Reading Goals for 2011

Last year my goal was to read twelve nonfiction books and to reread at least six more. I didn't quite make it all the way to eighteen but read or listened to at least twelve books. This year the goal is forty-eight books, either new or previously read. It's going to be tough but I've already finished one and am working on two more.

The White Horse King by Benjamin Merkle

The White Horse King: The Life of Alfred the Great recounts the life of an indefatigable king who set out to free his people from the torrent of Viking invaders whose goal was complete dominance of Britain. Facing continuous waves of Viking raiders, the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms fell like dominoes as a young Alfred traveled, learned, and matured. Stepping into his role as king Alfred continued to fight on the front lines of war with sword and shield but also lead the fights against illiteracy and ungodliness. With impressive detail Benjamin Merkle explains the methods of battle, types of weapons, contemporary philosophies, and pertinent stories of Alfred's rise to greatness.

I appreciate the way in which the author presented the growth of Alfred from the youngest son who was never expected to reign to the great leader of a fading people. Mr. Merkle makes use of great color to explain the probable emotions and thought processes of the people of that time. I would highly recommend this book to those who enjoy biographies and history.

To the FTC and whomever else it may concern, I received this book for free from Thomas Nelson as a BookSneeze Blogger. In return, I have promised to review the book but have been given the freedom by Thomas Nelson to give my honest opinions whether they be positive or negative.

Fools Assume

I wrote this, quite a while back and thought it appropriate to post here. Though I still struggle with my tendency to assume, I can see the grace of a patient Heavenly Father at work and the changes He is producing.

Duke's basketball coach, Mike Krzyzewski (aka Coach K), wrote in his book Leading with the Heart: Coach K's Successful Strategies for Basketball, Business, and Life, "One of the worst things anybody can do is assume. I think fools assume. If people have really got it together, they never assume anything. They believe, they work hard, and they prepare - but they don't assume."

Too often as Christians we sit back and assume everything will go well. We unbiblically pretend to rely on the all-sufficient grace of Christ. In all truthfulness it is not reliance but procrastination and laziness. Christ taught that to be a disciple we must deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him (Matt 16:24). Biblical Christianity puts action to words. In James 2 we are taught that faith without action is not faith.

We need to get off of the sofa and start working. Let's not assume that the work is going to get done.
Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
1Thessalonians 1:3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;


To the FTC and whomever else it may concern, I bought this book with my own money and have not been, in any way encouraged to write a review, either positive or negative.

Obstacles Welcome by Ralph de la Vega

Obstacles Welcome: How to Turn Adversity into Advantage in Business and in Life is much more than a biography of events, it is a blueprint for a successful life and business. With “Six Pivotal Points” of his life as an outline Ralph de la Vega, president and CEO of AT&T Mobility, presents the major obstacles in his life and the steps he took to overcome them. The author goes into impressive detail when describing his goals and methods for business and provides plenty of charts and graphs to illustrate them.

Expecting a biography, I was excited to see the great lengths the author went to to teach and define such deep concepts as success, leadership, and vision. With insight, he presents information with more than just AT&T in mind; it is loaded with beneficial application for large and small companies (whether new or old), churches, and even the reader's personal life.

The following is a quote that has stayed with me:

“The minute we stop learning and trying out new things, we start to become stagnant. We won't go much further in our growth. The pace of change around us is too fast for us to become locked in place.”

While no Scripture was presented as such, the book is in line with Biblical principles and I highly recommend it to anyone in a position of leadership.

To the FTC and whomever else it may concern, I received this book for free from Thomas Nelson as a Book Review Blogger. In return, I have promised to review the book but have been given the freedom by Thomas Nelson to give my honest opinions whether they be positive or negative.

Dance Me, Daddy

Dads do not usually let others see their sentimental side. Sometimes we even pretend we don't have one, preferring instead to constrain our demeanor, and display a cool, tough facade.


But, in all honesty, there is a sentimental lobe in our brains and we have great difficulty in hiding it when we think or talk about the relationships we share with our daughters. Dance Me, Daddy, by singer/songwriter Cindy Morgan, is a little book that toys with my emotional side and leads me to periods of great contemplation of the current and future events in Emma's life. It tells of the fun times a father and daughter have dancing around the house and how those dances, and their significance, change as time passes.

As the little girl matures and heads "off to see the world, meet a boy, and fall in love" I can't help but wonder what that day will be like. My mind spins and whirls as I realize that I have got a great deal of work ahead of me in order to prepare my "princess" for that epoch of independence from Mom and Dad.

Cindy Morgan has written a song, King of the World, and has included the lyrics in the book. An accompying CD contains the song, sung by Point of Grace, the story, read by Cindy Morgan, and a brief interview about the story.

Here is a video of the book produced by Zonderkidz.

 To the FTC and whomever else it may concern, I received this book as a gift from my wife and daughter and have not been, in any way, encouraged to write a review, either positive or negative concerning the book or the linked video.

