Resources Books

I am a small-groups person. I have been in one small group or another, often as a leader, almost continually, for the past 30 years. I believe small groups are just about the most important aspect of a church's life.

I have read many books on this, gone to many seminars. There is a lot of good material on this topic.

But in my present role as a church consultant, this is the book on small groups that I hand to pastors who are wanting to know how to grow a small group ministry or how to better equip their small group leaders.

Why? As George explains in this book, most church small groups do a good job of promoting nurture and fellowship, but most stop there. George believes an effective small group should perform three basic functions, not just nurture. In addition to nurture, he believes small groups should be effectively engaged in small-group-based evangelism (George says that in any given year, only one small group in four does any evangelism), and he thinks that small groups should constantly be training small group leaders through apprenticeship. I agree that a small group needs all three functions. And so I use this book as the entry point for someone who is new to these ideas about small group life.

After this introduction, I point churches to further training or more in-depth printed materials about various aspects of this approach to small groups, but in my opinion, there's not a better starting point than this one.

We have used this tool since it came out. I've found that this tool is best for easily organizing the 'how to' stuff of small group leadership. It does not cover the ministerial philosophy issues. A good book for that is 'Master Plan of Evangelism' by Robert Coleman.

As the title for this book says, it covers nine keys for effective small group leadership. Each key really has four or five sub points...so in reality it is nine times about five...or forty five keys if you will. But George has organized them into nine groups...or keys.

We've found that leaders who study this material are easier to work with and easier to build a vision with for a local church ministry. There are a lot of books on Small Group Leadership that will help you. This one is very practical. It's so well written you can use it even if all you do is read the paragraph headers. Everything is well explained and easy to find or follow.

So even for leaders who don't like to read or who you suspect will not read everything you ask them to read, this book still might get through to them. I recommend it as a curriculum text for a course in a local church/ministry for leading small groups.

Enjoy it!

Read anything you can find by Carl George. I believe God is using him to impact the way church will be "done" in the 21st Century

The best two things about this book are: 1) it helps the small group leader coordinate with the pastor, and 2) it includes shepherding, building community, discipleship and evangelism as part of the small group experience. It is the best balanced book available today!

Carl George effectively communicates the essential basics. This book does a good job of highlighting the difference between being a facilitator of small group time and being a leader (someone who is a disciple-maker). I have used this book as the main text for training small group leaders. It provides great material for interactive discussion and presenting a wholistic picture of all that small groups can be.

I gave this book to my husband. He is a rangeland management major and he is in love with the book. I do not know anything about plants, but he seems to love it and find it extremely useful. Compare to the expensive "weeds of the west" this book is relatively cheap for the amount of plants it has.

As a Range Conservationist in WA State a great book for all range mgrs, range techs., however, I was surprised to see Thurber needlegrass taken out of the most recent issue.

This is a great reference book for North American Range plants. It includes a detailed description of each plant along with sketchs and a maps to show distribution. Grasses, forbs and shrubs are included. This book also closely follows the lists for university range plant identification team contests. An excellent reference or study book for North American plants.

This book contains 200 of the most common range plants in North America. Each entry contains a detailed illustration, range maps, scientific and common names, complete written description, growth habit, origin, livestock value, and medicinal uses of the plant. I found the illustrations to be the best I've ever seen, especially the detail included in the grass spikelets. This is an excellent reference for anyone trying to familiarize themselves with common range plants.

North American Range Plants is a great book for any beginer, taxonomy student, layman, and expert alike. It is easy for the novice, because it's not in a key format, which may disappoint some more serious plant collectors. It contains 200 of the most common, and important plants found in the United States, Canada and Mexico. I have had this book for sometime now, and it has become an invaluable resource in my studies at Texas A&M University, where I have come to know one of the co-authors, Stephan Hatch. He has an unparralled knowledge of plants and a dedication like no other to put forth a good product, so i know from experience that this book was written by folks who are the top in their field of study. Being from Texas, i have worked internships in the plains of central North Dakota and the desert "outback" of eastern Oregon and have found the book to most useful, oftentimes referring to it before trying to "key out" a plant in a more technical publication. It just doesn't get any better than this.

