Amy Scott's Thoughts

Recently I just completed Missional Renaissance by Reggie McNeal. The book was chosen as a staff read so I was eager to get started on the next book we would be discussing and digesting together. I have read two other books by Reggie McNeal so I knew I was going to be in for something good. The last two books that I had read by him where about personal leadership, so this book was a totally different direction then what I am used to Reggie taking. It was a good direction. It was a very forward thinking direction. It overwhelmed my brain and really caused me to think and evaluate. This book is a must read for anyone who wants to be apart of what God is doing now. It’s about being the church, not just going to church. A big cultural shift is occurring and we (being the church) need to open our eyes so we don’t miss out on the exciting opportunities that are before us.

The tagline for Missional Renaissance was “changing the scoreboard for the church.” What we’ve been doing and how we’ve been doing it no longer the cutting when it comes to reaching out and impacting our communities. I loved the focus that Reggie has in getting out  into the community and being the church right where we are at. It’s about helping people to see that ministry happens beyond the walls of the church. It’s a retraining to show Christ Followers that they have the greatest missions field at their place of work or in their kid’s school. It’s not about doing more church stuff. It’s about being the church where you are at and serving the community.

One thought that was carried throughout the book was being intentional agents for blessing the community wherever we are at and in whatever we are doing. As the church, we are God’s hands and feet to bless. We can join in His plan to bless the world. That’s the plan that He set in motion when He showed Abraham all those stars in Genesis 12. God told Abraham that He would bless the nations through Abraham’s descendants. This promise led to the nation of Israel, which lead to Jesus, which lead to us the Gentiles having a position of adoption into God’s family. Now we are the continuation of the promise to bless all nations.

Reggie has very practical shifts listed in the book. These changes look different in each church and each community, but we know that in order to be missional we need to change and update the way things have always been done. We need to stop being so program oriented and focus more on people and true relationship. We need to stop looking at attendance and offering as health signs for a church. The numbers we focus on might change from attendance to how many volunteer hours have been spent in the community. Instead of focusing on how many programs we can offer the focus becomes how many people are experiencing life change.  The book is full of thought-provoking shifts that will help the church reach missional health.

Missional Renaissance wasn’t always an easy read. It caused me to think long and hard about what the church is currently doing and what the future of the church looks like. Now as one person, it’s hard for me to truly think through the revamping of an entire church culture, but I do know that change starts with me. This book gave me eyes to see what I can do now, what I can do today to be more missional. When my change meets up with others who share a vision for God’s work in the world, then I know that we can go far to make sure the church is really being the church. It’s a group effort! I’m on board with figuring out how this all works out off the page and into real life.

Let me just start by saying this book has to be one of the most amazing books I’ve read this summer. I was deeply challenged by it and I plan on reading it again as soon as possible, so I can make sure I squeeze all that I can out of it. It’s such a simple concept – dare to live fully right where you are. The impact this book had on me was powerful. I was changed and inspired.

The beginning of this book doesn’t start out happy and cheery. In fact, it started out surprising relatable. Life is painful. The author, Ann Voskamp, recalls the death of her three year old sister in their front driveway. Her sister, Aimee, was hit by a truck driver who never saw her coming. Ann watched as her parents held on to their bleeding, dying daughter. This traumatic event shaped the course of Ann’s life and the family she would grow up in. Not all of us have experienced such a life altering circumstance, but in many ways, we can see how life has brought us pain and we have been hurt. We live on a fallen planet and we see the evidence of it all around us.

Each chapter of this book is like a layer. Each chapter builds the foundation for the next. I found it really interesting that it would seem like each chapter in itself could be the end of the story, but as you read you discover that there is more. This was reassuring to me. God didn’t give Ann this great revelation over night. Her transformation took time. She didn’t go from bitter to thankful in the course of twenty four hours. It was a long term process. In some ways the journey to thankfulness was a goal, a determined direction.

Ann was challenged to make a list of one thousand gifts from God. She started to jot down the little things she saw around her that she knew were gifts. This gave her a new found happiness. Through the process she learned to be looking for God’s gifts at all times, always keeping her eyes open for the work of the Lord. She always learned to see God’s gifts in the pain and the things that she wouldn’t claim as positive. The process from joy to pain, from distrust to trust in God, from bitterness to thanksgiving (or thanksliving as Ann puts it) is astonishing.

I loved the simple nature of the challenge. One thousand gifts… it may be many, but isn’t each moment a gift from the Lord. The good moments and the hard moments? I loved seeing Ann discover gifts in the simple moments of everyday life. She is a home-school mother to six children. Her husband owns the farm they live on. At times I found myself so swept up in her domestic life and finding the blessings in the simplest of moments. It wasn’t about big flashy times with God. It’s more about taking the moment to notice how the bubbles in the sink reflect the sun. It’s about smiling as you watch children play in the snow. It’s about the sights and smells of home. It’s about the love that is in your life.

