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This book would be valuable for most Pastors to read because of its wisdom on the subject of worship. So often, the focus of the Pastor is on preparing and preaching the sermon. While this is a critical part of the worship service and should not be neglected, all of the essayists point to the need for well-planned services from start to finish. God-exalting, Christ-centered, Bible-based services are a worthy goal. This book should challenge Pastors, especially those from a free church background, to plan worship services in a more thoughtful way. The book is practical, with sample worship service outlines from different traditions. Highly recommended for all who want to honor God in corporate worship.

Introduction

What is worship? If worship in our daily lives means a consecrated lifestyle that aims to glorify God, how then should our corporate gatherings look like? And further, what makes our corporate gatherings any more worship than glorifying God in the other six days of the week? Worship by the Book is a compilation of essays that seeks to respond to such issues that concern today's church. By looking back into the past to see how previous generations have done corporate worship aright, the authors look forward into the future to what biblical corporate worship should look like.

Edited by D. A. Carson (research professor of New Testament at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School), this book incorporates a biblical theology of worship in the opening chapter by the editor, which is then followed by three application chapters written by pastors from differing denominational backgrounds who set out to show how they have applied the principles of such a theology of worship in the practices of their local church. In unveiling the varying practices of different church traditions, what arises from the pages is a portrait of what worship by the Book looks like.

Summary

Chapter 1, "Worship Under The Word," D. A. Carson attempts to provide a theology of worship, despite the fact that there are many challenges in doing so. The author admits that worship has caused much heated debate in the contemporary church (11), that there are many diverse theologies of worship available (13), and that even though the word worship itself is found in Scripture (14), it is still hard to construct a theology of worship when biblical theology and systematic theology may give us different definitions. Be that as it may, Carson endeavors to examine the English word worship (18), as well as the underlying Greek and Hebrew words (19) and then follows with a brief examination of recent scholarship that show the challenges of writing a theology of worship (19). He gives respect to the work of Andrew E. Hill, and most adamantly confesses that the work of David Peterson's Engaging with God is the "volume that most urgently calls for thoughtful evaluation" (23).

Sympathetic to and borrowing from much of Peterson's biblical theology of worship, Carson then goes on to finally defining worship, and the rest of the chapter is a full explanation his definition. His attempt at a definition is a long paragraph whose opening sentence is the precursor for its expansion: "Worship is the proper response of all moral, sentient beings to God, ascribing all honor and worth to their Creator-God precisely because he is worthy, delightfully so" (26). Carson's citing of Edmund Clowney's list of corporate worship elements from the New Testament shows that he advocates for certain distinctive elements in corporate worship, though there is no biblical mandate for any particular ordering of these elements (48-52). The author concludes his chapter with some practical implications(58-63): the importance of avoiding misconceptions and hindrances of worship, authenticity for the sake of evangelism, the fact that we cannot incorporate all worship elements into one corporate gathering, and the danger of denominational hindrances to faithful worship.

Chapter 2, "Following in Cranmer's Footsteps," Mark Ashton (vicar of the Round Church at St. Andrew the Great in England) provides an overview of the Church of England's effort to remain biblical in all of its corporate worship gatherings, and yet faithful to the tradition that has been handed down through Archbishop Thomas Cranmer's Book of Common Prayer. While this central liturgy book of the Anglicanism has kept the church biblical since the mid-sixteenth century, Ashton confesses that there is no longer just one common Prayer Book in the Anglican Church. "There is an abundance of new liturgy, but no doctrinal consensus at its heart. This has created an identity crisis for Anglicanism" (66). In showing that Cranmer's Book of Common Prayer achieved a rare combination of being biblical, accessible and balanced (70-75), the author consequently calls for a renewal of such legacy and for the church to take responsibility to bring the Bible back to the center of corporate worship. Employing the standard that flowed from Cranmer's work, Ashton exhorts readers to examine if their worship services to see if it they are biblical, accessible, and balanced (80-88). He follows this analysis by looking at various aspects of Anglican worship services (88-103): variety of services, service structure, music, prayers, drama and testimony, leading the service, notices, size of congregation, length of service, and church building, furnishings, clothing, movement, as well as the church year. Ashton then concludes with a brief overview of particular services in Anglicanism, and the need to retain faithful worship in all of them (104-107).

Chapter 3, "Free Church Worship: The Challenge of Freedom," R. Kent Hughes (Senior Pastor Emeritus of College Church in Wheaton, Illinois) shows the reader how he came to his Reformed convictions without any denominational ties. He argues for worship that is more than just Sunday - "day-in-day-out living for Christ, the knees and heart perpetually bent in devotion and service" (140) - and how a life of worship enables Christians to worship freely and authentically in the gathered setting. After providing a brief look at the seven distinctives of worship in the Free Church tradition (preaching, Scripture, prayer, singing, sacraments, simplicity, and vestments; 142-46), Ashton then argues for six distinctive aspects of Christian worship that would foster mutual edification: worship is God-centered, Christ-centered, Word-centered, is consecration, is wholehearted, and is reverent (149-166). The author concludes his chapter with a brief how-to about corporate worship music, advocating six important factors: music serves preaching, develops maturity, is everyone's responsibility, that musical selection is important, that musicians must be prepared, and that the congregation is the chief instrument (166-172).