From advice on leaving a ministry to encouragement to those entering the ministry, this book provides helpful advice for the pastor. Even the layman who seeks involvement in the church will learn powerful lessons from this book. This book is a "must read" for every pastor or Christian worker.

As an experienced Minister, Warren Wiersbe shares the true significance of this greatest of all callings. The 30 "chats" are a must read for all who would seek to serve God.

This book is ideally suited for younger ministers or more experienced pastors who recognize their limits and their need for wisdom. I can hardly imagine any preacher, young or old, who would not benefit from reading this short book. Dr. Wiersbe gives us "down-to-earth" nuts and bolts type teaching here rather than the obscure ramblings so common in many handbooks and textbooks. While reading this book, I felt like I was "sitting down across a log" with a seasoned pastor, who gave me advice on everything from humor to finances to facing opposition. I kept my highlighter handy so I can refer back to this volume frequently. This is the type resource I NEED!

Wiersbe's book is a gem for the pastor and layperson. As mentioned in an earlier review, you will feel as if Wiersbe is right there beside you when reading the book. The conversational tone of the book makes it enjoyable to read.

Wiersbe also presents many excellent points, some of which are:

1. A sense of humor is necessary for the ministry.
2. Let books enrich your life and ministry.
3. The joy and fear of the Lord frees us from the fear of
people.
4. Our loyaly to the Lord is reflected in how we treat
others.
5. Do not fret about the future, for it belongs to God!
6. Do not let the devil get a stronghold in your life.
7. Our service should be based on obedience, not feelings.

All in all, an excellent and highly recommended read!

I was doing some research for a book project and found that this book by Wiersbe was often quoted. So, I picked up the book for myself and soon found out why it was so popular among pastors and lay leaders.

Weirsbe delivers a warm, easy-to-read primer on following God. The Christian life is really about sacrifice and service. Why are we here? For ourselves or to glorify our God?

Whether you're a pastor or a plumber, a songleader or a salesman, this is a great book to read if you're heart's desire is to be a servant of God.

I have been thoroughly enjoying Gails writing. She shares tradtional and modern use of a variety of herbs. She has a small section on making your own.
Her writing style keeps you interested and educated.

The cover to this book is also beautiful and represents the book well.

This is a fabulous book full of the wonders of our green allies. Herbal medicine, plant lore, poetry, ceremonies, delicious recipes, and a terrific index make this book a must for anyone interested in using wild plants. The section on medicinal trees is unique in my experience. The author's lovely spirit shines in every word and makes me wish I was a member of her family.

Are you kidding me? I can't believe this book is not on the best sellers list. Definitely a wonderful piece of art. You will have so much fun learning about herbs and their uses, that you will have to wonder why you haven't heard of this book before! Get the word out. The author deserves to be recognized.

As a novice to the world of medicinal herbs, I found this book to be an outstanding resource. The plant descriptions and directions for medicinal use are clear, concise and inspiring. But it is the call to the way of the Wise Woman and the stories interwoven which sang to my heart.

This book is a must for anyone wishing to gain extensive knowledge on many herb and plant uses. It's format is very easy to read as the herbs are alphabetized. The author, Gail Edwards, has obviously done her homework as she includes a rich historical background and suggestions on the uses of each herb. You will definitely improve your herb IQ if you read this terrific book. Enjoy!

I'd like very much this book, cause in there I can found my needs. This book very help my in my university where I can study more in my program, Hotel Management.

The text was used for a graduate level class in the MBA Program at Oklahoma City University. As such, it is easy to see that it is an important tool to aid in understanding management of people in the American work place.

I do however have one criticism. The text does not do a good job at distinguishing between managing and leading. In my opinion, they are two different titles for those who take the reigns of an organiation.

simple, down-to-earth, and realistic. what i liked most about this book is the management application summaries in each chapters. however, i do sometimes get the feel in several chapters that the treatment of the topics are more encyclopedic. the book cover and some graphics are mediocre.

I have read many books regarding organizational behavior, and this is by far the best! I work as a management consultant specializing in organizational behavior change in Japan, and this book gives me hundreds of useful ideas. Actually "The Essentials of Organizational Behavior" by Dr. Robbins is translated into Japanese language, which is also a great book. "Organizational Behavior", however, is even better. Japanese translation wanted!

