Resources Books

This unique and fascinating book by Dr. Cox has important implications for development practitioners and academics interested in political ecology as well as ethnobotanists. The challenges faced by the people of Falealupo village in choosing between preserving their forest or building a school for their children are typical of the environmental trade-offs that many people in developing countries feel compelled to make simply to achieve, by our standards, a minimally acceptable standard of living. The solution presented by Dr. Cox, in which social networks are built such that people willing to invest in the preservation of ecosystems are put into direct contact with those people overseeing these ecosystems (without government or NGO intervention) has important lessons for people interested in promoting "Conservation-with-Development" approaches to economic development. This text also illustrates the complex ways that the human imprint on ecosystems is embedded in power-laden social networks and that change involves contestation and negotiation of power within these networks. This book thus holds important insights for those interested in political ecology. (For those interested in these topics, Dr. Cox's contribution to People, Plants and Justice - Charles Zerner, ed., Cambridge University Press, 2000 - makes an informative companion-piece to Nafanua.)

Finally, as a person who has lived in Samoa for several years as a volunteer teacher and as someone who conducts ecological research there, I find Dr. Cox's presentation of the people of Samoa, shown from a more personalized perspective rather than an academic one, to be open, honest and fair. He avoids falling into the trap of romanticizing or essentializing the people as "ecologically noble savages" that live in perfect harmony with their environment that has become so common in depictions of indigenous peoples in the popular media. When I read the book, I often saw the Samoa that I knew from my own personal experience.

First I must say that I am not saying that ethnobotany is boring. I am just saying it seems boring to me and it might to others, but even if you know nothing of botany and have little interest in it you will find great interest in this book. It is a fascinating narrative and Paul brings you into the Samoan world as well as a palagi really can.

I had a chance to hear Paul Cox speak and he talked about how the rainforest became his mother. The book starts with the death of his mother by cancer. He travels to Samoa to search for a possible cure in the rain forest, his quest however becomes to save the rainforest from the forces of globalization. I think the most compelling issue of this book is the positive and negative aspects of western scholarship when it comes in touch with another land and culture.

Paul is a very good storyteller and makes you want to continue reading.

This was an outstanding work. I am a palagi who has been married to a Samoan woman for 9 years and have had extensive dealings with Samoans for 14 years. We visited Western Samoa in 1988, so I have seen the culture first-hand, as well as my state-side exposure with Samoan American organizations. I could almost see myself interacting with the people as he related his accounts... although my 50 or so word Samoan vocabulary can't be compared with the author. He truly captures the essence of Samoa and its people.

This is a most interesting book, the story of how the author came to live in Samoa,and fell in love with the people and their tropical forest environment. When faced with a seemingly hopeless situation, namely the destruction of a huge area of tropical forest, the author recounts his experience in helping to save these sacred lands--through purchasing the logging rights from the outsiders who were beginning to bulldoze the forests, and turning the control of the forests over to the local community. The book is filled with fascinating stories, and the people and their forests come alive in its pages. I was particularly moved by Cox's account of living through a typhoon and barely managing to save his family and Samoan friends as the waves continued to pound apart each of the shelters that they took refuge in. A wonderful narrative of live on this remote Pacific Island, of botanical studies, conservation and committment to a cause. Truely this book will be an inspiration for people who are looking for real life heroes--in this case the lineage of elderly healers who have been the guardians of their sacred traditions for thousands of years, who worked with Paul Cox to ensure that their plants, many with profoundly important uses, would be preserved for future generations. I gave this book to several friends. It is, quite simply, a wonderful read.

This is a most interesting book, the stody of how the author came to live in Samoa,and fell in love with the people and their tropical forest environment. When faced with a seemingly hopeless situation, namely the destruction of a huge area of tropical forest, the author recounts his experience in helping to save these sacred lands--through purchasing the logging rights from the outsiders who were beginning to bulldoze the forests, and turning the control of the forests over to the local community. The book is filled with fascinating stories, and the people and their forests come alive in its pages. I was particularly moved by Cox's account of living through a typhoon and barely managing to save his family and Samoan friends as the waves continued to pound apart each of the shelters that they took refuge in. A wonderful narrative of live on this remote Pacific Island, of botanical studies, conservation and committment to a cause. Truely this book will be an inspiration for people who are looking for real life heroes--in this case the lineage of elderly healers who have been the guardians of their sacred traditions for thousands of years, who worked with Paul Cox to ensure that their plants, many with profoundly important uses, would be preserved for future generations. I gave this book to several friends. It is, quite simply, a wonderful read.

This book is wonderful. I paid full price for it and would gladly do so again in order to give it as a gift to others. I highly recomend it.

I have owned this book for several years and read it cover to cover, most parts more than once. It is a good read and I like the way it is set up, and the author's enthusiasm is appreciated. There is much good information inside, but unfortunately, there is misinformation to a degree that I think is inexcusable. For example, the drawings of "evening primrose" actually show primrose, which is a totally different plant in an entirely different family. But the text clearly describes eating the root of evening primrose. So it seems like he didn't even know what evening primrose was, had never tried it, but copied his information on how to use it, even the description of its flavor, from another book. The text sure makes it sound like he's had experience from the plant. I think its disingenuous and a disservice to the reader. This is the most glaring example of many errors. Otherwise, it is a good book.

