I just finished reading Craig Groeschel’s book called “Confessions of a Pastor - Adventures in dropping the pose and getting real with God”. This was a really good read. I read it in less than a day. The book is basically about him getting honest with himself and with God, becoming transparent, and becoming vulnerable. I am glad I read it.

I have learned some valuable lessons this week. There are many books and blogs that I have refrained from reading, because I see so many Christian, Pastor, Posers somehow becoming a infected with trying to become just like their favorite, new, mega-church, pastor. It is a Christian Cult of Personality. Seriously, it turns my stomach and makes me want to vomit. So there was a time I surveyed everything they were reading and put it on my “banned book list”. I did not want to be a “fan boy” or a stalker of a hip and trendy super cool, pastor dude. I have just recently started listening and reading some of these guys, because (ONE) many of then have some good things to say that are valuable to my spiritual growth and my future as a Pastor/Elder/Leader. (I would be a fool to not learn from these guys) (TWO) I won’t become some pastoral fanboy freak and think I have to hang posters of Craig Groeschel or Andy Stanley, etc on my office wall and dream of the day we will call each other on the phone and about ministry, family, or vacation together at the lake.

Eat the meat and spit out the bones… right.

Back to the book… I am glad I read it. I am glad I dropped the $20 to learn from a pastor what it is to be transparent and vulnerable. I am glad others are willing to sacrifice their self, to allow those of who are in their wake, to learn from their mistakes and failures.

I am glad the Lord is breaking me and molding me. I have often wondered why the Lord has been taking long fulfilling his calling of ministry in my life. I look back at all the shut doors and past ministry frustrations/debachals/derailments. I know now had went forward with those ministry opportunities that I would have crashed and burned. I can look back and see the hand of God, shutting doors and protecting me from falling on my own grenade. Those are some of the hardest times I have EVER gone through… yet I can see a Good Father protecting me and guiding my steps to bring my to my destination which is his good and acceptable and perfect will. What an AMAZING DADDY we have!!!

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Eric M. (ericgmorgan.com)