Resources Books

The is a very good resource. It gives great ideas on how to use the internet in the classroom. What I like particulary is the wealth of ideas it gives on how to incorporate the internet in the classroom.

I highly recommend Teaching with the Internet to the novice and experienced net user. It is a great sounce of "current" web sites spanning the educational needs for K-12 students. I have used lessons taken directly from the book with great success. I consider the text to be an invaluable resource in my personal journey in understanding the "net" as well as to open new areas of exploration for my young students. This book is also a wonderful tool for parents trying to assist their children with study projects, book reports, etc. The information in this book is updated regularly through its web site as changes take place on the www. This educational tool is a wise investment for anyone who uses the "net".

Teaching With the Internet: Lessons From the Classroom is a practical, hands on guide well suited for layman use. It encompasses both Netscape and Internet Explorer browsers as well as the IBM and Macintosh systems. Each chapter is devoted to either a specific Internet strategy such as navigating and communicating or to specific subject areas and concerns within the public school curriculum K-12. This text should be included as an essential component in every school's technology reference library and utilized as an indispensable resource in effective Internet teaching. It is packed with countless creative teaching suggestions and noteworthy web sites as well as step by step instructions on how to implement it all.

This book proved to be very informative, giving step-by-step models to use to incorporate internet resources into classroom activities, computer workshops, research projects and student inquiries.It is organized by chapters that give curriculum based internet ideas, with excellent related educational web-sites. It is geared for all levels of teacher ability, so everyone can get their classroom started. Although some ideas and sites seemed repetitious, it allows you to refer to a specific chapter by subject area to find related sites and sample activities. This book is comprehensive enough to highlight features of various navigation tools, cover both MAC and PC platforms for grades K-12.

Don and Deborah Leu have created a great Interent reference/teaching guide for teachers of all computer skill levels, from beginners to old pros!

The book not only inlcudes explicit explanations of Internet terms and procedures, but includes plenty of figures and examples of what the screen would actually look like as you are working. The Email to You sections contain real teachers describing real projects that they have sucessfully done with their students. Leu and Leu also provide many, many links to resources and project ideas in the major academic disciplines for teachers to use as they begin to incorporate the Internet in to the classroom.

I would highly recommend this book to teachers and teacher educators alike. I consider my self to be an advanced user of the Internet and I learned several new things from reading this book!

Theology of the Body (T.O.B) gives a dynamic vision of the human person. Pope John Paul discusses human sexuality, vocation (marriage, religious life,etc) through the lense of biblical revelation.

PJ II quotes Vatican II in saying that we are the only creatures on earth "that were willed for their own sake" (Lumen Gentium 26). All the other creatures were created for mankind. Humans were commanded to rule the other creatures.

I found T.O.B to be the best exegesis of Genesis. Truly brilliant and amazing. I was so inspired that I am devoting part of my next book on this very topic.

PJ II tells us that Adam and Eve didn't merely want to be equal with God but they sought to usurp their Creator. They were sharing in the love of God and so they weren't inferior to God. However they believed in the word of a creature over that of the Creator and thought they could take God's throne and take His power!

Yes it is a correlation between human sexuality and God. But it is even more than that. It is about the dignity of the Human Person and Psychosomatic Unity of the Human Person. In giving of ourselves so totally we discover who we are. This is what happened with Adam. He was alone and could not identify with the animals until Eve came from His rib (or as the late Pope puts it, his heart - wow!)

Pope John Paull II does not use the word "SEX" as contemporary society does. He uses it to refer to male or female. Personally I think the word "sex" depersonalises a sacred act. Let me explain. The Catholic Church uses the word Conjugal Union. This refers to a union of body and soul and open to the gift or trasmission of life. Ok, so it may be a mouthful, "Conjugal Union" and take a bit to get used to. Let me challenge you to learn it and use it in discussions. Another word used is "Conjugal Love" Doesn't this sound better than making love.
Through Conjugal love the husband gives himself totally body and soul to his wife and his wife gives herself totally body and soul to her husband.

Did you know that through the Eucharist we can receive Conjugal Love. Christ gives himself totally to us, "Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity!" Now this is a really big WOW! This is awesome, inspirational and mind-boggling. Christ unites with us in the Eucharist.

