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The Clifton StrengthsFinder

I started my Clifton StrengthsFinder coach training in Paarl (near Cape Town), South Africa, today. Joe Cavanaugh of Gallup is here training a handful of coaches - only 6 of us.

I realized anew today how powerful it is to know what your five top talents are. It is difficult to explain. It is like knowing the top features of your new PDA, or like knowing about the strong points of your new SUV. I can now concentrate on what I do best, and performance, happiness and success will follow... I'm not necessarily talking about financial success - more like bearing lots of fruit for God in the way that He wants you to.

My top five talents are:

1. Activator,
2. Belief,
3. Responsibility,
4. Command, and
5. Communication.

There has never been a person like you... There will never again be a person like you... You are truly unique. The probability of another person having your top ten talents (out of 34), in the same order, is one out of more than 400 trillion!

You were created by God with specific things in mind. Now is the time to achieve these things. Consider it a challenge...

Do you think it would be a good idea to know your talents and learn more about turning them into strengths? I thought so! If you do, order yourself a copy of Living Your Strengths. It includes a code for the online assessment and gives you all the information you need with it.

Go, and find out what your top five talents are. I hope you will turn them into strengths in no time!

Review of Pagan Christianity?

I have finally completed and posted my review of Pagan Christianity? by Frank Viola and George Barna. Click on the link in the previous sentence to go read it.

And let me know what you think by posting comments to this post...

Pagan Christianity?

I just received a review copy of Pagan Christianity?, courtesy of Present Testimony Ministry. I have actually bought the book during my recent visit to the United States. Maybe I can use that (paid) copy as a gift now?

I am only about halfway through, and already one thing is certain... This book is going to ruffle some feathers. Especially those of pastors, other clergy or salaried church staff.

Many people are going to want to dismiss the book as not true. However, the problem with dismissing this controversial book is that it is so well-researched. Plus, George Barna won't add his name to something that is not trustworthy and true.

As soon as I have finished Pagan Christianity?, I will do a full review on it on BookDisciple.com and post a link here. If I have to guess, that will happen late next week. If you can't wait, order the book at a special introductory price by visiting the official Pagan Christianity? website.

You may also want to read Alan Hirsch's short review on The Forgotten Ways. He agrees that it is a thrilling, yet feisty ad explosive book...

Kindly, Frank viola is also willing to do print interviews, so watch out for that as well. I will contact him as soon as I have read all of Pagan Christianity?, which is definitely not going to be the last of his books read by me.

Have (or create!) a great day.

Unchristian

Gabe Lyons on CNN discussing the book he co-authored with David Kinnaman, Unchristian. I saw this on Dave Macdonald's blog, guerillaHost.

Reading more...

As you might know, I am a book freak. I like books. I like reading...

Heck, I even have a website dedicated to encourage others to read more. Now imagine my surprise when a buddy told me about this blog post telling you How to consume more books this year. Perfect!

Thank you Mynhardt!

The Blogging Church

I finished The Blogging Church by Brian Bailey on Saturday evening.

Before reading this book, I experimented with a few blogs at Blogger, Wordpress and Voxtropolis. To no avail... I had no real sense of purpose, no plan and (of course) no success.

But now, I know why I blog, how to blog, when to blog and what to write about. In addition I now know a lot about he blogosphere. I know how to set up a feed at feedburner, track subscriptions, and what the purpose of technorati.com is...

And... I started seriously reading other blogs. If nothing else, The Blogging Church introduces you to many excellent blogs... I hope to share my favorites sometime soon!

The book is an easy read. I read it while on holiday, keeping one eye on our toddler, and keeping up a conversation in the background.

I am a total activator, so I act before I think, then monitor the results of my actions while thinking and making adjustments. If God blessed you with other strengths and you don't operate in this  manner, I highly recommend getting your hands on this book before starting to blog.

Brian wrote the book for pastors and other staff (or volunteers) of churches. I have an independent ministry of reviewing and recommending helpful Christian books and other media, so I guess it was a slight misfit, but it still resulted in the creation of this blog, and helped me immensely in understanding the latest trends online.

If you have any desire to start a blog, for a church or otherwise, read this book. It will be helpful...

Check out Brian's blog at LeaveItBehind.com. I have only started reading recently, and I already find his posts helpful.

The Role of Good Books...

I love reading. Always have.

For me, there is no better use of spare time than to dive into a good book. When growing up, I liked fiction. The Hardy Boys, then Terry Pratchett, and later on the African adventures of Wilbur Smith...

Then I started developing interests in specific things, and there was a strong shift toward non-fiction.

Eventually, after becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ, I started reading Christian books or secular books that are helpful in this new mission.

As I was reading, I noticed something. These books were having a profound impact on me. On my thoughts, my passions, and eventually my actions. I realized that God was using books to change me and to develop my character.

Then, I started reading with an increased vigor. I set out and intentionally bought books on subjects that I needed to learn more about. Books offering solutions to the problems I was facing, and books detailing new, fresh ways of thinking about old truths.

I sincerely believe that God uses the efforts of Christian and secular authors to produce fruit for Him. He uses books, especially those by trusted Christian authors, to reach people who don't consider themselves disciples and to help disciples to grow. Books are a central part of the process of sanctification.

So, next time you start looking for a book to read, or walk past a bookstore, shoot up a little prayer and ask God to lead you and help you find something that you need to read. Something that He wants you to read!

I hope that, like me, you will not be disappointed.