Worshiping God with mind is important

One of the pleasures of having some time off between Christmas and New Year’s was catching up on some reading. Here are a few books I digested: The Beak of the Finch by Jonathan Weiner, Hit the Bullseye by Paul Borden, Microtrends by Mark Penn and Results that Last by Quint Studer.
Long ago, one of my mentors in ministry gave me some invaluable advice. I think it was the Rev. Claus Rohlfs, who supervised my internship at Perkins School of Theology. He told me that if there was an area of ministry that I needed to learn about (which at that point was named legion), I should read at least one book a month in that discipline. After a year I would have a good grasp of the subject and the conversation around that subject and would be an “expert.”
After a year in some subjects, I found I needed to spend another year or sometimes two or three years because I had only scratched the surface.
Over the years I have used this approach with New Testament studies, prayer and Christian spirituality, stewardship, and now in leadership and organizational management.
Other books that have been important to me in this field are Leading Change by John Kotter, Leadership Without Easy Answers by Ronald Heifetz and From Good to Great by Jim Collins.
Last year when I met with all full-time pastors under appointment in the Austin District and this year when I met with new pastors, I recommended and will recommend this practice. I think it is important for all of us, laity and clergy, to be lifelong learners.
I also confess that I have read every novel Tony Hillerman has written, so I read mind-candy as well. I try to read all the Pulitzer Prize winners.
I love the picture of John Wesley on horseback reading a book. Books on tape are my current equivalent to that. I think it is as important to worship God with our minds as it is with our hearts and our hands. I hope you will adopt this practice of reading a book a month in a ministry area that interests and challenges you. It has blessed me, and I know it will you.