I was reading Terrace’s blog recently and also came across a slightly older post from Matt Cleaver talking about the must-read books for youth workers. And while this isn’t necessarily a definitive list by any means, I thought it might be interesting to post the books that have had the most shaping effect on my youth ministry philosophy and vision.

Purpose Driven Church – Rick Warren
This is the book that opened my eyes to church as it could be. Sitting at a summer camp in upstate New York, I read and imagined church in a whole new way. The Great Commandment and the Great Commission bonded together to reveal biblical purpose for the church. Life-changing read.

Handbook on Counseling Youth – Josh McDowell
An oldie, but a goodie. This book was a gift to me early in youth ministry career – and just this past week I gave copies of it to my team. Tons of topics, great questions, Scripture and counseling help for real issues. I hope the book gets a makeover soon and will include more help for newer issues that are gripping teenagers.

Your First Two Years in Youth Ministry – Doug Fields
The first of two great books from Doug Fields that made me into the youth worker I am today. Probably time for me to read it again – just solid reminders to help you start right.

Purpose Driven Youth Ministry – Doug Fields
The definitive book on youth ministry. It will get you thinking, challenge that thinking, and push your thinking toward a biblical model for success and health. So much of what we do in HSM still resonates directly from this foundation. I’ve had multiple copies, all dog-eared, underlined and worn. The best of the list.

Sustainable Youth Ministry – Mark DeVries
Maybe the 3rd best book written about youth ministry. A more recent title to make the list, I love the clarity and direction it provides youth workers in what it takes to survive the calling in the long run. Good, good, stuff.

The Heart of a Great Pastor – H.B. London
This book arrived at a time when I was feeling particularly vulnerable and ready to quit. The idea of “blooming where you’re planted” hit me that God called me to the place I was serving at, not to be looking for what was next or greener on the other side of the fence.

The Dip – Seth Godin
The Dip is a little book all about the phenomenon where after initial success there is a dip before an even larger gain. Fighting through the Dip or knowing when it is time to give up is crucial in youth ministry.

Linchpin – Seth Godin
A brand new book that is gripping me right now. The idea that God created you as an artist and an individual for His work – that you aren’t just a mindless cog in a wheel within the church. Takes a bit of translating since it is a business book, but worth it!

Made to Stick – Chip and Dan Heath
If you’re a communicator, you’ll want to know how to have your messages stick. I also loved Speaking to Teenagers, but this non-youth ministry specific book really stuck with me, too.

The 5 Dysfunctions of a Team – Patrick Lencioni
Working in a larger church now I’m focusing on more team-based learnings, this book is one of the best. Told in his now trademarked business fable style, the book will walk you through the most common traps that trip up teams.

How about you? Read any life-changing books lately?

JG

Just finished up reading Soup, another business fable from Jon Gordon. This time he goes after the ingredients of what make a healthy team and focuses on creating a winning team culture that rallies your people to the cause and around an optimistic leader. Honestly the first few chapters really drew me in – not because I’ll ever run a company called Soup, Inc but because he outlines what I’ve felt but been unable to articulate about the importance of team culture. Couple of standout quotes:

• You create a culture of greatness by expecting great things to happen – even during challenging times.
• Leadership is foremost a transfer of belief.
• People follow the leader first and the vision second.
• It is through relationships that you can shape people to be their best.
• We are transformed by our spiritual relationship with God and our relationship with family, mentors, and coaches and we transformothers through our relationship with them.
• Lukewarm isn’t an option. No one likes cold soup.

Good stuff – loved it! Super simple, easy read.

JG

I’ve read every one of Patrick Lenconi’s books – this one is the first of his business fables to hit on the topic of the home. I love the book – it challenges you to take a long look at your family and determine what exactly are the values you will build your home around. While not a Christian book, it does give ample space to faith and volunteering, and most of it is easily adaptable to a Christian home. The book asks you to look at your family’s unique makeup, and regularly meet to grade yourself on how you are doing acomplishing your family-specific mission. Some good stuff in there, as a father of 4 in a frantic young family, it was totally a good read.

