THE 21 IRREFUTABLE LAWS OF LEADERSHIP

This article will serve to introduce THE 21 IRREFUTABLE LAWS OF LEADERSHIP: Follow Them And People Will Follow You; which will be followed in the future with a more detailed review of the book and the Leadership Bible.

The 10th anniversary edition of John C. Maxwell's 'THE 21 IRREFUTABLE LAWS OF LEADERSHIP: Follow Them And People Will Follow You. '

Through his various organizations, Dr. Maxwell has trained over 2 million leaders worldwide and regularly speaks to Fortune 500 companies and international government leaders. Dr. Maxwell is the founder of EQUIP, an organization designed to "equip international Christian leaders to effectively serve the growing Body of Christ."

In THE 21 IRREFUTABLE LAWS OF LEADERSHIP (Thomas Nelson; Hardcover; September 18, 2007), Dr. Maxwell combines insights learned from his 40-plus years of leadership successes and mistakes with observations from the worlds of business, politics, sports, religion and military conflict.

The previous editions of THE 21 IRREFUTABLE LAWS OF LEADERSHIP sold over one million copies and appeared on the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Business Week bestseller lists. For this 10th anniversary edition, Maxwell revised and updated more than 70% of the material. Highlights include two entirely new chapters and 17 new stories. Additionally, application pieces follow every chapter and a leadership evaluation is included.

Table of Contents
Session 1:
The Law of the Lid
The Law of Influence
The Law of Process
The Law of Navigation
Session 2:
The Law of E. F. Hutton
The Law of Solid Ground
The Law of Respect
The Law of Intuition
Session 3:
The Law of Magnetism
The Law of Connection
The Law of the Inner Circle
The Law of Empowerment
Session 4:
The Law of Reproduction
The Law of Buy-In
The Law of the Victory
The Law of the Big Mo
Session 5:
The Law of Priorities
The Law of Sacrifice
The Law of Timing
The Law of Explosive Growth
The Law of Legacy

More details about the book and the author can be found online, including:
-A Chapter Excerpt: http://www.thomasnelson.com/consumer/additionalinfo.asp?ISBN=0785288376&productid=12364&TopLevel_id=300000&dept_id=0&type=chapter

-More about EQUIP and Dr. Maxwell: http://www.iequip.org/

-Video Introduction with Dr. Maxwell: http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=c5f4832396abf2bcfd66

The Leadership expert, John Maxwell, brings an in-depth look at God's laws for leaders and leadership.

The content of the current Maxwell Leadership Bible is revised and updated to incorporate Maxwell's works since the first release of the Maxwell Leadership Bible.

Features include:
2 New Laws - Law of Addition and the Law of Picture

New major articles and new notes throughout the Bible that connect with the new Laws

New notes that reflect Maxwell's works since the Feb 2002 release of the Maxwell Leadership Bible, including The 360º Leader, Attitude 101, 25 Ways to Win with People, and Leadership 101

Revised indexes to the 21 Laws of Leadership and the 21 Qualities of a Leader

New interior page design

Product Description
Updated by editor John Maxwell to reflect his recent books, this unique Bible is packed with God's guidance for leaders.

Double-column format

Book Introductions

Book Outlines

The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: in-depth articles that reveal these laws as seen in the lives of Bible people.

The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader: insightful articles showing positive and negative examples of each of this qualities.

Over 100 biographical profiles: times and events in people's lives that reveal God's truths about leadership.

Hundreds of compelling short articles and expressive "read-as-you-go" notes on mentoring and influence.

Thorough topical indexes for quick access to Scripture passages and articles addressing leadership issues.

Visit the official John C. Maxwell website
http://www.iequip.org/site/c.gqLTI0OBKpF/b.816917/k.12E/Home_iEQUIPorg__Equipping_Leaders_to_Reach_Our_World.htm

http://www.familychristian.com/shop/product.asp?prodID=23381

Read the Bible This Year

Reading the Bible own your own is an awesome experience. You get the truth of God's Word that will transform you and give you real insight into how much God loves people.

This year I want to suggest several unique Bibles, The Renovare Spiritual Formation Bible and the New Inductive Study Bible are two of the Bibles you might think about buying and reading this year.

The Archaeological Study Bible is also among those you might consider. Please see the material in the previous blog article about this Bible.

The term Spiritual Formation has come to be used for the Spiritual development of believers as they travel on their journey from salvation to their passing from this world into the next.

There is a Bible which focuses on that Journey and path of Spiritual Development or Formation.

1. The Renovare Spiritual Formation Bible by Renovare and Dallas Willard is published by Harper Collins. This Bible offers helps and insights in developing 'The With-God Life.' An introductory article titled; A General Introduction to the Renovaré Spiritual Formation Bible Catching the Vision can be found at the link below. Here are a few sentences from the article. "If we want to receive from the Bible the life "with God" that is portrayed in the Bible, we must be prepared to have our dearest and most fundamental assumptions about ourselves and our associations called into question. We must read humbly and in a constant attitude of repentance. Only in this way can we gain a thorough and practical grasp of the spiritual riches that God has made available to all humanity in his written Word. Only in this way can we keep from transforming The Book into a Catholic Bible, an Orthodox Bible, a Baptist, Methodist, Lutheran, or even a RENOVARÉ Bible.

