Book Description
For decades the accepted wisdom has been that America's mainline Protestant churches are in decline, eclipsed by evangelical mega-churches. Church and religion expert Diana Butler Bass wondered if this was true, and this book is the result of her extensive, three-year study of centrist and progressive churches across the country. Her surprising findings reveal just the opposite—that many of the churches are flourishing, and they are doing so without resorting to mimicking the mega-church, evangelical style.
Christianity for the Rest of Us describes this phenomenon and offers a how-to approach for Protestants eager to remain faithful to their tradition while becoming a vital spiritual community. As Butler Bass delved into the rich spiritual life of various Episcopal, United Methodist, Disciples of Christ, Presbyterian, United Church of Christ, and Lutheran churches, certain consistent practices—such as hospitality, contemplation, diversity, justice, discernment, and worship—emerged as core expressions of congregations seeking to rediscover authentic Christian faith and witness today.
This hopeful book, which includes a study guide for groups and individuals, reveals the practical steps that leaders and laypeople alike are taking to proclaim an alternative message about an emerging Christianity that strives for greater spiritual depth and proactively engages the needs of the world.
Customer Reviews:
Christianity For The Rest of Us.......2007-09-18
This book had some intersting, informative points. However at times, it requires a supreme effort to continue reading in order to dig out the few nuggets the book offers; unless you also see the world through VERY liberal lenses.
A must read.......2007-08-06
Author did an excellant job on her research of mainline christianity and has a clear understanding of what individuals are looking for in the neighborhood church. The Author gives an insightful look at the ten signposts of healthy chruches. A good book for the membership of churches to read and study together.
Critique of Christianity for the Rest of Us.......2007-08-04
If there are made for TV movies this is a made for NPR book. (And I listen to NPR regularly. I recognize the genre.) Her anecdotes come from people who always laugh with a wry twist of self-deprecation or weep softly in joy over a newfound insight. I get the feeling she goes about her work with contrived naïve innocence. All of her characters are happy, well adjusted, mainline Christians in congregations that may have disagreements but never conflicts. And their spirituality is so above average. Apparently they never have to worry about declining budgets, loss of membership, and minister's health insurance and where to recruit Sunday School teachers. I genuinely wish we could have seen the congregational warts as well so that my real life pastors could draw some real life encouragement for transforming their real life congregations. My friends do not live in Pleasantville.
I wish I could say this book is worthwhile. Unfortunately it fails on very many levels. I wish I could use it in our pastor's development course. I cannot even put it on the suggested reading list, much less use it as a main source book.
The first problem is rather trivial. The subtitle for the book is How the Neighborhood Church is Transforming the Faith. That would be a wonderful study if indeed it is happening. But this is not a study of neighborhood churches. And many of these congregations are simply not transforming the faith. Many of them continue in their gradual decline toward closing the doors. If you are looking for book that will show you how to grow a neighborhood church, this book is not for you. Now on to the important issues.
The research behind this book is not a designed study by any academic or scientific standard. It is a collection of anecdotes from participants of carefully selected, perhaps cherry picked, congregations, assembled to support a particular predetermined premise. All the congregations shared an ethos and catalogue of best practices. Well and good. BB declares them therefore to be vital churches. However there is no investigation of other churches with similar ethos and best practices and whether or not they too are vital. That is to say, after reading the book, I have no idea whether or not implementing these ten sign post practices will turn around a declining congregation to spiritual and numeric growth. A similar subject was undertaken by Thom Rainer in Breakout Churches. Rainer sets criteria for health, identifies congregations that meet the criteria, and then studied their histories, ethos, and best practices. BB finds churches with a certain profile of ethos and best practices and declares them vital. The problem with this approach is that it becomes a celebration of her particular prejudices. And she has many prejudices.
During the course of the book she insults Roman Catholics, Pentecostals, and southern Christians in general.
"I heard quite a few stories from smart, well-educated - and clearly not Pentecostal - churchgoers about supernatural healings." P. 113.
" Memphis, Tennessee, conjures visions of southern religion. These two words, southern religion, evoke images of folks hootin' and hollerin' about God. Eternal damnation and hell. Sweating preachers thundering on about sex, drinking, and Democrats. Southern religion is all heart and fire, the blinding light of Jesus converting sinners to saints in a flash. This is what more reasonable Christians used to ridicule as "enthusiasm."
In Memphis, the Church of the Holy Communion, an Episcopal parish, stands in stark contrast to the fulminations of southern evangelical religion." P. 115.
Far and away the most frequent target of the vinegar is evangelicals generally and evangelical megachurches in particular.
"I immediately think of evangelical megachurches, with their huge congregations complete with doctrinal statements and Republican voting guides. Big yields, yes. But where is wisdom?" P. 147.
"Unlike in evangelical churches - where doctrinal uniformity is considered nonnegotiable - theological diversity shapes the daily life of most mainline churches." P. 146.
"Unlike conservative evangelicals who read the Bible literally, seeking out proof-texts for narrow moral or ethical readings of scripture, the Episcopalians at Redeemer approach the Bible "seriously, but not Literally." P. 188.
"However, there is still a rift in the ways that Christians view art. Some, usually those in evangelical churches, understand art instrumentally. Art is important because it proclaims a message, usually intended to convert people to the faith. ... Other Christian, however, engage art for the sake of mystery instead of a message." P. 213.
Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ, and its viewers receive special attention. "Unlike the evangelical Christians who flocked to the film, mainline Protestants more thoughtfully engaged The Passion in its theology and as a spiritual product." P. 230. Anyone who dared to view "The Passion of the Christ" incurs her judgment. She comes close to saying that anyone who went to see "The Passion of the Christ" is an anti-Semite and a consumerist, a willing participant in economic sin.
"That is, of course, what happened with The Passion of the Christ: the primary symbol of Christianity, the cross, was turned into a marketing event." P. 233.
She was unnecessarily insulting to several individuals and their readers. For example she belittled Forty Days of Purpose (twice) and Purpose Driven Church, although several of her congregations described implementing Purpose Driven action items. If these two resources are so counterproductive why have they had such an impact on the lives of so many individuals and congregations. BB spent a whole chapter on the practice of discernment. So what is wrong with asking the purpose of a life or of a congregation? She came close to insulting Billy Graham. One wonders why an author of her talent feels a need do insult people. It may be true that Purpose Driven, etc., are the basics. But she comes off as a university mathematics professor belittling an elementary school teacher for teaching arithmetic to first graders. What purpose does this serve?
People who have a perspective different from hers and dare to speak it with conviction are thundering partisans. See page 238 and the southern religion quote above for examples.
I am very concerned as well over the makeup of the study group. Of the ten primary congregations eight were all white, one was Latino, and one was multiethnic. The multiethnic congregation had three African American staff members, two of whom are sextons. Do the math. Is this a prejudice or a coincidence? I honestly do not know. But either way I cannot recommend this book to any of our African American pastors.
Butler Bass also seems to misunderstand the place of evangelicals in mainline churches. Generally speaking she does not acknowledge that there are very many evangelical mainline congregations and even more evangelicals in congregations that are not totally evangelical.
"The most troubling division comes from the tensions within the Presbyterian denomination between the church's traditionally more liberal theological constituency and its vocal evangelical minority." P. 146.
One need look only at the Evangelical Presbyterian Church and the upcoming exodus of evangelical congregations in the Presbyterian Church USA to see Butler Bass' misconception of mainline evangelicals. In one PCUSA presbytery 60% of the Sunday morning attendance was in Confessing Churches. Currently the PCUSA has entire presbyteries who wish to leave the denomination as a whole presbytery. The EPC is setting up a provisional presbytery to receive the congregations leaving the PC USA. Some projections estimate that the provisional presbytery will be as large or larger than the original EPC. Similar phenomena are occuring in the Episcopal Church, the Lutheran tradition, and the Methodist tradition. Indeed within a few years the PC USA will cease to be the majority Presbyterian voice in the United States given the current rate of change. That is to say there will be more Presbyterians who are not members of the PCUSA than those who are.
On page 2 BB writes, "Rather, I journeyed with a surprising group of contemporary pilgrims - those folks who gather in mainline Protestant congregations, communities that describe themselves as theologically centrist to liberal-progressive and are part of denominations that trace their lineage back to colonial America. I hung out with brand-name Christians - Methodists, Presbyterians, Lutherans, Congregationalists, and Episcopalians, ..." Does BB mean that only centrist to liberal-progressive Christians are mainline? What about centrist to evangelical, those just right of center but still in the center? What about those who are just plain centrist, for whom the evangelical/progressive divide is irrelevant. In the Presbyterian Church, USA I know many a minister who is just plain Presbyterian. Are they not mainline because they do not at least lean towards the progressive side?
