Organizations Books

I found McGuckin's book very interesting, readable, and informative.

Cyril of Alexandria is probably one of the most underappreciated saints in the West, and this book goes a long way to show his importance, especially in the area of Christology. McGuckin does a great job in Chapters 2 and 3 explaining both Nestorius' and Cyril's conflicting theologies. He takes the at times subtle and at times downright confusing debates of the early 5th century and explains them in such a way as to be understandable to the modern reader. Note, however, that this is not an intro book to these topics, McGuckin does assume the reader has a basic understanding of the issues involved before he delves more deeply into them.

The reason I am giving this book 4 stars instead of 5, however, is due to Chapter 4, in which McGuckin writes about the ecumenical reception of Cyril's work after his death, especially at Chaldedon. I understand that he is an Orthodox priest, and as such, will have a different perspective of Chalcedon than most in the West. However, I felt this Chapter was simply reactionary: he simply found every opportunity to denigrate Pope Leo's (very important) contribution to Chalcedon, and to act like Leo's Tome was basically inconsequential to the proceedings. While it may be true that Leo's contribution is overstated at times in the West, McGuckin seems to be more interested in attacking the West's perception than he is of simply recounting the actual history in an objective manner.

One of McGuckin's goals in his scholarship has been to rehabilitate Cyril in contemporary scholarship. Many people (especially in Western Europe and America) have demonized Cyril and have overemphasized the role of power politics in the Council of Ephesus. McGuckin portrays Cyril much more sympathetically. As an Easterner, he looks at Cyril much more highly than those of the West and he is able to point out times when Westerners get Cyril wrong.

This is not an intro book for those who know nothing of the issues surrounding the Council of Ephesus, however if you have a basic grasp of Church History and are interested in this particular controversy, I would highly reccomend it.

McGuckin writes with complete lucidity about very complicated dogmatic issues. Anyone who has struggled with the issues of Ephesus and Chalcedon will benefit from McGuckin's analyses. There is plenty of history here too, but the author is at his best at conceptual analysis. He clearly is on Cyril's side in the debates of the era, and presents Cyril as a champion of not only the divinity of Jesus, but also of his true and complete humanity.

For a book on such a heavy subject the book is remarkably well written, readable and enjoyable. McGuckin does a very fine job of interweaving history and theology, keeping the political and dogmatic dramas in balanced perspective. I am a novice in this area so I cannot judge whether McGuckin's conclusions are correct, but the work seems to be fair and scholarly. He clearly writes from an Eastern Orthodox and pro-Cyril perspective but presents material that causes difficulties for his views as well. Of particular interest is his finely nuanced discussion of the complicated role of the Pope in this early chuch controversy.

The book provides a detailed and well written presentation of the often confusing events connected with the Council of Ephesus (431AD) and has two chapters analyzing the theology of Cyril and Nestorius. There is also a good selection of hard to find writings by Cyril and his contemporaries (over 150pp). The author works to offset the generally negative modern outlook on Cyril and to make understandable the very high esteem in which this important Church Father and his theology were held by much of the Early Church.

Michael Goulder is the most insightful voice I have encountered in the study of early Christianity. His hypothosis of two Christian churches, one headed by Peter and James in Jeruselum and the other headed by Paul during his travels is nothing short of genius. He draws almost exclusively on biblical texts to paint a picture of early Christianity struggling to remain true to its Jewish past (the Petrines) while drawing an ever-growing number of gentile followers (the Paulines). The tension in Goulder's dichotomy sheds a fascinating light on many of the more troubling passages in Acts and Paul's letters, making them instantly come into focus. This is a book which will have you wondering why you never made these connections in the first place. It will also cause you to rethink the traditional views that Paul was writing to oppose the influences of traditional Jews, gnostics, or some other faction. Goulder's insights are simply breathtaking.

Michael Goulder is an outstanding biblical scholar, who usually writes for a scholarly audience, but this book was written for the general reader interested in the history of the Bible and of Christianity. Goulder is no Isaac Asimov, but he does manage to write a book the interested layman can understand. It requires more effort on the reader's part than it would if Asimov had written it, but the effort is still not excessive, and is well worth it.

Paul, a Jew who had been strongly opposed to the "Followers of the Way" (the proto-Christian movement within Judaism) experienced something on the road to Damascus which converted him from an opponent of the Jesus movement to an ardent supporter. Paul was convinced that Jesus' message was not just for Jews, but for all humanity. He took his mission out of Israel, where most of the people were Jews, to Turkey and elsewhere where there were few Jews. He wisely realized that few Gentiles would accept circumcision and the strict Kosher (food) laws of Judaism as a condition of joining the churches Paul was founding, so he downplayed these tough requirements, and did not seek to enforce them. Peter and Jesus' brother James, meanwhile, remained in Jerusalem and kept the Jewish Law entirely. They sent out pairs of missionaries to the churches Paul had established, and these missionaries tried to bring the far-flung churches into line with Jewish law, which Peter and James saw as essential, but which Paul saw as superseded by Jesus.

It will likely never be possible to determine which position the historical Jesus would have taken in this controversy (quite possibly somewhere between Peter and Paul), but it is clear that the Pauline position won out; it has even been suggested that Paul, rather than Jesus, was the founder of Christianity, and in a sense he surely was.

