i wasn’t tagged by scot mcknight on this meme, but i really enjoyed it, so i’m answering the questions anyhow.
1. One book that changed your life: the bible. ok, i had to write that. :o) beyond that, i’ll say jim collins’ good to great. the part about level 5 leadership completely kicked my butt and has been the single biggest factor in the shift of how i lead in the past 2 years.
2. One book that you’ve read more than once: the bible. ok, i’ll stop. um, i’ve read so few books multiple times. i’m just now reading orbiting the giant hairball a second time. it’s a fantastic book about maintaining creativity while being a part of a bureaucratic organization.
3. One book you’d want on a desert island: the bible. no, really, i’ll stop that. if i were stuck on a desert island for an indefinite length of time, and thought i could only have one book with me (uh, other than the bible) that i would likely read over and over and over again, i think i’d go for something like anne rice’s christ the lord, or some other story of our story that i could soak in and ruminate on. i’d probably need to spend a day on amazon looking, though, as i might want to bring some pithy book of theology that would take me years to understand anyhow.
4. One book that made you laugh: christopher moore’s lamb: the gospel according to biff, christ’s childhood pal
5. One book that made you cry: renee altson’s stumbling toward faith
6. One book you wish had been written: an idiot’s guide to rethinking salvation models and atonement theories, without jetisoning orthodoxy
7. One book you wish had never been written: the left behind series
8. One book you’re currently reading: christopher noxon’s rejuvenile (review to come in the next few days)
9. One book you’ve been meaning to read: scot mcknight’s the jesus creed. i’m so lame for not reading this yet. i finally ordered it a couple weeks ago, and am planning on reading it in the next couple weeks.
and since this meme only had 9 items, but just seems to be begging for a more neat 10, i’ll add one:
10. One book you’d like to write: i’d love to write (and maybe will someday) organizational hope, a book about the role of hope in human organizations.
[addition] – sean meade suggested a ‘tag’ a handful of people on this. ok. i’ll tag you, sean. and, dan kimball, bob carlton, renee altson, kurt johnston, dave palmer, and mark dowds.
Two comments:
First, sheesh, I figured you had already been tagged for this one.
Second, if you write that book, I’ll read it immediately just to make you feel bad for not reading Jesus Creed. That explains why you are Left Behind!
PS:
Did you buy a used or new copy of Jesus Creed?
new, baby — want you to get that royalty!
FYI: Scot is in the midst of writing the book you wish had been written. When it comes out, don’t wait so long to buy it!!
Organizational Hope – what a stunningly original business concept, yet is an accurate description of everyone’s state of mind as they head in to work. Do you see it as a source of leadership for the organization as an entity (affecting the internal culture) or do you see it as a worker bee’s mantra for finally finding happiness in their grind?
thanks, steve. i’m not sure it’s everyone’s state of mind as they head to work. depends on their workplace and their affiliation with the mission of the organization, and the satisfaction they receive from their contribution. to your question, i think it’s more about affecting the culture than it is about a mantra for employees in a crappy workplace. i’d like to look at organizations (workplaces and other kinds or organizations) where a sense of biblical hope (a confidence in the future) exists, and what factors seem to contribute to that.
bob — thanks, yes, i eagerly await scot’s book! nice to have you comment here, bob, as i’ve prayed for you often this year, through scot’s blog.
Marko, how about tagging a few people to keep this thing going in another circle? I’d be interested in hearing more responses to those questions.
Thanks for a great list btw!
Great list Marko. I’m hoping someday someone will write (or already has) a book about the economics of church. i.e. cost benefit analysis applied to the rational of why people choose certain churches.
Maybe I only want this because of my love for economics but I somehow see some practical application to an evaluation on the role economic principles play in christian community.
My belief is that everyone who goes to work has hope. They hope they will get paid. They hope the building will still be standing. But, mostly, they hope it will ba good day, or atleast a better day than the one before. They hope they will be appreciated, or given challenging work, or given a break. But, I digress.
Organizational hope is a pervasive belief that the whole of the decisions being made lead toward the greater good, making stakeholders and customers happy, in general. The spiritual hope we find in Jesus Christ is like standing on the ground. When we step off our porch, we have great hope that the ground will catch us. Organizational hope seems to me to be related to the assurance of goodness and progressive growth for the benefit of all.
Is that what you are talking about?
yup, That’s the idea, steve
I bought “Lamb” in Big Sur and love it! I have never laughed so much at almost every page in a book ever!
OK MarkO. Here is what I have for the day:
1. One book that changed your life:
Dialogue by William Isaacs. This is a book that not only changed my life but one that I wish I could have read ten years earlier in my life as it could have helped me to remain more open and resolve more conflict.
2. One book that you’ve read more than once:
The Lord of The Rings. It was a sort of have to read more than once as it took me so long as a kid getting my head around it all.
3. One book you’d want on a desert island:
The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell as it’s focus on social networking would eventually lead me to madness on my own.
4. One book that made you laugh:
JPod by Douglas Coupland. I love all his writings but this one is an all time classic in my mind.
5. One book that made you cry:
Synchronicity by Joseph Jaworski. This is a business type book with a spiritual kick. It was very engaging throughout but the last two chapters kicked my ass.
6. One book you wish had been written:
Beyond Salvation. A book that led people into a meaningful life that was beyond religiosity and engaging to the world at large
7. One book you wish had never been written:
The Purpose Driven Life. I just have a beef with this book as in my mind it leads people to have a stronger focus of church as an institution instead of a corporate identity.
8. One book you’re currently reading:
The Long Tail. This is another interesting business book about how small is big.
9. One book you’ve been meaning to read:
The Art of Demotivation. This is a humorous yet poignant book about getting in touch with who you are and who you are not. I bought it over a year ago and it stares at me every day.
10. One book you’d like to write:
Ideas and Innovation – The Hope of Sustainability. This would be a book that links creativity and innovation to a preferable future here on earth. It would be a book to lead us beyond what we see as comfortable and lead us into being ruthless pioneers.
Mark