I was amazed at all the information this book gave me. I have learned so many things, to see all the bounty we can have in our own backyard! Practical and easy to read. I recommend this book to all nature and food lovers.

I haven't met many people who can point out at least ten different plants in the average yard and can tell you how to cook them. Mr. Henderson does an outstanding job of identifying wild, and not-so-wild, edibles common to almost every neighborhood. His recipes are easy to follow and delicious.

Even if you are not planning to run right out to the nearest shrub and harvest its leaves for dinner, I recommend this book. Mr. Henderson's prose is worth reading, whatever the content. His witty, humorous style enlivens a book full of excellent information.

The Neighborhood Forager is a very informative and enjoyable book. It not only tells about the plants in our backyards and by-ways but gives historical information, recipes, warnings and dyer's tips.

Mr. Henderson writes with humor and personal anecdotes which makes the book a good read even if you're not into foraging.

I worked with Brad together in Asia and found his book to be something that the HR community, as well as, clients of HR have been waiting for for a long time. His book brings together his wealth of experience and knowledge into practical tips and guides that everyone can use. While a lot of other HR practitioner books are based on theories, I know from reading this book that the case studies and guides provided in this brilliant book are based on real business problems.

Basically, I highly recommend this book for those looking for implement-able and practical guides for building up your organization.

While not only an invaluable tool for the HR leader, it is also a must read for the Sales & Operations Leaders as well.

In a prior career, I worked for Brad Hall as his Training Director and we put this model to the test and saw excellent results within six months.

Hall's book provides a blue print for success in measuring and managing human capital with the same rigor as measuring and managing financial capital.

All leaders of the business that map and execute a similar plan will absolutely increase results as well as maintaining a stellar workforce!

Hall's book is the best written on human capital development. Hall
provides a practical and compelling methodology for measuring year over year improvement in human capital. The book is well-researched and includes numerous charts and graphs that make a complex topic accessible to managers outside of human resources. I recommend this book to any manager looking to improve the performance of his/her people.

Brad Hall's book, The new Human Capital Strategy, brings a much needed level of structure and discipline to managing Human Resources and People. While most companies claim that people are their most important asset, Hall correctly points out, that most companies don't have HR management programs that are consistent with that claim.

The brilliance of Hall's book is the way he distills this broad subject down to the few specific dimensions that truly need attention.

- Separating HR as a strategic function, and thus a source of competitive advantage, from HR as an administrative function.

- A focus on business results - Not activities or HR programs

- The importance of defining and measuring business results to gauge the true effectiveness of HR programs.

- Year over year improvement in the real return companies get from their investment in people.

From here, Hall goes on to address some of the barriers and keys to success in the practical implementation of the principles he discusses - executive engagement, organizational structure issues, team structure, measurement techniques, and many real life examples.

This book is a great read for any business leader (not just HR professionals) who seriously believes that people are an important asset for their success.

As an HR practitioner, this book has become my symbol of hope for the profession. I've always known there was "something wrong" with how HR is being practiced in organizations today, but never clearly identified the root of the problem, much less offered a method for addressing it. Brad Hall's book provides that insight.

Through current research and his industry experience, Hall provides ample evidence that despite decades of seeking and gaining "a seat at the table," HR overall has not progressed beyond the traditional administrative "personnel" function. Accordingly, Hall argues it's time to "blow up today's model and replace it with a fundamentally new Human Capital Strategy."

Hall begins with thought-provoking questions such as "has your human capital improved year over year?" which demonstrate that HR has not delivered on its responsibility to ensure human capital is managed as a business asset. He builds towards his human capital approach which centers around four key elements; building effective executive teams, building leaders who deliver sustained business results, ensuring employees in key positions outperform their peers in competitor organizations, and a fourth, designing a disciplined approach for improving workforce performance, which serves as the structure and environment within which the first three can flourish.

The model challenges fundamental elements of current HR practice, such as the focus on supporting "internal customers" (management and employees), arguing instead for a focus on meeting the expectations of external clients and stakeholders. At a more granular level, it challenges the merit of current practices (e.g., forced ranking of employees, aggressive "performance management", and annual performance reviews) and offers a method to meet the objectives of these practices through a roadmap for building high performance organizations.

This is a fresh read and I highly recommend it to all professionals who have a stake in improving their organization's performance.

It has been so difficult for me to find books which even attempt to reconcile modern Christianity with Yeshua's VERY Jewish roots. This book is a good "starter" if you are seeking Jesus/Yeshua within his Jewish context. There are a great number of footnotes explaining various Hebrew words and historical references--and which also point to other texts of interest.

I had to loan my one and only copy to a very good friend of mine who recently became a Christian. As soon as she saw the book, she wanted to read it.

Those of the Jewish faith may disagree with Christian sentiment, but they cannot deny Yeshua's roots in Israel and Judaism. This is a book both Christians and Jews can read together.

the book goes into long renderings of the author's opinion regading the effect of miss translation. would have been better to go over more translation in space available.

