GREEN BEANS & ICE CREAM―The Remarkable Power Of Positive Reinforcement

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

GREEN BEANS & ICE CREAM
The Remarkable Power Of Positive Reinforcement
By Bill Sims Jr.

OVERVIEW: Green Beans & Ice Cream is the culmination of nearly thirty years work in the area of positive reinforcement and employee motivation/behavior change at large and small North American firms. This book will teach you how to pinpoint the behaviors you want from others and positively reinforce them immediately when you see them. That means deciding what you want people to do. Then focusing on the behaviors that drive the results you need.  Green Beans & Ice Cream will help you find specific things to reinforce positively every day in the actions of people whom you live and work.

AUTHOR: Bill Sims, Jr., is president of The Bill Sims Company, Inc. For nearly 30 years, Bill has created behavior-based recognition programs that have helped large and small firms to deliver positive reinforcement to inspire better performance from employees and increase bottom line profits. Bill has delivered his "Green Beans & Ice Cream" leadership workshop and keynote speeches in Europe, the Middle East, most of the USA, Australia and many parts of Africa.

MY REVIEW: Joe Rea who is Operations Manager at Pacific Aluminum in Gladstone, Australia said, "This is a must read if you're serious about achieving sustainable behavior change with your team." And I agree.

"Human behavior has been a subject of discussion since man emerged from the dust." Understanding behavior presents a big challenge. But the rewards are tremendous if we can just do it. I spent fifty years working in full-time ministry with the church. I was trying to change behavior. Many people assume that culture is what it is, and can never be changed. At best, they will say that culture change requires a long time. Bill Sims, Jr. believes culture can be changed and that it doesn't take a long time. He give many examples to prove his point. He says that all we have to do to change culture is to change behavior. And that is what this book is about―changing behavior. If you are a parent, husband, wife, teacher, boss, supervisor, professor, cop, or anything else in life, what you often want from the people around you is behavior change. Read this book. It will help!

(I received this book for free from The Cadence Group for this review.)

REASONS FOR BELIEF― Easy-to-Understand Answers to 10 Essential Questions

Wednesday, April 03, 2013

REASONS FOR BELIEF
Easy-to-Understand Answers to 10 Essential Questions
By Norman L. Geisler and Patty Tunnicliffe

OVERVIEW: Trusted theologian and bestselling author Norman Geisler teams up with teacher'speaker Patty Tunnicliffe to provide concrete, step-by-step reasons for why Christians believe what they do. Organized around the most basic questions of faith, Reasons for Belief offers clear evidence for the existence of God, the reliability of the Bible, Jesus' resurrection, and more.

Do you know what you believe...and why? Regardless of your age or experience, if you're looking for clear, easy-to-understand answers to the questions: 1. How can you know God exists? 2. Why should you trust the Bible? 3. How can you be sure Jesus is the Son of God? and others, this is  the book for you.

AUTHORS: Norman L. Geisler (PhD, Loyola University of Chicago) is distinguished professor of Apologetics and Theology at Veritas Evangelical Seminary in Murrieta, California. He is the author of some 80 books, including the Baker Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics. He and his wife live in Charlotte, North Carolina. Patty Tunnicliffe (MA, Southern Evangelical Seminary) is a former public school teacher, Bible teacher, and conference speaker. She and her husband make their home in Santa Barbara, California.

MY REVIEW: "Whether you're a curious skeptic or a believer wanting to learn how to defend your faith, Reasons for Belief will give you the answers you're looking for."

During a ministry covering fifty years I acquired a huge library. Many of those books helped me answer the question, "Why are you a Christian." Not every Christian has access to such a library. This small book will be of great benefit to those wanting answers to the basic questions surrounding one's faith. Many times we are challenged with statements like, "God does not exist," "Miracles don't happen," "The New testament's many errors make it unreliable," "Jesus did not rise from the dead," "Christianity is too narrow. There are many ways to God besides Jesus," and others.

I agree with Paige Patterson from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, who said, "Reasons for Belief is vintage Geisler―crisp, correct, concise, and courageous. Written for the Christian who needs answers, not encyclopedias."