So yes, Conjugal Union is spiritual and so is receiving our Blessed Lord Jesus Christ in the Eucharist!

I have a MP3 talk I've given on Theology of the Body which I can send you. It was a brief talk - only 10 minutes + questions given for a "Faith, Revelation and Theology" paper I have just finished studying at our Catholic Theological College. Email me through my website [...] and I will send the MP3 to you. My next book (my fourth) will feature explaining Theology of the Body for lay people.

I am really happy that more and more people are hearing about Theology of the Body and beginning re discover the richness and power behind the writings of Pope John Paul II. Let's continue to read His works and spread the messages he bestows.

God bless

Brendan Roberts

Those with a philosophical background may regard JPII's leaning toward phenomenology as either a peripheral "quirk" or a departure from traditional (i.e., Aristotelian-Thomist) realism. "Theology of the Body" should dissuade of either conclusion. JPII's approach to phenomenology is foundational to his celebration of human personhood, and totally realist and thus thoroughly compatible with traditional Christian philosophy. The theological significance of JPII's philosophical approach is clearly demonstrated in his phenomenological exegesis of the existential signficance of man's transition from "original solitude" (before Eve's creation) to "original nakedness" (Adam's encounter with Eve). JPII's meditation on how man's personal self-awareness - and thus his personhood - is fulfilled through the bodily disclosure of another person literally "fleshes out" the teaching of the universal Catechism: God is an eternal exchange of Love, in which man is destined to participate (CCC 221). I only regret that the Pope did not develop the analogy implicit in his meditation between the purely relational Personhood of the Blessed Trinity and the nuptial meaning of the human body.

The Theology of the Body is comparable in depth of thought to the works of Augustine and Aquinas.

The writings speak to a reader at numerous levels: the personal, the organizational, global, sacramental, familial, paternal, maternal, fraternal, vocational, scriptural, anthropological and many others. The beauty is the integration of teachings at and across each level!

The teachings encapsulated within this work synthesize many truths about humanity and Catholic Christianity.

The book's writings shed light on the fullness of Truth revealed in and over the fullness of time. What was implied in the truth of the Gospel is revealed in a more explicit way in the Pope's analysis.

Topics of interest include: the dignity of the human person, the human body in art versus pornography, the intended relationship between man and woman from the beginning - in the present - and future, what the physical human body reveals about the nature of the person and God, the call to Chastity and Modesty, the universal call to holiness, the mystery of Body of Christ, the mystery of the priesthood, celibacy, and the mystery of the Eucharist and much, much more.

The book is a difficult read if you are not familiar with the Pope's method... but well worth it!!

Pope John Paul II has given us one of the best (if not the best) books of modern theology today. This book is a compilation of many weekly addresses the Pope gave in the early 80's. Now compiled into this one work, we can view the absolute genius of the mind of Pope JPII. His insights into humanity, creation, the human person and the body are without equal. In fact, he may be known for this work more than any other when history judges him in the future. He has given the Church new insights into the dignity of the human person, marriage,... and made it challenging to all of us.

If you haven't read any of the Pope's writings, I suggest you start with his encyclicals, and study them hard, before jumping into this work. The Theology of the Body has already started several grass-roots evangelism projects and my guess is that we are only starting to see the fruit this book will bear.

Buy this book. Awesome, awesome explanation of
how we are trully to love .

Thanks !

This is a "Must Read" book for all trainers - both beginners and experts. You get drawn into the book through the insights about learning partnerships and by discovering your readiness for training from the heart. Then in each Chapter, the authors share personal experiences that help you learn along with them.

After reading the book, you will discover that it is like a "spacious meadow" that you can turn to for inspiration when you need it. I keep returning to the Chapter on "Creating a Service Motto". Maybe you will want to return to the Chapter "Become Intimate with the Client".

I found the book to be very helpful in managing my attitude toward training in a non-supportive environment. I have taken the time to create a motto that has taken me places and opened the doors for new discovery. I was pleased to find that meeting Cyndi and Barry in person at a CCASTD meeting was just as enlightening as the reading. Thanks to you both for opening my eyes a little wider and taking the chance to grow.

