More than challenging
356362
No one can get this printer set up. So I still have no printer, but I'm out a bunch of bucks.
861770
In all the book reviews I have written, this is by far the most difficult I have undertaken. And a good deal of the difficulty lies with the type of book Growing Deep is: a fictional work attempting to communicate very real truth. To put it another way, it is a non-fiction work written in a Christian format.

As you read through this book, one of the hardest things to keep in mind is that this is a work of fiction. Neither the church nor the people whom Gordon MacDonald writes about are real. They are composites of people and places that MacDonald has encountered during his years in the ministry. But that in no way affects the power and the effectiveness of this book.

And herein is to be found the weakness of the book. As far as fiction is concerned, the character development is extremely shallow and one dimensional. Everyone acts with dignity and respect and Christian graciousness, which is so seldom what is seen in real-life, even in (or perhaps I should say especially in) the church.

Yet, having said that, I can also say that the positives far outweigh the negatives. I have seldom read a book where I have been so challenged by the implications of the author's message. He lays out in very simple terms what could happen in a group of people if they simply begin to take seriously the commands of Christ, and begin to put into practice the implications of their faith.

Now, this is not a perfect book. There are places where the dialogue is too long, and seems artificial and forced. Probably it could have stood to be a bit shorter. But that does not keep the message of the book from sounding forth crystal clear. And for that I can designate this book as required reading for someone exploring how the church needs to be, and some practical insights as to how to get there.

I received this book from Thomas Nelson as part of their Booksneeze program. I was not required to write a positive review.
2302757
Do Hard Things: A Teenage Rebellion Against Low Expectations by Alex and Brett Harris is an inspiring and challenging book.  The premise of the book revolves around the idea that our culture has virtually no expectations for teenagers beyond the pursuit of pleasure.  While culture at large views adolescence as the time to revel in gratifying childish desires, Alex and Brett Harris counter that adolescence is  the very time when people should begin to put childishness behind them.  The Harris brothers argue that the teenage years are the perfect time to step up, to take challenges, to do mighty things for God's glory, and they back up their assertion with inspiring examples of teenagers who have done just that: taken a risk for God and watched as He has used them to make a difference in the world.

I loved this book.  Its message is timely and caused me to consider afresh what hard things I can do for God.  Part of the beauty of the message of this book is that Alex and Brett define "hard" not just as "huge," though hard things may be that for some people, but they also define "hard" as being disciplined in doing the right thing, such as practicing Godly disciplines in a consistent manner.  We all are called to do hard things for God, and, regardless of our ages, we need to step up and then watch God work.
1005360
This book challenges me in a great many ways. The authors don't just take a handful of scriptures and touch on current topics. They write a scholarly review based on well researched interpretations of various passages and draw some lines that may make a few people squirm.
Here are the subjects they tackle:
"Seeing the Biblical Narrative from Golgotha"
"Are we missing the whole Gospel?"
"Kings and Kingdoms"
"Making sense of social justice"
"Seeking Shalom" (understanding the "new heavens/new earth")
"Zealous for good works" - as a person and as a church
"The Great Commission" - what it means and why it matters.

At the end is a touch epilogue aptly entitled, "So you're thinking of starting a new kind of church?"

The tone and style here is not "conversational". It's deep and thorough. Even when the authors try to lighten the tone with a few flourishes of humor, it can sounds a bit out of context. The subject matter is quite serious. They way they expound upon the teachings while addressing multiple perspectives on those subjects is not light hearted.

I had my eyes opened to some teachings from my Pentecostal upbringing that were UNfounded in scripture entirely. That was not too surprising. But no matter how well explained, it's hard to hear someone tell you you've been misinformed in a huge way.
Having said that, there are several places where they say that the scripture COULD be interpreted THIS way or THAT way, but they lean to one side or the other. I find a flaw in this. I would have rather than they presented a couple of theories and leave it open for interpretation.

The issue of social justice was of great interest to me. But the conclusion they make is that it's "good" to do good works and help those in need, that when Jesus taught about feeding the poor and clothing the naked, that he was primarily saying it was to care for the members of the Body of Christ. While I agree that it MAY be our primary concern to care for our "brothers and sisters" even I can see that from the scriptures they site this is not necessarily the only interpretation. Especially considering how far Jesus stepped outside of his own circle, much to the shock of his disciples and followers. I am not sure that I agree with their final conclusion on this matter.

The book is thought provoking and challenging, but I felt the authors were a little too certain of their final answers. Aside from that, they don't come across as conceited or OVERLY certain, but pretty confident that they've found the final interpretation of scripture on these matters. I agree on some and disagree on others. But I still think it's worth the time to read it, even if it's only to understand some other perspectives on these issues.
953186
This wasn't at all what I was expecting, it was so much more. What a beautiful story and challenging too! Highly recommended for someone looking for a good read with a good message.
3274766
This is more than a book on relationships, it's a book on discipleship and how being a follower of Christ impacts your relationships. If you are looking for a how-to book filled with checklists and action steps, this is not your book. But if you want a book that will stretch you, challenge your thinking, and help you live out your faith in the daily context of your relationships, then this book is for you. I found many of the chapters to be helpful -- particularly the authors' descriptions of forgiveness (c. 9), encouragement (p. 112-116), and mercy (c. 12). The final chapter challenges the reader toward a kingdom ministry that steps into the messiness of the world around us, serving others as worship.

