i had a great phone call with my agent yesterday and we are discussing what book comes after mad church disease.
obviously you guys are the smartest people i know, so go ahead.
what book needs to be written? what book is missing?
i had a great phone call with my agent yesterday and we are discussing what book comes after mad church disease.
obviously you guys are the smartest people i know, so go ahead.
what book needs to be written? what book is missing?
Comments
65 responses to “pick my next book to write”
Autobiography.
Probably a book about leadership…yeah…there’s not enough of those out there. HA!
I think it would be really cool for people to get an in depth perspective on multi-site something or other. You’re in a perfect position to allow others to see the challenges and successes that are involved in multi-site churches. You might even do an expository on the sheer volume of Diet Coke that is consumed to make multi-site a reality.
Flowerdust: How I Transformed Blog-readers into Book-readers.
or
The Memoir of Anne Jackson
(I just think that has a nice ring to it…)
or
There Will Be Love: How Compassion Transformed My Blog and My Life.
Well, I haven’t read MCD yet, but a Donald Miller style book that chronicles the stories of your life and faith sounds like an instant hit!
I was walking in to work this morning thinking about how my life has been as a pastor working bi-vocationally. As a “tentmaker” we have a unique set of ministry hurdles. This book wont make the best seller list – but a good book on tentmaking pastors needs to be written cause there are a LOT of guys doing it.
Also I think someone needs to write a book about churchplanting from the perspective of what the average church planter sees. Not many church planters experience what Steven Furtick, Perry Noble, Craig Groeshel, Ed Young, Bill Cornelius, Gary Lamb etc experience. Most church planters have that dream – but when they are several years into the thing have 100 people or less – its painful and sobering. But thats reality for most church planters.
I always wanted to write a book called “What I Can’t Say on Sunday”. As a former worship leader of 10 years in a church of about 750, there is a persona put on you by the congregation and sometimes you buy into it. I had a lot of junk that I was desperate to unload but didn’t feel I could because of my upfront position. Things like sexual abuse, promiscuity, addiction, depression. It was just never appropriate to give testimony. There may already be a ton of material on this out there — and I have read your articles as well — but I’ve been relegated to Dr. Seuss and Winnie the Pooh for the last several years and probably missed it!!
I LOVE Dave’s ideas.
Women in ministry from a women’s perspective. Not that I’m a women, but it seems that most “pastoral ministry” books are written from a predominately “male” point of view. I think it would be interesting to hear from a women about being in full time ministry.
Disclaimer: I’m a church working person. I’ve worked in inner city environments, and worked in upper middle class environments.
I’d love to see how we can begin to merge both into a truly multi-cultural direction. I see most churches not being split on beliefs, but mostly split culturally. But of course, who would be qualified to speak to these topics…
One of the things my wife has mentioned is a book to help pastors wives. That is a group of people that often get overlooked.
I would also second both of Dave Anderson’s ideas.
It’s funny that I’m commenting on writing a book when to me the more pictures in a book the better. I would love to write a book with no words!
I once heard: Writers write not because they want to say something, but because they have something to say.
Living Authentically. What does it mean to live an authentic life?
What’s in you? That’s what you should write about. If you try to “find” something to write about, you might be struggling at the 11th hour to get it all written down.
Just my two cents :)
I agree, the world really, really needs another book about leadership.
;-)
It seems to me you are in an ideal place to write something about real and virtual community and how it relates to real and virtual identity. Your blogging, authoring, facebooking, Uganda travelling church experience could all richly contribute to that.
Thanks everyone. :) I should note that I am going to write, as someone I deeply respect says, “the book that’s in me.” But there is LOT of stuff in me! :) This is just the beginning of a long and prayerful brainstorming and creative thinking process! Keep ’em coming!
Maybe a book on mentoring. What makes up a healthy mentoring relationship? What makes it Godly? Is it necessary to have a mentor? What’s the purpose of one? Are leaders exempt from having one, or do they need one even more? Just thoughts i’ve been processing lately. Can’t wait to read MCD!
