Resources Books

Great reading to help connect and understand mother earth...

and not only mother earth but everything. The book offers information, reflections and activities that will help the reader appreciate everything that is around them...and I mean everything...from the stars in the sky to the cells in your body.

'Developing Ecological Consciousness' is brilliant and accessible to virtually anyone. Christopher Uhl has managed to write a book that is biologically informative and also personal, engaging, and poetic in its beauty. Through both fact and anecdote, he weaves the story of our deep interconnection with the planet and universe, and awakens in us a sense of what it really means to be human. This is an important and enjoyable read that I highly, highly recommend.

From a multitude of perspectives (student, teacher, communicator, lover of the environment), this book speaks to the reader not only on a knowledge-based, fact-oriented level, but also (and possibly more importantly) to the most basic and essential needs of humanity. These needs include compassion, understanding, sustainability, and harmony and through the book, are translated into a sense of awakening, comprehension, hope, and tools to shape a universal ideal for a world in which we all hope to live. If there were ever to be a "required life text", I can only hope that this would be it.

This book is an exceptional book covering not just ecology as a science but also the need for humans to awaken to earth's beauty, its Being, and our relationship to it. The book is not a radical environmental one where humans must go back to tribal living, but a very thought out and even carrying book. It belongs on the shelf of humanistic and transpersonal students as well as integral philosophers. The only bad thing about the book is that it is so unknown.

When I was first diagnosed with diabetes type 2, I thought I would have to give up all sweets. I had to lose weight and dreaded a diet of no sweets. This book has changed all that. It has everything - cakes, cookies, pies, candies, etc. All with low calories per serving. I have only tried a few receipes so far but they are great. This is a must have book.

Over a hundred sweet treats for diabetics use no sugar or fructose, relying on recommended sugar substitutes instead. An introduction on the pros and cons of various 'sugar substitutes' would have been nice; many of the recipes call for this generic substitute without mentioning brand names - or the fact that sucrose turns bitter under heat. Still, the recipes provide a range of options and with a little extra research, diabetics will find them easy to work with.

This is an excellent diabetic dessert cookbook. The recipes use easy to find ingredients, and are easy to follow. It also gives exhcanges.

I acquired my first copy of this book when my dad was in the hospital and was placed on dialysis and we had to make sudden and radical changes to his diet. Critical to us was that his diet required we monitor all dietary content. We were impressed with this book because listed for each recipe is a detailed breakdown of nutritional values including such things salt, iron, potassium, vitamins, calories, fat, sugar, fiber and a lot of stuff I never knew existed, but is critically important for someone on a controlled diet.

Impressed with the variety and simplicity of the recipes and the extensive use of fruit, I later got a copy so I could try some of these delights for myself. Ms. Howard must have been psychic - I like apples, nuts, berries, chocolate (carob), and bananas and I need to keep an eye on my own diet. The recipes rarely take much time but are so tasty I need to exercise control.

Included are over 100 recipes for sweet goodies, cakes, cookies and pies. This book may be the best thing to happen to someone on a restricted diet. Especially if that someone has to monitor their diet.

But that's not all, it's really good for everyone, including someone like myself with a sweet tooth who simply needs to watch calories.

Ms. Howard shows us that a restricted diet doesn't mean everything you eat has to taste like boiled cardboard! Her recipes are easy to prepare and taste great!

Fast read, easy to understand concepts of church leadership being presented, seems to speak mostly to ministers. Probably could have been done in half as many pages.

This book leverages the "Leading Change" model of John Kotter in a highly effective manner within a ministry context. Paul speaks as a real leader with successful experience in coaching, equipping and releasing real leaders in the mission field.

If you have never visited an organic church this is the place to begin! And even if you have visited or belong to an organic church this is the book to help you better understand and implement the effective, yet fluid, approach to ministry that is producing so many fruitful disciples and churches. Dr. Whitesel gives an academic, practical, and applicable introduction to twelve emerging organic congregaions from across the U.S. with examples from England and Canada as well. As a pastor and former youth minister and Christian school teacher, I greatly appreciate the author's insights into philosophic background, worship style, and church growth mechanisms of these multi- and younger generational churches that are effectively reaching the post-modern thinkers. Having just spent a week with thirty other church leaders in the San Franciso area of California studying and experiencing emergent worship and ministry with Dr. Whitesel, I can say this author lives out and teaches with an authentic passion to help all Christian leaders communicate the Gospel of Jesus Christ in a culturally relevant way without marginalizing the Biblical message of redemption. Everyone interested in growing the church in a post-modern and often, post-Christian society needs to read this book!