You would expect by the title that this would be described as both warm and thoughtful, but the bonus for this 160 page book is that it is also highly pragmatic and useful. Barry and Cyndi's approach is rooted in research and experience but much of the wealth comes from their myriad of anecdotes that supplement each and every topic. As trainers, we know that participants learn from our stories and tales, this is evidentally true for the written word as well. The authors share their years of experience with us but without the usual "ivory tower" approach that many authors take. A few weeks ago I read Barry and Cyndi's words about generative learning and used the concept in a recent train-the-trainer. The true worth of a book comes from its application in the real world: this book's worth far exceeds whatever its cost.

Having worked with(and admired) both Cyndi and Barry, I was delighted to see how well this wonderful book brought me back to the learnings I had gleaned from watching and listening to these master trainers. The real value of this book is that the tools for self-development and skill improvement are here along with a generous dose of the passion that comes from making a commitment to learners and following through. Master level training not just about knowing your subject, it is understanding how to help your audience grasp their own learning from the experiences, content sharing and practice opportunities they begin in your classroom. Read and enjoy, then use it.

This is one of the few books that I have read on the subject in the last several years that I not only kept in my library, but continue to read and recommend to others. The information covered is broad enough to be relevant to just about anyone in the training field, whether you train internal staff or are a trainer/speaker in the outside world. Getting 2 authors' experiences and perspectives is an added bonus. This book is an easy read that you will probably find yourself going back to again and again, which is rare to find in our information overload society!

I ordered this book and integrated two of the exercises into existing training courses the day I received it. It is easy to use these techniques to emphasize points and enhance discussion.

I highly recommend this book for people interested in incorporating improv in their training, whatever the topic. The book is clear, to the point, very creative and also very practical. Ms Koppett has collected some tried-and-true improv exercises that are easy to use and really work. Even if you have never done any theatre or improv, you can use this book. Just imagine, a training session in which your participants are inspired, creative, collaborative, funny, cohesive.....

In theatre there are many skills an actor has that out in the workplace, many managers could find very helpful. These are good performance skills, presentation skills, and the flexibility to sense a group's needs and respond to them in the moment. And when one aims for creativity and communication other skills such as teamwork, coaching, leadership, and idea generation become very important. Improv activities have been used in training on topics as varied as product training, new-hire orientations, technical training, and diversity workshops. To summarize, improve can be used to develop personal skills of trainers, to enhance the creativity and communication skills of managers and individual contributors.

This book is divided into two parts. The first part of the book provides us with six powerful improv principles and their potential applications to management and training. The second part of the book provides tightly structured directions for using 50 specific activities -along with a clear explanation of how the basic principles are incorporated in each activity. Also included in the text are explanations of major improvisational theatre concepts and techniques, links to training and management skills, and a series of exercises suitable for use in professional training environments. This book was meant mainly for managers who could adapt the techniques to their environment thereby infusing the workplace with creativity, teamwork, and effective communication.

I enjoyed this book for two main reasons. First, it offers an engaging treatment of improvisation techniques that's certain to inform (and inspire) even those without background in the area. Second, it's an excellent compendium of training activities written in detailed prose perfect for people like me who do a lot of training, but who don't have the formal schooling in training methodology and techniques. In short, this is a worthwhile read and an excellent addition to one's library of training resources.

Over the last couple of years, I have become interested in adapting techniques from improv theatre to organizational training settings. Koppett's book helped me solidly solidify my thinking on the matter. She divides her book into two sections, Principles and Activities. The Principles section is broken into seven chapters that address trust, listening and awareness, non-verbal communications...all the kinds of things for which organizations seek training. The Activities sections has instructions for 50 activities, including an overview, the relevant principles, instructions and variations, and even questions that facilitate discussions after the activity is complete. For added value, the appendices break each activity down into improv principles (trust, spontaneity, etc.) or training application (team-building, creativity, problem-solving, etc.) I've used this resource dozens of times already. In fact, I've had trouble getting it back from several colleagues, and don't lend it out anymore!

Even the 1992 addition is still one of my favorite books in my library of over a few thousand books.

He is thorough, the graphics & typesetting are excellently done (i.e.. easy to read), he gives price ranges and star ratings, which also help.

