For those interested, I am currently reading a number of books. First I am reading a very short book entitled, “Making Vision Stick” by Andy Stanley. It is a book about vision. It focuses on the idea that you may have vision as a leader, but asks if your organization has caught it? Stanley reveals reasons he believes vision doesn’t stick. And then he delivers three ways to make vision stick: 1.Cast vision strategically: defining your vision. 2.Celebrate vision systematically: regularly rejoicing in the successes 3.Live your vision continuously: putting your vision into practice in your own life With Making Vision Stick. It seems we all have a vision of adding young families to House of Prayer and making it a place where people are involved. So I would ask you, how are you contributing to making this vision stick?
The second book I am currently reading is “7 Men: and the Secrets of Their Greatness” by Eric Metaxas. It is a wonderful book that includes short biographies of 7 influential men from history. Those men include: George Washington, William Wilberforce. Eric Liddell, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Jackie Robinson, Pope John Paul II, and Charles W. Colson. Under 200 pages each biography is succinct and engaging. I picked up this book to learn more about Bonhoeffer, whom I consider a life hero, and am finding each the qualities of each men portrayed as something to strive for in my own life.
For those of you interested in deepening your spiritual life or prayer life. I would encourage women to join the Tuesday Night Women’s book group currently reading “Sacred Rhythms” by Ruth Haley Barton. And, if there are Men interested and working on improving prayer and Spiritual connection with God, please let me know. I would be happy to lead a group of men through this book when the women are done. It is a great book for slowing down, amidst life’s hectic pace, and taking time to listen to God. If the Holy Spirit is continually praying for each of us, as Ms. Barton suggests, are you taking time to listen to what God is praying for you?
Finally, the Faith Forward Ministry team and I just read, Charles Lane’s “Ask, Thank, Tell” book. It is a wonderful quick book about what ‘Stewardship’ is really all about. We think of Stewardship and we tend to think only of money. But that is not what God had in mind. God created our world and left us in charge to take care of the world and our neighbor. As Christians God created us to care for the world God made. Ask, Thank, Tell, is helps us understand how we should work on becoming better at asking for the things we need in ministry. Thanking people for the many ways the assist in God’s ministry (something I think we are getting better and better at). And finally, telling people (both in the congregation and outside of our congregation) what difference our ministry is making in the world. Here is a place where we need the most improvement. Our ‘Ministry Minutes’ in worship and other announcements like how many children we feed for a year each time we participate in Feed My Starving Children are perfect examples of how important the ministry is that we do at House of Prayer.