This book is a must read for anyone who wants to know and understand the beginnings of Christianity. Read it and make up your own mind!

watziznaym@gmail.com

I have been troubled for many years by the question of what "really" happened in the first century, when Christianity was formed. It was clear to me that Paul was in many ways the founder of Christianity, in that he spread the gospel to the gentiles, and it was the gentile faction that won out, as any believers in Jesus as the Messiah within Judaism faded very quickly. Since Paul was the apostle who never even met Jesus during his life, I found this disturbing, and it was an obstacle to faith.

This book at once confirmed some of my suspicions -- that Paul put forward a very different message than Peter and the other leaders of the Jerusalem church in early Christianity. But it also surprised me greatly, because for the modern reader, Paul's Christianity is much more sensible. He stresses the importance of work and making a living while waiting for the kingdom of God, while Peter and crew advocated selling everything and giving the money to the church, because the kingdom of God had already arrived. This resulted in their descendants, the "Ebionites", living in poverty and marginalization. Paul thought highly of wisdom, helpfulness and other relatively sober "gifts of the Spirit", while the Petrines were fans of "speaking in tongues" -- i.e. in ecstatic gibberish. Paul's model makes a lot more sense for most of us today.

Goulder's book was my first step on my journey to trying to figure out what happened in the period between Jesus and real establishment of Christianity. It has whetted my appetite for more information and given me a framework in which to think of the most important questions. I highly recommend it.

This little book is the most penetrating and incisive work I've come across about the very early church. History is at its best when a few straight-forward insights into well-attested sources can shift an entire historical situation into focus, and this book does just that.

Goulder starts with a fairly simple hypothesis about the gentile-focused Pauline mission and its tension with Peter, James and the other Jerusalem "pillars". The next task is simply applying "loyalty tests" to the gospels and acts -- how do they portray peter; how do they portray strict observance of the Jewish law? It's easy then to begin seeing Mark, the earliest gospel, as a fairly raw product of the Pauline school; Matthew as an adaption and expansion of Mark aimed at more Jewish sensibilities; and then Luke/Acts as the work of another Pauline attempting to reassert the Pauline theology of Mark, while incorporating and improving upon the Matthean redactions and taking a conciliatory stance toward the pillars. This isn't a book about the synoptic problem, but the insights Goulder provide here really help to illuminate his theory of Markan priority without the existence of the hypothetical "Q" document.

Some of Goulder's best observations and logical interpolations come in his analysis of the Pauline and deutero-Pauline epistles. Every problem Paul addresses in his letters comes to new life against the background of Goulder's basic hypothesis of Paul's central struggle, not with docetist and gnostic heretics, but with the Hebraic influence and ideas of Peter and James.

The closer Goulder's arguments get to the second century, the less persuasive they become, in my opinion. But they remain most thought-provoking. The book as a whole is brilliant. Many will bemoan the lack of footnotes and the failure to discuss dissenting arguments. I recall reading somewhere that Goulder planned a more scholarly version of this hypothesis, but I don't know that it ever happened. Regardless, this is a book not to miss.

Goulder shows how, by appealing to the gentiles, Paul usurped authority from Peter, ending the mission set in motion by Jesus. After reading "St. Paul versus St. Peter," you may agree with A. N. Wilson, who says at the conclusion of his book, "Paul: the Mind of the Apostle," that "Paul, and not Jesus, was...the 'Founder of Christianity.'" Goulder, a professor of Biblical Studies at the U. of Birmingham, U.K., is a gifted writer, making some fairly complex ideas very easy to understand. His book is in need of a bibliography and an index, and this is frustrating if you wish to further explore his ideas, but it is well worth the buy.

Who among us, often serving simultaneously in both roles of nonprofit executive and board member, would not relate in a heartbeat to Light's seven "realities" and four "questions of great governance?" The importance and usefullness of Mark's insights and tested plan are immeasurable to all of us who wrestle daily with this #1, always-in-your-face management challenge. Check it out!

What are the characteristics of an effective and powerful board? For Mark Light, it is a board that is "visionary about the future, explicit in delegating that future into the present, clear about the tasks that must be executed today, and disciplined about monitoring performance." It "...focuses its energy on making sure that the organization achieves its chosen destiny."

The process for creating such a board is the focus of The Strategic Board. In Light's view, the ideal board builds its agenda around the creation and implementation of a governance plan consisting of four sub-plans:

1. a leadership plan, articulating vision, mission, strategies, critical issues (he calls these "imperatives"), and success indicators;

2. a delegation plan, defining the responsibilities and performance standards of the board (including its members, officers, and committees) and executive director;

3. a twelve-month management plan for the board and for each functional area of the organization stating annual objectives, challenges to be addressed, and budget;

4. a "vigilance plan," that serves as a monitoring schedule and provides the main agenda items the board's meetings for the coming year.

The book includes examples of each type of plan, drawn from the theatre company where the author serves as executive director and from a Big Brothers/Big Sisters organization. The examples are very helpful in following the logic of each planning process.