David Bivin's new book, New Light on the Difficult Words of Jesus: Insights from His Jewish Context, is a most helpful book. I have never traveled to Israel and, being a gentile Christian, I am not all that familiar with Jewish customs. Consequently, having a straightforward explanation of Jewish customs of the first century is most interesting and helpful in interpreting the NT. One read of this book is probably not sufficient to gain full advantage.

There was a bit of overlap with Bivin's previous book, Understanding the Difficult Words of Jesus: New Insights From a Hebrew Perspective with Roy Blizzard Jr., but probably not as much as I might have liked. I really liked the first book and wanted more material on the implications of Jesus speaking Hebrew (and being translated word-for-word into Greek) when I ordered New Light. As it was, I enjoyed the review of first century context every bit as much as the implications of Jesus speaking Hebrew.

Although Bivin's book had numerous insights that I cannot attribute to any other author, the one insight that sticks in my mind is about fishing in the Sea of Galilee:

**Until the introduction of transparent nylon nets in the mid-1950s,
**trammel net fishing was done only at night. In the daytime, the fish
**could see the nets and avoid them. Their miracle [of Jesus in Luke
**5:4-8] was that the fish swam blindly into the net (Bivin, p. 75).

Reading Bivin's book has led me to do two things. First, I searched for and found a Hebrew translation of the NT that I can use to study along with the Greek NT. BibleWorks 7.0 includes such as translation and I hope to start using it side-by-side with the Greek NT during 2008. Second, I have also begun gifting serious friends with copies of New Light to spark their thinking and encourage discussion.

I hope that you too will find New Light worth the time to read and study.

Stephen

This is the second book which David Bivin has authored. His first book was co-authored with Roy Blizzard. This book is quite different in that it is a series of articles Mr. Bivin has written about Jesus' viewpoint on Scripture as related to Jewish society dictated by Torah. The articles are short, easy to read and understand and definitely provide a new perspective on familiar topics, e.g., discipleship, prayer, divorce and remarriage, to name a few.

Since I have been exploring Hebrew roots through Messianic theologians and exegetists, I've come to realize how much heritage is missing from my spiritual life.

Mr. Bivin's book has contributed more information and I would recommend this book to anyone interested in expanding their knowledge about their religous heritage and traditions.

This book is very eye opening because it reminds you that, although there were other cultrual influences around Jesus, Jesus was a Hebrew and a Jew. Therefore, he should be understood as he was in the the Second Temple period. Bivin does repeat some of the things he says in the other version of this book. Therefore, buying this book is sufficient to see his point of view on Jesus. Great buy!!

This is such a wonderful tool and will give you concrete ways to reach out for Christ. They are EASY and not intimidating. This is one of my top reads.

If you have ever been turned off by hearing or presenting evangelistic "pitches" and memorized scripts but you still have a heart to share God's love with those around you - this book will change your life! We used the books and message kit to go through this study as a church and (like other churches I know that have done the same) it has changed our whole attitude and level of excitement about outreach and has led us to some incredible loving acts of service in our community. I look forward to how God will use this study as we put it into practice more and more in our lives! - Pastor Gerry

This is a book that will change your life and the life of many people around you. Jump-in into this five-week journey, full of adventure and excitement, and you'll discover the true power of loving one another.

Sjorgen here weaves together doing missions and showing unconditional love in a remarkable, unique fashion. Using the outline of Acts 1:8, he describes showing love outward towards God (Jerusalem), family and friends (Judea), community (Samaria), and the world in general (ends of the earth). I love the emphasis of this book and its sense of God's activity "flowing" from us to the world around us. Too often as Christians we become inward-focused, dwelling upon our own community of faith or our own ministry endeavor. Here Sjorgen encourages us to move outward as the love and grace of God flows outward.

This title is an inspiring one - you won't be disappointed!

As the author, I must confess what is clearly the central message of Outflow - that we live a life of availablity to God's Spirit continually - to love, serve, show God's kindness - is not a program but a lifestyle... was my original hope with my first book, Conspiracy of Kindness.
If you read Conspiracy you will see threads of this message present in that book. However, some / many perhaps, glanced through the ideas of Conspiracy and concluded, "This is cake! A no brainer! Let's get at it!" Unfortunately, though kindness is not a complex message, it is certainly not a simplistic one. Most who saw this message as the latest, greatest way to grow their church have likely long since given up on this as someting that didn't bear results. If you are in love with results first and foremost you have a ways to go as a leader. The goal is to alter the culture of what is happening in both your church and your city ultimately. That is what Jesus did. You begin to change the culture, and all else will be a natural overflow.

In short, some either didn't read the book or they skipped over the essential parts of Conspiracy where I promised them, "If you try to grow numerically using this as a 'method' you certainly will fail..."

Ironically, by living this message out - both that of Conspiracy and now of Outflow, momentum will absolutely take place. But our God is a God who weighs the motivations of the heart. He isn't into human empire building. He is into extending his kingdom in a huge way. When he finds hearts that are open to co-laboring with him - noticing what he is doing - he excitedly joins with them in drawing in many. But our hearts need to be simply right. This is not a complex matter. We simply tell God we are available.
We turn to the "on" position our "noticer" - which we all had going at full tilt early on but in most cases turned off along the way for one reason or another - and once again we begin to hear from him about those around us who are in need of simple interventions of his power flowing through us. Think of them as "invitations" to move forward.

