Bishop William Boyd Grove (United Methodist Church) writes this about Free Us for Joyful Obedience: Every pastor should run, not walk, to the nearest book store to buy Free Us For Joyful Obedience. I was a pastor of congregations for twenty six years and I would have been a better pastor if this book had been available to me. I recommend it for the following reasons: ** Monty Brown is a great pastor and he practices what he is preaching in this book. ** He has his theology right. Pastoral care is a response to, and a sharing of, God's grace. ** His writing style is interesting and compelling. The nuggets are priceless. This book is a must for every pastor. ************* Free Us for Joyful Obedience is a step by step introduction to the fine art of prayerful pastoral caregiving, and a re-calling of the passion for ministry. Monty Brown re-members us into approaching life from the counter-cultural world of grace. His theology of pastoral caregiving emphasizes our basic goodness (being made in the very image of God) which honestly highlights our potential, instead of the typical yardstick that emphasizes our failures - the taunt of being not good enough. Too often, particularly in a Church which feels threatened by diminishing numbers and social influence, the urge is toward bigger numbers as the only measure of success. Free Us for Joyful Obedience underscores the importance of faithfulness, instead of the world's definition of success.