way again!

As a pastor and church-planter, I am constantly looking for helpful tools that normal people can grasp regarding living on mission. Despite all the evangelical discussion about being "missional," few people are actually doing it with the fruitfulness of Halter and Smay. This is an engaging read with very practical lessons that can help anybody who is seeking to more faithfully engage the world around them. The most helpful things for me had to do with:

- Tangible ideas regarding discipleship
- Helpful advice for battling consumerism in myself and others
- Living out mission in the context of community, not just as an individual
- Very helpful comments on engaging culture

The other thing I really appreciated about this book was that it was written with a gracious tone and, though the authors come from a more incarnational approach, it doesn't disregard or bash megachurches. I think you'll find this book very helpful regardless of whether you're part of a brand new church or an established, big church.

"Leading From the Second Chair" is written by Mike Bonem and Roger Patterson, two veterans of leading congregations while serving in subordinate roles. The book is to help other church support staff (Assistant or Associate Pastors, Youth Directors, Evangelism Directors, Worship Leaders) to be effective leaders in their local congregation while also fiercely loyal followers of the Senior Pastor.

Bonem and Patterson argue that, in order to be an effective "second-chair leader," a person must embrace several sets of paradoxes. They must be fully subordinate and loyal to the Senior Pastor, yet they must also proactively lead the congregation (take initiative, build relationships, make and carry out plans). Second-chair leaders must develop an expertise in a particular area of church work, yet at the same time must always keep the congregation's "big picture" in mind. Finally, the second-chair leader must learn to find contentment, happiness, and joy in his position, while at the same time feeling the restlessness that comes from ambitious dreams.

The authors attempt to tackle a difficult subject in this book, and the mantra of "embrace paradoxes" does capture the confusing reality of second-chair leadership. They appear to have a good grasp of what challenges face the second-chair leader and they do a good job of confronting the reader (who is presumed to be a second-chair leader) and calling him to repentance if he is guilty of insubordination, lack of initiative, laziness, or otherwise failing to embrace the various paradoxes. In short, they call a sin a sin and call the reader to repentance.

Yet, while they appear to understand the unique situation of second-chair leaders and repeat continually the difficulty of such a position, the author's words never really connected with this reader. The authors give vague examples, they give thumbnail sketches of what other second-chair leaders experienced, and they speak in generalities far too much to make a real connection with the reader. Second-chair leaders who turn to this book for help need to know that the authors really, truly understand what the second-chair leader is going through (complete with all the frustration, discouragement that go along with poor leadership teams, and all the synergistic joys that come with a highly functional team). But rather than encounter the reader at an emotional level, the reader is told "we know what it's like, trust us," and then he is given broad generalities.

It should be noted that the book makes many assumptions about the reader (which may or may not be the case with you). The authors use a variety of real-life examples of multi-staff ministries, but they all fit the same general mode--wealthy mega-churches with huge staffs and non-traditional ministries (e.g. multi-site models; outreach through drama and praise band; heavy college campus ministry; coffeehouse worship). Those working in smaller, traditional churches, or those who emphasize depth in ministry rather than breadth might not find this book as helpful. Also, the authors assume that the Senior Pastor is a driven, hard-working visionary; those who find their congregation or first-chair leader stagnant may not benefit from this book.

In all, there's nothing really bad about "Leading from the Second Chair," but there's nothing really great about it either. Mildly recommended for anyone on a team ministry, whether first-, second-, or third-chair. Yet, realize that while this book might be a discussion facilitator, it is certainly not the definitive work on the subject.

This book gave me a fresh perspective on a difficult situation. I can get away with calling myself a good leader. I am a graduate of the nation's oldest military college and a former naval officer. And I know that all leadership is challenging. But I was not ready for the difficult dance that a second chair has to manage. No one person - even a senior pastor - can be the expert on everything. And if you are a strong leader, with proven and developed expertise in your profession it can be difficult when you report to someone without the same insight. I am an associate pastor in a growing church and also the principal of the church's school. My senior pastor is a great guy, an amazing preacher, and a solid church leader who has little experience in education and management of multiple employees. It can be tough trying to support someone who doesn't get you and does not have the time to absorb all that you have learned in two decades of working. But that is my job and it is also my job to be the servant and make things work in this relationship. This book gave me a lot of what I needed to get there mentally. On another note, if you are the top person in any ministry involving multiple staff you may need to read this book as much as your subordinates do - especially if you have less than five years in a senior subordinate role. But don't trust me - the people who wrote and contributed to this book are the experts - and it shows.

"Leading From The Second Chair" is a book that generates healthy discussions and allows anyone in a leadership role in a church to gain a better perspective on what they do and what the First Chair Leader goes through.
I have led our pastoral staff through a discussion of the principles in this book, allowing time for feedback, comments, interaction and questions. It has been a healthy time of understanding how God has wired each of us and how we can better serve our leader, build God's church and stay healthy.

IF . . .

Staff communication and Egos are healthy enough to take it.

