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Organizations
In the Shadow of the Temple: Jewish Influences on Early Christianity
Published in Hardcover by InterVarsity Press (2002-04)
Author: Oskar Skarsaune
List price: $35.00
New price: $22.97
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Average review score:

Simly Excellent; Buy two and give one away
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-07-22
Kudo for the author.

Simply excellent. A real gem. One book one should be without if you are a Bible reader and if you are of thinking mind. Just click and get one copy to enjoy. I've read once; I'm planning to read again (possible again.)

His easy prose style of English is so smooth; one feels like reading an exciting fiction. I'm glad it is not a small book; it gives so much to fill your heart's desire.

You are not interested in early Christianity? Well, if you don't know your own root (biblically speaking), then you cannot be a Christ-believer and are not really reading the New Testament to hear ITS message but getting someone's messages and being happy to be their copycat. (It doesn't matter whether you do attend a church regularly and enjoy all its programs and get involved in lots of its activities).

Christianity - What's Jewish About That?
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2008-01-02
A good introduction and reference to various socio-historical situations in Judaism from the first century to Rabbinic times and its influence upon or relation with the nascent Jewish and Gentile believers in Yeshua. A primary focus is how Temple thinking and understanding shaped and/or defined both religious milieus. Instead of forging its own academic arguments, this surveys many of the various scholastic views, choosing to substitute bibliographic lists of important books on the subject for argument-bearing footnotes. As befits a broad-reaching survey, many conclusions are not thoroughly examined and tested, leaving this to the reader. I did feel, however, that at some points, arguments or conclusions were so insubstantial that the author was chasing shadows. Unfortunately, the book teeters off at the end into quite a few disappointing chapters. Overall, however, this is an easy-to-understand, well-organized foundation with many jump-off points to delve into more serious academic study about first century Judaism, Rabbinic Judaism, and the Jewish makeup of Christianity.

Nothing New About It - Its The Old Jewish Perspective
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2007-11-10
Skarsaune makes propositions faithful to and indicative of the origin of Christianity: Jewish monotheism.

'There was a rather extensive two-way dialogue between the religious authorities in Jerusalem and the Jews in the Disapora. Envoys were sent out from Jerusalem, carrying letters to the Diaspora communities, instructing them on matters of observance, the ritual calendar and doctrines to be avoided. This continued after the fall of the Temple; many of the leading rabbis of the second century A.D. are pictured in the rabbinic texts as traveling widely among the Jews of the Diaspora. Groups of pilgrims from the Diaspora came to the three great pilgrimage festivals in Jerusalem. They came not only to bring their temple tax and the prescribed sacrifices, but also hear the famous teachers of the Law and to bring back from Jerusalem a renewed zeal for their ancestral faith and its observances.' pg 74

'The synagogue, as institution and building, was an invention of the Diaspora Jews. Only later was the synagogue introduced in the Land, first in Galilee, far away from the Temple. In Judea there were for a long time no synagogues; the Temple was too close. Only in Jerusalem itself do we find synagogues at the same time as in Galilee, but they were built by and for Diaspora Jews visiting Jerusalem or residing there.' pg 79

It is a easy book to read and one finds oneself enjoying the trip down 'memory lane' with Skarsaune. I appreciate the back-drop of cultural context and history he set his work off with, for it begins at about 300BC.

This puts us squarely into the Jewish time-situation and helps us understand the times Christ was born into. The storyline develops further and we stay with the Jewish perspective on the Church in her formative years. A solid foundation is then hereby laid for all things Jewish in our Gentile gospel.

An important historical study.

Well Done Professor Skarsaune
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2006-12-01
During most of the last twenty years of the twentieth century, a professor of church history from the Norwegian Lutheran School of Theology (Oslo) made an in-depth analysis of the Jewish roots of Christianity and gradually assembled his findings into a highly readable, fairly comprehensive introductory book on the subject. Professor Oskar Skarsaune's In the Shadow of the Temple (Temple) (Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press, 2002) is an outstanding contribution to this important area of historical inquiry. Professor Skarsaune's Temple was meticulously researched and tirelessly annotated, and the results are a first-class, reader-friendly scholarly resource capable of edifying both the Ph.D. and the interested layman.

Temple's 444 pages are divided into three main sections and an eighteen-page epilogue. Each of these four large parts are divided into several chapters, and further subdivided into subsections of chapters, very much like a textbook. Temple's resemblance to a textbook ends there, however, as Skarsaune's tone lacks any trace of the pedant's and is instead almost conversational, much like an experienced enthusiast sharing exciting past discoveries with an audience of relative newcomers. And what a wide-ranging list of discoveries Skarsaune has to share! Many who thought they had an adequate familiarity with earliest Christianity and late Second Temple Judaism will be both humbled and enriched by Temple. This is because throughout Temple Skarsaune skillfully reviews and sheds light on a host of important historical, geographical, political and religious issues and events occurring over the several centuries that immediately precede and follow what was long considered the most important event in recorded history--the advent of Jesus Christ.