( I received this book for free from Bethany House Publishers for this review.)

ALTAR EGO―BECOMING WHO GOD SAYS YOU ARE

Tuesday, April 02, 2013

ALTAR EGO―Becoming Who God Says You Are 
By Craig Groeschel

OVERVIEW: Altar Ego will help you discover how to trade in your broken ego and unleash your altar ego to become a living sacrifice. It will help you know your true identity for the first time. You will grow in Christlike character, be bold in your behavior, in your prayers, in your obedience. Alter Ego reveals who God says you are, and then calls you to live up to it.

AUTHOR: Craig Groeschel is the founding and senior pastor of LifeChurch.tv, a pacesetting multicampus church and creators of the popular and free YouVersion Bible App. He is the author of several books, including Soul Detox, Weird, The Christian Atheist, and It. Craig, his wife, Amy, and their six children live in Edmond, Oklahoma.

MY REVIEW: We are not very far into this year, but I have the feeling Altar Ego may be one of the most helpful books I read and reviewed this year. Helpful, not just for me, but for everybody who reads it. It reminded me in a forceful way that my true identity is found in Christ, not in what others think of me.

I like what author and pastor Kyle Idleman said, "Most of us would like to change a few things about our lives, but Craig Groeschel helps us understand that we can't have a new life until we have a new identity in Christ. Once we let Jesus tell us who we are, it changes what we do."

These words from the back of the book sum up my feelings about Altar Ego: "Instead of living with an ego that is outward-driven and based on other people's approval, discover how to live with your altar ego―the truth of who you are in Christ. His masterpiece. Created perfectly  in his image to do what he planned in advance for you to do."

(I received this book for free from BookSneeze for this review.)

WHEN CAN YOU START?―How to ACE the Interview and WIN the Job

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

WHEN CAN YOU START?
How to ACE the Interview and WIN the Job
By Paul Freiberger
Los Angeles Times Book Prize Winner

OVERVIEW: New York Times best-selling writer Paul Freiberger gives you the tools to ace the interview and win the job. As President of Shimmering Resumes, Paul has helped thousands of job seekers with his expertise. Filled with practical and proven techniques this book will help you convert "We'll be in touch" to four words everyone wants to hear: "WHEN CAN YOU START?"

AUTHOR: Paul Freiberger  is the author or coauthor of five books, including Fire in the Valley: The Making of the Personal Computer (with Michael Swaine) and Fuzzy Logic (with Daniel McNeill). Fire in the Valley was made into the movie Pirates of Silicon Valley, which was nominated for five Emmy Awards. Fuzzy Logic won the Los Angeles Times book Award. Freiberger provides career improvement services at his firm Shimmering Resumes. He has a BA in history from the State university of New York at Binghamton and a Masters in Italian from Middlebury College.

MY REVIEW: I agree with Larry Kramer, President and Publisher, USA Today who said, "This book is powerful and expertly researched. Packed with interview advice you need to get your next job."

This book will teach you to: (1) Be ready for The Only Question You Must Be Able to Answer, (2) Not tell the interviewer about your weaknesses, (3) Answer trick questions or oddball questions, (4) Ask the right questions, (5) Show confidence in any interview, (6) Avoid costly interview mistakes, (7) Negotiate the salary you deserve.

Being a retired minister I did not feel this was a book I needed to read for my personal benefit. However, I wanted to read it and review it for friends of mine who are much younger and still looking for a job. After reading it I agree with Guy Kawasaki, founding Partner, Garage Technology Ventures and Former Chief Evangelist, Apple who said, "You will get a job a lot sooner if you read this book." That would do it for me. If I was a young person looking for a job I would want to read this book.

Avery Lyford, Chairman, the Churchill Club believes this is "An effective and pragmatic guide that should be read by anyone preparing for an interview. As I said earlier I have been retired for several years now and have done my last job interview. But I recommend this book to young people still looking for work. I benefitted from reading this book and believe that it has helped improve my communication skills.