I have been an intensive reader of Professor Robbins' books since I was a grad student. What I recommend most out of his books is this "Organizational Behavior". Its comprehensive, albeit detailed and reader-friendly contents (e.g., lists of WWW URLs in each chaper to facilitate readers' in-depth learning) has always inspired me. Now, as an Associate Professor of Organizational Behavior, I am fully convinced of the fact that my students always thank me for adopting this book as the text of my course. I hope every substantial reader will find the significant usefulness of this book, the essential text.

For anyone that has started a small business, a new venture or acted on a great idea knows that the process is an adventure. It can also be terrifying, humbling and risky. Thankfully we now have a book that helps us reconcile our desire for the adventure with the reality of the risk.

Parallel Peaks is a quick and entertaining read - perfect for that 2 1/2 hour plane ride. It's written in a clear, concise way that even an entrepreneur with little business savvy will be able to understand.

I have referred back to it many times during my first year in business and feel more educated and prepared with McQuaig's 8 keys to the summit. I highly recommend this book for anyone that is ready to start climbing toward their goal.

John McQuaig sat down for a well-deserved rest at the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, "the roof of Africa," on the morning of January 31, 2005. After five days of climbing more than 19,000 feet, he had finally fulfilled one of his dreams. He celebrated his accomplishment with his fellow climbers, and then began to think about ... business. After all, running a business is a lot like climbing a mountain. McQuaig had found success in both venues. He could share his experience in both fields by outlining this analogy to others. Hence the inspiration for this book.

PARALLEL PEAKS is organized around eight keys, the common elements that McQuaig identifies as being crucial considerations for both endeavors. These include: creating a vision; doing a SWOT (strengths-weaknesses-opportunities-threats) analysis; assembling a supportive team; engaging the expertise of a knowledgeable guide; and making progress, one step at a time. Each chapter begins with inspirational quotes and b&w snow-capped photos, then launches into explanations and examples. The author could have taken a trite and flippant approach, using various metaphors and making endless analogies between launching a business and scaling a mountain. But thankfully, he doesn't choose that route. He bases his observations on his own solid achievements in various companies in the Northwest and in summiting various mountains around the world. To that advice he adds real-life examples as well as best practices and research done by other notable business authors (Jim Horan, Michael Gerber). The result is a volume that is slim but hardly superficial. Above all, the text is easy to read, and the process as a whole makes perfect sense.

PARALLEL PEAKS is highly recommended for anyone who has entrepreneurial or high altitude aspirations. Even a small-business owner, a middle manager, or someone embarking on a large project will find helpful and logical suggestions here. McQuaig makes it even easier by including several summary pages at the end, complete with simple questions to answer. The only ingredients missing are you and your dreams / goals.

Over the years I have probably read a couple of dozen "how to" management books by a wide range of authors, and thisis one of the best I have read.
Two reasons why it is good: first of all, it is short...which means it is not verbose, but in fact is quite tight and well edited (and well written). Second, it is based on the author's personal "been there, done that" experience. A lot better than some academic theorizing.

Parallel Peaks was the most engaging business book I have read for a very long time! John McQuaig has combined his impressive mountaineering experiences and his enviable business success, to create an exciting and insightful read. Though I certainly never aspire to dangle over a seemingly bottomless crevass, I feel confident I can be a stronger leader and business manager by applying his 8 keys to success.

I strongly recommend having a warm blanket to wrap yourself while reading Parallel Peaks - John's great talent for storytelling will leave your teeth chattering, as if you too, have reached the snowy mountain summit!

John D. McQuaig, business consultant and mountaineer, draws for the reader a set of parallels between his two pursuits. He tells us that all the vision, planning and focus that go into a successful climb are likewise the keys to building a successful business.

While there are many books on business ownership, I have never read one that so happily blended business with action and adventure. Parallel Peaks: Business Insights While Climbing the World's Highest Mountains is short (116 pages) and highly readable, and makes a good starting point for anyone planning a business venture--or wanting to reclaim the joy and enthusiasm of a pursuit gone stale.

McQuaig's eight keys to success are enumerated elsewhere so I won't list them here. All of them, however, are well within the control of a committed entrepreneur. Even his eighth key, luck, can be managed to a certain extent: prepare to capitalize on good luck and mitigate the bad effects when circumstances go awry.