This book would make a valuable addition to anyone's library, particularly a Christian's. An outstanding scholarly effort.

A must read for all Christians or students of Christianity
Helpful Votes: 5 out of 6 total.
Review Date: 2006-12-04
Everyone knows that Christianity started out as just another Jewish sect. Interesting historical fact, but its implications for modern thinking and practice around Christianity are seldom addressed by the average layeperson (or clergy!). Oskar Skarsaune leads the reader to address this, and whether reading this from an aspiritual historical perspective or from a faith perspective, the reading is highly rewarding. He succeeds in bringing us back to ground zero, so to speak, of the explosion of Christianity upon the ancient near eastern world. What struck me reading this book was not so much the Jewishness of early Christianity, but the Gentileness of modern Christianity and how Christians have drifted away from many Jewish aspects of the faith which would certainly benefit individuals and churches alike by being re-explored afresh. Skarsaune leads one on the start of this journey, and hopefully for many this book will be the first step for many in travelling closer towards the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of Christ. The only criticism I have is that the Skarsaune's momentum starts to die out around the last fifth of the book. Nevertheless, even with this the text deserves 5 stars!

Organizations
Jesus the Pastor
Published in Paperback by Zondervan (2002-01-01)
Author: John W. Frye
List price: $10.99
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Average review score:

Learning from Jesus through John.
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2006-01-20
Frye gives great direction for ministry. As a student who is still studying to be a pastor I recommend this book to anyone who interacts with people and wants to do in a Christlike way. John writes this book in such a way tham we aren't just leaning his neat tricks, we are learning from Jesus and his example. Great book, very helpful for anyone who sees Jesus as someone worth following.

A New Focus on the Road Ahead
Helpful Votes: 13 out of 13 total.
Review Date: 2000-11-03
JESUS THE PASTOR was a book assigned to me for a Christian Ministry class at John Brown University. From the moment I read the cover, I knew that I was going to love reading it. Few books have excited me this much about the role of being a pastor and about the person of Jesus Christ. In my personal journey to becoming a pastor myself, John Frye has put the road in front of me into perspective.

God has used JESUS THE PASTOR in conjunction with other events in my life to teach me that even while I am training to assume the OFFICE of pastor that I can and am called to assume the ROLE of pastor in my everyday life. Being available to others and leading a life ordered around Christ as the focus of ministry is an exciting, blessing, and yet humbling road. Through this book, God has taught me so many things and revolutionized my view point of what it means to be a pastor.

Far be it from me to try to teach my elders, but I would recommend this book to ANY person who occupies the office of pastor in the local church. The Church needs committed servant-leaders and under-shepherds to guide the body of Christ. This book is one of the tools God is using to make that happen.

For Power, Where Does the Pastor Turn?
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 10 total.
Review Date: 2003-11-24
This is a book which necessarily contemplates the question for those pastors or those contemplating the office, where does one turn when in need?

Frye answers: to multiple sources to find Jesus the Pastor: The Word, spiritual gifts and brother pastors and saints.

His compassion and heart for the sheep and those who will be brought into the fold is touching and commendable.

This reviewer's concern is directing one away from the only source of power and salvation: The Word Incarnate. Is Jesus not located where He wishes and mandates that He is? For sure? For 100% sure?

Jesus locates Himself in the gospel purely preached and in the Sacraments administered according to His mandates! This is where every pastor and individual will find Him! We find Jesus there to forgive our sins as pastors, strengthen our faith and keep us in this faith, and deliver us finally to the church triumphant.

What Frye suggests that I cannot agree with is seek spiritual gifts for empowerment. Consider Luke 16:19ff. Does Jesus suggest that we find salvation in any other place than in the Word? Further, Matthew 7:21-23, "(Did we not) do many might works in your name?" and 1 John 4:1-2 demand that any spirit which would detract from Jesus Incarnate in Word and Sacrament is not from the Holy Spirit.

In last days that we are in, when every church growth program and latest is not delivering the numerical growth they have been proclaiming is Biblical, where do they turn?

These moments of desparation show us where faith is. Only in what God has spoken and mandated that He be found: in the Gospel purely preached and Sacraments administered according to His mandates.

For all the compassion and desire to be God-pleasing that Frye so humbly speaks of in this book, to lead pastors to anything other than God's Word is not what God has said. Let us consider what His Servants of the Word should be!

