When I was reading this book, I kept on praying to God to forgive my pride and ignorance of overlooking the very deep and wide meaning Christ put into the Lord's Prayer. Now I agree with what Martin Luther said, as quoted by the author, that "I am convinced that when a Christian rightly prays the Lord's Prayer at any time...their praying is more than adequate." and what Dietrich Bonhoeffer said, that "The Lord's Prayer is the quintessence of prayer. A disciple's prayer is founded on and circumscribed by it."

In short, it is a book that no real Christian should miss. Actually, I nearly missed it. Thanks to God, I didnt, because I came across the following on the back cover:-

"Lord, Teach Us to Pray is biblically sound, spiritually rich, and intellectually stimulating. Boers shows the "Our Father" as prayer that is as wide as it is deep: it embraces all humanity's yearnings and touches the inner depths of the human heart. "

- Henri Nouwen

No church is immune to the problems that can arise when parishioners misbehave. Responding to such situations with self-awareness and in a manner true to one's faith tradition makes the difference between peace and disaster. In Never Call Them Jerks, Arthur Paul Boers, author of Justice that Heals, uses stories as teaching tools and examines how a better understanding of difficult behavior can help congregational leaders avoid the trap of labeling parishioners and exercise self-care when the going gets rough.

Boers, who has written three previous books including On Earth as in Heaven and Lord, Teach Us to Pray, tackles the controversial issue of uncivil behavior in congregations and asserts that Jerks will demonstrate responsible leadership; encourage leaders to face tough situations; and address the essentials of attending to, focusing on, and taking care of oneself. "Several recent books on the subject have lost their poise when it comes to dealing with those whose actions are annoying, disruptive, or evil," notes Speed B. Leas, Alban Institute Senior Consultant and author Congregational Conflict. "Boers has kept his and given us a thoughtful and useful approach to dealing with those who act in ornery and malignant ways."

"Arthur Paul Boers pours a wealth of pastoral wisdom and clinical insight into his book...he helps us to see how our 'worst' members, our most trying congregational crises, can, by the grace of God and our skillful and caring leadership, be transformed into opportunities for redemptive ministry," says William H. Willimon, Dean of the Chapel and Professor of Christian Ministry, Duke University, Durham, NC.

According to Dr. Wayne E. Oates, Professor of Psychiatry Emeritus, School of Medicine, University of Louisville, "Never Call Them Jerks is thorough, well researched, and well illustrated...This is the best book I have read on this important subject-even better than one I wrote."

David W. Augsburger, a professor of pastoral care and counseling at Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, CA, and author of Conflict Mediation across Cultures and Helping People Forgive, writes in the foreword that Boers has the gift for "bringing issues that we consent to leave invisible into the clear."

Arthur Paul Boers is a Mennonite pastor in Waterloo, Ontario who has served rural, urban, and church-planting settings in the USA and Canada. Boers has an MA in Peace Studies from Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary, an M. Div. from McCormick Theological Seminary, and an M. Th. in Pastoral Counseling from Waterloo Lutheran Seminary. For many years he served as columnist and editorial advisor for Christian Ministry and as a contributing editor to The Other Side. His articles and reviews have appeared in popular magazines including Christianity Today, Leadership, St. Anthony Messenger, and Sojourners.