Leaning Forward
http://andygiessman.com
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Leaning Forward
Mentors
Every now and then God will bring somebody into your life that will have radical influence. I have had the fortune of many such encounters. God has certainly blessed with a long list of encouragers, listeners, prophets, teachers, preachers, and prodders. At the top of that list would be my bride! I am reluctant to start naming names because I would certainly miss someone!
Yesterday I had the awesome blessing of spending 2.5 hours with my mentor - Ken Rudolph. Apart from my dad, this man has had THE most influence in my life, thinking, and ministry philosophy. Allow me to tell the story of how one life can be significantly altered by the power of godly influence.
Fourteen years ago this May began my journey of engaging with high school students while learning how to be a college representative, quasi traveling youth speaker, and more recently and importantly, a pastor. At that time Ken was, in my eyes, a superhero. He had already challenged and influenced a generation to leap into ministry and try the impossible in the name of the King! I went to Baptist Bible College largely as a result of Ken. Fast forward a few years...by being in the right place at the right time (thank you, God) I was hired to work in the same department at BBC with Ken. I was awed that I sat in departmental meetings with this guy!
Within a few months I was sharing an office with Ken. I think I just stared at him for the first few days. Soon we realized that we shared a love for history, great stories, food, and the the thought of attempting the radical for Christ. The only problem was I had no idea how to do that last part. I wanted to but really did not have the skill sets to even think about it.
As a master communicator, Ken has taught God's word thousands of times to thousands of people both student and adult in just about every conceivable setting. He has truly made an art out of teaching. For some reason God prompted Ken's heart to speak truth into me and spend time with me to help me learn how to engage my world with the Truth. This guy whose name is synonymous with effective communication and teaching decided to coalesce and crystallize his life and ministry into the life of a punk kid!
The interesting part is that I realized, and this is still stupefies me, that Ken is not a superhero. He is just a dude called to do what God has called him to do. As we spent time together the picture was made complete that he is on the same journey with its attendant issues just like everyone else. One of the greatest lessons he taught me comes straight from the pen of Paul, "Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong" (II Corinthians 12:9-10). Be and become who God has made and is continuing to make you to be.
Yesterday, as we both enjoyed a thing we love - steak and cheese hoagies, I had the same epiphany. Ken is still just a dude called by God to do what God has called him to do. I watched as he welled up with tears thinking, again, about what this generation could do for the kingdom if they just engage! Yup, lesson learned.
If you have or had a mentor you need to find some tangible way to say 'thank you'. Get out their address, find them on facebook, hire a private detective, whatever...find them and THANK THEM. So help me, don't you dare just send a facebook message either! Weak sauce. At least write an honest to goodness thank you note. Remember those? If they are nearby, and if you have the means, take him or her out for a meal or a cup of coffee, look him in the eye and tell them how God has used them to shape who you are. Step number two, get on your face and thank God (right now) that he used someone to build into you.
Yesterday I had the awesome blessing of spending 2.5 hours with my mentor - Ken Rudolph. Apart from my dad, this man has had THE most influence in my life, thinking, and ministry philosophy. Allow me to tell the story of how one life can be significantly altered by the power of godly influence.
Fourteen years ago this May began my journey of engaging with high school students while learning how to be a college representative, quasi traveling youth speaker, and more recently and importantly, a pastor. At that time Ken was, in my eyes, a superhero. He had already challenged and influenced a generation to leap into ministry and try the impossible in the name of the King! I went to Baptist Bible College largely as a result of Ken. Fast forward a few years...by being in the right place at the right time (thank you, God) I was hired to work in the same department at BBC with Ken. I was awed that I sat in departmental meetings with this guy!
Within a few months I was sharing an office with Ken. I think I just stared at him for the first few days. Soon we realized that we shared a love for history, great stories, food, and the the thought of attempting the radical for Christ. The only problem was I had no idea how to do that last part. I wanted to but really did not have the skill sets to even think about it.
As a master communicator, Ken has taught God's word thousands of times to thousands of people both student and adult in just about every conceivable setting. He has truly made an art out of teaching. For some reason God prompted Ken's heart to speak truth into me and spend time with me to help me learn how to engage my world with the Truth. This guy whose name is synonymous with effective communication and teaching decided to coalesce and crystallize his life and ministry into the life of a punk kid!
The interesting part is that I realized, and this is still stupefies me, that Ken is not a superhero. He is just a dude called to do what God has called him to do. As we spent time together the picture was made complete that he is on the same journey with its attendant issues just like everyone else. One of the greatest lessons he taught me comes straight from the pen of Paul, "Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong" (II Corinthians 12:9-10). Be and become who God has made and is continuing to make you to be.
Yesterday, as we both enjoyed a thing we love - steak and cheese hoagies, I had the same epiphany. Ken is still just a dude called by God to do what God has called him to do. I watched as he welled up with tears thinking, again, about what this generation could do for the kingdom if they just engage! Yup, lesson learned.
If you have or had a mentor you need to find some tangible way to say 'thank you'. Get out their address, find them on facebook, hire a private detective, whatever...find them and THANK THEM. So help me, don't you dare just send a facebook message either! Weak sauce. At least write an honest to goodness thank you note. Remember those? If they are nearby, and if you have the means, take him or her out for a meal or a cup of coffee, look him in the eye and tell them how God has used them to shape who you are. Step number two, get on your face and thank God (right now) that he used someone to build into you.
