Alex McManus

Join Alex McManus as he interviews cutting edge thoughtleaders and activists. Today he interviews James Emery White, author of "Christ Among the Dragons: Finding our way through cultural challenges," published by Intervarsity Press Books, June 2010. In this book James Emery White takes us on a journey beyond the dragon territory to discover the new world Christ is mapping for us. When medieval mapmakers came to the end of the world as they knew it, they would write on the edges of their maps, "Here Be Dragons." Without a way to navigate, these areas were, at best, promising yet unexplored, and at worst, perilous. At the beginning of the twenty-first century, evangelical Christians have an equally unsettling map and a lack of unity in regard to how we will find our way through uncharted territory as we stray from core ideas and differ on key issues.

Join Alex McManus for interviews with activists and missional thought leaders from around the world. Author Samuel R. Chand wrote the book "Cracking Your Church's Culture Code: Seven Keys to Unleashing Vision & Inspiration". Published by Jossey-Bass, October 2010. Chand discusses strategies for transforming a toxic church culture. He unpacks the question why the best strategic plans and good leadership often are not able to move churches in the desired direction. He contends that toxic culture is to blame. Quite often, leaders don't sense the toxicity, but it poisons their relationships and derails their vision. This work describes five easily identifiable categories of church culture (inspiring-accepting-stagnant-discouraging-toxic), with diagnostic descriptions in the book and a separate online assessment tool. The reader will be able to identify strengths and needs of their church's culture, and then apply practical strategies (communication, control and authority, selection and placement of personnel, etc.) to make their church's culture more positive.
•Discusses how to diagnose the state of a church's culture
•Reveals what it takes to put in place effective strategies for creating a more positive church culture
•Author served on the board of EQUIP (Dr. John Maxwell's Ministry), equipping five million leaders world-wide.
This important book offers a clear guide for understanding and recreating a healthy church culture.

Join Alex McManus for interviews with activists and missional thought leaders from around the world. Author Dave Browning wrote the book "Hybrid Church: the Fusion of Intimacy & Impact" (Jossey-Bass, September 2010). Hybrid Church introduces the concept of a single congregation the best of both church worlds: the intimacy of small house church groups and the impact of large megachurches.

Join Alex McManus as he interviews with cutting edge thoughtleaders and activists. Today he interviews Robert Velarde, the author of "The Wisdom of Pixar: An Animated Look at Virtue", published by Intervarsity Press Books, June 2010. Robert Velarde unpacks the movies of Pixar and shows how they display the best of classic Christian virtues. Pixar's films resonate with us because of their moral character. Their virtuous themes of hope and courage, friendship and love connect with our deepest human longings. Whether we identify with the plight of a lost fish or the adventures of toys, bugs or cars, Pixar's characters help us build our own character, with the kind of virtue that we want for ourselves and those around us. Insightfully exploring each of Pixar's movies, this book is a friendly companion for fans, parents and church leaders. Discover how the imagination of Pixar can awaken in you a Christian vision for a moral life and a better society.

Join Alex McManus for interviews with activists, missional practioners, and thought leaders from around the world. Alex interviews Phileena Heuertz, author of "Pilgrimage of a Soul: Contemplative Spirituality for the Active Life", published by InterVarsity Press, July 2010. Activists often see contemplation as a luxury, the sort of thing that must necessarily be laid aside in the quest to see the world set aright. But in Pilgrimage of a Soul we see that contemplation is essential--not only to a life of sustained commitment to the justice and righteousness of God, but to the growth in faith and discipleship that the Holy Spirit beckons each of us to. Tracing seven movements from a kind of sleepfulness to a kind of wakefulness, Heuertz shows us that life is a journey that repeats itself as we are led by Christ deeper and deeper into our true selves and a truer knowledge of God.