The resources are abundant, yet not too much to be overwhelming (for us who have a difficult time deciding where to go).

Phenomenal book!

Doing one holiday from each chapter.....

this book brings excitement into my life each time I look at it. I use it for ideas about what adventures might interest me, as well as, for specific outfitters. I like the reviews and grading system of the outfitters. I also appreciate the inclusion of price expectations. It was published in 1992 so it is getting dated but still very useful. I logged on hoping for the revised edition only to find that it doesn't exist.

Please, please come out with an updated edition! This book is THE place to look before you plan any type of activity. I used it to get information before going skydiving, ballooning and snowmobiling. Unfortunately the book's data is getting old. We need updates!

I am the author of the original Ultimate Adventure Sourcebook. A new edition from National Geographic Books is in production and will be released in mid-2000. It will contain most of the features of the first edition, together with up-to-date web site listings and many, many new adventures, from bungee-jumping to family vacations.

We've purchased over 10 copies in the last year and plan on participating in several bible studies based on this wonderful book - enlightening and practical.

A wonderful book - easily the basis of study and devotion. I used it as the basis for devotionals with a teaching team in China. We really did want to walk with, through and like Jesus. This helped unpackage all of His character.

This is a must-own book. As a pastor of a small church I used this book to lead our congregation weekly on how to walk as Jesus walked. It proved very fruitful. The chapters were concise and insightful and the author brought much contemporary application. Highly recommended.
Mark LaCour, Pastor of Grace Bible Fellowship, Baton Rouge, La.

I just finished a 16-week study on Wednesday evenings based on Walking Like Jesus Did. I speak on behalf of the congregation when I say that it has been a fascinating study! As a pastor, I had been looking for a study guide that points the believer to our Master as the example par excellence for Christian living. Walking Like Jesus Did is that study!

One can't help but admire the life of Christ. Many different religions claim him as a man to emulate. This book gives good biblically-based insights into his core character that help us walk with the same principles 2000 years later. Simple, practical, and easy to read (yet insightful)--this is a great book for all ages, all religions, and all cultures.

Marjorie Ryerson has orchestrated a symphony of color and meaning on every page of her book Water Music. Her fusion of prose, poetry, music from others with her own photography makes the book a full sensual, nearly audible, experience even though it is in fact a printed piece. For all those who know that water is truly one of the most sacred parts of our existence, this book celebrates that concept and reminds us of how varied and beautiful this life-giving gift is. With proceeds going to a United Nations fund to support clean water for families and to preserve natural water environments, your purchase of this book is not only a pleasure for your own senses, but a courageous effort to protect a resource that too many of us, at our peril, take for granted.

As someone who for many years made my living as a photographer, my first response to Marjorie Ryerson's photographs of water was artistic: the images are stunning; they work to convey the beauty, mystery, and power of water. Since then, watching as other people respond to Water Music on my coffee table, I see the power of the book to raise consciousness of an ever-changing and essential resource that where I live in Florida is fast disappearing. Even in the months since I bought my copy, I have seen news headlines about communities near my home where the water has been declared unfit to drink, as well as new research showing that the state will be running out of potable water some fifteen years sooner than previously predicted-now as early as 2006. In the short time that Water Music has been the centerpiece of my living room, water wars have started between northern and southern parts of the state. So I love this book. With its fantastic photographs and lyrical text, it sits there quietly shouting that water is very, very precious and that we'd all best wake up.

Cama-i (Aleut Greetings)

I am honored to be the 66th musician Marjorie Ryerson included in her incredible group of diverse and talented musicians in Water Music. Our discovery of each other was as magical and poetic as this project and has set the stage for what I believe will be a lifetime friendship. Marjorie's passion for the importance of this project, her love of Mother Earth, and appreciation for the music makers of this planet come together in a way that makes me so very proud to be an American Indian woman, a musician and an appreciative kayaker who LOVES the- Water! "Quyanaa" sister! (Aleut- Thank You) May Creator always bless your journey...

Mary Youngblood- Native American Flutist/singer/songwriter

....on water, music, the reveries of light and wind at play on the surfaces of our hearts and souls. This is a book to keep nearby. Should the room grow too small, the air too dry - push off, navigate whatever stretch most meets your needs and listen.
What life along the banks! What an intimate glimpse of some of our finest musicians and one of America's most unassuming and talented photojournalists! Go now!