On the other hand if mainline is defined as tracing their lineage back to colonial America, and centrist to progressive is a subset of mainline, why exclude the other subsets? One cannot read Presbyterian history in North America without seeing that there has always been tension in our antecedent denominations over this very issue. We have had Old School/New School, Old Light/New Light, Modernist/Fundamentalist, Liberal/Conservative, and now finally evangelical/progressive controversies. What is important to note about these controversies is that despite the formation of some splinter groups the majority of both sides remained in the denomination. Both sides remained mainline. In our current context there will be some splintering, with many congregations leaving the PCUSA and moving to the EPC. There remain many evangelicals who wish to remain in the PCUSA and to work through the difficulties. The Constitutional Presbyterians is such a group. And while many New Wineskins congregations will go to the EPC, many other NWAC congregations will remain in the denomination. Why then exclude such a large and healthy, and historically significant cohort, from the study? If this is progressive inclusiveness we need a different inclusiveness.
BB never addresses the fundamental question regarding mainline churches. Until the 70's American culture required church attendance. To be a good American one also had to be a churchgoer, if not a genuine Christian. Protestant was preferred over Catholic and Orthodox was a genuine peculiarity. Mainline denomination (meaning successor to a northwestern European tradition) was culturally more desirable than Southern Baptist or Pentecostal. Little League was never scheduled on Sunday morning. Mainline churches did not have to go out into the highways and byways and compel them to come in. We relied on our culture to do that for us. That has changed. Now our culture is not only not supportive of Christianity it is at best suspicious of and at times hostile to Christianity. Which means that for the churches to thrive they have to go to the world and interrupt people's lives with the Gospel. Her list of best practices is quite good. But it is not the main issue. If the congregations do not create their own new participants they will all die. Of all the personal anecdotes I read I was struck by how many quotes were from people who had been churched as children. I counted only two people who were adult converts, and one of those came to Christ through an evangelical Bible study, then moved on to one of the cohort congregations. BB rails against evangelicals. But were it not for an evangelical Bible study this young woman would not have become Christian. The study church certainly was not doing any evangelism. And this is the biggest problem with BB's book. It is all about baby boomers who were churched as children, left the church, and now are back. The issue we face now is how to reach people who were never churched. Yes, by all means, the depth discipleship described in the ten signposts is great. But it is almost, though not completely, inner focused. Even the testimony section is not about bearing witness to Christ to non-Christians. She has changed it to bearing testimony within the congregation for the benefit of the congregation.
The result of this Boomer propensity for navel gazing is a steep decline in worship attendance across the board. I had hoped that this book would help us see ways in which mainline congregations can address this very issue. Unfortunately this is not the case. Of the four Presbyterian congregations in her cohort three were stagnant or in decline. I say this not to pick on Presbyterians. Rather they are the easiest to get data from. So the long term question remains. If I am not replacing my losses in participation how will this congregation's ministry continue? If our ministry is good, but dies, who will take over the needed ministry? Who will host the tent cities?
Butler Bass' real issue is how can a liberal/progressive church survive, and maybe possibly grow numerically as an unanticipated but welcome side effect. If you think that the answer lies along the axis of "it is possible to have our old, traditional worship with a hymnbook and an organ prelude, with a cerebral Enlightenment/Modernist confessional approach to faith," you will be sorely disappointed. The congregations she studied have abandoned those things for the most part. Her ten signposts are all things that were not practiced in mainline Protestant congregations in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries in North America, as she very ably demonstrates. Her answer instead is that to survive as a mainline Protestant congregation you have to start doing the very things that her mainline village church never did. That is to say, to survive as a mainline congregation one must stop being traditionally mainline, or change one's definition of mainline, both of which violate her premise.
On p. 174 BB describes a "mainline" church that is not at all traditional mainline. "Combining elements of jazz, performance art, film clips and video, multimedia reflection, live-camera feed, testimony, readings, silence, contemplative prayer, and journaling, they christened this service The Studio." How is this traditional mainline? Simply because they still put Congregationalist on the marquis? BB never addresses this question. The congregations she describes are no longer "mainline" in practice, only in name and judicatory membership. That is exactly the issue.
Her study congregations are post-modern experientialists who are PC USA or UMC or UCC or Episcopal or Lutheran in name only. This is not necessarily a bad thing. But let's be honest about it. The Presbyterian, Methodist, and Lutheran ministers of the study congregations may be able to describe Reformed, Wesleyan, and Lutheran theology respectively. But she gives no evidence that the members understand or even care about it. And of course, denominational identity was a hallmark of mainline Protestantism. The congregations she worked with are not traditional mainline churches any more. The answer she arrives at is exactly the same answer the "evangelicals" arrived at. Traditional mainline Protestantism, based on northwestern European culture beginning in the early Sixteenth Century and founded on Enlightenment rationalism, no longer is a viable model for Church in post-modern North America.
Butler Bass spent many years as an evangelical, and an eloquent one. She has left that behind and moved into the progressive fold. Well and good. But in leaving the evangelical fold she feels the need to castigate her former colleagues. Martin Luther ultimately affirmed, "I am not!" Perhaps this book is her "I am not" to her evangelical sisters and brothers. I hope that as her service to the church continues the evangelical stage will be her thesis, the progressive phase will be her antithesis, and that she will find somewhere and somehow the peace of a synthesis.
I still have hope. Tonight I start reading Dr. Butler Bass' The Practicing Church.
Christianity for the Rest of Us: How the Neighborhood Church is Transforming the Faith.......2007-08-04
Ms Bass is a wonderful writer that makes this topic easy to read and understand and she gives such insight that it triggers great discussions.
A book to give us confidence.......2007-07-09
Diana Butler Bass writes with a style that pulls the reader in. She is clearly a religious realist. Her categorization approach is useful to others, even those who do not have the technical tools to examine their churches formally. If one is honest, one can look at the hospitality (for example) in one's own church and see if it is an effective area of ministry. Looking through these categories allows a problem-oriented approach to be adopted. It may be a little more difficult to build on strengths, but that is because of our enculturation, and not because of this book! I thoroughly enjoyed this book, have recommended it to our pastor, and will read it again to pick up things I may have missed the first time. I came away from this book saying, "We can do these things, and we can grow!"
Book Description
The national bestseller that defines a new economic class and shows how it is key to the future of our cities.
The Washington Monthly 2002 Annual Political Book Award Winner
The Rise of the Creative Class gives us a provocative new way to think about why we live as we do today-and where we might be headed. Weaving storytelling with masses of new and updated research, Richard Florida traces the fundamental theme that runs through a host of seemingly unrelated changes in American society: the growing role of creativity in our economy.
Just as William Whyte's 1956 classic The Organization Man showed how the organizational ethos of that age permeated every aspect of life, Florida describes a society in which the creative ethos is increasingly dominant. Millions of us are beginning to work and live much as creative types like artists and scientists always have-with the result that our values and tastes, our personal relationships, our choices of where to live, and even our sense and use of time are changing. Leading the shift are the nearly 38 million Americans in many diverse fields who create for a living--the Creative Class.
The Rise of the Creative Class chronicles the ongoing sea of change in people's choices and attitudes, and shows not only what's happening but also how it stems from a fundamental economic change. The Creative Class now comprises more than thirty percent of the entire workforce. Their choices have already had a huge economic impact. In the future they will determine how the workplace is organized, what companies will prosper or go bankrupt, and even which cities will thrive or wither.
Customer Reviews:
The signs have been posted........2007-08-10
This is a warning that while Europe is too liberal the U.S. is too conservative. The path to success is some where in the middle. We shouls stop being reactive and start being proactive.
Hopeful rise needs a libertarian push.......2007-04-11
"If America continues to make it harder for some of the world's most talented students and workers to come here, they'll go to other countries eager to tap into their creative capabilities--as will American citizens fed up with what they view as an increasingly repressive environment."
-- Dr. Richard Florida, The Flight of the Creative Class
From this quote from his second Creatve book you can see immediately the sort of society Dr. Florida wants. Me, too. What's puzzling is he doesn't explicitly attach his shiny new cart of creativity to the thoroughbred of peace and political liberty.
In particular, you'd expect him to lambaste the Neocon Usurpers for launching expensive wars for isolated benefit of the Carlyle Group. Is he pulling his punches so Rush Bimbaugh won't accuse him of Bush-bashing? In general, why doesn't Florida boldly oppose the bonecrushing machinery of government per se?
That's my 900-pound-gorilla reservation about The Creative books. Otherwise, they provide a nice boost to the kinds of people we want to cultivate in society... or even want to be.
It appears many in public office, more semi-comatose Democrats than fully rabid Republicans, are interested in developing and retaining creative communities.
But are they willing to do what it takes?
The more political power they wield the less willing they are.
Rise shows that what Dr. Florida calls the three Ts of creative-class communities--Talent, Technology, and Tolerance--occur rarely. And when they do, it's more from the tolerance angle.
Austin, San Francisco, Seattle, Burlington (VT), Boston, the highest American cities on the creative-class list, achieve their vaunted status by spontaneous order. When governments catch up to what's going on and want to push people around, it's too late.
Tolerance is also another word for freedom. We can easily argue that liberty is fundamentally what the creative havenots have not. Talent and technology gravitate toward communities naturally when political leaders see their mission as preserving a natural order based on civil liberties.
They accomplish that mission mainly by removing government obstacles and keeping the infrastructure efficient.