The Article points our two faulty reasons people seek to study the Bible and offers insights into why another approach is needed.
a. The first is the practice of studying the Bible for information or knowledge alone. This may include information about particular facts or historical events, knowledge of general truths or doctrines, or even knowledge of how others are mistaken in their religious views, beliefs, and practices.
b. The second common objective of Bible study is to find some formula that will solve the pressing need of the moment. Thus we seek out specific passages that speak to particular needs rather than seeking whole-life discipleship to Jesus. What we must face up to about these two common objectives for studying the Bible is that we or our human instructors are in charge of the process. They are, in fact, ways of trying to control what comes out of the Bible rather than a means of entering the process of transforming our whole person and our whole life into Christ-likeness." http://www.harpercollins.ca/

2. The Inductive Study Bible publishes by Harvest House.
The New Inductive Study Bible is a great tool for independent Bible study. It begins with a 30 or so page section on 'How to Study the Bible' by Kay Arthur. This is from her book 'How to Study the Bible.' Kay teaches the Inductive study method, which is a great tool for independent study. If you want the joy and the challenge of studying the Bible without everyone else’s comments and opinions this is the way to go.

"Readers will discover simple but powerful tools for discovering what the Bible says what it means, and how to live its truths. Features include: updated NASB text in a compact, convenient size; an inductive study method explanation; instructions for marking text; overviews of each book; insights on accurately interpreting biblical truth; full–color charts and maps; wide margins for note–taking." Published by Harvest House Publishers at http://harvesthousepublishers.com/book.cfm?ProductID=6900160


Also you can read the Bible on line at a number of websites. The One Year Bible Blog is listed below.

1. http://oneyearbibleblog.com/

In the days ahead I will offer material on several other newer Bibles. Check back or sign up in the upper right hand corner of this blog for future updates.

Archaeological Study Bible

Every year I try to focus on new Bible resources that you might find useful. The archaeological Bible is my choice for new print Bible this year.

The following information on the Archaeological Study Bible is from the Zondervan web site linked below.
The Archaeological Study Bible is An Illustrated Walk Through Biblical History and Culture with the New International Version

Synopsis: A unique study Bible filled with informative articles and full-color photographs that will take you on an illustrated walk through biblical history and culture.

Description: An Illustrated Walk Through Biblical History and Culture The NIV Archaeological Study Bible sheds new light on the Bible. From the beginnings of Genesis to the end of Revelation, this new study Bible is filled with informative articles and full-color photographs of places and objects that will open your eyes to the historical context of the stories you read and the people you meet in Scripture. From kings and empires to weapons of war to clay pots used for carrying water, the archaeological record surrounding God’s Word will help contextualize and inform your personal study.
Features:
• 4-color interior throughout
• Bottom of page study notes highlight and add further explanation to passages that speak on archaeological or cultural facts included in the Scripture

• Articles (520) covering one of the following five categories:
• Archaeological Sites (Hazor, Ugarit, Arad, Ephesus)
• Cultural and Historical Notes (ancient seals and scarabs, perfume and anointing, the missionary journeys of Paul)
• Ancient Peoples and Lands (the Persian empire, the history of Egypt)
• The Reliability of the Bible (the question of the Psalm superscripts, the reliability of Judges, the ending of Mark)
• Ancient Texts and Artifacts (the Mesha Stone, the Prayer of Confession)

• Approximately 500 4-color photographs interspersed throughout
• Detailed book introductions that provide basic, at-a-glance information
• Detailed charts on pertinent topics
• In-text color maps that assist the reader in placing the action
• CD-Rom containing NIV text and all photographs, maps, and charts included in the Bible.

Archaeological Study Bible site http://www.archaeologicalstudybible.com/ printed and video materials.

For a detailed sample go to the following link and look for the PDF (Adobe Reader) file.
http://www.zondervan.com/Cultures/en-US/Product/ProductDetail.htm?ProdID=com.zondervan.9780310926054&QueryStringSite=Zondervan

and this link http://www.archaeologicalstudybible.com/

Equippers Network Ministry Hub Launch

Equippers Network Ministry Hub has been launched. You can click on the link below or above to read the whole thing.

Below is the beginning. http://www.equippersnetwork.com/

MINISTRY OBJECTIVE/OVERVIEW


"Empowering churches, Individual believers, Market place and Ministry leaders to fulfill God's heart in the earth today according to Ephesians 4:11 -13 To:
1. Fulfill their call to release the Life of Jesus among the people of the earth.
2. Build up fellow believers/followers of Jesus.
3. Encourage and assist believers to grow into maturity, reaching the full stature of Christ."


The Equippers Network exists to help you fulfill God's calling and to minister His revolutionary life today. We are experiencing a dramatic change in ideas or practice in the Church today as we seek to fulfill God's plan to make disciples of all nations.


George Barna states in Growing True Disciples; "We need to be igniting and nurturing people’s passion for God and get out of their way.” Those with a unique Vision, those who are called by God need continuous mentoring and training if they are to be sent forth as radical, healthy people of the Spirit who are focused on accomplishing what Jesus has called them to at all cost.