Some reading suggestions
I thought I would post some of the titles of books I have read in the past 9 months as part of the grad school work I have been doing. These are definitely "thinkers". If anybody wants to discuss any of these just give me a shout.
The Early History of Rome I-V
Livy
The Nature of Things
Lucretius
The Aeneid
Virgil
The Brothers Karamazov
Fyodor Dostoevsky
Fear and Trembling
Soren Kierkegaard
Leviathan
Hobbes
Emile or On Education
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Thus Spoke Zarathustra
Friedrich Nietzsche
Confessions
Augustine
Paradise Lost
John Milton
The Divine Comedy (Inferno, Purgatory and Paradise)
Dante Alighieri
The Early History of Rome I-V
Livy
The Nature of Things
Lucretius
The Aeneid
Virgil
The Brothers Karamazov
Fyodor Dostoevsky
Fear and Trembling
Soren Kierkegaard
Leviathan
Hobbes
Emile or On Education
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Thus Spoke Zarathustra
Friedrich Nietzsche
Confessions
Augustine
Paradise Lost
John Milton
The Divine Comedy (Inferno, Purgatory and Paradise)
Dante Alighieri
Follow your heart (NOT!)
For once I was glad my nephew really wasn't paying attention. My wife, in-laws, and I were sitting (and sweating) on typical bleachers in a typical gymnasium at a typical upstate New York high school for one of humanities rites of passage: graduation. It has been quite a few years since I was last at a high school graduation so I was very interested in what was to be said to these young men and women as they got ready to launch into the world.
My mind was racing to keep up with each and every well intentioned orator. Scripture kept erupting in my mind and screaming into my soul. I know it is the American ideal to do things our own way and be the master of our destinies but that is not what God's word says. Proverbs tells us over and over that we can choose our own path but that path leads to destruction and death not peace and life. Jesus informs the crowds that were waiting around for him to do His next miracle that true discipleship requires giving up rights. Paul writes to a church telling them to put others needs ahead of their own because that is Christlike.
Every single speaker from the principal to the key note to the salutatorian said the same thing. Their message was clear and it was certainly united. Even though each came from a different point of view they each reminded the graduates that no one ought ever to tell them what to do. They were also encouraged to go out and make mistakes. The key note speaker told them to make the biggest mistakes possible. The saving grace was that this is perfectly acceptable and even preferred as long as they/we learn from our missteps.
My mind was racing to keep up with each and every well intentioned orator. Scripture kept erupting in my mind and screaming into my soul. I know it is the American ideal to do things our own way and be the master of our destinies but that is not what God's word says. Proverbs tells us over and over that we can choose our own path but that path leads to destruction and death not peace and life. Jesus informs the crowds that were waiting around for him to do His next miracle that true discipleship requires giving up rights. Paul writes to a church telling them to put others needs ahead of their own because that is Christlike.
I later asked my nephew if he understood the difference between being self confident and true self reliance. He does. He told me not to worry. He wasn't really listening to all the speeches anyway.
Much needed update
God gave me the gift of two fantastic weeks of ministry. First, two weeks ago, I spoke for Teen Week at Independent Bible Church in Martinsburg, WV. Those guys did such a good job. Props to Brad Haecock for all the work and energy he put into reaching students with the truth of God's Word.
This past week Becky and I were at Camp Patmos in Ohio. This is one of my favorite places to minister and enjoy life. Gotta love being on an island on Lake Erie for a week! My friends, Andy Chouinard and Tim Richardson, have worked really hard at making Patmos a place where everyone fits in!
Whiteboard Sessions
Becky and I had the chance to attend the Whiteboard Sessions. 8 speakers had 1/2 hour each to share an idea. Great time to get away and think.
Reading
Monday was a good day to read. I have a passion for books and especially those that cover history and communication. I believe we can understand the future if we are familiar with our past. It is also a core value of mine that whatever gift God has given to us must be honed and sharpened. So for what its worth, here is what I am reading right now...
- From Achilles To Christ: Why Christians Should Read the Pagan Classics - Louis Markos
- Preaching Parables to Postmoderns - Brian Stiller
- Forever a Soldier - Tom Wiener
3 Activities of a God Who Invades History
Sermon #3 from the Exposed series (we didn't record #2, oops).
Ephesians 2:1-10
Ephesians 2:1-10
Download | Duration: 00:31:14
Soul Exposure
My friend Christina shamed me into posting a new blog. I think I had a combination of writers block and acute laziness. Thanks, Christina. I needed that.
For three chapters Paul digs a deep foundation to help us understand who we are. He exposes our soul in the light of the Gospel.
- It is God who has initiated the relationship with humanity.
- The light inside our hearts can turn on to help us understand spiritual things.
- The outrageous grace of God eliminates the stench of death.
- The grace of God unites all believers world-wide
- God has chosen the church to be the means for the world to hear about Grace
- There is a huge contrast between the mind of one who does not know Christ and one who does.
My new Fav...
I have a new favorite drink at Starbucks. Today I tried the latte with soy milk. I thought I would hate it but it was great! I have Becky to thank for making the suggestion. Low fat, low sugar, LOADS of flavor.