In an interesting introduction, Light suggests that any effort to improve nonprofit governance must take into account seven realities of nonprofit organizations:

1. part-time volunteer directors are able to give only limited time to the tasks of governance;

2. boards operate with something less than perfect knowledge, creating a dilemma for the both the board and executive director as they must each be both servant and leader to the other;

3. boards tend to be fairly large, making decision-making a lengthy and complicated process;

4. for many boards, the skills, knowledge, and attitudes required for effective governance are not seen as a prerequisite for recruitment;

5. there are few consequences for poor performance, and little recognition for excellent board performance;

6. consistency and continuity are problems for many boards from year-to-year and even from meeting-to-meeting due to poor attendance and turnover of members and officers;

7. nonprofit organizations are led by relatively inexperienced executive directors. (based on an article from Board Member which is available online at [URL]

The author draws upon a number of sources in nonprofit literature to support his thesis, making the endnotes a useful link to follow-up reading. He also sprinkles the text with the wisdom of motivational writers and speakers. This will be enjoyed by readers who are inspired by such writing. Personally, I think these oversimplified inspirational messages detract from the otherwise strong and thoughtful text.

Overall, there is much in this book to stimulate creative thinking. The concepts are well-explained and illustrated with good examples. On the negative side, it suffers from too much jargon (e.g. "high-impact governance") and like so many "how-to" books, tends to underestimate the time and effort necessary to transform intentions into action. Still, it is a serious and thoughtful effort to build boards capable of the leadership needed by strong and effective organizations. Most executive directors and board members will find some new and challenging ideas to consider.

Literally dozens of books about boards have come out in the past few years. This one stands out from the crowd because it's written by a seasoned and successful nonprofit executive with a pragmatic and reality-based approach to governance. If you're a nonprofit executive, this book acknowledges the limitations and frustrations of nonprofit governance, then gives concrete suggestions for turning your board into a high-impact team. If you serve on a nonprofit board, you'll be informed and inspired by the author's concept of strategic governance. The Strategic Board should be in every nonprofit executive's briefcase!

From Light's, "Seven Realities of NonProfit Boards to, "Closing Thoughts," this step by step guide is loaded with both practical and cutting edge strategies for organizational success. As a direct result of the principles contained in this guide to high impact governance, our nonprofit fund raising agency is posting stunning gains in a highly competitive community investment arena where everything is measured and outcomes count. The breadth, depth and scope of the information is exceptionally well written and follows a logical progression from case statement, vision and values to governance, delegation and management plus everything in between! Like that jar of pasta sauce, it's in there! Whether you are new to nonprofits or a seasoned pro, The Strategic Board contains the tools for transformational leadership. One of the closing quotes in the Guide is from James Barksdale who states, "The main thing is to make sure the main thing is still the main thing." Light accomplishes this masterfully in this extraordinary work.

If you are a nonprofit board member or an executive staff person in a nonprofit . . . buy this book today . . .put it into action by tomorrow . . .it is the answer to your most pressing issues.

Nonprofit governance is one of the most interesting creatures alive. Board members, though caring and committed, have limited time and energy to devote to the pressing issues facing nonprofits. Executive Directors of Nonprofits are always trying to figure out just what it is that their board members want from them.

The Strategic Board gives Boards and Executive Staff a proven model to overcome the obstacles and challenges inherent in nonprofits. And, it gives it a way to keep it alive and to check your progress . . . and fits in with the limited staff time and board time available.

Don't miss a chance with this book.

This is a great reference resource for those interested in Fund Raising. Simone does a wonderful job pulling resources from all over the development world together in this text. Then she critically questions their impact and ramifications. Finally, she takes fund development beyond the practices of raising money and into relationships and leadership. It is a well rounded text and worth the purchase.

I have been building my professional library and count Simone's book as a "must have" and "most often consulted" on a wide range of topics. This book is in my top 5 list and on any reading list that I prepare as an adjunct to presentations. The theoretical concepts supported by practical examples makes this book a most useful resource for the new and seasoned development professional. As the number of fundraising resources grow there are numerous books on special topics. For this reason and due to the caliber of this book, I hope that it remains widely available. Pearl Veenema (Toronto, Canada)

As someone who has been a subscriber to Simone Joyaux's newsletter over the last two years, I knew that her book would offer me many valuable insights into how to do my job as the Chairman of a non-profit cultural institution better. Indeed, Ms. Joyaux's book took the goal of building long term, profitable relationships-the lifeline for any non-profit-and broke it down into a step-by-step road map that our instituion was able to put into effective use immediately. All that non-profits need to know to become more financially sound is contained in this straightforward, comprehensive guide. The real life illustrations make the advice and guidance extremely compelling. An indespensible tool for serious fund-raisers!

If you are a development director, a board member, or an Executive Director of a nonprofit organization (or someone just interested in learning more about development), you should waste no time and purchase this book. It is very comprehensive and has lots of practical tools you can use. I find myself grabbing for this book over and over. It is a wonderful, must have resource!

An important work if we are to be serious about positioning our institutions for the future. Joyaux has captured the essence of what we as development professionals should understand and be prepared to address as we look to the 21st century.