JG

Well, I’m officially 30 lbs thinner as of today.

Today marked the end of the fabled 75-Day Challenge between me, a summer intern and two of our HSM volunteers. We all wanted to lose some weight this summer, so a little bargain was struck. Today the final weigh in was stunning – the winner lost over 23% of his body weight the past 2 and a half months. Wow!

So congrats to Chip! And if you’re in youth ministry and need to shed a few pounds, look to my friend Matthew McNutt, a former Biggest Loser competitor for inspiration and advice. He’s the man!

JG

I was recommended (and then given – thank you!) a new book this week – Cirque Du Soleil’s The Spark: Igniting the Creative Fire That Lives Within Us All. At only 130 pages or so, it is a quick read, like most of what I like to tackle.

The story is a business fable about a guy named Frank who is burned out in his job and through a chance interaction gets connected to the creative process of the daring acrobatic circus troupe. While it is more story than business principles, there’s enough along the way to pick up and apply. You feel the intensity they feel in creating an epic experience for audiences. You see the power of teamwork and trust for each other that literally scales to life and death levels. You will search your own heart to make sure you are following your calling in life, too. I enjoyed the book -and since I’ve never been, I might need to go catch a show soon, too. B

JG

Just finished up Training Camp: What the Best do Better than Everyone Else by Jon Gordon, author of The No Complaining Rule and Energy Bus. I really enjoyed the fable writing style that Jon has used in the trilogy, and this time the setting of an NFL training camp also really hit the mark for me. Lots of subtle learnings in the book – the standout for me being how little of a difference there is between good and great, and how a little more hard work could make something average into remarkable. All in all a good quick read to encourage you in your pursuit of excellence, I really enjoyed it. A

JG

I really enjoyed A Tale of Two Youth Workers, a new YS book due this summer by Eric Venable. Kurt asked all of us to read it before we left on our Student Ministry Core Team retreat this morning. The youth ministry fable tells the story of a small town youth pastor from Michigan that makes it big, only to be disallusioned with the way things are done at that “level.” He finds a mentor in another local youth pastor and begin to focus on helping students doubt their faith (!!) to cement their beliefs instead of programming and attendance. I don’t know if it was the format of the book (which I love) or my resonance with the story that made me like it so much. Quick read, good stuff. B+

JG

I like Jon Gordon’s books. His new title, The No Complaining Rule, is better than his earlier Energy Bus that I read earlier this year. The No Complaining Rule centers on one simple message – negativity and complaining is killing your office culture and destroying your productivity. In business fable form, Jon helps managers stop criticism in the workplace, manage your organizations messaging and use complaints as a gateway to helping your business.

In short, if you are a complainer on your youth ministry team or church staff – you’re driving away volunteers, and making sure that students won’t stick very long. Good learnings. A-

JG

Got inspired during the DRIVE Conference to start in on an Andy Stanley book that looked promising to me. Andy covers seven of North Point’s key practices they go after big picture each week in 7 Practices of Effective Ministry. The 7 practices are:

• Clarify the Win
• Think Steps, Not Programs
• Narrow the Focus
• Teach Less for More
• Listen to Outsiders
• Replace Yourself
• Work on It

I really liked this book – partially because it took a ‘fable’ approach to the first 9 chapters, then unpacked each of the principles further near the end of the book. I’ve always been drawn to this approach – the only downside is that the book uses baseball as an analogy in parts much like the Purpose Driven paradigm, so at times it felt confusing since 2nd base around here is “growing on your own” and in the book crossing home plate is getting in a small group.