Chapter 4, "Reformed Worship in the Global City," by Timothy J. Keller (Pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City) takes a detailed look at the worship wars that are plaguing much of evangelicalism today. Keller provides definitions of the two main sides at war, "Contemporary Worship" (194) and "Historic Worship" (195), and then posits that "we forge our corporate best when we consult all three--the Bible, the cultural context of our community, and the historic tradition of our church" (197). This three-pronged approach to worship provides the foundation for Keller's overview of worship in the Reformed tradition, favoring John Calvin's theology and liturgy of worship over and against the large variety of Reformed worship perspectives (199-208). The further author traces Reformed worship to its historical roots: simplicity as its voice, transcendence as its goal, and gospel reenactment as its order (208-217). Keller's three tests of Reformed corporate worship (doxological evangelism, community building, and character of service; 217-221) aim at determining if a corporate worship gathering is well-balanced in being both contemporary and Reformed (221). He also deals with the attitude and heart of those leading corporate worship (223), weekly preparation and planning that is involved (226), and the significance of having a guideline for choosing music for worship services (236).

Critical Evaluation

Engaging With God is a unique book on Christian worship in that it presents a well-organized analysis of how three different church traditions have sought to put the principles of a biblical worship theology into practice. Each of the three extensive chapters that follows Carson's chapter on worship theology include appendices that give the reader a behind-the-scenes look at how the author's church has planned their corporate worship services, as well as additional articles that are incorporated within the corporate worship gathering. This allows the reader to not only see theology in practice, but it gives worship leaders and music ministers examples of biblically faithful worship liturgies to incorporate into their own church setting.

For example, Keller includes liturgies within his chapter that his church has used in the past, ones for classical and contemporary worship services, ones that are more Calvinian in manner and ones that are less; his appendices include a full worship service outline (240-248) and prayers his church has used for leading those not taking the Lord's Supper (249). Hughes' appendices should also be very helpful to readers, as they not only include his Free Church's liturgy and worship service outlines from morning and evening services, but also detailed commentary for each, and three helpful articles on the wonders of worship (189), reading the Word (190-191), and the danger of equating music to worship (192). Mark Ashton's appendices similarly provide extensive commentary to the worship service outlines that he includes (109-135), but from the Anglican church he oversees.

While these appendices are the muscles that allow this book to stand out from amongst the plethora of books on worship available today, it would have been more helpful to see a wider range of church traditions represented, like churches from the Baptist tradition, the flourishing Reformed Charismatic family of churches from Sovereign Grace Ministries, or the third-wave Pentecostal Hillsong Church from Australia. Such may extend the length of the book to be too long for one volume, but it would be greatly beneficial to see Carson's theology of worship at work in other diverse church traditions.

Of a minor note, Mark Ashton's chapter employed some archaic vocabulary that may be unknown to non-Anglican or lay readers, and British idioms that would be unfamiliar to an American audience. For example: hobby-horses (84), interlopers (86), emendation (91), vetted (94), vestry (96). It would have been beneficial to see those terms edited out or explained, especially Anglican Church terms like "collects" and "notices" which are termed differently in North America.

Conclusion

In spite of these minor faux pas, Worship by the Book is both convicting and uplifting. It is a book that will convict senior pastors, music ministers, and worship leaders alike to evaluate and re-examine their corporate worship services for their biblical faithfulness, evangelistic effectiveness and mutually edifying abilities. By providing a theological framework of worship and practical examples of churches that worship by the Book, it uplifts the reader to find hope in and through corporate worship gatherings that center around the Word that became flesh, Jesus Christ. Churches in need of worship recovery, as well as those simply looking to refresh their service liturgies, will find plenty of biblical insight here to sustain them into the twenty-first century.

I appreciate the comparison and contrast found within this book of the various worhip styles and the philosophy behind each one. Such exposure only makes it obvious where our commonalities lie, and what is at the heart of true worship. Each contributor does a fine job in this regard, but such an approach has its drawbacks. The temptation to become syncretic is always here with us as we search for a way to worship- we might succomb to pick and choose what appeals to us, rather than what would please God. We often do this without any realization of the "why" of what is being done, and thus lose our way, so to speak. These authors are deeply steeped in their traditions, and are less likely to fall into such a trap, but those who are reading such brief, though well written overviews, suffer from a lack of background that is important for such wanderings.

This book is worth buying for the insightful introductory article by Don Carson. He argues that there is a place for corporate worship and that church is more than sitting in a holy building and having my own little quiet time with God, or only meeting for teaching or encouraging others. In his theology of worship, he guards against some of the extremes we find in evangelical churches today. The reflection on David Peterson's "Engaging with God" is stimulating. Some have used Peterson's book to argue that in the New Testament meetings were not for the purpose of worshipping God. Carson points out that though the book shows that worship in the New Testament is meant to be a whole of life thing, and not just something Christians do on Sundays, Peterson still "wants to talk about ... corporate worship in the regular 'services' of the church."
The main sections of the book are written from a variety of perspectives, from formal to fairly free, from liturgical to extemporary.

Interestingly, the article by the minister from the more liturgical background, Mark Ashton, argues from his knowledge of Cranmer [the creator of the Anglican Book of Common Prayer] that churches should have more flexibility and freedom. And the articles by those from a less structured eccesiology argue for the use of some liturgy!

And Carson suggests we should be using the best of the ways of worship from our brothers and sisters around the world, without becoming self-consciously Multicultural for the sake of it.

Highly recommended.

