Learning!

I'm having several wonderful opportunities this week to learn!  I love to be a student...to soak up new ideas that begin to marinate in my mind.  Learning about things I'm passionate about is one of my favorite activities.  And there's a lot of activity this week:

Wednesday, Kirsten Strand, Julie Bullock, and I spent the day at Willow Creek for the Gifted to Lead Forum.  I'm not usually drawn to Women's Conferences, but the fact that Nancy Beach and Nancy Ortberg were the speakers sold this one.  The whole day was impactful.  In addition to equipping me with practical leadership skills, the event encouraged me and strengthened my resolve to continue pursuing paths I think God is asking me to travel.  It reminded me that even though at times it is a little difficult and maybe a bit discouraging to be a female leader in a male-dominated career field, that God has given me gifts to use for his Kingdom and I need to exercise them faithfully with large measures of grace.  If you are a female leader in a ministry setting, I recommend you consider attending the repeat offering of this event.  You can learn more here.  It sold out the first time so sign up early if you'd like to attend.

Today and tomorrow I'm soaking up Willow's Leadership Summit as once again we are hosting a satellite broadcast of the conference at the Yellow Box.  The last few years the Summit has been a bit hit or miss for me but today I was challenged with new ideas in every session.  Much to process.

But it isn't just conferences fueling learning lately.  I go through seasons where my hunger to devour books is insatiable and I feel like I'm in one of those now.  Currently I'm reading the book unChristian and it is sparking so many ideas of how I want to help lead the church and what we need to pay attention to in order to help more people find their way back to God.  I'm also reading Willow's Reveal (I know, a little late on this one), Nancy Beach's Gifted to Lead (a purchase at yesterday's forum), and a book I've had for a while but never picked up called Church Planting from the Ground Up.  I wish I didn't get tired and have to sleep because I want to be immersed in these books.  Other books on my "Wanna Read" list:  Unleashing the Power of Rubber Bands: Lessons in Non-Linear Leadership, Influencer: The Power to Change Anything, Organic Community: Creating a Place Where People Naturally Connect, Axiom: Powerful Leadership Proverbs, Welcoming but not Affirming: An Evangelical Response to Homosexuality, and The Importance of Being Foolish: How to Think Like Jesus.

I firmly believe that one of the most important roles for a leader is that of "student."  If it's been a while since you've exercised your mind, why not expose yourself to something that will teach you today?

Comments

[beth]

Tammy, it's amazing, our capacity to keep learning! I don't know why we sometimes forget that it's like eating for our mind and heart Thanks for sharing what inspires you.