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Keys and Steps to Reaching Your Dreams
by John L. Dammarell
 A book that combines a religious memoir with a self-help guide.

Former pastor Dammarell (Churches Without Walls, 2008), the executive director of the nonprofit Liberty Road Foundation, leads readers through a sequence of inspiring commentaries constructed around the familiar allegory of a seed—in this case, a pumpkin seed—following it through every stage of its development, starting from when “God put that dream seed in your heart, yet you have been reluctant to plant it.” In colorful, anecdotal language, the author stresses the importance of taking that first planting step, noting how many people somehow manage to avoid it—resulting in, for example, businesses, books, inventions, or programs that never come to be. At every stage of cultivation, Dammarell draws on stories from his own life and offers a combination of plainspoken advice and Christian-oriented service, urging readers always to ask “the Jesus ‘Why,’ ” in everyday situations, which he says can help convert “self-focus” into “other-focus.” The book mixes these spiritual directives with sound, basic tips gleaned from the author’s years of running nonprofits; they revolve around staying focused and providing excellent leadership. The book includes some generalities that will be unlikely to be news to any reader, such as “believe in your dream,” “trust in God,” and “set goals.” But there are also passages of clarity and simple wisdom, usually dealing with the concept of personal responsibility: “It’s up to you,” he writes, “to use discretion and discernment in choosing the influencers you will allow to speak into your life.” This uneven mixture sometimes makes it difficult to gauge what the specific, intended audience for this book is. That said, many readers will find some food for thought in these pages.

An optimistic work about success in business and Christian living.

Pub Date: March 16th, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-973620-23-5
Page count: 108pp
Publisher: Westbow Press
Review Posted Online: July 27th, 2018