Too often, when Christians discuss worship, they go little further than arguments about styles of music. The "worship wars" that have plagued the modern church are a prime example of this. Many churches have fallen apart and many Christians have been deeply hurt over styles of music. Churches that have sought to be progressive and contemporary have often done away with hymns, throwing away hundreds of years of Christian tradition in the process. Other churches have refused to sing any song written in modern times, indicating an irrational bias towards days gone by. In the process worship has come to be nearly synonymous with music. Church services are often structured around a time of worship, led by a worship pastor, and this is followed by a time of apparently non-worshipful teaching led by a teaching pastor.

These worship wars are a terrible distraction, for as believers who have access to the New Testament we know that worship extends far beyond music. Worship is to encompass all of life rather than only select parts. Worship by the Book is an attempt by four men, D.A Carson, Mark Ashton, Kent Hughes and Timothy Keller, to unravel the meaning of worship as well as to suggest ways that corporate worship, done as the church gathers together, can be most meaningful and most faithful to Scripture.

The book begins with an essay by Carson entitled "Worship Under the Word" in which he builds a framework around which each of the other authors will write. The heart of the essay is a lengthy definition of worship and a twelve-point examination of this definition. It is an unusually long and detailed definition of worship, yet one that for precisely those reasons is exceedingly useful.

Following Carson's introduction, each of the three co-authors is given one chapter to provide insight about worship within their tradition. The first of these is Mark Ashton, who is vicar of the Round Church at St. Andrew the Great in Cambridge, England. His essay is entitled "Following in Cramner's Footsteps" and he proposes that the Anglican Church recover the principles Cramner used to draft the Book of Common Prayer. He suggests each aspect of a worship service needs to meet three criteria: is it biblical, is it accessible and is it balanced? Despite coming from a tradition that seems far removed from mainline evangelicalism, I suspect the bulk of believers with agree with most of what he writes, at least until the final paragraphs where he writes about infant baptism and presumptive regeneration. I was a little bit concerned about a vague, underlying spirit of pragmatism that seemed to lie under the surface of some of what he wrote. Within the sample services, for example, is an outline of a guest service in which they have dumbed-down their Bible translation, opting for the Good News Bible in place of the New International Version. Despite this, there was much within his essay that was of practical value.

The second essay was written by Kent Hughes, pastor of the College Church in Wheaton, Illinois. At the heart of Hughes' essay, "Free Church Worship," were his six distinctives of Christian worship: it is God-centered, Christ-centered, Word-centered, consecration, whole-hearted and reverent. I especially appreciated his emphasis on reverence, as this is sorely-lacking in many contemporary churches. He closed with some useful thoughts on music in corporate worship.

The final essay was written by Timothy Keller, pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church (PCA) in New York City. Keller is seen as a trend-setter within the Presbyterian Church of America, so I looked forward to his essay which was entitled "Reformed Worship in the Global City." Keller contrasted and compared contemporary worship and historical worship and proposed a middle-ground, but not one as simple as an even distribution of elements from each. His essay was built around an examination and defense of the Reformed worship tradition. He examined its variety, sources, balance, core, traits and tests. I particularly enjoyed his explanation of the service structure at their church and the cycles of praise, renewal and commitment.

While it was generally a strong essay, it seemed to come apart a little at the end. The author wrote about the importance of including unbelieving musicians in the worship team as a way to evangelize them, arguing that God's common grace given to musicians brings as much glory to Him as do believers using their talents in His service. I much preferred Kent Hughes' take on this same issue. In the previous chapter he wrote "Musicians must see themselves as fellow laborers in the Word and must lead with understanding and an engaged heart. Those who minister in worship services must be healthy Christians who have confessed their sins and by God's grace are living their lives consistently with the music they lead. The sobering fact is that over time the congregation tends to become like those who lead." I was also a bit disappointed by the content of the bulletin inserts of Redeemer Church that were included within this essay as they seemed to favorably quote Mother Teresa, writing that the most important need of the poor is to be wanted.

Despite a few small missteps, I found this book fascinating and convicting. I would encourage any pastor or worship leader to buy this book and to read it through at least a couple of times. It will provide valuable insight into planning worship services that will lead believers into a time of worship that goes far beyond the music. Worship like these men describe is becoming increasingly rare. I hope this volume can help many churches recover worship that is done by the Book.

I just wanted to ask whether people think this book would be helpful to teachers at the secondary level. I mostly teach language arts for kids with mild to moderate learning and behavioral impairments.
I want to improve in the ways I managing planning, grading and classroom behavior.

Thanks!

(I had to add stars in order to post, apparently, but as I've never read this book obviously they don't mean anything!)

I wish I'd had this book before I started my first year as a teacher! It provides incredibly useful ways to organize and keep track of classroom activity - from the big picture of planning (and changing) curriculum throughout the year, to the minutia of how to arrange the steats or what to do with all that paper that accumulates. I've been teaching for 7 years, and recently borrowed this book from a colleague, and learned many new tricks, like how to re-think my classroom setup and how to keep an eye on long-term goals, while maintaining order in the day-to-day workings of my classroom.

I particularly love how the author stresses the value of students' sense of responsibility in the classroom - this has been my experience too. The more students invest in their work environment, the better they will take care of it, and if we make it an easy space in which children can learn and use materials independently, they will certainly do this! It makes everyone's job easier to work in an organized space.

I am going into my 2nd year of teaching and have found this book to be immensely helpful. I taught a split grade my first year and struggled with organizing all of the curriculum information and keeping my plan book organized in a way that helped keep me on track for the year.

