Two Books are Making Me Think...

Right now I'm in the middle of three books and two of them are really challenging me...

Killing Cockroaches and Other Scattered Musings on Leadership by Tony Morgan

I'm reading Tony's book as a pdf since it has just begun to ship this week. My advice to you is to be the first kid on your block with a copy of this comical, yet challenging treatise. There are some great stories on these pages and there are also some significant challenges to take to heart. I can guarantee you that you will find something in here for you. Cockroaches is written in a short chapter format, so if you are one to read on the subway, in between traffic lights or on the throne, then you can handle this book.

For those who are leaders in a church context or if you are aspiring to become a leader in a church setting, then get this book and learn some practical principles from Tony as well as some of the key thought leaders in that area.

Lasting Impressions, From Visiting to Belonging by Mark Waltz
I can say this about Lasting Impressions: it has helped me to do my job better. Mark brings clarity to what often becomes a murky gray area. It seems obvious to me that churches would lay out clear steps for people to grow in their relationship with Jesus, but it ain't as easy as it sounds.

Lasting Impressions will help you to encourage people to move from the public to the social to the personal and then ultimately to the intimate relationships that will challenge them in their relationship with Jesus. Mark's words will help you to, as it says on the back jacket, "honor God as you offer your best to your people--and your community".

The third book I'm currently into is The Year of Living Biblically by A.J. Jacobs. The Year is an often off color "Super Size Me"-like look into biblical rules and regulations. Don't get me wrong, I'm liking this book, but the other two are really bringing challenge to my world.

Economic Downturn?

How has our current economic downturn impacted your company? your church? your personal budget?

Have you had to update your logo like Apple might?

Check These Guys Out...

www.ministrymonkey.com

Gregisms

On Sunday, Destiny began 40 Days of Love. This week Greg gave us a message called "Our Greatest Goal". Here is some of what he had to say:

• I'm your love doctor today.
• If you had one month to live, how would you feel about your (love assessment) grade?
• The best use of life is love.
• Even after becoming Christians, we still sin.
• The reality is people will forget all about your work and accomplishments.
• You already know more than the greatest doctors and physicists knew 100 years ago...we've got to change what we do.
• The best time to love is now...you thought I said the best time to leave is now, but those are just our singers coming up front...

If you missed this week's message, you can listen here.

Weekend Snapshots

Annapolis was cold but beautiful this weekend. We had a great time!

This is NOT the boat we stayed on this weekend.

Neither is this one. 

We chose to stick to land and with the help of Hotwire 

we pretended like we could afford the Westin for the weekend.

Chick and Ruth fed us a great breakfast in perhaps the smallest booth we've ever sat in.

We had an incredible time away and are already planning

next year's anniversary excursion.