Renewal

We know that once the TV and lit clock left the room and black out shades that kept outdoors light out were installed that sleeping thru the night became a reality and we actually look forward to going to bed for the needed amount of sleep.

The book starts out with hints on choosing linens and the right mattress as well as keeping them in good shape. It also offers ideas for headboards and advice on choosing furniture. Feng Shui notes and secrets for getting a better nights rest are included here as well. There is even a section on using color.

This book not only covers bedroom basics, it also covers bedrooms as retreats and places for relaxing or taking a nap. I absolutely love the idea of creating a retreat in a tent. I also liked the sunny bedrooms with large windows and skylights. The pictures included are large and numerous with captions describing their details.

A list of architects and designers with contact information is included in the back. The other books in the spaces series are also very good. Looking at this book is a great way to find ideas suitable to your personal taste, no matter what it may be.

Here's the question: Can a governmental unit, whether an emperor, city planner, zoning commission, or legislature, succeed in making a city more vibrant or livable? Here's a hint from the book -- in Reston, VA homeowners in a development pay $11,000 apiece to demolish a modernist plaza designed as public space for the community. From the forced imploding of public housing to the history of urban "renewal" in our large cities, the dismal track record of governmental actions in cities is in front of us every day. Ken Kolson lays it out here in a breezy, informative style that teaches but doesn't preach.

If you enjoy architecture, politics, or industrial archeology (my interest), buy this book! You won't be sorry! If you live in Northeast Ohio, buy it regardless -- just tying the history to the existing structures in Cleveland today should be fascinating!

I hope this book will keep alive the debate of what the future holds for America's cities.

It turns out the key to a lively and lovely city is people of all socioeconomic brackets who actually LIVE downtown, which attracts business, arts and culture!

I finished this book almost ten days ago and have not yet been able to write a satisfactory review of it. I began several times, but each time found I was missing some important aspect of it. I believe the source of my trouble is that I read this book only after reading many others that came after. If I had read this book when it was published (1986) I would seen it as groundbreaking. But today, when we are surrounded by books on the principles of church growth, this book does not seem to have much new to add.

One thing that is unique about this book is that it was written by a Presbyterian pastor who also taught at Westminster Theological Seminary. Though church growth and large churches are generally associated with evangelicalism, this book details the rise of a large Reformed church. Also, this book deals with outgrowing an existing church whereas many newer books that discuss church growth do so from a church-planting perspective.

The book traces John C. Miller's growing awareness of the problem of ingrownness in his calling as a pastor. Naturally his church was only as good as its leader and it also suffered from ingrownness. We see the discoveries the pastor made that led him to outgrowing his ingrown church. The author's journey began with a breakdown as he grew frustrated with his church and with being a pastor, so left the ministry. During a time of searching he came to realize that as pastor he was the source of the problem and to build his church into one motivated to carry out the Great Commission he would need to make changes. He details this journey and in so doing challenges others to discover the power of God rather than attempting to abide in their own power and with their own resources.

Though a good book full of solid teaching, I believe it would best serve as an introduction to church growth and to outgrowing a stagnant church. If you have read other books on the subject this many not excite you very much. Those wary of evangelicalism may also find comfort in the fact that this is written from a Reformed perspective. When it comes to specifics about church growth there have been many books written since this one that will probably prove more useful.

I have read the book three times and I imagine I will read it many more times. I believe as Jonathan Goforth that this book needs to be read by all christians in these days. May God grant us a revival of religion and an influx of precious souls into His church before Jesus comes back.