XEALOTS offers a different way of looking at God, ourselves and others. Dave Gibbons shows how God shapes us through pain and how our greatest failures may actually be God's greatest gifts. He illustrates how our culture's emphasis on power, strength, and giftedness is often misguided. In our efforts at gaining power and living out of our strengths, we fail to deal with our suffering in a way that is honest. God's power is perfected not in our strengths but in our weakness and pain. As a XEALOT you'll learn to fight with weapons of love, not destruction, as you follow the path first trod by Jesus--the way of suffering that leads to God's glory.

What does Jesus mean when he promises 'life to the full'? Like many Christians, author Dave Gibbons thought 'life to the full' meant just the positives -- a life full of joy and happiness. After all, isn't that what we're taught in seminars, in self-help books, and even in psychological assessments to ascertain who is -- and is not -- a 'good fit'? We look for people with lots of successes and strengths, don't we? Gibbons' own beliefs on the subject were rocked when he took a long, hard, honest look at his own life and realized it was his failures that made him who is today. So he went back to the Scriptures, and kept his eyes open to truly see the people around him. That's when he made a shocking discovery: when we embrace the painful areas of our lives we see the miracle that can happen when God redeems these areas of weakness and makes them beautiful. 'Now I see that 'life to the full' means a life that is open to all the colors and flavors of the human experience, the ability to feel with a fully alive heart, whether it's in times of joy or pain.' Xealots offers a refreshing new look at what it means to be fully human. This uplifting book enables you to transform your own 'failures' into success in God's eyes so that you can serve him with all that you are.

Dave Gibbons is crazy about his beautiful, misfit family in New York City, Irvine, Los Angeles, Southeast Asia, China, India, Seoul, Mexico City, London, and Brazil. He's a creative, futurist, activist, and strategist. Dave serves as an adviser to artists, business persons, and community development specialists throughout the world. He also is the Lead of a global alliance of churches and networks. He is the author of the award-winning book on culture and leadership, The Monkey and the Fish, and of XEALOTS. You can learn more about the XEALOT life at XEALOT.net and davegibbons.tv. Follow Dave at http://twitter.com/davegibbons

Dave Gibbons is an innovator, a leader, and an artist. He is also a pastor of a fast-growing, cutting-edge church that is based in Southern California. That church is planting churches in urban areas all around the world.

Dave Gibbons’ latest book, Xealots, is a tour de force on his philosophy of life and leadership. While the focus of what he is saying comes out of his experience of being a ministerial leader, it is useful for anyone wanting to live a life of impact and beauty.

Xealots is divided into two parts. The first part, entitled “Mind,” speaks to attitudes and mindsets that Gibbons believes are essential to producing the kind of wisdom and character that form effective leaders for the future. The second section is entitled “Movement,” and this section shares about some basic habits to form as a Christian leader. They include obedience, being open and receptive to the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit, and giving and receiving blessings.

This book has some good ideas, but reading it is more than an instruction manual, or a book with a few helpful thoughts. Reading Xealots is an inspirational experience. I was especially moved by the chapters “Scars” and “Becoming a Father.” “Scars” speaks to the transformational power of heartache and pain, and how experiencing these challenges empower leaders to develop deeper faith and form a ministry with greater power and impact. “Becoming a Father” is about our need to be blessed by those in authority over us and by those who have influence upon us. It goes on to challenge leaders to not only seek blessings from others, but to be aware of opportunities to offer approval and blessing to others.

Xealots is a joy to read. It has the ability to challenge and inspire those who read it to be all they can for God and for others. It touched my heart. I know it will do the same for others. – Clint Walker, www.ChristianBookPreviews.com

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