Living life to the fullest right now means truly feeling everything. Ann says, “Joy and pain, they are but two arteries of the one heart that pumps through all those who don’t numb themselves to truly living.” This hit me like a ton of bricks. How many people have allowed themselves to become numb because the pain just hurt too much? How many people are missing out on joy to save themselves from pain? Another quote that deeply impacted me was, “Darkness transfigures into light, bad transfigures into good, grief transfigures into grace, empty transfigures into full. God wastes nothing – ‘makes everything work out according to his plan.’ (Ephesians 1:11).”  Grief turns to grace, empty turns to full. This is what I want in my life, what I crave.

I could go on and on about the scope of this book. How it can take you so far in only a matter of pages. It has challenged me to look for one thousand gifts. I started a journal just this morning and I plan on documenting one thousand gifts just as Ann did. I expect my journey will look different than hers. I desperately pray that the destination will be similar. I want to have the joy of seeing God in all things, I want to get to the place where I can see the good in pain, and I want my life to be a testimony of thankfulness. One last quote to end, “Spend the whole of your one wild and beautiful life investing in many lives, and God simply will not be undone. God extravagantly pays back everything we give away and exactly in the currency that is not of this world but one that we yearn for: Joy in Him.” This is my prayer, this is my calling! I want to live my one life giving to many lives knowing that it will be more rewarding than I will ever expect to experience.

I read this book about three years ago and it would go on my list of top 10 books that have changed my life and point of view. Reading this book opened my eyes to the joy and gift of anonymous seasons. The first time I read this book, I had just finished college and was ready to take on the world. I was waiting for the spotlight and the accolades that other friends my age were receiving. Children’s ministry is a very important part of the church – one of the most important parts, if you ask me. However, children’s ministry isn’t glitz and glamour. It’s also a very behind-the-scenes ministry. Granted every few months there is a showcase event like Fall Fest, Easter Eggstravaganza or Kid’s Choir that gets kids in front of the congregation. For the most part, children’s ministries take place down a long hallway in classrooms away from the hub of the main church action. Little Johnny and Susie may have an awesome time at church, but their parents might often view the classes offered as childcare (something that gives them an hour and a half break). The point is that children’s ministry is often tucked away and it’s not a line of work where you get a lot of spotlight time. Just a few years ago, I learned the valuable lesson of anonymous ministry. After reading this book, I decided that the kids I minister to know the effort I put into it. Kids are surprising grateful that people are interested in them and care. I decided if my only audience was children and the Lord – that was going to be good enough for me. All that mattered was that I was doing what I was called to do, regardless of how many thumbs-up and high-fives I got.

Okay, now to the book, I just recently reread and it continued to let its message penetrate into my soul. Chloe uses the example of a tree. Trees have many seasons. In spring and summer, you can see the tree blossom and bloom. This a fruitful season for the tree where it’s growth and beauty is very evident. There are also seasons like fall and winter, where the tree is stripped of its leaves that adorn it. Chloe brings out the point that in winter trees are bare, but they are not barren. Life is never still. Even in what seems like a barren season, there is still growth occurring under the surface. Chloe also use the illustration of an iceberg – only 10% of an iceberg is visible, but it’s 90% of unseen mass is powerful and strong. This visual of an iceberg is how we tie into Jesus’ life and story. Jesus lived 33 years on this earth, but most of His time on this planet is hidden from us. Chloe puts it well when she says, “Jesus was born in Bethlehem in a smelly animal pen (followed by hidden days). He was circumcised in the temple on his eighth day (followed by hidden months). Before turning two, Jesus received a visit from Eastern wise men (followed by hidden years). At age twelve, Jesus got in trouble for staying in the temple, listening and asking questions when he was supposed to be with his parents’ family headed back home (followed by almost two entirely hidden decades).”

Jesus was familiar with being hidden and with being underestimated. His greatness in ministry didn’t just happen overnight, but it was built through decades of anonymity. Chloe uses the example of Jesus being tempted in the wilderness to showcase what grows in hidden seasons. We can see that Jesus had developed a great understanding for God’s word. He not only had the Words of the Torah in His mind, but He knew their meaning and how they applied to His life. We see that Jesus was able to turn down the three alluring things that Satan threw his way – appetite, applause and authority. I know that my own personal longing and desires drawn towards being recognized and important. However, having these opportunities without the strength that hidden year can build may be dangerous. The equation that Chloe uses is “10% visible + 90% unseen = an indestructible life.” We can see how this was true in Jesus’ life as he suffered not only through desert seasons, but through rejection, punishment and a death he didn’t deserve.

