I am currently reading the book “God’s Equation: Einstein, Relativity, and the Expanding Universe” by Amir D. Aczel, and wow is it some intense stuff. I am by no means a math expert so I am at a slight disadvantage when it goes into a lot of the heavier stuff(Non-Euclidean geometry, Quantum physics, and other stuff), but I am smart and know enough to get the gist of what is being discussed, and I must say, WOW!

My brain has been stretched reading this book then it ever has before. Just trying to wrap your brain around such problems as the size of the universe, “What’s beyond the universe?”, “Will the universe stop expanding?”, “Is Time travel possible?”, and many more thoughts and questions will make your brain stretch beyond normal thought.

All of this has just gone to show me how incredible God made the universe. 500 years ago we still thought the world was flat. 500 years before that we thought that we were the center of the universe, and 500 years before that we didn’t really have any clue as to what was beyond our view. God has created an incredibly detailed and mysterious place for us to live in.

Einstein said it best “Subtle is the Lord God, but malicious He is not.” We live in a world where we assume that our current science is the end-all-be-all and that what we hold to be truth now will still be true in the future. God has created and extremely detailed and intricate world for us to live in. I look forward to the day when I can be with Him and see this creation as he does, from the outside looking in. To see the universe as what it is small, finite, and minuscule compared with Him. It is hard to imagine now, but one day soon I will be able too.

So I forgot to add this book to my recap of reading the other day. here are a few quick hits that I took form this book:

• Everything a church does creates an Impression, good and bad. What Impression are you making?
• If you don’t have a plan for guests they will notice and they will have a plan, to not come back.
• Marketing materials are a first impression. From the Web site on down to every printed piece in your building
• The building itself can leave an impression. Is it clean? Dirty? Cluttered? Full? Empty?
• Plan. Plan some more. Then Plan again. Make sure you are thinking of all the ways guests are going to come and plan for them.
• Put yourself in their shoes.

If you want to see why I was reading this book, check out this First Impressions Manual I put together for my church.
All in all if you are trying to do a better job with your guests this is a great read and will get your brain thinking.

I have just started Craig’s new book (See here for more info on how I got it). Let me start by saying that I am very excited to read this book, even though it is mainly advice for singles looking for a way to prepare themselves for marriage. after reading the Intro and first two chapters here is why i am excited:

1. I think that I can learn something that will beuseful in my own marriage.
2. I know that i will learn somethings that have to do with raising my own kids in way that prepares them for a good marriage.
3. I think that this will be a good book for singles/HS groups to look at for a study. (I am probably recommending it to our Youth pastor to read after I am done)

The one that makes me most excited is number two. My children’s purity and the purity of their future spouses is very important to me. Even though my oldest is only nine, she is going to be dating a whole lot sooner then I realize and it scares the crud out of me. I am looking for good solid advice on what I needs to be instilling in her, I think this book will help.

Anyway those are my opening thoughts on on the book check back for some thoughts as I continue reading.

So I realize that I had started to blog about the book Beyond Megachuch Myths, but never finished my posts on it. Well since then I have finished that book, Breakout Churches and Simple Church both by Thom Rainer. I just wanted to shre a few lessons from each before I get to my New book Going All The Way. So here you go.

Beyond Megachurch Myth

1. Know who you are trying to reach-  I know that we are trying to reach the whole world, and Jesus said go into all the world and preach the gospel[paraphrased], but if you look at these Megachurches they are targeting a specific demographic of people. Not to say that they are in any way exclusive, but they understand who they have the best chance of reaching and make the most effort in that area.
2. You must have a vision for what God is calling your church to do- Simple really, kinda self explanatory.
3. Small Groups are IMPORTANT!- Whatever model they take, sunday school, home groups, age based groups, moving people from worship service into a small group Was a big factor in the Megachurch model

Breakout Churches

1. Once again have a vision- Same as above(notice a theme developing?)
2. A commitment to excellence- Among the 13 breakout churches Rainer studied there was a noticeable commitment to doing thing excellently or not at all.
3. Find the right people to lead- It’s not necessarily about finding the most talented, or most experienced people to hire it is about finding the ones who fit in with your vision and what you are trying to accomplish. Perry Noble of Newspring recently posted about what he looks for in a staff person. I think that his thoughts sum it up.
4. Embrace Innovation- Not just anything that comes your way that is cool and new, but finding those things that are truly going to fit in with your vision and enhance it, even if it means doing things differently than you are used to.

Simple Church

1. Find your vision, then develop it- This book was all about vision. I highly suggest you pick this book up if you are looking for a better way to communicate your vision or if you are just lacking vision and direction for your church.
2. Communicate that vision in a simple process- Tell people what the vision is and how they plug into it.
3. Develop a process to move people through your vision.
4. Get rid of anything that doesn’t fit your vision.
5. constantly communicate that vision.

Anyway those are the books that I have been reading. I would highly suggest all three to you. If you have already read anyone of them I wold love to hear what you thought and took away from them.

So I just got my free copy of Going All The Way by Craig Groeschel today. It is awesome that they are giving these away to people who will blog about it. As of today there were still 40 copies left so if you are interested in blogging about it head over to Swerve and ask for a copy of it.

Anyway I will blogg some more about it as I read it.

Just got wind from SWERVE that Pastor Craig at LifeChurch.tv is getting ready to release his new book “Going All the Way”. It is about sex and marriage. Anyway I checked out the video for it over on youTube and man is thing funny check it out here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5rYtscx0gs 

I tell you what Craig is a wild man. I love that about him, he is not afraid to address stuff directly, though i will say that when he was giving the squirrel analogy, it wasn’t exactly what I was thinking, if you know what I mean.