“Envision the day when you can trust more and fear less.”

That’s the hope that Max Lucado is trying to inspire in each of us with his very timely new release “Fearless”.  Throughout the book, Lucado talks us through some of our most gripping fears and challenges us to get to this critical conclusion: “when Christ is great, our fears are not.”

The best parts of this book for me were the first and last chapters.  As I dove into the first chapter, I was high-lighting like crazy the fear phrases that I really connected with.  I was hopeful that this book could help me tackle what is proving to be a big issue in my life right now.  But I’ll be honest, after I got into a few of the next chapters I became pretty bored.  Perhaps that’s because Lucado’s style is more storytelling and I just wanted to get to some tough stuff that would get me thinking. -  No fluffy stuff.  Let’s get down to business! -  I was beginning to feel like I was getting the pat answer of “don’t fear” to an issue that’s much more complicated and deeply rooted.

However, I pushed through to the end (mostly because I was committed to doing this review) and honestly I was very pleasantly surprised by the ending chapter “The One Healthy Terror – Fear of God Getting Out of My Box”.  This chapter saved this book for me.  It brought me back to the foundational issue of my fear – the need for God to be great in my life.  “When Christ is great, our fears are not.”

PS – One of the things that is really well done is the 38 page discussion guide at the end.  This book would be a GREAT resource for small groups!  In fact, I think these chapters would have the potential to come to life for me in a greater way in the context of group discussion!

It’s been a little while since I’ve done a book review.  Not because I haven’t been reading.  Just because nothing has wowed me enough to tell you about it.

Well, the drought is over.

I finally finished Jim Collins new book “How the Mighty Fall” and LOVED IT!

There’s no question I’m a Jim Collins fan.  I believe “Good to Great” is the defining business book of our generation.  “Right seat on the bus”, “hedgehog”, “flywheel”… all terms that have become part of our universal vocabulary as leaders.  But honestly I wasn’t sure what to expect from “How the Mighty Fall”.  I was definitely intrigued by the concept but frankly wondered if Jim had a another great book in him.

What I love about this book is that Jim wrestles with a fear that leaders of any organization wrestle with “what if we fail?”  As a church leader, I can’t help but watch the dying churches all over America and wonder “how did they get there?” No church sets out to reach hundreds of people, have a thriving, growing ministry and then one day find themselves rapidly declining and struggling to pay the bills.

Let me clarify.  There are differences between businesses and churches and I’m not suggesting that “How the Mighty Fall” is the antidote for struggling churches.  What I am saying is that reading Jim’s observations and analysis of businesses that have fallen provides a framework from which to ask questions and seek direction.  In fact, one of the chapters of the book could have easily been called “pride goes before destruction” (Proverbs 16:18).  It wasn’t difficult to find some Biblical themes running through this one in regard to the lack of character, integrity and wisdom of the leaders of companies that had fallen.

Here are a few quotes from the book that got me thinking:

“Every institution is vulnerable, no matter how great.  No matter how much you’ve achieved, no matter how far you’ve gone, no matter how much power you’ve garnered, you are vulnerable to decline.”

“While no leader can single-handedly build an enduring great company, the wrong leader vested with power can almost single-handedly bring a company down.”

“The signature of mediocrity is not an unwillingness to change.  The signature of mediocrity is chronic inconsistency.”

“When you abandon hope, you should begin preparing for the end.”

Have you read the book?  What would you add?

The subtitle of this book really sums it up quite well: “Sometimes, all a person needs is a little perspective.”  Perspective is the power of this story.  In The Noticer Andy Andrews retells his own dramatic story of gaining life-changing perspective from a little old man named “Jones”.  Jones, a self-proclaimed “noticer” weaves his way into the lives of people from all walks of life and challenges them to consider their perspective.  The imprint that Jones leaves on these lives, including Andy’s, is nothing less than remarkable and inspirational.

This is going to sound like a really big statement but I believe The Noticer is one of those rare books that has the power to start a movement that could change our generation.  In our fast-paced, ego-centric,  on-demand society we need more than ever to see things, especially people, with fresh perspective.  As Jones says in the book “a grateful perspective brings happiness and abundance into a person’s life”.  This book reminds us of just how valuable our days are and how much more meaningful everyday is if we choose to look at it differently.

“While it is true that most people never see or understand the difference they make, or sometimes only imagine their actions having a tiny effect, every single action a person takes has far-reaching consequences.”

Every single action a person takes has far-reaching consequences. These are some powerful words… and if we take them seriously and apply them to our lives, there is no end to the impact we could have on the people around us.

This is the kind of stuff that Andy gets you thinking about in The Noticer.  By sharing Jones’ story of how he counseled, coached and questioned others into seeing life from a different perspective, you can’t help but shift your own perspective… “to regroup, take a breath, and begin your life again”.

My suggestion: Buy it, read it, gift it to a friend, and then read it again.

The Noticer releases tomorrow, April 28th.  Go check out more here!

I love to read!

Unfortunately, finding dedicated time to read is one of my greatest challenges these days.   Any time that I can sneak away with a book is a treasure for me.

Here’s what I’ve been reading:

Just finished Seth’s latest.  I love his writing… his perspective… his candor, but I loved Tribes because of it’s focus on leadership.

I’m currently reading Bill Hybels newest book Axiom.  Great short leadership proverbs!

And in fiction, I’m finally reading The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd.  Loving this one as well!

What are you reading right now?

One of my rules for reading is that I won’t read anything that hasn’t been recommended to me, so send me your recommendations!