Summer Reading Part I

I've just bought a book that will kind of take my mind on a rabbit trail. It's Billy Graham's bibliography, Just As I Am. It's the 10th anniversary edition, which is his original book on his life plus the last 10 years, including his sermon given on 9/14/01 on the National Day of Prayer and Remembrance. I can't wait to hear the story of this incredible evangelist. There are many pictures including one from a crusade in 1962 at Soldier Field in Chicago. There were 116,000 people there in 100-degree heat. Incredible!!

I've picked up my Spiritual Leadership book again and am highlighting several things. The most recent chapter was on insights on leadership from Paul. Paul is probably my favorite person in the Bible because of what he went through and his attitude and perseverance through it all.

This chapter talks about the social, moral, mental, personality, domestic and maturity qualifications for a spiritual leader. Here's what 'struck' me in the first few sections:

Social: The leader is to be above reproach, enjoy a good reputation and live a holy and joyful life.

Moral: The spiritual leader must exercise sexual faithfulness, be temperate, not addicted to alcohol.

Mental: A leader must be prudent, a person with sound judgment. The well-balanced state of mind resulting from habitual self-restraint. They must be respectable and have a well-ordered life. They must be ready and able to teach. They must know how to read hearts and apply truth to the needs of the people.

Personality: Must be genial and gentle, not a lover of controversy. R.C. Trench writes that the leader should be one who corrects and "redresses the injustices of justice." The leader must be actively considerate, not merely passive and certainly not withdrawn but irenic in disposition, always seeking a peaceful solution, and able to diffuse an explosive situation. Covetousness and its twin, the love of money, disqualify a person for leadership. Financial reward cannot enter a leader's mind in the exercise of ministry. The leader must be as willing to accept an appointment with a lower remuneration as one with a higher.