The Duggars: 20 and Counting / Do Hard Things

Getting back to my book reviews. I finished up two this week.

First, Crystal and I read The Duggars: 20 and Counting, authored by Jim-Bob & Michelle Duggar (whom you've probably seen on TV). Since they have 18 children we hoped to glean some tips and tricks for managing a large family. While the book contained plenty of this sort of advice in the end that wasn't what drew my attention. The underlying theme of the book (and the Duggar family) is trusting God to direct every decision you make. The Duggars go into detail about their past and the decisions which they made both with and apart from God's guidance - and the results that followed. It is evident that God has richly blessed their family both financially and fertily (is that a word?) for seeking his will. Even if you don't have a bunch of kids this book is well worth the read simply to see God at work in their lives.

Second, I read Do Hard Things by Alex & Brett Harris. This book is written by teenagers for teenagers, but it speaks a number of truths that I found quite relevant as an adult. The Harris twins challenge teens to step beyond the world's low expectations of them and truly do something extraordinary. Scattered thoughout the book are dozens of examples of teens who put down the game controller and TV remote and made something of their life - prior to turning 21. Even for me at age 28 this book served as a real challenge to move beyond what is expected and tackle what is truly challenging. Beyond the message of the book I appreciated that the authors included a chapter on practical steps of acting on what you learned (again with examples). So many books will try to sell an idea but in the end leave the reader with no direction for how to achieve that idea. I wish I would have read Do Hard Things as a teen - I'm suspect the challenge within may have motivated me to waste far less time during that period of my life. This is going to be mandatory reading for my kids once they're a bit older.

The Second Reformation

I just finished reading The Second Reformation by William A. Beckham. This is an older book that has been sitting on my shelf for a number of years (since the late 90s when we first started doing cell/simple church). It primarily focuses on the practical mechanics of what the author terms the "Two-Winged Church". One that includes both corporate large-gathering worship and smaller cell units.

The book appears to be aimed toward leadership staff of traditional churches who are attempting to transition their churches into cell groups. As a result there was much of it I didn't find to be applicable to our situation here in Parachute. However the author does discuss the requirements for founding a cell/house church based upon Christ's model: An initiating set of 2-3 people, a core group of 12 people, a critical mass of 120, and from there a fulfillment of vision including thousands.