Welcome back to the Transformed podcast. We are honored to have Alan Hirsch with us on the podcast today!

Alan is the founding Director of Forge Mission Training Network. He is the co-founder of shapevine.com an international forum for engaging with world transforming ideas. He leads Future Travelers, a learning journey applying missional-incarnational approaches to established churches and is an active participant in The Tribe of LA, a Jesus community among artists and creatives in Los Angeles.

His experience in leadership includes leading a local church movement among the marginalized as well as heading up the Mission and Revitalization work of his denomination. Alan is and adjunct professor at Fuller Seminary and lectures frequently throughout Australia, Europe, and the U.S.
Known for his innovative approach to mission, Alan is a teacher and key mission strategist for churches across the western world. His popular book The Shaping of Things to Come (with Michael Frost) is widely considered to be a seminal text on mission. Alan’s recent book The Forgotten Ways, has quickly become a key reference for missional thinking, particularly as it relates to movements. His book ReJesus is a radical restatement about the role that Jesus plays in defining missional movements.  Untamed, his latest book (with his wife Debra) is about missional discipleship for a missional church.

We are aware there are some audio imperfections in this interview – Alan’s connection wasn’t the best. However, we know you will learn a lot if you turn up the volume and stay focused to this great discussion.

We are giving away TWO copies of Alan and Deb’s book, Untamed as well! Check out these simple rules and tell your friends.

To be eligible for a FREE copy …

1.     Just sign up for the Eagles In Leadership blog notifications (Right side of this web page) if you are not already signed up.

2.     Make a comment below this post on the web page indicating your desire for the book and how you would envision using it.

3.     Deadline for the free copies will be October 15^th.

Winners will be notified after the contest concludes.

Thank you for tuning in again to the Transformed podcast! Today we welcome Matt Bell back to the program. Matt is a personal finance writer and speaker.

He is the author of three books: Money, Purpose, Joy (September 2008), Money and Marriage: A Complete Guide for Engaged and Newly Married Couples which was published in March of 2011 and Money Strategies for Tough Times, which we will talk about today.

Matt has been quoted in U.S. News and World Report, the Chicago Tribune, and Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine, has written for ChristianityToday.com, writes the Matt About Money blog, and has been a guest on several nationally syndicated radio talk shows.

Matt is a return guest to Transformed! His first interview about Money, Purpose, Joy can be found here.

In today’s episode, we explore how you can successfully navigate the challenging times we live in and how to get to a better place with your personal finances.

We know this episode will be a great help as Matt talks with Matt about …

• How to get past the financial crisis
• Find some breathing space
• Ditch the debt, and
• Position yourself for lasting success

Many of these topics are from Matt’s book, Money Strategies for Tough Times.

In these tough times, Matt encourages you to pick up a copy of Matt Bell’s book, Money Strategies for Tough Times. We know this resource will help you take charge of your financial life.

Matt talks about home mortgage help from the government. Click here for that website.

We are giving away TWO copies of Matt’s book, Money Strategies for Tough Times as well! Check out these simple rules and tell your friends.

To be eligible for a FREE copy …

1.     Just sign up for the Eagles In Leadership blog notifications (Right side of this web page)

2.     Make a comment below this post on the web page indicating your desire for the book and how you would envision using it.

3.     Deadline for the free copies will be September 15^th.

Winners will be notified after the contest concludes.

We are so pleased you have returned to the Transformed podcast!

In today’s episode, we welcome back Tom Cocklereece, author of Simple Discipleship, which we talked about recently (here’s the link to that interview).

Today we talk about a companion to the book, and it’s called Simple Discipleship: The Disciple-Maker’s Toolkit. You can purchase the toolkit in Kindle here.

This toolkit is filled with all sorts of ideas, advice and practical tools. We know you will enjoy this interview.

You can learn more about Tom’s ministry by clicking this link.

Simple Discipleship is on Facebook as well!

Matt encourages you to pick up a copy of Tom’s book, Simple Discipleship and it’s companion Simple Discipleship: The Disciple-Maker’s Toolkit. These resources will help you reach your community in your generation.

We are so pleased you have returned to the Transformed podcast.

In today’s episode, we explore how we can recover the message and mission of Jesus, and thus, Change the World.