This book by Shoshana Wolfe is awesome for getting organized. She shares her own story of these strategies helping her as she had to move her class multiple times after 9/11. From setting up a year-long curriculum goal sheet for each subject area, to planning monthly calendars to serve as the foundation for all planning and teaching, to the artifact binders and homework notebooks, this book is packed with refreshing ideas that new and veteran teachers alike can benefit from.

I am so glad I purchased this book. I will definitely be using a lot of these strategies this year with my new class.

Your Best Year Yet offers great suggestions on how all teachers can make the most of what they have, no matter what their situation. It teaches that children are viable resources for creating and sustaining an organized classroom community. It is extremely well-written with great models, templates, photographs, sample student and teacher work, and, most enjoyably, first-hand accounts of the author's own experiences as a school teacher. As a teacher in an integrated classroom, I have found this guide to be very helpful!

This book takes all the great ideas for teaching kids to be independent in the classroom and puts them together in one place. After teaching middle school for 7 years, there are things in here that I have done, and things I wish I'd thought about sooner. It gives you plenty to think about and many ways to enter into the process of streamlining the routines in your classroom making it a better place for both student and teacher.

This book really impacted me and the direction to go in my administration and teaching roles! I am a better leader and teacher b/c of the principles taught in this book! Gives a great approach on how to inspire others to accomplish more and succeed. Easy book to read! It is set up in a fictional story. The story was slow to grasp at first because I kept saying, "get to the point". Once the story was set up it began to pour out applicable information that the fictional story really brought out insights into. I really liked it after that. that is why i recommend this book to all educators. It doesn't make you feel like a failure. We are just normal and trying to do the best we can and wonder why everyone seems so exhausted and bored in schools. This book gave me a great approach to create energy within others! And it is a very simple approach.

Note: This book doesn't really talk about discipline or methodologies or theories, but provides a practical approach of how to improve the quality of instruction, and increase student and teacher satisfaction. Through the fiction side of the book it allows you to observe a successful school and one that is failing and how the failing school becomes a success! I now am going to take my classes to a new level of energy b/c of this book!

Easy read! At first it doesn't seem like it is going to apply b/c it is building the story. Then it catches steam and flows with good stuff.

Clearly, one of the best books I've ever read regarding education. This book was a required reading for a graduate course, but it should be required for any educator who truly wants to help make children more successful. It made me examine how I have been ZAPPING (encouraging, motivating) students and colleagues and SAPPING (demotivating, discouraging) students and colleagues. Although I can't go to the 12th dimension with Ralph, I'm hoping I will look at my students, my school in a way that will allow me to be more of a ZAPPER and less of a SAPPER.

This easy-to-read book sends a powerful message concerning the importance of empowerment and ownership in education. The lessons that can be learned from this publication will remain beneficial as long as education is an existing institution. Everyone should place himself/herself in the shoes of Joe Mode and see how the empowerment process can and should be implemented. To see firsthand how empowerment can improve teacher and student performance is totally astounding.

This book should be required reading for every school administrator starting with the State Commissioner of Education.

This book is light-hearted and easy to read. It provides the reader with a real sense of how to empower employees to create the best school possible. After reading this book, you will feel empowered to make a difference in your school. A must for all practicing school administrators.

Zapp! should be required reading for every educator in the USA. Its an easy read and an inspirational account of a principal who wants more for his students, staff and himself. The power to empower is underestimated in our schools today. Zapp!could change any educaator with the desire to grow.

I found Allen E. Fishman's book to be extremely informative and beneficial even to a "non-family business" person. Allen provided detailed and practical information that any person could benefit from. I think what makes his book different from other authors is how he effectively related his "own family" personal experiences to help the reader visualize his thoughts. This is definitely a book that I will use as a frequent reference and recommend to colleagues and family members.
Robyn Weilbacher

I didn't read this book to address my needs as a family business owner or a family member employee. Instead, as someone who has often worked as a non-family member employee in a family business, I wanted to better understand exactly what goes on---and why. My first job at age 15 was for a family-owned restaurant. I loved the job, but even back then I felt confused, and yes, annoyed, by dynamics I found unfair to those of us not "in the family." And that confusion (and annoyance) has followed me every time I worked for a family-owned business.

I finally get it! And if this book had been around 30 years ago when I was 15, and I had been smart enough to read it, my future working life would have been a lot different--- and my blood pressure would have faced far fewer challenges.

I love the close knit feeling a family company provides. But sometimes stuff goes on that makes no sense; at least not to me. Like when a family member gets promoted to a position I don't think he or she has the experience to carry, compensation issues, and being pushed and pulled by the conflicting pressures of bosses that also happen to be a husband and wife, siblings, cousins, whatever the relationship. This book hits on all these scenarios and more.

I truly believe that tolerance for issues that challenge me comes from understanding. Allen Fishman's book has given me the understanding I need to push these issues aside. I may not like every single thing that goes on in a family business, but now that I know why it happens, I don't have to waste any more time thinking about it. Allen speaks in real terms that everyone can understand, and he doesn't dodge the tough issues; he calls the shots just as they are, even when they aren't pretty. And that's impressive coming from someone who is a family business owner himself. And how cool that Allen credits his daughter for her help in writing the book; talk about authenticity!

Any one who works for a family business, who isn't part of the family, needs to read this book. And family business leaders, or FBL's as they are called in the book, listen up--- get a couple copies of this book and spread it around to your Non FME's. Encourage them to read it, and then talk to them about any questions they might have. I promise, you'll get a more productive- and happier- non family workforce for making the effort.

