Currently, I’m reading a great little book by Stuart R. Levine entitled, “Cut to the Chase…and 99 Other Rules to Liberate Yourself and Gain Back the Gift of Time.” I like to read business books along with topics on theology, inspirational and church related (and I’ll throw in a classic here and there). While I never would say that business and church are synonymous, I do believe we can learn some universal principles that apply to almost every situation. This book has lots of good ideas. As with anything, eat the meat and leave the bones!

I’ve really enjoyed this book for a few reasons:
1. There are 100 chapters in a book that’s 207 pages. Small chapters are awesome! It makes me feel like I’ve read a ton when I tackle ten chapters in one sitting. 🙂
2. It’s intensely practical…and I love practical. OK, I don’t have anything against Max Lucado or Philip Yancey. I’m sure both of these men are great guys and love God; but I can’t stand their writing. It seems that they use a thousand adjectives to make a simple point. This book says what it wants to say quickly and succinctly.
3. This book is helping me focus. When I read it, I’m able to take a step back and examine our organization, look for areas to improve and take some time to think. Sometimes, when you’re so close to the organization, you get myopic and inflexible. I like the fact that I’m able to focus and, at the same time, see more of the big picture.
4. It helps me with me. Don’t get me wrong, I love books that focus on churches, evangelism, missions and theology. But occasionally, and probably more often than not, I need books that teach me to be better. I could read a hundred books on how to make the church better, but I don’t believe it would happen if I don’t focus on making myself better. There’s no way I could lead at a higher level or focus on being a better pastor if I don’t read books that help me grow.

OK, that’s enough. Man, you’d think the guy paid me to push his book…certainly not the case. After reading his book you would think that I would know how to “cut to the chase!”