Matt’s guest today is Mike Slaughter, lead pastor at Ginghamsburg Church, is the three-decade dreamer of Ginghamsburg and the spiritual entrepreneur of ministry marketplace innovations.

When Mike arrived at Ginghamsburg Church in 1979, worship attendance hovered at 90 with 118 members and an annual budget of $27,000. Now, 4000 attendees on average worship weekly at Ginghamsburg and the multi-million dollar budget helps resource a faith community committed to serving the poor, lost and disenfranchised.

Today Matt and Mike talk about the church becoming a mission outpost, living out Christ’s ideals in today’s world. As they do, they will explore Mike’s book, Change the World.

You can also learn more about Mike by clicking this link.

You can also learn more about Mike’s ministry by clicking this link.

Matt wants you to pick up a copy of Mike’s book, Change the World. This resource will rock your world and help you rethink the message and mission of Jesus as it related to reaching your community in your generation.

Steve and Matt

Photo Credit: Melodee Smith

In today’s episode, we return to the world of the 1^st century and try to discover how the early church exploded upon the Roman Empire so quickly.

Matt’s guest today is Steve Gladen, who is currently the Pastor of Small Groups at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California, where he oversees over the development and expansion of over 3,500 small groups.

Gladen, a quick, energetic, and passionate personality, loves working with people in small groups and teaching individuals and churches the foundations of growing relationships within those same groups.

Today Matt and Steve talk about how to create healthy small group communities in your church and launch people into vibrant, balanced ministry. They will explore Steve’s new book, Small Groups with Purpose.

We know you are going to enjoy today’s interview.

You can also learn more about Steve’s ministry by clicking this link.

We are giving away TWO copies of Steve’s book. Here’s how you can get your copy:

1. Tweet or Post on Facebook the following:

Win a free copy of “Small Groups On Purpose.” Details: http://EaglesInLeadership.org

2.Sign up for the Eagles In Leadership blog (so you can be notified of winning) at http://EaglesInLeadership.org.

3. Comment at http://EaglesInLeadership.org, expressing your desire to have the book.

That’s it! Winners will be selected on July 20 and will be notified via EaglesInLeadership’s blog – on July 21st.

Matt encourages you to pick up a copy of Steve’s book, Small Groups with Purpose. This is a great resource from a great man of God. You can find more about the book and how to purchase a copy here.

PBS, FRONTLINE AND AMERICAN EXPERIENCE
REVEAL CRITICAL ROLE OF RELIGION IN AMERICA, BOTH PAST AND PRESENT

Follow the Political and Spiritual Journeys of Religious Figures to Uncover How Religious Faith Shaped America

We have just finished a thorough review of this monumental film series and highly recommend it to everyone. It is comprehensive and speaks predominantly from the voices of the past concerning their faith, struggles, hopes and dreams.

God in America paints with a broad brush, and seeks to find the value and the issues that shaped America through religious freedom. PBS, Frontline and American Experience examine how and why religion has played an underlying role in shaping American culture, ideals and democracy in the new series God in America, which is now available on DVD.

“This compulsively watchable documentary manages to make our country’s religious history as thrilling as any Dan Brown novel…. the complex relationship between democracy and faith is a story line that never gets old,” reports Elle magazine.

While I was reviewing the series, I was also writing a History of Christianity in America course for a large Christian University. The review team agreed that the value of this series was significant enough to include it as a resource for the students.

For those who know that in America religion matters, and for those who wish it didn’t matter so much, comes God in America, a sweeping history of how religious faith has shaped America. Interweaving documentary footage, historical dramatizations, and interviews with religious historians, this documentary series from the award-winning producers of American Experience and Frontline is an in-depth exploration of the historical role of religion in the public life of the United States.

Examining the complex interaction between religion and democracy, the origins of the uniquely American concept of religious liberty, and the controversial evolution of that ideal in the nation’s political arena, God in America considers the role religious ideas and institutions have played in social reform movements, and how guarantees of religious freedom created a competitive religious marketplace in America.

The series explores its themes through a series of emblematic stories of the country’s religious history, and the political and spiritual journeys of important historical figures, including :  the Pueblo leader Po’pay, Puritan leader John Winthrop and dissident Anne Hutchinson, early evangelist, George Whitfield Catholic Bishop John Hughes, abolitionist Frederick Douglass, Presidents Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln, Methodist circuit ridr James Finley, Reform Rabbi Isaac Meyer Wise, Presbyterian biblical scholar Charles Briggs, Scopes trial combatants William Jennings Bryan and Clarence Darrow, evangelist Billy Graham, civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr., and the Moral Majority’s Jerry Falwell.

