Jeff McLain

This is a review of Oikonomics by Mike Breen and Ben Sternke . Released in 2014, this book looks at what it means to invest all the capitals and capacities we have in our lives the way Jesus did, and for the sake of the Kingdom of God." At just over 100 pages,  Oikonomics  is a concise, well-designed booklet that presents thought-provoking ideas on how we steward the various 'capitals' in our lives, suggesting that there are five key areas to consider. For years, businesses have primarily focused on measuring two key "capitals": product production and finances. However, in the wake of books like Freakonomics and similar works, the business world has become increasingly interested in analyzing the various types of capital that organizations need to intentionally steward, multiply, and leverage. Traditionally, this approach identifies financial capital, manufacturing capital, intellectual capital, human capital, natural resources (or environmental capital), and so...

This review is of Simple Church by Thom S. Rainer and Eric Geiger, published in 2006 by B&H Publishing Group . Nearly two decades ago, this book challenged pastors and churches to embrace simplicity and clarity in their purpose, organizational ethos, and disciple-making goals. At the time, Simple Church became a best-seller and a staple in church leadership circles. It felt like everyone was reading and discussing it during that time. The authors highlight a significant shift among churches towards simplicity in our overtly complex and busy world. Early on in the book, the authors point out that “people are hungry for simple because of the world has become much more complex. The amount of information accessible to us is continually increasing…The result is a complicated world with complex and busy lives.”[1] Offering examples from both large and small congregations that have adopted the somewhat identified Simple Church principles within their communities, the authors make compa...

This is a review of Reading on the Run by Dr. J. Robert Clinton , part of Clinton’s Leadership Series. Published by Clinton’s Barnabas Publishers in Altadena, California, this book was released in 1987, 1996, 1998, and 1999. It explores Clinton’s continuum of reading concepts for leaders, inspired by Mortimer J. Adler's classic How to Read a Book . Adler’s influential 1940 work, which has sold over a million copies, significantly impacted Clinton's thinking on a varied framework for reading and higher-level learning. While Adler’s book emphasizes intensive reading, Clinton’s approach expands to include frameworks for both in-depth and quicker, less intensive reading. This book offers leaders a practical guide for engaging with reading on multiple levels. Clinton argues that since "leaders need to be able to process large amounts of reading materials," and "the leadership field is so broad and requires comparative skills," leaders must cultivate "selecti...

x This is a review of The Great House of God by Max Lucado , published in 1997 by Thomas Nelson . In this book, Lucado uses the Lord’s Prayer as a framework to guide readers in surrendering every aspect of their lives, envisioning it through the metaphor of their life as a house. He intends for this book to serve as a blueprint for discovering peace, joy, and love in a deeper relationship with God. Max Lucado, a widely admired Christian author and pastor, is known for his warm, descriptive, and easily understandable writing style. In The Great House of God , he employs his signature pastoral and encouraging tone to walk readers through the practical and detailed teachings found in the Lord’s Prayer. Each line of the prayer is presented as a different room in the house of our lives, where we learn to make God our true home. While Lucado draws on the insights of other authors and his own practical ideas to illustrate the meaning behind each line of the Lord’s Prayer, he largely avoids d...

This is a review of The Lord’s Prayer for Today by William J. Carl III . This book is part of the For Today series by Westminster John Knox Press , released in 2006 – but stands on its own. The book examines the prayer pattern provided by Jesus and serves as a reliable and accessible resource on the Lord’s Prayer. William J. Carl’s expertise in Koine Greek and his understanding of the historical context of the framework behind this prayer offer unmatched insights. William J. Carl explores the prayer pattern given to us by Jesus in a way that is accessible to those without biblical or theological training while still being valuable for those who do have such a background. Examining the context of the Lord’s Prayer, The Lord’s Prayer for Today explores its significance for the original audience while also considering its relevance in a modern culture that may seem distant and different from that world. The book highlights the challenges and opportunities the prayer presents for nurtur...

This is a review of Praying with Power, a book on the Lord’s Prayer, by John Ortberg. This book is part of the New Community Bible Study Series from Zondervan . - a series that looks to explore biblical perspectives in community with a small group. In looking at the Lord’s Prayer, John Ortberg offers six sessions each with reflection and commentary, reflective questions and journaling moments, and additional leader notes. Ortberg’s intent throughout Praying with Power , is to help the church see that “at the feet of Jesus we can learn to pray with a new depth, passion, and fruitfulness.” As a people who live by very busy and demanding schedules, we follow Jesus who “when his schedule got demanding…made space for prayer.” This workbook is about learning to quiet our hearts and speak to Jesus, simply so that we can say “Teach me to pray” and then alongside others, learn what that prayer looks like in our world of abundance and distraction. This book is written very simply and for a ...