My Epic Journey

I love to read.  My bank account shows that.  I am constantly buying new books.  Now that school is done for me for the summer, I have time to read books that I have had pile up.  Here are some of the books I plan on reading in the next few weeks:

Simple Youth Ministry by Eric Geiger and Jeff Borton

Awaken Your Creativity by Les Christie

The Slow Fade by Reggie Joiner, Chuck Bomar, and Abbie Smith

Connect:  Real Relationships in a World of Isolation by Jonathan McKee

Are there any good books you have planned to read this summer?  I would love to see the list!!

I am going through Dr. Henry Cloud’s book, 9 Things a Leader Must Do.  The book has been a great challenge for me and I would recommend everyone to read it who finds them self in some type of leadership position, either at work, church, or a parent at home.

I thought I would share just a little of what I am learning through this book journey.

#1—Leaders MUST Excavate their soul.

God has put into every leader the talents and gifts to be the leader He wants them to be.

Leadership success is the process of digging up the treasures of the invisible soul in order to bring dreams, desires, and talents into the visible world  –Dr. Cloud

In order for a leader to optimize his leadership he/she must:

• become aware of his/her dreams, desires, talents, and other treasures of the soul.
• Listens to them and values them as life itself.
• Takes steps to develop them, beginning in very small ways.
• Seeks coaching and help to make them grow.
• Does not care as much about his/her results, just continues to express his/her soul-treasures where they can.

Avoidance of risks is the greatest risk of all!!!!  –Dr. Cloud

Key passages to study:

• Matthew 25.14-30—Parable of the talents.
• Proverbs 4.23—Wellspring of life.

Excited about heading to Camp Otyokwah this weekend for an EPIC Vision retreat.  I am heading up tonight to spend time in prayer and planning and then will have some of the EPIC staff team join me Friday night and Saturday.

Here are some questions we posed to our leaders:

What do you want to see accomplished in EPIC in the next 365 days?

What does the process look like to achieve that goal?

What needs to be done to see that accomplished?

Who might we need to bring on to the team to help us achieve this goal?

Please pray that God would give us direction and peace concerning the vision for EPIC and the focus for the next 365 days for our students and their family’s.