I thought I would use this opportunity and space to do a little shameless self-promotion… In September Group Publishing released The Externally Focused Life by Rick Rusaw and me. (http://www.amazon.com/Externally-Focused-Life-Rick-Rusaw/dp/0764439537/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1257270787&sr=8-1) It is a wonderful companion book to The Externally Focused Church, which we wrote back in 2004. Here’s what I wrote for the preface so you get an idea of what the book is about.
Since The Externally Focused Church was first published in 2004, we have been both amazed and grateful for the response and hunger of churches to live and minister outside the walls of the church. There is power in an idea whose time has come, and such an idea is the externally focused church. We like to say, “When the tinder is dry any spark will do” and the externally focused movement is beyond what any person or groups of people would imagine.
Of course externally focused churches are comprised of Christ-followers who are both internally strong and externally focused. That’s why we thought it was so necessary to write The Externally Focused Life as an individual or small group companion to The Externally Focused Church. We envision the possibility of a day when “externally focused” will be an antiquated adjective phrase since all churches and believers will not be living just for themselves but for those outside the walls of the church. It’s just what churches do. It’s just who Christians are.
We encourage you to read this book in community with others in a small group or class, as doing so will greatly increase the chances that you will engage others with good deeds and good news. The small group guide in the back of the book serves as a great six-week curriculum for those who want to apply what they are learning. We’ve discovered that although it is good deeds that create goodwill and goodwill creates a wonderful platform for sharing the good news, it is really good friends that help turn those good intentions into good deeds—which is the beginning of the process of transformation. We’re so glad you’ve joined us in the journey.
In 2006 Rick and I wrote a book called Living a Life on Loan, with Standard Publishing, which back then really should have been titled The Externally Focused Life. Earlier this year Group Publishing took the opportunity to obtain the rights to the book from Standard and gave to Rick and me the opportunity to re-write the book and re-release it under this title. Even if you have read Living a Life on Loan, you will find The Externally Focused Life fresh and refreshing–a very useful and practical tool in taking the next step of your externally focused journey.