This book represents a complete summary of relevant, major issues facing any family business. Each of these issues will be actively managed or at least contemplated in the life of any family business and the long term success and viability of the organization is dependent on how or if the issue is resolved. Ed Hess provides thought provoking guidance on how to deal with each problem encountered. He points out the relationship and dependency of many of the issues to each other and the need for timeliness in addressing the subjects. This book is a must read for CEO's and Directors of growing family businesses.

This was the first book I had read on family businesses and I found Ed Hess's insights very useful. As a consultant who works with many family owned and/or operated businesses, the book helped me understand the ins and outs of such businesses in a clear and concise fashion. I recommend it for anyone who wants to understand the unique nuances of family-owned businesses and ensure the long term success of them.

I have not only studied this fine text, but I have bought copies for four friends with family businesses. I am personally aware of many of the pitfalls associated with a family business, but reading this book increased the breadth of my awareness greatly. And, most important, it provided great insight into how to deal with these many issues. I believe strongly that being forewarned is being forearmed, and this book provides invaluable warnings and solutions regarding family business challenges. I personally believe it is a must read for all members, direct and indirect, of family businesses.

As a Financial Services professional focused on advising Ultra-High Net Worth individuals and families during and after significant liquidity events, I have been witness to the issues that arise prior to, during, and after the sale of a family business. Ed Hess has thoroughly explored the realities that families must face when creating a succession plan. Hess also thoroughly discusses the typical exit options that exist for business owners as well as the qualitative considerations that families should explore before selling a business. I highly recommend this book and plan to use it as a reference tool on an on-going basis.

Acquainted with Prof. Hess, I was looking forward to reading the book, as it is on a subject with which I was not fully familiar. I was not dissappointed. Straightforward, well organized and with great case studies, I believe I now better understand this specialized area of business. I recomment this book for anyone working in or advising a family business, and am lending my copy to a good friend with a considerable family business interest.

There are now more than 1 million nonprofit organizations in the United States. The fundraising industry provides one in every ten jobs and is one of the
fastest-growing segments of the economy. In Successful Fundraising, nationally recognized expert Joan Flanagan gives readers the information they need to capture a
fair share of available fundraising dollars. Community volunteers and professional fundraisers alike will find helpful tips and advice on time-proven fundraising
techniques and the most profitable new ways to successfully raise money.

Are you looking to raise $1,000-or $1,000,000-for a particular cause, group, or charity? Successful Fundraising by Joan Flanagan will arm you with the information you
need to capture your organization's fair share of available fundraising dollars.

Whether you are a community volunteer or a professional fundraiser, expert Joan Flanagan offers helpful tips and advice cm gaining access to funds, building
relationships with donors, raising more money in a shorter period of time, and developing a more productive fundraising organization.

Packed with real-litc examples from the author's extensive fundraising experience, this essential handbook is complete with planning guidelines, sample worksheets and
timetables, and all-new information on using the Internet, F-mail, websites, and on-line auctions as fundraising tools. It also includes expanded sections that cover
working with celebrities to raise funds and winning corporate dollars. All the tools you need to plan, create, and execute a successful fundraising effort are included in
this comprehensive guide.

Successful Fundraising is a great resource for non-profit agencies! It is very easy to read, straightforward, and actually a fun read too! Joan gives great examples and stories to illustrate her points.

I recently had the opportunity to attend one of Joan's courses - and she is just as wonderful and helpful in person. She presents the daunting tasks of fundraising in simple language, common sense and humor.

This book should be the "bible" of every non-profit fundraiser!

This book provides the reader with time tested ideas on how to raise dependable money from a variety of sources. I really liked this book a lot. I don't know that I can say I like it quite as much as Fundraising for Social Change (ISBN: 0787984558), Fundraising Basics (ISBN: 0763734462), or Effective Fundraising for Nonprofits (ISBN: 1413300944). But it comes close. This book is very well written and well organized.

In Chapter 1 at Figure 1.3 we are introduced to the Individual Donor Development (IDD) diagram that includes the following eight levels (level 1 at the bottom and level 8 at the top):

1. Individual prospects - potential donations
2. Clients - fees for service
3. Customers - product sales
4. Guests - special events
5. Annual donors and members - direct mail, email, the Internet, phone calls
6. Pledgers and frequent donors - credit card and payroll deductions
7. Major donors - person-to-person requests, clubs, memorials, and honorary gifts
8. Planned-gift donors - bequests, insurance, and life income plans

The author has written her book around the IDD diagram. As a result, this book flows very well. It has a wonderful introduction, a good start, and moves logically to the end. After reading this book you should have a good grasp of fundamental principles of fundraising. You should be able to design a sound written fundraising plan. And you should be confident to move forward by implementing the plan you have written. A wonderful book I have read that will coach you in your attempt to write a good fundraising plan is "The Fundraising Planner" (ISBN: 0787944351).

Are you wondering if your NPO is on the right track regarding its fundraising efforts? If so, take a look at pages 19 and 20 in this book where you will find the author's Fundraising Strategy Planning worksheet. After plugging and chugging info into this worksheet you will know how your organizaton is doing and how it can improve. Also, for an overview of the fundraising process in general examine page 21. It's also where the author explains her book and what it is about.