Government never furthered any enterprise but by the alacrity with which it got out of its way. -- Thoreau
Libertarians need no writer from the halls of the Carnegie Mellon Institute to tell us this dear Hamlet. But it's nice that in Rise Dr. Florida makes such a good statistical case for what creativity is, where it lives, and how we can nurture it. He also makes us aware that we, too, are paid-up members of the CC.
...
For my complete review of this book and for other book and movie
reviews, please visit my site [...]
Brian Wright
Copyright 2007
Phenomenal!.......2007-01-25
Phenomenal! I heard a lot of talk about this book and thought it was all about arts and culture. After 10 pages I realized it had nothing to do with arts and culture and everything to do with fundamental shifts in our society and economy and how it is impacting our communities. Very insightful and thoughtful.
The Rise of the Creative Class.......2007-01-16
Reads like a professor's text. A very interesting concept (I heard the author speak on a TV show which is why I bought the book) but the book is loaded with statistics and how he came up with his hypothesis and is a drag to read. My book club read it on my advice and very few bothered to finish it. I made myself finish it and even though I bought the second book, it lays on my self unread.
Lots of data, not much focus.......2006-11-27
The key concept of this book is the existence of a new Creative Class. Richard throws into the Creative Class almost everybody and groups them in two categories: the Super Creative Core and the "creative professionals". These two groups include: scientists, professors, poets, novelists, artists, entertainers, actors, designers, architects, non-fiction writers, editors, cultural figures, researchers, analysts, programmers, engineers, filmmakers, financial services, legal and health care professionals, business management and the list goes on. The problem is that the definition of this class is so loose. Even Richard admits that the definition is not really clear, but he goes on discarding the importance of rigour. A class must have political alignment as an expression of a common ground in the way wealth is created and distributed. It should be reflected in the way people vote; otherwise the class does not make sense. It is difficult to convince anyone that you can put these people in the same class: engineers and artists, accountants and actors.
The book uses shocking statistics and quotes and then follows through with flashy language to wrap up a nicely packaged chapter. The problem is that the book has enough time to loose the reader after seemingly never ending debates. This book has so much information and so little structure. All those tables are useless because they do not support a coherent system of principles or story. The writing is difficult to read and very repetitive. After the first fifty pages the same arguments are being rotated again and again: creativity is important, the time of agriculture has passed, the heavy industry is not important for global leadership, there is tension between individual freedom and corporation rigidity, etc.
In describing the new class, Richard Florida observes that "Fewer than one-quarter of all Americans (23.5 percent) accounted for by the 2000 Census lived in a 'conventional' nuclear family, down from 45 percent in 1960. This is social group is mentioned many times in the book. By contrast, the family social group is almost completely ignored. I have the impression that this is actually the creative class and all these indexes (Bohemian, Single, Gay, etc) match quite well the group's dynamics.
I gave this book a two stars rating purely on style and clarity and overall coherence of the book. I think that regardless of the political affiliation, the reader will have genuine difficulty in following the book from the beginning to the end. For instance, in discussing the transformations of every day life, in a polemic with other authors Richard says:
"Juxtaposed to this view are those who believe technology and unbridled market forces are making us work harder and faster, leaving us less time to enjoy each other and out interests, destroying human connections and damaging our neighbourhoods and communities. If the techno-utopians romanticize the future, these techno pessimists glorify the past. Unfettered hypercapitalism is leading to the end of work and the demise of high paying, secure jobs, according to social critics like Jeremy Rifkin. Worse yet, the elimination of such jobs destroy an important source of social stability, argues Richard Sennett, casting people adrift, corroding our collective character and damaging the very fibre of society. The workplace is evolving into an increasingly stressful and dehumanizing "white-collar sweatshop" in Fill Fraser's view, beset by long hours and chronic overwork. In the eyes of cultural critic Tom Frank, business has become an all-powerful and hegemonic cultural force, as entities like MTV and The Gap turn alternative-culture symbols into money making devices. Neighbourhoods, cities and society as a whole are losing the strong sense of community and civic-minded spirit that were the source of our prosperity, argues Robert Putnam. In his nostalgia for a bygone era of VFW halls, bowling leagues, Cub Scout troops and Little League, Putnam contends that the demise of these repositories of `social capital' is the source of virtually all of our woes..."
If you were able to read the text above without losing your concentration and you remembered what started it, then you might be able to read the book and even like it. Otherwise you will probably find that after you read page after page you realise your thoughts were wondering somewhere else. You come back, re-read those pages, only to find you lost your thoughts again.
Book Description
Wal-Mart isn't just the world's biggest company, it is probably the world's most written-about. But no book until this one has managed to penetrate its wall of silence or go beyond the usual polemics to analyze its actual effects on its customers, workers, and suppliers. Drawing on unprecedented interviews with former Wal-Mart executives and a wealth of staggering data (e.g., Americans spend $36 million an hour at Wal-Mart stores, and in 2004 its growth alone was bigger than the total revenue of 469 of the Fortune 500), The Wal-Mart Effect is an intimate look at a business that is dramatically reshaping our lives.
Customer Reviews:
Good cover of the topic.......2007-10-06
Provides a good coverage of a subject which is not obvious to the naked eye. May attenuate your shopping habits and the way you define a good deal. A must read for americans
Impact beyond price.......2007-09-24
Having spent the past 18 months researching and writing on the negative impact on the economy of poor customer service, go to ACSI research at University of Michigan School of Business, I have found that Wal-Mart's fanitical focus on price, and consumers that focus only on price are having a very negative impact on our country and society. Of all of the books I have read on Wal-Mart, Fishman presents the most detailed factual and insightful information on which to base an opinion on the impact Wal-Mart has made on our communities.
Balanced & Comprehenisve .......2007-09-17
Like many, I begrudgingly shop at Wal-Mart familiar with the arguments of it's negative impact on locally owned business's, and it's poor wages and benefits--------trying in vain to strike a balance between social responsibility and self-interest. It's always struck me as large version of the beloved "five and dime" where I bought my baseball cards growing up. I marvel at the low prices, and the sheer variety of merchandise. Fishman has permanently purged me of the that nostalgia. His backstory on Wal-Mart is utterly convincing in it's pernicious effect on our economy. He ably tells the story of Wal-Mart's rise with it's hyperfocus on pricing. But he's after something bigger here, and that's corporate secrecy. Like many large corporations, Wal-Mart is a closed and secret society. Consumers are robbed of the information that would assist them in identifying the true cost of consumption. Fishman is saying that the rise of the mega-corporation, with their ability to dominate a whole sector of the economy, is both anti-free market and anti-consumer. Though vague, he argues that we must consider stronger governance and regulation. This is where his book left me wanting. I wanted to know what exactly that would look like. That said, this is a well-researched, balanced and important book for our times.
Costs of everyday low prices.......2007-09-16
Wal-Mart's obsessive focus on a single core value - delivering low prices - created the largest and most powerful company in history. Employing over 1.6 million people, Wal-Mart is so large that it can often defy the laws of supply, demand and competition. However, the same core values are also responsible for low wages, enormous pressure on suppliers, cheap quality and continuous off-shoring. Charles Fishman provides an insightful look at the growth and the careful balancing act that Wal-Mart has engaged in most recently: trying to find profit while moving beyond the simple slogan of `everyday low prices'. Given the scarce resources available on the company, `Wal-Mart Effect' offers a great overview of the largest corporation to date.
Wal-Mart---Made in China.......2007-09-02
An excellent book on the behind scenes of what shopping at Wal-Mart means to America and the world. Wal-Mart has sold out its fellow Americans for pure greed on its own behalf. Thousands of jobs lost to over-seas countries to cut costs and to bully the suppliers into submission. Everyone should think twice before shopping at Wal-Mart. A good DVD on this subject, "Is Wal-Mart Good For America"? by PBS Frontline.
Book Description
*Combines two popular topics--assemblage and found objects
*Pairs gorgeous photography with a creative design to help it jump off shelves
*Features an artistic style that's proven popular with countless magazine readers and workshop students
Secrets of Rusty Things takes readers behind the scenes to show them each step in the assemblage art process. It covers everything from gathering found-object materials to putting them together in a way that tells a meaningful story--all presented in the author's warm and humorous writing style. This book provides the perfect challenge for collage enthusiasts or anyone looking for a new way to express his or her creativity!
Customer Reviews:
in the artist mind.......2007-09-09
This book is not a how-to-do book. This book is great to enter into the mind of the artist while he is creating a piece. i really recommand it to the ones who like Michael Demeng art. the book also have lots of pictures of the pieces during the creative process.
Disappointed.......2007-08-31
This book was not at all what I expected it to be. I have been doing
art for quite a few years,and thought I would understand how to reproduce
art like this, but still find the pictures very distracting.
There is just too much going on, and if you look closely at each page,
it becomes too confusing.I enjoy assemblage, but this is not to my taste.
Who are you? Find Out in this Book!.......2007-08-26
As a child, I spent many hours reading fairy tales and myths. The myths I read and studied were ancient. I loved them and they came from all over the world. I related to each one of them intuitively. I couldn't help it! Many readers, like me, begin as children, loving myths.
