Fill the Stage

Daniel Dignan

Fill The Stage

“Character is Destiny”

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The Walk

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This book guides readers through the two essential books in the Bible: the Gospel of Mark and Romans. Overall, it helps readers understand the story of Jesus, what he was about, and what it means to be a Christian.

The book assumes no prior knowledge of Christianity. The author, an experienced pastor, shares the Bible’s central story of God’s good news, what it means for us, and what we must do to benefit from it.

If you are an experienced Christian, this book can help you help your friends and family understand the Bible and benefit from its message, too.

The Walk is accessible, engaging, and well-written. If you read the book, let me know what you think.

Hand Me Another Brick

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This is a book about the book of Nehemiah, a story of a man who rebuilt the ancient wall of Jerusalem and revived the city. The book can be found in the Hebrew Bible (the Christian Old Testament). Nehemiah is the best book on leadership ever written; it reveals how an ordinary man became an unordinary leader.

Nehemiah was a cupbearer, a position of high trust and responsibility, for King Artaxerxes, who was the leader of the great Persian Empire about 100 years before the time of Alexander the Great and over 400 years before Christ. Messengers from Jerusalem told him that the people were in desperate straits and that the city wall was still in ruins. Interestingly, Nehemiah prayed and then established a plan to rebuild the wall and revive the city.

Chuck Swindoll, a well-known Christian leader and pastor, wrote several books about famous leaders, including the famed Moses, David, and Esther. His book is intended to help leaders or those who aspire to lead learn how to lead well. Swindoll goes chapter by chapter, covering topics like the following:

  • The role of prayer in the life of a leader
  • The role of preparation
  • Motivating oneself and others
  • Dealing with opposition and criticism
  • Handling discouragement
  • Resolving financial issues
  • Handling promotions and success well
  • Dealing with intimidation
  • Setting priorities
  • Dealing with problems

This is an invaluable book that you can apply to your own life and circumstances. Highly recommend it.

1 Samuel For You

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Samuel is a book in the Hebrew Bible (the Christian Old Testament) that’s critical for understanding the Bible’s story. The setting is ancient Israel, 1,000 years before Christ. The nation has bounced between peace, war, and subjugation; the people want a king to fight their battles. Samuel, a prophet, anoints Saul to be king. The new king begins well, but not for long.

During Saul’s reign, David, a humble shepherd boy, became a popular leader. In a war between Israel and Philistia, David famously slew a giant named Goliath. The people rejoice, but Saul is jealous of David and tries to kill him. Throughout the story, Saul incrementally turns away from God. Over time, he loses everything, including his family and self-respect. On the other hand, David endeavors to live a life that is true and good, according to the law of Moses, which requires the king to love God and neighbor and to rule justly. Over time, David gains a kingdom, family, and friends.

Significantly, David suffers severe persecution, ascends to the throne, and rescues his people from their enemies. Though not a perfect man or ruler, David’s life points to a greater king, Jesus of Nazareth, who would suffer and gain a family and kingdom.

Samuel is a riveting story, and Tim Chester’s commentary is a marvelous guide, one that I strongly recommend.

The book of Samuel and Chester’s guide will help you in the following ways:

  1. Understand the Bible better
  2. Learn how to make friends
  3. Learn how to handle difficult times and circumstances
  4. Learn how to lead well
  5. Learn how to become a less anxious, happier person

What did you find most helpful about 1 Samuel?

Land of Hope

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This is one of the most interesting books I’ve ever read. It’s the story of America from its discovery and founding to recent times. Wildred McClay overviews the significant events, people, and ideas that shaped America, aiming to show what made America a land of hope.

Events include the unsettlement of Europe, Christopher Columbus’s journeys to the New World, the Revolutionary War, Westward expansion, the Civil War, industrialization and modernization, the World Wars, the Cold War, and more. Highlighted leaders include George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Franklin Roosevelt, and many more.

The book offers a positive account of America’s rise and greatness without glossing over grave issues such as slavery and our national debt. The author reveals the unique tradition and ideals that spurred American energy, generosity, purpose, commitment, and self-criticism. Moreover, McClay insightfully describes the role of America’s Christian heritage and its leaders in shaping American destiny. Along these lines, America’s literature is integrated into this retelling of American political and religious history, showing its impact and effect on the generations that followed.

This book is a tremendous educational experience. If you want a fascinating story about the land of hope, this book is for you.

Beowulf

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Beowulf, a Scandinavian warrior, fights a monster named Grendel, then Grendel’s mother, and finally, years later, a fire-breathing dragon. Winning great honor, he eventually became a king, the bulwark of his people.

An ancient and renowned tale, over 1,000 years old, Beowulf was initially written in Anglo-Saxon, or Old English. This translation is regarded as one of the finest—poetic, epic, and gripping. About one hundred pages, it’s a quick read and hard to put down.

The unknown author offers a glimpse into the ancient heroic age of the Germanic peoples, who migrated to England and Denmark. They lived by the warrior code and sought glory through warfare.

Beowulf achieves great honor, and there are thrilling moments, and indeed, happy seasons. However, a perceptive observer noted that the book begins and ends with a funeral, revealing that the world is not enough.