Family businesses are a special challenge. Allen begins with reality; that parents, children and siblings will never cease to interact in those roles, and that the functions of the business must accommodate that reality. He then gives us a step by step look at how to make the added complexities of family ownership, authority and responsibility work together in a successful enterprise.

Allen Fishman's book should be required reading for anyone leading or working in a family business. Filled with real life stories from family businesses, this book is a practical guide that shows you how to have more fulfilling relationships with your family members, both inside and outside of your family business.

Allen Fishman is the Family Business Leader of a successful family business. His real-life experiences the many experiences of leading family business coaches from around the globe, makes this book distinctive. It's real time/real life stuff that everyone involved in a family business can relate to and immediately put into practice.

Ray Brun, Small Business Coach Fairfield, CA

I had been brought up to believe that when a culture mistreats the Jews, that culture inevitably deteriorates (as exemplified, for example, by the decay of the Spanish and Ottoman Empires after the 16th century). But Glick's book discusses a terrifying counterexample: the rise of France and Germany in the late Middle Ages.

The so-called Dark Ages were actually quite pleasant for Jews: in the centuries after the end of the Roman Empire, Jews circulated through western Europe, specializing in international trade. Charlemagne and his successors were quite friendly towards Jews in the 700s and 800s, even using them as diplomats now and then.

But in the 1000s, European agriculture became more productive, thus generating surplus products that could be sold elsewhere. Christians became merchants to sell these products, and formed connections with other Christian merchants. These merchants saw the Jews as competitors, and formed guilds that excluded Jews from commerce. Jews were squeezed into the moneylending industry, thus enabling Christians to use Jewish money without having to compete with Jews.

The ghettoization of Jews into moneylending was a disaster for Jews. Because Jews were allowed to hold money but not large amounts of land, Christian kings soon realized that they could squeeze Jews unmercifully, extorting money in return for protection. Jews tried to pass on the costs to debtors by charging higher interest rates, thus causing Christian borrowers to hate Jews even more than they did before. Borrowers decided that they could avoid debts by the simple expedient of robbing and/or killing their Jewish creditors. (And this easy repayment option ensured that borrowers used Jewish rather than Christian lenders; anyone who borrowed from the latter would actually have to repay the loan rather than killing the banker!) Eventually, Jews were left without assets and were thus useless to Christian kings, who forced them to leave France and most of Germany.

The intellectual revival of Christianity also posed problems for Jews. As Christians became less ignorant, they learned that Judaism had evolved beyond the written Torah, creating a massive corpus of rabbinic law through the Talmud and other works. But in the Christian world, Jews' legitimacy was based on their connection to the Old Testament. So Jewish scholarship other than the Old Testatement was perceived as something akin to heresy, and made the Jews even more hated.

This is not the kind of book I normally would have read (regrettably), but it came to me highly recommended. Having grown up in a Jewish environment but feeling some loss of identity and lack of knowledge of my ancestral history, I took the initiative to try to learn more.

Abraham' Heirs unexpectedly had a profound influence upon how I view my cultural heritage in a way I never anticipated. In a chronological and clear -- yet fair -- manner, the text depicts life and cross-cultural relationships and attitudes between Jews and Christians as central Europe developed. Through the progression of events depicted, the book demonstrates marked patterns which evolved across both time and location, which is crucial towards understanding how and why history regrettably progressed as it did.

Many events are quite disturbing, sometimes difficult to grasp in magnitude, but can't be forgotten nor simply glossed over. Importantly, Glick tells it the way things were, which also made it hard to put the book down. His content is exceptionally well-written, easy to follow, and highly informative, making it appropriate and essential for all readers.

I teach religious high school, and I thought I knew something about the history of Jews in medieval Europe. "Abraham's Heirs" has broadened my knowledge and understanding to a degree that is simply astonishing. Like all really good histories, this one combines compelling primary sources with a clear overall structure. A great read.

The author weaves an incredible tapestry of historical social commentary. Throughly researched, well written, and definitely well worth the read. You will find yourself unable to put this book down!

I was assigned Glick's book by my Medieval History professor Dr. Paul Halsall. I opened the book thinking I knew a lot about the experiences of Jews in France and Germany in Medieval Europe; and what I found was that I was wrong.

This book is an excellent book about the cultures of the Jews and the Christians, how these two cultures interacted with each other and how Medieval Jewish culture effects the culture of American Jews, who predominately come from these Ashkenazic Jews.

The book is divided chronologically and this division works. It shows the downward spiral pattern of Christian and Jewish interaction that finally hit rock bottom with the expulsion of Jews from France and in England.

I especially enjoyed reading about the devistating effects of the Crusades on the Jewish communitites of the Rhine river region. I was amazed to read that many of the higher Church officials tried to protect their neighbor Jews from the angry and violent mobs. Bishops tried hiding Jews, tried baptizing Jews, and showed real sorrow and guilt when Jews in their communities were harmed.

I also found the history of the evolution of Christian thought about the Jews very fascinating. The early Christians, who didn't even know they were Christians, clearly saw themselves as religiously Jewish. By the time of the writing of the Gospel of John, this has changed. The Gospel of John is somewhat anti-Jewish. When the Christians began using "rational thinking," especially with the creation of Universities, they became even more hostile toward the Jews.

This book is a definate "must-buy" for any graduate student of European history or any serious undergraduate.

I have always been interested in culture and human aspects of the firm. This book was highly recommended by my teacher on strategic management as his favorite on change management. It's an easy read on the human aspects of change and is helped by a novel structure in the book (each subsection of the chapter reads like an individual chapter, which assists the dropping and picking up). It's no nonsense. Anyone who liked 'The Fifth Discipline', will much appreciate this as well. I hope to read more of this type material.

