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Home > Ministries > Lift J-Hi & High School

Weekly Leadership Thought:: Feed ::

Doug Fields often says, “leaders are learners.” That’s the subject of this week’s leadership thought. Mature people intentionally nourish their souls. They take time to listen to G-d’s voice in many ways, community, books, sermons, quiet times, and even play. Here’s a short list, in no particular order of my soul feeders. What are yours?

  • Running with a music or sermon podcast on. It’s not a particularly ancient discipline, but it works for me. It’s great to get outside, get   exercise, and also listen to challenging thoughts.
  • Did I mention Podcasts? I know I did. They are a fire hose of information ready for you from Pastors, leaders, colleges, and seminaries that will nourish your soul.
  • Study Bibles – Carlos in Shoreline’s Bookstore can set you up with a nice bible to dig into. 
  • Google. If you have a question about the Bible or want to find an online devotional reading, google one. You need to be careful to test what you read, because posting something on the Internet doesn’t make it true, however this is a valuable resource for devotions and teaching. Try it!
  • www.followtherabbi.com  – I love this website. I get lost on there. I just love reading about Jesus.
  • www.sacredspace.ie - ever done an Ignatian Examine? This is a sweet place to have a quiet time. The site tells you what to do, prepares the scripture for you and even has help buttons along the way. 
  • The Hinges of History Series by Thomas Cahill – Particularly The Gifts of the Jews, and The Desire for Everlasting Hills for profound insights on our faith and the people we come from. 
  • My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers is a classic devotional book that will challenge you to depend more on G-d, surrender more of your life to Jesus, and focus your heart mind and soul on His glory. Online Versions available. Google it!
  • Shoreline’s podcasts. Have you guessed that I learn audibly yet? For me, this is a great place to feed myself because I’m usually teaching the lesson in the middle school aged service. I can still take part in “grown-up” worship and conversations in my church community.
  • www.relevantmagazine.com This site is fantastic. God. Life. Pop Culture. Great devotionals and a chance to interact with other people’s journey of faith. Try it!

So that’s my not-so-official feeding spots. What stirs your soul? Comment below!

Posted on Thursday, September 17, 2009 by Mike Collins filed under

3 comments (Add your own)

1. Lovebeingadad wrote:
I am reading through the gospel of Luke and it is feeding my soul in deep ways!!!

September 17, 2009 @ 5:27 PM

2. Chioma Egwuagu wrote:
Hmmm... What stirs my soul? Books! Movies! Nature!
1. Books: I just might have an addiction. Lol. I cannot walk into a bookstore, or any commercial or private arena reserved for the selling, or storage of books without an itch to buy one, or at least pick it up and read some leaves (pages). Examples? Bookstores, libraries, and people’s homes I visit, and yes, even garage sells. Why? I learn through books. I have a wide variety at home, and feel a rush when an interesting title catches my eyes. I know, don't judge a book by its cover, but who could pass up: "God's Little Devotional Book for Women", "Walking in your Destiny" by Juanita Bynum, "The Rapture" by Lahaye Jenkins, "The Rose Labyrinth" by Titania Hardie, "Miracle at St. Anna" by James McBride, "The Confident Woman" by Joyce Meyers, most importantly.... The Holy Bible!!, "Their Eyes Were Watching God" by Zora Neale Hurston, "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" by Twain (I know.lol), "7 practices of Effective Ministry" by Stanly/Joiner/Jones, "The Shack" by WM Paul Young, "Everybody's Normal TILL You Get to Know Them" ( ha-ha. love it!) by John Ortberg, "The Screwtape Letters" by C.S. Lewis, "Boundaries in Dating" by Townsend/Cloud, and "The God Chasers" by Tommy Tenney.. Whew! In every leaf of text, whether it is fictional, or non-fictional, I can't help but see God! He's everywhere! This leads me to
2. Movies: I analyze everything! I just "think too deep" according to, the number of people that have told me that, but I say... Why not! Why not let God take you there! Lol. I am a big fan, however, of classics.. like Betty Davis, Audrey Hepburn, Judy Garland movies. I like modern movies as well, and stir away (instantaneously) from scary movies, not the type that are horribly gory, and have a lot of random extra killings for no apparent reason, but to be upgraded (used loosely) to rated R, but the type that have anything to do with Religion, again, I manage to find a correlation with all of the movies to Christianity. Of, course there are some, you cannot find any justifiable link, but hopefully you get my point. :)
3. Nature: Driving, walking, and jogging? Do you ever just look around you? Look up to the clouds and envelope yourself in His Wonderful Greatness. Look below you and observe the interactions of dependence from the little creatures. Now, if those little creatures happen to be ants biting you. I suggest you get your foot out of the ant pile. A more tangible factor, you ask? I observe human interactions. I observe people faces, and body language, as I'm on 620 heading to class, really, everywhere I go. Not in a judging way, but again, I analyze, and wonder... Do they know Jesus? Do they know just how much they are loved? No one smiles. There's always a look of stress, hurt, frustration, boredom... emptiness. This isn't speaking of everyone on 620 or in Austin at all. I do see smiles, people dancing in their cars, laughter from listening to the radio, or other people in the vehicle, and that BLESSES my day! They don't even have to be smiling at me. ;)

September 17, 2009 @ 5:46 PM

3. John Haneke wrote:
Confession is good for the soul...

Love getting my soul restored by riding my horse and enjoying G-d's creation. The best thing for the inside of a man is the outside of a horse.

Sweet gentle summer rain does the soul good.

Love to laugh and have fun which makes the soul merry.

September 17, 2009 @ 8:23 PM

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