My unique opportunity...

     I have a unique opportunity right now.  My youngest son is a sophomore in college studying to be a youth minister so I have the opportunity to read almost everything that he is reading.  I get the books ahead of time and read through them at a blistering pace to see what is being taught at the university.  It sure has changed since I was there 30 years ago and I am thankful to see that much of it is for the good.

      So I am 4 books into the semester that I have to turn over to him on Monday.  Already I have a story for my Sunday morning sermon and some material for upcoming events.  One book in particular that I am marking up a lot is Bill Hybels "Courageous Leadership."  I am a Bill Hybels fan and had read every book he ever wrote.  I got to see him at a conference once, way back when he was with John Maxwell and it was a turning point message for me.  I have found other authors and pastoral leaders since then and I have yet to go to a Willow Creek conference but this book has brought me back to why I would read his material.  

      The first is that he includes so much scripture and ties what he is writing about to the Bible and it isn't trying to fit the Bible into his thought, it is really in the Bible and he is just reflecting it.  His lessons are so practical and since we are very similar in age and time in minister I find myself nodding my head with some of his experiences.

      So let me give you a little nugget.  Bill talks about praying and one exercise that he does is think about the people of the Bible and asking God for something that he admires about them.

 "Oh God, give me David's optimism.
God, give me Jonathan's capacity to love.
God, give me Joseph's personal holiness.
God, give me Joshua's decisiveness.
Oh God, give me Esther's courage.
Oh God, if You would just grant me a portion of Solomon's wisdom.
God, give me the emotional authenticity of Jeremiah.
God, may I never forget how important parties are.  Like Nehemiah, help me remember to celebrate.
God, make me the kind of leader who knows how important it is to take initiative like Peter.
God, give me Paul's intensity."

      Some little nuggets for a free Saturday for Steph and I.  More time to get through this books and still ourselves before the Lord's Day.

 Adam
A simple man serving a great God and the local pastor of Stillwater Community Chapel (stillwater-chapel.org). We are in our 38th year of full time ministry. God directed us to this local body of believers on the Western Range of the Rockies to grow with them in mission and mindedness of Christ.

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