In his new book Radical Together, mega-church pastor David Platt reached out from every page to jab me hard on the chest – and I didn’t like that. My self-centeredness got power-sanded at every turn and the grinder had six different grades of grit. Read more

Young believers committed to radical discipleship and sacrificial service to the poor and the lost have too long felt – and too often experienced – that there is no place within conservative Christendom for them to live out their vision of what it means to be followers of Jesus. Platt's books address this audience. Read more

As a part of the current Book Club, featuring the book "Mother Teresa, CEO," I was asked to comment upon one of the leadership principles the book discusses, “communicate in a language people understand.” My children have been my teachers. Read more

In a world that too often tells individuals to question their self-worth, to constantly re-evaluate their best judgment, and to always be looking to keep up with their neighbor, silence for Mother Teresa and for us can be a powerful tool for learning to trust your inner voice, your inner judgment, and your inner teacher. Read more

I was pleasantly surprised to encounter a non-religious book that didn’t gloss over Mother Teresa’s spirituality. It may not highlight it too much, but when it does it does so with respect. It was made all the more interesting because of Bose’s own experience volunteering with Mother Teresa and her Missionaries of Charity in Calcutta. Bose, and her mentor and co-author Faust, weave in their own experiences as leaders to make the book a more insightful read. Read more

This is the biggest encouragement of all: Even Mother Theresa had doubts. Her doubts give me more hope than any argument about the power of doubt to help us question ourselves—even as helpful as those arguments may be. Her doubt gives me hope, not that my own doubt will go away, but that feelings of doubt are not as powerful as a faithful decision to act. Read more

“Discover the Joy of Discipline” is an advice chapter offered in Mother Teresa, CEO: Unexpected Principles for Practical Leadership. Although I wouldn’t describe them as “unexpected principles,” or that they are always practical or lend well to every situation, the lessons offered are a reminder of values and approaches frequently overlooked or forgotten. In a world that swirls around us and spins our heads due in part to technology and the information age the book’s eight principles offer another route for spiritual grounding. Read more

So, while I fully agree that I should “pay attention to the janitor,” at the same time, I need to think carefully about my time usage in light of my priorities and limitations. And, while I agree that “The title never matters, the person always does,” we should not buy into a naïve idealism that envisions a utopia in which everybody treats everybody else in the same way. Read more

I highly recommend this book as a resource for discerning the relationship between Christian faith and animals. As someone who feels passionately that faith should inform the way we treat animals, I come away from the book feeling more deeply rooted in my conviction and more initiated in a wonderfully rich faith tradition of caring for animals. Read more

I recently read an excellent book by Professor Laura Hobgood-Oster called The Friends We Keep, in which she challenges believers to examine our relationship with animals through a deliberately Christian lens. By addressing such issues as their role as food, pets, endangered species, and in sport, she reminds us of the many varied ways that animals are tied into our human experience. However, more than simply recalling our interconnected relationship she provides ample support for a Christian ethic of compassion... Read more