I’ve been on a personal retreat for a couple of days and usually use this time each year to study, pray, read and prepare for the coming months.

During this retreat, I finished reading WEIRD (Because Normal Isn’t Working) by Craig Groeschel.

I’m glad Craig Groeschel is weird enough to write WEIRD. I’m also grateful for the generosity of LifeChurch where Craig is the Senior Pastor and have read a number of his books, but God used WEIRD to challenge & convict me (both great things!). WEIRD reminded me I don’t want to be “normal” as a Christian; I want to be a sold-out, fired-up, courageous, risk-taking, believing & obeying God kind of “weird” as a Christian.

Ok – so you think I’ve lost it! Not really; I’ve found direction from God and was brought to repentance as the truth from the scripture & from Craig’s book grabbed my heart.

I’ve taught more than once out of Rev 2:4 about Jesus being our first love, but it’s easy to drift into making WHAT you do your first love instead of the WHO who made you. As Craig states, it’s easy to drift into being a full-time pastor and part-time Christian. Read the book and you’ll understand what “weird” really means in this context.

I highly recommend that you read WEIRD and then get WEIRD. In fact, all the Pastors on our staff will read it before we have our next Pastors Advance in a few weeks and we’ll challenge each other on the topic.

As a Pastor, I always want to be a learner (I want to be teachable) and for me this includes reading many books. If you’re a Pastor or Christian Leader of any kind, I encourage you to read much. Three books I’d highly recommend from Craig Groeschel are: WEIRD, Confessions of a Pastor, and The Christian Atheist. These are three books I couldn’t put down. And no, I’m not getting any royalties or a discount from Craig, but when I read a great book that challenges me – I want to encourage others to read it too.