Books on my list...

Reading is something that I've had to learn to love. I have to admit that reading to me at times is my "thorn in my side" as Paul would say. I say that because it does not come naturally to me, in fact it is very hard at times, but I love it when I do pick up a good read because I am usually so incredibly challenged that if pushes me to want to read more. Right now I'm reading probably the most personally challenging book that I've ever read, apart from God's Word. The book was recommended to me by a good friend who was mentored by Rob Bell. That alone intrigued me, but was even more my buddy talked about how much this book impacted him and his walk with Christ, so as soon as our meeting was over, I went back to my office and ordered it. The book is called, "the emotionally healthy church", by Pete Scazzero. And I can't recommend it to you more highly. Pick it up and watch your socks get rocked!

Books I'm reading and ones that are on deck...
1. "The Emotionally Healthy Church" by Pete Scazzero
2. "Crazy Love', by Francis Chan
3. "Vintage Jesus", by Mark Discoll
4. "Talent is Never Enough" by John Maxwell

Still a fan...

Everyone who knows me, knows that I'm a die hard Suns fan. When the season is here, I go a little crazy...okay, I'll be honest, I turn into a Suns Freak. It can be so easy to get caught up in the excitement of the game, and the craziness of the season, and then the playoffs! Wow man! I get excited just thinking about it! A several months back I began to do some real self evaluating. Now please hear me out...there is nothing wrong with being a sports fan. However, for me, I became more excited about following the Suns, (and I have followed them since I was in 3rd grade), than I was excited about spending time with God. That was hard to come to grips with, and even harder to do something about it.
I realized several months back that I wanted to do something about this...and just so everyone knows, this was BEFORE the Suns lost in the playoffs, so let's get that off the table now. This wasn't about the Suns, but what God was doing in my heart. I have a room in our house that Violet so graciously let me decorate, actually decorate is an understatement. This room became a god to me. I know it sounds really exagerated, but it's not. I spent so much money decorating this room with Suns autographs, retro pictures, jerseys, posters, even had a fathead(basically a big sticker) of the suns gorilla on the wall, even painted the room a awesome burnt orange color, purchased some awesome manly furniture for the room, and it looked just about completed...until something else came along that I needed for it. It became my god. It was taking my time, my treasure, and talent as well.
My Time-I spent time constantly trying to make it better...and better...and better.
My Treasure-I was spending so much money on a room that wasn't leading anyone closer to Christ, and it's not my treasure any ways, it's all the Lords, and I had become a poor steward.
My Talents- my creativity was high in developing that room. All for what....

So what am I getting at? That room was about ME, and only ME.
A few months back I told Violet that I wanted to change that room. I wanted to get rid of everything, and make it into a room for her and I to retreat to, spend time together, and challenge each other as we read God's word together. So that's what we are doing. There won't be any TVs in that room, no pictures of my favorite basketball team hanging on the wall, just pictures of my beautiful wife, and our awesome family, 2 couches that will be a place that we can spend time together talking, and praying together, and yes I am painting the room.

I found something interesting as I have been going through this process, I can talk basketball, enjoy going to a game, and even watch it, but I want to live a life that is pleasing to Christ, one that loves his wife unconditionally, one that is more passionate about his relationship with Christ, than he is about his favorite sports team.

The title of this post was "Still a fan" and I believe I am, that will not change. However, what will change is my passion.

READING......

I have to say that I have never been a "BIG" reader. I think I maybe read 2 books all the way through in college. I do remember one of my mentors Tim Reed always saying, "Readers are leaders, and leaders are readers." I always thought that was over-emphasised, but in the last year have really started to grasp it's full meaning. I have long admired my beautiful wife for her desire to read pretty much anything that comes across her eyes, me, well I'd rather rent the movie! She has such a wealth of knowledge and that challenged me in a big way. About 6 months ago I wanted to start reading some books that were recommended by someone I consider a great leader and communicator... Rob Bell. If you haven't read his books, "Velvet Elvis" and his most recent, "Sex God", both are great reads and challenging to really go deeper, "we go inward deeply so we can go outward authentically". Now I won't address anyone who thinks that he is a "hieratic" I'll blog on that one later. So I picked up a few books that were recommended(not meaning his own), and really was challenged. Another author, pastor, and leader that I have so much respect and have learned a ton from and will continue to snatch up anything he writes is Andy Stanley. This guy is the real deal, full of VISION, PASSION, and communicates his heart for the Lord in such an awesome and challenging way! Andy you ROCK man!

But some of the books that have challenged me recently are:(no particular order)
1. Velvet Elvis- Rob Bell
2. Sex God - Rob Bell
3. Uprising- Erwin McManus
4. The Creative Leader- Ed Young
5. The Creative Marriage- Ed Young
6. The Big Idea- Dave Ferguson
7. Communicating for a Change- Andy Stanley
8. Next Generation Leader- Andy Stanley
9. Visioneering- Andy Stanley
10. Good To Great- Jim Collins
11. Our Father Abraham- Marvin Wilson
12. Blue Like Jazz- Donald Miller

Great books to make you think, and take you inward deeply to go outward authentically.