Archive for the 'Reviews' Category

Bob, Larry and bus kids

Published
by
Ryan Frank
on November 12, 2007
in Random and Reviews
. 6 Comments

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About five years ago I decided to take a break from Veggie Tales on Sunday mornings. Don’t get me wrong, I never played Veggie Tales week after week, but occasionally would show one for something different. One day I decided that the kids had seen enough Veggie Tales in Kids Church. Maybe it was me that had seen enough Veggie Tales in Kids Church. I figured they all have the videos at home and I wanted them to have something different at church.

Last week I had a few minutes to kill (waiting for a haircut) and stopped at the local Christian bookstore. I saw a POP display with the new Veggie Tale’s movie, “The Wizard of Ha’s”. I decided to buy the DVD and add it to the library in the resource room at church. Without going into the details, I decided to show a video yesterday morning in our second service Kids Church. I decided to show my new Veggie Tales DVD.

Boy was I surprised. Here’s why.
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Super-Ultra-Amazing-Must-Read Book: Purple Cow

Published
by
Ryan Frank
on June 3, 2007
in Reviews and Super-Ultra-Amazing-Must-Read Book List
. 2 Comments

Purple Cow

Purple Cow
Written by: Seth Godin
ISBN: 159184021X
Pages: 160
Themes: Marketing, Ideas, Growth

One reason I love hanging out with Nevan Hooker (our Product Development Director) is because he’s always giving me out-of-the-box ideas and telling me about the books he is reading. A few months back he told me that one of our new products looked really purple to him. Purple? That’s when I learned about the Purple Cow.

I got on Amazon.com and bought the book. One thing I love about Amazon.com is how easy it is to buy a book. They really make it too easy! From the time I go to their website until the time I check out it’s under 60 seconds. Okay, I’ll get off that rabbit trail and back to the subject at hand.

Here’s the low-down on the Purple Cow. How do great ideas spread? Why do some churches, companies, salesmen, game systems, etc. succeed while others fade away? Purple Cow is a book about how to move your business (or ministry) from ho-hum to wow.

So where does the name Purple Cow come from?
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Super-Ultra-Amazing-Must-Read Book: Be the Change

Published
by
Evan Doyle
on June 2, 2007
in Reviews and Super-Ultra-Amazing-Must-Read Book List
. 0 Comments

Be the Change

Be The Change
Written by: Zach Hunter
Publisher: Invert/Youth Specialties/Zondervan
Themes:Anti-Slavery, World-Changing, Inspiration, Young Writers

Slavery is not something you think of as part of modern-day society. But chew on this: 27 million people are in modern-day slavery around the world (according to the UN and other sources). That’s more in slavery at one time then during the entire transatlantic slave trade combined. Astounding, isn’t it? But that’s the theme of Be the Change. Written by 15 year old abolitionist Zach Hunter, this book not only focuses on changing the world by eliminating slavery, but also by changing the world immediately around us. The book is absolutely full of quotes and facts about slavery and world-changing that I could spend hours talking about, but I won’t take time for that here.

I knew modern-day slavery existed before I read the book, but my eyes were opened to the atrocities still committed today. This book is not only great for you to read and be inspired, but for your middle school kids too. Each chapter includes discussion questions for both group and personal settings, as well as a chapter-by-chapter challenge. You could easily use it as a middle school summer curriculum in a discussion group setting.

So you may think, “Great, but how can I change things?” Zach presents two ways in the book:
1. Support free trade products. Choose not to buy products you may suspect are made in sweatshops or under unfair conditions. There is only so much you can do in this area, but it’s a good start.
2. Start a Loose Change to Loosen Change project. This simple project collects the loose change of kids, parents, and friends, and donates it to Anti-slavery organizations. To learn more, visit http://www.lc2lc.com.

I would highly encourage you to read this book, even if you just need an “encouragement boost”. I know it lit a fire under me to think that someone my age was doing something so big. To only think what we could all do together in this area.

Buy “Be the Change” at Amazon.com

To see some heart-wrenching statistics on slavery, click the “Continue Reading” link below.
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Jim’s big news

Published
by
Jim Wideman
on May 29, 2007
in Blog Updates, Communicating, Conflict, Culture, Encouragement, Events, Families, Leadership, News, Random, Reviews, Technology and Volunteers
. 1 Comment

After 30 years of serving on staff in the local church, 17 of those at the greatest church in the world (Church On The Move) under the greatest pastor in the world (Pastor Willie George) I am going full time with Jim Wideman Ministries. That’s right, you read correctly. My pastor is in agreement with this and I have his blessing. I’ll still base out of Tulsa and my family and I will still attend COTM. I believe this is God’s plan for my life and that I have a mandate from God to help other churches go to their next level of ministry. How am I going to do this? In 3 main ways:

1. Consulting- I’ve had the privilege of being exposed to every area of ministry in a local church in addition to leading one of America’s leading children’s ministries. I’m available for on-site consulting in any area you need help. Whether you want me to come in once or once a month, I want to help you gear up for growth and excellence. Special rates are available for multiple visits. If you need another perspective put me on your staff as a part-time employee.

2. Conferences & Training- I’m available to hold a Children’s Ministry Conference at your church as well as seminars on Time Management, Volunteer Recruiting, Leadership & Parenting.

3. Speaking at churches & conferences- Need a guest to challenge people to get involved, or to teach on the importance of children & the family. I’m available.

Contact me today at brojim@jimwideman.com or give my assistant Sheila a call @ (918) 477-2268 ext. 1. I’m now booking for the rest of 2007 & 2008 and I’d love to help you and your church.

Excited about the future,
Bro. Jim

When someone throws a spear

Published
by
Ryan Frank
on May 16, 2007
in Conflict, Leadership and Reviews
. 3 Comments

I just finished reading “A Tale of Three Kings”. I bought this book about five years ago when an evangelist came to our church and told me that every pastor needs to read it. He was right. In fact, I make it a practice to read it once a year.

Question. What do you do when someone throws a spear at you in your ministry? You know what spears look like. Spears hurt.

We know what comes natural. The natural thing it is to pick up the spear and throw it right back! It demonstrates that you are courageous, you stand for what’s right, you’re a defender of the faith. After all, sometimes spears come even when you didn’t do anything wrong.

David understood that. Mad King Saul was trying to kill him at every corner. How did he respond?
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