Then again, you could just write about how you’ve grown into the person you are today. I’ve been told that you were fairly quiet and reserved like me…yet now you are a speaker, author, blogger, etc. How does a person transform from one to another? (obviously God..but you know..besides that. :)
one thing that has come up in my life even this week is the need for ministry leaders to be able to debrief after traumatic events in the lives of their parishioners. maybe something on how to deal with your pain for other people’s pain? does that make any sense at all?
You work for a MEGA church and you grew up in the church. I’d like to hear about your struggles and hope for the local church, how you can flourish and grow with God in the context of “organized religion.”
Are you writing a second book because that’s what the publisher wants? Or because you have something that simply MUST be said?
Tough question I realise. But so many people get sucked in by publishers and, after a great first book that is almost literally birthed, they are forced to write another one that feels very forced.
What if one book is all you were ever meant to write? I’m not suggesting it is necessarily, just throwing it out as something to think about.
It seems, with all due respect, that two of the hottest topics I’ve seen you have the depth and courage to write VERY WELL about are 1.) Issues of pornography with women (and in adolescence/marriage, etc.) as well as the issues of working together (men & women) in ministry and the work place and things such as emotional affairs, etc. I especially think the subject of emotional affairs could use a lot of attention. The whole idea of “God, WHAT do when I’m a respected and public leader in ministry, I’m married, and yet I’m overwhelmed and attacked by strong feelings for another person working along side me that I can not seem to rid myself of and have now they have become an obsession and addiction that I cannot control.” Unfortunately, coming from a bit of personal experience, I can only too well attest to how terrible and torturing of a situation this can be to be in and the depth of the problems that are underlying causes.
An adolescent daughter or son just discovered their father’s (or mother’s) pornography addiction. There family has one “family meeting” about it, only to never speak of it again. They are wandering around a bookstore looking for something to read to help them move past it, and they stumble upon your book!
Maybe a book on stepping stones….the natural progression of church leadership and the spiritual struggle of being content with your talents….also a book on failing/struggling in a church plant and not giving into the temptation of quiting if thats what God has called you to do….
Wonderful thoughts!
Sam-I am only contracted to do one book with Zondervan. So this is totally out of the passion in my heart, whether it gets published or not…I must write!
You guys are right – very few books on women’s issues/women in ministry, etc.
I REALLY like the concept of a book on My Parents Are In Ministry–how can I make sure my daughter’s needs aren’t neglected as I put out everybody else’s fire; or just, ministry from the child’s perspective as they watch ma & pa’s battles, blessings, struggles, and victories.
Great! I didn’t think you’d be someone to write without a MUSTNESS, but I like to throw the questions out there…hope you don’t mind?!
Something I’m passionate about is seeing women really empowered to go all out for pursuing God’s purposes in their lives, particularly when life’s dynamics change and marriage and kids enter the equation. I see a lot of women end up settling for a safer, more comfortable life and they often end up hiding behind husband and kids as an excuse for not pursuing all that they were made to be and do. (That’s in no way to at all suggest raising kids, being a wife, etc, is not important(!!) or that that is not part of pursuing all that they were made to be and do.)
I know too that a lot of women end up feeling isolated from the larger mission once kids come along and even get resentful that hubby seems to be free to continue and she’s left trapped at home. I know Rachel worries about this endlessly ahead of us having kids.
What does a healthy, Christ-focussed, mission based life look like as a woman, wife, mother? And I mean in a real, feet on the ground, non super-spiritual sense.
In case it isn’t clear, I said all that coz I think that would make for a great book! And I’m not aware of anything quite along those lines (or which isn’t dreadful!)
I agree with Jonathan…about merging the inner-city with other areas such as the middle class. Ways that we can go about doing that, not only as christians, but as people.
This book wouldn’t just be pointed towards the “inner-city missionary” christian, but towards everyone who has breath in his lungs.
As people WE need to do something.
http://www.vagabondrunn.wordpress.com
ok..i have another thought (like, i should be doing my projects for class instead of writing on here….but…)
you should write a book about women and porn. it’s such a huge topic that NO ONE is willing to talk about or admit….i’d be willing to do whatever you needed me to do for a topic i’m so passionate about.