Few in the North American church scene have as much experience with local church turnaround as Paul Borden. What makes Direct Hit so useful is that Borden addresses why turnaround is so often talked about, but so rarely achieved. He gives very clear rules about: the timing of turnaround, the role of pastors and leaders, using outside help, and the necessity of mission. Many congregations do not look to the deep issues behind why their church is the way it is. Not so with Direct Hit. Borden is up-front and passionate about his subject. A previous reviewer has put in this space a review of some other book about "Organic Church", not by Borden. There are a few typographical and syntactical errors here, but a lot fewer than his previous book Hit The Bullseye. The Appendices are worth the purchase price alone. Five stars.

Lots of good ideas and encouragment for teaching adult classes. Great for new teachers or old ones who want to brush-up their skills. Very Biblically oriented -- not just a new fad on teaching, but a good balance of true Biblical discipleship and fresh, up-to-date ideas. WORTH READING!!! I plan to keep my copy to refer back to it in the years ahead.

Josh Hunt has done an excellent job with this book. Two very strong benefits the reader will glean from this book are 9 Types of Questions and what it means to Review in a Bible Study context. The benefits from understanding and applying these two sections of Hunt's work will be great and teachers will find they are becoming more effective in teaching the Bible.

I think Josh has hit the problems in Sunday School on the head. This book will encourage teachers to be prepared but alse develop a strategy to grow and multiply other Sunday School or Adult Bible Fellowships. He know that we are called to make disciples and this book will help any teacher to start to thing and change inorder to accomplish the Great Commission

Josh Hunt has done an excellent job with this book. Two very strong benefits the reader will glean from this book are 9 Types of Questions and what it means to Review in a Bible Study context. The benefits from understanding and applying these two sections of Hunt's work will be great and teachers will find they are becoming more effective in teaching the Bible.

Robert Walter has managed to state in very understandable terms exactly what people, teams and organizations must do to achieve operational excellence. This little book will have you raising your eyebrows and nodding your head as you discover operational discipline. Ideal for self-study, group training, motivation, reinforcement or as a quick-read reference tool. We used it, very successfully, to support an eight hour training program on performance management. It was well received by 50 frontline supervisors and managers in a manufacturing setting. I still see it on many of the attendees desks, six months after the training occurred. A simplistic approach with a rewarding outcome.

Vast sums of money are paid out every year to management consultants because managers can't keep up with the continual flow of new business fads and fancies.

Worse yet, when managers find that they can't keep up with this flow they often tend to worry that it's their fault and that *they* are the ones who have somehow come up short.

Okay, now put all of that BEHIND YOU. Get yourself a copy of Bob Walter's book "Discovering Operational Discipline" and rediscover one of the REAL secrets of success: The best solutions are usually the simplest.

At first glance you might well assume that this book doesn't amount to much. The cover design is excellent, but the text is only 78 pages from cover to cover (including acknowledgements, Table of Contents, etc.). Moreover there is plenty of "white space" on nearly every page.

It's only as you begin to read the book, structured around Walters' 15 key characteristics of Organisational Discipline, that you begin to realise how powerful these characteristics can be.

In the last section of the book, Walters describes complete programmes for introducing Organisational Discipline to your company and/or your personal life, based on getting people to buy-in to the philosophy rather than trying to impose the process from above (though a highly placed "champion" is always a bonus, of course).

Just imagine how things might be different if everyone in your company/department/team was consistently committed to taking "personal responsibility for their actions", if everyone was driven by a "desire to use resources efficiently", and if the practise of "repecting and understanding each others' worldviews" were the rule rather than the exception. (Just three of the 15 characteristics.)

Better yet, imagine it, then buy the book and start putting it into practice.

Most of us have heard and used the phrase "Operational Discipline", but, until this gem of a book came along, how many of us had an operational "definition" of what it really means? In a simple, straight-forward, easy to understand format, Mr. Walter creates a framework of principles, attitudes and values that we can use to measure how well we are really doing in our journey toward true operational discipline. This is a book for everyone in your organization, not only for a good read with sound, applicable ideas, but for on-going discussions in teams and small groups. If business excellence is really your goal, the learning from "Discovering Operational Discipline" will be core to achieving that goal.

This is an exceptional read for anyone interested in taking their business, organization, or personal life to the next level.
The priciples of Operational Discipline expressed in this jewel of a book are as profound as they are simple. An absolute must-read for anyone seeking a better path to success.

Any CEO or Manager looking to "raise the bar" of excellence in their organization should look no further.

