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Rating: 
Summary: Good thoughts, useful format
Review: Lately, we've heard a lot of talk about leadership, probably because the world needs good leaders in the midst of rapid change. Columnist and Author Alan Nelson says we do need leaders, spiritual leaders who direct primarily from a strong character, not from their position. Leadership is like a chess game in the modern world, Nelson says, and leaders are both players and pieces. They have unique strengths and weaknesses and while they must plan ahead, the complex playing field changes with each move.In this book, Nelson explains his terms and answers a long list of questions. "Leadership is a social relationship in which people allow individuals to influence them toward intentional change," he writes. Spirituality is that metaphysical dimension which relates to God and the soul, a dimension which includes everyone. So in combining the two, he says, "Spiritual leaders rely on God, lead to serve, take risks out of faith rather than ego, and listen to the Sprit regarding timing, decisions, and relationship issues." "Because of the inherent conflicts between leading and being authentically spiritual, few genuine spiritual leaders exist," he observes. "The temptations of strong leaders and the process of leadership are often the opposite of what makes a person spiritual." But it can be done, if the leader will yield himself to God. The book is organized for skipping around. Each chapter loosely groups several questions, helping you find the sections which interest you most. It easily accommodates group discussions with a moderator who has read it through. Nelson addresses 57 questions, including:
•Why does the Enemy target spiritual leaders with failure and discouragement?
•Why is it so hard for spiritual leaders to pray?
•How are talent and gifting adversarial to spiritual leading?
•How does a spiritual leader best use team members?
•How do spiritual leaders create a culture that nurtures the soul?
•How does a spiritual leader handle betrayal?
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