Group-of-Ten

This book is a terrific "how to" guide for creating and nurturing small church groups that will in turn nurture their members. If you have questions about why small groups have not worked in your church, or started well, but couldn't maintain their momentum, this is the book for you.

Sometimes called "covenant groups," the small groups of this model have "covenant" as their cornerstone. Each group writes up a covenant for how they will conduct the group and how they will minister to each other, their church, and the larger community in which they live.

By following the basic structure given in this book, your small group can become a little community within your church, rather than just a casual gathering of people who may or may not show up. If your congregation has any fears about growing and losing the intimate feeling of their church, small groups such as the ones described are the answer.

In addition to giving step-by-step instructions for creating the groups, Rev. Hill provides many examples from covenant groups from all sizes of churches. The sample information at the back of the book (pamphlets, forms, training, etc.) are very helpful for getting your program up and running without having to start from scratch.

As someone involved in small group ministry, I have found this book indispensible. It incorporates the experiences of many who have been working in the vineyards and lays out in a clear and concise way how to organize and maintain small group ministry in a religious community. Great book!

Whether you are thinking about a new small group ministry or have an established program, this book is a must have. I have read all popular Christian Small Group resources, the various UU SGM articles online including the great material by Rev. Calvin Dame and Rev. Glenn Turner (See smallgroupministry.net), and have attended various workshops on the subject. This volume has all the information you will need to start designing your Small Group Ministry. The only thing missing from this book is success stories of small groups birthing new groups. I recommend this book for anyone working with liberal religious communities.

This book was an awesome read. Fraser was focused and expected nothing but the best from himself and others. He recognized the role that race plays in our society; however, he refused to allow it to limit his personal or business life. He offered insight on how to succeed as a minority in corporate America by encouraging and promoting racial pride, self-help, and self-development. This book will encourage anyone, however it should be required reading for all minorities. In spite of all of life's challenges, including the color of my skin, the author inspired me to push, dig, fight, and expect to win this game called life.

This book is tremendous. It actually exceeded my expectations. This is one of those rare times when a book lived up to it's hype. I have already read certain parts over again. It serves as a constant source of inspiration. It g ives you an opportunity to focus on the areas of interest to YOU. My favorite sections is the contact information in the back of the book, and the seven morals and principles of success.

"Race For Success" is the fuel necessary to participate in this marathon called "Life." An unsually powerful and unique combination of sound principles, historical perspective, motivation, knowledge and resources, the book is a true call to action. It is a tool for personal growth, economic empowerment, community revitalization, and much, much, more.

Paul Reese was a miracle. I had read a number of books about people that walked across America, but a marathon a day?!?! You will be inspired. Written in a very straight forward manner, it won't be the poetry of the words that get you, it will be the poetry of this man's amazing spirit that will make you a fan. I highly recomend this book.

I found this book totally addictive. It was a day-to-day journal of Paul Reece's Run X USA and the things he saw and did with his wife! This book sucked me right in and I wasn't able to put it down!! Lots of tips for wana-be runners and those who are veterans! Great tips for getting on the open road and what to watch out for! Fantastic book! Made me want to RUN!!

This book really captured the trials and trumphs it take to be a strong entrepreneur. Each entreprener was challenged to compete with the big boys of their industries and did it with grace and style. They discussed ways of securing capital, finding qualified employees who could embrace their vision and help them take their operations to the next level. Each entrepreneur showed that he had the drive, passion, creative genius, and perseverance to pursue and achieve the American Dream.

This is the bible for tape/CD traders of Grateful Dead shows! It lists, as far as is known, all performances in chronological order, plus whatever tunes were performed at each show. For the most part, I've found very few errors in the book. When the author(s) don't know for sure, they're up front and say so. But sometimes shows differ from Deadbase. I've got a Jan. 1970 Honolulu show that has all the tunes listed in Deadbase, but in a different order. Are my two CDs of the show right, or is Deadbase? It doesn't really matter, of course, because the music is good. Deadbase also contains a statistician's dream of information, such as how many times songs were played, when they were first played, when the last time they were played, and on and on. It also has a great section (which, after the show listings is my favorite) of reviews from fans. This book gets 4 stars and not 5 from me simply because I really don't care how many times Loose Lucy was played. I'd rather have fewer stats and more reviews. The reviews are great and, though I have some 800 shows on tape, there are some reviews of shows I'm looking for and they've been very helpful. The reviews also are helpful for "newbies" (an affection term for someone just starting out on tape/CD trading) to decide what shows they want to get first. I could sit for long periods of time and enjoy Deadbase. For a while, a Deadbase Jr. was being published, and I liked it because it was not much bigger than a paperback, had all the shows, major venues, some stats, but was easy to refer to when looking at lists on the Internet. I STILL use my tattered Jr. when I can, but kicking back on the couch with the "big book" and dreaming of shows yet to come is a pure joy. For anyone involved in tape/CD trading, this is ESSENTIAL and very, very highly recomended!

