3 Ways To Keep Learning Every Day #LeadersAreReaders August 2024

A Christian eager to learn is a growing Christian. They understand that their God-given mind is a responsibility and desire to use it for God's glory. Here are three ways I continue my passion for learning every day:

1) READING: Reading and meditating on God’s Word is vital for spiritual growth. We should read Scripture with both our heart and mind. I also read theology, commentaries, biographies, and the writings of great people, as they offer inspiration and wisdom. It’s easy to spend most of our time on TV or social media, but mature Christians I know choose good books and quiet time over entertainment (though there is a time for everything).

2) OBSERVING: Learn by observing others. I enjoy watching people in public places to understand more about life. As John T. Noe said, “Too many people are more concerned about how others see them than observing others.” I also watch spiritual mentors—whom I know personally or through media—closely, learning from both their successes and failures.

3) LISTENING: We can’t learn if we’re always talking. When I pray, I talk to God, but when I read Scripture, God speaks to me. That’s why reading His Word is so important (or, my favorite, listening to the audio Bible!). Listening more and talking less helps us learn from others, young and old, who have much to teach if we take the time to listen.

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THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

12 Rules for Life #12 Pat a Cat When You Encounter One on the Street (Summary)

This is a chapter-by-chapter summary of a book by Jordan B. Peterson’s 12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos (2018). One chapter, one article. Read this summary, buy the book. Enjoy!

“Set aside some time to talk and to think about the illness or other crisis and how it should be managed every day. Do not talk or think about it otherwise. If you do not limit its effect, you will become exhausted, and everything will spiral into the ground. This is not helpful. Conserve your strength. You’re in a war, not a battle, and a war is composed of many battles. You must stay functional through all of them. When worries associated with the crisis arise at other times, remind yourself that you will think them through, during the scheduled period”

(Jordan Peterson)

This final rule is mainly autobiographical and Peterson tells us about tragedy and pain. When tragic things are in front of us and we’re powerless, we must keep our eyes open for those little things that make life worthwhile. The title of this chapter inspired by the author’s experience of observing a local stray cat and watching it adapt to its surroundings in a harsh environment.

When you feel that your life is crewed up there is a way to make it easier to handle until you make it back on your feet. That is to shorten your “temporal horizon.” Stop thinking about what’s going to happen in the next months. Think about what and how you can improve today’s day or maybe just the next hours. Shrink the time frame until you can eventually handle the rest of it and this is how you adjust to devastation. It’s very important to not give up even in the worst situations, even if you’re at a place you’d rather not be, always try to look for what’s meaningful and worthwhile. “When you are going for a walk and your head is spinning a cat will show up and if you pay attention to it then you will get a reminder for just fifteen seconds that the wonder of Being might make up for the ineradicable suffering that accompanies it,” wrote Peterson, “Pet a cat when you encounter one on the street.”

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

 

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Self-Leadership #2 Look the Truth Straight On

“Just be honest with yourself. That opens the door”

(Vernon Howard)

A key building block in the process of self-discovery is your willingness to look at the truth straight on. If you answer one or more of the tough questions mentioned in the first lesson without being fully honest, you gain nothing. Goals built on half-truths are almost certain to fail when push comes to shove. If you can’t act on your convictions in a crunch, then success is out of the question.

A person who is grounded in truth doesn’t have to look very far to find the right thing to do. When you are guided by the truth, you are the same person in private as you are in public. Looked at from the other end of the telescope, you know that what you do in private matters. Any talk of being able to “compartmentalize” your life, so that what you do in private has no bearing on your public life, is a friction. Even madness. Your principles only count if you live them on and off your field.

If you’re still not persuaded, consider this. As a leader, you can’t build a team, organization, or company that’s a whole lot different from yourself – well, who are you? Do you want your organization to have shaky foundations built on dishonest goals? If the answer is no, then make sure these things aren’t part of you, either. The researcher can’t help but influence what he’s observing, and the inventor can’t take himself out of his creation.