Possibly you agree that the human condition, our joys, trials, everything, is distilled myth, be it Inuit, Hindu, Greek.
Myths can seem grand and off-putting. However, when you pair them with the writing of the often humorous, occasionally mystical (I am thinking of his walk in the woods where he found some stove pieces, way away from any house, and wrote a lovely and visually elegant vignette about it) and frequently charming style of assemblage artist/teacher Michael de Meng, they are lively, full of energy and fun to view as potential subjects for artworks!
Read this book and you are reading two books side by side: de Meng recounts the myth he is concerned with, then begins to discuss the process he goes through when he creates an art piece representing that myth. Simultaneously, he comments in journalling script form on the side of each page about what is going on in his real life with a different sort of emotional immediacy, as he is making the art piece, or recalling something to do with it.
Both segments of the book intersect and cross over in certain ways...but the main segment essentially deals with the original myth and his work on creating the piece he makes inspired by it, using bathroom scales he alters, or funky "Brady Bunch '70's clocks", the insides of irons, and things he likes. You read a vaiety of discussions and tales of the processes he goes through in order to do create his art pieces.
The notebook part basically discusses life stories: where he was when he found something, how he was feeling, why it was great.
What is super unique and good about this book?
Without being "grand" about it, Michael de Meng explains that artists are the people who climb to the top of the pyramid...who get that chance to look all around with that "all seeing eye" (he mentions eyes quite a bit and uses them in his work frequently), and then, when inspired, they climb back down to earth and, without being frightened by being judged, express themselves through creating.
Some readers have commented that the photography is too dark in this book. I disagree. This is a mysterious book and the photography is perfect for it. It is extremely cool.
I don't want to be Mr. de Meng, however, if I lived near him, I would certinly take a class from him, because I believe he really has a lot to offer, and he offers up his heart and soul, in an incandescent manner, in this remarkable, fascinating book.
If I were teaching a class on found objects and altered art, I would insist that this book, The Secret of Rusty Things, by Michael de Meng, be on the reading list. It is illuminating.
Deception.......2007-08-25
I didn't see anything that was beautiful or that was worthy of my comments. I found it horrible. I don't know the artist. I haven't seen other of his work. I was about to return it, because I found it horrible and a real deception. I cannot get anything from it. Gloria
Fascinating artist, disappointing book.......2007-08-22
The title of this book seems to promise instruction on transforming found objects into art, but as the other reviews here have pointed out, there are no projects and no instructions, just the artist writing about his work. This is one of a few books I have purchased lately with high hopes which don't contain instructions or technical information, but instead are full of the artist's ruminations and thought processes, which I often find banal and slightly self-congratulatory. It is definitely more work to write a book which actually contains instructions and well-thought-out projects from which readers can learn the techniques and then take off in their own direction, and I think that is why there have been quite a few of these stream-of-consciousness books lately - they provide tasty illustrations and aren't much work to write. I have admired Michael Demeng's work for a long time, and I'm dying to take a workshop with him. But since in his classes he teaches very specific projects step-by-step, I was frustrated that he didn't share any of these in his book.
Book Description
You start a conversation with someone you manage, a conversation about a project that could be going better. You want to improve their performance and think you know what they should do. You estimate the conversation should only take a few minutes, yet somehow 45 minutes later you're still going around in circles. Sound familiar?
Unfortunately, improving human performance involves one of the hardest challenges in the known universe: changing the way people think. In constant demand as a coach, speaker, and consultant to companies around the world, David Rock has proven the secret to leading people (and living and working with them) is found in the space between our ears. "If people are being paid to think," he writes, "isn't it time the business world found out what the thing doing the work, the brain, is all about?"
Supported by the latest groundbreaking research, Quiet Leadership provides, for the first time, a brain-based approach that will help busy leaders, executives, and managers improve their own and their colleagues' performance.
Quiet Leadership is for the CEO who wants to be more effective at inspiring his or her leadership team, but has just a few minutes each week to speak to them. It's for the executive who'd like to get a manager to plan more effectively, but can't seem to work out how. It's for the manager who wants to inspire the sales team, but isn't sure how to do it. It's for the human resources professional who is ready to take on changing the culture of a whole organization. It's for the parent or caregiver who wants to reach new levels of communication and understanding with their family members.
Quiet leaders are masters at bringing out the best performance in others. They improve the thinking of people around them—literally improving the way their brains process information—without telling anyone what to do. Given how many people in today's companies are being paid to think and analyze, improving our thinking is one of the fastest ways to improve performance.
Quiet Leadership offers a practical, six-step guide to making permanent workplace performance change by unleashing higher productivity, new levels of morale, and greater job satisfaction. Above all, Quiet Leadership will give you the clarity and strength that comes from mastering and using powerful insights that teach you to perform and succeed, at the highest level.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent Leadership Book.......2007-07-08
Quiet Leadership provides guidance for leaders who have busy schedules but still want to be able to provide valuable, effective guidance to their staff in an efficient manner. Many times, we don't teach people how to work out problems and how to think outside of the box, this book gives leaders and managers guidance on how to change their behavior to accomplish this task in an easy, non- threatening manner that is efficient an effective.
The book is designed to assist people who have busy schedules, but still want to provide effective, high quality feedback and professional development for employees. The techniques are based on research on how the brain functions and how to make the changes become permanent.
I found that the brain-based research helped me to understand why these strategies help leaders change their staff's behavior through listening, talking through an issue, allowing the staff member to come up with a solution that works and finally through following up with the staff member and ensuring accountability. This book is an excellent resource for people who have personalities that are fairly laid back and wants encourage others to attain their full potential.
I liked the fact that the author advises the leader to stop giving advice, rather ask questions and listen to the other person to truly understand the issue and work collaboratively to come up with a solution that will work. In addition, the book explains how to do all of this in a non-threatening manner that encourages collaboration in the workplace.
The book is designed to read over a long period of time and the author expects that the reader works to include the activities into their daily life to embed new habits into the reader's behavior patterns. The activities are very valuable and eye-opening to do. The principles in the book are even more effective for busy people because the author teaches you how to effectively provide guidance and leadership in very shirt periods of time, no more than 30 minutes per session.
I liked the fact that the author addressed issues relating to students and working in groups. I am a teacher and also manage a staff for after school programs. The book goes into some detail about how to use these principles when working with unique groups which is a very helpful thing.
The Leading Edge of Leadership.......2007-01-25
Quiet Leadership is the best book I have read for tying the most recent advances in neuroscience to leadership behaviors, particularly coaching. Having worked with leadership and coaching for a long time, and just recently starting working with neuroscience, I am personally thrilled to see all of these tied together. I strongly believe that the use of neuroscience in all aspects of business will grow rapidly, so this is a very timely contribution. It is worth reading just for the first sections.
However, the coaching methodology of the Six Steps is too complex for me -- too many steps and substeps. These sections still have some value, particularly the ties to neuroscience, but I would recommend skimming those sections.
Thought Leadership.......2007-01-09
As a professional project manager, the ideas in this book strike a real chord. So many books on leadership spend their time cataloging the attributes and behaviours of good leaders, but offer no advice as to how to implement for ourselves a leadership style that is authentic and appropriate. To anyone who has to manage people in a day to day, pressured environment the advice in this book is very welcome. In particular the emphasis on allowing people to work things out for themselves makes a lot of sense, as well as the focus on insight as the energising mechanism. The information on neuro-science is a bit of a distraction: it may or may not be true, and so runs the risk of detracting from some simple and profound messages. Even just to consider that everyone is thinking differently and therefore having a different experience is, on reflection, self evident, and doesn't need experimental validation. As Einstein explained, the real breakthrough comes from the insight, the experimental validation may never come. There is plenty in this book to help those who would like a bit of help, and, apparently, really annoy those who don't.
Gimmick, not a revolution.......2006-11-30
To summarize, instead of the promised revolutionary concept the author delivers a promotion for his latest gimmick. After reading the "meat" of the book, a business-savvy reader can almost "taste" the author's vision: dozens of slick consultants from David's own Results Coaching Systems, Inc. "helping" innovative executives to transform their organizations. While the scholastic value of this book is minimal, it does raise the reader's awareness of the new research correlating human brain activity with job performance and motivation. I just wish someone with less business interests and better academic credentials has written about the topic.
Had promise, but..........2006-09-02
Quiet Leadership - David Rock
I bought this book encouraged by some of the positive reviews it received, and by the promise of the title, Quiet Leadership. I have long felt that effective leadership can be accomplished in "quiet", humble, and non-demonstrative ways and I was looking forward to the author's insights and contributions toward this leadership approach. This book disappointed me.
Mr. Rock presents his leadership development approach as six steps. Well enough. But when you actually read through chapters describing the six steps, you soon realize that his approach is more like twenty or so steps as each basic step is further broken down into sub-steps and in some cases, "models". A powerful aspect of good books on leadership is to present ideas, even if they are already well-known principles, in a simple and/or motivating manner. This book does not do this. Mr. Rock's approach is tedious and unnecessarily complex, and I found it hard to maintain my focus while reading the individual chapters.