If you have a huge collection of unlabeled tapes, this book will help you ID the tape by listing every song played with every song played BEFORE and AFTER it. It's a blast to just leaf through. There isn't another book like it anywhere. You really have to get a copy of this book. It's not like it's an optional purchase. The information in this book is not found anywhere else.

If you are a taper, collector, trader, or just forgot what opened the second set in the last Philly JFK show, then this book is a must. Finally make a setlist for all those unidentified MP3s. Check off what you have to make trading easier. Get goosebumps over one of the transitions you forgot about. Kick yourself for working and not seeing the second night. If you collect you gotta have this or wait for the next one coming soon.

I really enjoyed "Pages for You," so I was eager to read more of Brownrigg's work. This is a quiet, unassuming collection of short stories about women who do unusual and strange things. The things these women frequently do--such as chase after buses and disperse advice by shouting from a giant, red chair--are abstract and metaphorical, but always real. Even women who have tangible problems such as wanting to lose ten pounds take unusual measures. And Brownrigg makes it all work with her rich, playful language.

I love this book.

The ten stories are fresh, comic, poignant--fun and funny and thoughtful. The writing is tremendous: Brownrigg's use of language is cool and assured even as she paints seemingly outrageous pictures.

Highly recommended.

This collection of stories whirls about with the freshness, care and texture of a full-blown parade. The pace of the narratives, the keen eye and lucent quality of the writing made this a one sitting book. I want to know ten dozen more of these women, their friends and lovers, and I want to walk some more in the fine places where they live. I haven't enjoyed a book of stories this much since the last collection of Raymond Carver.

Wittgenstein's Poker is an elegantly written biographical tale of two of the greatest personalities of 20th century philosophy, Ludwig Wittgenstein and Karl Popper. The book is likely to especially entertaining for anyone interested in philosophy, intellectual history or biography. Unlike many books written by or about philosophers, this really is a fun and fast-paced read. Moreover, it is accessible to anyone, not just philosophers.

I read this book as someone who is only moderately familiar with Wittgenstein and Popper and their contributions to philosophy. No previous knowledge of either man is necessary to enjoy this book and learn from it.

For anyone looking for a critical analysis of the philosophical positions of these two intellectual giants, this book may prove to be a bit disappointing. It is more biographical than philosophical in nature. But it is exceptionally rich in detail and offers wonderfully interesting anecdotes about the life and times of these two men.

As its title implies, the book takes readers on a whirlwind tour of the lives of these two personalities and culminates in an impassioned debate that occurred for 10 minutes in a cozy room at Cambridge University in 1946. What happened during the debate? What was said? Who won? What do witnesses to the debate say? All of these questions, and many more, are dealt with in an admirably entertaining way by the authors.

The paperback version of this book is about 300 pages long. The authors, both award-winning journalists at the BBC, make every page count. No time is wasted and the writing style is crisp and concise, which makes this book a real pleasure to read.

I have struggled unsuccessfully to recall a parallel to this unusual book. The authors recount a brief, acrimonious debate between two noted philosophers, Karl Popper and Ludwig Wittgenstein, that remained largely forgotten until Popper published his memoirs years later. Surprisingly, Popper's recollections triggered a volley of sharp comments in the London Times Literary Supplement by some attendees to this 1946 meeting of the Cambridge Moral Science Club.

David Edmonds and John Eidinow used this trivial event as a basis for investigating the lives of two remarkable philosophers of the twentieth century. We readers learn something about academic life in pre-World War II Vienna and at Cambridge University. Also, while this is not a philosophy text, we do come away knowing a little more about the Wittgenstein school of philosophy.

I previously knew little of Wittgenstein and Popper. Apparently, neither man was especially likeable. Popper had a life-long obsession with debunking the philosophy of Wittgenstein; Wittgenstein claimed to be unaware of Popper. Both were known for aggressiveness, a no-holds-barred confrontational style of argument. Both believed that their vision was critical for the future of philosophy.

I am still puzzled why I so enjoyed Wittgenstein's Poker. Possibly I just became intrigued with these two brilliant, irascible, antagonistic protagonists.

Or maybe this work is most fascinating on another level. Edmonds and Eidinow convincingly demonstrate how fundamentally our world has changed. Tolerance, relativism, and the triumph of uncertainty now shape our thoughts in ways inconceivable just fifty years ago. Having just defeated Nazism and now threatened by Stalin's regime, there was little opportunity in 1946 for ambiguous intellectual positions.

