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Title: In the Name of Jesus: Reflections on Christian Leadership
ISBN: 0867165448
Author:
Henri J. M. Nouwen
Publicate Date: 2003-12
Publish: 2003-12
List Price: $14.95
Average Customer Rating: 4.5
Format: Audio Cassette
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Amazon Lowest Used Price: $9.90
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| Customer Review: |
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1: Julie
I enjoy all of this priest's books. They all have depth for the short writing. I usually read it through quickly the first time and ponder over parts afterwards.
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2: What's the Big Deal?
Bought this in reliance of the good reviews. I was expected an eye-opening experience. It was very underwhelming. It's not that it's bad. It's just not all that great.
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3: In the Name of Jesus: Reflections on Christian Leadership
Quick read. Very thought provoking. A remarkable witness and a model for ministry.
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4: Essential Reading
Henri Nouwen's humility is felt from the introduction as he describes himself as "part of a larger movement of which I am only a very small part" (9). He admits his personal struggle as he faced the reality that as he grew older, he was not growing closer to Jesus. The success of his life was putting his very soul in danger. In response to God's call to "go and live among the poor in spirit," he found healing.
In this book, the first I have read of Nouwen, he offers images from his experiences with people who have a mental handicap. His purpose is to impact Christian leaders and urge them to remember that "God loves us not because of what we do or accomplish, but because God has created and redeemed us in love and has chosen us to proclaim that love as the true source of all human life" (17).
He frames his thoughts on Christian leadership with two stories from the Gospels: the story of Jesus' temptation in the desert (Matt 4: 1-11) and the story of Peter's call to be a shepherd (John 21:15-19). He argues that Christian leaders are called to be completely irrelevant and vulnerable.
The book is laid out in three sections which each reflect a temptation, insight from Jesus, and a discipline to practice.
Nouwen is appealing to read because he presents life in its nakedness. He authentically describes his own struggles which forced him to rediscover his identity. "These broken, wounded, and completely unpretentious people forced me to let go of y relevant self--the self that can do all things, show things, prove things, build things--and forced me to reclaim that unadorned self in which I am completely vulnerable, open to receive and give love regardless of any accomplishments" (16).
While I had never considered that Jesus' first temptation was to be relevant, Nouwen's thoughts resonated with me personally and my own desires to make a difference in someone's life. However, Jesus resisted this temptation and "he clung to his mission to proclaim the word" (18). What meaning that gives to the reality that "human beings live not by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God."
Nouwen warns readers to avoid becoming busy with fruitless efforts. He aptly urges leaders to dare to claim their irrelevance in this contemporary world. This is required for any leader to truly know the heart of God.
Certainly every Christian needs the "discipline of dwelling in the presence of the One who keeps asking us, `Do you love me? Do you love me? Do you love me?'" Contemplative prayer will keep leaders from being "pulled from one urgent issue to another and from becoming strangers to our own and God's heart" (28-29).
To deal with issues and fail to be rooted in a deep personal relationship with God leads to being caught up in one's own opinions about a subject. Yet when "securely rooted in personal intimacy with the source of life" (37)--spiritual leaders are flexible, gentle and forgiving, and true witnesses of Jesus.
Nouwen so connected with my own struggles in ministry that it is difficult for me to identify limitations in this book. If only I could daily abandon my own feelings that I should be able to do it all and do it successfully (39). If only I truly knew how to live the truth of the Incarnation (48).
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5: Quick Read
This is a well written personal narrative about a Harvard Professor that experiences a renewal of faith when he leaves the academic world. As he gives up that which has given him security he remembers where real security comes from.
His experiences aren't profound; however, they do offer some simple reminders about the important parts of life.
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