Honesty also plays an important role in the interactions between a leader and his organization. Without complete honesty, there can be no trust, and if your people don’t trust you, you can’t lead them. Trust is earned through patient investment and a consistent track record, and it can be destroyed in an instant. As a leader, you will be closely watched, and everything you say will have meaning for your people. Actions that contradict your message – or dishonest messages – will destroy trust and be used as an excuse not to take you seriously.

Here are three (3) things to consider in your search for truth:

Don’t Try to Fake It: People have an unerring nose for dishonesty, fraud, and pretense. To be successful, you must be honest with yourself and others.

Expect to Be Observed: As a leader, you’re being watched 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can’t build a team that’s different from yourself. So be honest with yourself and with your team.

Don’t Compartmentalize: Your conduct matters at all times. If you compromise your principles in your private life, it may well affect your public life as well.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

A Passion for Continuous Learning

“A house is build by wisdom

and becomes strong through good sense.

Through knowledge its rooms are filled

with all sorts of precious riches and valuables” (Proverbs 24:3-4, NLT)

Do you have a plan for continuous learning? Are you constantly educating yourself, broadening your mind, acquiring new knowledge, reenergizing your interests, and generating new passion and enthusiasm for life? Do you pursue new adventures with God in your work and personal life? Do you intentionally keep on discovering Christ in your everyday life? All of us need to continue learning (and apply what we have learned in a godly manner – that’s ‘wisdom’) so that our faith will be strengthen day by day. Therefore, we need the Holy Spirit to guide and to teach us and a personalized plan – on our side – for continuous learning.

Many weak Christian leaders that I know (unfortunately) have the thinking that once they are graduated from Bible school (or for nominal Christians; right after baptism class) they assume that Bible knowledge and education is over and that they no longer need to continue to learn. This is dangerous! In general, many people who live by a strict diet plans, maintain a regular physical exercise and high discipline in their businesses give very little attention to their plans for developing their minds. There is a saying: “A mind is a terrible thing to waste.” Don’t waste it!

Christian who always want and eager to learn is a growing Christian. They know that their God-given mind is a great responsibility from the Lord and that they desire to use it for the glory of God. Here are my 3 ways (and suggestions for you) on how I continue my passion to learn something new about Christ, myself and others:

#1 Reading

Reading and meditating the Word of God is the foremost important for our spiritual life. We ought to read God’s Word with our heart and – our mind. Besides that, I also read the writings and biographies of great people because these kinds of books offer a lot of useful information, very inspirational and encouraging. I also read wide and diverse.

It is too easy and tempting for people to spend hours in front of a television watching programs mindlessly or to surf internet and spend too much time on social media. Great example of mature Christians that I know personally usually prefers to spend time with their Bible or books rather than to join the rest of the world seeking for mere entertainments and pleasures (Of course, there is a time for everything).

#2 Observing

Learn also by observation. I love to go to the malls and public parks just to observe people. John T. Noe writes, “Too many people are more concerned about other people’s observations of themselves than they are about observing others.” If you want to develop a learning spirit, become a keen observer of everything and everybody around you. Better still; observe your spiritual mentors (if you have any). Sought to learn everything you could by watching their every action. Learn from their successes and failures.

#3 Listening

We simply can’t learn if we always do the talking. I always ask students this question: ‘Which one is more important, praying or reading the Word of God?’ Normally I get the answer: ‘Both’. That is right. But if I were to choose only one for an answer, I will say, ‘Reading the Word’. Why? When I pray, I talk to God; when I read, God talk to me. Since God is God and I am not – God’s Word is the most important and the highest priority in the conversation. I must listen more and talk less. Learn to listen to others. You will meet many people – young and old – from whom you can learn… if only you take the time and trouble to listen.

Read. Observe. Listen. Learn and apply.

God’s Holy Spirit be with you – to guide and to teach you. Amen.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.