death of the modern superhero Archives

Malcolm Gladwell on the Underdog (A Review of David and Goliath)

October 13, 2013

Malcolm Gladwell explores the concept of being at a disadvantage in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles in his new book, David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants. His premise is that weakness is not always what it seems.

Gladwell combines stories, history, research and psychology to draw his conclusions.

By: Michelle Tribe

All these tools lead to the same conclusion as the gospel.

Weakness can be a strength.

This book uses different means and methods, yet arrives at a similar connection to the message we explore on NoSuperHeroes.

It is not always about being bigger, better, faster, or stronger. In my book Death of the Modern Superhero:How Grace Breaks our Rules, I explore how the gospel of grace breaks many of the rules we are taught through society. Gladwell does the same thing.

He starts with the story of David and Goliath. Read more... (611 words, 1 image, estimated 2:27 mins reading time)

In Bible, Grace, Leadership, Reading Bible, death of the modern superhero, Faith, grace, performance, reading, weakness

Brand New

April 12, 2013

Fresh off the production floor from NoSuperHeroes is a brand new promo video for my book Death of the Modern Superhero: How Grace Breaks our Rules.

Take a look at the promo and share it with your friends.

Death Of The Modern Superhero on Vimeo.

The book is selling better than I’d hoped at this stage and is being used in Bible schools, small groups, counseling ministries, seeker studies within JP Morgan Chase and even used to disciple converts from other religions!

One exciting development is the translation of the book into Dutch! Good things are happening as you help to spread the message of grace via NoSuperHeroes.

So keep reading. Keep sharing! And most of all, keep engaging in the dialogue around the message of grace!

Please be sure to follow NoSuperHeroes on Facebook or Twitter, better yet, sign up to receive all the posts in your inbox. All these options are found on the right hand column!

In Grace, Writing christian growth, death of the modern superhero, grace

Which is Easier, Speaking or Writing?

January 17, 2013

Many writers desire a move into the realm of being a speaker. Some preachers decide to pick up the pen to extend their influence. Still others aspire to be a jack of all trades.

Is it possible to do both? Which one is more difficult, speaking or writing?

I have been speaking for over 15 years in various settings. Within the last few years I have made a foray into the world of writing. While attempting to exercise both sets of communication muscles, I have found writing the harder workout.

Speaking and writing use many of the same components, but in different measures. Here are a few of my observations:

By: Gavin Cockrell via Flckr.

1. Hooking your audience Read more... (668 words, 1 image, estimated 2:40 mins reading time)

In Web, Writing christian growth, death of the modern superhero, leadership

8 Traits of Grace Filled Leadership

January 7, 2013

My first leadership experience was as an 11-year-old in Boy Scouts. As a newly christened “Assistant Patrol Leader”, I led as I had seen others leading. Experience said the way in which you led other pre-teen peers was through yelling and screaming, using all of your newly learned expletives until finally the group accomplished the task. Unfortunately my model came through watching the 12 and 13-year-old leaders!

Some leaders never outgrow this style.

They refine it, dropping the cursing, but maintaining the control and the “no questions asked” style. Hollywood promotes this style with military drill sergeants and gruff police captains.

As we grow in our leadership, we realize the limits of this style’s effectiveness. We come to understand a need to value people, not absolute obedience.

Read more... (703 words, 1 image, estimated 2:49 mins reading time)

In Grace, Leadership Bible, christian growth, confrontation, death of the modern superhero, forgiveness, grace based leadership, grace in leadership, gracious leaders, influence, leadership, leadership and grace, missions, parenting, performance, servant leadership, true leadership, value people

God Uses Ordinary People

October 25, 2012

Society tells us we must be bigger, better, faster and stronger to find success.

The fact that society exalts displays of strength is not something new to the twenty-first century. Paul dealt with these very things in Second Corinthians.

Corinth was a leading first-century city, steeped in the Greek worldview, a worldview that exalted all the externals, such as knowledge, physical strength, wealth, and eloquence. According to these standards, Paul fell woefully short.

Paul, according to many biblical scholars, was a short, balding, annoying sort of fellow, and may have had stomach issues and bad eyesight (these are some of the options for the thorn in the flesh in 2 Cor. 12:7). He was not a skilled speaker and bore on his body the marks of many shipwrecks and beatings. Read more... (484 words, 1 image, estimated 1:56 mins reading time)