I purchased the audiotape of this book and listened to it on my daily commute. The presentation of the idea was very simple and made me feel like I could follow their suggestions too! I sat down and worked out my tracking, target, trimming, and training goals and realized that with all of my debt...I could be paid off and debt free by April of 2003 (and I had lots of debts from just finishing my doctorate). I also mentioned some of the ideas in this tape to my 13 year old (that if a 15 year old puts $7 aside each month until s/he was 65...and received 15% return...that they'd be a millionaire at retirement). She, too, is excited about the rules given in this book.

At last! A finance book I can read like a story! Not boring, lecturing, or intimidating like other books of this nature. This book literally saved my financial future. I am now on the road to debt free prosperity, and feeling great about life. My perspective on money and how I spend it has changed completely.

This book lays it so simply - how to get out of debt, including paying off your house mortgage, in five years or less. I now see how it is happening for me! And what is great is that you don't have to earn more income, it doesn't make any difference how much you earn, it's all about how you spend your money. Great book for everyone, and get the teens to read it now!

I read this book aftr my husband and found it to be one of the best books I've read in a long time. I know of many fathers who are seperared from their children too. I'm going to suggest it to many of them. I really enjoyed the poems in the story, they really brought me both to tears and cheers! How encouraging that one man can continue on to want and desire to be a great dad no matter what has happened to him in his life. I wish all dads were as dedicated. Thanks!!!

In this memoir, the author tells a creatively written and humorous story of his life as his parents divorce and then he finds divorce in his life. The presence of his wanting desire to be a dad is touching while he eludes to the life and memories of his own father's effect on his life. It's a journey of reflection to further understand his roles and example to his children. This author is certainly a man of his passion, character and effort to be involved as a father. I've known many other fathers who are just as concerned and wanting to be a good father after a divorce. This memoir provides the reader with an emotional tale of a father's love and difficulties with this divorce arena we all have been touched by in some way. I certainly suggest this for everyone to read on a cold winter day, because when your through you'll want to get out and enjoy the warmth of the sun.

I'm a single Mom, not a single Dad, but I found the book
both touching and inspiring. I was moved by the journey and
the poetry of this insightful and eloquent man. The book
is not for men only.

This awesomely well-written little book is one of the most inspiring and humbling books I have read in a long time. I have given several as gifts and will give more. My sister's comments were that it "should be required reading for everyone." That pretty well sums it up. Highly recommended.

i was on the island of st. martin recently, staying at a small hotel on the beach; to pass some time, i'd noticed they had "used" books on the shelf in the lobby to borrow and saw this little book called "one tattered angel". i started reading it and couldn't put it down. it affected the rest of my trip & my outlook on things, especially the power of prayer. i wanted to take the book with me - i was going to ask the hotel if i could buy it, just in case i couldn't find it anywhere. however, i noticed that it was signed by the author! i realized that the book needed to be left right there, so someone else could have the pleasure of reading it, like i did.

This book touched and inspired me so much that we named our daughter Charity after the subject of this book. This book helps us to better understand what our Heavenly Father expects of us, how very much he loves us and how he compensates for the weaknesses we have been given. There are blessings, even in the toughest of trials. Don't hesitate to buy this book. It may (and should) change your life.

I heard of the book from a friend that had read it and used it in his business. It opened my eyes to a whole new way of analyzing my customers. I have begun breaking down and analyzing the experiences my customers are having with me and I have see results. It provided me with a template to use as I try to turn interested people into buyers and buyers into repeat buyers. I would highly recommend this book.

Nothing is more important to growing a company than turning customers into outspoken fans. This book is a great study into that kind of corporate motivation and the resulting top line growth.

If you are a marketer, you have to understand Millet's point of view because of the ROI his strategy rewards. As a CEO, it is the kind of mantra that breeds total organizational success.

