Jeff Spadafora, The Joy Model Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2016, 181 pp. $14.94
The Joy Model by Jeff Spadafora is a step-by-step resource that seeks to guide readers to lives that are filled with peace, purpose, and balance. The author contrasts his model with the frustration that many people experience.
The basics of the joy model involve a simple grid with a horizontal axis which represents Being: Who is God? and Whom am I? The vertical axis represents Doing: What should I do with my time, talent, treasure, temple, and tribe.
Balancing being and doing is the basis of moving forward and living a life of joy. With this model in place, the author presents a M.A.S.T.E.R. plan, an acronym which is spelled out below:
- Margin
- Abiding
- Self-awareness
- Treasure
- Engagement
- Relationships
The bulk of the book discusses each of the above elements and ultimately shows how readers find joy in their union with Christ.
The advice in The Joy Model is practical and biblical. Principles may be immediately applied. I would like to see a greater adherence to Scripture and the centrality of the gospel but my suspicion is that the author is aiming for a more general audience.
Overall, the book is helpful and is a welcome addition to the growing number of personal improvement books.
I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review.
Veritas et Lux 