The Unnecessary Pastor: Rediscovering the Call Review

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(More customer reviews)Again Peterson exemplifies the heart of the true pastor. This is my first time reading Marva Dawn. I just finished this book and found much to help me in the midst of being a small rural church pastor.
I was surprised by the review by the reader in Ohio. Although the other works by Peterson, flow better, the dialogue between Dawn and Peterson was refreshing.
Ephesians is the classic source for biblically modeled community. Timothy and Titus have been the classic resources for young pastors. The exegesis and insight from these two authors/ pastors/teachers has been highly encouraging and releasing for this new pastor who is trying to discover how to effectively lead God's people into holy living and community.
I reccomend this book as a excellent resource for pastoral theology, for young pastors, for teaching or preaching these texts and anyone seeking to get a firm grasp on the role of pastor.
I would not suggest this book as a first (or maybe even second) experience with Peterson, mostly due to the dialogue format.
Marva Dawn, at least in this book, doesn't not measure up to the mastery of Peterson. However, my interest in her work was futher sparked. I plan to buy and read a Marva Dawn book today.
The Bibliography is also full of great works for the pastor.

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Best-selling authors Eugene Peterson and Marva Dawn offer encouragement to the leaders of today's counter-culture movement. Pastors are strategically placed to counter the culture. No other profession looks so inoffensive but is in fact so dangerous to the status quo. Their weapon 'A gospel that is profoundly countercultural. But standing firm in today's world isn't easy. Powerful forces, both subtle and obvious, attempt to domesticate pastors, to make them, in a word, unnecessary. In this volume, two of today's most respected authors help pastors recover their gospel identity and maintain a pure vision of Christian leadership. Eugene Peterson and Marva Dawn here reconnect pastors with the biblical texts that will train them as countercultural servants of the gospel. In his section of the book, Peterson explores Romans, 1 and 2 Timothy, and Titus, drawing from them the correct view of pastoral identity. In turn, Dawn looks to Paul's letter to the Ephesians for instruction for churches seeking to live faithfully in today's world. Packed with encouraging insights from experienced practitioners, this book is must reading for anyone involved in church or parachurch leadership or for anyone now preparing for ministry.

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The Knowing Heart: A Sufi Path of Transformation Review

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(More customer reviews)Helminski, writing with the ease and fluidity that comes from years of discernment, discusses the seven levels of the self, the important role of the spiritual teacher, the blessings of spiritual conversation, the courtesy of the path, and the sacredness of everyday life. The author's exquisite overview of Sufism and all its resources enables him to enchant us with the sayings of Muhammad, aphorisms that stir the soul, themes for contemplation from Rumi, and a helpful glossary. ~Frederic Brussat

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Way of the Earth Review

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(More customer reviews)This is an unbelievably well written (and researched) investigation into the sources and manifestations of the spirit on our earth. The similarities between cultures on different continents proves, to me at least, that there is some form of communication and thought that is tracendent, above us, or beyond our normal thinking. The book chronicles the search for truth and the meaning of life by more tribes and cultures than you probably knew existed. Particularly interesting to me were the aboriginal people of Australia, and how they were so similar to those of North and South America

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The Ten Paradoxes: The Science of Where's My Zen? Review

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(More customer reviews)I was impressed with Chapter 14 No Mind Extreme and it reminded me of `Your Erroneous Zones" by Dr. Dryer. This is about the person living in the moment and free of the hang-ups, prejudices, guilts, worries, and over-thinking that we all do and get stuck in. It's not easy to get out of it, but this book provides one of the first thoroughly researched methods of getting back it and devotes over 140 pages to the techniques, which are detailed in No Mind 301. If you are looking for change, this can help you become more objective and as Master Nomi says, "enjoy the play in life."