The linkage between climbing and business came to McQuaig at the summit of Africa's Mt. Kilimanjaro. Throughout the book he entertains with stories from this and other climbs, and there are numerous highly apt examples and anecdotes. It may be "business lite," but on the other hand "fourteeners" (mountains exceeding 14,000 feet in elevation) are risky to life and limb, so a climber's technique has to be sound if he's going to come back to his desk and write about it.

John D McQuaig, like Douglas Adams, delightfully exploits "the fundamental interconnectedness of all things." (Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency)

Thanks to J. Kaye Oldner, on whose Book Blog I won this book. I recommend it to you as a quick and inspiring read.

Linda Bulger, 2008

Great book on pastoral care. Patton presents concepts in ways that are easy to understand and apply to ministry. What Patton has to say is valuable to anybody who works with people during difficult transitional periods of life or who are facing challenges with interpersonal relationships.

This is a one of a kind pastoral care book which is focused on what someone needs to know beginning their practice as well as for those who need to review. I have used it with Clinical Pastoral Education students who give it high marks as well as with a Church lay pastoral group. Worth considering for a personal library and professional review.

This book is an excellent introduction for those embarking on Clinical Pastoral Education. It is written from a Christian perspective, but is sufficiently ecumenical to be useful to those of other religions.

John Patton, a noted pastoral care provider, wrote a clear, frank, and opinionated book, Pastoral Care: An Essential Guide. I found the first part of the book about chaplaincy to be very helpful; along the lines of a "how to do it" book. I began reading the second part about counseling but stopped, because the section was of no interest to me. Either way, the book is worth having in one's personal library.

This is a very practical book for pastors..no wasted words or "gush". We are using it in the 4th year of the United Church of Christ Lay Academy for our study in Pastoral Care.

The Pastoral Companion

Plain but useful, like a pair of sensible shoes

There's nothing sexy or exciting about "The Pastoral Companion." It's everything that most Roman Catholic parish workers -- from pastors to pastoral assistants -- might need to answers typical questions involving Canon Law. As might be expected, law involving the sacraments is treated most heavily. But other parish concerns -- the ecumenism, sacramentals, the liturgy of the hours and the role of parish administrators -- are given their share of space.

The book is written in sturdy, accessible prose that refers to the canons by number, but without necessarily quoting them. The book also quotes from other helpful Church documents -- the General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM), documents of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF), the Book of Blessings and many others.

A handy guide for those who aren't canonists and whose ministry is on the parish level, "The Pastoral Companion" was assigned as a main reference in a Canon Law class for lay people that I took at a mainstream Catholic seminary in the Northeast.

Intellectually, Fr. Huels is among the leading and most gifted canon lawyers currently living in North America. In this book, Fr Huels applies his canonical genius to the pastoral application of canon law. This book is not so much for the canonist, but for the non-canonist engaged in pastoral ministry. It teaches the basics of canon law, provides a handy glossary of canonical terms, and tells you when you are facing a canonical situation over your head and need to phone a canonist.

In particular, the non-Canonist will find Fr. Huels' treatment of marriage law handy. It outlines in what situations a dispensation is necessary, as well as in what circumstances a proposed marriage is invalid. It also provides a handy canonical reference to other common questions that arise around the celebration of the sacraments -- such as who can be a sponsor for baptism and confirmation.

I highly recommend this book to non-canonists engaged in pastoral ministry who are seeking a handy reference concerning how canon law applies in common pastoral situations.

This is a very fine book, indeed. Spiritual leaders and priests are obligated to know the answers and explain them well. However, aren't priests and spiritual leaders obligated to not just know and explain the answers, but to live them, model them? May I suggest that the true spiritual leaders do not wear Roman collars. Lay people, who are striving to live the life the Church prescribes are the true spiritual models and leaders. They, not just the clergy, would greatly benefit from this book. We, the laity, are not shy or afraid to ask questions and educate ourselves. Buy this book! It is well worth every penny to all practicing Catholics.

This indeed is a tool for the pastors and all incharge in leadership in our churches. Rev. Huels breaks down the doctrine and liturgy, sacraments and explains them abviously from the Canon Law perspective. We live in a times when people are not shy or afraid to ask questions. As priests and spiritual leaders we are obligated to know the answers and explain them well. To have this book on the top of your desk is very handy and helpfull.