PBS has provided amazing resources on their website to supplement your viewing and study pleasure. We are sure that this DVD series would make an excellent addition to your video library and your understanding of how faith has shaped, and continues to shape, the fabric of America.

To order a copy of God in America here.

You may also order God in America or any other PBS titles, please call (800) PLAY-PBS or visit shopPBS.org.  To purchase DVDs with public performance rights, please visit ShopPBS.org/education.

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ABOUT PBS DISTRIBUTION

PBS Distribution is the leading media distributor for the public television community, both domestically and internationally.  Jointly owned by PBS (Arlington, VA) and WGBH (Boston, MA), PBS Distribution extends the reach of public television programs beyond broadcast while generating revenue for the public television system and our production partners.  PBS Distribution offers a diverse range of programming to our customers, including Ken Burns’s films (The National Parks, The Civil War, Baseball,), documentaries from award-winning series NOVA (The Elegant Universe, The Miracle of Life), FRONTLINE (Growing Up Online, Bush’s War), and American Experience (Earth Days, We Shall Remain), dramas from Masterpiece (Jane Eyre, Inspector Lewis), films from independent producers (The Buddha, The Story of India), and popular children’s programming from Super Why!, Wordgirl, Cyberchase, and Arthur.

We just previewed the film What If and found it to be an excellent choice for your family viewing! We were impressed with the honesty and clarity of the story line: a life without Christ is empty, despite what you may attain.

WHAT IF tells the story of Ben Walker (Kevin Sorbo), fifteen years after leaving his college sweetheart Wendy (Kristy Swanson) and his calling to be a preacher in order to pursue a business opportunity. Now with a high-paying executive gig, a trophy fiancé and a new Mercedes, he hasn’t even considered a family nor felt the need to set foot in a church in fifteen years.

While on a thrill ride outside the city, his new car mysteriously breaks down, and he’s visited by a tow truck driver named Mike (John Ratzenberger) who claims to be an angel sent to show Ben what his life would look like had he followed his true calling. Suddenly Ben wakes up in the middle of domestic chaos as his wife Wendy and daughters (including Debby Ryan) are getting ready for church, where Ben is the new pastor.

Before he can get back to his old life, Ben must first embrace this reality and discover the value of faith and family, and perhaps restore his love for those who were heartbroken fifteen years ago: Wendy and God. In the tradition of Its a Wonderful Life and The Family Man, What If is a story of finding your true purpose in life.

WHAT IF just received the Faith and Values MovieGuide Award for Most Inspiring Performance in a Lead Role (Sorbo/who was also host of the Awards Gala) and was one of the Top Ten Best Family Movies of 2010.

Pure Flix Entertainment announces the release of the film WHAT IF to DVD. WHAT IF stars KEVIN SORBO (Hercules, the Legendary Journeys, Andromeda), DEBBY RYAN (Bailey Pickett on the #1 Disney Channel hit show, The Suite Life on Deck), JOHN RATZENBERGER (Toy Story, Cheers) and KRISTY SWANSON (Buffy the Vampire Slayer ). WHAT IF is directed/produced by Dallas Jenkins (son of famed Jerry Jenkins, co-author of the Left Behind series) and is the sixth film to be released from the father/son duo.

Suitable for all ages, WHAT IF has been featured this week in the The Christian Post, Guideposts ‘Reel Inspiration’, and previously for the theatrical release in the New York Times.

You can learn more about the film at: www.thewhatifmovie.com.

You can purchase a copy of the film here.

We are thrilled to welcome Drew Dyck to the Transformed podcast today! Drew Dyck is the author of Generation Ex-Christian: Why young adults are leaving the faith…and how to bring them back (Moody, 2010). Drew manages the Leader Training Team at Christianity Today International. His responsibilities include overseeing four online publications geared for ministry leaders: BuildingChurchLeaders.com, SmallGroups.com, TodaysChildrensMinistry.com, and RoundTripMissions.com. Before coming to Christianity Today Drew was the editor of New Man magazine. He has written more than 100 articles for Christian and secular publications, and is a regular contributor to Faith Today, Boundless.org, and ConversantLife.com.