Dave Fleming unravels modern church dynamics with raw honesty and brilliant insight! The approach used in Dynamic Dialogue will invite and shape conversations that take you on a Quest to unfold your church's unique mission and emphasizes how each member, from pulpit to pew, is vital to its' success.

"Wow! Essentially 'Emotional intelligence for Churches.' Dave Fleming's book is the long overdue guide to churches behaving--and functioning--well. If you're ready to disarm your congregation's patterns of conversational sabotage, control, manipulation, stonewalling, monologue, etc, look no further. A five-star manual that deserves to be frayed around the edges, dog-eared, and underlined in technicolor." -- Sally Morgenthaler

"Everyone talks about doing ministry as a team, but Dave Fleming shows us how by fostering healthy focused conversations that create team glue the leads to greater effectiveness. I plan to use these ideas in our church." -- Alan Nelson

"Dave Fleming has written this book to give the church a new roadworthiness. Fleming challenges the church to trade in its tourist mind-set for a missional seriousness and sensibility. But he backs up his challenge by offering more than filled-in potholes and resurfaced cracks. He paves a new road for the church to take into the future, a road of conversation and dialogue in which dialogue is more than an exchange of ideas." -- Len Sweet

The development of meaningful discussion is central for Dave. He works almost exclusively Out-of-the-box. Dynamic Dialogue is filled with tactical ideas in the form of conversation starters and something Dave calls `Experiencercises". If you are facing questions like: How do we get to the next level? How can we foster authentic life? How can we sustain this momentum that is emerging? Dynamic Dialogue should prove to be very helpful. Essentially, it is written as a practically principled deployment handbook, not your typical technique focused `how-to'. Dave assumes you already `get it', but you just need some practical applications along the way, but don't be fooled the down to earth philosophical implications won't be missed! While the book is a sort of quick read really . . . for me Dynamic Dialogue will undoubtedly become another of my well worn reference books that I routinely pull off the shelve for a quick fix. This book approaches everything from the dynamics of creating space for discovery and creativity in the decision making processes with team members, to the temptation of replacing heart with technique and becoming another church clone. That's not to mention the healthy approaches to discussions about money, I could go on and on and on . . . this is not the same old double wide church trailer with different siding! It's a fresh benchmark. Dave is on the growing edge of the emerging church. And his philosophical assumptions are in the company of Leonard Sweet, Brian McLaren, and Stanley Grenz. However, his concrete approaches to methods of initiating real dynamic dialogue singles him out.

Dave Fleming understands that the great resource in the Church
is the people that God had brought together! His book not only
explains the rationale for "creative conversations", but literally guides you in the "how to's" of making it happen.
This could be a "manual" for bringing out the best ideas in your small groups, student leaders, and pastoral team. Great read!

Dan Brown's book is fiction, but there are claims that he makes that have confused some of the basic issues of Christianity. This thoughtful and well produced video curriculum will help to dispel many of the myths and untruths spelled out in the novel. I used this in my church and we found it very useful in opening dialogues with those who have read the book or seen the movie.

Exploring the Da Vinci Code with the dvd is absolutely great for exposing the lies of the book by Dan Brown.

Lee even includes the FAQ and Evidence for the identity of Jesus based on discussions with real historians in this area of history.

I recommend everyone get this and use it to share the truth with followers of Dan Brown of those duped by him.

The Discussing the Da Vinci Code Curriculum Kit by Lee Strobel and Gary Poole contains three items: a DVD, a group discussion guide, and the book Exploring the Da Vinci Code by the same authors. In this review I will cover the DVD and it's discussion guide. The accompanying book will be reviewed independently.

This curriculum was put together with "seekers" in mind. "Since the primary audience for this guide is the not-yet-convinced seekers, the ideal place to use Discussing the Da Vinci Code is within the context of seeker groups." (10) The emphasis is group discussion such that if the proposed schedule is followed participants will spend about 17 minutes watching the DVD and 43 minutes conversing per session.

The DVD and discussion guide are broken down into four sessions in which Lee Strobel visits some of the historical locations utilized in The Da Vinci Code and interviews contemporary scholars. In the first session, the topic of historical analysis is discussed with historian Paul Maier. The second session poses the question "Can we trust the four Gospels?" to New Testament scholar Scot McKnight. Strobel interviews Kathy McReynolds in session three about the role of women in Christianity and Jesus' relationship with Mary Magdalene. The final session deals with the divinity of Jesus with scholar Mark Strauss.

Considering the proposed "seeker context," the discussion guide is very well done. It provides great questions for discussion while provided many quotes from scholars, Dan Brown, and facts throughout the booklet. In the back of the guide are several appendices that recommend further resources, state the facts, and give arguments for the true identity of Jesus that is affirmed by historic Christianity.

