Institutions & Organizations

Organic Church- Growing Faith Where Life Happens

Organic Church: Growing Faith Where Life Happens...
Jossey-Bass :: Religion & Christian Life :: Religion & Beliefs :: Religion - Church Life & Growth :: Religion - Christian Living :: Religion :: Institutions & Organizations :: E :: Organic Church- Growing Faith Where Life Happens

The Present Future- Six Tough Questions for the Church

5 stars (Excellent resource) - McNeal continues the dialogue started by Leonard Sweet. McNeal however does it in a much more practical and accessible way. Recommend highly to anyone seeking to do church for the culture we are just now beginning to realize. 5 stars (Risky, but worth it) - Reggie McNeal offers a powerful alternative to the present-day church culture's Phariseeical worldview. Rather than trying to build the perfect church, as many churches do these days, McNeal advocates working to build the Kingdom of God by reaching people where they live/work/think. For people who are tied to the church culture as the way to reach God, this book will inspire resistance. But Jesus did not say, "The Church is the way, the truth, and the life", He said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." Those who read this book are challenged to build God's kingdom by exiting the church box to reach those who would never set foot inside a church on their own. 5 stars (Frustratingly Enlightening - and Life Changing!) - Take a new look at all you do in at church, through the lens that Reggie McNeal provides. I've been trying to 'see' this way sincde reading The Present Future for the second time. It is frustrating to realize how church/club-oriented we are. Our structure and traditions are designed to meet the needs of the church (club) and not the needs of individuals. Now, we try to consider FIRST how we're impacting our community with the mission of Jesus, and how people's lives are being transformed; then consider how it affects the church. If we can make the transition, God will use us more effectively. ...
Jossey-Bass :: Religion & Christian Life :: Ecclesiology & Church government :: United States :: Religion - Church Life & Growth :: Religion :: Institutions & Organizations :: C :: The Present Future- Six Tough Questions for the Church

Soul at Work- Spiritual Leadership in Organizations

5 stars (Spiritually-Grounded AND Successful) - In five to ten years time, I predict we will see a spurt of entrepreneurialism directly traceable to Margaret Benefiel's Soul at Work. Much writing about spirituality and the work place is little more than enthusiastic commentary. This book is much more. In its breadth of real world stories ranging from U2 to Reell Precision Manufacturing to Mercy Medical, Soul at Work tells the experiences of leaders in their own voices. These are not portraits of saints - of leaders who made decisions in extraordinary circumstances. These are ordinary people who did make the commitment to create an environment where they and their colleagues could bring their whole selves to work. Recognizing the array of spiritualities that leaders (and readers) bring, Benefiel defines soul as "the human spirit, fully engaged." Importantly, she has collected stories from a diversity of wisdom traditions. The book is divided into two sections, first hearing from the leaders themselves and then moving on to examining their organizations. The author concludes with a set of lessons/guides that are traced back to their origins in the stories presented. She helpfully demonstrates what people any place in an organization - and across a wide diversity of organizations - can do. What I found most exciting was that some readers who find their current circumstances inhospitable to bottom lines other than the financial may well be spurred to create new, more spiritually-grounded organizations that are also designed to be successful in the marketplace. Buy a copy for yourself - then buy another to share with colleagues. You'll want to keep your own handy. But as you read it, you'll want to be able to talk about it with people you know seek a fuller engagement of soul at work. 4 stars (Fully engaged) - On the first page of the Introduction (page 9 in the book) I got hooked when Margaret defined spirituality as "the human spirit, fully engaged." That drew m...
Seabury Books :: Religion - Missions :: Religion - Christian Living :: Religion :: Leadership :: Institutions & Organizations :: Ethics :: Christianity - Christian Life - Business :: Soul at Work- Spiritual Leadership in Organizations

Dog Training- Fly Fishing- And Sharing Christ In The 21st Century Empowering Your Church To Build Co

1 stars (Bait and Switch) - Despite this book's title, the author provides no useful information regarding the art of angling with flies, and readers seeking advice on fishing the waters of Colorado, where the author lives, should look elsewhere. 5 stars (Excellent, insightful, and thought-provoking.) - This book blows the doors off of mainstream accepted taboos in our culture. After personally experiencing the highs and lows of traditional cell-based groups, I was at a point of wondering why change was not being made in churches. Then, I came across this book. In it, Ted delightfully shows how a church can face change and come out of it truly blessed. Thanks so much for sharing your results, and your honesty! We are all blessed, because of it. I exhort other churches to openly test their waters and see if this book and what it presents can be applied in their congregations. And... as we all know... this book, and the concepts it speaks of... will evolve as they continue to understand the power of God more fully in their midst. 5 stars (Everyone trying to do Small Group ministry should read this.) - It's refreshing, insightful, and helpful. I especially appreciated Ted's advice about not just overlaying some other church's small group ministry onto your church, but rather praying, wrestling, and struggling with what God wants at your church. What he's saying make a lot of sense, especially in our American free enterprise culture. ...
Nelson Books :: Religion & Church Institutions & Organizations :: Evangelism :: Church Growth :: Small groups :: Religious aspects :: Religion - Church Life & Growth :: Religion :: :: Dog Training- Fly Fishing- And Sharing Christ In The 21st Century Empowering Your Church To Build Co