What does simplicity look like for the local church?
What would it look like for a church (many people in an institution) to embrace and live out simplicity (a discipline for individuals, traditionally)?
What does it look like for a church (a group of Christians) to ask questions like…
How much is enough?
What’s more important, buildings, staff, programs and production or charity, compassion, financial freedom? Is that even a fair or right question to ask an institution?
Does relevance necessitate spending, stuff, complexity, hierarchy, etc? Or is there something as relevant or even more so that comes from a certain amount of simplicity?
How do we define simplicity?
is anyone already asking these questions and living them out? How effective is that church? How do they define effective?
Does spending more cash, time, talent, structure on church stuff “work?” Define “work.”
Does spending less “work?”
Me and one other guy might read that kind of a book.
I’d read that book, Shaun…thanks :)
The one you and I are going to write.
Oklahoma for Hipsters. Or something like that. :)
Anne,
sounds boring and crazy, but I think there needs to be a new book on church administration. And it needs to be written by someone that serves in a vibrant, growing church. And it needs to rock. And it doesn’t need to suck. And it needs to re-release every 5 years or so with updates…
I had to take a church administration class to get my bible degree at Wayland Baptist…I ran across the text book yesterday and looked through it…if I did ANYTHING in that book our staff would all quit.
So, it would basically be a book on leading a team and the systems and processes that it takes to do that effectively…
?
first off, shaun groves reads your blog…GO ANNE!
a pastor friend of mine posed the question…so what is “it”? since people don’t seem to get “it”…whether it’s unsaved not getting “it” or churchy people not getting “it”…what is “it”?
jon-check out this link :)
http://zondervan.com/Cultures/en-US/Product/ProductDetail.htm?ProdID=com.zondervan.9780310286820&QueryStringSite=Zondervan
IT. Did stephen king co-write?
:)
nice…i’ll pass it on to my friend.
“Becoming an Uncomfortable Church”
“Squirming Under Divine Scrutiny: A Woman’s Journey to Living More Like Christ and Less Like a Christian”
Book: In Case Of Emergency.
Tagline / Premise: What To Do When (Church) Leaders Fall.
Wrote a blog about this a while back…
http://thepewview.typepad.com/forty/2007/12/in-case-of-emer.html
…knowing how many leaders fall due to (mad church disease) and other challenges…
…could be a good follow-up.
Knowing the problem is good.
Resolving and restoring is even better.
Go Anne Go!
I like the title of a book similar to one of your past post… “What if…”
a book of captions…that seemed to go over well on the blog. then we could all be a part.
I would write a fantasy book on two separate topics. Kind of CS Lewis style…
-What the world would look like if Jesus never came to the earth.
-What the world would look like if the prayer of Jesus, “make them one” in John 17 came true.
I vote for Derrick Henslee idea about multi-site campuses. I’m going to be involved in that stuff in Tucson.
Your article on women and pornography has important insight into what (I think) is a taboo subject that needs to be explored.
Spiritual Abuse. Particularly from domineering women. Ever heard of the Jezebel spirit? Google it.
Been there. And it was awful.
How to be a submissive wife! Oh…maybe that’s just for me. I’ll take one copy please!
Seriously…my husband and I struggle with ministry..should we always do ministry as a couple…can we have seperate ministries. He likes to do everyone as a family…together. I see other gifts I have that mabye he doesn’t that I’d like to dive into. So hard. I want to be a good wife and do as he thinks is best but, I let the old human side of me want more!
…your article was awesome on the emotional affair was wonderful and so many responded with stories. I’ve never seen anything like it before. YOu sure have alot of quotes you could put in the book just from your blog comments and questions from others. You could always combine it with the porn info for women.
Just a thought!
Okay…number three…my last post sounded bad….(blushing). Forgive my mistakes!
what about one like your previous post?
the necessity of the uncomfortable church.
or something of the like.