There is no mention of capital campaigns in this book. And prospect research and how to do it is not covered very well. But other books do a good job on these topics. See "Capital Campaigns" (ISBN: 0763730505) regarding CC's. And see "Fundraising Basics" referred to above, and "Building a Strong Foundation" (ISBN: 0871012499) regarding prospect research. I haven't read it, but there is a book devoted to prospect research. See "Prospect Research" (ISBN: 0763751030).

I noticed a few times in the book the following concept: The tried-and-true fundraising system that still works the best is to (1) give your own donation, (2) then ask people you know for money face-to-face, and (3) then send a personal Thank-You note. If you read this book you will get the information you need in order to raise money. It will provide you with the know-how to do it. First, build a broad base of small donors, and then build a longterm relationship with the best ones. It's really just that simple. 5 stars!

I'm not a professional fundraiser, but I plan to become involved in nonprofits, and this book was great! I know of some nonprofits that get all of their money from corporate donations and then complain about not having enough money. This isn't the way to do it, according to Ms. Flanagan. In order to be a successful fundraiser, you need to ask, ask, ask, and you need to provide many different ways for different people to give. Flanagan goes into many aspects of the game, including how to send follow up letters, when to ask, how often to ask, and different ways of making it easy to get big gifts. I especially liked the way she talks about the psychology of rich people and poor people, and how both tend to give in different ways. She tells us never to make decisions for givers--just ask, present them with the different options, and let them decide. Great advice.

I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to get involved with charity. The marginal profit from the first day will probably cover the cost of this book many times over.

I felt this book was reasonably priced and offered a wide array of helpful fundraising advice -- especially for the small to mid-sized nonprofit. It covers a lot of the basics in a writing style that is pleasant to read.

I was raised in a family that believed that if we are not part of the solution then we are part of the problem. Yet figuring out how to participate in that solution can sometimes be challenging. Tactics of Hope provides us with these needed suggestions and guideposts as well as support in understanding our gift and then where and how we can bring that gift forward into the world, becoming part of the solution. Wilford Welch reassures us that we really do matter. That as we find our passion and bring it forward, we are in very good company. It is in this context that Welch speaks to the heart of evolving communities around the world. He features stories about others who brought their unique gifts forward in support of that evolution, on a local or global level. Welch's stories of individuals making a difference are uplifting and inspiring. Each story uniquely exemplifies a potential model for governments, corporations, non-profits or individuals in how to move into a dynamically changing world, all becoming parts of the solution. Highest recommendation for all generations as it brings forward the hope so beautifully captured in it's title.

"The Tactics of Hope is a practical avenue through which people can connect with people, institutions, and resources, as well as ideas. Wilford's book is a wonderful contribution to the field! It is clear that he knows in a deep way what social entrepreneurship is. "

-- Bill Drayton, Founder, Ashoka

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Desmond Tutu, Nobel Peace Prize laureate, writes of The Tactics of Hope:

"As I travel through my home country of South Africa and around the world, I am awed and humbled by the work that millions of individuals have undertaken to enable those less fortunate to build lives of dignity, security, and hope...the stories of some of these noble individuals and their initiatives are told in these pages...This book is inspiration and guide for those who want to be informed, want to take their first steps, and who truly want to realize the potential we all have to make a difference."

-Desmond Tutu
Cape Town, South Africa

Awesome book on social entrepreneurship with inspiring case studies and excellent perspectives for seasoned practitioners in the field of nonprofits/social change as well as those less experienced who are interested in making a difference in the world and looking for some guidance/advice/opportunities. I used selected parts of the book for a workshop I taught at Stanford University and highly recommend "Tactics of Hope".
Gordon Bloom

An inspiring book chock-full of stories about doing good in the world through entrepreneurship. Should be required reading for all incoming college freshmen!

Tactics of Hope is a great book for those thinking, "... but what can I do" about the global problems going on. I enjoyed reading the stories of many different people on many different levels -- ordinary people doing extraordinary things in the world. This book is inspirational and helpful for anyone interested in making a change on ANY level. I really liked it.

Worship is one of the hardest things to define. We recognise it when we see it, fight over styles of it, read about it, write about, but defining it is really hard. Often our disputes over what does and does not constitute worship are about methodology rather than Scripture or Theology. I picked up a copy of this book, care of Reformation trust, in the hope that it would better help me to understand the true nature of worship. When reccomending books on worship I take a cue from David Hume . If a book on worship doesn't help you to understand worship better or strengthen your resolve to worship God then "commit it to the flames".

One of my favourite lecturers, Mark Strom, once said that "Fish glorfiy God, not by holding prayer meetings but by being Fish. Human beings Glorify God by getting on with the business of being human" Sproul opens along the same lines saying that fish have an ability to swim right from birth. Its something they do naturally and it is the way they worship God. But worship is not something that always comes naturally to human beings. The effects of sin has meant that we need to learn how to worship God and that true worship must be cultivated.