Mr. Rock supports his approach by findings in neuroscience. This impressed me as superfluous. For, example, I think most astute, aware individuals understand that people bring different experiences and points of view to a situation. Now, from reading Mr. Rock, I understand that is because people have different and unique neural "maps". Ok, what's special about the neuroscience's insight here? Neuroscience is undoubtedly a complex field and most likely still has a long way to go before we understand everything there is to know about the workings of the brain. The assuredness and precision of Mr Rock's "findings" just don't seem appropriate to this kind of science as applied to leadership.
I gave the book an overall, 3 rating for some good material on effective conversational styles captured in the chapters entitled, Speak with Intent, and Dance Toward Insight (two of the six steps). I could not be more generous with my rating because of the overall complexity and the less than compelling presentation of the author's insights.
Customer Reviews:
Must reading.........2007-10-06
This is 'must reading' for any serious student of 'mission' and/or Missiology. No other text I am familiar with, so thoroughly considers the paradigms that have affected and drive 'mission' over the centuries.
Great book, heavy reading!.......2007-05-15
If you want to know a comprehensive overview of the history of mission it is a great book. The only thing I didn't like were the endless references noted in the body of the text, it was too distracting for me.
An in-depth, scholarly analysis of missionary paradigms.......2002-12-07
Transforming Mission is a scholarly, in-depth study of major missionary paradigms from the first century until the present. Bosch's point of departure is that the Christian faith is "intrinsically missionary." He distinguishes between the missio Dei - God's own involvement in the world, and Missions - the church's missionary activity. He believes that to carry out God's mission the church can neither focus its activity exclusively on saving souls nor on this-worldly human progress -it must do both.
He first surveys the New Testament model of mission, claiming that the advent of Jesus of Nazareth marked a significant change in the concept of mission as understood in the Old Testament. Jesus' ministry was characterized by inclusiveness and breaking down barriers between people. His goal was directed toward all Israel rather than only the remnant of the faithful. Bosch makes the point that one of the most well-known missionary texts, the Great Commission, cannot be divorced from the rest of Matthew's gospel. He believes that Matthew envisions a mission to both Jews and Gentiles and that this mission is characterized by discipleship and a call to challenge social injustice. Luke's understanding of mission highlights repentance and forgiveness of sins as well as economic justice and peace-making. Paul's understanding of mission focuses on the church as an eschatalogical community which is works for the improvement of society while awaiting the ultimate renewal of all things with the parousia.
In the second part of his analysis Bosch draws upon the work of Hans Kung and Thomas Kuhn. Kung identified six periods within the entire scope of Christian history during which a particular paradigm was prevalent: 1) The apocalyptic paradigm of primitive Christianity, 2) The Hellenistic paradigm of the patristic period, 3) The medieval Roman Catholic paradigm, 4) The Protestant Reformation paradigm, 5) The modern Enlightenment paradigm, and 6) The emerging ecumenical paradigm. Bosch makes a theological application of Thomas Kuhn's theory of scientific paradigm shifts, claiming that the six historical periods in the history of the church were each characterized by a particular theological paradigm. He points out that theological paradigms, unlike their scientific counterparts, do not make a complete break with old ideas. Sometimes elements from older paradigms are incorporated into new ones. Old and new paradigms can often exist simultateously among different groups of believers. Occasionally an old paradigm is rediscovered by a later generation.
At the conclusion of his survey of historical paradigms, Bosch emphasizes that mission is ultimately multidimensional. The contours of these many dimensions are shaped by six major "salvific events" chronicled in the New Testament: Christ's incarnation, by which he fully experienced the challenges and struggles of being human; his crucifixion, which signifies the completeness of his service and self-sacrifice; the resurrection, which conveys a message of victory and hope for humanity; the ascension, which calls Christians to work for a new order here on the earth which issues from above; Pentecost, which inaugurated the era of the church as a distinct community where social renewal is made manifest; and the parousia, which sets the sights of the church on the imminent and full realization of God's reign.
The depth and comprehensiveness of Bosch's work make it an important resource for any serious student of Christian missions. His many years of service on the field as a missionary coupled with his extensive theological training have given him many valuable insights into his subject matter.
A penetrating study of the paradigm shifts of missions........1999-04-04
Transforming missions is a scholarly work of importance for all scientists occupied with cross cultural encounters and matters of religion. The author, David Bosch, is one of several missologists who willingly share his rich and well documented work with other disciplines.
The book is well researched and the author is able to communicate complicated theological matters in a most convincing way. The book is readable and accessible to a long range of intrested persons and not merely to experts or specialists.
From a scholarly point of view Bosch provides the researcher with an analysis that gives a good framework for further research on the matter of missiology and historical cross cultural encounters. However, I miss references and analysis that can be more easily related to central social science authors like Giddens and Habermas and modern philosophers of care and interpersonal relationships.
I also miss a more penetrating discussion of the Eastern Orthodox churches and the paradigm shift in their missiological thinking.
Bosch has provided as with a bridge of understanding that is most helpful. His book will hopefully be read by many and will most certainly provide inspiration for many scholars.
A penetrating study of the paradigm shifts of missions........1999-04-04
Transforming missions is a scholarly work of importance for all scientists occupied with cross cultural encounters and matters of religion. The author, David Bosch, is one of several missologists who willingly share his rich and well documented work with other disciplines.
The book is well researched and the author is able to communicate complicated theological matters in a most convincing way. The book is readable and accessible to a long range of intrested persons and not merely to experts or specialists.
From a scholarly point of view Bosch provides the researcher with an analysis that gives a good framework for further research on the matter of missiology and historical cross cultural encounters. However, I miss references and analysis that can be more easily related to central social science authors like Giddens and Habermas and modern philosophers of care and interpersonal relationships.
I also miss a more penetrating discussion of the Eastern Orthodox churches and the paradigm shift in their missiological thinking.
Bosch has provided as with a bridge of understanding that is most helpful. His book will hopefully be read by many and will most certainly provide inspiration for many scholars.
Amazon.com
This follow up to The HeartMath Solution and Transforming Anger reveals how becoming aware of the heart's innate intelligence can dramatically reduce stress and tension. Based on over thirty years of research showing that it is possible to shift the heart into a "positive rhythm" that signals the brain, causing both of them to synchronize to more effectively respond to stress. In this book, the authors provide readers with the tools to not only respond to stress more resiliently, but to literally transform stress into positive emotions and creative energy. The keys to doing so are the transformative exercises developed by Childre and his team of researchers at the HeartMath Institute. The scientifically-validated techniques they share are easy to understand, and with regular, committed practice, as evidenced by the many illustrative case histories throughout the text, offer many benefits. Far more than just another book on stress management, Transforming Stress offers readers the means to more consciously create joy and contentment in their lives, while regaining the energy and enthusiasm that are normally sapped by life's daily stresses and tension.--Larry Trivieri Jr.
Book Description
Stress.
It's the quintessential buzz word of modern life. It hangs on everyone's lips from the first miles of the morning commute until the screeching alarm clock starts yet another day. Countless articles and studies tell the same story: lives controlled by unmanaged stress end early and none too well. This book describes a simple, straightforward method readers can learn and practice to literally transform stress by shifting the heart's own rhythms.
At the core of the HeartMath method of emotional regulation is the idea that, by focusing on positive feelings such as appreciation, care, or compassion, anyone can create dramatic changes in his or her heart rhythms. These changes precipitate a series of neural, hormonal, and biochemical events that dissipate stress and anger and lead to greater well-being. The benefits from using this system are remarkable and far-reaching: blood pressure drops, stress hormone levels fall, immune system activity increases, and anti-aging hormone levels rise. Through its interactive learning system, this book teaches readers to use the HeartMath method, enabling them to see and experience in real time how thoughts and emotions affect their heart rhythms. It teaches them how to engage their hearts to bring emotion, body, and mind into balance, and helps them stay in a zone of focused clarity, optimal health, and high performance. Changes brought about through this method are fast-acting and long-lasting-the perfect antidote to our chaotic and fast-paced lives.
(HeartMath is a registered trademark of the Institute of HeartMath.)
Customer Reviews:
must buy!.......2007-05-07
we all have stress and anxiety and it's killing us slowly whether we know it or not. the heartmath approach to dealing with stress and anxiety is excellent. highly recommended for ALL! :)
Book Description
Crimes unspeakable. A name synonymous with twisted brutality and hate. Jeffrey Dahmer. The most notorious serial killer of our time.A decade ago his story shocked our nation and the world. But we didnrsquo;t get the whole story. In prison Dahmerrsquo;s dark journey crossed paths with deep grace.Here is the whole story told by a man who at first tried to avoid meeting Jeffrey Dahmer but later became his friend and showed him the light of Godrsquo;s love.Itrsquo;s an unexpected story of first steps in faith of surprising questions about the Bible of light breaking into darkness. A story that will change what you thought you knew about grace.Jeffrey Dahmer. Christian.Grace unspeakable.
