Worth Our Time

Did you see what I did there?  Yes, that was an intentional typo!

In honor of the book Just My Typo, I decided to start off with a little humor myself.  Without a doubt, this book will make you laugh out loud; and at other times, will make you scratch your head (trying to find the typo because your eyes and mind automatically correct them.  Once again, I have deviated from my normal blogging on Christian books to cover this neat little one.  In all honesty, you will be able to breeze through this book in a short amount of time; yet you will want to keep coming back to it for future laughs.

This work is a compilation of the best ha-ha moments in print, and you have the ability to contribute at the end.  I highly suggest that you do because they may appear in future versions.  Stop for a moment and think about it -- we've all done it.  No matter how hard you try to find those errors, they still make it through.  I had multiple readers go through my dissertation and was so proud to finish.  As I received my bound copy, I opened it and, "BAM," right there on that first page was a simple typo.  Your heart just sinks.  How about omitting a letter in a word that makes an everyday word -- public -- into one that is more crass.  Yep, done that one too.

This work showcases the humanity of....well, humanity.  Life happens and you just have to roll with it.  The sections and divided into neat areas, and I would have never imagined these types of issues occurred (as the book described and I'm not going to spoil it for you) in the legal system.  Get a copy of this book and just enjoy it.  It is a breath of fresh hair from some pretty smelly mistakes (did you catch that typo?).

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.  I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 25:  “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Nixon's Resurgence not a Resurrection

Normally, I blog about Christian books that I've read; however, I departed from my modus operandi when I saw the possibility of Patrick J. Buchanan's book The Greatest Comeback.  Whenever the name Nixon is invoked, everyone quickly thinks of Watergate, but Buchanan deals with a rather unknown part of Nixon's career -- he rebuilt the atrophied Republican party base and overcame his label as a "loser."  It was deliberate, intentional, and strategic steps that led to his resurgence.

As an aside, the author uses a last line teaser to indicate that he may already be working on a book dealing with Watergate.  If he does so, I would be interested in how he characterizes the President differently than he has done the Candidate.  It is for this reason that my review is entitled resurgence not resurrection.  I can only think of one individual that rose from the dead to never die again, and that was Jesus Christ.  Nixon regained a following but flushed it down the drain with horrible choices in a cover-up.  Had he come clean immediately, the drama that we know as Watergate may never have occurred.

The book is delightfully written and easy to understand.  To be honest, it was the fastest 350+ page book I've ever read.  Buchanan has a reputation of being a partisan, but that side does not emerge front and center on every page.  Yes, it can still be detected, but he writes more from an admiration of Nixon standpoint than a partisan one.  He does capture the cultural struggles of the day that helped foster the resurgence of Nixon, and this historiography further enhances the work itself.

My biggest gripe revolves around the end of the campaign where Nixon was losing ground as Wallace's supporters flooded to Humphrey.  Buchanan utilized significant and meticulous details throughout every section of the book until this final piece.  The drama of what was really happening and the response was deficient.  He took great pains to describe the blunders of the Democratic National Convention but not so much of Nixon's "safe" campaign at the end.  I believe these additional details would have completed the book in a more full and rich manner.

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.  I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 25:  “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Raising Daughters Isn't a "One Time Event"

Be the Dad She Needs You to Be, by Kevin Leman, is appropriately titled.  Far too often, fathers become the dad they want to be -- it is much easier -- with the end result of children that have missed out.  For instance, fathers will put so much effort into the acquisition of stuff because they believe those things are what their children want and need.  Instead, children need our time and our presence.

Leman challenges the belief that the most important relationship in the home is same gender -- moms teaching their girls and dads teaching their boys.  Yes, those connections are important, but the cross-gender relationships -- dads and daughters or moms and sons are the critical factors.  Fathers, by their example in the home, show their daughters how a man should truly love their wives.  The author says the greatest compliment a little girl can provide her father is this statement -- "I want to marry someone just like daddy."  Fathers, by their time and presence, create a secure environment that does not force a daughter to go outside the home to find "love" through an intimate relationship outside of marriage.  Fathers, by their words, teach the truth of God's Word and how it applies in every situation of life -- success, failure, discouragement, risk-taking, sharing, etc.

This book has the same straightforward Leman-esque style.  He does not sugar-coat anything but lays it all out there for you.  After some tough sections, he turns it around and then asks you questions about your relation to that section.  He also endears himself to any reader through his use of humor - namely his own mistakes with his family.  These literary tools help him relate to us because it reveals that even the author does not "have it all" figured out all the time.