Thus, I cannot recommend this to pastors or those contemplating the office due to these serious misleadings. Wish he would have more directly and in detail, expounded the Biblical admonitions for pastors, such as 1 Cor. 11, 2 Cor. 4:12; 2 Cor. 11:2; 1 Tim. 3-4, etc. For a good treatment of these, see Jonathon F. Grothe, "Reclaiming Patterns of Pastoral Ministry: Jesus and Paul." It likely is out of print, but nonetheless, you will be blessed by obtaining and reading.

Jesus the Spirit Empowered Pastor
Helpful Votes: 4 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 2001-07-28
This book comes from a man with formal theological training, who then went through personal growth in Christ. First learning About God, to personally learning From God. Wonderful insight to the real meaning of Christianity, a Spirit empowered, personal and intimate relationship with Christ. Frye, personally has found the invisible realm of God, with the daily practice of disciplines to make room for God's Spirit to touch his life and bring him the compassion of Christ towards other men, with the only way possible, through God's Spirit and the faith and intimacy with God, that it requires. This is a book that remains within in evangelical thought in the and the framework of literal Biblical thought, yet goes the step further in seeing the spiritual principles behind the letter. Being one step closer towards seeing God outside of written words.

This Book Is A Gift To Pastors Everywhere
Helpful Votes: 7 out of 7 total.
Review Date: 2000-10-23
This book was a cup of cool water for me during a dry period of my life.

It is so easy as a pastor to simply pick up the next kit or program that will somehow escalate your church to the "next level". John Frye has brought us back to the fact that Jesus must be our mentor and guide throughout our ministry. He is to be our primary guide in all of pastoral ministry. It is about aligning ourselves as an apprentice of His.

Through this book I learned how I could better lead others in the character and power of Christ.

Thanks to John Frye for this encouraging work!

Organizations
Leadership Divided: What Emerging Leaders Need and What You Might Be Missing
Published in Kindle Edition by Jossey-Bass (2006-09-15)
Author: Ron A. Carucci
List price: $27.95
New price: $16.61

Average review score:

A must read for the multigenerational business industry
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-09-29
Over the past year I have immersed myself in a profound search for how to truly understand the differences in generations both for personal and professional reasons. I have read numerous books from Millennials Rising to Secrets of the Young & Successful, but not until I happed upon Leadership Divided did I feel an author really put in to words what anyone who runs a business with multigenerational employees really needs to know. After 20 years selling advertising in Corporate America I decided to take another career path specializing in understanding our future business leaders and this book has become the basis for my outline. In laypersons terms, Ron Carucci really gets it and you can too! This book will prove to inspire both frustrated Boomers as well as incumbent leaders who want to continue to improve their understanding of the workforce of the future. A true sense of gratitude for what each generation stands for is essential in realizing how to propel forward versus being mired in generational differences. A must read!

great
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-12-23
this book is great for leaders looking for emerging leaders, it analyzes the
key aspects of todays leader subordinate relationship, and how it is changing and evolving.
Despite the authors optimism it provides great insight
al nymc

A perfect read
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2008-01-14
I enjoyed all aspects of this book. For me it was the perfect read. The way the author drew you into the facts and the storyline was interesting and a real page turner. I highly recomed this book to everyone.

Understanding the division
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2007-11-29
I believe this book about leadership, challenges and generational gaps, should be read by all leaders past old and emerging new leaders. I enjoyed reading this book and hope many more generations to come will do so as well. Carucci's points are logical, as he accurately describes a younger generation of managers as highly mistrustful of their own managers and averse to taking on leadership positions because of a very strong perception of risk. Carucci's central theme is that emerging leaders have already decided against following a traditional management style, so long-established managers must break specific habits in order to retain the needed talent. Each chapter focuses on a specific management trait and is framed by a fictional case study that Carucci admits is a best-case scenario. It is up to the new emerging leaders to define the preferred management style, and make the most of their life experiences to be successful. They also need to take what they have learned from their past and past leaders to inspire and motivate future leaders of the next generations to come.

The Time is Now!
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2007-07-21
Ever have the gut need to just be inspired? To read material, especially on an over-serviced subject like leadership, and want to exclaim with conviction, "YES!" Leadership Divided is the book that will take you there. As an emerging leader in a major government organization, I spend many days wondering about my future and the leadership career that will unfold for me. I hear over and over that there is a "shortfall" of leaders for the future, and as such, my development is essential for the sustainability of my organization. Yet my experience doesn't match that belief. What I have found is that there is definitely a crisis, but its not one of shortfall. (Diane at Harvard Business review who wrote the review above clearly never cracked open her copy of the book - had she, she would have known the quote she references was from the TV show "The Office." She completely missed the point! That's the kind of integrity shortage that makes us emerging leaders so cynical about leadership!). The crisis is one of relationship. Page after page, I was able to locate myself in the words and stories of Leadership Divided. I am being "developed" as a fast-tracked leader, and find myself fighting not to roll my eyes at some of the empty platitudes being put forth as leadership. In the wake of such leadership trash, I have finally come across a book that rises above the noise and says something of great substance. Don't miss this one!