(I received this book for free from The Cadence Group for this review.)

THE GOSPEL OF YES

Monday, March 25, 2013

THE GOSPEL OF YES
By Mike Glenn

OVERVIEW: In The Gospel of Yes, Mike Glenn reveals God's most powerful word, which opens our eyes to everything he does. That word is YES. God said yes to creating a world for us to live in and yes to inviting us into a relationship with him. When you live in God's "yes" you find your identity, your true value, and your unique purpose on earth. You can stop trying to be someone else and enjoy being yourself as you join with God in doing the work of his kingdom. When God leads you, he always says yes. It's time to live like you know it.

AUTHOR: Mike Glenn is the senior pastor of Brentwood Baptist church in Brentwood, Tennessee. He is a graduate of Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama, and received a Master of Divinity and Doctorate of Ministry from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky.

MY REVIEW: Ah yes! Is The Gospel of Yes a good book? Yes―yes it is!

Mike Glenn says, "We have missed the most important thing about God. Finding it changes everything." He thinks that what you believe about God affects how you approach life―often in ways you don't realize. "When you live in God's 'yes' you find your identity, your true value, and your unique purpose on earth."

Glenn's book comes high recommended by many high profile people such as: Michael Hyatt, chairman of Thomas Nelson Publishers, Dave Ramsey, New York Times best-selling author and nationally syndicated radio host, Brad Paisley, Grammy Award-winning record artist, Matt Batterson, author, and many others. The forward was written by author and theologian, Scot McKnight.

I agree with Sandra D. Wilson, PhD, seminary professor and author who said, "This is not a 'prosperity gospel, name-it-claim-it' book. This is a 'glorious God, love him and praise Him' book. All Christ-followers will be challenged and encouraged by it. Mike Glenn provides a solid biblical foundation for building authentic relationships with God, with others, and with ourselves."

(I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.)

MAKING GOOD HABITS―BREAKING BAD HABITS

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

MAKING GOOD HABITS
BREAKING BAD HABITS
14 New Behaviors That Will Energize Your Life
By Joyce Meyer

OVERVIEW: In this book, Joyce Meyer starts by examing the nature of habits. The first habit―and most important one to have―is the God Habit. By making it a habit to start your day by reading the Bible and communing with God, asking for His help in your efforts and His strength and sustenance, the stage is set for overcoming the habits you want to break and establishing new one in their place. She then explores how to break bad habits by examining the destructive negative behavior patterns.

The author moves on to discuss fourteen good habits and devotes a chapter to each. By the end of the chapter, the reader has a specific roadmap to follow until the behavior has become automatic (the definition of a habit). It's like following a GPS to get you to a new place. After traveling the same route several times, the GPs isn't needed for you to find your destination. The "habit" of following the right route is ingrained.

AUTHOR:
In 1985, Meyer founded her own ministry, initially called "Life in the Word". She began airing her radio show on six other stations from Chicago to Kansas City.In 1993, her husband Dave suggested that they start a television ministry. Initially airing on superstation WGN-TV in Chicago and BET, her program, now called Enjoying Everyday Life, is still on the air today.In 2005, Time magazine's "25 Most Influential Evangelicals in America" ranked Meyer as 17th. Meyer is a number one New York Times bestselling author. She is the author of many books.

MY REVIEW: I have not been a big fan of Joyce Meyer but I have always found her to be interesting and even exciting. She has a lot of common sense, energy, and passion for everything she does. I like these qualities in a person and wanted to see what she had to say about habits.

I wasn't disappointed! Meyer writes with a style that is easy to read and easy to understand. As I said earlier, she has a lot of common sense and therefore what she says about breaking bad habits makes sense. She writes about fourteen new behaviors that will energize your life and I believe, if followed, they will. I especially liked what she wrote about: The Habit of Being Responsible, The Hurry Habit, The Confidence Habit and The Habit of Adding Value to Others.

Will this book energize your life? I don't know. I really don't. Just reading it won't do it. But I do believe that if you read this book with an open mind and then give what she teaches a try―it will work.