This book introduces a new language (you really have to pay attention!) and tools for creating a customer-focused rather than customer-manipulative culture that, in turn, will transform our merely satisfied members into trusting, vocal, loyal members. It focuses on how we can create an emotional trust bond with our members by ensuring that their "experiences" with our organization are consistently "delightful" and that our staff is establishing human connections with our members.
The authors emphasize that although customers connect with and remember the experiences they've had with a particular business, most organizations focus on operational and transactional efficiency as a means of developing customer relationships and loyalty. A new method of ensuring we consistently deliver delightful experiences is through the use of Customer Experience Mapping©. This process involves identifying the most common member experiences, such as
establishing a new account or applying for a loan, and then determining the member response we want at each stage of the process. (What do we want them to think about us? How do we want them to feel?) In addition, we want to ensure that we do not trigger situations where the member may "opt out" of
the credit union due to a negative emotional response to our behavior or operations. Next, we "map out" a step-by-step method for creating Totally Awesome Member Experiences and maximizing Member delight. This map creates the framework for staff training, improves consistency and ensures
repeatability of our member experiences. Rather than doing a mass roll out, they recommend initiating a "pilot" project, to see how it works for our organization.
One of the most fascinating and impactful portions of the book is the case study on Rivers Effortless Dining, in Salt Lake City, a highly successful restaurant who worked with the authors to apply the principles of the book. It walks us through the entire process of how the owner prepared for, and implemented, this philosophy. Another case study outlines how to develop a Totally Awesome Website.
In a nutshell, this book also provides:
*A measurable method to implement and apply Customer Experience Mapping©.
*Insight into empowering and rewarding staff to delight members.
*The importance of developing Customer Trust Currency© , the foundation of relationship building.
*Ways to build an Emotional Trust Bond with our members.
*How to detect whether we are being Customer-Manipulative or Customer-Focused and how to change it.
*How to turn Customer Knowledge Currency© (data mining, etc.) into Customer Trust Currency© . (There's an interesting discussion here on customer privacy and the importance of timing in determining WHEN to act on knowledge. For instance, if we offer products and services TOO soon, before they trust us, it can backfire and create a negative member response.)
We've ordered a couple of extra books for the Learning Library.

Simply put this is the best book on Africa dealing up to the 1990's. As an African living in Europe I found this book an excellent read and spot on in its findings. Students of political science, and those who have an interest in Africa such as western governments, aid agencies and miltinationals would do well to read this book. By better understanding Africa real progress could be made to solve the problems of Africa.

I cant recommend this book more strongly.

A friend gave me this book, and said "you gotta read this". And you know what, I'm really happy she did, because I learned a lot from Dispatches. Harden does a great job of weaving different short stories, each with a unique slant and look at African life. Both entertaining and educational, I'm now fascinated with Africa and ready to read more!

Blaine Harden's Africa: Dispatches From a Fragile Continent is as at once fascinating and sobering. A former Washington Post bureau chief in sub-Saharan Africa from 1985 to 1989, Harden grabs the reader with his vivid prose which weaves together a clear grasp of depressing and repressive African politics; eye-catching facts that plague the continent, diligently dug up; and tales of one character after another that together provide a sharp snapshot of Africa in the eighties.

With a region as vast as sub-Saharan Africa, containing almost 50 countries, focus is needed to make any account manageable. Harden ably does this by zeroing-in on seven countries: Kenya, Sudan, Zaire (recently re-named Congo), Zambia, Nigeria, Ghana, and Liberia. To immerse oneself into each chapter is to be right at Harden's side clearly sensing the local color and human commotion in which Africans struggle "between an unworkable Western present and a collapsing African past. Their loyalties are stretched between predatory governments and disintegrating tribes, between arbitrary demands of dictators and incessant pleadings of relatives, between commandments of the Bible and obligations to the ancestors."

This book should be read by anyone with an interest in Africa or a desire to explore a new world region through the eyes of a curious journalist. Most memorable is the profile that Harden sketches of the typical African Big Man ruler: "His every pronouncement is reported on the front page. He sleeps with the wives and daughters of powerful men in his government. He shuffles ministers without warning, paralyzing policy decisions as he undercuts pretenders to his throne. He scapegoats minorities..." And the list continues. The resulting image casts a long, haunting shadow on the continent. Though there's much in it that disturbs, the book holds the reader's attention from beginning to end.

When Gregori Rasputin and the Russian Imperial Family are killed in the early 1900's, a conspiracy to take over the Russian throne by the evil monk dies with them. But decades later a valuable letter written by the Czarina is discovered. It alludes to a vast treasure, and sparks the hopes of the Russian people that a Czar will come to lead them to prosperity. When an American college student accidentally discovers the treasure, he is proclaimed Czar despite his protests. The young man is the focus of one struggle after the other. He becomes the central figure between Russia and the rebel state of Chechnia, Russia and the U.S., and the communist faction that just won't quit. Help comes from the most unexpected source. While the young man wrestles with his desire to return home, he finds courage he didn't know he had, and even discovers the love of his life. Will the Russian people get the Czar they've been looking for? Was it from God? You decide . . .

AMERICAN CZAR was featured in the May 2000 edition of ForeWord Magazine.

Here is what they had to say:

"...Written by a master story-teller, Martin tells a tale that is difficult to put down, yet at the same time, is a quick read with true-to-life characters and circumstances which relate to everyone no matter where they live."

Brenda Ramsbacher, ForeWord Magazine, May 2000.

" . . .