Organizations
Listen Up!: How to Communicate Effectively at Work
Published in Paperback by Papilio Publishing (2007-05-31)
Author: Eunice Lemay; Jane Schwamberger
List price: $16.95
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Average review score:

Excellent Book. Highly Recommended!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-11-08
This book is clearly organized, well written and easy to understand. The authors discuss not only common problems in communication in the workplace but helpful solutions.

This is an important book for managers like me who need to motivate a diverse workforce of people. The exercises are practical and easy to implement.

Good powerful persuasive communication begins with listening
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-11-04
The authors take an unsual and effective tack in commuication: that listening to, and understanding people's viewpoints, is the key to communicating with them in a way that penetrates indifference and hostility to garner support for your ideas. They share some excellent and relevant methods of doing this that we can all learn from. I especially agree with their suggested methods for writing emails so thay are noticed and acted upon. For instance, consider their use of subject lines in emails. The authors urge using clear and descriptive subject lines (how often we forget, especially in replies), putting the names of the recipient (that way you know it is aimed at you in particular), and by making clear whether the email is for information or action (so you can prioritize your email stack). A useful book where just one idea put into practice would easily repay the reader with a lifetime technique that would be career-enhancing. Well worth the money. Good work!

A seemingly simple title
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2008-04-18
Although the title appears simple, every page has condensed, meaty points which are easy to understand and make sense. The authors obviously understand that one needs to "listen" before any self improvement can be addressed. Very pro-active and lets the reader know s/he will succeed.

Road Map To Effective Communication
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2008-03-26
A practical, concise guide that will enhance the communication skills of the novice and veteran administrator.
The book teaches you to be a more effective listener and communicator.
While it is an essential tool for a supervisor, It belongs on the book shelf of everyone who wants to be successful in the workplace.

Achievable Excellence
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2008-03-11
A first glance at this book, an hour before a meeting, grabbed my attention and I grew curious to see if the authors' plan for effective meetings would be reflected in my own workplace. The truth? Lemay and Schwamberger's advice on providing an agenda and keeping discussions on track would have made that long afternoon much more worthwhile! A quick and interesting read, their guide leads the average person to realize how simple it can be to achieve excellence at work.

Organizations
Once an Arafat Man: The True Story of How a PLO Sniper Found a New Life
Published in Hardcover by Tyndale House Publishers (2008-09-17)
Authors: Tass Saada and Dean Merrill
List price: $19.99
New price: $12.52
Used price: $14.04
Collectible price: $19.99

Average review score:

Real Peace in Middle East
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2008-10-27
Once an Arafat Man: The True Story of How a PLO Sniper Found a New Life

There is no subject more elusive than "Middle East Peace." Nations fight over it. Religions disagree over it. The UN debates it. Army's confront over it.

Yasser Arafat was a key figure in this struggle. Taysir Abu Saada, the author, was a committed soldier in the PLO, the army of Arafat. But peace did not come, only struggle. Until he quit fighting, (not by choice) and left the PLO, peace eluded him. He possessed only hate.

This is one of the most interesting, and relevant, contemporary biographies I have ever read. I literally could not put it down. My 86 year old father picked it up and read it through in 3 days. He said, "That is the most interesting book I've ever read."

If you've ever wondered if there could or will ever be peace in the Middle East, you owe it to yourself to see how one militant Arab soldier found it, and how he shares it with others. Don't miss this book.

An Amazing Story
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2008-11-13
An incredible, inspiring story of how one man came from pure hatred for the Jewish people into the light of love through the power of a new found faith that is based on forgiveness.

The book was easy to read and was in fact a real page turner. This comes from a person who is not easily engaged in books. Yet I am interested in the Middle East, history and this strange religious struggle that has perplexed our world since the Crusades.

Read this book. You won't be disappointed and in fact, you'll gain some keen insight for the world in which we now live.

Fascinating, inspirational testimony
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2008-11-12
I bought this book immediately after hearing the author (Tass Saada) speak in person at a messianic congregation up in Dallas. I had no idea who the guest speaker was that day.

