The Meandering Way: Leading by Following the Spirit - Softcover

Shockley, Gary A.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1566993423 ISBN 13: 9781566993425

Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2007

Synopsis

How often do you feel overwhelmed by the pace of your life? These days it's easy to work harder and harder, constantly pushing ourselves and those around us so that we and our congregations can be "successful." We forget that our drive to succeed can prevent us from taking the time to stop and listen for what God is calling us and our congregations to be. This book is one pastor's story of his journey from a success-oriented drivenness to a significance-oriented, meandering style of life. What you will find are reflections from a fellow traveler who is now less desirous of doing something spectacular for God and is instead committed to doing something significant with God--who is discovering a more grace-filled, Spirit-led way.

This book offers a contrarian take on the more popular practices of leadership found throughout the church today. Meandering leaders are attentive to the promptings of the Spirit. They are guides and mentors who patiently journey alongside those they love and lead. Ultimately, being a meandering leader is about being on a journey with God--personally and corporately slowing down the pace of our lives and following God's Spirit. In the faith journey, we are not so much racing toward a physical finish line as we are meandering toward becoming all that God has in mind for us to be. This book is an invitation to journey into the depths of your own soul and to follow the Spirit's lead in the next chapters of your life.

About this title

About the Author

Gary Shockley is a mission development pastor in the Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church and is currently pastor of HopeSpring Church in Ocoee, Florida. He holds a Master of Divinity degree from Ashland Seminary and has completed doctoral work in spiritual formation and counseling from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
You can visit his blog here: http://garyshockley.wordpress.com/

Review

There is so much wisdom for leaders in these pages. In a world in which people feel the constant need to rush, hurry, achieve, accomplish, do, and get somewhere fast, we are reminded that there is a way of leading that imitates Moses and Jesus: meandering with a purpose. (N. Graham Standish, Calvin Presbyterian Church, Zelienople, PA, and author, "Becoming a Blessed Church")

This is an account of Gary Shockley’s journey from drivenness to ‘meandering’ as a more Christ-like way of leading. Meandering encompasses both accountability and an openness to God and others along the way. There is a valuable message here (Lovett H. Weems Jr., Wesley Theological Seminary; author of Focus)

Think how much faster I could go,’ said the young bird returning to its nest after testing its wings, ‘if there were not wind and air to slow me down.’ Gary Shockley is a wise rare bird who reminds us that the wind and the air enable us to fly in the first place and that we soar best when we are guided by the unpredictable gusts of the Spirit. (Leonard Sweet)

Gary Shockley has identified critical issues essential for personal development and courageous ministry. Reading this text will be a delightful glimpse into the life of a dedicated and transformational leader. (G. Edwin Zeiders)

Truly a powerful book to read. The accounts in this book invite the reader to not only walk alongside Gary, but also to evaluate his or her own place in the book and in God’s incredible story for us all. This is not a textbook on how to do ministry, it is a heart book on how to discover the pure joy, peace and freedom that comes for those who learn to meander with God. If you aren’t challenged or convicted then you aren’t reading! This book is a passionate invitation for those who are busy defining themselves by what they do instead of by who they are. (Tim May, Pastor)

Edition details

• Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
• Publication date: 2007
• ISBN 10: 1566993423
• ISBN 13: 9781566993425
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 136