No More Mondays

No More Mondays: Fire Yourself -- and Other Revolutionary Ways to Discover Your True Calling at Work by Dan Miller is an enthusiastic "how to" manual for those who are ready to live out their passion as their income producer. Early on Dan declares that, "Every day, millions of people rush to get to jobs they don't love and then go home to lives that are equally empty and boring. And yet those people defend their choices as responsible, practical, and realistic." He then asks, "How can it be responsible to live lives devoid of meaning, joy, and purpose?" Through the rest of the book Dan teaches why we should find our calling instead of being imprisoned by a J-O-B and how we can live out that calling successfully.

With practical advice, vivid illustrations from real life success stories, and some revolutionary thinking the "No More Mondays" philosophy is effectively laid out. This book is filled with Dan Miller's infectious "can do" attitude and can give you that needed kick in the pants to finding and doing what you were created to do.

I thought this little list of excuses that Dan quoted from Craig Boldman's Every Excuse in the Book was quite interesting.

• I got severe tire damage on the Road Less Traveled
• I learned the wrong 7 Habits.
• The Chicken Soup for My Soul was contaminated with E. coli.
• Someone slipped me some bad affirmations.
• I'm one of those good people bad things happen to.
• There's no evidence of wrongdoing on my part.
• My Inner Child made me do it.
  

To the FTC and whomever else it may concern, I borrowed this book from my local library and have not been, in any way, encouraged to write a review, either positive or negative.

Failing Forward

Failing Forward: Turning Mistakes into Stepping Stones for Success is my first venture into the writings of John Maxwell. I have been encouraged many times to read his books on leadership; and from the amount of information, the encouragement, and even the rebukes in Failing Forward, his work has moved to the top of my list!

Throughout it is well taught that "The difference between average people and achieving people is their perception of and response to failure." The book is based on 15 principles that enable you to recognize failure and respond successfully. it is overflowing with lessons from Maxwell's own personal experiences as well as the lives of many others who exemplify the necessary responses to failure. Some of those people include Mary Kay Ash, Dan Reiland, Arnold Palmer, and John James Audubon.

With lessons like If you've failed, are you a failure and Get over yourself - everybody else has, Maxwell reminds us that we are the key to determining whether we fail backward or forward. See failure as an opportunity to learn, grow, and mature and realize that often those things don't happen except in the aftermath of what is commonly called failing.

To the FTC and whomever else it may concern, I borrowed this book from my local library and have not been, in any way, encouraged to write a review, either positive or negative.

48 Days To The Work You Love

"Few categories of our lives define us and grow us spiritually, emotionally, relationally, and as people. Our work is one of those powerful defining areas. Sadly, a J-O-B is what most people settle for, but as Dan Miller so powerfully points out in 48 Days To The Work You Love, a calling lights up your life." Dave Ramsey

It was Dave Ramsey who first pointed me to Dan Miller (through his show and not in person unfortunately), and I will be forever grateful. With passion and wisdom garnered from real life peaks and valleys Dan presents a common sense approach to finding and understanding your personal abilities and skills, and making it a reality.

Like a successful motivational speaker Dan backs up his encouragement with plenty of "how-to-do-it" advice. The book includes chapters to encourage you to get up and go, how to determine your calling, where to look (and not look) for jobs, and important things to remember include in the interview process.

The appendices contain samples of good cover letters, resumes, and follow-up letters; a Personal Mission Statement Worksheet; and a suggested reading list.

Links to more information about Dan Miller and the 48 Days concept.

• 48days.com
• 48 Days Podcast - weekly podcast in which Dan answers questions about life, business, finding your calling, and starting a business
• 48days.net - includes a forum of entrepreneurs and life coaches working together to gather information and build businesses

To the FTC and whomever else it may concern, I bought this book with my own money and have not been, in any way encouraged to write a review, either positive or negative.

found: God's Will, by John MacArthur

In the little book, Found: God's Will (Find the Direction and Purpose God Wants for Your Life), John MacArthur explains how to know that you are in God’s will. There are no secret codes or special methods revealed, just Scriptures explained. What will surprise many of you is the simple (and Biblical) approach to knowing whether or not you are following God’s plan for your life. Guess what?!? There’s no searching or begging involved. Remember, you do not have to look for it; He will reveal it as you go. You may ask, “Well what do I have to do to have it revealed to me?” Simply be what Christ wants you to be. “God’s will is that you are saved, Spirit-filled, sanctified, submissive, and suffering” (p54). Does that sentence describe you? If your answer is honestly, yes, then guess what! You are in God’s will! You will continue to be in God’s will as long as you are who He wants you to be.

Okay, I’ll be honest; I have simplified down to a paragraph what he took 60 pages to say. Go read the book and get all of the details. Study and learn the verses he used to make the points he did. Find out for yourself if what he said is accurate according to the Word.

To the FTC and whomever else it may concern, I received this book for free from Grace to You as a member of their mailing list and was in no way encouraged to write a review, either positive or negative.