LEAD. SERVE. LOVE. - Book Review

LEAD. SERVE. LOVE. by Gregory E. Lang is described on the front cover as "100 Three-Word Ways to Be Like Jesus."  If it sounds cheesy, let me assure you that it's not.  Unless you are woefully hardhearted, in which case you should buy this book immediately and turn without delay to #45, Soften your heart.  And also Romans 2:5.  While its cute packaging and small size make for a great gift book, LEAD. SERVE. LOVE is also a good book to keep around and read each day . . . if you want to be more like Christ.

The author's acknowledgements at the end are moving in and of themselves -- and to one friend he specifically gives thanks for sharing "the wisdom and simplicity of a 'three-ology theology.'"  I'm just going to go ahead and add my thanks to that person as well, and to the author.  With absolutely no idea what to expect when I began reading this book out loud to my parents and my husband while traveling to church, I couldn't help but, well, grin as I read the very first three-word way to be like Jesus:  Smile at everyone. 

Each three-word phrase is followed by a more in-depth illustration of how, for instance, smiling at everyone shows Christ in us.  The opposite page lists several Bible verses that demonstrate the source from which the author draws his inspiration.  Of course, some of these phrases could be taken out of context, standing alone . . . not that anything is EVER taken out of context.  Which is why I particularly like the format of this book -- if one reads the phrases with the more detailed explanation, along with the Scripture verses provided, the reader is given necessary clarification and Biblical perspective.  Translation: if you take these phrases to use for your own glory, rather than for God's, you have done some awfully creative wrangling and probably missed the point of the book. 

For example, "Encourage Your Friends" could be adopted by many people as simply a good way (and one of many acceptable ways) to live.  But by going further up and in, one reads that "No friend is more welcomed than the one who encourages you.  Make yourself welcomed.  Encourage your friends, and stir them to do good deeds so that the cause of Christ may be made stronger in number.  Turn them away from false hope and worldly promises, and you too will be encouraged when together you reach for Jesus.  Encourage your friends."  This is followed by the verses on the opposite page -- Romans 12:8, I Thessalonians 5:11, Hebrews 3:13 and Hebrews 10:24.  Even if you don't care for the author's "three-ology theology," you can always argue with God's Word.  That always goes well.  

Some of my favorites are:

Be not indifferent.
Listen with understanding.
Strive for justice.
Swallow your pride.
Live as servants.
Overcome your worry.
Forget the past.
Love without hesitation.
Hold yourself accountable.
Yield to wisdom.

Those are ten of 100 (12, if you include "Smile at everyone" and "Soften your heart"), and one can only imagine how different our families, our communities, our country and this world would be if people practiced even a handful of these.  And by people, I mean me.  And you.  It's easy to nod and agree, and yet quickly proceed listening to our friend or spouse with impatience or distracted attention, rather than listening with understanding.  Which is why today and every day, I will cling to the truth in #85: Believe in miracles.

All that to say, my own three-word-ism, while not exactly theological, is simple and wise: get this book!

DISCLOSURE: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson as part of the BookSneeze program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.