The Equippers Network Vision is to mend, equip, train, mentor and release people into cutting edge Spirit led ministry that flows from God's heart. My passion is to help believers fulfill to the fullest measure God's Call on their life by Coaching and Training them as God works in them, so that they can fulfill Ephesians 4:12-13 to:

1. Birth, Develop and Mature the calling or assignment God has given them vision for.
2. Build up believers by means of connecting them with others who are seeking to fulfill God’s vision for their life.

3. Bring believers to Maturity as passionate followers of Jesus the Messiah by means of Relational Discipleship, Coaching, Mentoring, and Hands on Training and Teaching.


God the Great Creator has given us the His unique ability to create and have the vision to create ministry. These Creative Visions for Ministries flow from His calling in the believer’s life and all that he has created us to uniquely be by His grace and power working in us.


Go to Equippers Network new Ministry Hub @ http://www.equippersnetwork.com/ to read all about it!

It is All by His Grace
The Equipper

Shepherding the Small Church

Shepherding the Small Church: A Leadership Guide for the Majority of Today's Churches

Book in Brief
Shepherding the Small Church: A Leadership Guide for the Majority of Today's Churches by Glenn Daman (Kregel Publications, 2002, 285 pages, $14.99 (pb)). Issue #35 September 2002

The below summary of this book is not mine. I am posting it to see if any of you agree with the author or disagree with him and why.

Seventy-five percent of all U.S. churches have a weekly attendance of 150 or fewer people. These churches can effectively work in God's field to bring in the harvest because spiritual growth does not depend on a church's size, subculture, budget, or programs. Its effectiveness is defined by transformation in people's lives, theological integrity, and the faith of its members. It also is evidenced through the service of ministry undertaken by the church and the relevance of the service to those served.


Shepherding the Small Church gives five steps to effective ministry in a small church:

•Understand: Know the culture
•Know: Develop the foundational theology
•Be: Develop the foundational character
•Do: Develop the mission
•Envision: Develop the vision.

To understand the culture, the church leadership must get to know both the community and the church. Then, as the leaders plan the purpose of the church's mission within the culture, they develop the doctrinal umbrella under which ministries, agenda, and programs work. Developing a church's character, which comes from its theological base, means obeying God's two commands: loving Him first and loving others. Loving God involves a life of worship, prayer, study of God's Word, and a life of faith. Loving others includes mutual support and accountability for fellow members and loving those outside the church. Developing the mission of the church involves three areas: reaching out to those outside the church (evangelism), teaching programs (discipleship), and recruiting people in the service of the King. In turn, developing the church's vision is "the process of identifying the focus of the church and developing the strategy for accomplishing its biblical mission and purpose."
Once the vision is set, the leaders can formulate strategies to accomplish their mission. Each of these five steps is distinctive to the purpose and mission of the small church. If the leadership tries to employ successful programs or visions that have worked well for larger churches, the small church's ministry will be much less effective, so small-church leaders must develop their goals and strategies by understanding how their churches fit into God's plan for ministry.

Step 1: Know the cultureEffective church ministry begins with assessing the community and its needs. Larger churches more often have access to government agencies or demographic research organizations. Smaller churches can assess the community by asking people to describe their neighborhoods and then compile the information.
This assessment can be used to formulate goals and ministry strategies. Because of the limited number of volunteers in the small church, the leaders need to identify the target group they want to reach. For example, in many rural areas, the church was once the social center of the community. Now, however, social centers are more likely to be clubs and service organizations. The church may effectively reach people by becoming active in these areas.
In assessing the ministry, leaders will find that the small church differs greatly from the large church. For example, the small church is relationally driven. Often, the pastor is not the primary leader of the congregation. "That role is given to an individual or individuals who, by their personal interaction with others, influence the rest of the church." Therefore, the small church works more like a family, using informal channels of communication and ministry strategies. Understanding these distinctives will help the leaders in small congregations effectively implement ministry.

Step 2: Develop the foundational theologyDeveloping a foundation of theology is a must for any effective church. What a church teaches in theology will impact its future, programs, and strategies. "Building a healthy ministry is much like building a house. The most crucial step is not knowing how to finish; it is knowing where to begin." Understanding the theology of a church begins by examining the values the congregation holds. This helps in leadership training. Once leaders are trained, they provide strategies of teaching the congregation and opportunities for people to express their theology through prayer, worship, and service.

Step 3: Develop the foundational character"A church without godly character is an empty shell of the gospel, void of the true meaning of the biblical message of Christ's redemptive work in the lives of people. . . A church without character becomes a social institution--not the living organism that God intends."
The essence of godly character is loving God and others. We express our love for God through worship, but the small church may not be able to have a worship team, a choir, or equipment such as overhead projectors. All God expects is a church's heart in worship--not a professional performance. Therefore, the responsibility of the small church is to offer its best in worship to God.
Character is also demonstrated through loving others, but the small church faces particular problems in reaching out to others. In many rural areas, the poverty level is equal to that of the inner city, yet people may be fiercely independent and unwilling to ask for help. Simple respect for another person's privacy can hinder members from loving others in the church and reaching out to people in the community. Therefore, the leadership must develop strategies for how the church can uncover people's needs and respond to them.