Drew grew up in Red Deer, Alberta in a pastor’s family and has three older brothers. After moving to the U.S. 10 years ago, Drew has lived in Portland, Pasadena, Orlando, and now, Chicago. He graduated from Portland State University with a B.A. in English before attending Fuller Theological Seminary, where he earned an M.A. in Theology. Drew has also served as a Bible study leader, small group leader, and youth pastor. He and his wife, Grace, attend Jericho Road Church. They love discussing theology with friends, hanging out in used bookstores, and traveling when they can afford it.

You can learn more about Drew here.

You can order Drew’s book, Generation Ex-Christian here.

You can read Matt’s review of Drew’s book on Church Central here.

Editor’s Note: This review was first published on ChurchCentral.com. Dr. Smith is a regular contributor there. We encourage you to check out their website. You can do so here.

The best leaders care. (xvii)

Maybe you missed it. Many have. Written in 2003, Kouses and Pozner (K & P) my favorite leadership mentors, truly demonstrated the core of effective leadership, especially for the Christ-following leader. They are clear that great leaders:

• Challenge the process
• Inspire a shared vision
• Enable others to act
• Model the way
• Encourage the heart. (xiii)

As you read through the stories and watch them distill the essentials for great leadership that leads from the heart to the heart, it seems as if K & P are hearkening back to principles found in the New Testament. (This is NOT a Christian book. However, it does have great help for the wise leader who can discern and learn truth from others.)

So we get a lot of satisfaction from positive feedback, and encouragement helps if we get it. Why, then, don’t we think we don’t need much affirmation? (4)

Encouraging the Heart exposes seven essential practices (habits for the wise) and breaks them down into practical, “can-do” steps every leader on every level can inculcate and imitate. As I review these seven, let me share some glimpses (there is SO much more in each chapter):

• Set Clear Standards – Leaders must engage individuals in a discussion of what the values mean and how their personal beliefs and behaviors are influenced by what the organization stands for. Leaders must also be prepared to discuss values and expectations in recruiting, selecting, and orienting new members. Better to explore early the fit between person and organization than to find out, late in some sleepless night, that we’re in violent disagreement over matters of principle. (52) Sounds just like the way Jesus started with his disciples! (Luke 9:23-27)

• Expect the Best – Successful leaders have high expectations, both of themselves and of their constituents. These expectations aren’t just fluff that they hold in mind to keep a positive outlook or psych themselves up. The expectations that successful leaders hold provide the framework into which people fit their own realities … Maybe you can’t turn an ivory statue into a real person, but you can release the highest potential of your constituents. (64) When Paul sought to expand the church and make it a missional agency across the known world, he provided a simple model of reproducing disciples. (2 Timothy 2:2) The rest of the story is Christianity, as we know it.

• Pay Attention – Leaders are out and about all the time. They’re not in their offices much; the demands of the job keep them mobile. They’re attending meetings, visiting customers, touring the plants or service centers, dropping in on the lab, making presentations at association gatherings, recruiting at local universities, holding roundtable discussions, speaking to analysts, or just dropping by employee’s cubicles to say hello. It’s the nature of leaders to wander; it goes with the territory. In fact, at its root the word lead comes for an Old English word that means “go, travel, guide.” (73) As Jesus wandered the Judean hills and the streets of Jerusalem, he modeled this type of leadership daily.

• Personalize Recognition – What it comes down to is thoughtfulness: how much effort you put into thinking about the other person and what makes the recognition special for that person. It means observing an individual and asking: “What would really make this special and unique for this person – make it a memorable, one-of-a-kind experience? What could I do to make sure that she never forgets how much she means to us? What can I do to make sure he always remembers how important his contributions are?” (95) What leader doesn’t long to hear these words from Jesus? ““His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ ” (Matthew 25:23, ESV)

• Tell the Story – Stories put a human face on success. They tell us that someone just like us can make it happen. They create organizational role models that everyone can relate to. They put behavior in a real context and make standards more than statistics. Stories make standards come alive. They move us and touch us. By telling a story in detail, leaders illustrate what everyone needs to do to live by the organizational standards. They communicate specific and proper actions that need to be taken to resolve tough choices. They bring people together around the campfire to learn and have fun. (106) Is it any wonder that most of the Old Testament and the Gospels are story?