AMERICAN CZAR is rich with human truths of people dreaming of a better life. As John quickly learns, sometimes it's the ordinary people who can do extraordinary things if only given a chance. Written by a master story-teller, Martin tells a tale that is difficult to put down, yet at the same time, is a quick read with true-to-life characters and circumstances which relate to everyone no matter where they live."

Brenda Ramsbacher, ForeWord Magazine, May 2000.

Shady was one of the funniest reads that I've come across this year. There was certainly a lot going on in Shady, South Carolina.

The story evolves around a well to do family and three friends that would walk through fire to save one another. In the end the truth comes to light and you learn how simple society thinks us to be. You become so enthralled in this book that you will find yourself laughing and talking back to the characters knowing full well that they can't hear you.

Shady is a must read.

Bravo!

When I first picked up the novel I wasn't quite sure what to expect. However, the novel had so many twists, turns and plots that I couldn't put it down. "Shady" was definitely shady with all the events that take place throughout the novel.

The setting is in South Carolina and revolves around a family that is up to no good and three friends that will do anything for each other. It is absolutely hilarious and will evoke almost every emotion that the human body is capable of feeling!

Bravo for a new up and coming author!

It's a wonderful satire! From the first page to the last SHADY is a literary delight! Teamer introduces characters that grow and blossom on the page as well as in our hearts. Effie, Tweet and Safronya are the "good time" girls of Shady Grove South Carolina. However, the good time girls run into some bad times. It is these times that tests the girls character and their friendship! If you loved books like The Color Purple, Women of Brewster Place, The Bluest Eye you will simply adore SHADY. I've told my friends that they must read it. They all love it! It's the best kept secret of the season!

I am just a teenager, not a youth pastor, but I love this book. You see, I attend Oneighty in Tulsa and I adore being able to attend there, yet, there were so many things that I didn't know about that I have now discovered. Just like FollowJesusChrist, I "was amazed" to learn about the many different aspects of how Oneighty works, and how it breaks the mold that was set for youth programs. I reccommend this book whole-heartedly along with Pastor Bartel's other books, even if you are just a teenager, they will touch your heart. :)

... I actually, just read this book last night while in my local Bible bookstore. I mean, I've read all of the Every Teenagers Little Black Books (which offer some info about different topics, with a lot of Scriptures sprinkled through each one) by Pastor Bartel, but this was something totally different. I was amazed, to find out exactly what goes on behind the scenes at Oneighty and some various things that occured when Oneighty began. All I can say is, this is probably one of the best books ever..., this book is well thought out, well written, and whether your involved in youth ministry or not, it is a great book to read. ;)

Blaine Bartel is the founder of one of the most successful youth ministries in the US today. Oneighty, out of Tulsa, OK has forever changed the standard for effective youth work.

In this book, Blaine gives you insight into 10 rules of youth ministry and how oneighty breaks them all. The biggest challenge in youth ministry is to keep out of a rut and avoid the tendency that Church's have to resist change. Since youth culture is constantly shifting, a growing youth ministry must constantly think fresh and adjust itself to meet the needs of its members.

10 rules of youth ministry and why oneighty breaks them all, tells the story of how this ministry has broken out of the limitations that the Church places on its youth ministries to become a force for life change in its community.

As a former, burnt-out youth pastor working in sales, I found within this book the reassurance that youth ministry can be done well. In a large part, pastor Bartel has helped me to have the courage to return to full-time ministry and I am currently crafting a vision statement my ministry with the Bible in one hand and his book in the other.

I'm trying to apply the principles now. It's nice to have a book that can show the different aspects of "God's will" (including the personal one), yet not discount the mind. It notes that what we often perceive as guidance (e.g., the supernatural, prophecy, fleeces, and inward guidance) are the exceptions and points out why. It focuses on prayer, understanding the Bible, willingness, and thinking carefully. It recognizes however that we consider our desires, abilities, wise counsel, and circumstances. It seems to answer a lot of my questions about guidance as well as my misconceptions. Best of all, he gives you the Biblical texts to read and analyze yourself to see if his arguments hold up, let alone Biblical examples. I know one friend (who found out about the book independent of me) that bought several copies of this book to give as gifts. I may just do the same.

I find "Knowing God's Will" to be an extremely challenging and thought provoking book. Blaine Smith consistently presents a *balanced* and mature approach towards understanding and seeking the Lord's will for our lives. He makes it a point to test his own ideas against what the Bible teaches.

This book will surely challenge you to:-

(1) Discard your misconceptions on how we should go about finding God's will.

(2) Understanding how God reveals His will.

(3) Realize that we, too, need to take responsibility in knowing His will.

I have tested the biblically-based strategies recommended by this book over the past five years and have given away countless copies to students and friends who are struggling with decision making. First used in a Sunday school class, I often find myself back in the book refreshing my memory on details for how to seek God's will, especially for the important crossroads in life.