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Josh GriffinMore Posts BOOK REVIEW: The 3 Big Questions for the Frantic Family

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

1 View Comments March 21, 2010

Josh GriffinMore Posts BOOK REVIEW: Unfavorable Odds

Just finished up reading a great story of Kim Hamilton, former All-American gymnast and UCLA champion Hall of Famer. She has an amazing story of overcoming an unreal childhood and becoming a world-champion athlete. She’s also a devout Christian, and shares her journey and struggle of faith. A great story that honors her hard work, God’s favor and finding her purpose in life. Inspiring.

JG

Add Comment March 19, 2010

Josh GriffinMore Posts BOOK REVIEW: Hear No Evil

Finished up two books on the plane back from Kenya this past week – the first of which was Matthew Paul Turner’s Hear No Evil. He’s the guy behind the genius “growing up Fundamental Baptist” book Churched, which I read last year based on a recommendation from a good friend. This book is honestly more of the same – and I loved it – this time he takes the perspective of growing up with fundamental music. The author has got to be about my same age and our upbringing’s led to quite a few similar events that I could relate to in every chapter. If you are in your 20-30′s and grow up ultra-conservative (aka Amy Grant may or may not be in Heaven someday), you should totally read this book. If you’re not, it is still well written and has lots of humor in it – but I’m sorry it just won’t be the same. My only wish was that Turner would have gone deeper into the whole conservative Bible college arena he dabbles in one part of the book. Maybe that’ll be his next – I’d read it for sure!

JG

6 View Comments March 15, 2010

Josh GriffinMore Posts Book Review: Simple Student Ministry

I read the book Simple Student Ministry a few months back and never got around to posting a review of it so here goes:

I love a clear discipleship process in youth ministry – the parent book, Simple Church, was one of my favorite books of 2007 and I was hoping their team would bring out a student version of the title. It seems the longer churches are around the more “pile on” programs you have, each intending to help but eventually crowding the discipleship pathway. Simply put, we like to add stuff without taking anything away. Churches have the tendency to program creep, to the point where the core mission is diluted or even disappears altogether. I’m all for simple, clear and effective – to some degree, this is part of the journey we’re on right now with our High School Ministry (HSM). This book strongly urges that direction (large parts of it remind me of a Purpose Driven Youth Ministry combined with What Matters Most) and is a good read if you’re thinking you’re getting over-programmed.

JG

2 View Comments January 12, 2010

Josh GriffinMore Posts Book Review: The Greenhouse Project

This Christmas break I finished up a review copy of the Mike Calhoun book The Greenhouse Project: Cultivating Students of Influence – a good read for anyone looking to overhaul or reemphasize discipleship in their student ministry. The book actually covers more than discipleship, but the theme is very primary and central to his thesis that of all the purposes for student ministry – discipleship is the one that matters the most. Each chapter is guided by a contributing writer like Greg Stier, Mel Walker or Jay Strack, so while the writing feels a bit random, the multiple voices lends credibility and varied perspective. My wife actually graduated from Word of Life Bible Institute and I have enjoyed the camps and speakers in the past – I think the book is good for many settings though if you’re a “Word of Life church” it’ll really hit you where you’re at. Great title, too, our student ministry should be a greenhouse for helping students grow up in Christ.

JG

2 View Comments December 31, 2009

Josh GriffinMore Posts Book Review: Primal

Finished up some reading I’m getting pretty far behind on – Multnomah Books sent me a review copy of Mark Batterson’s new book Primal: A Quest for the Lost Soul of Christianity. To me, Mark feels like half amateur scientist and half pastor, dragging his readers back in time to the origins of faith with both Scripture and science. My favorite chapter was The Island of Colorblind, which focuses on the lack of wonder in Christians any more. That we are so familiar with faith we no longer truly see it for the radical nature and God at the very heart of it. Really good stuff to challenge us about what God is calling us to do while we’re here on earth.

JG

Add Comment December 30, 2009

Josh GriffinMore Posts Book Review: The Most Loving Place in Town

Just finished reading Ken Blanchard’s recent book, The Most Loving Place in Town. It is a modern day parable of a church that has lost its first love in programs, hype and busyness. It is a call for the church to be led by servant leaders and a call to action by showing God’s love in community service. The story is pretty straight-forward and fairly interesting, but the real win here are the principles and Scripture that challenge us to love others as the church, not get caught in the traps of programs and politics. A good read, especially if you’re afraid your church has lost its first love.

JG

Add Comment December 6, 2009

Josh GriffinMore Posts Book Review: The Shark and the Goldfish

Just finished the quick read new business tale The Shark and the Goldfish by Jon Gordon. It is written almost like a kid’s story – but right from the start you can see principles about your outlook on life and transferable lessons to bring into the real world. A goldfish is swept out to sea and a caring shark takes him in and teaches him how to survive in the new environment. It makes for a stable analogy of the job market, layoffs and the current perspective on the economy. My favorite section of the book is about fighting through the chorus of negativity, people who don’t believe in the impossible and make it their personal quest to suck the joy from your dream. We’ve all got a few of them in our youth ministry world – amen, Jon! Other solid thoughts:

Fear is the belief that the future is bad. Faith is belief that the future is good.
Every day you work hard and don’t settle is a step toward your goals.
There are all sorts of waves, one you can always count on is the waves of change.
Adversity doesn’t stop those with the drive to succeed.li>
What challenging situation are you currently going through that is actually an opportunity?

JG