This is actually the third edition of this excellent book. It is now available directly from the publisher.

This was a wonderful read. For anyone in management (particularly human resources) this book is easy/quick to read and provides some very interesting information and practical information. I highly recommend it.

This book was refered to me by a professor at my college. I think this is the most accurate book i have ever read. It is a must read for all managers and supervisors. Job well done.

Here is a practical guide for managers that provides key insights and action steps for managers to diagnose, evaluate and effectively guide people to success in their jobs. It is easy to read and even easier to implement these best practices for setting goals, empowering people, enhancing and achieving personal and team performace, and dealing with the borderline or ineffective performers. As a management consultant and coach, I highly recommend this book to managers at all levels in the organization.

The Performance Advantage Method provides an effective guide for leaders in coaching and developing team members to greater performance and personal success. The Method is easy to understand and apply with specific leadership actions recommended for each performance challenge diagnosis. This book is a great leadership guidebook for supervisors and executives alike.

This is a "must read" for managers at all levels. It truly provides the best method for diagnosis of employee performance issues and powerful tools for appropriate corrective action.The stories drive home the key points and make it an enjoyable book to read.

Chelsea Hall
October 13, 2005


This year I read The Pit and the Pendulum, by Edgar Allen Poe. It's about a guy who is captured and tortured by a pendulum, but shortly after is thrown into an abyss. My favorite artist, Griss Grimly makes drawings from Poe's stories. So since I love Griss so much I decided to check Poe out. I'd recommend this story to any one who likes Griss Grimly's art who is over the age of thirteen. If you don't like guar, crazy, magical, scary, mystery books you wouldn't like this story, but if you do like everything I said you like this book.
This book was wonderful because of all the torture. The guy in this book was hearing people that really weren't there. For example he said "I saw the lips of the black robed judges. They appeared white whiter then this sheet upon which I write these words and thin even grotesquely. Also another scary moment in this story is when the pendulum gets closer and closer to his rob, it was very suspenseful. It said "down steadily down it crept. Down certainly, relentlessly down". The only thing wrong was it was a little hard to understand. Like "it enveloped my limbs and body close in all directions, save in the path of the destroying crescent".
My over all opinion was a wonderful experience. It was fun and not boring, unlike all the other books I've read. Anyone looking for horror stories, which love terror scary and fun you will like this book.

I was sick sick unto death... just a look into a bizarre descent into Hell.

Edgar Allen Poe (1809-49) is one of the most famous of American authors of mysterious and macabre stories, certainly the most famous 19th century one. The Pit and the Pendulum was first published in 1843, and is one of his best known works. The early part of the story has a diffuse, dreamlike quality, but before you know it, the story quickens and sharpens as it descends into hair-raising horror. The hero must strain and struggle to stay alive, but will the Inquisition let him live, can nothing save him?

OK, it sure is easy to see why this story is recognized as a classic work of American literature! It is scary, in the older way, without recourse to blood and severed limbs, and keeps you glued to your chair reading it. I am now quite sorry that it took me so long to get around to reading this story, it's great, and I highly recommend it.

SPOILER BELOW:

By the way, is it true that this story is a Christian allegory? It is inevitable that, regardless of what the hero does, he will end up in the pit (Hell). When he avoids it early on, you see the figure of time with its pendulum slowly moving towards taking his life away, and afterward the pit is still inevitable. And then, when all hope is lost, and his efforts won't save him, it is the hand of God that reaches out to save him. Read this story and decide for yourself!

I think that this was a very exciting book. It's one of those books where you need to keep reading to find out what happns next and it's like you can't stop. The narrator is stuck in the Spanish inquisition and he discovers a pit--no one knows whats down there, but you can guess by context clues. Then he awakens to a pendulum swinging over him, that comes down so slow. Will he be cunning enough to escape? Read and find out!

I thought this short story was very good! It is about a man(with an unknown name) that is sent to the spanish inquisistion and is stuck there for many nights. One night he later awakes and is awoken by a swinging pendulum coming down to slice him. The only way out is through a never ending pit or to be killed by a spiked pendulum...which way will he choose...read it and you will find out!