training

About a month ago I registered to run a quarter marathon in August. I started my training this week. I have run for two whole days in a row. I'm pretty sore, but I'm glad to be running again.

As I was running, I was listening to Rick Warren's leadership podcast and he was having a discussion about the huge importance of reading in the life of a leader. I started off thinking it was going to affirm me, but it really challenged me on how and what I read. I read a lot of current stuff, but I read almost nothing old, nothing "classic". I'd like to change that. I would love to get your suggestions on where to start.

the wonder of God

First, if you have not yet read Mark Batterson's book, Primal, do that.

I'm preaching a sermon series based on that book and yesterday I was studying through the chapter talking about what Batterson calls "primal wonder". It left me seeing more, noticing more of God's awesome creation. On top of that, we had a thunderstorm last night. It was so cool to just look at that small taste of God's power.

I encourage you today to slow down and drink in the wonder of God today.

leading is carrying the weight of others

We all had the same misunderstanding of leadership as kids. We all thought that leadership was telling other people what to do. If we grew up and did any sort of leadership, we know that's not the case.

Jesus taught leadership as serving. He said we ought to lay our lives down for people. It's amazing how much weight we feel for those we lead if we are truly serving them. If we see our job, as a leader, to serve those we lead, we can feel their pain, their worry, their joy.

I can feel some stuff, both good and bad, on our leadership team at Freedom Valley Church right now. It's a heavy load today, but I'm so filled with joy to work with such great leaders who have put themselves on the line for the sake of God's call on their lives.