From my Library - - Primal by Mark Batterson

From my Library
Primal
A Quest for the Lost Soul of Christianity

Several weeks ago, I received an advance copy of Primal by Mark Batterson. I was excited to receive the book as his previous book, Wild Goose Chase, was a significant read for me.


Let me begin by stating that I have followed Mark on Twitter and Facebook for quite a while; and as a result, I feel I have become acquainted with him from a distance. Primal, as did Wild Goose Chase, continued to show me more about the heart of the man that God is using significantly.

Anyone who has been around me for any length of time knows of my love affair with Italy. Living in Italy for five years certainly had an impact on me that has left me with clear prejudices for the Italians and their incredible history. I say that to help you understand why the beginning of Primal grabbed me and did not release me until the final page.

Mark begins by sharing the story of his visit to one of my favorite places in Rome, The Church of San Clemente. I have recommended this stop to anyone who was going to Rome. To get all the details of his story, you should read Primal. However, I was captured by his statement, “With each step, a layer of history was stripped away until all that was left was Christianity in all its primal glory.”

In the pages that follow the opening story, Mark weaves incredible illustrations and remarkable facts into a timeless book that should be read by everyone professing to be a Christ-follower.

Clearly divided into four sections that address the heart, soul, mind and strength of Christianity, Mark pulls no punches.

Think about a few statements:

“In my experience, it’s much easier to act like a Christian than it is to react like one.”

“Have you ever noticed the way that suffering helps us become less self-absorbed?”

“The problem with the prosperity gospel is that anytime you put an adjective in front of the gospel, you distort the gospel.”

Early in the book, Mark makes the statement, “The bottom line is this: your focus determines your reality.”

I think more than anything else, Primal was written to help us change our focus. When we focus on the heart, soul, mind and strength that God desires for us, we allow God to change our reality.

This is not a book for the “make me feel good about myself crowd.” It is a book for the group that not just says, but means “have your way with me, Lord.”

Do I recommend Primal? Absolutely yes!

It is a book to be read and studied. It is a book to be processed and then shared with others.

Learning from Leaders - - - Pastor Jim Ladd

Asking the Right (Tough) Questions


Many men are blessed with great friends. Many have incredible pastors. Many have remarkable brothers. Very few men I know have all of those same men in their pastor. I am blessed to have a pastor who is my friend, brother and pastor---Pastor Jim Ladd.. Jim is my Senior Pastor at Grace Community Church.

There are many advantages in having one man as all three in my life. It would take more than one blog to explain all that means to me.

One of the great strengths that Jim possesses and frankly has worked hard to develop is his ability to ask the right and very often tough questions. Jim shared with me over a year ago that the person who asks the right questions can often guide the discussion and he has proven that theory over and over again.

Here are some of things that I have observed watching Jim ask the right questions:

1. He has worked hard to be a very good student of people. I watch him in groups as he watches body language as he listens to the words spoken. He also watches the response of others to what is being said by someone else.

2. Jim listens to what “is not said.” Many of his questions are a result of what the person did not say for a number of reasons.

3. Jim is not afraid of asking the “too tough” questions that other leaders shy away from to not risk offending the person.

4. Most importantly, Jim is acceptable to others asking him tough questions. I think he puts himself in positions and places that give people permission and opportunity to ask the tough questions.

Jim does not just ask questions of others and invite questions, he asks tough questions openly as a way of sharing what he is wrestling with in life and ministry.

I could share specifics but it is far better to refer you to some of his questions.
Jim regularly blogs and his recent postings are worth everyone's time to read and consider. I invite you to go to http://jimladd.blogspot.com/

I should also add that Jim is passionate about "InterGenerational" ministry.

Specifically, I invite you to take a look at the vital questions that Jim has posed and is wrestling with for our church. He is at Question #7. Do not short change yourself and read only the last one. Go back to the beginning and read Questions 1-6.

I think these touch on the the tough questions that need to be addressed by every church and ministry.