Either way, the point is to score and the learnings will invite you to figure out how to do that in your setting, with God’s help and with some wisdom from their experiences. The book at times feels male-favored, but remains mostly accessible for those unfamiliar with sports. All in all, totally worth reading in classic Andy Stanley fashion. B+

JG

Just finished The Energy Bus by Jon Gordon. It’s a business book written in the style of Patrick Lencioni and his trademarked business fables. The book uses a pretty simple and established concept for the team and the direction you’re taking them – the bus. As the story unfolds he shares his 10 Rules to Fuel Your Life, Work, and Team with Positive Energy. Here’s the 10 Rules:

1. You’re the driver of your bus.
2.  Desire, vision and focus move your bus in the right direction.
3.  Fuel your ride with positive energy.
4. Invite people on your bus and share your vision for the road ahead.
5. Don’t waste your energy on those who don’t get on the bus.
6. Post a sign that says NO ENERGY VAMPIRES ALLOWED on your bus.
7. Enthusiasm attracts more passengers and energizes them during the ride.
8. Love your passengers.
9. Drive with purpose.
10. Have fun and enjoy the ride.

At first, I was tense about the frequent use of “energy” and such, but I strongly resonated with the book. My favorite chapter tangibly values positive outlook and enthusiasm – and notes how fear and doubt in large doses are the enemy of momentum. The best part of the book for me focused on the vision and passion of the leader, and how it must be greater than the fear, doubt and disbelief of the team. Powerful stuff, glad my staff is reading it so the bus moves together smoothly – exciting days ahead! A-

JG

Just finished up the quick-read book from Greg Stier titled Venti Jesus Please. I really enjoyed his last book, Ministry Mutiny, a youth ministry fable for youth workers. I’m not really the target of this latest book – it’s designed to be a resource for students who are checking out Jesus. It once again takes the fable approach, basically following a conversation between a seeker, an atheist and a Christian student at Starbucks one night.

If I’m honest, I wasn’t super drawn into the conversation that the teens were having over coffee, but at the same time the book does take the time to hit on the questions our students are asking. Although I felt at times it was a bit cliche, we’re in the middle of our Dear God series and I’m noticing similar themes to what we’re teaching and what Greg has written. We’ve got a few copies of the book we’re going to give away to students who attend our entry-level weekend service for the first time and see how they work out as a possible tool for our ministry. Interested to see if our caffeinated seekers go for it. B-

JG

Just finished up the easy read 5 Tempatations of a CEO by Patrick Lencioni. It is a really insightful business fable helping high-level leadership make the correct decisions and find success.

The first temptation is to protect your career over everything else. A great reminder of the humility needed in a great leader. The second, which I think I struggle with the most, is the desire to be popular. Wanting to be well-liked is a fatal addiction of mine – the best line in the book says “work for the long-term respect of your direct reports, not for their affection.” Wow.

The other temptations also made a lot of sense to me – make clear decisions and don’t be afraid of owning failure, allow for some dischord and passion on the team for the greater good, and to trust people with your reputation. Love it – a solid read for anyone assuming a leadership role or who wants to better focus on the challenge of leadership. A-

JG

Johnny, I accept your challenge.

You can only use one word…
Not as easy as you may think.

1. Yourself: humble
2. Your girlfriend/boyfriend: wife
3. Your hair?: wild
4. Your mother?: loving
5. Your Father?: friend
6. Your Favorite Item: convertible
7. Your dream last night: none
8. Your Favorite drink: propel
9. Your Dream Car: ferarri
10. The Room You Are In: den
12. Your fear: alone
13. What you want to be in 10 years: architect
14. Who you hung out with last night?: kids
15. What You’re Not?: ugly
16. Muffins: fattening
17: One of Your Wish List Items: ferrari
18: Time: ten
19. The Last Thing You Did: tuck
20. What You Are Wearing: boxers
21. Your Favorite Weather: 68
22. Your Favorite Book: fable
23. The Last Thing You Ate: appetizers
24. Your Life: fulfilled
25. Your Mood: chillin
26. Your body: slender
27. Who are you thinking about right now?
29. What are you doing at the moment?: cursing
30. Your summer: new
31. Best part of your life: kids

Witt. You have been challenged. And Natalie. And Danny.

JG

This weekend I was able to finish up Ministry Mutiny, a youth ministry fable from Greg Stier. I’ve read several business fables before, and love the style of writing and teaching. It’s kind of a right-brained way of getting some left-brained principles. The book follows that successful format.

