Tag Archives: book review

It’s the Song, Not the Singer

Posted on January 26, 2012 by Carl Simmons

Let me put my personal prejudice on the table, and then we can all feel free to ignore it: I’m not a fan of Leonard Sweet’s style of writing. Nonetheless, because of the focus of this book, I took a … Continue reading →

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An Offer You Could Refuse… But Why WOULD You?

Posted on January 12, 2012 by Carl Simmons

This week’s Other Voice… is you. Well, that’s actually up to you, but that’s the offer I’m putting on the table. Here’s my dilemma: For the past year, my 6-study series Growing Out has been wandering the earth without a … Continue reading →

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Learning to Live Out of Our Identity

Posted on January 5, 2012 by Carl Simmons

Basically, what we have here is a book about finding, and resting in, our identity in Christ,  and you can never have enough books like that out there. And for the record: We don’t. David M. Showers. Ten Steps to … Continue reading →

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Go With God, and Keep Going

Posted on December 29, 2011 by Carl Simmons

I was half-thinking of riffing on my last book review and titling this “So Simple, Even a Senior Pastor Could Do It.” I eventually thought better of that idea, but my reasoning was sound… granted, someone could also have fun … Continue reading →

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So Simple, Even a Small-Group Leader Can Do It

Posted on December 1, 2011 by Carl Simmons

…and for that matter, so concise that small-group leaders will actually read it. And if they do, they’ll come away with a framework that can be easily transferred within any small-group ministry. Jim Egli and Dwight Marable. Small Groups, Big … Continue reading →

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Truth Is More Useful Than Fiction

Posted on October 27, 2011 by Carl Simmons

I have to admit: Unless your name’s John Bunyan, fictional accounts of God’s hypothetical real-life work in the church has never really done it for me. (I have to wonder how I’d feel if I were to read In His … Continue reading →

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The Learned Desperation of Prayer

Posted on October 20, 2011 by Carl Simmons

“There is nothing secret about communion with God. If we live a holy life before God, broken of our pride and self-will, crying out for grace, then we will be in communion with God. It really is that simple.” Paul … Continue reading →

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Moving From Why? to What Next?

Posted on October 6, 2011 by Carl Simmons

Let’s make this easy: If you love the title, you’ll like the book. If not… well, there are still a few things you could learn from it. Ramon Presson. When Will My Life Not Suck?: Authentic Hope for the Disillusioned. … Continue reading →

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A Kingdom WORTH Desiring…

Posted on September 1, 2011 by Carl Simmons

Last week I reviewed a book wherein the thinking was right, but the feeling was missing. This week (courtesy of my younger daughter, who attends this pastor’s church in Portland and thus snagged me a free copy of this), we … Continue reading →

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Show, Don’t Tell… maybe next time…

Posted on August 25, 2011 by Carl Simmons

Having read and enjoyed Leadership Journal editor Skye Jethani’s first book The Divine Commodity, I had high hopes for his new one. Specifically, as that first book had been long on well-placed criticisms and short on answers—and to be fair, … Continue reading →

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