This book will empower, encourage, make practical what you have likely seen as difficult / impossible to relate to. Your life will vibrate with the life of God flowing through you in ways you never dreamed possible.
Stories will flow. Those stories will draw many into the parade Jesus is leading - into the kingdom of God.

What I was looking for was a book I could use to teach a class on relationship evangelism. Furthermore, my ideal is a book that addresses post-modern people (especially Gen-Xers and Gen-Yers) with their common aversion to embracing any exclusive or absolute truth. How can you show, and not just tell, the good news?

In my view, such a book needs to combine both scriptural foundations and practical models. If the book hits this target, the reader will gain a few memorable approaches and build lifelong habits.

This book, unlike most on the subject, includes:
1. Discussion or review questions at the end of each chapter
2. Application exercise(s) at the end of each chapter

Net: If you want more results, this book remains in my mind one of the best ever written. It is well worth the effort spent trying to find it.

This book by John Wimber is a must read and a great introduction to the world of power evangelism. John Wimber was the founder and International Director of the Association of Vineyard Churches, and he died peacefully on November 17, 1997 in the presence of his family. He was sixty-three years old. His book, Power Evangelism, has now been a widely accepted primer to power evangelism, and the term "power evangelism" has been used to describe "a presentation of the gospel that is rational but that also transcends the rational (though it is in no way 'irrational' or anti-rational)." The book hosts many testimonies that encourages any believer to see that power encounters can be a part of his life too.

Power vs. Non-Power Evangelism?
The term "power evangelism" has some implications to it. Does it mean that other forms of evangelism do not have power? Does the power of the Holy Spirit only manifest through signs, wonders, and the gifts of the Spirit? Romans 1:16 tells us that the gospel of Christ is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes. The question would then be on how the gospel carries such power, and Wimber writes that the answer lies within what salvation means, i.e. the coming of the kingdom of God. Power is defined as "the ability, the strength, the might to complete a given task" and authority is "the right to use the power of God".

Evangelicals assert that the proclamation of the gospel message has intrinsic spiritual power, which is an assertion that Wimber does not deny. In fact, any system or force that must be overcome for the gospel to be believed is cause for a power encounter, and unbelief is part of that system or force. However, Wimber's point is that power evangelism was one of the normal kinds of evangelism in the early Church and has surfaced throughout the history of the Church with remarkable results. Hence, we should pay more attention to this form of evangelism, especially when it reaps results more efficiently and effectively then other forms of evangelism.

Evangelicals have also historically been concerned with the evangel, i.e. the "good news of salvation," but have not looked closely enough on the medium by which the evangel is communicated. Pentecostals and charismatics have been accused in the past of focusing too much on the gifts of the Spirit, healing, prophecy and intimate worship that evangelism had taken second place and the lives of believers are not grounded theologically. I believe that what we need to come to an understanding is that evangelism and the good news of salvation has to be preached, but the medium of this preaching is not just mere words, but in the power and demonstration of the Holy Spirit through the gifts of the Spirit, signs and wonders. Wimber brings this point across through numerous testimonies that the most effective way of evangelizing is through the power of the Holy Spirit. Power evangelism would bring the spiritual-decision process on the Engel Scale from a -10 to a -2 in a matter of minutes, as compared to long discussions, arguments and persuasions. In fact, in most third-world nations, a careful apology of the gospel does not bring a person to Christ as compared to power evangelism. Unless they know the reality and power of God, there is no need for them to convert. Hence, such power evangelism necessary, and is the proclamation of the kingdom of God in the fullness of its blessing and promise (which has also been called 'salvation').

Do you need to be Baptized in the Spirit?
I am encouraged that Wimber did not claim that power evangelism is only for those who have been baptized in the Holy Spirit. I recognize differing theological viewpoints and Wimber's writing is able to hold the tension between Pentecostal and Evangelical views. The testimonies in this book does not claim that the people who were used of God in power evangelism were baptized in the Holy Spirit, but the opening account of Scott does show that he was baptized in the Spirit, and the closing account of a Methodist pastor showed that he had been empowered with the Holy Spirit.

This would lead to the question as to whether one needs to be baptized in the Holy Spirit to be used of God for power evangelism. Wimber's own testimony seemed to show that one does not need to be first baptized in the Holy Spirit for power evangelism. He described his evangelistic efforts from 1963 to 1974 as "under 'normal' circumstances... but occasionally I led someone to Christ in an unusual way," having remarkable insights into their lives (word of knowledge). It was not clear whether he was baptized in the Spirit or not at that time, but I am left to believe that even one who has not been baptized in the Spirit can be used of God for power evangelism. Even Wimber's definition of power encounter does not specify the baptism in the Holy Spirit as criterion, and likewise we should not.

What does the Bible show us?
When looking at the life and ministry of Jesus through the gospels, we find that He spent a large part of His ministry raising the dead, healing the sick and casting out demons. Wimber asked himself three important questions - (1) How did Jesus evangelize? (2) How did Jesus commission the disciples? (3) How did the disciples respond to the great commission?