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The Ten Paradoxes is a landmark program that combines a unique six-part training and educational system for achieving peak performance and enlightenment or what Master Nomi calls Total Mental Fitness®. Using the ancient power of No Mind® which has been clinically proven by top university and medical centers, it actually changes neural pathways to restructure and improve awareness, enabling you to do better and feel better in every aspect of your life. You'll attain peak performance and flow in sports, business, academics, relationships, and stress management, along with health benefits and deeper spiritual understanding. You'll be more playful and tranquil, have greater compassion and a clearer perception of reality, and become a better communicator with your colleagues and loved ones. With continued practice, you can even come to terms with death, the most feared aspect of our humanity. The Ten Paradoxes, through extensive research and case studies, leads you on a journey to the secrets of the ancient masters. First, it reveals the basic functions and mechanisms of the mind, beginning with the way we filter and interpret our perceptions, which then limits and restricts our actions and reactions. Finally, we will see how the mind defensively creates the self that we know; the ego, or personality. This is the ultimate illusion that we all need to come to grips with. And when we do, our intuition and creativity blossom, and we become fully alive and open. The practice of No Mind® will actually un-train your thinking and teach you how to achieve Total Mental Fitness® by transcending the very structure of the mind. As long as we live in a dualistic reality, we keep searching for what we think will complete us: material objects, relationships, achievements, spirituality, etc. But, The Ten Paradoxes program frees you from the limitations of these perceptual and ego defense mechanisms and allows you to control your thoughts and desires. You will respond to a new, open set of categories ultimately learning to act without trying. We therefore act in harmony with our essential nature. And we can truly be in control of our destiny, decisions, and responses, without the troublesome emotions we normally face, such as fear, worry, anxiety, prejudice, and greed. The practice of No Mind® not only brings freedom from our automatic actions, reactions, and perceptions, but the ability to make maximum use of our inner potential through realization that awareness is the only universal constantTM.

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Beyond the Scoreboard: Examining Teamwork, Tension, and Triumph in High School Athletics Review

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(More customer reviews)I found this book to have great insight into high school sports as well as insight into reasons why a Mission Statement is important to athletic programs. This is a must read!

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Beyond the Scoreboard is a must-read for anyone involved with high school sports. John Steltz is able to use his extensive experience and knowledge as a basketball coach to show readers what the world of prep sports is really like, and what needs to be changed to make it a more rewarding experience for players, coaches, parents, and administrators.-Scott Venci, Sports reporter, Green Bay Press-Gazette
' Who is responsible for the healthy development of a positive sense of self-worth in high school student-athletes?' What are the overall purposes of high school athletics?' When will the landscape of high school athletics regain its primary function as a learning environment?' Where do high school athletics fit in the 21st Century learning experience?' Why has the value of high school athletics become increasingly misaligned?' How can parents, coaches, and administrators work together to ensure athletic programs enrich the lives of student-athletes in an increasingly competitive environment?
Beyond the Scoreboard provides insight for parents, coaches, and administrators into the current landscape of high school athletics in which over half of all high school students in the United States participate. The revealing real life scenarios used to demonstrate important concepts creates spiritual and passionate tones to build credibility and engage readers.
A useful, realistic guide for high school coaches, parents of high school athletes, and high school administrators, Beyond the Scoreboard examines proper strategies that develop and maintain healthy athletic programs in high school.
Beyond the Scoreboard must be used as a tool for athletic directors and high school coaches to generate effective mission statements promoting the development of a positive sense of self-worth in high school student-athletes.The mission statement will better equip administrators and coaches to handle tensions and triumphs that are an inevitable part of the high school athletics landscape.

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The Five Stages of the Soul: Charting the Spiritual Passages That Shape Our Lives Review

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(More customer reviews)This book was seminal in describing to me and helping me to understand the extent to which my life has been and continues to be a spiritual journey, one that was originated by the God of the universe, and to which the journey leads. This is a book for all, but especially for those who have been brought up in a majority Christian culture, but who eschew the parochialism and often bigoted dogma and rigid theology of mainstream and particularly, right wing christian culture.
The authors use all the great spiritual traditions to describe their concepts of the spiritual journey, including Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, Judaism, and others. This is a book that really emphasizes the individual relationship with the Holy One, the Great Lover, and so has an attractive mystical bent. Quotes from the writings of Rumi as well as St Theresa of Avila, John of the Cross and Julian of Norwich fit very comfortably together within the authors' spiritual paradigm.
If you would like a book that can explain to you how you and everyone else on earth might fit into God's plan, despite differences in dogma and theology, then this book is for you. After all, this is exactly what Christ taught, despite orthodox bigots' exclusionary proclamations.
It's an easy read the first time, and gives forth more richly on subsequent readings.

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