My only compliant with the book its regurgitation of his other works.  If you have read his book Have a New Kid by Friday, then you will see a great deal of that information rehashed -- "B doesn't happen until A does" or "Say it once and then walk away."  If you have read The Birth Order Book, then you will hear the same explanations of the firstborn, middle, and youngest children.  If you have read A Chicken's Guide to Talking Turkey to Your Kids about Sex, then...well...you get the picture.  While he does apply these topics specifically to daughters, I was hoping for something brand new from Leman.

Regardless of that gripe, which in the scope of things is really minor, this book does have solid information necessary for any dad with a daughter.  I also appreciate his introduction where he says this is primarily for dads with daughters but can be read by single moms or just daughters.  If you currently have a daughter, or have one on the way, get a copy of this book.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLookBloggers.com review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Falling Short of Heroic

Doug Fields' newest book -- 7 Ways to be Her Hero:  The One Your Wife has Been Waiting For -- is a good attempt to hammer home important points regarding what we, as men, must do in order to lead our wives (and ultimately our homes).  He spends the first couple of chapters as an introductory piece and lays out his overall approach, and he completes the thesis by establishing the 7 actions that men must take to become the hero their wives want.  While this book does have some value for open-minded men to glean, it has significant shortcomings as well.

The author writes with a tongue-in-cheek style and readily admits that choice.  At one point, he says that ultra-conservative folks should put the book down because they may be offended with some of his off-handed remarks.  I found that approach or admission rather strange because the author then alienates a potentially good sized audience.  In reading the book, I did not see anything offensive; however, the stylistic treatment seemed to cheapen them -- as if they were not as serious as he said in his introduction.  Yes, you can have fun with a book but that "fun" can take too much away from the topic if not balanced appropriately.  From my perspective, there is not a proper balance.

Perhaps my biggest gripe with the book is found in the middle portion of the book.  The author advises men to incorporate the "sandwich method" of sharing a real, authentic and relevant conversation about issues.  For those of you that do not know, the "sandwich method" is where you say something nice, slip in the issue, and then close with something nice.  I am aghast that he would ever suggest such an approach because that format is not real or authentic.  Knowing that men and women differ on conversation -- women seek to wage the entire campaign whereas men like the surgical strike method -- this suggestion seems to fit the men's perspective rather than being heroic (which IS the title of his book).  The better approach would be to utilize tools such as "Fierce Conversations" (Google Susan Scott) or "Crucial Conversations" (Google VitalSmarts) to truly be heroic for the woman that you love and want to lead.

The list of individuals providing "praise" for the book is impressive, but I just view the book as a meager effort.  Field's book pales in comparison to other stronger reads (such as Stu Weber's Tender Warriors which I highly recommend), and for that reason, I'm giving it an "okay" rating.  An "A" for effort is not sufficient, in my opinion, when such a topic is desperately needed in our modern culture.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLookBloggers.com review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

History is Where "Here" Happened....

I normally provide reviews for Christian books being put forward by Christian publishers; however, I have broken away from that rut in this instance.  Given my educational background in history (BA and MA), I took the opportunity to read and review a book written by Andrew Carroll -- Here is Where:  Discovering America's Great Forgotten History.  If you are looking for a book filled with citations that relied upon primary sources, well, this is not the one for you.  If you are, however, looking for a pleasurable read where you will learn a great deal, then, by all means, grab this book and read it.

The author's intent was to find "forgotten history," and he defines that by people or events that do not have historical monuments for the particular events he covered.  He criss-crossed the nation in finding these events and would always attempt to get to the exact place where that history occurred.  Even if it was a vacant lot at the corner of a street or the remnants of a historical home that rested in poison ivy infested woods.  Along the way, he runs into some issues with the US military and FBI, but I will not spoil that for you by providing any more details.

At more than 400 pages, it does not feel that way when you read it.  The rationale is quite simple -- Carroll has a gift of written expression and he uses it deftly throughout the entire book.  You will discover how a prisoner created a "super gun" that would help win World War 2.  You see a rather odd way that the founders of the Mayo Clinic gain interest in medicine.  You hear about the irony of all ironies involving the Booth and Lincoln families.

He categorizes his discussions along major topics, but my favorite - by far - was the section on Burial Plots.  My interest comes from my own historical studies of wandering old cemeteries that dot the eastern part of North Carolina.  The way we treat our dead and remember them says a great deal about who we are in the present.  Forgetting them means that we miss the future that they helped craft.

Get this book.  Read this book.  Enjoy this book.

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.  I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 25:  “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Greatness in Leadership is....God-centered!

Three words:  a must read!!!!

Joseph Stowell's Redefining Leadership:  Character-driven Habits of Effective Leaders is a must read for any Christian currently in a leadership role or aspiring to have a leadership role.  While Stowell does operate from the perspective of shepherd leaders (i.e. pastors), but the principles and tenets are valuable for any Christian that serves as a leader.