What about something with monkeys, like “Leading The Church is like Herding Monkeys.” You could put lots of funny pictures of monkeys in there, and people would buy it just for the photos. Then, they wouldn’t get so frustrated–when church didn’t go well, they’d just say, “What a bunch of crazy monkeys!”
Wow…a book topic. I can hardly think of my next blog topic…pwned
The Children in Uganda
It would be cool to document “one prayer” somehow and the unity in churches.
But from you, I think women in leadership, women in church leadership, or just women. You are a woman therefore you have mucho experience :)
A book on “The Sex Rules” would be nice.
Your experiences in Uganda seem to be the ones that touched you the most deeply, recently. Maybe something to do with the ministries and churches involved in this kind of vision.
Or you could write about the alien invasion in OKC…oh wait, that’s my shtick! Nevermind.(grin)
“The Ugly Bride”
How Christ still loves the church.
no offense to bob, but if you write a book about how to be a good pastors wife i will be forced to stop reading your blog
my book suggestion: post-christian/church north america
Anne, here’s a title I’ve wanted to write about. You can fill in the blanks and do the dirty work because I just don’t have the time right now… so you can have it.
“Church Makes Me Sick!… But it made me better.”
OMGsh just realized the MCDsz and Bn’ sick similarity… forget what I said.
Anne: I would love to see you write a book on “Trust Issues.” (Male vs. Female) As known, I am a thirty-five years in the Ministry a Senior Pastor’s Wife and when a new female member joins our church, I immediately warm up to them (i.e. wanting them to be ever so happy in our Women of Worth class, etc., etc. (Like please don’t hurt these precious females). Then my beloved husband comes along and because he is an expert (literally) in people, he will warn me….statements like “Be careful.” And I go head-on into a wanting to help them, the stories change from what they tell him to what is told to me. (I’m being transparent about this.) Soooo please rescue we “Trusting Souls,” knowing that we can be trusted, and we should be able to trust….can you write a mini-book today?? (a-h) I know you’re busy but you do have great insight into people! (& I humbly say “thanks!”
Worshipping the Worship. Is God sick of our songs?
Crazy thought from a guy who makes his living as a worship leader :> Some thought (from Is 1)are captured in this song: http://reson8.org/2007/tired-orphans-blood/
Thanks Anne – enjoying the blog.
“Anne’s Technique for Shaving Only Leg” or “What’s the Point of Shaving Above the Knee?”
those are titles but the book is about Anne’s view and perspective of life in general, what makes her tick (like only shaving to the knee)
or – the day in the life of a male spouse of a pastor. ha, no one has EVER written anything on that subject !!!!
here’s the first 50 chapters i’ll give you free…………………………………………………………
on second thought – i’ll do it myself
Your Next Book Ideas:
1. Sex Rules
(Great title! About the lines, or lack thereof between male/female relationships. What is healthy or unhealthy. It would be great to get a number of different viewpoints on this subject from popular people currently serving in church leadership roles.)
2. Inviting the Misfits To Dinner
(about the cultural seperatism and distance we keep from the unglamorous people in society, and our obsession with our own space. Lack of intimacy.)
3. My Wife Is A Skyscraper
(about the current $5 billion dollars worth of resources in the American church being spent on building campaigns – imagine what we could do with that money. Title/theme plays on that the church is a bride not a building.)
4. Rich Young Losers
(about consumerism and it’s deadly effects on the American church – debt, hoarding, God as commodity, xian rip-offs, ignoring global/local injustices, etc., etc.)
hmmm…
maybe I should write a book…
Great ideas. But I don’t get the women in church leadership thing. Are you not a assistant? Just wondering.
I think something along the lines church scandal/sin would be interesting. When I read about your story, whether it’s about your early battles with emotional affair or the abuse by your former youth pastor, as well as hearing Cindy’s story about what she and her pastor husband went through, a few questions come to mind.
What leads ‘church’ people down this road? How does it affect their family lives as well as the church family? How does this affect non-believers that hear about these events?
These events definitely paint a picture of a seemingly ugly Christian Church. What can we learn from this?
Otherwise, you can always write a book about something soooo exciting, like, weather :)