Within 5 minutes of his talk, I knew something was very different about this man. He spoke with incredible sincerity when he asked the Jewish people present for forgiveness because of what Palestinians like him had done. He talked about about some of his history, the work he had been doing in the Middle East, his message of reconciliation. Tears came to my eyes and many others during the course of his talk. When he mentioned that he had been a sniper and had actually killed people, and how the faces of those he had killed still haunted him to this day; you could hear a pin drop in the room. I was reminded of the Apostle Paul, who once persecuted the Church, but was struck down by a blinding vision and helped change the course of history. Tass had a similar life changing experience, and seeing him in person give his story was an incredible experience. He is genuine, his conversion is sincere. He stood in front of a group of mostly Jewish Christians and asked them for forgiveness, and is now friends with a former Israeli soldier in the congregation. To think that at one point these two people hated each other's guts, but now because of the love of God they have forgiven each other and consider themselves to be brothers, just amazes me.

So I bought the book and had Tass sign it, and I just finished reading it. At first I was a little disappointed because the writing style seemed to be very "Reader's Digesty". That is, it was very simple to read, the facts were stated without too much elaboration, etc. The little boxes on the pages highlighting a quote from the same page also reminded me of Reader's Digest. But, I decided to continue reading and to ignore that. Trust me, the book gets extremely interesting very fast, so don't put it down. He has an incredibly testimony. I realized that first, his first language is not English. Second, this book was originally published in the German language, and was translated from German to English with a little bit of journalistic revision. It was written for a very broad audience (hence the easy reading style), which is very good because everyone needs to hear this story. It will touch and inspire you.

To summarize the entire book, it is simply this: Only Christ can bring true reconciliation between groups of people that have hated each other for ages. The only times I have seen sincere repentance, shedding of tears, embracing, between Jews and Arabs, is when both parties have accepted Christ into their hearts. He is the Prince of Peace, and only He can bring about true peace. This is the greatest truth of this book.

A relevant story of hope
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2008-11-07
In these days of continual bad news and a seemingly never ending cycle of threats and retaliation, "Once An Arafat Man" presents a story of hope. Its writing style is engaging and easy to read, but the message of redemption sinks deep. The central theme is not the ability of a man to pull himself out of his circumstances, but rather to lay down his life at the cross of Jesus and see reconciliation come where it would seem impossible. After reading this book you will have a deeper insight into both the political mindset of the Palestinian movement and a glimpse at the hope of peace that can come only through Jesus Christ. Highly recommended.

A Story of Redemption
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2008-10-30
Once an Arafat Man's sub-title couldn't be a better synopsis of the book in general, "The true story of how a PLO sniper found a new life." The opening sequence of the book reads like some of the best action oriented fiction out there, but you have to keep in mind that not only are the related events actual parts of our world history, but they are also a first-hand account of the man writing the book.

I don't want to give away a ton of what goes on in the book and steal that pleasure from you, but the book is a real eye-opener for someone like me who has always been a firm (sometimes zealous) supporter of Israel. When you peek into the life of a Palestinian born in a tent near the beginnings of the last century's conflict between Jews and Arabs, you cannot help but have your worldview shifted somewhat--maybe not so much a shift in thought but an increased clarity because of learning about the other side of the issue.

Make no mistake, just as Tass Saada affirms in latter parts of his autobiography, Israel has a right to exist, and the Lord Himself promised them the land. But, also make no mistake that the Palestinian people have been abused, treated as non-entities at times, and used as political pawns by forces on all sides of the conflict. That's enough to make any people group be filled with animosity and hatred.

I think Once an Arafat Man is a book we should be paying close attention to, especially in our current, post-9/11 world. If you want some insight as to how a young child can go from being a mother's sweet little boy to someone willing to give their very life for a cause--willing to kill everyone who stands in their way--then you need to read the story of Taysir Abu Saada.

In some ways, Tass's story struck me how closely it parallels that of Paul the apostle at some points. Here is a man who not only served as a sniper for Arafat's Fatah, but in his spare time he personally persecuted Christ-followers in Jordan. Yet, for all of that, you can read the hand of God upon him throughout his life, protecting him from death and harm when, by all rights, he should have died many times over.

Once and Arafat Man is, from beginning to end, a story of redemption. Again, like Paul, Tass Abu Saada was not a good man, something he admits to himself in the book. Here is the story of a man who could easily be totally broken today. A man who, because of the choices he made in life, could find himself completely alone and bereft of everything--family, fortune, faith--and again by all rights should probably find himself there. Such is the transforming and redemptive power of Christ.

Even when Tass is tricked by his own family into leaving Fatah, his dabbling with learning the French language, and eventual exodus to snowy Missouri, were all part of God's leading on his life. It seems, in hindsight, that step by step over time, God purposefully led Tass away from his hate-filled life among his people into a very personal experience with Jesus Christ.

