Elements Of Style

Elements of Style by Erin Gates was a fun, lightly informative read.  I chose this book hoping to learn lots of tips for interior decorating that I could use in our new house.  I did learn a few tips (like a "rule" for how many patterns you should have in one room- which I've already forgotten.. one floral, one geometric..?, and that at least two legs of each piece of furniture should be on the rug in an area).  Her writing style was humorous and entertaining though, so I probably read the book a lot faster than if it really had been all about interior decorating tips.

2016 Book Count: 17

Building a Discipling Culture

Building a Discipling Culture by Mike Breen is one of those books that will change the way you think about things.  I thoroughly enjoyed it.  I remember reading an article (probably in high school) about whether ideas or words came first.  There are certain words and phrases in this book (like "kairos moments" that definitely helped to frame the way I think about things, and that is part of Breen's point.  He states that in order to build a discipling culture you need a common language, and he proposes a shape-based language in his book.  For example, the kairos moment (a time when you see or feel God's presence breaking through into your life) begins a circle.  Once you identify a kairos moment in your life you take it around the circle by reflecting on it, discussing it with someone, and then making and acting on a plan for how that moment is going to change your life moving forward.  This is a very simplistic explanation for just one of the shapes that he discusses in this book.

2016 Book Count: 16
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