This book elevates the role of second chair pastoral staff. As the lead pastor of a church I appreciate the public acknowledgment of the immense value of second chair leadership. Any senior pastor who feels a need to micromanage or minimize the role of others is guilty of leading the church to mediocrity, sort of like an engine only running on one cylinder. I always want my second chair leaders to be LEADERS in every sense of the word.

This book also cautions second chair leaders to check their personal egos at the door when they enter. Subordination is a great American weakness that does great damage to the church. Often second chair leaders excell in vision, energy, and drive, but too often are weak in areas of savy and experience. If the first chair leader feels threatened, things quickly go from bad to worse. This book builds savy.

This book is timely, important, and could potentially prevent many ministry wrecks. I suggest that every multiple staff church use it as a study guide for a series of staff meetings. I wish it had come along earlier in my ministry.

I'm someone who recently transitioned from first chair to second chair by choice due to a recognition of my strenghths and weaknesses. This book helped in that transition as I felt my way around this new role. It also helped confirm for me that I had made the right choice. I found especially helpful the section on the "deep/wide paradox" in seeing the need for balance between minutia and grand vision. Also helpful (and humbling for a former first chair) was the section on the "subordinate leader paradox". This book will be extremely helpful to the second chair leader who feels trapped in a bad situation with a bad first chair (not me) but is still full of great wisdom for the person in a great situation with a great first chair leader(like my church). I recomended this book to a church planter in Hawaii and he read it along with his potential second chair guy, which I thought was a great use of this book. Every second chair leader should read this, especially young guys like myself.

This book contains practical (be is very basic) information for locating religious resources on the internet. One plus regarding this book is that it covers more than just the 8 'great religions' and also covers alternative religious sites as well. Recommended for the internet search engine challenged.

It is quite off-subject in the first few chapters, going through explaining how to use various features of the browser and such, but it does get going eventually. It is by far the best book I have read yet concerning online religion.

Along with being a great list of great web sites for many, many religions, it also covers quite a bit of information about them, explaining some basic philosophies, practices, etc.

If you're doing any religious research or looking for your religion or doing anything else with religion online you must have this book!

This author belives that the Soka Gakkai is pure evil, and as a Soka Gakkai member I was deeply offended. But its still a OK book.

Bruce must be congratulated for the indepth research in facilitating acces to the Web, that is otherwise hidden, deep and in mysterious webs.

An interesting project, considering that every religion has its critics, and you are always going to offend someone by writing about their religion. The Watchtower is no exception, with literally hundreds of websites postured against this organization and only two official websites of the Watchtower with very limited information. Yet, it is the responsibility of the web critic who wishes to reach the reader to be kind and fair to members of the religion who may be browsing online. A little humor and some poetry, film and sound waves are nice. I get many Witnesses write me at freeminds.org.

Leading Congregational Change is an excellent read for all pastors taking their congregations to a new level of health and vitality. About half way through the book one realizes too much to soon may be expected from the laity. Change is a process. It takes patience. Within these pages is perscribed the value of patience and process when leading a congregation through change. A quick read. I highly reccommend it.

This book does not offer simplistic answers to a complex issue. Instead, it provides tested, seasoned directions, discussions, and examples for leading congregations to a "preferred future". It's a must read for every church leader.

This book is an excellent answer to the question, "how do we transform declining congregations into Christ-like bodies that display the power of the Gospel in our communities?" [page 1]

Jim Herrington and James Furr of this author triad are great friends of mine in ministry. Readers should take time to abosorb the spiritual and strategic wisdom of these two guys along with the third author, Mike Bonem.

For congregational leaders and congregational champions who are looking for a solid change process that has been well tested by practitioners, this is a good book to add to your collection.

Judicatory leaders will especially want this book as it was written from the perspective of reinventing how a local denominational organization helps its congregations to transform.

For congregational leaders and congregational champions who feel they already know the process they like to use for change and transition, this is a book that at least they must reference. Too many processes do not adequately address the spiritual and relationship vitality that is so well addressed by this book.

As the General Supervisor of the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel in the United States, I am constantly looking for leading edge thinking to resource our 5,000 licensed ministers. The authors of LEADING CONGREGATIONAL CHANGE are much more than just brilliant theorists or students of change theory. They are practitioners who have successfully piloted their recommended change process and offer this excellent book to help leaders in congregations seeking true and lasting change.

LEADING CONGREGATIONAL CHANGE recognizes the complexities and difficulties in bringing real change to established congregations. No quick fix or limited approach produces the fundamental changes needed to position many established congregations for future vitality. The authors apply current change theory to the local church in a sequential and understandable way.

I purchased multiple copies of this book and distributed them to Foursquare District Supervisors across the U.S., recommending that they encourage pastors in their regions to use this excellent resource.

This book is a guide to psychological manipulation of the church, geared toward leaders that want to move the church in a different direction whether it is scriptural or not. If you are resistant to what they want to implement, this book will instruct them on how to fool you and draw you in, even using false flattery and kindness as a tool. If you are not easily taken in they will ostracize you, making you appear to be the problem and perhaps even recommend you leave. Deception and cunning are key words here. If church leaders will stoop to the levels suggested in this book, they are not led by God, but by their own flesh and are not worthy of term 'leader.'