Many people may have read what Rick Warren had to say about Worship in his book "The Purpose Driven Life". While I didn't find the book particularly helpful (or theologically correct but thats a discussion for another day) it did help to break me out of the mindset that worship = the three slow songs we sang after the fast ones. Coming from a pentecostal / charamastic tradition, worship is only considered so if it is spontaneous. What I like about this book is that it showed me that no matter what style of worship we prefer or think is more biblical than another we must remember that these preferences must not become an end in themselves. Our worship of God can be formal or spontaneous. It is a matter of the heart. If our heart is not in it then its an empty ritual no matter how spontaneous it may seem. This was one are I was particularly challenged. Has lifting my hands or spontenaity become a matter of "externalism" for me? Am I just going through the motions? Where are my blind spots when it comes to worship? I'm not advocating morbid introspection but rather a healthy self examination.

"God's feelings aren't hurt by insincere praise, but neither is He honored by it. God is never honored by flattery. That's why true worship must be sincere, genuine, and honest." (page 40-1)

"Think of the gospel. What is your response to what Christ has done for you--Christ, Who spared nothing, Who gave His life for His people, Who made the ultimate sacrifice for His sheep? How do we respond to that? What is the reasonable response?" And Paul says, "Here is your reasonable service or your spiritual worship." (page 45)

One thing that did concern me was Sprouls idea of the Lords Supper. As a protestant I am not fussed whether we take communion with Coca-Cola, grape juice, or water. To me its an inconsequential detail. He claims that we need to use wine and bread if we want to "truly" worship God because He has consecrated these things. Does that mean all wine and bread are consecrated or does that mean its only consecrated when it enters the church building? What about when it leaves the Church? In most cases its not wise to try and press the Bread and Wine too far. Jesus could have said "Eat of this grape and orange" instead just like Sproul says "Cain could have offered God the shell of a nut and it would have been an acceptable sacrifice". He then follows that up with some peculiar circumstantial allowances for prisoners in concentration camps. There is a good overview of how it was perceived by the RCC, and the Reformers later in the book. But Sprouls understanding seems a lot more Roman Catholic than protestant. Personally I feel taking communion is a matter of the heart and that the drink and food we have (whatever that may be) is an emblem (which would make me a Zwinglian according to Sproul). I don't doubt that the Lord is present when take the Lords Supper, but he is also present living within me now. I think we could do with a little less speculation surrounding the Lords supper. Sproul rightly shows that communion is a time when God can and does impart fresh assurance for our salvation. That was a very wise insight from Sproul.
I don't find much steam for the RCC doctrine of Transubstantiation in scripture, mostly because I wonder what happens after I've eaten and drunk of the emblems. That is, what happens when I go to the toilet? Am I ridding my body of the body and blood of Christ? I'm sure many from within my tradition would also disagree with me on my views and thats fine.

The chapters on Baptism helped me understand the reaction of John when Jesus went to be baptised and even more so the reactions of the Pharisees. I was baptised at the young age of 10. Some would say thats too early but I was ready. Now at 25 I understand a lot more about it, but still don't regret doing it at such a young age. I enjoy seeing others, who have come to faith, baptised. Sproul rightly shows that as circumcision was the sign of the old covenant, and that baptism is the sign of the new covenant. While I wouldn't advocate a belief in baptismal regeneration I would say it is a very important part of being a Christian. We identify with the dying and rising of Christ. Surprisingly Sproul follows up these comments with a peculiar one "We will drown in our sins and will be inundated by the flood of God's wrath for our apostasy." (page 82) Which is bewildering to say the least. I had to stop and scratch my head at that one for a bit. I can understand what he means in relation to "Some commentators say..." and baptism, but Sproul could have done more to explain this instead of leaving the believer wondering whether or not they had transgressed or repudiated the new covenant.


Baptism is a controversial topic to say the least, especially when it comes to infant baptism. The case he built for infant baptism was as he said, by inference rather than explicit command. Some of the puzzling conclusions raised, such as the one page 104 "Based on the New Testament, there is no doubt that our children have covenant privileges" This only raises further questions about their salvation and the mysterious age of accountability. Clearly the New Testament also emphasises repentance as an essential element of salvation? I have no problem with infant baptism. I have a problem with the confusion it may breed in may congregations. How Children can now be part of the new covenant without repenting of sin is a mystery to me and I would have appreciated some more discussion on this. But there is only so much you can accomplish in such a short book. Each of these chapters could be books in themselves.
I was reminded continually throughout the book that much of what we do in Church as worship to God is symbolic and many of those symbols are continuous with practices in the Old Testament. The Eucharist could be compared to passover, baptism to circumcision, the altar of incense to the corporate prayer and so forth. But they are also discontinuous and it is not wise to press them too far as Sproul says on many occasions. Often as protestants we want to remove all symbolism for fear we are becoming more like Rome. But this need not be so. We need not throw the baby out with the bathwater. I liked his comments on "Formalism" and "Externalism" showing that these symbols became ends in themselves and many times this is what the reformers were reacting against.