Jim, thanks for being my friend, brother in arms and my pastor. I look forward to seeing you next week....What is your next question?

Thoughts on Turning 75

I am coming to believe that 75 is the new “65.” There was a time many years ago that I thought that 65 was well into a retirement season and at 65 everything was pretty much downhill.

Now upon reaching 62, I am seeing things just a little different. It is not just my change of thinking – but perhaps seeing better the world around me. I am seeing men and women in their 70’s, 80’s and even 90’s still really making a great difference.

It is also coming to the realization that younger generations need some seasoned men and women who are willing to “stay in the race” with them.

So Lord willing, where do I want to be at 75?

Spiritually, I want to be a much stronger Man of God - - Son of the King.

As a husband, I want to God to be pleased and others amazed at the love I have for my wife when I just look at her from across the room.

As a father, I want my kids to have a stronger dad to count on to support them and walk with them as they grow and raise their families.

As a “papa”, I want to Rock & Roll and be a source of fun, wisdom and safety for my grandkids.

As a brother, I want to work to keep my family close and growing in love for one-another and to intentionally see each of them and their families more.

As a friend, I want my friends to know that they can count on me.

As a mentor/coach/encourager, I want to be actively reproducing into leaders of every age. I want to see people getting stronger and better as the person God created each of them to become.

As a ministry leader, I want to see an explosion of InterGenerational Churches that are reproducing around the world and I want to take part in striking a match and lighting the fuse.

There are several words that come to mind that are critical if I am to start becoming the man I want to be at 75: discipline, intentionality and love.

I must become more disciplined in the things that God has convicted me of in my heart. Discipline is hard work but it feels so much better that regret.

Intentionality is vital in every area of my life. Great things do not just happen.

And the greatest of these is love. Without love does any of this really matter? I want a desperate love for God; a passionate love for my family; a committed love for my friends; and joyful, exuberant and energetic love for the life and ministry that God created me for and has given me.

I will not and I refuse to creep up to 75 like it is a haunted house. I have a lot of work to do and I intend to blow past 75 like an Indy race car because I am looking at some great men of God in their 80’s and 90’s who are making me look like I am standing still.

Well - - - Game on!!!

Catch you all later---I have a lot to do today!

Learning from Leaders - - - Mac Lake

Real Leaders Invest in Themselves


It was one of those rare moments when you meet someone who immediately strikes you as a person who you would like to spend a lot of time. That has happened to me several times and I do not remember many times that my instincts have been wrong.

It was one of those occasions several years ago at a conference in San Diego, CA. My pastor had assigned me to attend a workshop that was facilitated by a leadership pastor from Charleston, SC. I sat for nearly an hour listening to Mac Lake share about developing leaders and realized very quickly that Mac was able to discuss and teach on the subject because he was actually doing what he was teaching.

We have all seen cases of people teaching the theoretical but who have never really made it happen.

This was clearly not the case with Mac Lake. It was so clear...This guys does it first and talks about it second.

In the years that have followed, my travels allowed me to get by Charleston to spend a weekend with Mac and have a meal with him. That was a great experience. The best part has been reading his blog http://www.maclakeonline.com/.

If someone were to ask me what the #1 leadership resource was on the market today, I would (and have) referred them to Mac's blog.

In addition to sharing very significant ideas for developing leaders, Mac is one of the best I have met at "sharing the spotlight" with others. Regularly he is using his space to guide you to another leader who deserves to be heard.

One of his best blog entries for me probably would not rank as high for others, but it really struck me hard. On November 25th, Mac wrote about investing in your own leadership development.

We can never stop learning and growing if we are going to be used by God to develop other leaders.

I am sure that most people receive Mac's blog and think that they have something else to develop new leaders. Every time I receive a new post, all I can think about is that I must keep growing if I am to help anyone else.

Mac has been mentoring me for several years now. We have not seen each other for a since I last visited him and we have emailed a couple of times--but his impact on me is significant and he probably doesn't even know it.

Hey Mac...Thanks for continuing to invest in me.