There is one thing I need to mention before I actually get to the review. This has to do with my ties to the author. I’ve only met Mr. Keel once but we share some of the same friends and run in similar circles. In other words, I already knew some of the story and had preconceived notions about him and his ministry. That point is especially important because it has been my experience that when one knows an author one tends to be much more generous and less objective.

In any case, Intuitive Leadership is a glimpse into the personal experience of a man who finds himself called to ministry in a time of cultural transition. In this book, Mr. Keel takes the reader through his personal journey in ministry. Starting from his conversion up through the planting of the church he currently pastors (Jacob’s Well in Kansas City), he gives the reader insight into the challenges (and successes) that he has faced on his journey.

Overall, this book is a fine read. Probably the best aspect of the book is Mr. Keel’s use of local thinking. He constantly reminds the reader that much of what he’s done does not always translate into a global methodology. For Keel, and many other church planters, context is important. Yet for all that the book has going for it, it is not for everyone. If you are a person that has kept up with the emerging conversation or church planting then what you find in these pages will probably not blow you away. If you have already decided what you think about those who are involved in the emerging church this book won’t change your mind.

The ideal reader for Intuitive Leadership is someone who has an interest in gaining more knowledge about leadership, church planting, and theological issues in today’s postmodern context. Overall, I give this book a B (or 4 out of 5 stars or whatever the equivalent rating is in AJ’s system).

Dan Kimball

Kevin’s response has been so gracious, and he commented back to my comments. I can’t imagine that this type of correspondence to me, isn’t what would please Jesus. We have had some very wonderful back and forth dialog. I both disagreed with some of what they wrote and I also agreed with some of what they wrote. I personally see such wonderful, beautiful exciting things about what is happening in the emerging church world, but like the authors, I also have concerns and strong disagreements with some things in the emerging church world.

Dan Kimball also answers a question about Why We’re Not Emergent that came to mind almost immediately when I saw how and to whom the book was being promoted several months ago. Is it being billed accurately? I.e., are DeYoung and Kluck the reluctant converts away from Emergent that they make themselves out to be? Apparently not…

I am not too sure that the sub-title of the book makes sense to me. The sub-title is is “by two guys who should be” (referring to being emergent). I am not defending emergent here, but from what I understand of the authors, they are pretty hard core Calvinists. Being a hard core Calvinist means you are pretty locked into a very distinct theological system of beliefs. Also, just being a certain age or engaged in culture is not what makes one emergent – it is far beyond that. So from these things, I would not think that from what I read of these two authors that they naturally “should be” emergent at all. The sub-title maybe should have been “by two guys who shouldn’t be“. But that is petty, but it is the sub-title of the book.

Seems like Why We’re Not Emergent has its points. As Kimball says, “If I was to suggest reading through one fairly anti-emerging or emergent church critical book – so far, this is the one.” That’s a solid recommendation. I don’t think I’ll bite on this one, though, mostly because I was hoping for a more unique angle, based on that subtitle.