The Book contains 13 short chapters and an Epilogue which are devotional in nature. I could imagine using this book for a two week small group study on worship. It certainly gave me a lot to meditate on. Those expecting a complex treatment of worship throughout the whole of a persons life will be dissappointed. The book focuses almost exclusively on Worship within the Church. While not a bad thing, it does tend to be one sided. One thing about devotional books is that they are very quotable. When trying to explain a complex idea, they can help explain the idea generally. Its a short easy read and one well worth reading particularly if you're a new Christian or just seeking a general idea of how worship should look within the Church. It shouldn't take you long to read this book. You could probably do it in a few hours. But be careful, its simplicity is deceptive and it will give you some meat to chew over for days to come. I would reccomend taking a chapter a day over two weeks and meditating on it. Theres much to think about in this book, but don't swallow it all uncritically. Test every conclusion. There so much more I could go over in this review but I fear its already becoming too long. I guess thats a sign of a good book is that it makes you think and keeps you testing its conclusions. I'll close with one of the most profound quotes from the book.

"The single most important thing to understand about worship is that the only worship that is acceptable to God is worship that proceeds from a heart that is trusting in God, and in God alone." (page 38)

This is an excellent book on worhsip. Sproul stresses the importance and the use of the 5 senses in worship. it is also a solid apologetic on infant baptism and he makes a great appeal for the use of wine in the Lord's supper. This book will unfortuntley fall on deaf ears, but happy is the church that follows his suggestions.

This is another great work by R.C. Sproul. He share with me some views i had not previously thought much about and showed through this book the involvement of God in everthing. I especially loved how he connects the old testament with the new to show us our current application of biblical principles. Thanks R.C.

Dr. Sproul goes through great lengths to describe baptism as a sign or seal to the New Testament covenant. As Circumcision was a sign or seal to the Old Testament covenant, Baptism is a sign or seal to the New Testament covenant. The author does a fair job describing the counter argument to believers Baptism. Dr. Sproul argues that Baptism is assign of coming to the Family of God; actual belief is a realization of this fact. I disagree; I believe that a person needs an actual knowledge and belief to be identified with God's Kingdom. The author goes through great lengths in describing the difference between a sign and symbol. A sign points to the actual fact whereas a symbol represents the actual thing. Symbolism is not to be confused with mere symbolism or activity that does not reflect the actual glory of God and His great acts.
Dr. Sproul goes to great length to identify worship with the God described in the Bible. If one accepts the idea the Bible is God's word then what the Bible teaches about worship should be prescribed in God's Church. TH e words of the Bible should take precedence over personal taste, enjoyment or fulfillment. Worship is not about oneself. This should not be confused that worship should only touch the cerebral. Yes worship service should provoke thought, understanding about whom God is and the works of God. Pure knowledge of these things should provoke an emotional response. That does not mean that the form, the organization of the service, worship surroundings, and actual activity of the service cannot form additional emotion about God and His great deeds. R.C. Sproul argues the Old Testament worship as prescribed about the Old Testament did this and some of it can be used enlighten us about worship in the New Testament Church. Yes the New Testament looks at the perfected sacrifice of Jesus. No current repetitive sacrifice need occur.

The author does an excellent job of describing why the Lord's Supper in representation and the actual Spirit of Christ in the Lord's Supper should a very emotional experience in reverence to what God has provided so one need not pay the consequence of their sin. Not be confused with a physical actual corporal body being involved. R.C. Sproul also argues baptism as identification to Jesus and the New Testament Covenant.

This is an excellent book on worhsip. Sproul stresses the importance of the use of the 5 senses in worship. it is also a solid apologetic on infant baptism and he makes a great appeal for the use of wine in the Lord's supper. This book will unfortuntley fall on deaf ears, but happy is the church that follows his suggestions.

The premise for this book is clearly shown throughout church history and is worth the read.

John W Kennedy does more for a simple and practical explanation of 'true' church history than any other author I have read! He contrasts the 'institutional' church (beginning in Jerusalem) with the 'primitive' church (beginning in Antioch). He shows how hard it is to change, no matter how much the truth is embraced. We would rather interpret truth according to our traditions than according to its source. Jerusalem struggled with the traditions of the past as the church grew. Antioch had little tradition to pass down and so more readily embraced what was happening at the time. This book develops the progress of the church largely unnoticed (primitive) by other historians, and at the same time the author brings in what was happening in the traditional church. What the author does not cover in church history does not take away from his purpose in helping us see what went on in the church that very few (if any) cover elsewhere. This is not just a 'history' book, but also a very practical guide for any serious thinker today who wants to know their 'roots' and desire meaning in what is going on! It also helps in knowing what to look for when seeking to obey God according to His Word, especially as it relates to fellowship among Christians. If I could only have one 'church history' book on my shelf, this would be it!

This is great book for anyone today who still has a pilgrim heart. Many have gone before us who honestly sought out the truth of God in their generation and this book connects the dots. I highly recommend this book as one that will deserve a prominent place both on your library shelf and in your heart!

