It may be the best advice my father ever gave me: Never discuss politics or religion! That was good advice, which has helped over the years. Sometimes, my love of economics would cause me to slip into a political discussion, but I've faithfully avoided any discussion of religion. It is simply too important and too private to discuss with mere mortals. In fact, I would rather discuss my last visit to the urologist in front of a crowded convention center than discuss my last visit to church in front of a crowd of one.
Now, there is also a common courtesy among writers that we read each other's books . . . oh, what to do, what to do . . .
Jerry Maxwell is a good & decent man, whom I've known for many years and also happens to be a devout Christian. He has written a short but serious book on the management of new churches, entitled Across the Aisle. He makes a compelling case that churches should be built "bottom-up" from "life groups." Too often, some denomination decides to start a church somewhere, and they impose more organizational structure than necessary for growth.
I enjoyed this book, this peek into a world I don't know. Jerry also discusses what defines leadership in developing a new church, and it is remarkably similar to corporate leadership, if not military leadership. A leader is humble enough to even wash the feet of his followers. There is much to learn from reading this book, and I look forward to his next one.
But, I wonder if his father also told him never to discuss politics or religion . . . I salute him for being able to discuss such a forbidden subject intelligently. I'd probably just wind up writing a book about my last visit to the urologist. . . .
Now, there is also a common courtesy among writers that we read each other's books . . . oh, what to do, what to do . . .
Jerry Maxwell is a good & decent man, whom I've known for many years and also happens to be a devout Christian. He has written a short but serious book on the management of new churches, entitled Across the Aisle. He makes a compelling case that churches should be built "bottom-up" from "life groups." Too often, some denomination decides to start a church somewhere, and they impose more organizational structure than necessary for growth.
I enjoyed this book, this peek into a world I don't know. Jerry also discusses what defines leadership in developing a new church, and it is remarkably similar to corporate leadership, if not military leadership. A leader is humble enough to even wash the feet of his followers. There is much to learn from reading this book, and I look forward to his next one.
But, I wonder if his father also told him never to discuss politics or religion . . . I salute him for being able to discuss such a forbidden subject intelligently. I'd probably just wind up writing a book about my last visit to the urologist. . . .