Step 4: Develop the mission The mission of the church has three parts: to witness, to teach, to minister. Because the small church has limited resources, often the best strategy for developing evangelism is integrating it into existing programs and community activities. Witnessing opportunities that focus on social interaction rather than preaching are more effective. "Holding, for instance, a bake sale for a family going through a medical crisis not only reveals Christ to the family, but to the whole community as well."
When discipling believers within the small church, several problems can arise. Although the percentage of people involved in ministry in the small church is higher than that of a large church, many times new members are not encouraged to participate. Older members often retire from ministry just when they can be of greatest value to the church, and the loss of one leader can be devastating. "Because the small church has a limited pool to recruit from to fill opportunities, how the church recruits and utilizes its people becomes all the more critical."
When goals are set for church ministry, they should reflect the distinctives of the church. The small pool of volunteers requires that leaders plan fewer programs. When implementing these programs, leaders may opt to verbally communicate strategy tools such as job descriptions to preserve members' preference for informal organization. Finding a source of funding for each program is also a critical step. Many times, people will give generously to specific projects such as a mission trip; therefore, publicizing special needs can be effective. To prepare more people for each place of service, leaders can crosstrain. Creative planning can overcome hurdles to training. For example, one person can travel to attend a training seminar and then return to teach others within the church. The small church can also institute apprenticeship programs, and leaders can arrange for in-house training.

Step 5: Develop the vision "Vision is the marriage between the biblical purpose and mission of the church and its contextual setting." In other words, strategies will change but the mission remains the same. This is where the congregational assessment returns great value. When developing a vision, the assessment helps determine the church's health, strengths, weaknesses, problems, needs, and desires. Another way of finding the values of the church is to "listen to the stories that tell the church's history." These highlight what is meaningful and important to the congregation.
Because the pastor is not the spiritual leader of the church, he cannot set the vision. Instead, the pastor's role is to facilitate the vision. Once the leaders determine the vision, they communicate it to the congregation. In large churches, many people are only concerned with what is happening in their particular area of service. In small churches, however, people want to know what is happening in the church as a whole. Since the small church usually does not have the finances to afford mechanical means of communication such as videos, newsletters, or brochures, leaders can use networks within the church to relay the vision.
The church's vision can often be fulfilled by adjusting existing programs rather than by beginning many new ones. Only when new leaders are available should a new program be attempted. Programs that are no longer useful should be dropped. To help leaders execute the ideas in Shepherding the Small Church, each chapter concludes with an evaluation and implementation plan, resources for further reading, and several appendices for church leaders to use. Each evaluation and implementation section suggests the worksheets and other material that can be used at that point.

About the author

Glenn Daman received his Doctorate in Ministry from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and a Master of Arts in New Testament Studies and Old Testament Studies from Western Seminary. He serves as Director for Small-Church Health at Western Seminary. He also serves as senior pastor of Cascade Locks Community Church in Cascade Locks, Oregon, and at First Baptist Church in Stevenson, Washington. He and his wife Becky have two sons.

3:16: The Numbers of Hope

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
John 3:16

There is no more powerful expression of the Good News of God revealed in Jesus Christ, than in this verse. The mystery hidden from the angels throughout the ages and revealed only through Jesus Christ and to those who believe in Him.
Read this book and pass it on. It will remind everyone who reads it why becoming a Christian has or can change their life and the lives of the people around them.

"A twenty-six-word parade of hope: beginning with God, ending with life, and urging us to do the same. Brief enough to write on a napkin or memorize in a moment, yet solid enough to weather two thousand years of storms and questions." Max Lucado http://www.maxlucado.com/316/

"You find it displayed on billboards and at sports' games. John 3:16. Perhaps the best-known verse in the Bible, its 26 words encapsulate the fundamental truth of Christianity, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son ...." In 3:16: The Numbers of Hope, bestselling author Max Lucado delves into this "hope diamond of the Bible" phrase by life-changing phrase. Concluding the study, a 40 day devotional snapshot of Jesus' life, taken from Max's writings, grounds the verse in the greater context of who Jesus was. Whether you're a newcomer to the Bible or a veteran believer, explore the implications of God's parade of hope: He loves. He gave. We believe. We live."
http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=901935&p=1025023

The verse is an alphabet of grace, a table of contents to the Christian hope, each word a safe-deposit box of jewels. read it again, slowly and aloud, and note the word that snatches your attention. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

God so loved this world? Heartbreakers, hope-snatchers, and dream-dousers prowl this orb. Dictators rage. Abusers inflict. reverends think they deserve the title. But God loves. And he loves the world so much he gave his:
Declarations?
Rules?
Dicta?
Edicts?
No. the heart-stilling, mind-bending, deal-making-or-breaking claim of John 3:16 is this: God gave his son . . . his only son. Not abstract ideas but a flesh-wrapped divinity. Why? so that “whoever believes in him shall not perish.”

Jn 3:16 According to the United Bible Societies Handbook

"The purpose of this verse is to indicate that
the work of Christ and the salvation he offers have their origin in the will and
action of God himself.

In Greek, the tense of the verb loved points
to a specific action in the past; that is, to God's giving of his Son.

Many languages have various words which may
be translated "loved." They generally refer to different types of interpersonal
relations: parents to children, children to parents, chiefs to people, people to
chiefs, affection between spouses, sexual love, love of possessions, etc. It is
convenient to have a term for "love" which may be applicable to many different
interpersonal relations. When it is not possible, the usual practice is to refer
to God's love as like that between parents and children. The equivalent meaning,
therefore, is "God loved the people of the world just as a father loves his
children." In some languages, the more appropriate term for this kind of
affection would imply the love of a mother for her children, and this meaning
likewise can often be adapted.