Chloe brought up the point that we can say we want to be like Jesus, but it seems that we have restrictions to that statement. We don’t want to be hidden for almost 90% of our lives, we don’t want to be rejected by our own people, we don’t want to be beaten and abused. We like the public, encouraging stuff, not the hard stuff. Through reading Anonymous, I am reminded that the winter/desert seasons in my life have great benefit. Even though my tree might seem bare, it is not barren. Because life is always is moving, I can grow and develop great strength in seasons of anonymity. If I truly want to become more like Christ that means I need to learn and grow from the hard situations. I need to be developing inner strength and integrity when no one is looking. Someday when there is an audience, I will have the spiritual muscles to make the right choices, because I have been making them the entire time. This book is a must read and one that I am sure I will reread every few years. It has given me a different perspective on my life and on my ministry. If 10% of Jesus’ life was visible, I will be happy with my 10% and not try to make it more. I will grow when no one is looking so that when the right opportunity comes my way, I will be prepared.

A Work of Heart is all about how God shapes His spiritual leaders. It looks at the lives of Moses, David, Paul and Jesus. McNeal examines how culture, call, community, communion, conflict and commonplace all play into God shaping some of the greatest spiritual leaders of all time. McNeal uses both Biblical insight and life experience to bring all these elements together in a very practical book with lots of application.

The focus on Biblical characters was a great start to the book because you could see how God used all these elements in these men’s lives to create them into the leader He needed them to be. Growing in spiritual leadership is a process and didn’t happen overnight for these men. Even though stories of their leadership may seem common when told over and over again – it was a good reminder to me that no one showed up on the scene ready for their call because they had it all together. Jesus while being perfect, still had to grow and let God shape him so he could accomplish his call. Sometimes I crave to that final “arrival” where I am the perfect spiritual leader and I’m fully ready for all God has for me. I’m learning that this might never be the case. I might be flawed, I might be scared, I might be overwhelmed and unequipped. This doesn’t matter when I can see how God has prepared those before me and I know He will prepare me for whatever He calls me to do.

The second section of the books focused on the elements that shape us as spiritual leaders. Reading through it, I could see how God had done this for those before me and how He is doing that work in my life now. The art of examination and looking deeply into whom we are and what made us that way is so important to the success of a spiritual leader. McNeal works with many ministers and has seen real life examples of the good and bad in leadership. We must know what has brought us to this point and take a hard look at both the positive and the negative. Once such assessment has been made, the spiritual leader is free of the baggage that might be holding them back from all the potential God sees in them.

The two elements that stood out to me the most were communion and commonplace. The chapter on communion really challenged the spiritual leader in spending time with the Lord and letting Him shape their life through His constant presences and influence. In a world full of noise and activity, it is easy to drown out of the voice of God. I struggle with this myself. So many commitments fill my time and steal away that private encounter with God. Cell phones, laptops, email, text messaging make us constantly available to others, but are making ourselves available to God? The practice of communion with God is the strongest element in my opinion to sustain a leader in ministry. Without that influence and presence, I am working in my own strength which won’t get me all that far in life.

The second element of commonplace is another one that I have more recently discovered. God grows us in the commonplace activities of life. There is a lot to be said of being faithful in the small things. I know that even in the ordinary and every day, God has a plan for me. I have an opportunity with each new day and each new moment to serve my Maker and glorify Him. This could be as simple as a kind word or what seems like a small sacrifice. God grows character in those moments and prepares us for the bigger things that lay ahead. Ministry is not glitz and glamour, but it is being faithful with what the Lord has given to you.

I would recommend A Work of Heart to any leader. It was so good to evaluate where you are and see how God is shaping you. For a young leader, this book could help you set out on a balanced path and avoid the pitfalls of those who have come before you. For a seasoned leader, this book can give you the direction to get back on track and reclaim lost ground. No time or season is wasted if God’s glory can be seen in growth and life change. McNeal will walk you through the many elements that shape spiritual leaders and you will find that God has been shaping you for a very unique purpose.

As I write this review, I’m listening to the April shower happening outside of my window. I have a cup of hot chocolate steaming beside me and my favorite blanket across my lap. I’m just taking a deep breath and feeling the goodness of God wash over me. Simple moments like this are a pleasure and help me make it through the busyness that surrounds my life.

