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I’m sorting through books today trying to lighten the load.  This is tough for me.

I love books.

And I’ve got loads of them.

But I’m tired of overflowing basket next to my bed that I keep adding to, but never taking away.  According to one of my favorite shows, Clean House… that’s a sin of “mayhem and foolishness”.

So I’m sorting through my books deciding which ones I can part with when I uncovered a book written by my friend, Natalie Witcher.  A woman I highly respect.  I worked with her husband at LifeChurch.tv for a few years and frankly his family is cool.  They’re the real deal.

Natalie published her book, The Devil In Your Garden, in 2007.  It’s a great read about healing from shame.  Here’s a snippet from the back cover…

Shame makes its way in our lives like a snake slithering its way in a garden.  It is vicious and no respecter of persons.  Where did it all come from?  Why is it such a cancer in our hearts, in our minds?  What’s the deal here?  Why are we paralyzed and afraid?  Our soul cries, “Something’s got to give!”  Something did.  Some One did.

I love the way Natalie frames a situation.  She has a unique way of laughing at herself and finding joy in the smallest of circumstances.  After reading the book I stuck it in my basket next to my bed.  Each time I come across it I’m tempted to toss it in the Salvation Army pile but can never bring myself to toss out a book written by a friend.  Coming across it today, I had the same sentimental thought.  But then, it occurred to me that if Natalie were standing there she’d say,

Toss it out, sister.  It’ll land in someone’s hands.  And they need to read it, that’s for dang sure.

I’m taking liberties with quoting Nat.  Who knows if that’s how she would phrase it.  Either way, she’d laugh at the idea of me hanging onto it for so long.

So I figure I’ll give it away here.  If you’d like a copy of Natalie’s book (and trust me… you do), you can buy it new here or leave me a comment below and maybe you can win my used copy.  I’ll be back tomorrow and announce the grand recipient.

Congratulations Kimberley!  Thanks for reading.  Enjoy the book.

Who doesn’t love Free!

Through the end of July you can download a free audio copy of Francis Chan’s latest book, Crazy Love.

If you haven’t read this book, I highly recommend suspending your current read and picking this one up.  The audio is read by Chan himself.  You’ll get more out of it than you bargain.

So download here, enjoy and spread the word.

Reading Habitudes #4 by Dr Tim Elmore.

Dr. Elmore shares a story about a man who encounters 3 people doing the same job yet totally different perspectives.  All 3 men are working to build this monumental building.  All 3 men have the same task before them.  Bricklaying.  Yet here are their answers to one very simple question…

“What are you doing?”

Worker #1 says,

“I’m laying brick.”

Worker #2 says,

“I’m earning a paycheck.”

Worker #3 says,

“I’m building a cathedral.”

All 3 men are performing the same task.  All 3 statements are true.  Yet one perspective is dramatically different from the rest.

When I think of my ministry, I would love to have a team of volunteers that think like worker #3.  We’re not just handing out bulletins, collecting offering buckets, coloring with a 3 year old, or leading a bible study.  We’re actively building the Church.

As a ministry leader and/or volunteer… how can we affect ones perspective helping those we lead to see the bigger picture rather than focusing on the smaller task?