The gospel of the kingdom has two aspects to it, (1) proclamation, and (2) demonstration. We begin to see that there is no dichotomy between evangelism with signs and wonders in the Bible. Jesus' job description can be found in Isaiah 61:1-2 or Luke 4:18-19, and He did not just preach, but demonstrated the kingdom. When John asked if Jesus was the Messiah, Jesus' response was not with logical proofs, but by demonstration of power in what that He had done (Matt 11:2-5). When Jesus commissioned His disciples, it was a commission to do exactly what Jesus had done. The disciples responded by doing as Jesus did, and the people around knew that they had been with Jesus (Acts 4:13). We can see this even when Peter raised the dead in Acts 9:36-40 that it was a reflection of Jesus raising the dead in Mark 5:37-42. It is through this that the "greater works" (John 14:12) of Jesus may be fulfilled. I believe that the greater works are not in terms of the quality, but in terms of the quantity.

Christians Today
Why is it that many Christians today still do not move in the power of the Holy Spirit? Wimber suggests that the "proclamation of a faulty gospel will produce faulty or, at best, weak Christian." He goes on to claim that the faultiness lies in the consumer gospel, where the seeker seeks for his needs to be met, rather then the costly gospel of Christ's death on the cross. Does this mean that everyone who comes to Jesus with a need would end up a weak Christian? I believe that for whatever reason a person comes to Jesus, it is a starting point, but the issue is on the church and discipleship, where the emphases on Christianity is focused on being good (behavior) rather than being God's. Wimber testifies that when you become God's, you will become good.

Christianity has to also go back to being a relationship with God where each person learns to hear from God, and not a list of do's and don'ts. We have often taught that God speaks through His Word, the Bible, and that is not wrong, but there needs to be an increasing emphasis to hear from God Himself today. Wimber notes that most Christians miss out on exciting and powerful experiences in their lives either because they are not listening to God, or because of their inattentiveness, God is silent.

Wimber also mentions that Christians are too often searching for methods, formulas and principles that will open the power of God to them. However, the heart of power evangelism is not a method, formula or principle, but it is to obey God when He leads and guides. Wimber says that divine appointments are an integral part of power evangelism. "Divine appointments are occasions on which God chooses to do his works through our obedience, faith, hope and love. They are His works, acts to which we add nothing." His testimony of Kerry, I believe, is similar to what many of us have gone through in the past, i.e. sensing we should speak to a particular person on a word we sense is coming from God but we give all the reasons for not delivering the message. Hence, power evangelism is the conscious co-operating with the Holy Spirit in our evangelistic efforts, even if it seems absurd or may cause embarrassment.

Wimber came to the conclusion that if an experience such as healing was commonly found in Scripture, but yet not part of his own experience, something had to be wrong with his approach. I am greatly encouraged by Wimber's testimony of what he went through, and in similar fashion, it encourages us to keep pressing on to see God move through us.

Our Worldviews Affect Our Actions
Wimber gives a very important and interesting section on worldviews. Worldviews are defined as "an explanation of how and why things are as they are, and how and why they continue or change... the basis for evaluation, for judging and validating experience... provides psychological reinforcement for a society's way of life... [and] provides integrating and adapting functions for new information, values, philosophies and experiences." No worldview is perfect, and every worldview has blind spots. Because the western worldview has an 'excluded middle' of an inability to see how religion and science interact, this same 'excluded middle' includes the influence of angels and demons on everyday life, the Holy Spirit's intervention in divine healing, signs and wonders, and spiritual gifts. We need to change our worldview to having a Christian worldview with an eternal perspective, an awareness of power and evil influences, and a Biblical concept of truth. Because our worldview affects everything we think or do, including our theology, we need to be aware of what our worldviews are, how they affect us, and the need to consciously change them to align ourselves to how God sees things.

I am encouraged by the tenacity of John Wimber, who prayed for 10 months without a single person getting healed, and that is the kind of tenacity that Christians need to press in towards.

What a great book! It should be read by every Christian from now until the end of time. Every church should do an evangelism study using this book as a guide. So many of us call ourselves Evangelical but how many of us evangelize? Sadly, very few. This book will wake the church up! In it John uses lots of Biblical references and brings them to light with a great understanding and entertaining true stories that teach and motivate. It's one of the few books on the subject I've read that puts the Holy Spirit first and shows us how we can be used by a God who wants people to know Him more then we want them to know Him. Get this book right now! You won't be sorry!

1 Star = I've been robbed!
2 Stars = Why'd I finish it?
3 Stars = Good
4 Stars = Excellent
5 Stars = Life changing

Wow! What a book. Love Wimber or hate him, you got to read this book. It is a life-changing book written with a scholars insight into the philosophical and biblical underpinnings of our faith. There are four premises that Wimber argues: First the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Satan are in conflict and Christians have been drafted into Christs army to do battle against Satan. The church does not exist to minister to the saints, nor does it exist to provides programs, it exists to set the captives free. Every Christian is a solider. Second, evangelism is meant to go forward in the power of the Holy Spirit. Wimber argues that in the West, we have intellectualize the gospel to such an extent that we tend to rely solely on reason to persuade people to come to Christ. The Bible, however, tells another story. We are to go out into the world with the power of the Holy Spirit. Third, our worldviews affect how we understand Scripture, including passages about signs and wonders- most evangelicals tend relegate to New Testament days anything that cannot be arrived at empirically or proved by reason.