• Celebrate Together – Celebrations – public statements by their very nature – give expression to and reinforce commitment to key values. They visibly demonstrate that the organization is serious about adhering to its principles. So it’s important to be clear about the statements you’re making. What are you reinforcing? What are you saying is significant about this moment? Parties are fine, but celebrations are more than parties. They’re ceremonies and rituals that create meaning. When planning a celebration, every leader should ask, “What meaning am I trying to create?” Public ceremonies crystallize personal commitments, binding people together and letting them know they’re not alone. (123) Consider the primary celebrations of the Church – worship, baptism and communion as models. In celebrating leadership, we have many values to admire as Christ’s followers!

• Set the Example – When it comes to deciding whether a leader is believable, people first listen to the words and then watch the actions. They listen to the talk, and watch the walk; then they measure the congruence. A judgment of credible is handed down if the two are consonant. If people don’t see consistency, they conclude that the leader is at best not really serious about the words. And at worst is an outright hypocrite. (133) This sounds a lot like another set of words we are familiar with, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. ” (James 1:22, ESV)

Again, these are but glimpses into each of the seven key practices of great leaders who desire to encourage their leadership’s hearts. Filled with studies, stories and studded statements, Encouraging the Heart is still a masterpiece every leader should know and seek to work out in their daily lives and into the DNA of their organization. Each chapter ends with discussion questions, so the reproducing leader can do a personal evaluation, small group leadership development with their board and team, and multiply these practices corporately with advanced training leadership groups.

If you haven’t read and digested Encouraging the Heart, you truly are missing a hidden jewel.

You can order Encouraging the Heart here.

Encouraging the Heart

James M. Kouses and Barry Z. Posner

Jossey-Bass; 1 edition (January 21, 2003)

ISBN-10: 0787964638

We are thrilled to welcome Jud Wilhite to the Transformed podcast today. Jud serves as Senior Pastor of Central Christian Church. Thousands attend Central’s campuses along with a global community who attend online. Jud is the author of several books including Throw It Down, Eyes Wide Open and Uncensored Grace. Under Jud’s leadership, Central is dedicated to helping people find their way to God. He is known for his conversational approach to teaching the Bible and his passion to help others know God and love him more. Jud and his wife, Lori, reside in the Las Vegas area with their two children and a slobbery Bulldog named Roxy.

You can learn more about Jud’s ministry here.

Throw It Down
A new book by Jud Wilhite

Whatever negative behaviors or dependencies are holding you captive-whatever is keeping you from being all that God created you to be-you can break free with the step-by-step help and gutsy examples presented in this book. Throw It Down is for those whose destructive habits are keeping them from the lifelong freedom they long for. In other words, it’s for just about all of us! All proceeds from the sales of Throw It Down go to support the ministries of Central Christian Church.

You can purchase Jud’s book here.

We are excited to welcome Ed Vasicek to the Transformed podcast today. Today we are talking about his new book, The Midrash Key, a book that traces Jesus’ Teachings Back to Their Old Testament Jewish Roots!

Ed received his B.A. from Moody Bible Institute in 1979. He has served as Pastor of Highland Park Church in Kokomo, IN, since 1983, and occasionally speaks at the Messianic Jewish Congregation Ahavot Yeshua in Indianapolis. Ed has published over 500 columns for the “Opinion Page” of the Kokomo Tribune, has been quoted on the front page of USA Today, and has published numerous articles in Pulpit Helps magazine and other journals and theological websites.

Ed’s book, “The Midrash Key”, is based on the premise that many of Jesus’ words are excerpts from sermons he preached based upon Old Testament texts. He used an ancient style of Jewish preaching called “Midrash.” By locating the “mother texts” Jesus used in the Old Testament — and then factoring in the Jewish debates of the day (as seen in the Talmud, for example) — we can increase the CONTEXT of Jesus’ words and fine-tune our understanding. “The Midrash Key” does so reverently (from an evangelical perspective). Understand Jesus like never before!

Matt heartily recommends The Midrash Key, and hopes that you will purchase a copy of Ed’s book. You may do so here.

You can purchase The Teachers Guide to The Midrash Key here.

You can learn more about The Midrash Key here.

You can learn more about Ed’s ministry here.

Wow! That was my first reaction when I saw The Action Bible in the store. As I read through this graphic novel version of the Bible, I was pleased and excited to see how David C. Cook has brought the Bible to life for us.