The stunning photography that is the heart of this work reminds us of the inspiring Oneness of Earth, Water and Music. That Ms. Ryerson had the vision to recognize Music as the spiritual and artistic extension of this natural unity is a gift to the reader and viewer of this remarkable book. Sixty-six world-renowned musicians, including Kenny Loggins, Randy Newman, Garrick Ohlsson, Dave Brubeck and Taj Mahal, contribute text that draws a direct line between the Muse and the constancy, beauty and timelessness of Water. In his profound essay/poem, jazz pianist Marcus Roberts beautifully captures the framework of the book: "I respect the water. Because it's been here forever-feeding nature, quenching thirst, healing the land, nurturing the flowers. And it will be here long after we are gone, demanding and receiving respect. Singing the sweet song of eternal life..." Ms. Ryerson displays an uncommon organizational and aesthetic genius, not to mention a singular commitment to the cause of sustainable water sources, contributing the royalties for this project to the United Nations Foundation. But it is her photography that is the soul of this work. Witness the misty mirror image landscape on page 151, opposite the story by cellist Tilla Henkins. I rest my case.

This book is built on the premise that a lot of companies have, metaphorically speaking, the head of a dead elephant sitting in their boardrooms. The dead elephant's head represents conflict, disagreement and rivalry between the executives themselves. No one wants to talk about the dead elephant's head, because no one wants to admit that it's there. Unfortunately, it's a big, ugly reality that must be addressed sooner or later, and everyone knows it. Author and consultant Howard M. Guttman maps out a process companies can use to deal more openly and honestly with internal conflicts. He begins with the premise that conflict isn't inherently bad and can even serve a productive purpose, if it's properly managed and conducted according to the rules. We strongly recommend this book to corporate executives - and to the worker bees who have to duck when those Goliaths in the corner offices start slinging rocks.

When Goliaths Clash is full of great advice for managing confilict at the most senior levels of an organization. Since conflict is abundant at all levels in today's organization the same ideas can be applied to manage conflict at all levels. Gutman's advice to confront conflict, not avoid it, is valuable for all managers who want to move their organizations forward.

Great book! A structured insight into human behavior, different management styles and interactions in organizations. Describes real life situations and - more importantly - how to deal with them. Some very thought-full suggestions on how to interact with others at work as well as privately. A practical guide on organizational development and it's role to become more successful. Is easy to read and digest.

I'll certainly keep it close for reference when "Goliats clashes" in my company.

When Goliaths Clash was a practical and grounded guide to addressing issues prevalent in most leadership teams. Unlike other books of this nature, it was not academic or theoretical, but provided common sense advise on how leaders can identify and resolve problems that could be derailing their organization and preventing them from maximizing their effectiveness. I particularly liked the chapter on e mail; a new area of communication landmines and one that has actually exagerated the issues described in the book.

This book provides insight and understanding into the powerful dynamics of executive teams. The methodology, frameworks and practical tools are highly useful in creating a higher level of functioning for teams, starting at the top of the organization. Specific examples and case scenarios illustrate how these techniques have contributed to more fulfilling and productive work dynamics in several reknowned organizations. Focusing on the core skills of influencing and conflict resolution, as well as situational leadership, the book outlines a 'road map' for improving the effectiveness of senior teams and their individual players.

This is my first Beth Moore book. A friend recommended it to me and I am indebted to her for this suggestion. It truly is a wonderful book. The only reason I am giving it four stars could be why so many are giving it five. I really wish I could swap the journal pages for more lessons. There are seventy in total, I wish there were 140 instead. Maybe a supplemental journal would have been a better idea? Additionally, I REALLY don't like the idea of writing in books. Especially with a $20 price tag, I plan on passing it to someone else once I am done. I still journal my prayers in a separate notebook.

Now, as far as contents go, I would give it 5 stars all the way. While I am not new in my faith, prayer is something I have always struggled with. Beth uses the acronym P.R.A.I.S.E. to show you an effective method of prayer:

P- PRAISE the Lord. Tell Him how great He is!
R- REPENTANCE. Confess and seek forgiveness
A- ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. Submit to the Lord and acknowledge his authority in your life.
I- INTERCESSION. Pray for others.
S- SUPPLICATION for SELF. Pray for yourself.
E- EQUIPPING. Ask the Lord to give you the tools you need to get through the day.