If you are a fan of R.C. Sproul, you will appreciate Wimbers analysis of the Western World view. He argues that most westerners are incapable of attaching cultural significance to spiritual ideas and events. It is not that they are hostile to spiritual things, but it is as if they have a filter that removes religion form the public consciousness. They just cannot see how religion can have an impact on economics or politics. Wimber calls this the excluded middle. Because of the secular western worldview, even most Christians have difficulty believing in the ability of God to intervene in the physical universe. Case in point- Healing. Most evangelical Christians will acknowledge that God can heal disease, but in their heart of hearts they find it difficult if not impossible to accept either spiritual causation or healing of diseases.

Wimber also points out how our Western World view affects Christian discipleship. We have abandoned the apprenticeship model used by Jesus for the classroom model of modern education. Evangelical discipleship concentrates on what one knows.. We are taught church doctrine (the authority of Scripture, the deity of Christ, etc.) and very little time is spent molding a life. The New Testament model of discipleship emphasized who one is, rather than what one knows. It focused on building a life, rather than gaining knowledge.

I would make this required reading in every seminary and Bible College. It is that good. You may not agree with everything Wimber taught, but if you do not read this book, you will be missing truth that will transform your life.

John Wimber is able to make complex ideas reachable. He was able to stop theorizing and start attempting. Through his classes and eventually his church he saw many saved by the power of God instead of just through Apologetics. In my opinion in the near future this method will become more and more common. People need healing, the prophetic, words of knowledge in their life. They dont need a logical understanding of the rightness of the bible. They need God in their life. And John Wimbers books can help you understand how to do that.

This is a great book. Their points expand upon what I have recommended as Coach: Do Not Play in my Success With People system (and book). I recommend the book, just be prepared to scan at certain times because it seems they could have made many points in fewer words.

To demonstrate how "power mentoring" works in practice, authors Ellen Ensher and Susan Murphy provide down-to-earth interviews with about 50 pairs of high-powered mentors and their protégés. The conversations offer useful nuggets of insight about office politics, job advancement and successful networking. In addition, unlike many books on the topic, this one provides a useful snapshot of the issues, dramas and special challenges women and minorities in the modern workplace face - and the picture is not always pretty. The book's biggest flaws are its redundancy and use of boardroom clichés. Still, we recommend this personalized, practical book to potential mentor-protégé teams.

Ellen Ensher is Associate Professor at the College of Management at Loyola Marymount, and Susan Murphy Associate Professor at Claremont McKenna College: each has written and consulted both together and independently and here produces a powerful collaboration on mentoring and its lasting benefits to both mentor and prot?g?. Mentoring has a powerful influence on successful people: that's been proven; but traditional models of mentoring haven't kept up with business programs that have different emphasis today than in past. POWER MENTORING covers these changes in approach and offer new strategies for locating and creating 'power mentoring' relationships. Interviews with 50 top leaders and their proteges in technology, politics and media reinforce these concepts and approaches.

Power Mentoring is a powerful reminder that even in one of the most individualistic societies on earth, most successful people do not succeed alone. Power Mentoring skillfully combines the latest research on mentoring with fascinating interviews of real American success stories. Interesting and well written, this book is a must for business students or anyone wanting to know one of the best kept secrets to success.

We all know how important and valuable a mentor can be, but most of us do not know how to find a good one, and how to make the most of the relationship if we do. "Power Mentoring" taught me so much on the topic, and transformed mentoring from being a nice idea, into something concrete that I too could benefit from. I loved the book, and would recommend it to anyone interested in bettering themselves and their situations.

A Preparation Guide for the Assessment Center Method
This book is a great tool for not only preparing for promotional exams but also for becoming a better supevisor or manager. The examples and guidelines given are helpful in addressing every day situations. The acronym PACTSFID assists in ensuring every step in the process has been addressed. The author has an amazing writing style that makes this book an easy read. I refer back to it again and again.

I bought this book after looking for something to assist me in a police lieutenant's exam. I picked this one over the other books after reading the positive reviews.
This book was well written and easy to follow. The way it is laid out makes it easy to skip around later after it has been read. The author was careful to keep the text in chronological order leading up to the day of the assessment center. The author gives the reader several easy to remember tools to assist on the day of the assessment center. I feel fortunate to have purchased this book because I think it was the main factor in my own successful assessment center. I would not buy anything else and I have recommended it to several people so far.
Just a side note; after finishing the book, i e-mailed the author with a few follow up questions. She replied the following day with a personal e-mail and a lot of additional examples. I doubt she will be able to do this for everybody, but it shows her dedication to her product.

Very helpfull!!! made the assessment center understandable for fire officer testing as well. Thank you!!

This book gives you what you need. I made the first spot on my assessment center after scoring mid range in two previous ones.

Study it and know it!!

I have had the opportunity to do a lot of assessing, and have also been a candidate for promotion. I think this book is the best I've seen for helping a candidate get inside the process, really understand it and prepare for it. It would also be useful for assessors and those who are developing an assessment center without professional help. I'm going to use it as a general reference.

This is not a book to skim, because it is jam-packed with information, without the excess white space and big margins so many of these kind of books seem to have. I would suggest reading it one time for an overview, then slowly re-reading it from the very beginning. You will miss out on a lot of good material if you skip chapters or don't read them in order.