In this verse the world must be understood in
the sense of "the world of men" (see Jn 1:10).

The adverb translated so much in TEV refers
more to the manner than the degree of love. That is, it would explain the way in
which God showed his love for the world rather than the intensity or extent of
his love, for example, "Here is the way that God loved the world: he gave his
only Son...." However, almost all translations render this adverb as TEV
does.

All modern translations read only Son rather
than "only begotten Son" (KJV). This same word is discussed in Jn 1:16.

The verb translated die (so also NEB, NAB) is
a characteristic Johannine word. It is used in contrast to eternal life both
here and in Jn 10:28. In the theology of John's
Gospel there is no third alternative; The final destiny of a man is either
eternal life or eternal death. TEV translates this same verb was lost and be
lost in 17:12.

It is important to indicate clearly that
everyone who believes in him refers to the Son, not to God. It may be necessary
in some languages to say specifically "everyone who believes in God's Son" or
"if anyone puts his trust in God's Son.

"There is probably no way of avoiding the
difficulty in the expression may not die but have eternal life. It has been
misinterpreted to imply that if people simply believed in Jesus that they would
never experience physical death. This meaning is not that intended by the Gospel
of John. He does use here a bold rhetorical figure as a means of contrasting
spiritual death with spiritual life. Any explanation of this contrast should be
left to teaching or to a marginal note; it should not be introduced directly
into the text."
(from the UBS Handbook Series. Copyright © 1961-1997, by United Bible Societies.)


CHRISTIAN BOOKS.COM Puts it this way.
"If 9/11 are the numbers of terror and despair, then 3:16 are the numbers of hope. In his new book, best selling author Max Lucado leads readers through a word-by-word study of John 3:16, the passage that he calls the "Hope Diamond" of scripture. It's more than a book, it is a mission of global proportions that invites Christians around the world to unite around the central message of our faith, embodied in the words of John 3:16. Join Max Lucado as he unpacks this timeless message - phrase by enduring phrase.
"http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=901935&p=1025023

HERE ARE MORE RESOURCES

-An Excerpt: http://maxlucado.com/316/pdf/316_chapter1.pdf

-Videos: http://maxlucado.com/316/resources/video

-Text Messages and Podcasts: http://maxlucado.com/316/updates

-YouTube Video: http://www.youtube.com/group/maxlucado

-YouTube 3:16/Max Lucado Group: http://www.youtube.com/group/maxlucado

-More Praise can be read at: http://maxlucado.com/316/about/comments.php

Additional 3:16 products, including a CD featuring top Christian musicians, study guides, church kits: http://maxlucado.com/316/products

...And You Shall be Baptised With the Holy Spirit and Fire

The Fire of God is a fascinating topic. When you do a word study on Fire in the Bible there are certain characteristics that show us when the Fire is from God and when it is the creation of or by people. One of the symbols of the Holy Spirit in Scripture is that of oil.

Lk 3:16-1716 John answered them all, "I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire . NIV

We use the symbolism of oil when we are speaking about being anointed by God. You will discover that this anointing oil is also used in conjunction with the lamp stand or that which burns in the lamp stand. One of the concepts connected with fire in scripture is the refining that fire brings forth. The example that we most often think of related to this concept is the refining fire that causes a separation of the gold and the impurities in it, which are separated out when enough fire is applied to the gold.

The fire of God keeps buring in our lives until we go to meet Jesus. The purifing work of the Spirit's fire can cause us to wonder if we will survive the anointing of God in our lives.

There are three books that I want to recommend to you if you find the anointing of the Spirit just a little to hot! The Upside of Adversity by OS Hillman, Surviving the Anointing by David Ravenhill and Praying Through Job by Elmer Towns.

The Up Side of Adversity by Os Hillman

It can be extremely difficult to see God's Hand in our lives when we are going through hardship and adversity. TGIF Today God Is First Daily Devotional author Os Hillman knows this all to well. He lost his marriage, his business, and his financial "nest egg" all within a short period of time. Through a challenging seven-year process, Os learned that God was at work using these painful circumstances to prepare him for the calling God had on his life.If you are in the middle of adversity, or you know someone who is, or just want to learn more about why God allows adversity into our lives, this new book by Os Hillman will be a tremendous encouragement as well as a Biblically-grounded discovery of what God may just be up to "behind the scenes" during this painful and challenging time.

In The Upside of Adversity, you will learn…
Why some people are called to extraordinary adversity.
Why adversity is sometimes necessary to fulfill your ultimate destiny
Whether you have the key attributes of a Joseph Calling upon your life and what this will mean for your future
What the Black Hole is and whether you are in it!
The four tests Joseph had to pass to fulfill his destiny and why you MUST pass these same tests
Why good people suffer
Why leaders God uses always experience adversity
The role generational strongholds play in adversity
Why fear of failure often causes adversity
What you can learn from successful people who have faced adversity
How to avoid becoming a victim to your circumstances
What the upside of adversity really is
Why adversity is sometimes necessary to fulfill your ultimate destiny
Whether you have the key attributes of a Joseph Calling upon your life and what this will mean for your future
What the Black Hole is and whether you are in it!
The four tests Joseph had to pass to fulfill his destiny and why you MUST pass these same tests
Why good people suffer
Why leaders God uses always experience adversity
The role generational strongholds play in adversity
Why fear of failure often causes adversity
What you can learn from successful people who have faced adversity
How to avoid becoming a victim to your circumstances
What the upside of adversity really is


Surviving the Anointing by David Ravenhill


Surviving the Anointing is a solid teaching tool for church leaders who are facing not only their own struggles but also reaping the fallout of recent moral failings of nationally well-known church leaders.
David Ravenhill addresses the very real issues of how and why modern-day pastors and church leaders succumb to the enemy. He offers practical ways to survive the calling and the anointing. He openly discusses the inherent pitfalls of being anointed and compares today's trials and troubles to those faced by biblical leaders.