This book gives a god review, not of organizational Christian history so much, but rather moves of the spirit centering on the word of God. One of the best truths that this book presents is the fact that Christians today (often referred to as evangelicals) are not a new breed. Bible centered, outreach oriented, non-ecclesiastical fellowships have existed since the beginning.
The book seeks not just to convey knowledge, but to help us learn lessons from past successes and failures of the church in a way which we can apply to our lives today. In this, the book has some deep insights. He describes the processes by which moves of the spirit are institutionalized; the pit falls to look out for while combating heresy, an interesting comparison on the life of Peter Waldo with St. Francis and the proper place of creeds and doctrine within the church.
Kennedy takes us all the way up to but not into the 20th century and, as it is only 250 pages, it obviously cannot cover everything. However, I felt it left some significant 17th-19th century things out. Jonathan Edwards, Charles Spurgeon, Charles Finney and late 19th century Holiness movements (to say nothing of the rise of Pentecostalism) gets no mention. The author seems especially to focus in on "brethren" type groups which had no ecclesiastical structure and hierarchy. In interpreting some events he gives away his opinions on some doctrinal issues such as the cessation of apostles and prophets, the need for a prolonged period before baptism and he seems to think there is no longer any special role for Israel in God's purposes, though I may be just be making assumptions on that point.
All in all, it's a good book. It gives good insights into our spiritual heritage which often are neglected.

Kennedy's succinct overview of the sweep of church history is enlightening to anyone, be they ignorant or knowledgeable of this subject. It is one of the best books I've read on this subject, and really stands out on it's own since the author comments profoundly at every stage of the developing events.

His comments make each page exciting, full of great meaning, and applicable to the present, rather than some books on history which are merely recitations of a boring string of facts. Kennedy brings out the fact of a repeating pattern of resistance against spiritual life, the fresh moves of God's Spirit throughout time----showing how man's attempts to corral this unstoppable force has caused misery, error, and great sin. The illustration of this reality is a great encouragement and source of strength to those persons at present who are being touched by the Living God with a new and vibrant experience---yet are being persecuted, ostracized and mocked by the established order wherever they may be.

Anyone who wants to have a knowledgeable overview of mankind's tendency to be spiritually arrogant or lazy at the expense of continuing maturity/Truth, needs to read this book. None other I have found approaches this topic with the same eloquence and deep insight.

Summary:

This book is mainly about how to switch on the employees and customers become inspired, passionate and alive, so that the organization could earn profits. Thus a question would be raised, how to create such a passion in an organization?

The answer would be regulating employees and customers by the leader in the organization. There are both the internal side and external side.

Internally, a leader should guide the values system, promote leadership in all levels, renew them regularly and care everyone in the organization. In an organization, a strong foundation should be built and a goal should be set. Also, it should simplify the structure of organization and make use of technology to measure and enhance the efficiency of process, so that the organization could run smoothly. The organization should also need to nurture their employees to build a winning team, the head and heart should be hired by the organization, thus the organization should provide resources for them to learn and compensate their contribution. Moreover, the organization should try to make everyone feel special, so that the workforce would able to work hard and loyal to the organization.

Externally, it¡¦s not easy for the organization to tackle with the customers as each customer has their unique emotion, needs and desired. Thus the organization should employ a new rules, present the choices for customer to choose, provide customerized service and develop personal relationship with them.

Comment:

I think this book is really great as it¡¦s easy to understand and I get many feelings after reading the book.

For the leader part, I agree that it¡¦s really a hard job to be a leader as the leader should be a person who is able to energize the team members, able to be divided the job equally according to their strength and wants. There is no ¡§perfect¡¨ person in the world, so a leader should contain both competent, able to deal with personal relationship that include dealing with the conflicts between the team members.

Also, a leader needs to energize the others. Just as Horst Schulze in Ritz-Carlton said, ¡§he said a leader is hardly to find someone to energize himself.¡¨ Thus a leader should energize by renew themselves.

In real life, I have tutorial with a 7 years-old girl and I¡¦m just like a leader whereas she is just like an employee. It¡¦s not easy to control her as she thinks that learning is a difficult and hard job for her. If she finishes two works today, she needs to work three in the other days. Thus, she would not like to finish the work and shows a very slow speed, lack of passionate attitude to me. It¡¦s really annoying to me as I do not know how to deal with her.

Thus, after watching this book, I learn something. I try to let her know that homework is her responsibility as a student. She plays happily in school with her friends and so she also needs to do her homework, happy and homework is together. No matter how difficult, she needs to finish all for everyday. Of course, it is not an easy to let her understand as she is just 7 years-old girl. So I use many examples to illustrate, e.g. I tell her what¡¦s the responsibility for me, her parents, etc. Also, her friends are able to do her homework without the others¡¦ help, so she is lucky that there is somebody helping or accompanying to do the homework. Moreover, I try to increase her interest to do the homework by giving her stickers. I design a table to make record. I hope that these all tools could help me to solve the problem.

One of the most important things in life or business is a sense of optimism and possibility. This book helped me renew mine in a big way. I recommend it highly.

One of the most important things in life or business is a sense of optimism and possibility. This book helped me renew mine in a big way. I recommend it highly.

This is one of the most inspirational, motivating, and empowering management books available. After reading just a few pages, you find yourself picking up other copies to give to coworkers, clients, and friends.

Dow and Cook have found the ingredients to successfully attract, excite, and retain employees focused on customer-centric goals. Having read their insights, I now know why companies such as Marriott and Schwab are so successful. An excellent, must-read.

A great book with stories that exemplify the main ideas contained in the book. Contains an "Insight to Action" after each chapter which helps you apply the concepts. If anyone is interested in finding ways to provide extaordinary service to customers, or become a better leader, read this book.