One of the things that stands out about this book is that the author uses many footnotes, quotations, and real-life examples, which always increases the credibility of a book for me. Not only did I find useful information, I found the titles of many other books I can use. It was obviously well researched, which I thought was impressive considering that you're lucky if you find even one or two validating footnotes in most of the other books on the subject. And the behind-the-scenes stories were so true, there is no doubt she has been there and done that.

This book is not only interesting to read...it would be worth reading even if you aren't taking a test...but I thought it was inspirational. Most books on promotional processes only talk about how to get promoted. This one talks about how to be your best after you are promoted, or even if you don't make it to the top of a list. I would like to read more books by this author.

What an impressive, Christ-focused primer on prison ministry. The author is an ex-offender who knows how to bring the Gospel to the incarcerated. Great refresher for those who have been at it for awhile and an even better introduction for those who are beginning to hear the call to go inside the razor wire.

I conduct a weekly bible study in the local state prison and before I went in I ordered this book and it was so very practical and put me at ease right away with the experience. Highly recommend

The first time I read "Prison Ministry" resulted in it being a major part of planting a seed in my heart for what is now one of my biggest passions. I've since read it two more times and each time words of wisdom have taught me something new or reminded me of some old.

Lennie Spitale is not hype or as Duncan Miller says in his review does not sensationalize but is sincere in his sharing and giving truthful insight to the world of prison ministry. If you, your church or someone you know is thinking of or doing prison ministry inside the walls or outside (mentoring former inmates, consoling families of incarcerated loved ones) I strongly recommend this book.

I too have met Lennie and he is as real as his book reads and the book is a reflection of Lennie's heart.

It gives you a wide range focus on the mindset of inmates from why they turn to crime and for some why it is so difficult to leave, how prison life effects them in regards to family and other loved ones and much more.

If you have a passion to serve the lost you'll learn from Lennie's own words that this nations prison are one of the most if not most plentiful harvests.

This book gives you incredible insight to the minds of men in prison. The book is written in such a way that those who are not involved in prison ministry can use it as an inspirational book. It reinforces in practical and understandable terms that we are all fallen from grace and we all require redemption.

I bought three books on prison ministry, have experience with one on one prison ministry and mentoring, and have attended the Prison Fellowship VIP (Volunteer In Prison) Training.

Lennie Spitale's book is the best I've read yet. It gives virtually all you will need to know if you are considering prison ministry, already involved in and form of prison ministry, or just curious about what life behind bars is like. Spitale is probably one of the most authoritative writers on the topic, having plenty of experience of life from both sides of the fence.

He was a rebellious child, joined the military and was jailed a number of times before discharge. After discharge from the military, he served many years in prison on multiple incarcerations before turning his life around and going straight. Since his release, he has spent at least 25 years in prison ministry, and founded an organization dedicated to preparing others for prison ministry and chaplaincy.

This book has all the information and warnings any prospective prison ministry volunteer could need, as well as all the heart breaking and compelling motivations to become involved. It is easily readable, neither deep mind bending theory nor shallow boring fluff. Of all the books on the topic I have read this one is the most value for money.

If you only buy one book on the subject, this is the one that will give most value.

It would be silly to say that you NEED to read this book before entering into the ministry. God has used many a man who have probably never even heard of Baxter or "the reformed christian."
However, if you are considering purchasing this book, then I would say dont even think twice. Besides the "pastoral epistles" of Paul (1st & 2nd Timothy, and Titus) I know of no other piece of work that will prepare you and teach you the way that those who lead the church ought to be. I would recommend it to anyone who has a heart for the Lords work, not just pastors.
Richard Baxter was a man full of the Holy Spirit. The words in this book will illuminate your soul, and convict you to the point of crying out to God and running to the cross of Christ. It can be a very painful book in many areas because it will cause you to look at yourself and wonder if you are really walking the life that The Lord wants from those who lead his people.
Its very difficult to find the words to describe how incredible this book is. I have to read it in tiny little sections instead of by chapters because there is so much depth to it. and each small section will bring me to tears.
Physically, this book weighs about as much as any other paper back. Spiritualy, you wont be able to lift it off the ground, much less turn a page

Baxter's time was not too unlike our own. Despite there being a large theological agreement that there must be discipline within the Church, very few leaders in the church are willing to carry it out. Baxter reminds us, and convincingly so, that we must do so for not only the good of the soul of the individual, but for the rest of the Church, and even ourselves. Most of the book rotates around the subject of discipline in the pastoral ministry. It also contains many other details concerning the ministry that would be good for any aspiring, or current pastor to read.

The only reason I give the book 4 stars instead of 5 is because this version is the abridged version of what Baxter wrote years ago. However, there is nothing that would tell you this unless you read the preface. I was a little disturbed upon originally reading the preface that this was the case, and that the original work is closer to 700 pages (depending on margins and type settings). This book has a rather tiny font size, and very little margin, so even though it is only over 100 pages, if it were in the typical type setting you see in most books, it would probably be closer to 3-400 pages.

Also, the ancient Elizabethean english has been revised for the modern reader, which probably accounts for the shorter number of pages.