This is easily Greg’s best writing so far. The story begins with a dissallusioned youth worker about to quit – in fact, he’s at the tail end of writing his resignation letter. He and his wife have been through the wringer, and he’s done. Man, I’ve been there before – what youth worker hasn’t been, right? Keep in mind Greg’s passion in life is evangelism, and the book skews that way directly. And although the story is a bit predictible and veteran youth worker mentor Tony is completely one-dimensional (a little too perfect, I wish he had a history of some sort), there’s plenty of great principles to be learned here.

The parts that hit me the most were about engaging parents to do the youth ministry, and we come along side of them. The importance of community also rises to the top, as well as stopping the search for the next youth ministry fad. Good stuff.

Comment on this post! I’ll select one of those comments at random to get my copy of the book for free – I’ll even pay the shipping.

JG

Picked up this learning today, which you’ll get in fable form this morning:

Church ministry can be a whole lot like football.

You have a designed offense and a plan of attack ready to go when you hit the field. The coach calls the play into the quarterback, the quarterback relays it to the team and they get set. Then, in that moment, there’s an opportunity. An opportunity that can’t be missed. An opportunity unseen previously that could net huge gains if only they could do it right now, on this play.

The quarterback barks new orders, linemen shift into position following the command and wide receivers mentally reenact new routes to where the new play beckons then. No one questions the decision – they aren’t the playcaller, but their participation in the new play is absolutely critical. Without the whole team working together without hesitation it will fall apart – the huge opportunity turned into a crushing loss, perhaps even a dramatic shift in momentum that will curse them the rest of the game.

The ball is hiked, the opportunity is seized. The defense weaknesses exploited and the team scores. The crowd roars. Touchdown.

OK, so maybe church ministry isn’t exactly like that, but you get the idea. I’m a team member, I’m following a quarterback who sometimes will call an audible. Am I part of the team pulling together in that moment to make it happen? Or am I going to lay down and let the quarterback feel a hit to know we don’t play like that. The church is a team. Play like a champion today.

JG

Aside from the stunning Gears of War which EASILY was Best of Show … there were tons of other games that looked and played amazing. Here’s a list of what I think are the runner ups.

HALO 3 – Although only in video form, this is going to be the bad boy of 2007. I can’t wait and am super pumped about the possibilites of this game. This is the final Halo in the trilogy, and the game engine looks SO powerful. Gears of War is must-have 2006, Halo is must have 2007. These two are system sellers.

RAINBOX 6 VEGAS – This excited me, because I love the Xbox Rainbow 6 titles. I like the location, the screenshots have been great and to see the guys play it in real-time was cool. They played a level rescuing hostages in a casino, then saw there was a bomb in another building across the street. The other building blew up, then the shockwave came across and blew out all the windows. And the chopper scenes flying over Vegas looked GREAT.

MEDAL OF HONOR AIRBORNE – EA had a killer half-acre booth at E3 and this was the best trailer. It was definitely pre-rendered, so its hard to know what to expect. Very ppwerful looking. We’ll have to see.

HAZE – My only wish on this was that I hadn’t seen Gears of War right before I saw this demonstration. The presentation was pretty innovative, and the game looked good. Probably the 360′s Pariah, but still looks interesting to me.

PREY – Almost forgot about this one – probably because it’s coming out so soon. This title looks a bit creepy, but VERY cool. I love shooting through portals and the designs look great. Hopefully this will tide me over until the Fall.

BATTLEFIELD 2142 – This was running on the PCs at the event, but I want to play this game. Is it coming to the 360? Not sure, but it looked like a great title. Everything we love about the 1942 original game, but updated into something futuristic. Very cool.

What about F.E.A.R., Bioshock, Street Fighter Arcade, Lego Star Wars 2, Indiana Jones and Fable 2? I just didn’t get enough time with them but they all look/sound great, too. So much to see, so little time.

All in all, a fantastic afternoon at E3 and a great time hanging with Jake.

JG