While it's neat to see Lee Strobel "on location," he doesn't really engage the sites he visits, so that seemed somewhat pointless. Strobel is more known for his investigative journalist approach, which he applied well on the DVD. He asks good questions that provoke good responses form the reputable scholars.

The DVD also has some promotional trailers, which could be shown to get people interested in joining the discussion group. The graphics and navigation of the DVD are extremely well done. The DVD together with the group discussion guide make Discussing the Da Vinci Code a thought provoking curriculum that will be useful for seekers and curious Christians alike.

I was really impressed with the material. A bonus that is not indicated on the material package or on the DVD is that it is CLOSED CAPTIONED CC for the hearing impaired. I am Deaf and really liked the fact it IS CC but Zondervan should indicate this on the packaging.

This book is a great reference book for basic science information. We also use it as a science text book for the kids when they're kindergarten through about third grade. It is well organized, has great pictures, and is easy for the kids to understand. There are many times when I ask the kids to pick out a book to read. They'll pull this book off the shelf and pick a subject that they want to read about. It's a great book for all ages. The pictures help keep the little ones interested, the information on each page is easy to understand, and they give just enough information on each subject to answer the questions my kids have.

I love this book almost as much as the original E.Encyclopedia.
It's highly educational, in my opinon. Parents and Kids will love it. I could spend hours reading this, and you may too.

This is the second joint project after the reference book e.encyclopedia was published in October 2003. Both books feature websites enhanced by Google. Keywords in this book direct children to exclusive DK/Google websites where they connect to pre-selected relevant and authoritative websites.

The DK/Google e.encyclopedia science website is free and children can access information once they have this book. Once they get to the sites they can watch videos, listen to sounds through sound buttons, take virtual tours, read real-time reports, access databases and take interactive quizzes.

There are 8 core sections to explain and explore over 220 science topics.

Matter and Materials
Forces and Energy
Electricity and Magnetism
Space
Earth
Plants
Animals
Human Body

This has to be one of the most beautiful books DK has ever created. The colors are vibrant and the section on Space is bursting with spiral galaxies and pictures of space exploration. If you are interested in Volcanoes, you can turn to the Earth section. You can read about the eruption on Mount St. Helens and see pictures before and after volcanic eruptions.

In the Health Section, children can learn about exercise, hygiene and diet. I found the information on the futuristic nanorobots in the bloodstream fascinating.

Every section has a bold heading and interesting definition. Then, there are pages and pages of full-color pictures that can keep your attention for hours at a time. I wish we had owned a book like this when I was a child because it would have given me an information base to build on in future years. Although I must say, I think adults will find this equally fascinating. Children are always asking questions and now you can find all the answers, complete with pictures.

Fascinating Pictures:

Mangrove Roots growing upwards in coastal swamps
Tigers
Monarch Butterflies
Cross-section of a Tide Pool
High-Tech Imaging
Eye of the Storm - Hurricanes
Limestone Caves

This book also answers the following questions:

Why can an opera singer shatter glass with a single note?
How do sea organisms make their own light?
How can we reduce pollution by using Renewable Energy?
What is the lightest substance on earth and why can it float on air?

I can highly recommend this beyond amazing book to parents, teachers and librarians. E-encyclopedia is a learning resource that is not limited to just the book. While the book provides a solid grounding and interesting facts, it is actually a springboard to the Internet Universe.

~The Rebecca Review

I bought this Science Encyclopedia along with their basic Encyclopedia and I truly love it. My kids are always reading it whenever they get the chance. I have a 5 minute session after lunch before my class leaves to go to "specials." During that 5 minute teaching period I have been letting them pick out one subject area from one of the encyclopedias and then we review how to read nonfiction while looking over that subject briefly. I am amazed to see the sparks that start flying and how interested in all of the subjects the students have been. The pictures are wonderful and help students to connect with the information they are reading. I will buy more sets for my classroom because they are always in use!!!!

This book was very informative! I learned a lot from reading this!

Enjoyed reading the options and information this book offered.

very inforative book, enjoyed learning options and information.

This book is an excellent resource!