Now on to the book review… The Intentional Woman is a wonderful study. It was a great follow-up to Half the Church by Carolyn Custis James which I finished before starting this study. The study is formatted into 6 steps that can be done in a multitude of ways. This is a nice because it allows you to make the study fit your life and what works best for you. My suggestion would be a 6 week study with a small group of women – maybe 5 or 6. I think it would also great for a pair of ladies to go through.

It is a study and therefore, it is interactive. There are questions for you answer along every step of the way. The main focus on the study is where you’ve been, where you are at now and where you are going.  Travilla and Webb give many examples from their own journeys as well as other intentional women. Even if you decide to do the study alone, you still feel like you’re walking the path with others.

This study became a reaffirmation of what I’ve been currently working through personally. I’ve been in a very reflective season where I feel the Lord is calling me into new depths of ministry. As the Lord calls me to His purposes, I have to make sure my life is balanced enough to respond. Defining my priorities and addressing my passions are so important for intentional living. If you don’t prioritize the important stuff it will get pushed aside for a frantic, try-to-do-it-all pace. Some people might be able to balance what seems like a million hats, but I’m learning I’m a do a few things and do those things well kind of person.  I have to be intentional about where I am spending my energy so I can get maximum effectiveness.  Sometimes this is hard to accept, but it might mean letting go of some roles.

Travilla and Webb will help you to navigate the things that shaped you growing up, the things you are currently doing, and the things you feel called to do.  One point they brought out was a lot of us still love the things we loved when we were little. It might be painting, journaling, playing with friends, reading, etc. We often feel the need to push aside these simple childhood pleasures when become adults because we no longer feel they are important uses of our time. The truth is God made you in a unique way and there is probably something you really love to do. Don’t put off spending time doing something you love because you feel it’s selfish to focus on yourself. If we are truly balanced people than we will know that there needs to be export (us giving to others) and import (us being renewed). God might use that thing you loved as a child to be an outlet for you and your ministry.

In a constantly busy culture, it’s important to sit down and evaluate. Being an intentional woman will set you on a path of doing life on purpose. Don’t just let life happen to you. Decide what it’s important to you, respond to God’s calling on your life and live like you mean it! Live like it matters for eternity! The Intentional Woman is a great resource to help you sort through it all and make a clear, concise step in the right direction!

I feel like all I can say after reading this book is “wow.” On so many levels that sums up every aspect of this book. Half the Church is a must read for all women (and really men as well). It doesn’t matter who you are or where you are at, this book will inspire you to be the woman God created you to be and step forth with action to impact your world.

James started this book based of the inspiration of stories she heard about the global atrocities that women face. Since women make up half of the population and half of the church, we need to examine what our role is and who God has called us to be. Obviously there is a lot of pain and suffering in the world. Sometimes as western thinkers, we can close our eyes to the truth that half of the church is mistreated. Not only are women mistreated globally, but they are silenced. Women feel that they must be silent and take a back seat to men. We can see this even in the modern day church.

So what do we all have in common? What does this mean for the average church lady and for the girl sold into the sex-trafficking industry? There must be some common ground, some place where we can see God’s purpose for us.  There is a universal call to all women – here in the US and around the world!

The book uncovers so much and gives solid Biblical backing to God’s global vision for woman.  First of all, we are image bearers of God. Being made in his image means we are called to his purposes in this world. We were made to be in alliance with men. It’s not a battle of the sexes. It’s not about women taking a stand against men. It’s about us coming together to make the church whole and to be a complete presence of God in the world.

James brought up a good point when she says that two are called to become one. There aren’t fractions here. It isn’t one half comes together with another half to make one. When men (one) and women (one) come together in unity (one) then a true reflection of God can be seen in the world. We are not against each other.  The church is functioning as a healthy whole when both men and women are contributing.

We are called to leadership. Just because I am female does not mean I am sidelined in God’s kingdom call. James mentions that the church has put so much focus on being a wife and mother that we are not able to see the vision for women outside of these roles. Now these roles are not to be taken lightly, but they are not our whole identity.  God certainly has a calling and purpose for women before marriage and he certainly has a calling and purpose for them after their child-bearing years. We are never off the hook for being God’s image bearers in this world. Our leadership and our value remains steadfast from the moment we take our first breath to the moment we take our last. God has a dynamic vision for our lives and the question is are we ready to accept and live it out.

Through vivid illustrations and biblical examples, James clearly paints the picture of how God views his daughters. We are not second best and we are not an afterthought. This book has really empowered me to a new level of boldness and a new sense of urgency. We can’t let half the church do this alone. The body of Christ suffers when all its parts aren’t working in unity for God’s kingdom purposes. This is a call to half of the church – it’s time to step up and embrace God’s vision for our lives. Trust me; this book is worth the read!

