Category Archives: Weird

Dec 14 2011
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Bill Hybels, Book Review, Craig Groeschel, Great By Choice, Jim Collins, Mark Batterson, Power of a Whisper, SoulPrint, the Circle Maker, Weird

Favorite Books of 2011

I try to read a decent amount of books during a year and I wanted to post my 5 favorite reads of 2011.

1.  Great By Choice by Jim Collins and Morten Hansen – This is probably the best principled business book that I have read (not that I have read a ton of business books).  Collins and Hansen give not only excellent research in their findings, but integrate aligned stories that make the book feel less of a business book and more of a life application guide.  Great principles for businesses and individuals to grasp.

2.  Weird by Craig Groeschel – A very timely book about not getting sucked in to the normalcy of culture.  Just because it is normal for everyone doesn’t mean that it is a good thing.  Groeschel touches on finances, sex, time, relationships, and values.  A great read.

3.  Making Ideas Happen by Scott Belsky – Another business book that I think really has helped me engage the process of grasping ideas and making them tangible.  Belsky gives great insight to how to create action plans, and how to marry strengths from others to get ideas accomplished.

4.  The Power of a Whisper by Bill Hybels – I love Bill Hybels stuff.  Pick up any of his books and you will learn so much.  This one is no different.  We even did a Wednesday night study with this book and had great comments that came from it.  A great book on not only identifying God’s voice in our lives, but having the courage to act on those whispers.

5.  SoulPrint by Mark Batterson – This book is great for young people.  Batterson not only has a great writing style, but puts in great nuggets of insight in helping the reader identify God’s plan for their lives.  Following the Bible character, David, throughout the book, Batterson allows those who read it to have a hope and desire to get in the presence of God.

 

Books I am currently reading or will be reading:

1.  The Circle Maker by Mark Batterson

2.  Give Smart by Thomas Tierney and Joel Fleishman

3.  Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson

4.  Onward by Howard Schultz

May 10 2011
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Craig Groeschel, Money, Weird, Wisdom

Weird Money

I am continuing in my reading of Craig Groeschel’s most recent book, Weird.  I just recently finished the section on “Money”.  There are so many great insights and teachings in this section that it would take a long time to expound and highlight them all.  However, in one part of this section Groeschel brings out a great point of why wealth doesn’t equal wisdom.  Groeschel states:

Proverbs 21:20 is a great verse to memorize: “In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has.”  The wise–not the rich–have more than enough in their house.  They have extra.  According to this verse, it’s a foolish person who lives paycheck to paycheck.  

When “61% of working Americans live paycheck to paycheck”, we need to wonder how much wisdom is around us!  Money can cause us to do some pretty dumb things can’t it?  When we have some, we want to use it.  With well over half of working people in the United States living this way, it would seem like a “normal” problem.  But just because a problem is “normal” doesn’t negate that fact that it is still a problem.

It’s not an income problem.  It’s a lifestyle problem…it’s a spiritual problem.

It’s a choice.  How will you decide to live?  Your answer will affect your life, your families life, and potentially generations to come.  Choose to be wise and a little weird.

Apr 29 2011
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Craig Groeschel, Direction, Family, Growth, Heart, Weird

What Matters Most?

I have been continuing in Craig Groeschel’s new book, Weird.  Most recently I was reading the section on money, and particularly debt.  Groeschel makes the easy case for staying out of debt and making the choice to get on the right path.  Towards the end of the chapter 4 I love what Groeschel says about getting out of debt, because it can also be applied to so many other different avenues of our lives;

(Y)ou have to make a choice about what matters most and then act on your heart’s desire.

Making the choice of what matters the most must be our hearts desire.  Each time we choose a direction, we drive an extra stake in the ground of our hearts to that particular direction; it is our hearts desire.  What matters most to you?  Your spouse and children or your golf game?  Your friends or your spouse?  Your things or freedom?  Your way or God’s way?

What matters to you the most comes out of the desire of your heart.  Your choices will either confirm your hearts desire or shift it down another path.  Every decision matters because it does affect the desires of your heart.  And our hearts take the lead in directing us throughout life.

Apr 08 2011
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Craig Groeschel, Direction, Hearing from God, Weird

Substitue Syndrome

As I posted earlier this week, I have been reading (and thoroughly enjoying) the book Weird by Craig Groeschel.  I was so challenged today by Groeschel’s statements on substituting something for God.  Substituting “stuff” for God is so easy isn’t it?  Whether it is producing, achieving, or driving for success (all which can be good things), if not fully devoted to God becomes essentially about us and not God.

Just like the Israelite making a golden calf while Moses was on the mountain; the idea of worship and security that the Israelites were longing for was not a bad thing.  However, when they acted on their own terms to manufacture those feelings of worship and security, it became about them and not about Jehovah God.  You and I do the same things sometimes don’t we?  We manufacture and produce in the name of God and yet forget the aspect that we need wait and follow God’s directions.  When we substitute, we lose out on experiencing God.  I love how Groeschel states it in the book:

You’re trying to substitute something for God, when he’s the only one who can fulfill you.  This empty pursuit was exactly what I’d been doing for the majority of my life.  I was wondering where my time was going instead of wondering where I was going in pursuit of God.

The real question we must come to grips with is, “Why try to substitue, when we can experience the real thing?”

Apr 06 2011
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Book Review, Craig Groeschel, Weird

Losing Your Marbles

Wanted to write a quick post today that has come out of my reading of the book, Weird by Craig Groeschel.  In his book Groeschel gives a great idea for parent of teenagers.  This idea involves losing your marbles!

Start by counting down how many Saturdays you have left with your daughter(s) or son(s) until they graduate high school.  Add one marble in a bowl for each Saturday you have left.  Then every Saturday morning take one marble out, and think about how you are going to spend your day.

I think this small, visual reminder could help you decide to say no to some good things, and say yes to some great things with your children.  As Groeschel puts it, “Despite our best efforts, we’re all losing our marbles.  It’s just a matter of how we’ll enjoy each one.”

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