I've been in a reading frenzy lately. Lots of new material to soak in. But sometimes I have to go back to some old favorites. It's my grown-up version of a security blanket, I think. I'm re-reading "In the Name of Jesus: Reflections on Christian Leadership" again. I've lost count, but I'm guessing it's around the 428th time.
Needless to say, I recommend it. Here's one of my favorite passages:
"What makes the temptation of power so seemingly irresistible? Maybe it is that power offers an easy substitute for the hard task of love. It seems easier to be God than to love God, easier to control people than to love people, easier to own life than to love life. Jesus asks, 'Do you love me?' We ask, 'Can we sit at your right hand and your left hand in the Kindgom?' (Matthew 20:21). Ever since the snake said, 'The day you eat of this tree your eyes will be open and you will be like gods, knowing good from evil' (Genesis 3:5), we have been tempted to replace love with power. Jesus lived that temptation in the most agonizing way from the desert to the cross."
This sums up LOTS of things we're learning here at Spero about being engaged with under-resourced populations. It's easy to schedule controlled giving. It's easy to make plans for controlled generosity, to offer drive-by advice to people who we think need it. It's not easy or convenient or predictable to love people well or to ask people to love us well. But, it's to that which we are called and to that end we will endeavor--personally and as an organization. It's worth it.
--Kim Bandy, Director
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