Customer Reviews:
Very enriching discoveries.......2006-08-15
Drs. Hicks and Taylor have put together a very thorough and enriching study of the biblical background and meaning of Christian baptism. You will find that baptism is a mosaic of images and plays a vital role in propelling our lives into God's transforming work. Those whose traditions have underemphasized baptism will gain new insights and appreciation for the part that baptism plays in conversion--a moment in which God works powerfully through faith. Those who have seen it as a legality will be drawn into the deeper, ongoing significance of it rich undercurrents for their lives. This study delves into the biblical teachings in depth. Yet it also speaks practically to our preconceptions from the standpoint of various church traditions and their roots in history. Unafraid to address the real issues that are raised, Hicks and Taylor make this book a valuable resource for any serious disciple of Jesus.
Down in the River to Pray.......2006-05-20
As a pastor, I found this book to be the most Biblical and compelling book on water baptism I have ever read. It is readable, Biblical and profounding refreshing. Having grown up in the churches of Christ, but having become disallusioned with their formulaic and legalistic approach to salvation, I had come to articulate and practice baptism in many of the ways that the authors describe. My hope and prayer is that their work transforms, not only the baptismal theology and practice of those within the Stone-Campbell movement, but also enriches and deepens the entire discussion of baptism in the larger body of Christ.
Down in the River to Pray.......2006-01-30
As a former member of a Stone/Cambell church that believed a person was going to hell if the minister didn't say the act was for the remission of sins when a person was baptized, it was refreshing to read such an historically informed book on baptism from a writer of this traditon. Acknowledging the long traditon of infant baptism in the church dating to the third, fourth and fifth centuries, Hicks gives the history and application of baptismal theology of the churches before and after the Reformation. Hicks urges a rejection of the Zwinglian view of baptism in favor of the Reformed view in the credobaptist tradtion, saying baptism is God's work, not mans'. Hopefully, this book is an indication that the Christian Churches/Churches of Christ are finally beginning to form a less works oriented and non-sectarian baptismal theology and are beginning to rethink the exteme view that they are the only true church.
Wading Through the River.......2005-08-09
As one who was born, bred and remains in the Stone-Campbell heritage, but who has been exposed to the vast richness of the large Christian world for many years now, I have often struggled with how "our" view of baptism--which I have continued to believe to be essentially correct--affects our relationship with others who have different views but who obviously have God's presence and blessings on their lives. This book helped me to answer many of those questions.
One of the most helpful sections was the historical one, showing how different views of baptism emerged in the Reformation, and how that a high view of baptism is not at all outside historical Christian tradition. I hope many within our movement read this book, but I also hope that it is widely read outside our movement.
We do have a great deal to contribute to the larger Christian discussion, and this book can help us assume a posture of acceptance and commonality with others in the discussion, instead of feeling that we always have to critique from without. Most notably, the authors' argument that "In the New Testament, baptism is the 'sinner's prayer,' challenges our evangelical brothers and sisters to critically examine how the Bible calls us to respond to God's grace.
The book, while exceptionally well-written, overdoes the river metaphor in my opinion.
almost a home run.......2004-09-28
John Mark Hicks and Greg Taylor have made a valuable contribution to the literature on baptism. They view baptism as one part of a process by which God transforms fallen humanity into the image of his Son for the purpose of eternal fellowship. They criticize Churches of Christ for missing this broader perspective and reducing baptism to a technical divider between the saved and lost. They criticize other traditions for missing the significance of baptism in the process of transformation and reducing it to a symbol or sign of a past work that lacks any present power or reality.
Chapters 2 through 4 offer an analysis of the biblical texts relating to baptism. Chapter 2 nicely sets the New Testament practice in the context of first-century Judaism and provides insights into the typology of the Flood (1 Pet. 3:18-21) and the Exodus (1 Cor. 10:1-5). Chapter 3 focuses on baptism in Luke-Acts. It includes good, brief discussions of John's baptism, the baptism of Jesus, and various conversion narratives. The authors reject reading the household baptisms as including infants and small children. They recognize the normal link between baptism and receipt of the Spirit, but deduce from the anomalies that God has not bound himself invariably to that link.
Chapter 4 focuses on baptism in Paul's letters. The authors argue cogently that, for Paul, baptism is not merely a symbol but a sign through which one actually is connected to the Christ-event and receives all that is related to that connection. Through it, we enter into a new identity, a new life, a new state, and a new hope.
Chapters 5 through 7 summarize baptismal theology and practice from the second through the fifth centuries, in the Reformation, and in the Stone-Campbell Movement. The discussions are skillful and, as is often the case with historical theology, humbling.
Chapter 8 explains why baptism does not belong in the category of "work" but in the category of "faith." It is the faith-based moment in which we share as beggars in Christ's atoning work and receive the gift of justification. Chapter 9 explores the link between baptism and sanctification. The Spirit we receive in baptism empowers us to produce spiritual fruit and transforms us into the image of Christ.
Chapter 10 addresses whether those who believe faith-based immersion is a part of conversion should receive as Christians those who have not been immersed in faith. It will be the most controversial chapter for those in Churches of Christ and therefore deserves extended comment. The authors claim that, since baptism is a means to God's end of transforming fallen humanity into the image of Christ and not an end itself, if God is transforming the life of an unbaptized believer (working toward the end), the church should accept that transformation as proof that God has accepted the believer (bestowed his grace) on the basis of his faith despite his non-rebellious failure to be baptized. To think otherwise is to miss the big picture of Scripture that God is a seeker who, because he is good, accepts hearts that seek him.
This claim appears to involve the following separate arguments:
Argument 1
Receiving baptismal grace (the blessings normally received in baptism) results in transformation toward the image of Christ (it being a means to that end).
Some unbaptized believers are being transformed toward the image of Christ.
Therefore, some unbaptized believers have received baptismal grace.
Since some unbaptized believers have received baptismal grace, they should be received into the fellowship of the church.
Argument 2
God bestows on those who earnestly seek him the grace (blessings) normally associated with a ritual despite their failure to observe the ritual.
Baptism is a ritual.
Therefore, God bestows on those who earnestly seek him the grace normally associated with baptism despite their failure to be baptized.
Since some unbaptized believers have received baptismal grace, they should be received into the fellowship of the church.
Argument 1 contains the fallacy of affirming the consequent (if A then B; B therefore A). The fact transformation follows baptismal grace does not mean that transformation proves the presence of baptismal grace. There are devout members of heretical groups whose lives have been transformed toward the image of Christ, yet none would take that transformation as sufficient to establish their acceptance by God. If transformation is an unreliable indicator of baptismal grace in the case of heretics, could it not also be unreliable in the case of the unbaptized orthodox?
The authors concede the point implicitly. They declare that "while the form, subject, and meaning of baptism is debated among professing Christians, in the light of Scripture and historic Christian tradition none should be considered disciples of Christ who refuse to be baptized and reject baptism as God's command." In other words, they accept that a line is to be drawn between all who agree that baptism is God's command (whatever their differences regarding its form, subjects, and meaning) and all who deny that baptism is part of the Christian faith. As the authors point out in an endnote, the latter includes Quakers, the Salvation Army, and some extreme dispensational theologians. They thus recognize that those believers should not be considered disciples of Christ despite their transformation toward his image.
In addition, reducing forgiveness, which is part of baptismal grace, to a means of transforming the believer's life undervalues its significance in present reconciliation. The transformation produced by baptismal grace is a process that follows a moment of reconciliation through forgiveness. The life that is lived from the point of forgiveness is lived in a state of reconciliation, however far one may be from the image of Christ. It is true that salvation is not simply about forgiveness, but neither is it simply about transformation.
Argument 2 is supported first by appeal to Hezekiah's Passover in 2 Chronicles 30. The authors conclude that God extended Passover-mercy to those who participated in Hezekiah's Passover despite the fact it was held on a month other than the one prescribed and despite the fact many of the participants violated the Law by sharing in the meal while ritually unclean. Because the people were seeking him with their hearts, God, in response to Hezekiah's prayer, graciously forgave their sins in observing the ritual (Passover) and extended his Passover-mercy as though no violations of the Law had occurred.
The authors have squeezed more out of this text than is there. First, there is no indication there was anything to forgive regarding the date on which this particular Passover was celebrated. Though the Law specified that the Passover be celebrated in the first month, the fact it allowed those excluded from the ritual to celebrate it in the second month established a principle that the second month was acceptable when circumstances precluded celebration in the first month. This almost certainly was how the leadership read the Law (2 Chron. 30:2-4). Unlike participating in the meal while ritually unclean, which is specifically noted to be contrary to the Law, there is no hint in the text that celebrating the Passover in the second month was, under the circumstances, contrary to God's will.
Second, vv. 18-22 indicate that God healed the uncleanness of the people in response to Hezekiah's prayer *prior to* their sharing in the Passover. They ate *because* Hezekiah *had prayed* for the Lord to permit them to eat (to pardon their eating) despite their uncleanness (see, e.g., ESV). As people who sought God with their hearts, they did not presume on the Lord's mercy; they did not break the Law on the assumption that their hearts would render their disobedience acceptable. They ate only after the Lord said "yes" to Hezekiah's prayer, after he revealed he would make them fit to eat without their going through the prescribed means of purification.