What really amazes me is her ability to draw you into each "lesson". The Lord has blessed her with INCREDIBLE insight and a way to get the message across to the reader. This book could easily replace any devotional. In essence that's what this book is, just with a guide to prayer. If I were to offer any more criticism however, it would be this: After a week, I found that my prayers were feeling a bit "forced". Perhaps this is just a personal thing, but I found myself trying too hard to fit my prayer into the P.R.A.I.S.E. format. I found it to be more of a hinderance, my prayers did not flow freely from the heart as I thought they should. Not to say people will not benefit from this book, in fact quite the opposite. It's still a thrill to get up every morning and read the lessons. I am very glad I bought it.

I've had trouble with my prayer life on and off like a roller coaster. I thought it would be that way forever, until I was given this book as a gift. The way Beth breaks down prayer and her explanation on what prayer could-should be, has helped me to focus and stay on track with my prayers. It's truly remarkable and the best prayer aid I've read. The only slightly negative part is that I usually run out of room when writing my prayers.

There are some excellent gems packed in there. The photography alone is breathtaking.

This is a wonderful book for all of you who would really like to have a dynamic prayer life, but don't know what to do or how to start. Beth Moore is an inspired teacher and will guide you in developing a deep and passionate prayer life with God. Highly recommend.

Beth Moore is one of the most down to earth, God-seeking woman I have had the pleasure to learn from through devotionals and bible studies. Whispers of Hope is a great daily reminder of how to connect with the Savior- reminding us to always start with praise. Her daily thought-provoking devotionals are really good and make you want to dig deeper into the Word. I am really enjoying this.

With solid insight, Pat Sikora will show you how to solve some of the key difficulties of a small group. Leaders need help to steer through the landmines of small groups. Each of these 18 problems can derail your discussion unless the leader knows about them and prepares for them ahead of time. Whether you are looking to solve a problem like gossip or simply doing preventative maintenance, this book will be a huge help to any small group leader.

Pat Sikora has facilitated and participated in numerous small groups over the years. Now she's written a book in order to share some of this expertise. The primary focus of Why Didn't You Warn Me is to coach group leaders on how to deal with specific group members' hang ups, using hypothetical character sketches to pose problems they may present.

Sikora believes there are seven key principles for group leaders and they are as follows:

1) The purpose of any small group should be to grow its members to maturity in Christ

2) People grow when they interact with God's Word

3) People grow and heal best in community

4) A small group must be small

5) Minister to the Spirit rather than the soul

6) The group is more important than the individual

7) Love covers a multitude of challenges

Sikora looks at each of these principles in depth while providing leaders tips for interacting with members. If you've ever been caught in the situation of dealing with difficult group members, this book will prove invaluable. You'll definitely want to include it in your arsenal of resources for training group leaders.

Teena Stewart, Author, Successful Small Groups: From Concept to Practice

Over the past thirty years, I've become convinced that effective small groups are essential to healthy churches and organizations, no matter what their size. Effective small groups depend on effective leaders. And effective small group leaders are continually learning how to treat relational and interpersonal problems in ways that foster healthy groups and individuals

This is a practical, helpful book from an experienced small group leader. After describing several principles that form the foundation for small group ministry, the author introduces a host of relational and interpersonal challenges that can emerge in any small group. Especially important is her challenge for leaders to deal with "unhealed areas in our lives or habits that are unpleasing to God, ourselves, and others" (19). As we do that, we are able to objectively and redemptively handle the discussion and character challenges we face. Those challenges include chronic talkers, quiet individuals and groups, those who use overly religious jargon, those who are dogmatic or overly argumentative, and those with significant emotional difficulties.

If you're a small group leader, you will find this short book full of practical wisdom. If you train small group leaders, you will discover a well-written book that you can use for leadership training.

Gossip, rabbit trails, discussion domination, control freaks, mental and emotional problems, people who don't want to pray...who wants to lead a small group?

