It’s a natural tendency for individuals to rely on their own strength and power when it comes accomplishing the task set before them. This is never more true for pastors and ministry leaders who have been tasked with shepherding the flock of Jesus Christ. The problem with that is, as pastors and ministry leaders, we’re not supposed to rely on our own strength and power. We’re to rely on the strength and power of the Holy Spirit. So there is always this struggle between doing what I want and think verses allowing the Holy Spirit to lead and guide in all directions.
This is the focus of The Way of the Dragon or The Way of the Lamb by Jamin Goggin and Kyle Strobel.
By interviewing “sages” of the faith like Eugene Peterson and J.I. Packer, and using James 3:13-18 as a guide, they outline the need for wisdom that comes from above, versus worldly wisdom that comes from below. The advice and wisdom that they share in this book is nothing new but is still an area of importance that needs to be focused on because of our human tendency to look to culture as the standard instead of Jesus Christ.
I was reminded many times through the reading of this book of the beatitudes that Jesus taught on the Sermon of the mount and how effective they can be for impacting the world around us.
The underlying truth throughout this book is that Jesus is to be our model in every aspect of our lives. And Goggin and Strobel do a good job of painting a biblical picture of how power is possible through weakness. All in all, this book is a challenge precisely because it asks us to give up all the temptations of worldly power for the power of the cross.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers <http://booklookbloggers.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Chuck Mullis 