The Accelerating Organization is an excellent resource of ideas on how to develop a constantly learning organization. Maira and Scott-Morgan provide many clear and concise concepts in developing a new organization or moving an existing organization into a learning system. Every point is illustrated from a plethora of international business situations. Not only is "The Accelerating Organization" informative, it is "do-able."

I have always been interested in culture and human aspects of the firm. This book was highly recommended by my teacher on strategic management as his favorite on change management. It's an easy read on the human aspects of change and is helped by a novel structure in the book (each subsection of the chapter reads like an individual chapter, which assists the dropping and picking up). It's no nonsense. Anyone who liked 'The Fifth Discipline', will much appreciate this as well. I hope to read more of this type material.

very updated, helpful in managing change in big organizations

If the Business environment is as smart as it should be this book should be a Best-Selle

This book is a great place to start for smaller groups and for someone with no ideas on how to get started fundraising. Most of the ideas have very little investment required which is another plus.

I also recomend [...] which has a free fundraising program my organization of under 100 members utilized to raise over $11K last year.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who needs to raise some money. It's a friendly, practical guide that offers lots of smart guidance and creative tips. There's great advice here on a variety of options--from houseparties to raffles to carwashes--and the authors help you figure out which event is right for you. I especially liked the advice on how to ask for money in person (which can be scary at first), and the "do's and don'ts" lists will help you avoid making some common mistakes. If you need to raise money for your child's school or athletic team, for your church or community group, to help disaster victims, or for a political cause, this book is the best guide around.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who needs to raise some money. It's a friendly, practical guide that offers lots of smart guidance and creative tips. There's great advice here on a variety of options--from houseparties to raffles to carwashes--and the authors help you figure out which event is right for you. I especially liked the advice on how to ask for money in person (which can be scary at first), and the "do's and don'ts" lists will help you avoid making some common mistakes. If you need to raise money for your child's school or athletic team, for your church or community group, to help disaster victims, or for a political cause, this book is the best guide around.

This book has easy to follow, step by step plans for ways small entities can raise funds. There is enough variey in the types of projects described that any agency can choose the one that seems to suit the "personality" of the agency. It should make raising money seem less daunting and within the abilities of most people.

This book is a terrific resource for new or inexperienced fundraisers, or even veterans who need to brush up on the basics. The worksheets and step-by-step, detailed instructions are easy to follow and execute. The authors have found a way to make the actual work of fundraising into a manageable process. This book is invaluable to most anyone's fundraising efforts -- and is especially useful for volunteer fundraisers!

I thought this book was a great starter book for those who have little knowledge of AA worship. My main problem with the text it is a little to academic for the masses - a little too much jargon. But I could relate to much of what stated from my personal and family experiences.

A book that gives you more details of how Africans evolved into Afro Baptist, I would highly recommend Mechal Sobel's Been in the Storm Too Long." This book is excellent and can compliment this book. She deserves reading. She speaks truth.

Melva Wilson Costen's "African American Christian Worship, though now nearly a decade old, remains an undated core text for understanding the African American Christian religious experience. From a Caucasian perspective, some may mistake "worship" in the title as referring to one part of a Sunday morning service. As Costen, and African American Church history demonstrate, nothing could be further from the truth. "Worship" is a 24/7 experience of God and the gathered community of God's people meet to celebrate what God has done and to empower one another with what He will continue to do.

Costen's strength is her ability to tap into the history of African American Christianity. In fact, in many ways this book is just that--a history of African American corporate worship. Moving from the bitter waters of enslavement, to the Invisible Institution, to the Praise House, Costen shows both the actions and the theology behind those actions. She then beautifully ties together these historical foundations with the modern Christian worship experience of contemporary African American churches. For anyone wanting a well-researched history of the gathered African American Church, this is a great source.

Reviewer: Bob Kellemen, Ph.D., is the author of Beyond the Suffering: Embracing the Legacy of African American Soul Care and Spiritual Direction .

Ok, so what can I, a white guy (perhaps, I might emphasise, a VERY white guy), get out of a book on African American Christian worship? More than one might think - read on.

Costen, in her book 'African American Christian Worship,' begins with a discussion of core theological beliefs that shape all of such worship. This core seeks to locate and connect the liturgy with the rest of life, such that the practice of worship has meaning that influences the rest of life, and vice versa. These core beliefs are rather interesting, and not at all out of line with what my own basic theology would contain. However, the liturgical practice in my own background does not always realise the larger connection between the shape of the worship liturgy and the larger universe.

There is a strong focus on personal experience as a primary spiritual element. Being interested in such spirituality, I was intrigued by her quote:

'Unlike the Western-oriented Christian, whose theology is rooted in Greco-Roman concepts and culture, African peoples tend to seek to know God personally rather than to know about God from doctrines and creeds.' (p. 20)

While I am a very creed-based Christian, I still seek those experiences and practices which help me to know God, as well as having respect for those practices and studies which talk about God. There has been a tension between these orientations in the more Euro-centric history as well as the African American history, with each side having a similar suspicion of the other. One of Costen's shortcomings in this book is that she ignores the whole of the Western contemplative tradition.

