So I've recently updated my ministry placement with Literacy Kansas City by accepting a 2nd student. This man is 57 years old and has had a rough life. He has a prosthetic leg, almost blind in one eye, has diabetes, came out of alcohol within the past 2 years, and on top of it all he can't read above a 2nd grade level. He recently switched from a presbyterian church to a pentecostal church because they're more "lively", non-traditional, and they lay hands on him. I think he made the switch because he knows his life has slowed down and he's humbled by his age and health condition. He may be looking for a hope that will free him but I'm not sure how much he's willing to lay down for Jesus. I'm not saying that as an assessment, but as a question.

"Leaders have a teachable spirit"
This can be quite difficult at times. I believe a teachable spirit is absolutely critical in keeping a humble spirit. I realize I'm so quick to respond defensively or resistantly in my heart at times and I don't want that. I like how Mike views criticism as a free research team, but in the heat of the moment I would rather accuse someone of being wrong. I have had times where I'm proud that I responded in gentleness and humility when being accused of wrongdoing, but there has been other times where I totally got enraged in my heart towards another person. Out of those situations gentleness, humility, and truth allowed open doors to bring a relationship closer and make it pure. I know that may sound very vague, but I have a specific memory that is too personal to simply write on a blog for anyone to see.

Since this last quarter has opened up opportunities to pour into my ministry placement, I've gotten a second person who I will be tutoring now. I'm a bit nervous about it. Even though the new student is about the same reading level as my current student he is still a different person. Thus, I'll have to spend some time in understanding the way he thinks and compensate for that.

I believe that my tutoring follows the Lead Diligently section of "doing what needs to be done." However, I really want to be more diligent in my preparation time for each lessons. Since this quarter of school has opened up some extra free time, it'll be a good use of my time to analyze and fine tune my lesson plans which I'm looking forward to. 

While reading the section on "persevering through difficult" in the "Lead Diligently" chapter, the phrase came to mind: Being radical is not a short-term zeal, but decades of faithfulness. The idea to be faithful and endure for decades brings a resolve that I want to be pleasing to the Lord. I know the way He measures relationship and being faithful in the areas of holiness, prayer, fasting, etc. will bring me nearer to His heart which is all I need.

In the chapter of Truth and Transformation, I got a little confused how Mangalwadi connected the compassion of Jesus to our present day context and how we'll experience the same pattern as Jesus. I understand that because of His kind acts that went against the "Establishment" of the Pharisees, it got Him killed. However, I don't see how that would really play out the same way especially in our cultural of tolerance in America...

Eternal Rewards

I loved the point Mike makes that leaders must have an eternal perspective in order to lead. Recently this has become very clear as I've begun to understand the plans and purposes that the Lord has in place with the rewards He has to give. It's because of this revelation that allows me to be strengthened in my every day life.

As for Mangalwadi's book, chapter 5 didn't really have any extra insight that I didn't already know. America is at a state where we are tolerant towards sin and the consequences of sin, but intolerant towards anything that might offend people. Other than that, it was kind of a confusing chapter. First, he hits on America's state and then immediately switches to the Isaiah passages. At the end he ties it together but it wasn't really a strong tie.