Radical is a book at about the American Dream and how it really isn’t biblical. I didn’t expect the book to have such a strong missions theme. I honestly thought it would be more focused on what we’re doing wrong as a church. Platt focuses on our misplaced priorities, but overall he points to where our priorities should be. It’s a convicting read that will really make you think.

Platt used lots of illustrations from the church that he pastors in Brimingham, Alabama. He also has extensive missions experience himself. Through his writing you can see he has a passion for God’s Word and a passion for the world. Both passions truly come together to make the gospel the center of his lifestyle. I have a hard time reading stories about what others have done for God’s kingdom because I get into a comparative mindset. Instead of asking, “Do I have to do what they did?” I should probably ask “how would you like me to respond to what I’ve read?”

I’ve been on one mission’s trip in my lifetime and it deeply impacted me. As a student, I thought I would go again and again. Now that I’m an adult I have learned how hard it can be to set aside time and resources to do missions. I can see how the American Dream has crept into my mindset of what I must do. It dictates how I spend my time and where I spend my money. Even though I haven’t traveled out of the country again to serve, I can still remember the excitement and passion that was infused into me on that trip. Missions work is God’s heart and as the church it is not an option to think that it is for a select few that are called to serve in it.

I wrestled a lot with this book. I didn’t naturally want to agree with everything I read. Thinking outside the box of culture is never easy. The great thing about Radical is the last chapter. I really expected Platt to tell me to sell all I own, move to a third world country and serve the poor. I was bracing for the call to poverty, but I was quite surprised to find it wasn’t there. Platt’s final thoughts are a few very tangible ways that anyone can start toward a new path and mindset.

I would like to share the five challenges he set forth. These challenges are set in the context of a year time commitment. The first one is pray for the world. It seems so simple, but our eyes will be opened when take time to focus on something other than ourselves when we go to pray. The second challenge is to read the Bible in a year. I wholeheartedly agree with this challenge! In order to know the will of God and his call on your life, you must be in the Word. The third challenge is sacrifice your money for a specific purpose. I like the call to a specific purpose because it will draw to close to that purpose. The fourth challenge is spend time in a different context. Getting outside of your normal walls will help to expand your perspective and widen your worldview. The last challenge is to commit yourself to a multiplying community. I know that there is power in the Church and we are stronger together.

I haven’t come up with the answers to all of those challenges. Honestly, some of them come more easily to me than others. I’m taking time to pray about how I can make these challenges a reality in my life. I know that if you read this book you will feel the same call to examine your heart and your lifestyle. I pray that your eyes will be opened to new doors of opportunity

Axiom is a book of powerful leadership proverbs (that’s what the cover says and I agree). The format of the book is set so that each axiom takes about 10 minutes to read. I enjoyed the format of the book because it allowed me to look at each axiom as really short chapters. I was able to read as much or as little as I had time. I’m the kind of person that doesn’t stop in the middle of a chapter so this flow worked well for me.

Hybels has the book split into four different aspects of leadership: vision and strategy, teamwork and communication, activity and assessment, and personal integrity.  After thirty years of a ministry at Willow Creek Church, Hybels has learned a lot of important truths about leadership. This book is great for senior level church leadership, but the principles can be applied anywhere you are currently leading.

One of the axioms that sunk in the most for me was “Create Your Own Finish Lines.” In ministry, it seems that there is never an end. There is always something to be done and someone who needs you. Hybels share how he has set up very specific things that mark the end of his work day. Once he completes these tasks, he knows what the work day is over and he leaves the mindset of the office. For Hybels, his finish line is a three mile run with his neighbor every evening. For another person, it was a coffee date at the end of the work day. Having something set in place to help you finish protects your efficiency.  Keeping a Sabbath and sustainable ministry are also points that Hybels brought up often. He has had to learn how to build them into his life. If he doesn’t protect it, then no one is going to it for him.  This section of the book reminded me that I am human and have limits. I need to set a plan for my day and stop when it is necessary. I’m now trying to think of creative ways I can add a finish line to my day.

This book has 76 axioms that speak from personal leadership experience. I read the book in a about a week, however, I could see this book being used as a leadership devotional. When doing your personal quiet time and reflection, an axiom a day to focus on could be beneficial. If your brain is like mine, too many details, too quickly means that not everything will be absorbed. Taking this book slowly will allow you to soak in all it truly has to offer.

As a young leader, I need the influence of others who are more seasoned. Learning for others mistakes and growing from their discoveries is very important in ministry. I highly recommend this book to anyone in leadership. The format is unique and it lends the book to being used in many different forms of application.