This book candidly discusses a wide range of important topics, including:
Intimacy
Authority
Persistency
Empathy
Humility
Worship
Diversity
Family
Adversity
Integrity
Unity
Eternity

Each topic is thoroughly discussed and documented as it pertains to a leader's responsibilities and its importance to Surviving the Anointing.


Praying the Book of Job by Elmer L. Towns

The book of Job was the first book written in the Bible. It represents the thoughts and logic of the early patriarchs. Even though early and embryonic, it contains the root fundamentals of Christianity. It contains a view of a sovereign God, Creator, guide, and judge of all men. The author tells us salvation is found only in God and even though we pass through the inevitability of death, yet there is coming a resurrection when we shall see God. The righteous will live with God and the wicked will be punished in Sheol (Hell).
This book will help you understand why there is suffering in the world and what God wants to accomplish through it. Also, learn the wrong reactions to suffering. Some of the "poor theology" you might hear in hospitals today is as old as Job.
Praying the Book of Job is not just a translation to help you know better the book of Job, but this is a devotional to help you know God. So reach out to touch God as you pray the book of Job, but more importantly — let God touch you.

The materials above are from the publishes web sites or from sites trying to sell this work.

Worship: An Inductive Study

Our daily journey of faith is often consumed with the experiential elements of our walk with God and often needs to be expanded and strengthened with the anointed insights of those who have gone before us and disciplined Biblical study to keep our walk with God from becoming shallow and weakened by an over exposure to our own understanding of life and God's relationship with us. This expansion and strengthening of our perspective and grasp of God's Word will allow our worldview to grow more to fit God's and keep us from developing an understanding that is more about us than God has designed and desired that we have.

Recalling the Hope of Glory by Allen P. Ross is one of those studies of God's Word that will help us not to get off course and that will help us to drink deeply from the river of life, which can give us a more complete understanding of why we worship that will make our journey more fruitful and full of God's light and wisdom. the material that follows is from the book and can be found at Amazon.com. Please click the link below the title and it should take you to Amazone's page.

Book Description
Moving beyond worship wars over style and denominational proclivities, this book considers all the major biblical passages about worship. Regardless of their denomination, pastors, worship leaders, and laypeople interested in the biblical themes of worship will benefit from this definitive resource.

From the Inside Flap
"For any significant change to occur in our worship activities," writes Allen Ross, "we have to get behind forms and methods and changes in style and focus on the biblical theology that informs worship. " Out of his concern for worship to be as glorious as it should be, Ross has provided readers with a methodical, detailed study of all the biblical testimony on the subject of worship.

Many "biblical" studies of worship explain Scripture only where it is most applicable to the author’s own views, but very few, if any, have attempted an inductive study of worship throughout the entire Bible. Beginning not with early Israelite worship but with creation itself, seasoned biblical scholar Allen Ross uncovers the glories and beauty of worship as it is progressively revealed from its beginning in the Garden of Eden to its climax in the new heavens and new earth. Along the way, the historical development of worship is considered from the religious world in antiquity and worship in the early church to modern traditions and liturgy.

Neither technical, simplistic, nor specific to one denomination, Recalling the Hope of Glory is designed for all God’s people. Pastors, worship leaders, professors, students, and laypeople will find exposition that challenges, informs, and furthers our understanding of glorious worship. Through this study, readers will see patterns and principles of worship emerge, understand more fully our great heritage and its traditions, and discover ways to improve their worship.



From the Back Cover
"The publication of Recalling the Hope of Glory is a splendid addition to the growing number of works on biblical worship. Not only is this work a comprehensive theological vision of creation, incarnation, and re-creation, it is also a genuine work of praise." —ROBERT E. WEBBER, author of more than forty books on worship and the church



"Stunning in scope, Recalling the Hope of Glory provides a historical-theological study of worship from creation to the new creation. The logic of Allen Ross’s ranging exposition across the flow of biblical history will challenge every reader and grace every church, regardless of tradition. Here is dazzling substance for recovery of robust worship of our sovereign and holy triune God. Sure to be a standard work." —R. KENT HUGHES, pastor, College Church in Wheaton



"This book deals expertly and thoroughly with worship in the Bible. What is most refreshing: it is not at all ideological. People of all persuasions will find it valuable as a reference work. It also gives us a large perspective on worship that is likely to moderate the current discussion." —JOHN M. FRAME, professor of systematic theology and philosophy, Reformed Theological Seminary



"Allen Ross takes his readers back to the Bible itself to paint a colorful picture of worship that is spiritually vibrant, theologically sound, and focused on Christ. His passion for worship that glorifies God and his thorough knowledge of Scripture are obvious throughout. For the western church, which needs desperately to recover its biblical and theological roots, this book will be an extremely helpful resource." —DANIEL I. BLOCK, professor of Old Testament, Wheaton College



About the Author
Allen P. Ross (Ph.D., University of Cambridge) is professor of divinity at Beeson Divinity School. Prior to this, he taught at Trinity Episcopal School of Ministry and Dallas Theological Seminary. His publications include Creation and Blessing: A Guide to the Study and Exposition of Genesis, Holiness to the Lord: A Guide to the Exposition of the Book of Leviticus, and An Introduction to Biblical Hebrew.