Today the story of Wittgenstein's Poker seems incongruous, and even humorous. And yet, perhaps the real interest of this brief argument at Cambridge is that it provides a sobering glimpse at twentieth century history.

I never could see why so much fuss was made about Wittgenstein, and this book, whether the authors intended it or not, reaffirms my view. Wittgenstein (assuming their research is reliable) became a powerful force in twentieth-century philosophy because of a number of non-philosophical tactics he used. These were a bewitching and dominating presence (pp. 21, 25), interrupting (37), a patrician manner (87, 173), making pronouncements instead of arguing (159-160, 228, 234), a manner that was "bullying, aggressive, intolerant" (175), and what were perceived by others (and not just by Popper) as threats of violence (202).

What I found even more disturbing was Wittgenstein's classism, his refusal to take the ideas of those of the lower classes seriously (161-2, 173). I have occasion to know about this kind of thing myself, since it has been directed at me. It is now more than ten years since I noticed an explanation of the Third Man argument that was hidden in the "Parmenides." In this explanation Plato expressed himself so obscurely that for centuries people overlooked it, but it is clear enough once you know what to look for. (See my review of Constance Meinwald's book for details.) Yet, I cannot get this published. This is the best article ever on the Third Man, and no one will publish it. Even if it is wrong - and most things in philosophy are wrong - isn't it worth publishing such a thing, just for the sake of having a lively discussion? At the very least, my article represents a new approach and deserves to be published for that reason. But no, because I came out of the wrong class and the wrong school, it would never do to publish someone like me.

For those who love Wittgenstein, ask yourself if you ever would have heard of his ideas if they had been propounded by a Waismann, whom I had never even heard of before reading this book. Isn't it likely that, no matter how good his ideas had been, they would have been ignored?

What a great story. No super heroes or improbable scenarios. Three guys from our generation (37 yrs. old, like many of us, except that they dared to break out of the box and find a better way to communicate. The story is beyond more effective policing techniques but revisits the core values that have made America the place it is. kudo's and continued success to the Slick boys and the communities they serve. they also did a "killer" interview on the Joan Rivers radio program in NYC, that is why I bought the book.

This is a story about Bill Porter, a man with cerebral palsy who became a successful door-to-door salesman through persistence, sincerity, hard work, and just plain good business practice. Author and professional keynote speaker Shelly Brady does a good job of recounting the character of this incredible man through her interaction with Mr. Porter as both friend and business associate. Though the book is small, its impact is wide-ranging. Aside from being drawn in by an inspirational story, I also found myself thinking often of how the "ten things" could apply to my life.

I'm not knowledgeable about cerebral palsy, and I don't even know anyone who has CP. Nonetheless, it sounds to me like a major handicap. The biggest impact that Bill Porter's story had on me was that everything the typical person would consider to be a handicap, an obstacle, a disability, or a setback, would not only be written off by Mr. Porter as unimportant, but instead considered to be a springboard to something better or more positive. There's a lesson here for everyone.

The engaging story covers 132 pages, followed by another 30-plus pages of letters received mainly in response to a 20/20 television feature on Mr. Porter that aired in December of 1997. I didn't see the show, but I'm convinced it had a profound effect on a multitude of viewers. There's also a brief afterword by Mr. Porter himself, so heartfelt that I wondered whether or not a first-person account might have made the book even better. There may not be philosophical "words to live by" on every page, but Ms. Brady just might prove to you that your life is better than you think.

Overall, I'd recommend this book to just about anyone.

Read and loved TEN THINGS I LEARNED FROM BILL PORTER
by Shelly Brady . . . this is the door-to-door salesperson in Oregon, born with cerebral palsy, who didn't let that fact prevent him from becoming his company's top producer.

Porter's life moved me when I saw the recent movie about him
on TNT (DOOR TO DOOR), starring William H. Macy . . . look for it on that channel and/or see if your local video store has it as a rental . . . you won't be disappointed.

But in the meantime, get hold of this inspirational book . . . Brady, who first worked for Porter as a teenager and now shares his story with various organizations and corporations, helps you
see that each one of us can make a difference . . . and as
Bill says, "Never doubt that your life is important."

You'll further become convinced that you can change the
world--one door at a time!

There were many memorable passages; among them:
According to the MERRIAM-WEBSTER DICTIONARY, the word "no"
is an act or instance of refusing or denying something. For instance, a customer's refusal to purchase goods or services from a salesperson is generally expressed via the word "no." For some reason or another, Bill Porter doesn't hear it that way. Bill hears the word "no" differently; he hears it to mean that the customer will be glad for Bill to return at
a more convenient time or please to be shown another, more
necessary product.