Costen elaborates on the historical aspects of African American worship, particularly as it continues to be informed by its origins as an expression of oppressed peoples. There is, however, no single pattern or form for African American worship; rather, the variety of African American worship that exists today across many denominational lines are all influenced to varying degrees by this background. For instance, 'all African American denominations (Protestant especially) can claim heritage in the Invisible Institution, regardless of when and where they enter denominational history.' (p. 87) However, this is shaped and influenced by a number of factors, including location, leadership, daily life of worshipers, and what Costen describes as the 'denominational ethos' of the worshipers. To think that there is one pattern of African American Christian worship is a mistake.

As someone coming out of the Anglican tradition, I was interested in the discussion of the role of the Church of England and British-based movements on the early African American experience. This is not a history of which I am very familiar, and it is not one emphasised in other historical texts I have studied.

Certainly, practices such as the Ring Shout are very removed from my experience and tradition. I wonder if the description and discussion in Costen's book does this practice justice, as I did not get a good sense of what exactly takes places and what feelings and connections to God are manifest in the practice. This is most likely another case of the necessary difference between reading about a practice and actually enacting and participating in the practice.

I was very interested in the idea of the Invisible Institution and the improvised architecture and accoutrements dedicated to worship. As one who often has to improvise meeting spaces, etc., I have had to deal with some of the difficulties discussed here, albeit none as difficult to deal with as official societal and legal suppression as was enacted against early African American self-directed worship experiences.

Perhaps the most important chapter for me was the concluding one, which discusses worship as empowerment. Costen states, 'In order for corporate worship to be authentic and empowering, it must be psychologically relevant to worshipers and commensurate with their lived experience.' (p. 123) Likewise, she writes, 'The most effective demonstration of true liturgy is what we do in obedience to God in Christ with our lives when we gather and when we scatter as a community in the world.' (p. 127) These quotes sum up for me the importance of worship in life, learning, and the hoped-for relevance of what takes place during our liturgical-worshipful times to our overall lives. This transcends the unique experience of any particular group such as African Americans, and becomes important for all people.

It would take me several pages to adequately write a review that expresses the scholarship contained in this book. I am honored to be able to review this text because it is such an outstanding piece of work. I know that this book has been discussed by the academy, clergy, students, and laypersons alike. It is a very scholarly, well researched, and organized writing on African American Christian worship. I really don't know where to begin because there are just so many great things I could say about this book. It is a must for every library of scholars interested in the area of worship. I used this book as a primary resource for a seminary graduate project in music. But the book has much more to offer and is not limited to any one topic of worship. Costen starts with a discussion of the theology of African American worship and how this relates to our "core belief" system and our "doctrine of God." She notes that African American worship can be characterized in general as "experiential." African people "tend to seek to know God personally rather than to know about God from doctrines and creeds." She presents music, preaching, prayer, ritual, and shouting as a means of communication and empowerment in worship. These acts are also described as "celebrative acts of worship" that engage the community of faith into divine communion with God and with one another. From a historical perspective, Costen begins with worship in the Invisible Institution and discusses how it uniquely shaped the culture of worship for African American people. Later on, she provides a historical summary of the African American denominations and congregations and the history behind their formation. The book has much more than I could ever discuss - from a detailed history of African American music to a contemporary model for worship. This book is very well written, scholarly, and simple to read. It is a must for every library.

It would take me several pages to adequately write a review that expresses the scholarship contained in this book. I am honored to be able to review this text because it is such an outstanding piece of work. I know that this book has been discussed by the academy, clergy, students, and laypersons alike. It is a very scholarly, well researched, and organized writing on African American Christian worship. I really don't know where to begin because there are just so many great things I could say about this book. It is a must for every library of scholars interested in the area of worship. I used this book as a primary resource for a seminary graduate project in music. But the book has much more to offer and is not limited to any one topic of worship. Costen starts with a discussion of the theology of African American worship and how this relates to our "core belief" system and our "doctrine of God." She notes that African American worship can be characterized in general as "experiential." African people "tend to seek to know God personally rather than to know about God from doctrines and creeds." She presents music, preaching, prayer, ritual, and shouting as a means of communication and empowerment in worship. These acts are also described as "celebrative acts of worship" that engage the community of faith into divine communion with God and with one another. From a historical perspective, Costen begins with worship in the Invisible Institution and discusses how it uniquely shaped the culture of worship for African American people. Later on, she provides a historical summary of the African American denominations and congregations and the history behind their formation. The book has much more than I could ever discuss - from a detailed history of African American music to a contemporary model for worship. This book is very well written, scholarly, and simple to read. It is a must for every library.

If you're an evangelical Protestant as I am, chances are that you hear very little about Paul's words that some are gifted by God to remain unmarried. We acknowledge Paul's observation, but we only extremely rarely (if at all) think of people as called to a life without marriage. Perhaps making it more difficult for those who are or might be called to such a state, we tend to think in terms of singleness vs. marriage, a juxtaposition that, given our culture, connotes loneliness vs. happiness.

Father Dubay challenges this view by arguing that God never calls anyone to singleness, because singleness in and of itself is not a life vocation that enables you to serve others. Instead, God calls some to marriage (serving primarily your family), and some to celibacy (serving others who are not of your family and devoting yourself to Jesus apart from the married state). The difference in terminology between singleness and celibacy might seem like splitting hairs to some, but I think Dubay is on to something in that the terminology we use affects our outlook. Furthermore, his emphasis on directing our lives toward self-giving counteracts the materialistic, self-centered messages from our culture.

Within the pages of this book, Dubay gives much advice concerning signs of a call to a celibate vocation, and paints a detailed picture of what a life of celibacy looks like. And Dubay's love for the Lord Jesus Christ shines through on every page he writes.

