As several of you have commented on the book that I recommended by E Stanley Jones has prompted me to write about some of the books that I have recently read that have been a challenge and an inspiration to me.

On the continuing theme of the Kingdom a book recommended to me by my good friend Jason Bollinger was “The Tangible Kingdom” written by Hugh Halter and Matt Smay. This book is written by two men who have “lived it out”. They do not theorise but give practical illustrations from their own experiences and as we say in the UK with “warts and all”. This book is a must for those who
are searching for books written about the kingdom.

There is a growing understanding that unless we engage what has become called market place ministry we will not see “the Kingdom Come” and I would certainly agree with that thought. To be honest, and I may well yet do it, to write a book on engaging those who are involved in the world of business. I have however found a book that echoes all my passion for those in business and it is a book written by Ed Silvoso called “Anointed for Business”. In this book Ed tells of his own journey in the business world and challenges the reader not to wait but to believe that they can be effective in the market place and without them the church are the losers! A sub heading to the book is “How to use your influence in the market place to change the world” I could not have put it better myself!

My final recommendation this time around is a book sent to me by my friend Kerry Wood called “The top Ten Mistakes Leaders Make”. Reading this book is brutal! To be honest there was much that I found very encouraging in that I had done many things well but there were other decisions that I had made that made me wish that I had read this book years ago. This book is written by Hans Finzel and if I were teaching /training church leaders I would make this book mandatory reading. I am sure that it would have saved many leaders a great deal of pain.

I must confess that I am amazed at how little people read so if you are one of those people then why not start with what I have recommended - you will no doubt not agree with all that is said but it will challenge your thinking and that cannot be such a bad thing.