7 Practices of Effective Ministry

When I purchased 7 Practices Of Effective Ministry I already knew the just of the book. Over a year ago I downloaded a series of pod-casts called Practically Speaking, which is an audible summary of this book. (I believe this pod-cast is no longer available.) I bought this book so I can pass it along to other church leaders. I would interested to hear what a business person would think about this book. The practices are very simply yet very profound. This practices are:
• Clarify the Win
• Think Steps, Not Programs
• Narrow the Focus
• Teach Less for More
• Listen to Outsiders
• Replace Yourself &
• Work On It
I’ll likely write about each of these practices in the future.

Sex God

I’ve been in and out of four books for the last month. Don’t ask me why. I guess I’m a A.D.D. reader. But I finally finished Sex God by Rob Bell. Though it took me a while to get through it, my delay had nothing to do with the quality of the book. This was a great book and a must read for Biblical teachers to youth, youth adults, and marriage counselors.

The book talks more about sexuality rather that sex which is a limited part of sexuality. I’ve already blogged an idea or two from one chapters but the over-all book is about seeing God in our sexuality. Some ideas that come to mind
• “This is actually That”…Sex is often about something else.
• Marriage is a picture of God’s relationship to us and…
• Like the young boy that risks the rejection from a young girl, God runs the risks of us rejecting him.

Like most of Bell’s writing, I am inspired to learn more about the Jewish hermeneutic of scripture instead of the Christian. I contacted “Doc” Reece, a former college professor of mine with a book recommendation for the Song of Songs. He recommended a book that will likely stretch me and the NIV’s translation. I look forward to see what it has to say.