What is Your Worldview and what is It based On?

I have been fascinated as I have been on this journey with Jesus. Beginning that day when He reached out to me and rescued me from the mire and dust to see how many false things I believed about the world around me, mankinds nature and abilities and the spirit realm.

Dr, Ed Murphy speaks about the Biblical worldview in his book 'The Handbook for Spiritual Warfare. His book, which I highly recommend for its breadth and scope of topical coverage, is one of the most comprehensive books on the subject or Spiritual Warfare. Below is a link and some text from Thomas nelson the publisher. "The Handbook for Spiritual Warfare is the most thorough treatment available of biblical and theological foundations and practical concerns for spiritual warfare. Further revised and updated for the 21st century. http://www.thomasnelson.com/consumer/

The Book:
1. Equips leaders and mature believers
2. Comprehensive coverage of all 3 dimensions of spiritual conflict: the World, the Flesh, and the Devil. Endorsed by Frank Peretti, Dr. C. Peter Wagner, and others." http://www.thomasnelson.com/consumer/product_detail.asp?dept_id=11850&sku=0785250263&TopLevel_id=110000 I would not recommend this book for new believers but I do highly recommend the books below for all bel;ievers!

There is another book that opened my eyes to the area of Worldview many years ago and is still around, now in its 4th addition. James Sire's "The Universe Next Door" is a wonderful resource and should be mandatory reading for all Christians who interact with anyone who was not been raised in the Church. Sub titled 'A Basic Worldview Catalog' the reader of this book is treated to insights, such as how the Church's weakened Spiritual state led to the rise of false religions and a dependency on science as the underpinning of mankind’s belief systems. Below are some of the materials on the IVP web site. IVP is the publisher and I commend them for continuing to publish this excellent work.

About the Book:

When The Universe Next Door was first introduced nearly thirty years ago, it set the standard for a clear, readable introduction to worldviews. In concise, easily understood prose, James W. Sire explained the basics of theism, deism, naturalism, nihilism, existentialism, Eastern monism and the new consciousness.

The second edition was updated and expanded to include sections on Marxism and secular humanism, as well as a completely reworked chapter on what is now widely known as New Age philosophy rather than new consciousness. And the third edition offered further updating and revisions, including a thoroughly revised chapter on New Age philosophy and, perhaps most importantly, a new chapter on postmodernism.

Now the fourth edition refines the definition of worldview itself, incorporating Sire's thinking and teaching during the past decade. (His recent work is showcased in a new book, Naming the Elephant, also published by IVP.)

The Universe Next Door has been translated into several languages and has been used as a text at over one hundred colleges and universities in courses ranging from apologetics and world religions to history and English literature. With the publication of the fourth edition, this book will continue to aid students, teachers and anyone who wants to understand the variety of worldviews that compete with Christianity for the allegiance of our minds and hearts.

If you want to know more go to the IVP web site http://www.ivpress.com/cgi-ivpress/book.pl/code=2780

IVP Extra!
Available as an audio book from Hovel Audio.

Table of Contents & Book Excerpts »
Reviews & Endorsements »
Author Interview »
Features & Benefits

Table of ContentsPreface to the Fourth Edition

1. A World of Difference: Introduction

2. A Universe Charged with the Grandeur of God: Christian Theism

3. The Clockwork Universe: Deism

4. The Silence of Finite Space: Naturalism

5. Zero Point: Nihilism

6. Beyond Nihilism: Existentialism

7. Journey to the East: Eastern Pantheistic Monism

8. A Separate Universe: The New Age

9. The Vanished Horizon: Postmodernism
10. The Examined Life: ConclusionIndex

Features & Benefits
1. Introduces the Christian worldview and its major alternatives, both Eastern and Western
2. Explains and evaluates
3. Clear and nontechnical
4. New edition is revised and updated throughout
5.Incorporates refinement of the definition of a worldview
6. Over 250,000 copies in print in more than one dozen languages worldwide

Naming the Elephant: Worldview as a Concept

http://www.ivpress.com/cgi-ivpress/book.pl/code=2779

What is a worldview?
What lies behind your thoughts about almost everything?

For more than thirty years, James W. Sire has grappled with this issue. In this book he offers readers his most mature thought on the concept of a worldview, addressing such questions as
What is the history of the concept itself?
What is the first question you should ask in formulating a worldview?
How are worldviews formed existentially as well as intellectually?
Is a worldview primarily an intellectual system, a way of life or a story?
What are the public and private dimensions of a worldview?
What role can worldview thinking play in assessing your own worldview and those of others, especially in light of the pluralism in today's world?