Tass's conversion to Christ is in of itself extraordinary, and the subsequent transformation of not only himself, but his entire family was a wonder to read. It was very similar to some of the stories you read about in the book of Acts, how God gets ahold of and transforms an entire family. Most importantly, you can see that the transformation of heart in the Abu Saada family was complete as you see where each of them are today, years after their conversions. There's not a one of them who is not actively ministering in some way today. (It was pretty cool to learn more about Ben and read a little bit of his part of the family's story.)

One of the most interesting parts of the book for me was to read a former Muslim's take on Scripture, specifically how an Arab saw the book of Genesis. Folks, I think we Westerners have to admit that sometimes our viewpoints on the Bible are skewed, just as Tass learned his own view had been colored by his background and education.

Split into three sections, the book brings us through Tass's life all the way up to the present, telling about where he is now and what he is doing with his life. Tass has a vision of reconciliation between Arabs and Jews, something that has met with nothing but failure for decades, if not centuries. It is only through Jesus Christ and His love expressed through His people that true reconciliation will be found.

Go back and do a careful reading of Genesis with "Palestinian" eyes and get a glimpse of God's plan for the Arabs and Jews. It's a beautiful thing. The children of Issac and Ishmael living together in peace and harmony in the land God promised them all. Only something that could be done through God's work through Jesus Christ.

Of interest in view of current events, something we should pay very close attention to in the coming days, is learning something of the mindset of the Arab/Muslim world. Here's a quote from pages 197-198:

This pattern of finessing the truth, of saying one thing but doing another, is epidemic in Middle Eastern politics. It explains why progress is often so excruciatingly slow. It also illustrates the desperate need on all levels, from high government halls to the common street, to speak honestly and accurately about one's intentions.

There is a cultural problem here, in that lying is viewed within Islam as an acceptable tactic if it advances the goals of the religion. To help the cause of Allah by misleading an infidel is perfectly noble. Thus, Arab leaders are infamous for duplicity with Israel and the Western nations.

In fact, they even practice it among themselves.

I could go on and on about this book, but then there would be no point in you buying it and reading it yourself. I would encourage you to click one of the links above and buy this book from Amazon, you won't regret it, and your eyes will be opened to the Arab mindset and the grace of God in ways you've never seen before.

I'd also encourage you to follow the Once An Arafat Man blog for updates about the book, news about Tass's ministry in Palestine, and more insight into the goings on in the Middle East.

Organizations
Positive Turbulence: Developing Climates for Creativity, Innovation, and Renewal
Published in Kindle Edition by Jossey-Bass (1999-07-16)
Author: Stanley S. Gryskiewicz
List price: $39.00
New price: $30.80

Average review score:

Stay Innovative
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2001-08-17
Positive Turbulence is a very practical guide to keeping your organization moving at a healthy pace and continuing to innovate in order to compete in today's ever-changing marketplace. The theories included can be easily applied and related to any organization with Positive or Negative turbulence. It's a fluid read that's over before you know it.

Practical Guide for Leaders
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2001-02-20
Positive Turbulence is helpful for leaders at all levels of an organization. With theories and examples, the author promotes the need to see the world of work with fresh eyes and to learn from unexpected situations. As a well-known authority on creativity and innovation, Dr. Gryskiewicz provides convincing information about the value of using changing, often turbulent conditions, to shape a flexible organization, open to new ideas. A good source of practical approaches and lots of resources in an easy-to-read format--this is a good book to include in your leadership library.

C.M.Steward Managing Director The Crossland Group

You'll come away embracing change, not avoiding it
Helpful Votes: 5 out of 5 total.
Review Date: 2000-10-07
Stan Gryskiewicz has a gift for telling a story. This makes his book, Postive Turbulence, a pleasure to read. More important, he has years of experience in helping organizations, teams, and individuals become more innnovative. This makes Positive Turbulence truly useful.

This optimistic, upbeat book stands out because of Gryskiewicz's ability to show how his ideas can be put into action. Pragmatic and practical, he shares his ideas and experience generously. Strategies such as "Focusing on the periphery as a source for innovation and renewal" come to life as a way of spotting technology shifts and marketplace trends.

As a psychologist and consultant, I work with R & D teams and with managers who need to become more effective, forward-looking leaders. This is a book I can and will recommend to my clients and to my colleagues.

Real Innovation? Wow a,d How!
Helpful Votes: 5 out of 5 total.
Review Date: 2000-02-25
As a business man and entrepeneur for more than 40 years, I am forced to confess that this is the most "down to earth" high quality thinking book that came into my hands in many years. It shows from the very begining -and in each page- what real innovation is and should be in any organization operating in any country. It is written out of a life experience which obviously includes knowledge and hard extended atentive work (a good life!). It is not an "instant happening", like instant coffe and other much popular approaches to delicate and far reaching issues, accompanied by an extensive and highly practical "how to" hints and tools for each managerial level and position. Mr. Gryskiewicz, if you intend to keep on writting on the subject, it is not going to be easy to surpass this "Positive Turbulence" you generated. Angel Sanhueza, Executive Director, CPS International.