The worshipers in that case were *unable* to observe the purification ritual in time to share in the Passover. They did not *refuse* to observe it because they were deceived into thinking they already had done so. Since the two cases may reflect a difference of heart (as the authors apparently recognize regarding those who believe baptism is God's command and those who do not), the fact God extended his mercy in the former case does not establish that he would do so in the latter. Applied to baptism, one cannot assume on the basis of Hezekiah's Passover that God bestows baptismal grace on those who refuse to submit to baptism because they are deceived into thinking they already did so when they were sprinkled as an infant.
From another angle, imagine that on a subsequent Passover some early-arriving worshipers claimed a right to share in the Passover on the basis that the sweat of their journey made them ritually clean. When urged to undergo the prescribed purification ritual, they refused on the grounds that their mode of purification was sufficient according to their understanding of the Law. Would the community be wrong to exclude them from sharing in the Passover? Nothing in the account of Hezekiah's Passover suggests that it would.
The authors also appeal to the Sabbath controversy in Matthew 12. The lesson they draw from the account is that, assuming arguendo the validity of the oral law on which the Pharisees relied, the Sabbath command did not forbid doing what was necessary to meet human need. The Pharisees misinterpreted the command by not recognizing that exception and thus wrongly condemned the innocent disciples. They should have realized from the Scriptures cited by the Lord that, when meeting human need conflicts with proper observance of a ritual, the former must take priority.
The problem here is not with the authors' understanding of the account but with their application of it to baptism. What human need conflicts with the proper observance of baptism so that one must alter observance of the ritual to meet the need? Certainly the need for divine mercy does not conflict with the observance of baptism, except in some extreme situation where it cannot be administered, as baptism is the very place where mercy is bestowed. The authors have jumped from the principle that meeting human need must take priority over ritual when the two are in conflict to the assertion that a refusal to observe a ritual because of a false belief will not exclude one from the blessings associated with the ritual.
It is one thing to accept the possibility of baptismal grace being conferred without baptism; it is another thing to urge the church, on the basis of 2 Chronicles 30 and Matthew 12, to view it as typical and receive the unimmersed into its fellowship. I think F. D. Srygley offered a better perspective more than a century ago:
"As I understand the N.T., the 'pious unimmersed' ought to be immersed. And in case they are not immersed, I know of no promise in the N.T. that they will be saved. But, as to whether God will make allowance for honest mistakes, and save those who think they are obeying him when in reality they are doing something he has not commanded in lieu of what he has commanded, is a question for God to settle, and I decline to take any part of it."
Chapter 11 moves from the truth that in the waters of baptism all kinds of people are united with Christ, the Spirit, and the Father to the church's obligation to bring all kinds of people into that union. The authors discuss that responsibility in terms of our call to make disciples against cultural resistance, across cultural lines, and within our own families.
In Chapter 12 the authors offer suggestions on how communities of faith might make baptism more meaningful. In addition to the thoughtful suggestions, the chapter is valuable simply for raising the issue, for causing us to think in terms of how we can change some of our practices for the better.
Chapter 13, the final chapter, is a call for baptism to be viewed as a conversion-initiation rite that serves God's ultimate goal of transformation, as a divine means of actually effecting that transformation, and as a normative but not an absolutely essential means of grace. Regarding the last of these, they write, "In the case of someone not baptized because of ignorance, error, or for any other reason God deems acceptable, we leave these in the hands of God, where we believe these matters belong." This is in keeping with Srygley's perspective quoted above, which is a more modest claim than is made in Chapter 10. The chapter concludes with thoughtful discussions of eight questions and reflections on the future of baptism.
In sum, except for what I judge to be overreaching in Chapter 10, this is a very good book.
Book Description
Global business has the potential to bring biblical cultural values, greater economic prosperity and blessings to the nations of the world. It's already happening in innovative undertakings, such as ET, a call center business in India where at least 60 percent of the employees call themselves Christians. Modeling biblical principles and recognized for its world-class level of service, this successful company has created jobs, built a profitable business, strengthened the local church and seen people decide to follow Jesus.
In God Is at Work, Ken Eldred examines how God is transforming people and nations through companies like ET amidst an emerging missions movement called "Kingdom business." Challenging the view that capitalism and biblical principles cannot coexist, Kingdom business is achieving economic and spiritual transformation around the globe and is welcomed even by developing nations that are traditionally closed to the gospel. This unprecedented book gives a comprehensive overview of Kingdom business, its objectives and approaches. Ken Eldred's personal experience, as well as other Kingdom business efforts around the world, highlights this integrated missions movement, a unique combination of missions, successful business practices and economic development.
Learn how leaders of developing nations around the world, some of whom are Muslims, are inviting Christian business leaders to come into their countries and bring needed spiritual capital and business principles to create greater economic opportunities for their people. Discover the role of Kingdom business professionals in advising, funding and operating for-profit enterprises of varying sizes and types. See what happens when God is at work giving individuals the opportunity to participate with Him in Kingdom business, one of the greatest missions endeavors of the twenty-first century.
The opportunities to advance the cause of Christ have never been greater. We are called to act now.
Customer Reviews:
Business as Missions.......2007-05-07
A good introduction to an evangelistic strategy that uses buisness to promote missions. For those who are new to the field of microcredit finance and kingdom business, this is an easy read that will provide a satisfactory overview.
God is at Work.......2007-02-08
This book is well written. The understanding of business/global business was informative and applicable to my direction right now. Biblical principles work and this book is confirmation for me. I work at a company that employs workers from at least 40 different countries in one setting, with additional plants world wide. The book could not be more on point. I highly recommend reading this book. Be ready spiritually and seek wisdom for the future world business exchange.
Is God at MY work.......2006-11-11
Absolutely brilliant read.
We may be happy to acknowledge that God is at work, but is God at our work. For too long, God has been kept in the Church, but Ken Eldred is saying, look; you business women and men, you are not gifted in business just to make money, you are gifted in business, in the same way as a pastor is gifted to pastor or nurse is gifted to be a nurse. To be a witness for Jesus Christ.
Today 'the' word for business,is 'investors in people'. Well Christians in business should be doing that demonstrating the love of Christ in their employment ethic, both in the UK and overseas. People don't want to go to Church, but they want to go to work, so show them Jesus in how you treat your empoyees. Build business in developing countries and make a real difference by creating jobs, not giving hand outs, create a spirit of achievement, not a spirit of dependency. Show people Christ makes a difference in work and in the Church.
Game Changing.......2006-08-10
Every once in a while, an idea or an individual comes along that changes the playing field, the rules of the game, the expected outcomes, or a little of it all. God Is At Work has the potential for such an impact.
I read this book in tandem with "Why Globalization Works" by Martin Wolf. The "co-reading" had a unique effect. I felt like Wolf was doing the best job I had read yet of being realistic in his assessment of the free market's potential in emerging markets, given the various undeniable and constraining dynamics at work in those places --- be it infrastructure, tariffs, corruption, education, etc. Then I was opening up GIAW and reading very similar things yet in ways that coupled an understanding of how the spiritual world was relevant as well.
The immediate impression was that GIAW was obviously not written by surmising Christian business hacks. This book had serious weight and knew its stuff. To me this was very refreshing as I am an admitted skeptic of Christian culture trying to photocopy yet one more secular realm --- from self help, to Christian music, to Christian novels, to Christian movies, now to Christian business.
These were my key impressions...
1) Few people really address well the "corruption tax" of developing nations ... GIAW nailed it. De Soto quantifies it in "Mystery of Capital" (to some extent), but GIAW got to the heart with the concept of "spiritual capital" which I found to be absolutely profound.
2) Few people really address well the concept that for business to succeed in emerging markets there has to be reformation in every corner of society --- cultural, spiritual, political, and the underlying economics. Of the works I've read, most people hone in on the last two --- I think because there afraid to attempt the first and don't know where to begin on the second (because they probably honestly don't count it).
3) The clarification of differences between business as missions, business for missions, etc was terrific and much needed. I think things can get fuzzy in this corner and some of the practical application points might need further fleshing out, but in general, the value of business as a mission in and of it self desperately needed to be clarified among Christians. Again, GIAW nailed this.
4) My one hang-up was the terminology "kingdom business". It probably really boils down to semantics and my previously noted "resistance" to Christianity's persistent need to clarify its Christian intent. On the flip side, there is the need to distinguish the characteristics of the business model proposed by GIAW from that pursued by most "secular" business people, so a title or nomenclature is probably required.
I hope this will be a breakthrough for the thousands of Christian businesspeople who have longed to know how they can contribute and who have felt on the short end of the very real, yet very wrong spiritual totem pole. I hope the church embraces the thinking, and that in the long term the game changes in ways that will elevate the impact of this and future generations of believers.
Every significat movement starts with a book like this... .......2006-08-03
Every significant movement can point to a book, paper, article or series of all of the above that communicates in one clear voice the vision of a movement...
God is at Work by Ken Eldred defines and gives examples for the movemement of Business as Mission with clear cut precision. Sharing from personal experience with 2 companies and acclaimed success Ken forecasts a movement of the Church and the Christian community to Business as Mission with speed similar to that of the response to the California gold rush.