Some of the great literary minds studied the tale. J.R.R. Tolkien, the author of The Lord of the Rings, translated Beowulf in his 30s and went on to teach it for decades, writing a commentary. (I have not read it.) In this translation, you can see the Old English on the left-facing pages; modern English is on the right.

Finally, after you read the epic, I recommend reading Seamus Heaney’s introduction.

What did you think about the story?

Called to Lead

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This is one of the best leadership books I’ve ever read. It’s about two leaders who changed the world: Nehemiah and Paul. Nehemiah lived in the 5th century BC. He rebuilt the wall of Jerusalem after the Babylonian Empire had destroyed it. Paul lived in the 1st century AD. He wrote much of the New Testament and planted churches that spread Christianity throughout the world. Both of these efforts took tremendous leadership.

John MacArthur taught the Bible for over 50 years at Grace Community Church in California. He explains leadership principles that are implied in the stories, such as trustworthiness and discipline. The resources and the teacher (who was a respected leader) make the book a really helpful guide to those who want to lead well.

While the Bible is not primarily a book about leadership, it contains stories of leaders whose lives are worthy of examination.

What leadership principle interested you the most?

Churchill

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To become a leader, you must develop your character. For this, it helps to read biographies of great leaders. This has been recognized for thousands of years. Plutarch, a Roman politician and writer, wrote the Parallel Lives, in which he compared the characters of Greek and Roman leaders.

If you are interested in business, read a biography of a successful businessperson, such as Walt Disney. If you are interested in ministry, read a biography of a missionary, such as David Livingstone or Gladys Aylward. If you are interested in science, there are several good options, in particular, Michael Faraday. He is a true rags-to-riches story, and he changed the world. If interested in politics, it’s hard to beat George Washington and Winston Churchill.

Identify what they did well. If you observe a great habit, write it down and try to put it into practice. Note their mistakes and how they handled them. Also, note their vices and moral failings. (A definitive biography reveals the good and the bad.)

The best biographers are both entertaining and accurate, revealing what their subjects were like, what they were trying to do, and how things turned out.

Churchill quite literally saved Western Civilization during World War II. His rise, and fall, and rise is a fascinating story. Some consider him the most excellent leader of the 20th century. I recommend reading Paul Johnson’s short biography of Churchill.

Warning: once you start reading about Churchill, you may not find it easy to stop.

Knowing God

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I read this book when I was 19. I have read many great books, but this is one of the only books that has made me a happier person. The author helps readers study the Bible and gain insight into what God is like.

David, an Old Testament king, devoted a lot of time to getting to know God as a teenager by studying the first five books of the Bible (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy). He wrote this about God: “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” (Psalm 16:11, English Standard Version)

What did you find most helpful about the book?

The Death of Ivan Ilych

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A successful middle-aged judge suffers a freak accident and faces a slow, terrible death. His family does little to help him, as his pain and depression increase.

As he suffers, thoughts of his life — childhood happinesses, ambitions, what he lived for, and his personal conduct — crowd into his mind. He wonders if he lived life as he should have.

Leo Tolstoy is one of the greatest writers in history. He’s known for books like War and Peace, which is a very long novel. This is a short book and a shocking read. It makes one stop and take stock of life. (Better to think seriously about life while you are young than when you are old.)

At the end of the story, a significant event occurs.

What do you think happened at the end of the story?

The Small Woman

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In 1930, a young woman named Gladys Aylward, who felt the call to be a missionary, boarded a train in England for China. She carried her clothes and food in two suitcases. Due to the Sino-Soviet Conflict, her journey was blocked in Russia, forcing her to sleep out in the Siberian cold. After facing extreme danger, she was smuggled to Japan, where she made her way to China.

She learned Chinese and started an inn with an older missionary woman in a small (north-central) town called Yangcheng. She began feeding, housing, and telling Bible stories to mule caravaners. At first, the townspeople distrusted her, but over time, she gained respect.

Many unusual opportunities arose. The town’s Mandarin (the philosopher-leader) asked her to work for him as the local foot inspector. So she traveled from village to village, unbinding the feet of girls and young women. Later, a prison riot erupted. The frightened town leadership asked her to establish peace. Extremely frightened, she walked into the prison and witnessed horrors: a man with an axe was chasing and hacking fellow prisoners. The man approached her; terrified, she demanded that he hand over the axe.

Gladys experienced many difficulties and adventures. She traveled all around the area, establishing Christian communities. Her most significant test came during World War II when the Japanese invaded northern China, bombing and pillaging towns and villages. When Yangcheng was bombed, she became the leader and head nurse, living in nearby mountains and caves, and caring for refugees. However, as danger increased, it became clear she had to leave, with the village prisoners and nearly 100 orphans who considered Gladys their mother.

Her southwestern journey to the province of Sian achieved legendary status and is the book’s climax.

The author of Gladys Aylward’s biography, Alan Burgess, said she “is one of the most remarkable women of our generation.” Her heroic life and accomplishments began with a prayer that God would use her.

The book was published in 1957, and a movie debuted the following year. I highly recommend reading the book before watching it. Gladys Aylward thrived despite significant hardships; her willingness to serve an area of great need led to an adventurous and extraordinary life.