'The Doubting Disease' is arguably the most important book ever written on this terrible affliction. As a Christian whose life, over the last 30 years, has been scarred by Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)/Scrupulosity, I know. The book has helped me enormously. At the age of 13, I began to show symptoms of OCD: the typical counting, tapping, walking back-and-forth rituals were beginning to become distracting and noticeable (Yes, I did have repeated bouts of strep throat as a child.) Then, at 15, my parents, who had intentionally raised me without any religious training, semi-unwittingly sent me to a summer camp in Maine that happened to be Christian Fundamentalist. Over the 2 months there, I took part in daily Bible study, heard many fire-and-brimstone sermons and was constantly encouraged to convert by the camp counselors who were all born-again Christians. The timing of this experience with my pre-existing OCD couldn't have been worse - my intense fears about salvation, hellfire and belief in God, now fully enflamed by the camp (and the occasional Fundamentalist preacher on shortwave radio) combined with the biochemical disorder going on in my brain. The resulting mixture was so volatile that I am still recovering to this day. By age 16, I was literally jumping off the wall. Caught in the throes of full-blown OCD rituals that were colored by unfounded religious notions, I was tormented throughout my high school years. Numerous times each evening during dinner, I would get up and compulsively jump to touch the ceiling in an attempt to "catch" a blasphemous thought from reaching Heaven. Within a year the ceiling in our kitchen was literally blackened with my fingerprints. At the height of my suffering with this disease, my scrupulous obsessions were so fearful and the corresponding compulsions so persuasive that I was once moved to fall to my knees in the middle of a crowded high school corridor in front of all of my friends in order to achieve forgiveness for some unacceptable thought. My parents were beside themselves with worry and thought that I might be schizophrenic. I was shuttled between neurologist, family therapist and other "professionals", none of whom had the slightest inkling of what was going on. This, unfortunately, was the late-70s, ten years before the world would learn about this insidious disease. It wasn't until 1989 with Daniel Goleman's wonderful article in the 'New York Times' and Judith Rapoport's 'The Boy Who Couldn't Stop Washing' that I discovered the cause of my suffering over the previous 14 years. A cardio-nervous breakdown at age 19 (I have the unfortunate distinction of suffering real, physical cardiac irritation when I am engaged in mental compulsions) and years of self-therapy and writing cured me of the worst obsessions and compulsions, but I was still suffering. I began to seek psychiatric help and at the age of 30, after a costly 2 year delay caused by irresponsible warnings from the Church of Scientology (during which I deteriorated into a period of anxiety, panic attacks and frequent trips to emergency room and my cardiologist), I was finally on 20 mg of Prozac daily. This thankfully resulted in further improvement, especially with the anxiety and panic attacks that were becoming disabling and interfering with my developing career as an executive in the international telecommunications industry. However, mental demons in the form of persistent religious ruminations, obsessions and painful, time-wasting compulsions continued to plague me. Fear of committing the Unforgivable Sin (From the Book of Matthew) and accidentally selling my soul to the devil were recurring themes occupying my mind for years and years. It was only through the behavioral Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) strategies presented by Mr. Ciarrocchi in this book, that I was able to achieve some degree of normalcy and freedom from the shackles of OCD/Scrupulosity. I strongly recommend this book to anyone who is needlessly suffering from The Doubting Disease.

Ciarrocci has a backround in both religion and mental health and brings to this book the benifit of both perspectives. This self help book is well worth reading for those who have OCD especially scrupulosity OCD. It explains the cognitive behavioral treatment of this type of problem.

If you have trouble with obsessive-compulsive disorder then you do not have to keep suffering. God loves you and you do not have to live your life in morbid fear. Please read this book and find someone who can help you apply it. I once thought that to get rid of my excessive scrupulosity I would have to get rid of my faith, and I would never do that. But this book helped me understand that because my fears were abnormal and beyond what was required for my religion, it was possible for me to gradually learn to get past them. I still struggle but now life is a joy, not a torture.

Do you have unwanted, intrusive thoughts? Do you feel the need to do the same thing over and over again? Do you worry about whether you will go to heaven or hell?

If you answered yes to two or all of these questions, The Doubting Disease will be of interest to you. It describes the torment of scrupulosity, or excessive worry about moral issues, which in some cases may be a manifestation of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.

The Doubting Disease describes scrupulosity and outlines a self-help plan. It also briefly describes how to get professional help for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.

The book is written from a Christian perspective.

It is a must for people who have constant doubts about:

* whether or not they have committed a sin
* whether or not they have confessed their sins correctly (for Catholics)
* a scheme of "rules" they may have created for themselves
* whether or not they are saved
* whether or not they have harmed someone.

The book costs just a fraction of the cost of professional therapy, but it is no substitute for a wise spiritual director or a competent psychotherapist. Furthermore, some physical disorders may cause scrupulous symptoms, so I (not the author) recommend a physical exam and visit to a physician for anyone with any psychological symptoms.