Don't let any of this distract you from getting this book though, there are still many redeeming qualities to it.

The Reformed Pastor was actually very different than I anticipated, being nothing about reformed theology or even theology at all. "Reformed Pastor" actually means reforming pastors, using the word the same way we would say "reformed hardened criminal." Hmmm. I guess that already tells you this book isn't one of those "feel-good" books.

Richard Baxter was famous for two things: being a tremendous pastor to a town in England, and getting constantly into trouble for being so blunt that he would make enemies of his friends. This book is about being a tremendous pastor, and it is very very blunt.

It is an extended lecture he proposed to give to a local ministerial association in 1656. The book uses as its foundation and framework Acts 20:28: "Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood." The book first deals with pastors "taking heed" to their own spiritual state and life, and then turns its attention to taking heed to all the flock.

As to the topic of taking heed to their own spiritual lives, Baxter starts at the beginning, with making sure the reader is truly a Christian, and progresses through disciplines, qualifications, and indwelling sin. He next emphasizes the reasons why a pastor must be rigorous in his own spiritual life. He expounds reasons such as how many eyes are on the man of God, how difficult the work is, and how the honor of Christ depends on it. He reminds his reader of many practical insights, such as "all that a minister does is a kind of preaching" and to avoid the error of men who "study hard to preach exactly, and study little or not at all to live exactly."

After dealing with the pastor's personal life, he tackles the pastor's responsibility to shepherd his congregation. His most radical recommendation, radical back then and almost unthinkable to American churches today, is for a pastor to personally visit and catechize people (for those unfamiliar with the term, it means to teach a list of several hundred questions and answers of basic theology). Specifically, he says a pastor should catechize each and every family, in the pastor's entire town, each and every year. In Baxter's town that meant 2000 people in 800 families, that he and his associate pastor took two full days every week to go through the whole town every year.

He bluntly states, "If the pastoral office consists of overseeing all the flock, then surely the number of souls under the care of each pastor must not be greater than he is able to take such heed as to here is required." Yea, and I'm sure the pastoral staff of most churches personally know every member of their flock. And yes, I know that we consider Sunday School teachers or small group leaders to be "overseeing the flock"- but how many of those leaders in our churches see themselves as shepherds, have been theologically trained and commissioned as overseers, one-on-one ask them regularly about their spiritual life, and are seen by the members of their class or group as having spiritual responsibility over them?

But it was a radical idea even back then, so much so that Baxter takes dozens of pages to specifically give all the reasons why every pastor should devote himself to this universal visitation and dozens more pages to specifically answer a whole series of objections to the work. In short, he says that he had found that an hour of focused questions concerning a person's spiritual state was often more helpful than years of listening to sermons for their spiritual growth. It's hard to argue with that conclusion, and harder to argue with the marked growth (in both numbers and spiritual maturity) that history shows that his church had under his pastorship.

As to objections to why not do it, he says that they all are variations on the theme of "I'm too lazy or greedy" which he viciously attacks as unworthy of any follower of Christ, let alone a pastor. To laziness, he asks "Are these works to be done with a careless mind, or a lazy hand? O see, then, that this work be done with all your might!"

To greed, he states that if a pastor has too many families in his church for him to visit individually, then he should hire another pastor out of his own salary to help him. He challenges, "What! Do you call yourselves ministers of the gospel, and yet are the souls of men so base in your eyes, that you had rather they eternally perish, than that you and your family should live in a low and poor condition?" Whoa there, Baxter must have never read Your Best Life Now!

The book is chock full with other helpful insights and wry comments, such as "All our teaching must be as plain and simple as possible." "Is it not a pity, then, that our hearts are not as orthodox as our heads?" "It is a contradiction in terms, to be a Christian, and not humble." "We must study how to convince and get within men, and how to bring each truth to the quick." "In the name of God, brethren, labour to awaken your own hearts, before you go to the pulpit, that you may be fit to awaken the hearts of sinners." And my list could go on and on and on. I have already discussed his specific instructions on personal evangelism in another article.

After reading The Reformed Pastor, I have to agree with Spurgeon, Packer, Dever and all the other big kahunas- this is absolutely essential reading for any man called to the ministry, to pin him against the wall and make him take stock of his ministry, his priorities, and his life before God, and to make him deeply consider about how best to "take heed over" himself and all his flock.

This is no candy or soup for the soul, its solid and challenging real world meat for the work of the ministry. Baxter challenges us to a kind of ministry that exceeds human ability alone. Such a ministry drives us to our only hope for that ability and keeps us returning to the everlasting arms of our heavenly father.

I read this book because so many people have spoken of it as a classic. Having now finished it, I must say I am a little disappointed with the content. I expected profound and striking ideas. In these pages however, were no new principles I have not already learned.

The smallness of Baxter's content however, is far exceeded by the substance of his character. It is his character, his pastoral passion for ministry that makes this book the classic it has become. His single-minded devotion to God and his tender, shepherd's heart for his flock have inspired pastors for over 300 years.

This book is not an easy read. The English language has changed substantially over 300 years, and as a result the essence of Baxter's pastoral passion is undoubtedly distorted. Still, this volume IS a classic, and is a must-read for any pastor wanting to refine and/or restore his motivation for ministry.