As I read The Action Bible I saw the history and chronology of the Bible in new ways. There are 215 fast-paced narratives in chronological order, making it easier to follow the Bible’s historical flow and reinforcing the build-up to its thrilling climax.

This is definitely a Bible whose time has come. Introducing young readers to the grandeur of the Word of God it allows them to grasp the story line of God’s love and redemption in a clear and – pardon the pun – graphic manner!

You will love the way, internationally recognized artist Sergio Cariello has created attention-holding illustrations marked by rich coloring, dramatic shading and lighting, bold and energetic designs, and emotionally charged figures.

I really enjoyed this Bible, and I have read over a dozen versions of the Bible cover-to-cover. Pick up a copy for all of your young family members – and a few for those who are “young at heart” as well. They’ll really enjoy this!

You can order your copy of The Action Bible here.

You can access more information about The Action Bible here.

You can learn more about Sergio Cariello here.

What a joy to welcome Steve Reynolds to the podcast today. Steve has served as the senior pastor of Capital Baptist Church in Annandale, Virgina sine 1982. He launched a weight-loss campaign in his church and community after he lost more than 100 pounds.

Steve had been overweight all his life. In fact, he weighed more than 100 pounds in the first grade! After playing football during high school and college, he vowed never to exercise or run laps again. That was one promise he kept, ballooning to 340 pounds and staying there for years.

Driven by his declining health, Steve began to study Scripture. He discovered four keys to unlock the door to health and fitness.

Dr. Matthew Lee Smith of Eagles In Leadership recently spoke with Steve about how we can ‘start losing and start living.’ In this interview Dr. Smith shares some of his successes as well using Steve’s methods.

You can purchase a copy of Bod4God here.

You can learn more about Steve Reynolds ministry here.

We are thrilled to welcome Clayton King to the podcast today. Clayton is a pastor, evangelist, missionary and author. Today we talk about his new book, Dying to Live.

Dr. Matthew Lee Smith of Eagles In Leadership spoke with Clayton a few days ago about ‘abandoning yourself to God’s bold paradox’ and what it means to ‘die in order to live.’ We know your spirit will be excited as you listen to this interview.

Clayton has been dedicated since age 14 to proclaiming the gospel and calling Christians to live out the life of Jesus. As founder and president of Crossroads Worldwide, he has spoken to millions of people in 30-plus countries and helped organize missions to such places as Haiti, the Himalayas and India. Clayton loves good books, the outdoors, strong coffee, dirt bikes and four-wheelers, and especially his wife and children.

We heartily recommend that you purchase Dying to Live here.

You can learn more about Clayton King here.

Churches committed to following Christ’s example want this world changed for the sake of eternity. While the supernatural piece of making that happen goes without saying, how does a body of believers do its part to be in that “sweet spot” where true spiritual transformation occurs?

In Transformational Church, best-selling research authors Ed Stetzer and Thom S. Rainer survey fifty thousand churches—then narrow the scope down to five hundred congregations—for a qualitative answer. Their book, the most comprehensive study of the modern American church to date, contains a wealth of indispensable new data, nuanced insights, and how-to guidance, all centered on this key finding:

“Transformational churches make disciples whose lives are being transformed by the gospel, so that people engage the culture around them for its ultimate transformation. Deeply committed to the essential foundations of discipleship (worship, community, and mission), transformational churches practice their faith and make disciples through vibrant leadership, prayerful dependence upon God, and relational intentionality. And they do so paying mind to their unique context and with a missionary mindset.”

About the book …

Dr. Smith says, “YOU SHOULD BUY SEVERAL COPIES OF THIS BOOK! I have read at least 100 books on the church in my ministry years. It is not a stretch to say that this book is biblical, practical and well researched. The weaving of the seven traits of transformational churches is well balanced by stories and explanations, without providing programs and ‘reproducible templates’ by which the cultural nuances would be lost in their reproduction. This is an excellent book and a powerful read for those who are serious about the church in the coming decade or more. Thank you for beginning the discussion and reviving hope for the church. I look forward to more on this!

“Transformational Church should be the first book you read this year if church health and growth are your priorities. Ed Stetzer and Thom Rainer have written one of the most researched, biblical, practical and hopeful books on the church in years!”