This is a book I recommend and will come back to again.
4970540
Inspiring and daunting all at the same time.
1370981
There is something to be said when people commit to seeking Gods face in a communal setting.  Bartons book addresses this idea as she walks the reader through twelve chapters of what it will take for a group to move from non-community to community, from non-discernment to discerning Gods direction together.  The key issue for leaders that Barton hits on again and again is the need to seek and ask God for wisdom and discernment.  There is a spiritual ingredient here, as the group gets more real and open with each other and as they together learn to discern Gods voice, amazing things can happen.  The author does not mince words here, as she also declares that we cannot discern and hear Gods voice and direction if we are not also doing this very same thing on an individual level.  Part of living in a covenant community as a leader, one must also press into seeking God on a personal level.  These two go hand in hand.  Leadership community and discernment are not just going to happen.  There must be commitment from the group to pursue God.  This book will challenge your individual times with God and build the bridge to do this effectively in a group context.  If you want to make a true heart commitment to join God in what He desires to do through you, then this book is a must read.  But, read with caution, as you will be challenged, convicted and changed.
1350774
Loved the challenge it presented! Thank you!
3760700
As an avid crossword fan, I found this book to be challenging. It's not that the answers were difficult, they were twisted to reveal a different way of thinking about the clues. Once it clicked, that "Aha" moment made the rest of the puzzle a smoother challenge.  My obstacles were sports and political clues.
433103
Russell Gibbs attempts an important but extraordinarily difficult challenge: pulling together spirituality, psychology, and modern science into a coherent whole aimed at helping readers live more meaningful, centered lives. He succeeds wonderfully. He handles complex ideas simply and gracefully so that first-time readers can grasp them and experienced readers can explore them in greater depth.  Like so many other reviewers, I found the quotations from a dazzling array of sources extraordinarily powerful  they richly illuminate the text. This is a book to read, and re-read, as your consciousness continues to open up to the wisdom it contains.
842908
I am not in youth ministry - perhaps only in a secondary capacity as a helper.  Yet this book showed me that as a Christian, I am challenged to be a bearer of the Christian life and presence of God to anyone I am in contact with - especially the young who are in the midst of vital growth that will rely on their keen discernment of what they see in the lives of other Christians.  The book provides a powerful examination of the Christian life that applies to more than just youth ministry - it is all encompassing and challenging in our roles as people who belong to God and are commissioned to bear him in our lives to others.
93946
This is a hard book to pin down, but worth the wrestle. First off, the title might be a bit misleading. It is not about business as much as about economics, government, and social systems. It's not, in short, a "business book" promising new ways to squeeze profits out of stones.
 The first half of the book is about organizational structure, from government to the economy to business to household, and how different structures cause these entities to prosper or fail. This is not "structure" as taught in business school (e.g., the military-styled "line and staff") but an analysis of structure at the archetypal level, based on geometric forms.
 OK. What does that mean? It means that organizations based on the square will be solid and well-grounded but resistant to change. Organizations based on the triangle will be hierarchical and unresponsive to the base. And organizations formed like a circle or a sphere will be (or can be) creative, fluid, and responsive to its constituents.

The book's exposition of linear versus circular thought, movement, and energy is well worth pondering and, as far as I know, unique. Because the shortest distance between two points is a straight line (considered in the abstract) we tend to think that the best (or even the "proper") way to achieve a goal is to charge at it head long. This is gospel in many of America's big corporations. And it's a fraudulent gospel. It has been my experience that successful managers and executives learn to conceal from higher management the way their staffs and departments actually work so as not to rock the ideological boat.
 Having been a creative director in large American advertising agencies for many years, I found myself cheering the authors' proposition that the way good things happen is much more likely to follow a circuitous path than the old one-foot-in-front-of-the-other lockstep. The circuitous path is also more difficult to describe and to understand--exactly in the same way that a tree is different from a two-by-four.
  This is a book that should be required reading for all those greedy CEOs and monster managers who plague this country, those parasites on the commonwealth. It won't happen but it's a beguiling idea.
  For the thoughtful reader there are gems to be found in the book's winding exposition. For instance, it's not by chance that our houses are rectilinear and  those of ancient native Americans--teepees and wigwams and igloos--are circular.
 It's a quirky kind of book but offering much-needed food for circular thought.
2646744
Kathy Keller's contribution to this discussion challenged me, and, I believe, will challenge people coming from various different perspectives as they address this issue exegetically and theologically. On a detailed note, I am not fully convinced that "teaching or exercising authority" is, in fact, an hendiadys, and much of her argument may hinge on this point. Nevertheless, there is something compelling about the direction in which she points, given all the evidence she presents. I believe I will continue to reflect on her perspective for some time to come, which alone makes this quick read well worth while. Furthermore, I found her treatment inspiring me to anticipate the promise that lies ahead for us in being Biblically faithful and getting these questions right so that the gifts of all God's people, male and female, may be deployed faithfully for his honor and glory.
1077383
This book gave me a lot to think about and is challenging me to step out of my comfort zone in ways I hadn't considered prior to reading this book.
1607969
Can be very challenging at times but I credit this book for pushing me to learn new songs I never thought possible.
3065750
Most of the research mentioned in this book is not new. But reading about it in a neatly organized way has a powerful effect that left me thinking. The author's personal journey makes it more interesting and approachable than a purely academic text.

This book doesn't promise to fix you, and it won't. It might offer some ideas, but the solutions are not simple, nor easy. The whole point of it is that self help is not enough. It's time we start helping each other.