After talking with Bill about his dependence on others to complete his dressing, I wondered if under the same circumstances I would have had the courage to ask others to help. I quickly realized that we all need help, we all lack skill of some sort or another. It's just that
most of our inabilities aren't so visually evident as Bill's; they may be psychological rather than physical, and, often, we create them ourselves. And, as we all know, some of our self-imposed mental disabilities can be more difficult to overcome than physical ones. All Bill Porter needs is someone to button his cuffs and clip his tie; it's the rest of us who need attitude adjustment, R&R, and pep talks. In my clearest moments, I am able to see Bill Porter as he sees himself and truly say "What disability?"

And so with the aid of family, friends, and a few employees, I am better able to appreciate the time I spend with my family, while the joy I get form traveling to share Bill's story lasts until our next adventure. From Bill, I learned to accept the help of others without feeling less of a person. I also learned that others are just as capable as I am of doing many tasks that I thought only I could do perfectly.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Shelly's book is about her life long friendship and employment with Bill Porter. This is Shelly's story. It is not an autobiography of Bill Porter.(Read that right on the cover.)It is the engaging story of how a young high school girl went to work for a disabled man, and bonded with him in such an enduring way that her employer became as part of her family. And visa versa. Bill Porter is an amazing man and that shines through in this story. His mother must have been quite a lady. I applaud Mrs Brady for wanting to record this part of her life and sharing it with others. This book is a light read, perfect for Christmas presents.

I read this book within a couple of hours. I remember while being stationed in Korea, and folks talked about this and how they didn't care for their less than perfect citizens. I also remember the orphanages there and how scarce they seem to be. Personally, I felt it was a gripping story, because of the fact that the author writes of it with such a detachment if you will. Personally, those parents that adopted her should have never done so to begin with. At least her adoptive father admitted to his harsh treatment of her, but the mother acts like she was the best thing that came off the pike. I guess so when she cleaned your home from top to bottom, took care of your own mother while withstanding her abuse until she died. Then married a man who then mistreated her cause he was forced to marry her???? I MEAN where is the justice here?? I guess she had to write all this in a detached mode. To me, Ms. Kim suffered got her share and more on those 10000 sorrows, it is time for her to get the joys now if you please.

A truly amazing and well-written story -- Kim's ten thousand sorrows are each larger than what one person can conceivably bear. The references to Buddhism, to her mother's love, to her relationship with her daughter, are all beautiful, but the beauty pales in significance to the horrorific events of this author's life. It is a memoir that you cannot put down because you wonder what misfortunes could possibly be left to cover. Of all of the abuse and warped relationships recorded, the callousness of her Christian fundamentalist adoptive parents is what I continue to brood over. And that is because it happened in this country, where slavery and child labor are supposedly illegal, where arranged marriages are not a part of contemporary culture, and where Christians (& others) are taught to be tolerant, loving, understanding, and forgiving.

Regarding the criticism surrounding the reference to her mother's murder as an "honor killing," most readers would not doubt that the grandfather and uncle must have felt justified in committing murder due to the mother's sexual disgrace, which is clearly very cultural, and a discrimination that many cultures share in common.

This book is absolutely heartbreaking. It moved me deeply. It is the story of a Korean orphan who was adopted by very strict, fundamentalist parents who seemed to have no regard for anything but rules.
Adoption is a subject very near and dear to my heart, and while I read the book, all I wished was that I could adopt Elizabeth, and give her a happy childhood and help her through her sorrows, instead of rubbing them with salt. I am horrified at what was done to Elizabeth in the name of Christianity. She was not abused in the sense that most people see it, but her precious heart was certainly ignored, neglected, and thrown around. Somehow I think that had Jesus adopted her, things would have been very different. I think he would have given her a night light and never made her walk in the dark alone, and I think when she went out and picked the flowers, instead of scolding her for running away and picking "weeds," he would have put them in a vase, and told her over and over again how very beautiful they were, and what a wonderful little girl she was to go and pick them.
I have read quite a few reviews of this book, many of them doubting the authenticity of the story. While I don't know anything about that, I can say that just because Ms. Kim remembers events from her early life in great detail does not mean the story is not true. I remember, in vivid detail, sitting out on our back patio and sharing Dove bars with my mom just as Ms. Kim remembers sharing rice with her mother when she was young. Some people just have very good memories. I am one of them and I am guessing Ms. Kim is as well.
I highly, highly recommend this book. It is not an "easy" read, but it is well worth it.