Taking what appears to be some content from a previous book that he catered called On Kingdom Business: Transforming Missions Through entrepreneurial Strategies the book establishes the baseline definition for the movement. The books also goes on to dispel what is not really business as mission and nothing more than ways to gain access to countries by misrepresenting intentions or living in that gray area of "creative access".
The last chapters of the book clearly outline the key forms of business as mission and the role that each play. Everything from microenterprise development to overseas privately owned companies. One of the things that is most insightful about the book are the specific case studies of people that are living out the concepts in countries around the world. It is refreshing to see a book that it so intent on highlighting specific next steps rather than living in a world of theory.
One of the key areas of emphasis may be enlightening to some while fundamental to others. It addresses what to some perceive to be the white elephant in the room... Profits. For the non-profit driven para church ministry, or the church itself this can be a perceived evil... For the business community it is the lifeblood to fight the next day. This in itself may be the single most differentiating characteristic of what some might call tendencies and that which is a self sustaining business on mission to be successful in both business and making a spiritual impact in the community.
It's a great read, I was happy to post it on a blog about Business as Mission to recommend it to others. You can check it out here: http://businessasmission.blogspot.com/2006/05/god-is-at-work-by-ken-eldred.htmland
Average customer rating:
- not bad at all
- Enjoyable read
- SEEKING ADVENTURE?
- Adventures in Everyday Life
- A Remarkable Adventurer
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The Way of Adventure: Transforming Your Life and Work With Spirit and Vision
Jeff Salz
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Miracle in the Andes: 72 Days on the Mountain and My Long Trek Home
ASIN: 0471387584 |
Book Description
"Into Thin Air meets The Road Less Traveled. Adventure is a tool, and Jeff Salz has written a manual that details its use."-Tim Cahill, author of Jaguars Ripped My Flesh and ounding editor of Outside magazine
"The Way of Adventure will stir your blood, stretch your vision, and start you packing for the journey to the next horizon." —Sam Keen, New York Times bestselling author of Fire in the Belly and Learning to Fly
"The Way of Adventure is great! In the busy world we all live in, it is so easy to fall into a rut and sleepwalk through life. Unless you turn your everyday life into an adventure, you aren't getting the most out of it. This book tackles the journey of following your heart."—Kevin Turner, Senior Vice President and CIO, Wal-Mart
"A wonderful, illuminating, and inspiring book. In this modern era of cell phones, e-mail, and time management, it is a delight to enter the world of the unpredictable, the exciting-and even the miraculous. In this book, Dr. Jeff Salz shares his extraordinary life experiences as an anthropologist, adventurer, and storyteller as he shows you how to rekindle the spirit of adventure, discovery, and wonder in your work, your relationships, and in every aspect of your life."—Ken Dychtwald, Ph.D., author of Age Wave
"An absolutely wonderful book. Success is about finding adventure wherever you are. The Way of Adventure shows us how to expand our lives in ways that bring the worlds of business and personal adventure together. It inspires, informs, and entertains."-Stacy Allison, author, business consultant, and the first American woman to climb Mount Everest
"Jeff Salz is a pioneer, blazing trails for us about how to live a richer, fuller, more rewarding life. This gem of a book is crammed with a wonderful combination of high adventure and profound wisdom that will enable anyone to succeed on any path you choose."-Robert Kriegel, Ph.D., NPR commentator and author of If It Ain't Broke, Break It
Download Description
A motivational self-improvement book about the need to embrace risk and change in your life - both at work and in life. Using beautifully written dramatic adventures alternating with practical advice sections, Dr. Jeff Salz leads readers through his six steps to the top.
Customer Reviews:
not bad at all.......2005-03-14
I had this book on my wishlist for over a year before I finally bought and read it. I couldn't decide how good it would be, if it would really be worth a $10 bill--or if other books were more deserving of my cash. If you're in that position, this review is for you.
The chapters of this book alternate between stories of adventure and motivational or self-help chapters.
The adventure stories are enjoyable, and if, like me, you haven't had enough adventures lately they might inspire you. The story of his experience as a gaucho, near the middle of the book, is a great one. In the end of the book he compares fatherhood to an adventure, entertainingly comparing his daily routine to the imagined routine of a cave-man. These chapters are the better parts of the book.
The motivational/self-help chapters are filled with the standard exhortations, although here and there the adventure theme adds an intriguing twist, or a unique suggestion. If you really take them seriously, they might be quite helpful. So, although this book is not bad, it's not great, and I'd recomemend "Less Traveled" or "7 Habits" above it.
Conclusion: If you've read those two books, and if you think adventure is something your life is missing, then this book is worth the money and time.
Further conclusion: If you haven't done anything adventurous lately, and your life feels boring, then it's time you did. Reading this book might help you get off your tush, and then it's important that you read it.
Enjoyable read.......2004-07-14
I have read a lot of non-fiction selp help and spiritual books and I must say this one was a pleasure to read. The writer, who spent 20 years he says, completing this books shares with the reader what he learned mainly from his life experience not just "book larnin", so to speak, which makes this book a somewhat light but pithy and very interesting read.
The author uses a pattern whereby he writes a chapter that tells the story of one of his adventures in what I found was an engaging, honest and delightful way. It was hard not to want to find out how things turned out I found and hard, at times, to put the book down.
After you read a fact based chapter, the author then writes a chapter that summarizes the life lessons he learned from his experiences in a point by point manner although he still weaves his life into these chapters as well. These chapters I found easy to follow and yet packed with good life advice. Some of it is probably a review of what you may have heard somewhere else but has the ring of experience behind it that makes it seem more real. For example, from one of his encounters with one of the last real life gaucho's we are given his (the gaucho's) meaning of life summarized in a few sentences- "There is nowhere to go. There is nothing to do except to be of service." Then, the author expands upon that statement in the following chapter.
The author's proclivity for action makes this a good read in particular for those seeking to become better people but lack the personal motivation to pursue a more sedentary sitting meditation practice. The author's perspective is interwoven with a spiritual foundation but emphasizes an active pursuit of one's growth to reach a more spiritual point of view. That is, using everday life as a tool for growth. It also emphasizes the fact that one can become a more complete person without having to embark upon the adventuresome and risk taking life that he did. (Oh yes, some of his fellow adventurer's were woman as well and there is definitely something in here for woman, even householder's, as well.)
My only criticism is the author's political naievete' which he sort expresses at the end but not blatantly, but that doesn't detract from the highly entertaining way that hard earned and quite useful life messages are communicated to the reader. (I probably only noticed the political stuff more because of my own sensitivity to that arena not because the author is trying to blantly push a political message because he is definitely not.)
If you are a "seeker" looking for a change of pace and refreshing read I think you will find it in this book. At least I did. In fact, I hope to reread it to remind myself of the useful messages conveyed if I can put down all of the other books that I have committed myself to, that is.
SEEKING ADVENTURE?.......2000-12-29
I SAW THIS BOOK WHILE I WAS ON CHRISTMAS SHOPPING SPREE AND I BOUGHT IT AS A GIFT. I STARTED READING IT AND I COULDN'T PUT IT DOWN.I ENJOYED IT SO MUCH THAT I HAD TO RETURN TO THE BOOKSTORE AND BUY TWO MORE COPIES. THIS BOOK STIRS THE ADVENTUROUS PART OF THE SOUL. GREAT READ!!
Adventures in Everyday Life.......2000-12-15
Salz tone of high adventure combined with self-deprecation (he actually advocates falling off your horse as an excellent way to establish rapport with the natives) definitely makes for an entertaining read.
While his of the Andes and Patagonia (from which one can learn an astounding number of ways to use one's hands when they are frozen solid) are gripping, Salz should be more readily compared to Richard Bach than Sebastian Junger.
Salz manages to give concrete ways of getting the spirit of adventure into your life without having to get your passport stamped... or even leaving your own backyard!
I'd recommend this book highly to anyone who feels like the grind of everyday life is getting them down. I look forward to his next book!
A Remarkable Adventurer.......2000-11-18
Jeff Salz is adventure. Every minute of his life is filled with the quest for it. His talent at sharing this with others is amazing. To follow Jeff's sharing is to find the love of adventure within the folds of your own life. Or to break out of those folds and do something that is so you, so on your edge and so filled with aspects of your own unlived life that you know aliveness from the inside out. You can live great aliveness and inner peace at once. Jeff has the gift to show how.
Books:
- Conservative Management of Cervical Spine Syndromes
- Courage: The Backbone of Leadership
- CRC Standard Curves and Surfaces with Mathematica, Second Edition (Chapman & Hall/Crc Applied Mathematics and Nonlinear Science)
- Cultivating Communities of Practice
- Cultivating Communities of Practice
- Daddy's Girl
- Developing Knowledge-Based Client Relationships, Second Edition: Leadership in Professional Services
- Dynamic Capabilities: Understanding Strategic Change in Organizations
- Engineering Design: A Materials and Processing Approach
- Enterprise Architecture As Strategy: Creating a Foundation for Business Execution
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