Shrewd

"This book is flat-out brilliant! Ten pages in and my friends and I were already asking ourselves in meetings, ‘How can we be shrewd in this situation?' I loved this book!"

Jon Acuff, Wall Street Journal bestselling author of Quitter and Stuff Christians Like

"Shrewd is almost flawless. Rick Lawrence explores Jesus' mysterious command to be ‘as wise as a serpent, as innocent as a dove' from every angle imaginable. From the opening exchange with the author's daughter to the last line of admonition-‘Live innocently shrewd'-you are hooked into a mesmerizing journey that shows the reader how to follow, not Mr. Nice Guy, but the ‘Sensei of Shrewd.'"

Leonard Sweet, best-selling author, professor at Drew University and George Fox University, and chief contributor to Sermons.com

"Rick has an astonishing way of taking the truth of Christ's teachings and translating them simply into the practice of daily living. He has taken a verse on which I have always stood and given it life and application to even my routine activities."

Teresa Weesner, director of development for The Providence Network

"It has been some time since a book has changed how I think in everyday ministry situations. Shrewd has done just that. Rick Lawrence redefines the leadership task in the balance of Jesus' imperative to be shrewd and innocent. Shrewd gets better with each turn of the page-a rare feat-and it will be on the reading list for my leadership classes."

Terry Linhart, Ph.D., chair, Department of Religion and Philosophy, Bethel College-Indiana

"Rick Lawrence has done it again-he has unpacked a piece of scripture in such a way that all who read this will forever change their paradigm of our role as witnesses of Christ's love for us. Shrewd rattled my psyche and challenged me to embrace God in a new and demanding way. I wanted to cling to my concept of Jesus as a passive lamb, but now realize that the Jesus of the dark corners, who fights for my soul on a daily basis, is as shrewd as a snake but as innocent as a dove."

Donna S. Sheperis, PhD, counselor, professor, clinical supervisor, and co-chair of the American Counseling Association's Ethics Committee

"Shrewd is part handbook for those wishing to minister to others and part expose of the character of Jesus Christ. The book serves as a guide for engaging people to make an impact-ultimately on their eternity. Once again, Rick Lawrence has taken a verse of scripture that many Christians have read with perhaps a vague understanding of its meaning and deconstructs the reader's individual schemata, resulting in a deeper, richer, more robust knowledge of who Jesus is and what He expects of us."

Robyn Trippany Simmons, PhD, professor of counseling at Walden University

"Shrewd did a number on me-it got my attention as a ministry leadership value that I should have been thinking and talking about. Rick writes in a way that simultaneously messes with me and offers a hopeful vision for change. Before long I was doing revisionist re-thinking about how I've operated as ‘accidentally shrewd' in some situations, and resolved to be more intentional if I want to lead like Jesus, our perfectly shrewd Lord and King."

Dave Rahn, PhD, senior vice president and chief ministry officer for Youth for Christ USA

"The tango I was dancing with the Holy Spirit was stiff, uncertain, and hesitant. I let others define my actions with their definitions and interpretations of how I should follow my dance partner. I now have permission to close my eyes, breathe Him in, and follow His bold, strong, and shrewd ways. My intimate dance with Jesus from here forward will be one of passionate trust. This is another of Rick Lawrence's books I have decimated with dog-ears and highlights."

Michelle Pendergrass, author, publisher of The Midnight Diner and Relief Journal, former president of ccPublishing, mixed-media artist, and creator of VisualPrayer.com and MichellePendergrass.com