In his widely used textbook The Universe Next Door, first published in 1976, Sire offered a succinct definition of a worldview and catalogued in summary fashion seven basic worldview alternatives. Students, critics, new literature and continued reflection have led him to reexamine and refine his definition of a worldview. This companion volume to The Universe Next Door is the fruit of that effort.

Here is an excellent resource for exploring more deeply how and why worldview thinking can aid you in navigating your pluralistic universe.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments

Preface

1. Camel, Kangaroo and Elephant

2. Worldview Definitions: From Dilthey to Naugle

3. First Things First: Being or Knowing

4. Flesh and Bones: Theoretical and Pretheoretical

5. Rational System, Way of Life and Master Story

6. Worldviews: Public and Private

7. Worldview: A Refined Definition

8. Intelligent People Who Clash by Day: Worldviews as a Tool for AnalysisIn

Understanding Matthew: The Early Christian Worldview of the First Gospel

This work, a companion volume to Westerholm's Understanding Paul provides an introduction to the early Christian worldview of the First Gospel. The study is neither a verse-by-verse commentary nor a narrowly focused academic monograph. It is an engaging reader's guide to Matthew's worldview and his story of Jesus' life, preaching, andcall to discipleship. Westerholm's goal, as he writes in the first chapter, is that readers might "begin to understand how Matthew made sense of things, and to see how it makes sense to make sense of things that way." His introductory chapter examines the idea of a worldview. He then considers the centralaspects of Matthew's worldviewIsrael's understanding of God, his dealings with the Jewish people, and Jesus' preaching about God's kingdom.

Go to the equippers network Blog for my article on the Role of Biblical Immersion in forming our workdview. http://equippersnetwork.blogspot.com

The Spirit Formed Life

In a world of three-day diets and game-show millionaires, we can easily lose sight of the importance of the spiritual disciplines the Lord has given us for victorious living in Christ. Jack Hayford invites readers to rediscover the power and the blessing that come from such disciplines as prayer and fasting, feeding on GodÕs Word, submission to His will, daily worship and experiencing the release of repentance and forgiveness. Pastor Jack examines and celebrates what it really means to be an effective disciple of Christ in modern times.

In a world with so much competing for our attention, it’s easy to neglect or lose sight of the importance of the spiritual disciplines the Lord has given us for victorious living in Christ. Pastor Jack Hayford shows new believers and mature Christians alike how to rediscover the power and blessings of such basic disciplines as prayer and fasting, daily worship, and the release of repentance and forgiveness. What Pastor Jack offers is an inspiring guide to the Spirit-Formed life – where God guides and we thrive!

The Fountain Head

There is no greater Resource than the Bible itself. It is the inspired, 'God breathed' communication of God to people. To gain true understanding of the Bible also known to believers as God's Word, the Bible itself tells us we must know the author Himself.

The Spirit of God or the Holy Spirit is the one who illuminates or reveals it's truth to us. Without the Holy Spirit the Bible is a 'Stumbling Block or Foolishness' to us.

There are many good resources which can help us understand the Bible, but they must never replace the Word of God as the source of truth and life itself for us who have recieved Jesus as our Lord and Savior.

Seven Practices of Effective Ministry

Discover seven simple ways to revitalize your ministry through the parable of Ray Martin, the founding pastor of Meadowland Community Church. Busyness, pressures, and programs have blurred his original vision. But a night at a most remarkable baseball game changes everything! Pastors and church leaders will welcome this refreshing approach to ministry. 240 pages, hardcover from Multnomah.

There’s no scoreboard in the sanctuary, and the only plate is probably for the offering. But every church leader needs to know how to win, and every congregation needs to know when to cheer. This insightful book speaks to every church leader who yearns for a simpler, more effective approach to ministry. An engaging parable about one overwhelmed pastor is followed by an overview of seven successful team practices, each one developed and applied in a ministry setting. Reinforced by relevant discussion questions, these clear, easy, and strategic practices can turn any ministry into a winning team.
http://northpointresources.com/book_detail.aspx?ISBN=15905237337


Seven Practices of Effective Ministry By: Andy Stanley, Lane Jones, Reggie
http://www.practicallyspeaking.org/

Practice #1 - Clarify The Win: Even the best team can't score if it can't find home plate. In this conversation we'll discuss the importance of clearly defining a win at every level of your organization.

Practice #2 - Think Steps Not Programs: Before you start anything, make sure it takes you where you want to go. In this conversation we'll discuss the importance of a clear ministry strategy.

Practice #3 - Narrow The Focus: The longer a ministry operates, the more complex it can become. In order to maintain a winning organization, we must continually face the challenge of narrowing its focus.

Practice #4 - Teach Less For More People are bombarded by thousands of messages every week. If the local church is going to be effective, it must cut through the noise. It must learn to say only what needs to be said to the people who need to hear it.

Practice #5 - Listen To Outsiders: Why don’t the unchurched people in your area go to church? Could it be because you’re focusing on who you’re trying to keep instead of who you’re trying to reach?

Practice #6 - Replace Yourself :We are all replaced eventually. The wisest leaders will extend their influence by finding and mentoring their replacements.

Practice #7 - Work On It: All of us work in ministry every day, but is that enough? Working on your ministry requires time to evaluate your work and to celebrate your wins.