Small group leadership is extremely messy, but there is absolutely no way to adequately prepare a person for the surprises of leadership; we can only coach them through it. Why Didn't You Warn Me? is a great resource for that type of coaching.

Why Didn't You Warn Me? is a short but information-packed, practical book. In fewer than 90 pages, Pat introduces us to 18 challenging personalities that are sometimes encountered in small group ministry, and she gives step-by-step ideas and advice on how to pray for, approach, and tackle each one. From the ubiquitous discussion challenges like Mona Monopoly and Rhonda Rabbitrail to more difficult character challenges like Griselda Gossip and Travis Troubled, Pat succinctly outlines both the proper approach and-- perhaps more importantly-- the Biblically appropriate attitude for dealing with each.

Here are some of the strengths I found in the book:

Starts with Self-Examination. I really liked the fact that the book started out with self-examination. All good leadership begins by being a leader worth following, and you can't surgically remove sawdust from the eyes of others until you deal with the log in your own. Pat devotes the first two chapters of the book to helping leaders "deal with their own stuff" and become leaders worth following.

Prioritizes Prayer. Pat also does a fantastic job of establishing the priority of prayer in the process of working through difficult people and situations. Sometimes, we can get so caught up with trying to clean up, work around, hide, or ignore the mess that we forget about the power of prayer.

Emerges from Experience. The book obviously emerges from a place of experience. Pat has been involved in small group ministry for more than 30 years, and it is evident from her writing. This is not just theory, it's coming from the place of a practitioner. As you read about each challenging personality, you know that Pat actually knows these people by name and face. She has walked through these messes and emerged on the other side with hope and Biblical principles for leading through them.

The only criticism I would offer is related to the layout. I loved the pull quotes and statistic boxes, but the book looked extremely busy to me. It was distracting. Some of the pictures of people tossed randomly throughout the pages were just odd or goofy looking. It felt like it was trying too hard to be cool, hip, and relevant. But that is a publishing problem and not a content problem.

For future editions of the book, I would offer a new personality: Robbie Relativist or Polly Pluralist. One of the new challenges in groups, especially among younger Christians, is the postmodern approach to Scripture: "this is what it means to me; what does it mean to you?," "this is what is true for me," "I don't think that's what God would want for us," etc. Rhetoric that exposes our pluralistic, relative, or non-absolute truth tendencies. I think it would be helpful to have a chapter on how to keep groups and discussion rooted Biblically and under the authority of Scripture when people are more likely to drift into "this is what it means for me" kinda discussion.

This book could be a great supplement to a small group training program or for use in a coaching environment. It is extremely practical. Be sure to check out Pat's blog- http://whydidntyouwarnme.com/blog/- to continue the discussion or to find ongoing training and discussion about the adventures of small group leadership.

In the interest of full disclosure I will admit to having had Pat in several of my training sessions when we had an Equipping Center in San Mateo, CA. She was an alert and lively learner who eagerly soaked up everything I taught about Christian growth and healing. Pat has taken her insights to a deeper level of practice.

When I was consulting with the Cell group Movement in Singapore church leaders would say, "Small Groups are Powerful! indicating that small groups were effective places to evangelize unbelievers, disciple believers and heal broken believers.

Pat Sikora also believes and states those things nicely but she adds another part to the mantra: "Small groups are powerfully good or powerfully bad". Pat wisely trains her readers how to minister to the "good, the bad and the ugly" in groups.

Many churches start groups with great excitement but close them prematurely because they do not deal well with "Challenging Group Members" who show up. One or two unchallenged member can destroy the group, turning group dynamics on its head. Instead of growth, healing and evangelistic outreach the group chokes on its members' dysfunctions.

As you read Pat's neat little book, you will find that she humorously describes many of the "Characters" who are attracted to our groups and lays out the various ways a lay leader can successfully deal with them in truth and love. Pat is caring but she is also realistic about how much a group leader can do. She shows unusual candor and courage by lovingly addressing chronic problems without stooping to co-dependency.

Pat wisely includes specific hints, proven over the centuries to be growth producing, that leaders can use to calm and motivate members. She shows how one's voice and non-verbals can cover a multitude of sins and problems. If you ever work with Sunday school classes, committees, task forces or Bible studies, get her book and enjoy its useful insights.