In light of my last post I have been asked to recommend some things to read. Here are a few things that I’ve read recently and been deeply effected by…
Humility by Andrew Murray
Love Your God with All Your Mind by J.P. Moreland
Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life by Donald S. Whitney
This Beautiful Mess by Rick McKinley
The Word of God and the Mind of Man by Ronald Nash
The Universe Next Door by James W. Sire
The second, fifth, and sixth books on this list are fairly tough reads, but the others are light reading with major impact. If you’re looking for a good read in the fiction genre I strongly recommend a novel called The Kite Runner.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Friday, April 4, 2008
Leaders and Readers
I once heard it said that “leaders and readers are usually the same people.” I have to say, I couldn’t agree more.
I struggle quite a bit when I hear people in leadership, or aspiring leaders say things like, “I’m just not a big reader.” Reading isn’t about personality, talent, gifting, or some genetic makeup set aside for a select group. Reading is a discipline. Especially in Christianity, most of the people I run into at conferences throughout the country who are doing big things in the Kingdom of God say they spend a lot of time reading the Bible and many, many other things.
Disciplines aren’t meant to be easy. It’s difficult to find time to read and if we aren’t naturally inclined to read then getting good at reading takes practice. What people usually fail to realize is that with practice reading is just like anything else—you improve over time. The things you read become more understandable and you can move onto more difficult reading; usually, people pick up speed the more often they read as well.
Most of the leaders at Living Stones are required to read. This isn’t us being legalistic (at least we don’t think so), this is us training leaders. Most of the growth I’ve gone through in my walk with God was a result of being changed and effected by something I read. People who ignore great Christian writing are ignoring a great chance to be sanctified by God through some timeless truth told in a new or impactful way.
Remember—leaders and readers are usually the same people.
I struggle quite a bit when I hear people in leadership, or aspiring leaders say things like, “I’m just not a big reader.” Reading isn’t about personality, talent, gifting, or some genetic makeup set aside for a select group. Reading is a discipline. Especially in Christianity, most of the people I run into at conferences throughout the country who are doing big things in the Kingdom of God say they spend a lot of time reading the Bible and many, many other things.
Disciplines aren’t meant to be easy. It’s difficult to find time to read and if we aren’t naturally inclined to read then getting good at reading takes practice. What people usually fail to realize is that with practice reading is just like anything else—you improve over time. The things you read become more understandable and you can move onto more difficult reading; usually, people pick up speed the more often they read as well.
Most of the leaders at Living Stones are required to read. This isn’t us being legalistic (at least we don’t think so), this is us training leaders. Most of the growth I’ve gone through in my walk with God was a result of being changed and effected by something I read. People who ignore great Christian writing are ignoring a great chance to be sanctified by God through some timeless truth told in a new or impactful way.
Remember—leaders and readers are usually the same people.
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