~ Matthew Smith, founder and director of Eagles In Leadership

You can order your copy of Transformational Church here.

About the Authors …

Ed Stetzer is director of LifeWay Research and missiologist in residence at LifeWay Christian Resources in Nashville, Tennessee. He holds two masters, two doctoral degrees, and has written dozens of articles and acclaimed books including Planting Missional Churches, Breaking the Missional Code, Comeback Churches, and Lost and Found. Ed and his wife have three daughters.

Thom S. Rainer is president and CEO of LifeWay Christian Resources, one of the largest Christian resource companies worldwide, and the best-selling coauthor of Simple Church, Essential Church, and Simple Life. Rainer and his wife, Nellie Jo, have three grown sons and live in Nashville, Tennessee.

Craig Groeschel has written a book called The Christian Atheist – and I believe it is a MUST read for all who call on Jesus.

The Christian Atheist is quite an eye-catching title – one that seeks to encourage us to live the Christ-life, without hypocrisy. Christian atheism is best explained as where people believe in God but live as if he doesn’t exist. You will enjoy Craig’s great writing style – he communicates very well in this book using humor liberally.

Christian Atheism takes on many characteristics, and Craig lists 12 in his book.

• When you believe in God but really don’t know him
• When you believe in God but are ashamed of your past
• When you believe in God but aren’t sure he loves you
• When you believe in God but not in prayer
• When you believe in God but don’t think he’s fair
• When you believe in God but won’t forgive
• When you believe in God but don’t think you can change
• When you believe in God but still worry all the time
• When you believe in God but pursue happiness at any cost
• When you believe in God but trust more in money
• When you believe in God but don’t share your faith
• When you believe in God but not in his church

Early in Craig’s life, in a backyard vacation Bible school, Craig chose NOT to go to hell – so he ‘accepted’ Christ. However, as he moved into high school his ‘faith’ was disconnected from his lifestyle. It wasn’t until a low point in college, after reading his Bible, that he realized that being a Christian was a lifestyle, not a label. Whispering to God, “Take my life,” God did; and, as he says, “For the first time in my life, I believed in God and began to live like he is real.”

Groeschel takes his stand on clear Scripture and talks about how ‘as you get to know him better, you will change.’ This is at the center of the entire idea of The Christian Atheist.

As Craig wraps the book up, he issues us a challenge entitled ‘Third Line Faith,’ a challenge God first gave to him. With three lines in the sand, God asked Craig if he would step over the third line – each line representing a clear belief system and choice:

Line 1: I believe in God and the gospel of Christ enough to benefit from it.

By this he means, “We want God’s benefits without changing how we live. We want his best, without our sacrifices.”  Concerned this may not be real Christianity Craig pressed on to understand the second lifestyle choice he could make …

Line 2: I believe in God and Christ’s gospel enough to contribute comfortably.

Here he understood that his belief in God was “not only enough to benefit [from] but also enough to give back – as long as it doesn’t cost too much.” Realizing this was where he was at the moment God was speaking to him, he longed for the lifestyle of those who step across the third line …

Line 3: I believe in God and Christ’s gospel enough to give my life to it.

He says, “Although most people I knew were line-one and line-two believers, suddenly anything less than line three didn’t seem like real Christianity to me. Could I give my whole life to Christ? Not only in words but in my daily life?” Through a series of decisions and choices, Craig finally crossed the third line, and now he asks you to do the same and allow him to “welcome [you] to true Christianity.”

This book is for anyone courageous enough to admit to their hypocrisy. It pushes you, challenges you, and disturbs you. And if you are honest before God the lessons in this book will help you shed some of your hypocrisy as it did for me.

You can order your copy of the Christian Atheist here.

Matt Bell has written a must read – must study book here! It’s subtitle, “The proven path to uncommon financial success,” explains the value of this book. Using time-tested principles from both the Bible and from secular writers, Bell shows us the importance of living out our values.

Listen to this encouraging and inspiring discussion with Matt! Dr. Matthew Lee Smith interviews the author of Money, Purpose, Joy about the Biblical truths and wisdom needed to achieve your inner hopes and dreams.

You can order Matt’s book here!

You can learn more about Matt’s ministry and receive his free newsletters here!