I serve in a secular field, but his focus on God's Word makes it highly applicable to any situation.  The last few chapters of the book shift into the Sermon on the Mount -- specifically the Beatitudes.  He takes many of those Beatitudes and applies them to the leadership realm.  Some scholars would argue that he is reading into the text, but I would disagree with them.  If every Christian is to have these attitudes in our lives to show the world that Jesus lives in us, then they would absolutely apply to a leader.

The structure of book is logical and well-established:  (1) redefining priorities, (2) redefining our identity, and (3) redefining leadership.  In the first part of the book, Stowell clearly defines character-driven and outcome-driven leadership.  In doing so, he makes the Biblical case for the former because you lead as you are.  The second section challenges the modern notion of personal identity.  Unfortunately, leaders identify themselves based upon position, authority, or money.  Stowell says that we need to remember that our identity is in Christ and He is who we serve.  Finally, the author concludes with a laser-like focus on the specific identifiers of a character-driven leader.  He summarizes the entire book with a short-paraphrase of a well-known verse of Scripture:  "For me, to lead is Christ!"  Amen and amen!!!

What I love best about Stowell's work is his adamant stance on character-driven versus outcome-driven leaders.  Character-driven leaders do have success, but they define success differently.  Rather than building profit, Christ-centered leaders build people.  In order to accomplish that task, Christian leaders cannot adopt the leadership mores and values of the world and expect different results.  As Stowell says on page 26:  "running the kingdom by earthside standards is a contradiction of the very nature of the kingdom."  We, as Christians, do live in the world, but we operate on different principles (at least we should be...and a huge failure of Christian leaders today is that we are too similar to the world).

If you are a pastor, elder, or deacon looking for a quality training resource for new elders or deacons, this is a great manual for you because it is filled with Scripture.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLookBloggers.com review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Israeli One-State Solution -- Thought Provoking Book

The Israeli Solution by Caroline Glick exposes the flaws in global diplomacy related to the “resolution” of the territorial conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.  If you, as a reader, are interested in another viewpoint other than what you see regularly in contemporary news, then this book is a must read.  Why would I levy that claim?  Simply put, do not miss the final words in the tag line from the book:  “a one-state plan for peace in the Middle East.”  Glick adopts a pro-Israel position and hammers home her thesis throughout.

If you choose to tackle this book, I do want to throw out two specific cautions:  (1) Understand that this read is one that will challenge your notions of foreign diplomacy, force an evaluation of the news you watch, astound you with the even-handed manner at which American presidential flaws are revealed, and shock you and how the United States continues to fund Palestinians (which ends up funding terrorist acts against Israel); and (2) Understand that reading it will take time to work through these weighty matters; however, Glick does an amazing job at breaking this complex issue down into language that is simple to understand.

One of the strongest sections in her argument for the one-state solution is her debunking of what she calls the “demographic bomb.”  She cleverly references it as a “dud.”  She shows how the Palestinian demographic study was completely flawed through over-representation of actual Palestinians, inflated birth rates, and counting of people that simply do not exist.  These findings were not put forward by the Israeli government but were from an American-based group.  To put the inflationary figures in perspective, it would be akin to the U.S. Census Bureau saying that American had nearly 200 million more people than anticipated.

Unfortunately, these inaccurate numbers have been accepted by many in the Israeli government, Arab world, and in the US Department of State.  President Obama has relied upon those demographic numbers, despite the challenge, as his primary push for the two-state system.  The use of those falsified numbers compares Israel to South Africa and assumes that Jews could be outvoted in the near future.  As an interesting aside, the initial report forecast that Palestinians would outnumber Jews by 2005.  That did not occur, so the PLO shifted its date to 2010.  That did not occur, so it shifted to 2015.  It appears that will not occur either, so a new date of 2020 is expected.  Without a doubt, the credibility of the demographic numbers is being undercut by these constantly shifting dates AND due to internal Palestinian ministry data that conflicts with this report as well.

Although she will be vilified by many, Glick provided significant evidence in the Endnote section to bolster her arguments.  Yes, this is a totally one-sided and pro-Israeli position on the territorial and settlement disputes between Israel and Palestine; however, it is a position that must be stated.  If you examine media coverage on the disputes, then you could conclude that the press offers a totally one-sided position in favor of the Palestinians.  Balance must be achieved so that a true understanding of the situational complexities can be acknowledged. 

This has been an enlightening read that I can assure you will be controversial.  Regardless of what others think, study the current direction of American foreign policy and then compare it with the suggestions of this author.  When it comes to international engagement, American citizens often leave that up to the government because they are the “experts.”  If you wish to shape policy in the ballot booth, then you need to be able to ask the right questions based upon you beliefs.  Maybe this book will shift your thoughts on the Israeli-Palestinian situation and maybe it will not, but this is still worthy of your time.

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.  I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 25:  “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.