Tag Archives: book review

Who We Are, Where We’re Going, and How We Get There

Posted on September 24, 2012 by Carl Simmons

(or: How I Spent My Extended Summer Vacation, 2011 version) Buckle up, friends—this’un’s gonna be almost as autobiographical as informative. But the back story does inform the official one. So bear with me…. For the final 4 1/2 years I was … Continue reading →

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A Remedy for Burnout

Posted on September 4, 2012 by Carl Simmons

“Life doesn’t start when you’re twenty, or when you’re forty. Life starts at Calvary. And that’s where fruitful service begins as well.” I’m still bothered trying to figure out exactly how much of this really happened and how much is … Continue reading →

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Being the Church by Being There for Others

Posted on August 13, 2012 by Carl Simmons

“What does it take to influence someone to commit his or her life for Christ? How much effort must be put forth to impact a life for eternity?” asks church consultant Michael Wiles early on in these pages. His answer … Continue reading →

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The Word Is the Word

Posted on June 12, 2012 by Carl Simmons

In some ways, this is a tough one to review—1) because I never needed the authors to convince me, because, in turn, 2) I kind of knew all this already. Thing is, it’s pretty clear that the majority of the American … Continue reading →

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From Outside the Camp to Inside… then back out again….

Posted on May 25, 2012 by Carl Simmons

Shame is a crippling thing, whether it comes in the small-s or capital-s form. Throughout this book, Ed Welch reminds us that Jesus not only came to remove our shame but literally carried it to the cross for us—then reminds us … Continue reading →

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Believe Who You Are, Do What You Must

Posted on May 8, 2012 by Carl Simmons

As I read David Alves’ book, a thought came to me… and roll with me on this. I wonder if… a) our current unwillingness to claim and live out of our status as sons and daughters of God is, in … Continue reading →

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Bullet-List the Blue Sky

Posted on May 1, 2012 by Carl Simmons

This book, regarding the idols we have in our lives, has gotten some serious props from other sectors (not the least of them being Rick Warren, who contributes the foreword). But it won’t be getting much of that here. Perhaps … Continue reading →

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The Joy of Scandal

Posted on April 27, 2012 by Carl Simmons

To be honest, I liked this far more than I expected going in. Then again, knowing nothing about the author, I was expecting a book coming out of a “bunker mentality.” Thankfully, this (and he) is nothing of the sort. … Continue reading →

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…Because He First Loved Us

Posted on April 18, 2012 by Carl Simmons

The premise of William Smith’s latest book is a simple but profound one: We can only love others as well as we can receive and recognize Jesus’ love for us. The rest of the book is a matter of learning … Continue reading →

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It’s a Church PLANT, Not a Church PLAN

Posted on April 5, 2012 by Carl Simmons

If you know anything about me, you know that church plants are near and dear to my heart. And if you know anything about church plants, you know that no two are alike, no matter what books on church planting … Continue reading →

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