Pastor, what Frustrates you in ministry? You probably began your ministry believing you’d make a kingdom difference. That dream may now seem elusive. Perhaps your journey has brought more frustration than happiness, and you wonder if it’s time to move on, or out. Have you searched the Web for openings in other churches recently? Thought about selling insurance? Getting your Realtor’s license?

Every church is different, and the situations you face are unique to your setting, but common threads are found in many churches. Using customized, commissioned research from the Barna Group and others, veteran pastor Charles Stone points to five potent killers in pastors’ lives:

1. A head-in-the-sand mentality that denies problems

2. Emotional investment in the wrong issues

3. Unhealthy responses to ministry frustrations

4. A Lone Ranger attitude that says “God and I can handle this”

5. Attitudes and actions that lead to lonely, hurting spouses

Stone then uses his thirty years of pastoral experience to unpack these problems so you can regain real hope and energy to continue in your calling. No unrealistic advice or simplistic solutions. Just hard questions and straight answers that will lead to healing and restoration for you and your congregation.

We encourage you to listen as Dr. Matthew Lee Smith talks about 5 Ministry Killers and How to Defeat Them with Charles Stone …

Links:

You can learn more about Charles and the church where he is the Senior Pastor at: Ginger Creek Community Church.

You can purchase this book at: Amazon and Bethany House

Because of the incredible importance of this topic, we would encourage you to tell a friend about this interview.

Remember, we are here to Encourage Achievement in Godly Leaders by Emphasizing Servanthood. We would like to invite you to sign up for periodic email notifications of our new-release resources as they become available. Just add your email to the “Sign Up Via Email” box on the right had side of the EaglesInLeadership.org website and follow the prompts.

Matt Bell has written a must read – must study book here! It’s subtitle, “The proven path to uncommon financial success,” explains the value of this book. Using time-tested principles from both the Bible and from secular writers, Bell shows us the importance of living out our values.

Starting from a very different location – our heart and soul – this book helps the reader answer the most important questions BEFORE they take the accounting journey one finds in almost every other resource. Harkening back to my days of elementary school, I can almost hear Matt asking us (the readers), ‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’ Using two very specific questions: ‘What truly matters?’ and ‘What matters most?’ Bell helps us focus on what’s really deep inside. And once these heart dreams are locked down, the rest is practical math and diligence!

Money, Purpose, Joy shows us how to reach our real desires, goals and values through practical, easy-to-understand steps. Once he helps us cement our real goals down, Bell then takes us through the process of achieving those dreams. Using humor and real life transparency, this is a book men will appreciate. Guys, don’t miss the story of Matt’s life traveling the world as a golfing magazine reporter.

Definitely a 5 out of 5 stars for this book! A MUST read and study.

You can order Matt’s book here!

You can learn more about Matt’s ministry and receive his free newsletters here!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from NavPress Publishers as part of their Blogger Review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

We welcome Dr. W. Mark Elliott back to Transformed today. Mark is the author of Confessions of an Insignificant Pastor. He is a veteran pastor of twenty-seven years and has served churches as small as three and as large as six thousand. Mark has ministered in twelve countries and enjoys speaking to gatherings of pastors.

Being a pastor these days is difficult. Look at these statistics:

• Fifteen hundred pastors leave the ministry each month!
• 80% of ministers feel unqualified and discouraged in their role as pastors.
• 80% of new pastors will leave the ministry within their first five years!
• 80% of pastors’ spouses wish their spouse would choose another profession and feel their ministry spouse is overworked.
• 70% of pastors constantly battle with depression!
• 50% of ministers would leave the ministry if they had another way of earning an income!
• 85-90% of pastors said their greatest problem is dealing with problem people and disgruntled people.

Dr. Elliott has two Masters Degrees and an earned Doctor of Ministry from Grace Theological Seminary. Mark grew up in the rolling hills and cave country of southern Indiana and is a self-confessed sports maniac! Mark and Claudette have four children and reside inn Oshkosh, WI. You can learn more about Mark, order the book and contact him here: at his website.

You can order your copy of Confessions of an Insignificant Pastor here. We know you will want to get some copies of this book for your church leaders and ministry people.

“Risky business is writing a book like this one! If you think a prophet speaking truth to power is high-risk, listen here to a prophet who, by telling the truth to a church in power-failure, speaks power to truth. I loved this book!”

~ Dr. Leonard Sweet, Drew University, George Fox University, http://www.Sermons.com