Innovation Principles That Produce Results
Helpful Votes: 8 out of 8 total.
Review Date: 1999-12-22
POSITIVE TURBULENCE is enjoyable to read, logical in its structure but not stiff, and it really reflects the essence of 30 years of top-level insight into major organizations around the world. The author provides us with the best of this experience, and not all writers do this-they often try to withhold a few gems for the next book, making the current product less than it could have been.

It is our good fortune that the author has avoided this temptation. Rather, this book is a sincere sharing of a breakthrough experience that has lessons of value the reader can immediately put to productive use. I am one of those that tries on a lot of books, and few seem to fit; but POSITIVE TURBULENCE fits perfectly and, like a favorite, it will be enjoyed and appreciated for a lifetime.

Organizations
Quick Guide to the 16 Personality Types in Organizations: Understanding Personality Differences in the Workplace
Published in Paperback by Telos Pubns (2002-02-15)
Authors: Linda V Berens, Sue A Cooper, Linda K Ernst, Charles R Martin, Steve Myers, Dario Nardi, Roger R Pearman, Marci Segal, and Melissa A Smith
List price: $12.95
New price: $12.95
Used price: $21.85
Collectible price: $42.00

Average review score:

Great
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2008-06-20
Recieved item on time, right when we were told it would arrive. Book in very good condition.

Tools Tools Tools
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2007-03-13
This is terrific if you have any desire to learn the personality types around you.
Take a break from guessing... give yourself a tool.

Geared to the work environment
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2007-02-13
Not a big book, but large on the value that it brings to the workplace. Highly recommended and well worth its cost.

It is a very good reference
Helpful Votes: 5 out of 6 total.
Review Date: 2007-03-21
This is a small book that goes to the point, It have a section for each type of personality that have a small description of it, the way that they solve problems, their style of leadership, their creative expression, how do they work on teams, how the have to deal with stress, how they learn, and tips for personal growth. Also in the later chapters, this book have two pages that describes the team roles that each personality prefers.

Great Tool for Myers-Briggs
Helpful Votes: 5 out of 5 total.
Review Date: 2007-01-05
I am a certified instructor for Myers-Briggs and have read many of these books about type. This one has it all! It's easy to use as a reference and practical. I reccommend it to anyone who uses Myers-Briggs at work.

Organizations
Shaping Your HR Role: Succeeding in Today's Organizations
Published in Paperback by Butterworth-Heinemann (2005-04-25)
Authors: William Kahnweiler and Jennifer Kahnweiler
List price: $38.95
New price: $31.38
Used price: $28.24

Average review score:

Good book on the role of human resources in an organization
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-12-07
The Kahnweilers have written a thoughtful, well organized and understandable guidebook for human resources professionals. Shaping Your HR Role, Succeeding in Today's Organizations, however, has a broader scope than careers in human resources. The book is a thoughtful discussion of the role of human resources in organizations and of good management practices. William Kahnweiler describes himself as a "pracademic", and he and Jennifer Kahnweiler have written a book that combines good practice with outstanding academic research. Anyone interested in better understanding the important role of human capital in an organization and how to wisely use it will benefit from this book.
Jim Martin, former Georgia Commissioner of Human Resources. "

Excellent Resource for HR Professionals
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2006-12-20
Drs. William and Jennifer Kahnweiler do a superb job outlining the competencies required of a contemporary HR professional in this business environment.

HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

Great Resource for Aspiring and Practicing HR Professionals
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2006-05-01
This book provides very helpful advice about how to be successful within the HR field, both for those entering or transitioning to the HR field, as well as for practicing HR professionals.

The Drs. Kahnweiler do an excellent job of providing detailed descriptions of the skills, traits and knowledge needed to successful in HR, and also provide great advice about how to hone your skills and traits, and gain the knowledge to be successful in the field.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who is thinking of entering the HR field as well as current HR professionals who would like to become more effective in their roles.

A great gift for HR professionals!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2005-09-25
Shaping Your HR Role engages readers by providing them with the tools to better understand themselves and how they can best apply their talents in HR.

With outsourcing HR as a trend, individuals in this profession or thinking about moving into HR can learn how they can truly contribute to a company's productivity and find fulfillment in their work at the same time.

Lynn Joseph, Ph.D.
Vice President
Parachute, Inc.

Must read for HR students
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2005-09-20
As a student of the HRD program at GSU, I found the book very helpful in providing a starting point for my career. The chapter discussing the various 'hats' that HR professionals wear provided insight into what a potential job in a corporation may look like for a new graduate and job seekers alike. I was impressed with the case studies and the wealth of experience that both doctors shared with their audience. I would recommend all students and practitioners read this book and keep it as a reference.