Obviously, this book is more accessible to Catholics than Protestants. However, I found the majority of this book to be quite useful and insightful. (Of course, there will be some points where evangelicals have strong disagreements with Dubay.) A book (as opposed to just a few words or a chapter in a book) is needed to address this subject from an evangelical Protestant perspective. Until then, Dubay's book is a valuable read.

Father Dubay's moving and genuinely realistic presentation of the gift of consecrated celibacy takes us beyond the usual stereotypes of celibate life as strictly a means to enhance one's service or show a commitment to community life. Using the classic, solid background which has endured for 2000 years of Christianity, Father Dubay presents a brief but deep exploration of the love, sacrifice, and commitment of vowed chastity, unhampered by trendy or empty references.

This is a book that I think could help basically anyone understand better the spiritual reasons for the practice of consecrated celibacy. It has a lot of substance without requiring the reader to be a sophisticated theologian, it is just clear and direct. Celibate chastity ("virginity") is a charism, a gift, and as a choice of a way of life it is an exclusive centering on God as the one essential truth and love of one's entire life. Because of this exclusive gift of self to God, the virgin who lives this life with spiritual integrity and generosity receives from God the grace of a manyfold increase in her/his capacity for charity toward all people. "And You Are Christ's" makes a really excellent statement of the contemplative and apolostolic dimensions of consecrated celibacy, especially in relation to women. It also describes the various kinds of consecration within the Catholic Church, and the signs by which this gift/charism may be known in individuals. This book will be valuable to anyone discerning a call to celibate life, to their families to help them understand this vocation, and to committed celibates to help understand more broadly, deeply, and clearly the reasons for the value of their choice, that they might live it more fully in God's service.

Although I think that all of Fr. Dubay's books are excellent, this book is one of the best books I have ever read, and indeed the finest book I have ever read on the subject of celibacy for the Kingdom of God. In reading this book, I felt my heart and soul identify with Fr. Dubay's words, written with an eloquence which I could never achieve.

As a member of a Secular Institute (for those unfamiliar with the term: being a member of a Secular Institute is having a vocation in the Catholic Church as a lay person - not a religious, priest, brother, sister - who takes the vows of a religious, i.e. poverty, chastity and obedience, but remains a lay person living in the world and living the vows within the context of a lay life), I especially appreciated Fr. Dubay's clarification of "vocation" as being not what one "does" in life (which is what a "career" is), but what one IS in the depths of one's soul, and his explanation of gospel virginity as being a "love affair", as opposed to the world's negative view that it is a "giving up" of something (marriage, sexual intimacy, family life, etc.), or that it is an unhealthy or unnatural way to live.

Fr. Dubay explains that everything we search for in life, even so much as a cold drink to satisfy physical thirst, is but an indication of our deeper quest for the Lord, and how a vocation of gospel virginity is not a "giving up" but a fulfillment of our deepest yearnings for God. For the person consecrated to gospel virginity, Fr. Dubay writes of the difference in how we live our lives if we live cognizant of the true nature of our vocation.

I think that this book would be an outstanding aid for those who may be struggling to understand their child's/family member's/friend's decision to live a life of gospel virginity. Further, I believe that anyone who feels they are being called to a celibate and chaste lifestyle would benefit by reading this book and gain great insights into why they feel attracted to gospel virginity.

Finally, for all those who are living a celibate lifestyle, whether diocesan priest, religious priest, religious brother or sister, nun, or consecrated lay person, this book will be an incalculable affirmation of our chosen lifestyle and love affair with the One who is Love itself.

One of the best books on this subject. Every Catholic should read it to have a better understanding of the priests and religious who serve them. Especially good is the explanation of the priest as a bridegroom whose spouse is the Church, in the image of Christ the Bridegroom found in Scripture. Also good is the explanation that "being" precedes "doing." We are valuable in God's eyes because we "are", not because of what we "do," that love falls into the category of "being" rather than "doing" and is the "greatest of these." Also good is the explanation that consecrated life is an image of the life to come, and that it's role in the Mystical Body is to compliment, rather than compete with, the marriage vocation. The section on "compensation compromises" is excellent for any state in life. It explains how we make compromises to compensate or reward ourselves for the sacrifices we make in our vocations. For example, "I am overindulging in (fill in the blank) because I deserve it for the enormous sacrifices I make as a (choose one)priest, sister, wife, husband, mother, father. Wonderful insights. A must read.

This is a wonderful program. I honestly can't say enough good about it. What a way to reach out to the women in your church, or in your neighborhood! I went through the program last summer and had the opportunity this week to serve at a new AOG session. It has been such a blessing to me, especially at a time where not many take the time out of their busy schedule to nuture friendships. I have never felt so truly cared for. The meals we did were not the ones in the book, but we did do meals. Some groups have chosen to leave this part out. I would definitely not do this. There is something so great about having a meal together and also not lifting a finger! You feel so pampered! Can't wait until the author pens a continuation study!

If you can find some mentors to lead you and friends through this study do it, but don't be afraid to start your own group. This is great for a neighborhood study. JE

This is a wonderful idea for strengthening relationships with older and younger generations. We are going to try it in our church. We may alter the program a bit as it is quite ambitious, but I think we can make it work. Be willing to work with it and don't get bogged down in the details of making it look just like the model.

This is a great book and program by a lady that really shows her love for the LORD!

Read this book and then buy more to give to your friends. This is a wonderful group program for older women to mentor younger women.