Books I've Read In 2017
Below, you will find a list of some of the recent books I have been reading or listening to on audible that I feel would be beneficial to share with you.
Unoffendable - Brant Hansen
t’s a radical, provocative idea: We’re not entitled to get offended or stay angry. The idea of our own “righteous anger” is a myth. It is the number one problem in our societies today and, as Dallas Willard says, Christians have not been taught out of it. As it turns out, giving up our “right” to be offended can be one of the most freeing, healthy, simplifying, relaxing, refreshing, stress-relieving, encouraging things we can do. In Unoffendable, readers will find something of immeasurable value—a concrete, practical way to live life with less stress. They’ll adjust their expectations to fit human nature and replace perpetual anger with refreshing humility and gratitude.
Sticky Teams - Larry Osborne
Serving as a church leader can be a tough assignment. Whatever your role, odds are you’ve known your share of the frustration, conflict, and disillusionment that comes with silly turf battles, conflicting vision, and marathon meetings. No doubt, you’ve asked yourself, “How did it get this way?” With practical and accessible wisdom, Larry Osborne explains how it got this way. He exposes the hidden roadblocks, structures, and goofy thinking that sabotage even the best intentioned teams.
Follow to Lead - Stan Gleason
Jesus’ command to “go make disciples” is the foundational precept of the Great Commission. Pastor Stan Gleason explores the church’s critical mandate to make disciples from biblical, theoretical, and practical viewpoints. An accomplished disciple maker himself, the author encourages every believer to make disciples.
Breaking the Stained-Glass Barrier - David Womack
The circle maker - mark batterson
Prayer is the most important yet under-exercised privilege of God’s people. Batterson presents a Biblically solid yet devotionally-inspiring book on seeking God. He spins the tale around Honi, the circle maker who--through intercession--got God’s attention which resulted in Him answering with rain. A miracle resulted from the bold prayer from a man with a solid prayer life! Batterson has personally experienced many miracles that are enumerated in the book. The Circle Maker fanned the flame for me personally to continue to expand my reach in prayer by praying specifically while dreaming big, working hard and partnering with God. God wants to do great things in our day, so let’s pray!
Crucial conversations - Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan & Al Switzler
This book handles a subject most people avoid: confrontation and difficult conversations. We are ill-suited emotionally, physiologically and psychologically for conflict. Our body shoots adrenaline and our minds build stories off of our own suppositions that ultimately short-circuits at the most crucial time. Crucial Conversations is an important book because it lays out a road map for navigating these situations successfully.
The Boys in the Boat - Daniel Brown
This is an inspiring story of grit, drive and teamwork! Nine working-class boys from Washington state rise from obscurity to becoming a world-class rowing team. Rowing is a fiercely taxing sport that requires incredible endurance, strength, determination and most importantly, teamwork. Each man rows together and for the team. This unlikely group took the sport by storm and ultimately went to the Olympics in Hitler’s Germany in 1936. The story of winning gold against all odds is truly amazing!
Pendulum - Roy Williams & Michael Drew
The premise of Pendulum is that societies swing along a 40-year transition period to what the authors refer to as a “we” or a “me” generation. These two types of world views go from the extreme “we” which is collaborative and team oriented, and “me” which is very self-oriented and individualistic. Their theory is that once a generation hits the extreme end of one of these characteristics, it begins to head back in the other direction. This affects politics, religion, music, money and values. The authors have put forth some very interesting data and a compelling viewpoint.
Eat That Frog - Brian Tracy
For life to be truly fulfilling, we all need to be capable of executing plans, doing what we say we’re going to do, and making a meaningful difference. The question is: how do we do that? Eat That Frog is a quick read with some potent and practical advice on time management and productivity. Tracy offered some advice that I put into use that immediately benefitted my effectiveness.
Christ-Centered Preaching - Bryan Chapell
The centerpiece of Christian ministry is the preaching of the Word of God. In over 25 years of preaching, I am no less awed by the process and responsibility. Christ-Centered Preaching delivers a thorough, albeit technical, treatment on the craft of preaching. The chapters on illustration and application are worth the price of the book and will be a place I return to often.
The anointing of sonship - Doug White
In this book, Bishop Douglas White speaks to the tremendous need of every aspiring minister, soul winner, or effective child of God, to have a spiritual father in his life. He reveals, biblically, how that spiritual sonship is the purest path to true Apostolic anointing.
Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future - Ashlee Vance
Veteran technology journalist Ashlee Vance offers an unprecedented look into the remarkable life of the most daring entrepreneur of our time. Elon Musk paints a portrait of a complex man who has renewed American industry and sparked new levels of innovation—from PayPal to Tesla, SpaceX, and SolarCity—overcoming hardship, earning billions, and making plenty of enemies along the way.
The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt vol. 1 - Edmund Morris
Described by the Chicago Tribune as "a classic," The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt stands as one of the greatest biographies of our time. The publication of The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt on September 14th, 2001 marks the 100th anniversary of Theodore Roosevelt becoming president.