Man, sin sucks.
In mid -January of 2012 my mom was diagnosed with dementia.
Life for my dad and my family has taken some interesting twists.
But as mom faces losing more connections to our past, this is my promise to Mom, to the Lord she loves, and the King I serve.
I won't forget.
Here is what I won't forget.
Mom told me so many times, I can close my eyes and and still hear her say "Always keep a teachable heart. Always have a teachable heart."
That piece of wisdom is embedded in my soul and in my DNA.
Thanks to Mom, I have made a life-time commitment to be a life-long leaner.
Learners are readers.
Readers are leaders.
And leaders learn.
I remember telling a young buck heading into the ministry that he has to read to survive and lead well.
"I hate reading," he adamantly said with a shrug of his shoulders.
I looked him in the eyes and said,"Bud, you need to choose a different path. To survive and grow in the ministry you need to read!"
In August 2009, Pastor Bill Hybels challenged an international group of Christian leaders via the Global Leadership Summitt.
Hybels said, "What would happen if you improved as a leader by just 15% a year for 10 years?"
"What kind of leader would you be in a decade?"
Well, do the math, youth ministry friend.
You and I would be a 150% different and the best kind of leader.
So how does this work practically as a youth leader?
Let me tell what has worked for me.
I try to read three books a month.
Most have to do with leadership. I get some very cool kick-butt books for free via my public library and their inter-library loan.
If I like what I read, I may photocopy a few pages.
If I really like it, I will buy the book...used, of course, via Amazon or another online source.
Now to make this happen, I will pick away at a book for the better part of a week.
Don't think I sit with a tweed jacket, pipe, and wing-back chair with hours on end to achieve this.
Are you kidding me?
I grab time when I can.
Sometimes it works for me to use it as a warm-up for my devotions.
Other times, it can help me wind down from an evening meeting at church.
I try to keep at least one book in my backpack or on my iPad.
These books have fed my soul.
They have given me awesome sermon and teaching material.
And you better believe they have helped develop leadership skills.
Hey, the goal is only 15% leadership growth a year or 1.25% a month.
I can do that.
See Mom, I'm still listening to what you had to say to me.
"Keep a teachable heart."