Cary Neeper's Blog: Reviewing World-changing Nonfiction - Posts Tagged "personal-growth"
A New Book for Self-Actualization in the 21st Century
Resilient Ministry: What Pastors Told Us About Surviving and Thriving, Bob Burns, Tasha D. Chapman and Donald C. Guthrie, Illinois, Intervarsity Press, 2013.
This is a book for anyone interested in personal growth. Based on seven years of research and “...heartfelt discussions about the challenges of vocational ministry...,” this book's ”...summary and analysis of those discussions in light of ...literature research and experiences...” serves to inform all of us. By focusing on its quotations and stories, we can all learn something about how to live our lives and grow in resilience.
In the introduction, the authors give us an unusual tip: “...consider reading the final chapter first [to] consider some strategies for putting the book to work in your life.” I would add, “no matter what your personal, occupational, or cultural challenges are.”
To give you a sample of the useful ideas for reflection, here are a few quotes: “...the term cultural intelligence describes the ability ‘to function effectively across various cultural contexts.’” The authors expand the idea in a full chapter, suggesting that we live in a world of “...people who have radically different perspectives....” This requires that we communicate clearly and take into account differences without giving offense, while respecting and appreciating those differences. One pastor is quoted: “We say we want to be multicultural, but we don’t want to change. We want others to adapt to us...How do I ...develop a bigger, broader understanding?”
Two other ideas that struck me focus on the need to distinguish “...ourselves from our jobs...” and our allies from our confidants. I suspect that this book would offer something different for each of us. It provides rare insights from the field of ministry that have universal value, no matter who we think we are.
Resilient Ministry: What Pastors Told Us about Surviving and Thriving
This is a book for anyone interested in personal growth. Based on seven years of research and “...heartfelt discussions about the challenges of vocational ministry...,” this book's ”...summary and analysis of those discussions in light of ...literature research and experiences...” serves to inform all of us. By focusing on its quotations and stories, we can all learn something about how to live our lives and grow in resilience.
In the introduction, the authors give us an unusual tip: “...consider reading the final chapter first [to] consider some strategies for putting the book to work in your life.” I would add, “no matter what your personal, occupational, or cultural challenges are.”
To give you a sample of the useful ideas for reflection, here are a few quotes: “...the term cultural intelligence describes the ability ‘to function effectively across various cultural contexts.’” The authors expand the idea in a full chapter, suggesting that we live in a world of “...people who have radically different perspectives....” This requires that we communicate clearly and take into account differences without giving offense, while respecting and appreciating those differences. One pastor is quoted: “We say we want to be multicultural, but we don’t want to change. We want others to adapt to us...How do I ...develop a bigger, broader understanding?”
Two other ideas that struck me focus on the need to distinguish “...ourselves from our jobs...” and our allies from our confidants. I suspect that this book would offer something different for each of us. It provides rare insights from the field of ministry that have universal value, no matter who we think we are.
Resilient Ministry: What Pastors Told Us about Surviving and Thriving
Review of "Into the Magic Shop: A Neurosurgeon's Quest to Discover the Mysteries of the Brain and the Secrets of the Heart"
: by James R. Doty MD, New York, Random House, 2016.In her cover blurb for this book, Arianna Huffington, author of Thrive, provides us readers with a crystal clear summary: "Part memoir, part scientific exploration [this book shows] that we all have within us...a place of calm and beauty we can return to whenever we need it."
Jim Doty's early life was horrendous, as was his later success, then loss, then his self-chastisement and recovery from failure. His formula for survival and lasting peace—is presented to us in "Ruths' Tricks. The tricks require repeated 20-minute moments of calming relaxation and meditation, emptying the mind, then focusing on unconditional love given and received. Finally, "envisioning accomplishment" of goals clarifies intent in one's life.
To guide that intent, Doty recommends practicing the "Alphabet For the Heart: CDEFGHIJKL—Compassion, Dignity, Equanimity, Forgiveness, Gratitude, Humility, Integrity, Justice, Kindness, and Love. All these are to be "given freely" to achieve a goal like Huffington's "calm and beauty." The humaneness prescribed in this soul-sharing memoir is powerful medicine for these troubled times.
Reviewing World-changing Nonfiction
Expanding on the ideas portrayed in The Archives of Varok books for securing the future.
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