John C Maxwell is allowing his blog readers to proof read and add to his book over the next few months. It will be cool to watch how the book evolves during this process. Here is my first shot at talking about communication {the topic for the new book}. 
What do you think?
Trouble finding time to read a few books?
Today I tried something new. I walked into Borders (local book store near Purdue University) and grabbed a lapdesk and the first 5 books that caught my attention. Then I sat in one of the large leather chairs.
The Goal: Spend 5 min on each book, for a total of 25 min reading. I wasn’t sure what the outcome would be. I didn’t have time to read the whole book or even a whole chapter. There was only enough time to get the big picture.
I had a specific strategy for understanding the main point and finding something that would add value in 5 minutes. Begin with the last sentence. (30 seconds) Next read the chapter titles. Find a chapter of whose content is most interesting to you. (30 seconds – 1 minute) Finally, read that chapter as fast as you can. Be looking for that one little nugget that you can take with you. TIMES UP! This process was more helpful than I planned.
What did I learn?
1st book
The Green Book
Not sure why I picked two books on “how to be green.” Sometimes I like to read things that are just different than my usual. Two things I walked away with were: Will Ferrel drives an electric car. He explained why and how it makes him feel (p 33). The next thing that I learned will be helpful to my speech at the BUG Conference. There are 1.6 billion homes in the world.
2nd Deep Survival
Different than I expected, but the author was very creative and painted a picture well. Sometimes too much. So many adjectives and metaphors, I didn’t know what he was actually saying.
365 Ways to live Green
Their goal is to get you to spread the word about going green. (I know this because page 365 said now that you know, go teach your friends.) I found a section that would help me as I remodel my new house. It was titled “How to make your house more green.” Now I’m thinking about buying energy efficient light bulbs and rethinking the interior decor.
After staying on schedule perfectly, there was 5 minutes left. I saved the best for last.
Field Guide to African Wildlife.
I read about each of the animals I saw in my recent trip to Africa. Skipped all the birds. They just don’t interest me. And even learned about the different types of giraffe.
My take away. I had less than an hour and I learned something. It was time well spent. Obviously, I had to read fast and do a lot of scanning. But this technique helped me understand the main point and have something to take away. I have read a whole book without accomplishing those 2 things.
This process goes fast. It was fun. I wouldn’t recommend it all the time but next time you have a few minutes to kill in a book store, give it a try.
What time saving ideas do you have?
Dino Rizzo author of Servolution and pastor of Healing Place Church in Louisiana is on TOUR! Well a blog tour at least. Here is the question I asked Dino about his church and serving in the community.
Dino have you ever embarrassed yourself while serving in the community?
Textual harassment is something affecting our youth today. 
Our culture is changing. People become bolder when they don’t have to communicate face to face. No longer do you have to go to someone’s house to bother them, you can do it from the convenience of your cell phone.
Have you seen text messages go from sweet to annoying or possibly overwhelming?
Do you know who is texting your kids? or if your kids are feeling overwhelmed?
Textual harassment is something parents and youth pastors need to be aware of and educated on. If you want to learn more check out this website. It has some great resources like “Callout Cards” and “Discussion Boards” all relevant to TEXTUAL HARASSMENT.
Have you ever been harassed through social media?
Tuesday Book Review 3/4
“
If You want something done right, get someone else to do it.” -Quoting the Author and my boss Billy Hornsby. Billy is president of ARC, a network for church planters. He loves the outdoors, blogging and traveling.
Billy gave me this book to read when I started with ARC. It is a great book for pastors and leaders to give their 2nd level leaders. If you are wondering what is a 2nd level leader, read about Joseph in Gen. 41.
For the new folks, I read books for the stories and if anyone can tell a story, it is Billy. He has several good stories that teach the reader how to aquire the skills and be successful as the Second in Command.
I’m glad I read this book. “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all”
Just like the last few weeks, I want to give a copy of this book away. So the first person to comment on this post will get a free copy of this book in the mail from me. Just click “comment” and type “Send me a copy.” I need your address too! If you don’t want to make your address known you can email it to me planterguy (at) gmail (dot) com
Thanks for reading…
I just finished “Eyes Wide Open” by Jud Wilhite. Never heard of this book? That is because it just came out last week. Thanks to Jud for sending me a copy early so I could offer it to YOU!
Eyes Wide Open
My Favorite quote from this book is “If you risk your life you have to have fear” -Evil Knievel
This book is filled with stories of how people are now seeing God in a new way.
Like Last Tuesday, I want to give a copy of this book away. So the first person to comment on this post will get a copy of “Eyes Wide Open” in the mail from me. Just click “comment” and type “Send me a copy.” If you don’t want to make your address known you can email it to me planterguy (at) gmail (dot) com.
This was part 2 of a 4 part series called “Book Review Tuesday”.
Subscribe to my blog, so you wont miss next weeks review!
Books just started
Guy Walker’s Tuesday Book Review 1/4I just finished Mark Batterson’s “In a Pit With a LION on a Snowy Day.” The book revolves around 2 Samuel 23:20
20 Benaiah son of Jehoiada from Kabzeel was a vigorous man who accomplished a great deal. He once killed two lion cubs in Moab. Another time, on a snowy day, he climbed down into a pit and killed a lion. 21 Another time he killed a formidable Egyptian. The Egyptian was armed with a spear and Benaiah went against him with nothing but a walking stick; he seized the spear from his grip and killed him with his own spear.
Can you imagine watching those things happen? Killing a lion! Killing an Egyptian with his own spear. I would love for someone to make a movie about this book.
Benaiah was a lion chaser. Mark does a great job explaining what lion chasers are
The book also has some great stories. My top 5 stories are:
Mark made me wonder if I would be willing to chase a lion into a pit on a snowy day.
I want to give a copy of this book away. So the first person to comment on this post will get a copy in the mail from me. Just click “comment” and type “Send me a copy.” If you don’t want to make your address known you can email it to me planterguy (at) gmail (dot) com
This was part 1 of a 4 part series called “Book Review Tuesday”
Subscribe to my blog so you wont miss next weeks review!