Moving On–Moving Forward: A Guide for Pastors in Transition by Michael J. Anthony and Mick Boersma

Zondervan, 2007, 299 pp., $16.99

www.zondervan.com

With a title like Moving On—Moving Forward, this is probably not a book you should leave on your desk; but it is a resource you might want on your shelf. Authors Michael Anthony and Mick Boersma, both professors with the Talbot School of Theology, have created an extensive “guide” designed to help pastors and other church workers navigate the inevitable transitions in the complex world of church employment. From the first sense of a pastoral call until it is time to walk away from the pulpit, this book covers many of the critical transitions in between (i.e., writing a resignation letter, revising a résumé, interviewing with a search committee and so on). It is laced with helpful charts, sidebars, and insights gained from a survey of 200 active pastors. Both theologically insightful and down-to-earth practical, this economical guide has at least one chapter for everyone considering a ministry transition. Goal-setters and the highly organized will love the checklists, inventories and step-by-step guides. —Brandon Bailey

Losers, Loners, and Rebels: The Spiritual Struggles of Boys by Robert C. Dykstra, Allen Hugh Cole Jr. and Donald Capps

Westminster John Knox, 2007, 204 pp. $19.95

www.ppcbooks.com

This is one of the best books I’ve read this year. Written by three seminary professors, Losers, Loners, and Rebels is well researched, with a wonderful bibliography on the psychological and spiritual development of boys. The premise of the book is that the spirituality of early adolescent boys is more likely to issue from experiences the boy considers negative than from experiences he considers positive. The book is divided into three sections, each written by one of the authors. The first section deals with self-awareness (the loser issue), the second focuses on self-transcendence (the loner issue), and the third investigates self-sufficiency (the rebel issue). Rather than an empirical study, each author draws from his own life experiences and the vicarious experiences of others to identify the positive spiritual development that grows out of the negative. Out of losing comes self-awareness. Loners can find solitude. Rebels develop personal conviction. If you desire a deeper understanding of the spiritual development of early adolescent boys (11—14 years), I would have difficulty finding a better resource for you. From investigating the “boy code” to the role of humor in rebellion, this book is worth the price—cover to cover. Losers, Loners, and Rebels is a great addition to your library. —Larry Lindquist