Organizations
Teaching Virtues: Building Character Across the Curriculum
Published in Paperback by ScarecrowEducation (2001-04)
Author: Don Trent Jacobs
List price: $44.95
New price: $33.75
Used price: $24.99

Average review score:

.
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2001-05-12
"Teaching Virtues" adds to our understanding of the connections between the teaching of virtues and the practice of moral reciprocity within community. -C.A. Bowers, Professor of Education, Portland State University and author of "Educating for an Ecologically Sustainable Future" and "The Culture of Denial"

Refreshing Perspective on Character Education
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2001-05-12
Here is an educational approach that honors the interconnectedness of the world and helps our young people engage it with wisdom and integrity. The result is a refreshing perspective on character education. -Ron Miller, author of "What Are Schools For? Holistic Education in American Culture" and publisher of "Paths of Learning Magazine"

Walk the Talk
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2001-05-12
This book offers a new but ancient perspective on teaching virtues. Like the American Indian people who practiced it for thousands of years, it does not allow us to separate character from content, and by this, makes it possible for us all to "walk the talk." -Sunita Gandhi, President-Worker, The Council for Global Education and Dignity

An inspiring and practical guide for teachers
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2001-05-12
With clarity and directness, the authors provide an inspiring and practical guide for teachers to infuse character education throughout the curriculum. Their framework adds much needed meaning and integrity to learning and honors the creativity and wisdom of each teacher. -Rachael Kessler, author of "The Soul of Education: Helping Students Find Connection, Compassion and Character at School"

Stimulating and thoughtful contribution
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2001-05-12
I read this book with much interest. The topics addressed here are of great importance for educational practice, and hence, as the authors rightly emphasize, for the larger society. They approach the issues of character education from a variety of directions, including a highly suggestive American Indian perspective that has been far too little understood in our culture. "Teaching Virtues" is a stimulating and thoughtful contribution. -Noam Chomsky, Professor, M.I.T., and author of "Language and the Problem of Knowledge" and "Manufacturing Consent"

Organizations
The Truth About the Martial Arts Business
Published in Paperback by Seconds Out (2006-01-01)
Author: John Graden
List price: $39.95
New price: $39.95
Used price: $39.40

Average review score:

Very good book!
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2007-10-27
If you have a martial arts school or just a club, this is a must have book! Go for it immediately!

Great for All Instructors
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2006-04-06
If you are a martial artist who wants to make a living full time and not just do martial arts on the side then you NEED this book. You'll learn how to set up a very successful school that you can be proud. Every instructor no matter what should get this book!!

The Truth sometimes hurts...
Helpful Votes: 4 out of 5 total.
Review Date: 2006-11-17
...and this time around it should at least ruffle your feathers!

John Graden, Martial Arts Master Teacher, has gone to the heart of what it takes to be an effective Martial Arts teacher today. Without completely disgarding the training ideas of the past, he instead shows how to build on these ideas, how to use what we know about the psychology of learning, the physics of motion and the economics of the 21st century to create a learning environment that firmly turns it's back on the "Dungeon Dojos" of the last century and creates a modern, safe atmosphere where serious, effective and (dare I say it?) FUN martial arts training can take place!

(Lest any naysayers regard the concept of "safety" and "fun" as somehow being contrary to "real" martial arts training, I refer them to the summary chapter entitled "A School Full of Pooh Bears"--it will open your eyes!)

There are lots of things to learn here, lots of great writing, too. If nothing else, I will always remember Mr. Graden refering to the war-like aspects of the Martial Arts and explaining that this doesn't mean that every class is devoted to destroying the enemy. He explains: "...that our foundation is one of peace through superior firepower."

I like that. Get the book. You'll like it, too.

John Graden does it right AGAIN!
Helpful Votes: 4 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 2006-06-25
John Graden has a unique way of showing you everything you need to successfully run a top martial art school in today's age.
He does it with the insight of someone who has obviously "been there and done that".
This new book can be used by any martial arts instructor, regardless of style, as a step-by-step blueprint for everything from how to negotiate a lease for your school up to how to train and compensate an employee/instructor.
No one else in the industry has his superb talents. The martial arts industry will forever owe a huge debt to this man for showing us how to be a professional success without selling out!

Just what I expected from John Graden - Excellence!
Helpful Votes: 4 out of 5 total.
Review Date: 2006-04-16
The content of this book accomplished two very important things for me, as a martial arts businessman - 1) it re-affirmed what I was already doing in my business and, most important, 2) it provided me with new concepts, methods and ideas that will help take my business to the next level. Awesome resource!


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