Book Review: EntreLeadership

So I'm reading a book right now.  Its called EntreLeadership by Dave Ramsey.  You can check it out here.  For those of you who don't know who Dave Ramsey is, He is a financial guru. He has a radio talk show.  He has multiple best selling books, and he also has a tv show.  Now I'm not writing this blog to build up or promote Dave Ramsey in any way, but if you are looking for a great read on leadership, this book is phenomenal.

I'm only on the third chapter, but I am making sure that I read it slowly because their are so many golden nuggets of truth that I want to digest all of the information rather than speed read through it. Dave Ramsey does in this book what he always does.  He makes common sense principles come to life in a fresh and vibrant way.

Just to give you a quote that I am mulling over in my brain.  He says "Focus on the main thing, and keeping the main thing the main thing causes companies to be more likely to win."  This is why it so important that in our jobs and families we remain focused on the mission at hand, and we don't get sidetracked with things that are not a part of our main objective.  I'm gonna spend more time on this idea in a latter blog, but for all of you looking for your next book, this is definitely a great read.

Parents Matter

Parents matter.  Sometimes students can forget this truth.  Other times parents can even forget this truth, but God has given parents the opportunity to invest in their child's life in order to develop godly men and women.  The phrase that you will hear me say a lot about parents is this, "Parents are the primary spiritual influence in their child's life."  

What I want to do is break that statement down nearly word by word to help explain what that fully means. First of all the word "parents."  Parents need to be parents and not just buddy's or a friend.  Parents are called by God to love their children, have fun with their children, discipline their children, set up boundaries for their children.  The job of a parent has never been easy, but Godly Parenting develops Godly Children.  

The second word I want to dissect is "primary."  Parents should be the primary voice their children here when it comes to life, dating, friendship, sex, money, decision making process, etc...  The church should not be the primary voice they hear.  Neither should their friends at school or other peoples parents.  It is the parents job to be that primary voice, and this directly ties into the next word. "Spiritual!"  As parents the job is not only to be the primary voice about life, but about all matters of faith and practice.  Parents should teach their children who God is and how he is working in the world.    The spiritual trajectory of our sons and daughters lives is determined by the spiritual example we live out and speak about in our homes.  

Then this thought flows into the next word "Influence." Parents your voice matters. Your life matters. Whether you like it or not you have had an influence on your child's life, and my prayer is that parents with students in our Youth at Christ Community take ownership in this. Some parents I know already do this, and I pray that all the parents begin to take this idea to heart that they are influencers in their child's life.  The way you talk around your children, the way you treat your spouse, the way you relate to and talk about God, all of that matters, my prayer is that you influence your child to have a loving and committed relationship with Jesus Christ.   

Parents you have been given a fantastic opportunity and great responsibility to be the primary spiritual influence in your child's life, and I pray that you never relinquish that role to any one else.  The church only gets a few hours a week with your children, but you get all week.  I promise that I will use my time effectively invest into and influence your children, but I ask as Parents, please with wisdom, allow the church to partner with you in raising up Godly men and women who will make a difference for Christ long after we are gone.  

Parents I know that being a parent can be so stressful and difficult sometime, and I want you to know that you matter.  You matter to our church, and more importantly you matter to your children even if they don't see it right now.  Your life matters.